What does being a "Liberal" mean? (US)

[Undertoad]

I believed, at that time (although I never would have admitted to it in these terms, but the concept is unavoidable), that a legitimate use of the government would be to impose ideas on some people "for their own good" simply because the rest of us were so convinced that we had all the answers.

I don't believe that anymore.

I'm still a believer...

Originally Posted by Wegman's

Myth: Paper bags are a better environmental choice than plastic bags.
Fact: Paper takes more water and energy to produce than plastic and since paper is heaver, the environmental impact is greater to truck paper bags from the manufacturing facility to a warehouse and then to a store. Whatever your choice, paper or plastic, be sure to reuse or recycle them or use a reusable bag.

Believe on, you hippies. It will make you FEEL like you've done something, which is important to you.

Your choice of bag has less impact than the fuel used to start your car to go to the market, and plastic bags are just as easy to recycle as paper, and it takes a ton more manufacturing to make "reusable" bags, and to wash them properly requires hot water and detergent. So the question remains which is actually better... but whatever!

This is like the TSA, where the important thing is for people to FEEL safe, not for people to BE safe. You need to FEEL like you've done something, even if you haven't.

Now this is subtle: while Portland was burning calories telling people which bag to use, how many more meaningful, more important questions were left hanging?

[glatt]

Thing about plastic bags is that some people don't recycle or throw them away properly. They end up on the ground, and then get washed into the gutter and down the storm drain and into the local river, where they get tangled up on the shore and look like crap and also might kill some wildlife. If that happens with a paper bag, when it rains, it just gets all mushy and disintegrates in a few weeks.

[Lamplighter]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Believe on, you hippies. It will make you FEEL like you've done something, which is important to you.

<snip>

Now this is subtle: while Portland was burning calories telling people which bag to use,
how many more meaningful, more important questions were left hanging?

Such as ? Let us know and we'll get right them.
.
.
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[Happy Monkey]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Your choice of bag has less impact than the fuel used to start your car to go to the market, and plastic bags are just as easy to recycle as paper, and it takes a ton more manufacturing to make "reusable" bags, and to wash them properly requires hot water and detergent.

Wash them properly?

Watchoo talkin bout Willis? I only wash them if something spills, and even then I just toss them in the next load I'm doing anyway.

As for the disposable bags, when I run low on them I pay the 5 cents to DC, and use plastic ones as garbage can liners, and paper ones ('cause they stand up on their own) to store and transport my recycling.

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Wash them properly?

Watchoo talkin bout Willis? I only wash them if something spills, and even then I just toss them in the next load I'm doing anyway.

Your bag is now contaminated with everything that can contaminate fruits and vegetables, which is more than we suspect. So, if you would wash that cantaloupe this afternoon, wash your bag more often, would be my advice.