by Jonathan Clayton

Created on: April 18, 2008   Last Updated: July 18, 2008

Trash,Litter,Garbage A Total Disgrace in Our Country.

I spent most of my career in telecommunications, as a contractor. This meant that I moved from state to state, in pursuit of my career. So I've lived and worked in practically every state in this country. And in all states, it seems to be the same. Trash EVERYWHERE!
I personally never understood the mentality of someone who leaves they're trash everywhere they go! Let's be honest here, how hard is it to put your trash in a bag, and dispose of it when you leave? I am a total outdoorsman. So I spend a great deal of my time outside, pursuing my favorite pastimes. Fishing, hunting, camping, boating etc.It has never ceased to amaze and dismay me that no matter how far I go down a stream to fish. Back in the woods to camp. Seriously hiking several miles to hunt, there is ALWAYS trash! regardless of how far I've traveled back in the woods. There is no escape from humanity and the inevitable trash he leaves behind!

So many times I've lost count, I wind up spending hours picking up someone elses garbage, just so I can have a decent time with my family, doing what we like to do in the great outdoors. Without having to look or smell someone elses refuse! Totally disgusting!
As long as I live I will never understand how people seem to act in this regard. I now live in the midwest in one of our country's most beautiful states. I am a creek fisherman, and anyone who knows what that means, knows that people like myself search out beautiful, hidden, remote,and inaccesible creeks or streams to fish and hunt or camp on.We go to this extreme in order to get away from the rat race! The constant flow of humanity that never seems to abate, regardless of how hard one tries to escape!
Hopefully you are starting to understand, how important this issue is to people like myself.
It should be the same for everyone but sadly, this is not the case.
It is my own personal opinion, that this country needs to hire and train probably two to three times the current amount of employees we have in Parks and Wildlife,and give them the authority to find, fine, ticket, and even arrest the people who litter our great nation!Sometimes, there needs to be examples made in order to get the point across.
If our citizens knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they could, and would serve jail time for this offense, I truly believe they're attitudes would change! Now, while this may seem drastic to some, I would suggest that these very same people who feel that this is too aggressive in the beautification of our nation, go out and pick up trash, for just one day!
It is very easy to sit in your lazyboy in the comfort of your home, and talk about how terrible this issue is. It's quite another to take an active role in doing something about it!
In closing, I would like to say, the time to take affirmitive action in this situation is WAY OVERDUE! We have one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and I for one would like for it to remain that way, and unless we can change the way our population thinks about littering, trash, and garbage, the situation will only get worse! God Bless America!

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