Chesapeake Observer - Page 147 of 148 - Perspectives on public affairs from Maryland's Eastern Shore

The Ugly Face Behind the Mask of Socialism

September 2, 2019

As American politics becomes more polarized, a number of candidates jockeying for position around the leftward pole label themselves “Socialists.” Others, not quite so ideological, travel with them by supporting policies found in the socialist package. Polls of voters also show surprising numbers in favor of socialism, though digging deeper reveals that the respondents’ understanding of socialism is weak. In particular, few seem to understand the cultural devastation and poverty that full-blown socialism has produced in practice. The classic definition of socialism is a system based on abolition of private property with government ownership of the means of production, free provision of many goods and services, and a planned economy. Socialists today advocate policies that are part of the classic definition -- such as wealth taxes, Medicare for all, universal guaranteed income, free college education and other services -- but they do not mention the abolition of private property and control of incomes and industry. As a result, a 2018 Gallup poll revealed that 37% of the American population had a positive view of socialism, rising to 51% for the 18-29 age group. C. C. Pecknold stated it well: “Socialism is in vogue because no one is sure what it is. The classic definition … no longer applies. More people today believe that socialism means ‘equality’ than ‘government control.’ Six percent told Gallup that socialism is ‘talking to people’ or ‘being social.’” This vagueness about the meaning of “socialism” has generated positive attitudes toward a system with consequences that should appall its current supporters. These consequences can be illustrated at both a micro and a macro level.... Read More

FACT-CHECKING CLAIMS ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS

Claim: Reusable plastic bags reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions

Fact: Reusable bags must be reused more than 15 times to have smaller environmental impacts than disposable plastic bags. Where impacts of bans were studied, they were not kept nearly this long.

Claim: Disposable plastic bags are a large % of solid waste and filling up landfills

Fact: Plastic bags are only 0.3% of solid waste going into landfills, according to US EPA

Claim: Disposable plastic bags are a major source of road and waterway clutter

Fact: They are only 0.6% of picked up trash in roads and waterways. The Ocean Conservancy reported less than 1% of beach cleanup is disposable bags.

Claim: Disposable plastic bags form massive plastic islands

Fact: 95% of river-based, ocean-bound plastic originates from 10 river systems in Asia and Africa; improperly discarded fishing nets and gear account for the majority of plastic accumulating in ocean gyres. Besides, disposable bags just can’t get there from here. Discards go into landfills and are covered up.

Claim: Disposable plastic bags are poisoning soils

Fact: Our landfills are lined to prevent toxic leakage

Claim: Mandating reusable bags makes business happy

Fact: Big chains are happy to make more by ending the giveaway of disposable bags, selling reusable bags and collecting 10 cents for paper bags. The average retailer bag profit margin in NJ was 60 – 70% on reusable bags. Small businesses in Easton are not happy. Example: Hallmark always gave tiny paper bags with cards and trinkets, now has to charge 10 cents. Piazza has to charge for plastic bags for takeout. Customers of both are irritated.

Claim: The other states rules are different from Easton's

Fact: NJ’s is better than ours because it applies only to grocery stores. NJ bans paper bags too. Otherwise its coverage is the same.

Claim: The 10-cent charge is necessary to prevent people from switching from plastic to paper bags.

Fact: If it were not for the plastic bag ban, there would not be a problem of inducing people to switch to paper.

CONCLUSION: Those whose environmental beliefs exclude use of thin plastic bags would not be prevented from continuing if the ban were ended. But they should not impose those beliefs on the entire town, especially when the beliefs are based on factually incorrect claims.