The backers of Initiative 522, the measure that would require the labeling of genetically altered foods, say in their ads we should approve their initiative because “we have the right to know.”

Know what?

My bet is that if there was anything important for us to know, they would be telling us that instead of making this weak argument that “we have the right to know.” This smells like an attempt by the natural and organic food industry to gain a marketing advantage over other food producers.

And, we are suppose to believe that relabeling the 40,000 items in the typical grocery store won’t cost us anything. And then there’s the new state agency that will be required to monitor compliance. Is that free too?

Jerry Forell, Kirkland