Bag It

As expected, the LA City Council, which rules this town with an iron fist, has banned plastic bags at supermarkets.  Paper bags are still okay, but they'll cost ten cents (and may be banned yet.).

They claim they're doing it for the environment, but I'd like to see the stats.  Plastic bags are one of those small things that make life easier, and whether or not they're used should be left up to the stores and their customers.

Attorney H. David Nahai, who used to work at the Department of Water and Power, claims plastic is a danger to marine life and "it is an unconscionable burden to taxpayers who have to foot the bill for cleanups year after year.”  I've apparently been footing this bill for years and have never found it unconscionable.  All I can say is, after this ban takes effect, my DWP bills better go down drastically.

PS  For some excellent analysis of the issue, here's a piece by my friend Jay Beeber at Reason.com.