I understand this take–it’s what my dad always said: why put low-flow toilet in his house when most water is wasted industrially, it’s just theatrics, whatever.
But, I hate it. And the whole “virtue signaling” thing. Yes, we sometimes communicating our values through performance. We also demonstrate our commitment through real changes in our habits and life choices, even when the results don’t add up to much.
In the end we are asking representatives and leaders and business owners and little VPs of whatever to stand up for these same values and the fact is each of them can make the same excuse as my dad: sure, I could put up a sign to say “bring your own take home container” but look at those boxcars full of Styrofoam every day – it makes no difference.
What I saw with carbon footprint is business starting to cater to people who wanted to avoid unnecessary plastic, live or work in efficient buildings, etc. Now I feel like things are snapping back as the pressure from consumers is off. The plastic in grocery stores is for me the most visible thing-- it’s just gone crazy.
In many ways, you are free to live in compliance with the laws you seek now. And doing so helps prove it is possible, enjoyable, and popular way better than whatever letter to the editor you are planning to write.
Dude, this just makes me mad about the big box stores, you’ve got aisle after aisle of poisons, herbicide, pesticide, weed n feed, moss off, etc. I know the agriculture use is bigger, but the home/landscaper market has big margins for these companies and they push hard to make it seem normal. The suburbs could be a haven for insects and songbirds instead of a dumping ground for chemical waste.