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Since grocery stores started the "paper or plastic" alternative, the planet has had a problem. Non-biodegradable plastic is clogging our landfills, fouling our streams, and killing off marine life. Birds and other small animals are falling victim to this innocuous petroleum byproduct; all in the name of convenience.

It is doubtful that appealing to common sense or love of nature and the environment will have any appreciable impact. If that route worked, Americans would not be buying gas-guzzling behemoths whenever the price of a gallon goes down, we wouldn't be a gun culture that cries foul when the government tries to control the proliferation of assault rifles even in the aftermath of another school massacre. No, appeals to common sense in this country have routinely fallen on deaf ears. If it does not interfere with our TV reception, we are unlikely to pay much attention. Who wants to have to go through the extra steps of folding paper bags, when plastic is so much more convenient, just wad it up and throw it out, right?

So, how do we remove or reduce this menace to out environment? Maybe Connecticut has it right. If you can't appeal to reason, give them an economic reason to do the right thing. If I have to pay a few cents per bag more to get my groceries home, am I not likely to chose an alternative to plastic? Paper will do nicely, thank you. The reusable cloth bags work well, too, and they have the added advantage of being useful for carrying other things. Groceries today, books from the library tomorrow.

I know we're talking New England here, and taxes arouse revolutionary sentiments - if you don't believe me, just ask the British what happened when they tried to tax New Englanders' tea - but if we continue to kill our environment with gas guzzling cars and eternal plastic, higher taxes will be the least of our worries.

Learn more about this author, Charles Ray.
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