Let me tell you about the 'good people'

To the Editor:

I was rather surprised by the convoluted editorial (“How are people thinking?”) in the May 15, 2008 edition of The Kings County Register, especially the ending, where it was inferred that 'good people' are trying to make things better despite all the 'bad people' in the world.

After talking with and listening to family, friends and people in the community, I'd like to answer how some of the people are thinking.

In February, I attended a meeting held by the Valley Waste Management team regarding the new garbage/recycling laws coming into effect. The atmosphere was one of raw hostility because people are fed up with being force-fed by the 'good people' into doing such things as washing their garbage, sorting it and having to transport much of their garbage themselves now -- even though we're paying the same amount in taxes (or more) and the garbage company made a huge profit last year.

Some think that burning garbage instead and harnessing the power from this to heat homes would be a viable alternative. Others think changes are being made way too soon -- that change should begin from the top down: in manufacturing and packaging instead of all from the bottom up.

I have observed people in fast food parking lots, where garbage/recycling rules don't apply, take shopping bags full of garbage from their cars and cram them into someone else's garbage can so they don't have to deal with it or sort it. Throwing garbage out of a car window is sad, but not unexpected with the rules now in place.

Drinking and driving? Certainly not something to condone, but most people think it's 'safe' to drive after one or two drinks.

One would think the 'good people' would have banned liquor stores from being part of the whole family grocery shopping experience so that it's not socially acceptable anymore, or at least make sure all product was hidden from the sight of consumers.

But the 'good people' obviously overlooked this because they were too busy having tobacco products hidden from view and having smoking banned in cars (even though many smoked while children grew in the womb). No one stops to consider that seniors’ homes have smokers, as do the Legions; yes, many smokers live to a ripe old age.

Not every smoker dies from some horrible illness, or cancer. But because it's 'trendy' at the moment to drink, not smoke, don't expect to see any reduction in drinking and driving in the near future.

How are people thinking? Many of us 'bad people' are tired of the overinflated gas prices because we're all aware that gas availability hasn't changed. Gas prices are high for political reasons, personal gain for a few, and to try to make us more 'green' aware, even though the earth has been taking pretty darn good care of itself for the past however many millions of years.

People are being 'guilted' into all kinds of ludicrous things because the 'good people's doom and gloom view of the world has it ending tomorrow. It's amazing how some people can have faith in a god you can't see, but no faith in the earth you can touch and smell and stand on.

Some people also think it was probably these same 'good people' who got rid of the train system which has led to many, many more trucks on our highways that has ruined our roads and given us much more pollution; that these are the 'good people' who will soon want wood or oil heating in homes banned because it harms the environment.

These are the 'good people' who think that warming up your car, or idling it is bad, but that driving with frosty windshields on a cold winter's day when you can't see anything is safe; and these are the people who think that holding a cell phone while driving is bad, but putting bicycles on the road for motor vehicles to swerve around and cause unsafe traffic conditions is good.

How are people thinking? 'Good people' are big champions of the anti-bullying campaign, but have no idea what bullying actually means or includes. Pushing your ideals, morals and beliefs onto others, forcing assimilation on people, wiping out any sense of individuality and personal freedom is bullying at its finest.

Sincerely,

Tanya M. Sponagle

Cambridge, NS