Earth Day

This week in Phi Kappa, we’re debating libel laws as they pertain to the food industry. Does Monsanto have the right to sue the makers of Food, Inc?

From the presenter, Sister Baker:

BIHR: Industry-specific libel laws are unconstitutional and thus should be abolished. RS, Sister Baker

By “industry-specific libel laws”, I mean laws such as the “veggie libel laws” which exist in 13 states (including Georgia) which afford heightened protection of perishable food industries against critical speech. I will be using veggie libel laws as my argument against having extra special protections of any other private industries against wide-open debate on public issues. 

By “unconstitutional”, I mean “not in accordance with a political constitution, esp. the U.S. Constitution, or with procedural rules.” 

By “abolished”, I mean “formally put an end to (a system, practice, or institution).”

I will be framing this as a statutory “slippery slope”; if we start affording extra protections to one industry, how many more will be allowed to take shelter from critique by scaring journalists into silence? So, take this as a broad, over-arching resolution concerning the morality/legality of protection private enterprise from public scrutiny, not just veggie libel laws.