Paper or Plastic

Paper or Plastic?  Remember that question being asked of you while checking out at the grocery store?  You do not hear this any more because all stores have either gone to or assume that you want plastic.  Everybody now a days gets plastic.  Every store from your local grocer to Wal Mart use nothing but plastic bags.  If your house is like mine, you probably have a special plastic bag to store all of your other plastic bags.  If not, then you simply toss these plastic demons right in the garbage.  If you do, shame on you!  These bags are recyclable and do not belong in the dump.  WOW, I sound like a bleeding heart conservationist.  Well, here is why.  Beginning next summer, retail businesses in the state of California will no longer be able to use single use plastic bags.  You heard that right, the powers to be out in Calli have placed a ban on plastic bags.  They say that these little devil bags are contributing to high amounts of pollution in the state.  In a statement to the media Governor Edmund Brown said,
"This bill is a step in the right direction -- it reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself.  We're the first to ban these bags, and we won't be the last."

I have to tell you that I agree.  Everyday I see these plastic tumbleweeds rolling around the streets of our area.  They are everywhere.  However, I have kept the best part of this ban a secret until now.  Brace yourself for the kick in the ca hones.  Instead of using plastic, retailers will be able to offer recycled or paper bags at a charge of $0.10 per bag.  In addition, California will use $2 million dollars in state backed loans to help businesses transition away from plastic.  WHAT!  WHAT!  ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME!  Ten cents a bag and $2 million to help stores out!  This makes my head explode.

Here is a novel idea, why don't we fine and arrest the clowns that litter these bags all over the place.  It's not the bags, its the morons that throw them all over the place.  Let's also hold the garbage and recycling jockeys who pick up trash accountable for not letting these bags get loose.  If they do, these guys need to pick them up.  Let's hold the dumps and landfills accountable to keep this stuff in check while its on their property.  Don't get me wrong here, I HATE these bags with a passion.  They are like a boil on my ass.  I can't get rid of them.  However, let's not force people to pay for paper bags.  This is just another example of the government forcing a dumb law down the throats of "We The People".  Governor Brown is correct when he says that California won't be the last.  I can see our pinhead Governor Corbett and his staff drawing up the ban right now.  Hell, why would we simply ask people to be accountable?