Paper or Plastic?

Paper or Plastic

I (sort of) remember the 1980s. I do remember I was quite proud to "Save a tree" and ask for a plastic bag. I didn't think of it then but now, I can't help but wonder who started this campaign? I researched it like crazy, but try as I might, I couldn't find any reference to an environmental organization that claims it. It seems that, just like Big Tobacco, Big Plastic may have had a hand in it.

I say this because I did find a reference in a November 17th, 1984 New York Times article in which these statements were made:

Plastic sacks have other advantages as well. ''They have handles, you can use them to carry your kids' bathing suits home from the beach, they're great for dirty diapers,'' said Frank Corbin, director of community relations for the Society of the Plastics Industry

Ronald Schmieder, marketing manager of the plastic grocery sacks division of the Mobil Chemical Company claimed. ''In Australia, 100 percent of all grocery bags are plastic,'' Mr. Schmieder said, adding, ''One can always hope.''

''This is progress, and with progress some products get left behind,'' said Charles Jenest, a chemical and plastics consultant for Arthur D. Little Inc. in Cambridge, Mass. ''People were loyal to paper bread bags too, and to many other paper products'' that have been replaced by plastic.

The article included paper bag loyalist claims as well:

''People are fond of the old paper bag,'' said Peter A. Bunten, assistant manager of the Kraft and Packaging Papers Division of the American Paper Institute. ''It's as American as the flag and apple pie and all those other red white and blue cliches.''

''Heavy plastic bags hurt your hands,'' said Samuel Posner, vice president of the retail bags division of the Samson Paper Bag Company.

Once again it seems that big corporations are deciding how we should live our lives. Not surprisingly Petroleum companies had a hand in it. Not much has changed.

Source: The New York Times

"Breaking News"

We live in a country where the president is fined $2 million for stealing money from charity and nobody cares.

Main Stream Media should have had Banner Headlines, TV should have had "Breaking News" Reports every 30 minutes. Average citizens should be out in the streets demanding his resignation.

However, like Trump University, the Trump Foundation, and even a recent eat-lunch-with-the-president contest in which winners donated but never got to eat lunch with the president; no one seems to notice. That's just the highlights, there are dozens of scams.

Our President is a crook, a shabby con man, a hater, racist and a moron. The Trumpsters eat it up (possibly they see him as a reflection of their own tastes) and average folks just post on Facebook and Twitter.

If you really care about our country, if you are not a racist, if you believe we should be progressing to a better world, instead of regressing into hate and racism then do something.

Call your congress people. Call your local news papers and stations. Write letters, send telegrams, take to the streets if you have to. Join Greta's protests, Boo Trump, donate to your favorite cause ($3.00 will do).

Most important VOTE. It is your duty as a citizen, it is your right as an American. It is what our veterans fought and even died for.

If you don't know who your Congress Persons are, you can find out (and shame on you). Here is an easy way to find out:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm

Vote local, too. That may be even more important. Your County Clerks Office web site has all the info, and an online registration page, too.

For My New Mexican Friends you can start here:
https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/ovr/webpages/instructionsstep1.aspx?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Vote or Shut up.