| The current green agenda involves congressional | | | | should take a second look and realize they can cut |
| representatives on both sides of the aisle and special | | | | treatments in half and put that money into savings. |
| interest groups, vying for stimulus money and tax | | | | 4. Reduce energy use - A number of energy |
| breaks for green companies (wind, solar, ethanol and | | | | companies offer meter hookups to automatically shut |
| any other company that can convince Congress that | | | | off your air conditioning on days of high usage, and |
| they deserve it). | | | | digital thermostats that can be timed to adjust |
| I have come up with my own poor man's green | | | | temperature when no one is home. Local government |
| agenda that I plan to send on to Congress if you, | | | | should make this mandatory for every household. |
| the reader, agree with me. I am part of the over | | | | Homeowners should take it upon themselves to |
| taxed middle class that will bear the most burden | | | | reduce their energy usage as well. A home |
| from the entitlement programs that our wonderful | | | | thermostat should not be set below 78 degrees |
| government has come up with. | | | | during the hottest time of the year and not above |
| The following list requires some local tax dollars to | | | | 68 degrees during the coldest time of the year. |
| enforce as well as common sense from ordinary | | | | 5. Recycle - All communities in the U.S. should enforce |
| citizens. I hear conservatives complaining about | | | | a recycling policy, fining homeowners that continue to |
| government interfering with our lives and I say bring | | | | throw away recyclables. Recycling reduces trash by |
| it on: | | | | at least 30 percent just by simply throwing bottles |
| 1. Commuting - Companies should reward employees | | | | and newspapers into the blue container instead of |
| that bike, carpool or take transit to work. Americans | | | | the trash can. I know its an extra trip to the curb |
| believe that they own the road and they have the | | | | once a week but we could all use the exercise. |
| god given right to drive by themselves in gas guzzling | | | | 6. Bulk trash pickup - With the savings from reducing |
| automobiles. If you give them a little cash incentive | | | | the amount of trash to deliver to the landfill, local |
| they may comply. I would add that companies could | | | | governments should use that money to hire a bulk |
| receive tax breaks however that would require the | | | | pickup contractor to pickup old appliances, |
| government to hire even more people to oversee | | | | computers, tube televisions, fax machines, printers, |
| the program. | | | | cell phones, old lawn mowers, sofas, mattresses and |
| 2. Conserving water - Most American communities | | | | many other things we just don't know what to do |
| continue to build homes and business without | | | | with. Some intelligent Americans choose to drop |
| accounting for water needs. The community I live in | | | | those things off on the side of the road or dump |
| uses well water and is finally coming to the realization | | | | them in streams and rivers across this great nation. |
| that you can't keep building if you have no idea | | | | Bulk pickup contractors are able to recycle these |
| where the water will come from. It is time for local | | | | items and reduce landfill waste. |
| government to enforce certain rules (not the federal | | | | 7. Eat less - Americans are the most gluttonous |
| government). Only allow lawn watering once a week | | | | creatures on this planet. I learned this on my latest |
| in areas where there is a surplus water supply. | | | | visit to a Vegas buffet. If we reduced the amount of |
| Homeowners should come to the realization that | | | | food we intake we would not have to produce as |
| having the greenest lawn on the block does not yield | | | | much livestock thus reducing methane gas. We could |
| you any reward other than a few compliments. They | | | | grow more trees instead of crops as well. |
| should reduce their water usage and find ways to | | | | Furthermore, restaurants should take it upon |
| collect rain water for use in watering their lawns. In | | | | themselves to reduce portions to reduce food waste. |
| areas of the southwest, desert landscaping should be | | | | This would also decrease our healthcare costs. |
| required for areas where there is a deficit in the | | | | I am all for solar and wind energy however this |
| water supply. This practice is common in Las Vegas, | | | | should not require tax payer dollars. Remember those |
| NV. | | | | companies that made a ton of money when |
| 3. Reduce fertilizer run off - Run off from over | | | | speculators drove the price of oil over 130 dollars a |
| fertilizing lawns in many U.S. communities is a threat | | | | barrel last year and the government told us it was |
| to water quality and aquatic life. There are a number | | | | supply issues and unrest in a number of countries. |
| of commercial lawn services that claim you need 6 to | | | | Well those companies (BP and Exxon to name a |
| 10 lawn treatments every season. This is not true | | | | couple) should take some of that profit and find a |
| and local government should put limits to the amount | | | | way to bring solar and wind to the common people |
| of chemicals used in lawn treatments. Homeowners | | | | as a thank you for our support. |