tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post3047565117360491751..comments2023-10-19T07:12:05.853-07:00Comments on RyKri: Some observations about the bag taxKristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08069440381654278765noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-12442132193359746232009-08-17T14:46:05.270-07:002009-08-17T14:46:05.270-07:00Kristina,
We, at Twelve Rivers, couldn't agre...Kristina,<br /><br />We, at Twelve Rivers, couldn't agree with you more! <br /><br />The U.S. is sadly behind the rest of the world in embracing the use of reusable shopping bags. We are hopeful that people will willingly choose to make a difference in our environment by adopting the reusable bag lifestyle without being forced into it. <br /><br />While we applaud the vast numbers of consumers using reusable bags, the inexpensive polypropylene bags being promoted across our country right now will provide the next wave of trash in our landfills. They are constructed of thin pieces of plastic film punctured to look like woven fabric. They simply will not last for years with any regular use.<br /><br />We believe consumers should choose bags they love, while considering the durability and size most convenient for their needs. This will bring joy with use and create a long-term habit of using reusable shopping bags.<br /><br />Twelve Rivers |Stylish Reusable Shopping Bags<br />www.twelverivers.comJody at Twelve Rivershttp://www.twelverivers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-21365635740268692822009-08-17T14:28:39.453-07:002009-08-17T14:28:39.453-07:00I am also a big fan of this and voting yes, but my...I am also a big fan of this and voting yes, but my husband thinks it's punitive and is voting no, so that cancels me out. :) He said that being punitive and charging people isn't the way to instill change. I don't agree, but he's entitled to his opinion, no matter how surprised I was by it. :)<br /><br />I don't think it's punitive because we have choices. I have used my own bags for a very long time, and not just in grocery stories - at the department stores, outlet malls, etc. - they look at me like I'm crazy. But for the past year I've been on a quest to take no bags whatsoever. My only exception has been when I get chinese takeout - it always seems to leak all over and would be worth paying for a bag for so I don't have to clean the mess up.<br /><br />We probably have at least 25 reusable bags in the trunk of our car. Costco even has these huge reusable bags that will hold one of their 10 packs of tissues. I also have two of the envirosax bags you mentioned just so I can roll it into my pocket when I'm not necessarily planning on shopping, and I have the second one at my office for purchases there.<br /><br />Someone mentioned needing the paper grocery bags for recycling. I don't know where you live, but in Seattle we get dumpsters or containers for that. I have a paper grocery bag in my house that I fill with recyclable paper, and then I take it outside and dump it into the dumpster, bringing the paper bag back in. I've been using the same paper bag for 6 months now.<br /><br />It's been incredibly easy to give up the bag habit.<br /><br />To be honest, I don't expect this to pass the vote. But I hope I'm wrong!Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02707101800183906943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-52519402564172800512009-08-16T16:28:45.233-07:002009-08-16T16:28:45.233-07:00Thanks for the comments, everyone!
Uncle Mike, I ...Thanks for the comments, everyone!<br /><br />Uncle Mike, I agree that this is a form of social engineering, just like public education, publicly funded transportation (be it roads or light rail), etc. But unlike you, I think that some social engineering is necessary and appropriate. I think that the bag tax is appropriate, because it encourages people to do something reasonable, and because the penalties (twenty cents) are equally reasonable. And who decides? This time, the people decide. I voted YES. We will see if I am in the minority or majority on this round! I love you, and on this one we might need to agree to disagree. :-)<br /><br />PS If you shop at Costco, you can still bring your own bag(s). I did that on Friday. ;-) Costco IS very clever to get us to take their broken boxes away so that they don't pay for bags OR have to pay additional recycling fees - they get us to take their "garbage" for them! I got tired of breaking down those boxes, so now I pack my own bags and let them handle their own recycling issues.Kristinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08069440381654278765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-44150359436840070012009-08-15T18:53:38.185-07:002009-08-15T18:53:38.185-07:00Where I'm at, we need brown paper bags for rec...Where I'm at, we need brown paper bags for recycling, especially for loose paper like mail. It's a requirement. It is problematic - want to bring own bag to save the plant, need a continual supply of brown paper bags for recycling to save the planet. Ugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-85105058944336260272009-08-15T14:15:51.119-07:002009-08-15T14:15:51.119-07:00Kristina,
This is just another attempt at social ...Kristina,<br /><br />This is just another attempt at social engineering. When does it stop? Who decides what is worthy of more social engineering? And truly, it is just another way to force the public to pay for the views held by some. Do I use reuseable bags? Yes I do. But not every time. Would I change my behavior if they taxed my grocery bag? Sure, any thing you tax, you get less of that. So I would be less likely to shop in Seattle. So would plenty of others. Mostly, I shop at Costco, and do not use any bags at all. <br /><br />So I would just ask... when are too many taxes too much? When is the social engineering oppressive enough? Or expensive enough, like our new light rail to nowhere... for how many billions?! I will tell you: when you spend two hours commuting to work, that is when! This is just another example of it, and I am against it. <br /><br />Uncle MikeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13543016.post-60653198344567797472009-08-14T19:31:42.813-07:002009-08-14T19:31:42.813-07:00I'm not good at it yet but, I do it fairly oft...I'm not good at it yet but, I do it fairly often. I also hope the bag tax passes. It is 100% in the person's control if they pay it or not. So, quit complaining and bring a bag!SusanLnoreply@blogger.com