I am a conservative with a degree in Environmental Resource Management, so i'm sympathetic towards those that want to save the planet. I was surprised to hear that Santa Barbara has passed a straw ban. If a waiter or waitress serves a straw at a restaurant, the restaurant owner can receive a $1000 dollar fine including six months in prison. America already as the highest incarceration rate in the world, yet lawmakers are still looking for stupid reasons to lock people up.
This is environmental extremism at its worst. Plastic waste is a serious concern, but straws have a tiny impact on the environment. Where is the common sense? Instead of locking people up for using straws, why not require chemical companies to produce biodegradable plastics? Instead of punishing minimum wage employees for providing good service to customers, why not go after chemical companies to design better products?
Great point! Also, interesting to see where these elected officials place their priorities!
I think there is a more sinister control-freak mentality in the environmental movement. They're frightened about the destruction of our planet, but don't know how to take appropriate action. Instead of campaigning for innovation, they try to dominate private businesses, and imprison those who don't comply with their beliefs. These low-level thinkers look for scapegoats, instead of sophisticated solutions to our environmental problems.
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