Plastic bags and the never-ending urge to tax everything

A few days ago I attended the environmental legislative summit in Annapolis. We were treated to a three-course meal of we need you, followed by we will get it done and for dessert we had it will take more taxes to get it done. I’ve had this dinner before! There was such a strong attendance and excitement that I admit it tasted a little bit better than usual, almost.

But then, Brent Bolin of the Anacostia Watershed Society spoke in favor of the Community Cleanup Act that would reduce the use of plastic bags in the state by adding a five-cent tax to each bag. “Over half of the trash found in the Anacostia watershed is made up of plastic bags,” he said, adding that the bill will save money for merchants who must now buy the bags they give away and will provide reusable bags to those who cannot afford them.

This political and environmental position really rubs me the wrong way. It’s as if we are missing the gene that identifies things that are not needed, such as that second cheese burger or all the work and hassle it takes to implement such a program.

Plastic bags have been a thorn in our backside since they became entrenched in the food market back in the 80s. Prior to that, I can remember bringing home groceries with my mother in brown paper bags. For the life of me I can’t remember ever hearing mom say, “Boy, I wish someone would invent a better way to do this.”

And those biodegradable paper bags came in very handy for so many other things. For example, I remember the care I took when wrapping my school books with them; it was a source of pride to show off my wrapping ability. Later my friends would sign my books or I would doodle on them when the classes were boring. Try that with a plastic bag. But there were many other uses such as lining the cupboards, wrapping packages, lunch bags, craft projects, ripening fruits and veggies, making party hats for the kids and many other things.

The taxing elite, or should I say the uninventive souls on the wrong side of this argument, should turn their focus to abolishing plastic bags. Removing subsidies should be the subject of the conversation not taxing something you give money to. Makes no sense. I personally don’t know of anyone whose job is hinging on this mode of grocery transportation and I don’t think I want to.

The argument was that the trees needed saving, but, at what cost? Managed forests are renewable after all. The oceans need saving just as much. I would argue that they are even more important. Trees recover quicker than the oceans especially when trees are planted in a sustainable way. Paper can be recycled and the internet has reduced the need for paper tremendously anyway

So stop the “Tax the Plastic Bag” campaign and put the bags in the history books by outlawing them. Taxes are not the only way to lead the citizenry toward needed change. I snore too much so do I need a noise tax to make me stop? One bag in the ocean is one too many. Wildlife can’t handle this attack much longer and humanity will not survive without healthy oceans. To me there is only one choice: Outlaw plastic bags because some laws just make too much sense.

GL