Here’s the solution to all our problems: we’ll just make infinite wallets out of them. ( see the tutorial!):)

Chris,
I was so confused. I was telling people I was called a militant today over a plastic bag and then THEY were confused (which was kinda cool, mass confusion). Thank you. I’ll still burn my plastic bag bra for the ROTC if you want. It’s a good program, keeps a LOT of kids out of trouble. I didn’t know they banned it there.

P.S. I went to the grocery store today…I used a paper bag. :O (I’m on business in knoxville and their organic store was selling canvas bags…for $8 each!) I figured we could color on it afterwards. <—-GUILTY!

I understand what you mean. But people who don’t recycle because it’s “too confusing,” “I didn’t know Publix recycled plastic bags” or whatever the lame reason of the week is likely won’t just suddenly get a clue and decide to do the right thing without some government prompting, in my opinion.

Also, I firmly believe there are other alternatives to the plastic shopping bags. For example, I have gotten free doggie doo cannisters from the City of Lakeland’s lakes and stormwater mgmt. department that dispense plastic bags for that occasion. I use the bags my newspaper comes in for the dog poop issue. What about the plastic bags your bread or bagels come in? You could even wad up a piece of newspaper and pick up poop with that. I think that if the plastic shopping bag option was taken away, we all would be resourceful and find another option. I realize that I’ve given options that still require plastic bags, but it’s simply to say that I know we won’t get rid of ALL plastic bags. But if we got rid of the easiest, most-common plastic bags, wouldn’t you agree that would help?

There is already a solution to this problem, so no government interference is necessary or welcome.

Aaaaaand scene. *curtains fall* :>

Shell, didn’t mean to sound like I was aiming the San Fran stuff (and barista, etc) at you, that wasn’t intended as a personal attack and I’m sorry if I came off that way.

I don’t think she’s saying we might as well just keep giving in, as we have obviously reached the point of no return. I gleaned quite the opposite interpretation.

Your examples of cell phones and cars don’t further your argument, either, at least to me. Neither of these is actually necessary. They are merely modern conveniences that we take for granted today, if we are lucky enough to be in a position to do so.

I’m also a little wary of a rebuttal that includes the word science placed inside quotation marks when there is obvious physical evidence and numerous studies which are, for the majority, in agreement.

Not to mention saying you’re going to do something you admit is harmful simply to agitate your supposed enemy. That sort of juvenile attitude takes away from any legitimate point one has to make.

Back to the topic at hand, I personally try to remember my reusable bags, and I walk to the store when it’s not absolutely stifling out. But if I forget? I do tend to go with plastic because there are more convenient, I can reuse them a few times, and then I can recycle them. If my area put the kibosh on them, I don’t think I’d really care one way or the other.

I’ll dedicate my plastic bag bra burning to your ROTC program if you “come to the dark side”…

Semper fi, chris, semper fi.

P.S. Do I really sound like a barista?

You’re entirely correct, and I didn’t mean for the argument to get out of hand here a bit ago. But the thing is, many *do* reuse their shopping bags (mine stay in the rotation until they are used to pick up dog poo, for example).

Yeah reusable bags are inexpensive, but why should we not be able to use the plastic bags if we want? What ever happened to personal responsibility, instead of dictated responsibility, know what I mean?

Maybe thats the pain meds talking, but I really cannot stand people who take for fact what “science” they are given, and who are willing to capitulate *any* daily freedoms they have because they figure they have already given up “too much” to the government.

You don’t like how it is? Great, try to change it. But don’t give in to this one demand because “they already control too much,” when it is just something you agree with. If there were to be a proposed ban on cellphones, or cars, or something else you need, you would be less likely to go along.

And please. San Francisco is not a model for ANY city in America, they are the most dysfunctional lot I have ever had the displeasure to come in contact with. No ROTC in the schools? You don’t want your kids in the military thats fine, but why ban it outright? Protesting the Marine Corps recruiters? Let me come down and protest you at your coffee shop, while you do *your* job.

A true bastion of “peace and love,” to be sure… as long as you agree with their beliefs, neh?

I mean, god forbid you be inconvenienced a few minutes each shopping trip to grab your own bags. And you can find great bags out there. Lacoste and Marc Jacobs make shopping bags upward of $200 if you are worried about the big green bag crashing your style.

The reality is… Think about how much junk we are leaving behind for our children. Look at your daughter, son, grandchildren…you wouldn’t consciously feed them poison but the waste of not only the bags themselves but the manufacturing process is building up in the air, soil and even the kids bodies.

If you don’t want to relinquish your precious bags because you don’t want people telling you what to do your a moron, or lazy. Neither of which I think is true. The real reason is you are afraid. Change is scary but it’s required or we will self destruct. You touch a stove, it’s hot and you get burned. Touching the sotve doesn’t work. You know that now. You don’t do it again. This is where we are at now. Have you heard of the Pacific Vortex? Look at this map, it’s huge! 10 million tons of trash, mostly plastic in our oceans. Plastic that does not decompose. And plastic has only been around for less than 150 years. 10 million tons (and plastic is light, how much takes up a ton?) in less than 150 years. And it’s not going anywhere.

I love this article, seeing how San Francisco just passed a ban on them. The youth (and young at heart) are really taking to living responsibly. A lot of people don’t understand that the “modern conveniences” so readily handed to them are products of commerce and not necessarily of sustainable interest. If we keep pushing this idea from a marketing objective that the young are going green, eventually in our desperate pursuit of youth and beauty it will catch on. Probably with less hostility than “the government will pry my plastic bag from my cold, dead hand.”

I doubt many people, maybe 10% or so, are keen on using reusable bags. The best solution would be delivery of groceries. No bags need to be used except by the delivery driver, and those can be reusable. Barring such a large shift in grocery shopping attitudes, I’d still go for the biodegradable plastic bags as they offer the best of all worlds.

The old standby (paper) has always been there, and many stores are offering the new, reusable bags, and that is about as far as you can go without crossing the line. You can educate, you can offer, but God help you if you force.

Banning plastic bags has worked very well in Ireland.