Jim Bates: What would we do without plastic?

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Published: 12-10-2024 3:28 PM

Let me continue highlighting the hypocrisy of our state and local government. No, I am not writing about our governor protecting people who crossed our border illegally who committed felonies from deportation.

As many residents of Franklin County are aware, in the past few years, certain towns banned "single use" plastic bags and Styrofoam cups. The righteous, I know better than you, liberals were so full of themselves. Fast forward to 2024. Recently, I went shopping at a local grocery store. I bought a six pack of PBR beer that was secured by a plastic strap, chicken cutlets wrapped in clear plastic in a Styrofoam container, milk in a plastic bottle, four muffins in protective plastic, some nuts contained in a plastic bag, cheddar cheese wrapped in plastic, some broccoli and onions that I put into a plastic vegetable baggie, bread inside a plastic bag, sun-dried tomatoes in a plastic container, toothpaste in a plastic tube.

As I waited in line, a person ahead of me put their plastic covered groceries into a plastic woven and lined reusable bag with NPR printed on the outside. They were so proud of themselves.

Meanwhile at the self-checkout, I scanned and put all of my plastic wrapped groceries into a paper bag. Did I save another whale? I don't think so.

I used a plastic card to pay for my groceries, on a computer made of plastic. Walking to my truck, I passed by an EV charger made of plastic. I drove home in a vehicle made of 50% plastic.

Thank you fossil fuels. Plastic, another in a long line of wonderful byproducts of crude oil, recycled dinosaur carcasses.

What would we do without it?

Jim Bates

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