Tea Partiers complain about neighborhood recycling

[Amnesiac]

A Valley community's decision to change the way trash is picked up provided further proof of how deeply the nation's anti-government, "tea party"-fueled sentiment is running.

A decision by the Fountain Hills Town Council to hire a single trash hauler and begin a curbside recycling program has been met with angry protests from residents who accuse town leaders of overstepping their bounds and taking a leap toward socialism.

Some even likened it to "Obamacare" for garbage, calling it "trashcare."

...

On Thursday, a divided council approved a five-year contract with Allied Waste Services to be the single hauler and begin a recycling program. Residents currently can choose among five haulers and the town has no curbside recycling.

That single issue generated a nearly five-hour public hearing and council debate that went past midnight.

Fountain Hills Mayor Jay Schlum believes the angry reaction, which also included e-mails to the mayor and council, was fueled by this year's election.

"I don't think people would have been as on edge had it not been following one of the more volatile elections we've had in our country's history, at least as far as I've been around," he said. "But that doesn't mean what they brought up isn't valid or anything. It just added more heat to those arguments."

Peter Bardow, an opponent, said the issue isn't about politics, but about taking away his and other residents' right to choose their own trash hauler. "I feel like you're forcing homeowners-association regulation and homeowners-association enforcement on me," he said.

Fountain Hills is home to two tea-party groups - Fountain Hills Tea Party and Fountain Hills Tea Party Patriots.

...

The Fountain Hills Tea Party posted this announcement on its website in advance of Thursday's meeting: "7 people will decide who will provide your trash collection services and take away your ability to choose that on your own. If you don't like government telling you what to do, show up at the meeting and voice your opposition. If it's not broken, don't let government try to fix it."

From here. (http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2010/11/07/20101107tea-party-trash-fountain-hills.html)

CURBSIDE RECYCLING?? IN MY CONSERVATIVE CAPITALIST SOCIETY? AIN'T HAPPENING, BITCH!

Seriously, who gives a fuck? How is this "socialism"? I live in one of the most conservative parts of Houston, and we have a fucking recycling program. And a homeowner's association. Why? So our property values are kept high and we can attract potential buyers to the neighborhood and fuel the local economy.

[Perseus]

Recycling is a myth like evolution and gays. Duh.

[Peace God]

Recycling is a myth like evolution and gays. Duh.
...dont forget global warming.

[Sugaree]

I bet the Jews did this.

[Perseus]

...dont forget global warming.

That falls into recycling.

[Peace God]

That falls into recycling.
Well, I guess it doesnt mater... there's both hoaxes started by tree hugging, godless, vegetarian, pot smoking, environmentalist hippies!

[Amnesiac]

recycling is a myth like evolution and gays. duh.

i bet the jews did this.

well, i guess it doesnt mater... There's both hoaxes started by tree hugging, godless, vegetarian, pot smoking, environmentalist hippies!

No guys, it's those damn northern cawm-nuu-est dumbocrats!

Tryin' to tell us southern folk where we can put our recyclable materials!!

[Kahn]

Teapartier: "Recycling is evil, HAIL TRASH HEATHEN!"

http://www.examiner.com/images/blog/EXID13006/images/oscar50.jpg

[Sith Lord 13]

So this is so horrible, when people likening Bush to Hitler and the Nazi regime was fine. Nice double standard.

Also, interesting way to frame it. No one there was against curbside recycling. They're against the lack of competition and the fact that it's the town doing it and not one of the five current private haulers.

Government enforced monopoly for the win?

[Amnesiac]

So this is so horrible, when people likening Bush to Hitler and the Nazi regime was fine. Nice double standard.

Also, interesting way to frame it. No one there was against curbside recycling. They're against the lack of competition and the fact that it's the town doing it and not one of the five current private haulers.

Government enforced monopoly for the win?

I hate it when people compare anyone to Hitler. Except Stalin. He was worse.

They have valid points, but it's such an overreaction to the issue. Most people wouldn't care who picks their trash up for them. Besides, this isn't an entire city being affected, just a small town of a few thousand people. My neighborhood association controls trash service for about 2,000 people, and nobody complains. Why do they even need two Tea Parties anyway?

[Peace God]

No guys, it's those damn northern cawm-nuu-est dumbocrats!
Nah, its definitely the commies.

[Amnesiac]

Nah, its definitely the commies.

Yeah, the caww-meeez

[Sith Lord 13]

They have valid points, but it's such an overreaction to the issue.

I'd say it's less of an overreaction than the thread title. Deliberately mis-framing the argument, by making it an issue about recycling, when it was about government interference in free enterprise.Recycling just happened to be where the issue was raised.

Most people wouldn't care who picks their trash up for them.

Unless they're employed by one of the trash collectors right now and are consequently gonna be unemployed, or do business with people who are now gonna be the aforementioned unemployed, or are going to have to pay higher taxes because of the new program, or are just concerned about the ethical implications of big brother telling us who we can have pick up our trash.

