Hightower Lowdown

Anytime the Bushites issue a new set of administrative guidelines, while telling We the People to pay no mind to their actions because they're merely "clarifying" existing regulations—grab your BS detector.

That's what consumers, farmers, environmentalists, and others did when Bush's Agriculture Department suddenly issued four new guidelines on what can and cannot be labeled as organic. Not to worry, said a USDA spokeswoman: "They are just clarifications...They just explain what's enforceable." BS!

The "clarifications" —which were pushed by agribusiness corporations that fund Bush's political campaign—would allow pesticides, animal drugs, sex hormones, antibiotics, and toxic fishmeal to be used in foods labeled organic.

The Ag Department tried to sneak these changes through without allowing the public-comment period that is required by law. But so many phone calls, emails, faxes, and petitions poured into USDA that besieged Ag officials called the Organic Consumers Association and begged it to tell its supporters to stop calling! Small organic businesses and the Organic Trade Association prepared a lawsuit to stop the USDA's power play. In less than a month, the Bushites cried uncle. Bush's Ag Secretary has abruptly rescinded all four clarifications.

But keep your BS detectors at the ready—this Agriculture Department won't stop trying to sneak ever slicker and stinkier agribusiness schemes past us.