Is there really time in a bottle?

First it was Compact Florescent Lights.  CFL bulbs that are replacing the ancient incandescent light bulbs by federal government mandate.  But not without resistance.  Now its bottled water banned on some college campuses.  We just cannot satisfy the far right conservative mind.  Only if they were indeed conservative or rather conservators of the environment.  But, I guess, they are not.

Let me explain what we are talking about.  Not only is the far right against replacing the old Edison light bulb but also conservatives are up in arms about bottled water.  It appears many colleges across the American landscape have decided to put an end to bottled water and it’s by-product, empty plastic bottles.  Empty plastic bottles abandoned on the college campus.  Tossed away willy-nilly and forgotten.  Campus litter.  Oh sure, the bottles are recyclable but college students rarely taking the time to dispose of them properly.  Bottles easily left here and there around classrooms and dorms.

What has recently replaced the banned bottle on some campuses is a water station or hydration stations.  A convenient centrally located place to refill your personal water bottles.  Easy and no mess.  And best of all, doesn’t cost anything to refill.

However, on some campuses are a group of Republican students protesting bias against the plastic water bottled sold in most grocery and convenience stores.  Sighting that banned bottled water sales takes away the freedom of choice.  And we all know how Republicans feel about Choice. 

But, behind this campus political activism, is the Bottled Water Association.  A Washington lobbying group.  An association who are opposed to “Socialized” water.  Preferring the better choice of Privatized water.  Simply know as Bottled Water.  You get new water and you get a new bottle every time.  How cool.  Not really.

Never the less, whenever a better idea comes along there seems to be some lump heads that always must disagree.  No matter what the cause.  And in this case, colleges are trying to reduce campus litter plus make it more convenient for the student to fill up cheaply and rehydrate themselves.  So, what’s wrong with that?  “It’s anti-capitalism and against free market choice.”  For every good idea, there is an   opposing bad idea.  Such is life.

Social drinking again?

Let’s talk about our drinking water.  For the most part drinking water in our communities is safe and thirst quenching.  But, we are not talking about safe drinking water this time. 

I want to address the rhetoric about socialized this and socialized that.  Babble accusing democrats for their communal mongering.  Always wanting more taxes to fund so called welfare programs.  “Tax and spend again.”

If you haven’t been paying attention one of the biggest socialized programs in our state are the large presents of nearby lakes.  Man made lakes funded by federal dollars.  Lakes built during the Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administration.  Some lakes also providing electrical power.  Most providing recreational boating and sailing.  Many with state built lodges.  But most of all lakes providing water for drinking.  Drinking water collected, purified, and delivered to households by state and local municipalities.  Water brought to our water faucet in our kitchens and bathrooms.  Not to mention water to irrigate our lawns and gardens.

But here is my point.  Water collected and delivered to us and paid for by federal money and local taxes.  A social system if I have ever seen one.  Do we want to give up our drinking water just because it’s paid for by federal, state, and city taxes?  Well then, stop this socialized crap.  Or stop drinking our water.  There’s plenty of privatized water at the grocery store.  All in convenient plastic bottles.  Bottles often tossed away over the landscape.  Creating a privatized blight on the environment.