Besides, this isn't an entire city being affected, just a small town of a few thousand people.

Point being? Injustice against one is injustice against all.

My neighborhood association controls trash service for about 2,000 people, and nobody complains.

Here too, (it's actually the city, but same difference) but I think it's more a matter of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Why do they even need two Tea Parties anyway?

You got me there. I can't be bothered to find out, but there's probably some minute ideological difference.

[Number02]

Honestly... who cares who picks up the trash?

The people who work for the 5 private companies? They won't be laid off, and fi they are, just go work in the public sector instead. Simples *squeak*

My word. You conservative Americans are mighty concerned with your 'right to choose', aren't you?

[mrmcdonaldduck]

http://rob.nu/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/facepalm2.jpg

[Sith Lord 13]

Honestly... who cares who picks up the trash?

The people who work for the 5 private companies? They won't be laid off, and fi they are, just go work in the public sector instead. Simples *squeak*

My word. You conservative Americans are mighty concerned with your 'right to choose', aren't you?

Unfortunately, job pickings are slim right now. It's not that easy to find a new job. We're concerned about the government interfering in our lives. There's a base distrust of big government. Government tends to mess up most of the things they touch.

[Amnesiac]

I'd say it's less of an overreaction than the thread title. Deliberately mis-framing the argument, by making it an issue about recycling, when it was about government interference in free enterprise.Recycling just happened to be where the issue was raised.

I guess, but it still seems like a minute issue to me.

Unless they're employed by one of the trash collectors right now and are consequently gonna be unemployed, or do business with people who are now gonna be the aforementioned unemployed, or are going to have to pay higher taxes because of the new program, or are just concerned about the ethical implications of big brother telling us who we can have pick up our trash.

I doubt they have any relations with the trash companies. They would've mentioned that in the first place. Also, I'm sure these big trash companies won't lay off employees because a small Arizona town decided to do business with their competitor.

Point being? Injustice against one is injustice against all.

Here too, (it's actually the city, but same difference) but I think it's more a matter of if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Some residents weren't happy with having multiple trash collectors in the first place, that's why this issue was raised. They petitioned the city, complaining about the annoyances of multiple trash collectors clogging the streets, and a change was made.

You got me there. I can't be bothered to find out, but there's probably some minute ideological difference.

Yeah, probably.

[Strength]

...dont forget global warming.

but it is a myth.

where iam currently living (Australia for the past 10 years )

the seasons have messed up. its warm winters and cool, rainy summers. explain that? that aint no warming. its reversal in weather!

[Peace God]

the seasons have messed up. its warm winters and cool, rainy summers. explain that? that aint no warming. its reversal in weather!
Part of the climate change is unpredictable and unusual weather. Global warming doesnt mean "hotter everywhere all the time". We just had one of the biggest blizzards last winter, that does mean that global warming is a myth. And actually, summers in the last decade have been the hottest on record.

Do you think the rapidly changing ecosystem should be ignored?
Do you think that the ice caps melting should be ignored?
And do you honestly think that your personal experience in one tiny part of the world makes global warming a myth?

[Amnesiac]

but it is a myth.

where iam currently living (Australia for the past 10 years )

the seasons have messed up. its warm winters and cool, rainy summers. explain that? that aint no warming. its reversal in weather!

El Nino and La Nina, both of which affect Australian climate severely. This does not downplay global warming, it's a natural phenomenon that occurs every few years. Global warming/climate change is still a problem that will haunt us for decades to come. This is La Nina, and it fits EXACTLY what you're talking about:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/La_Nina_regional_impacts.gif

[Sith Lord 13]

No, it's the fact that there is no where near a scientific consensus that makes global warming as we know it a myth. The fact that large numbers of scientists have warned we're not in for global warming but for global cooling, make it a myth. The fact that a few very powerful men who are concerned with making money and fear mongering for the purpose of keeping science on the front page dictate scientific fact make it a myth.

[Amnesiac]

No, it's the fact that there is no where near a scientific consensus that makes global warming as we know it a myth. The fact that large numbers of scientists have warned we're not in for global warming but for global cooling, make it a myth. The fact that a few very powerful men who are concerned with making money and fear mongering for the purpose of keeping science on the front page dictate scientific fact make it a myth.

Okay, we're off-topic now. That's not the point anyway, he was talking about how just because one summer in Australia was cooler than usual debunked the entire theory of climate change. It's La Nina. People always overlook it and jump to conclusions.

[Peace God]

The fact that a few very powerful men who are concerned with making money and fear mongering for the purpose of keeping science on the front page dictate scientific fact make it a myth.
Well yes, unfortunately there's a political side to everything. And, I dont doubt that certain claims have been exaggerated for the purpose of manipulation.

Also, Im interested in seeing the large number of scientists against it.

I believe that significant man-made climate change and its damage to the ecosystem is happening.
Should we all panic and freak out? No.
Are we all gonna die? Probably not.
Is it to late? No
Can we do something about it? Yes.