Rational Spice

I think this country would be far better off if we found some reporters who didn’t think that food comes from the store.

It seems that ABC News “Investigative” Reporter Brian Ross went shopping for some fertilizer the other day. In the blink of a word-processor, 20 bags of crushed rock became:

a half ton of one of the world’s most dangerous bomb-making materials

Rubbish. While it is true that ammonium nitrate can be used as part of an explosive mixture, the story makes as much sense as putting on dark glasses (to get that “undercover” effect), filling up both tanks of a tractor-trailer with diesel fuel (the other part of an explosive mixture), driving into DC, then running a story about purchasing 200 gallons of “one of the world’s most dangerous bomb-making materials” and positioning it “within miles” of the U.S. Capitol.

What’s clear is that ABC News is using the 9/11 anniversary to a) hysterically whip up ratings (which is shameful) and b) shill for a proposal in Congress that will be expensive, obtrusive, burden American farmers who actually grow the food we eat, and not add one whit of extra security to our lives. The bill, H.R. 3197, and a similar version in the Senate, would require you to register with Department of Homeland Security if you feel like planting a garden and feeding your tomatoes. How stupid is that?