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Why should the onus be on the consumer when the reality is that there are massive corporations that aren't paying the external costs they are inflicting on our

Why should the onus be on the consumer when the reality is that there are massive corporations that aren't paying the external costs they are inflicting on our environment? Even if I never consumed another piece of plastic in my life, a single cargo truck destined to Walmart will contain more plastics effectively ruining what I can do. It would be smarter to actually have politicians who want to regulate and fine companies these corporations that are destroying out planet than trying to blame people who aren't the real problems.

sixstringtheory 8y ago
Agree wholeheartedly that regulation must come into play. But ultimately people have to ask for the regulation and vote accordingly. Bit of a chicken and egg problem. I grapple with the fact that my efforts aren’t even a drop in the bucket, but raising awareness does help to get others doing the same.
wang_li 8y ago
>Why should the onus be on the consumer when the reality is that there are massive corporations that aren't paying the external costs they are inflicting on our environment? There are zero companies that create and distribute products for the simple enjoyment of doing so. If consumers didn't buy these products in their packaging, the manufacturers would not produce them. >people who aren't the real problems. People are the real problem. What's more is that it's poor, stupid people who are disproportionately the problem. But it's out of fashion to criticize poor people as they are, supposedly, victims of circumstances and not to be thought as functioning humans who are capable of making choices.
- throwawaytoday5 8y ago
  How do I have a choice as a consumer when companies have no incentive (through force of law or massive fines) to correct their actions? I live in an area that has typical grocery stories, everything inside is covered in plastic. There's no option to buy spices and put them in my own containers, neither the grains or rice or lentils. What am I suppose to do? Drive 100 miles to the nearest store so I can by rice that's not in several plastic bags? Why don't our politicians put our needs first? Why are they bought out by life damaging companies like Koch Industries who instead encourage people to "reduce" or "recycle." What a crock of shite. If companies were forced to pay 30% of their yearly gross profits for needless plastic usage (IMO 90% of all plastic use pointless) they would change their policies. I'm not talking about "enjoyment" I'm talking about no incentive to correct their behavior. Corporations are fucking over the Earth because are politicians are too chickenshit to tell them otherwise. I honestly hope I die before this all these travesties come to fruition.
  - wang_li 8y ago
    Your complaint seems to be that it's not convenient for you to take responsibility for the choices you make. It's trivial to order bulk grains and dried beans online delivered in cans, paper bags, or barrels. Regardless, if it's 100 miles to the nearest big city, that's shouldn't be a problem. Plan ahead, know how much you need, and buy six month's or a year's worth at a time. You write as if it's a human rights violation that choices you would like to make require effort on your part. Sorry, that's not the case. Take personal responsibility for your choices. If you can't be bothered to make environmentally responsible decisions, that's on you.

sixstringtheory 8y ago

Agree wholeheartedly that regulation must come into play. But ultimately people have to ask for the regulation and vote accordingly. Bit of a chicken and egg problem. I grapple with the fact that my efforts aren’t even a drop in the bucket, but raising awareness does help to get others doing the same.

wang_li 8y ago

>Why should the onus be on the consumer when the reality is that there are massive corporations that aren't paying the external costs they are inflicting on our environment? There are zero companies that create and distribute products for the simple enjoyment of doing so. If consumers didn't buy these products in their packaging, the manufacturers would not produce them. >people who aren't the real problems. People are the real problem. What's more is that it's poor, stupid people who are disproportionately the problem. But it's out of fashion to criticize poor people as they are, supposedly, victims of circumstances and not to be thought as functioning humans who are capable of making choices.

throwawaytoday5 8y ago
How do I have a choice as a consumer when companies have no incentive (through force of law or massive fines) to correct their actions? I live in an area that has typical grocery stories, everything inside is covered in plastic. There's no option to buy spices and put them in my own containers, neither the grains or rice or lentils. What am I suppose to do? Drive 100 miles to the nearest store so I can by rice that's not in several plastic bags? Why don't our politicians put our needs first? Why are they bought out by life damaging companies like Koch Industries who instead encourage people to "reduce" or "recycle." What a crock of shite. If companies were forced to pay 30% of their yearly gross profits for needless plastic usage (IMO 90% of all plastic use pointless) they would change their policies. I'm not talking about "enjoyment" I'm talking about no incentive to correct their behavior. Corporations are fucking over the Earth because are politicians are too chickenshit to tell them otherwise. I honestly hope I die before this all these travesties come to fruition.
- wang_li 8y ago
  Your complaint seems to be that it's not convenient for you to take responsibility for the choices you make. It's trivial to order bulk grains and dried beans online delivered in cans, paper bags, or barrels. Regardless, if it's 100 miles to the nearest big city, that's shouldn't be a problem. Plan ahead, know how much you need, and buy six month's or a year's worth at a time. You write as if it's a human rights violation that choices you would like to make require effort on your part. Sorry, that's not the case. Take personal responsibility for your choices. If you can't be bothered to make environmentally responsible decisions, that's on you.