Since I don’t live in any other state (beyond New Jersey and confusion), I don’t really know how things are going ‘out there.’ And sorry, I pretty much don’t care. I figure I have enough to worry about tending my own garden; why get all muddled up with concerns beyond my backdoor? But it seems New Jersey has enjoyed lots of bans in the past few years: the bag ban, plastic utensils, and now, I just read, chewing gum is being added to the list of things we can no longer use, enjoy, or benefit from.
Again, I have no idea what they are doing in other states, but the Protecting Against Microplastics Act that is being proposed mandates a 3-year phasing out of chewing gum. Surely the legislation will face challenges from gum and candy makers, and it still must pass both legislative houses and secure the governor’s signature. But as these things have gone lately, a’banning we will do ‘cause somebody says it is the voodoo that we should do do.
Going after the public’s consumption of microplastics (whatever the hell they are) might seem like a good measure (supposedly these little buggers swim around in chewing gum, as in many other things we humans ingest), in theory. But as always, I question any modern scientific findings (and science doesn’t much work unless it is consistently questioned) since these days, there is lots of agenda behind almost everything, and yes, even scientific findings, sorry to say, especially when trying to get the public to do something/pay money from those findings.
I am not saying microplastics (again, whatever the hell they are) are good for us. I’m not saying they are bad. I don’t know enough about the subject to weigh in, as I still don’t know whether the bag ban meant very much good to our ecology (I have read reports pro and con, all backed up by an agenda surely), as I don’t much believe anything I hear or see these days. In fact, if you are reading this, you should suspect that possibly some AI program wrote it, infused with my cynical worldview.
So, don’t believe a word of it.
I heard this great quote the other day: “Just because you are offended doesn’t mean you are right.” I take this even further to say: “Just because a supposed expert/religious tract/politician/a Kardashian or a Clooney, or even your great Auntie Ruth reports something as truth, doesn’t mean I have to go along, agree, or suddenly act or talk a certain way.” And really, when it comes to this gum thing, what happened to personal responsibility for what you put in your mouth? If I want to chew gum, and there are some sort of facts supporting how dangerous that chewing might be, still, why not let me endanger myself? Why does the NJ legislature get to tell me I can’t chew?
So, for now, chew on my fellow naked apes. Those microplastics are either killing you or will preserve your insides so you never deteriorate. I don’t know which, and as you well know by now, I don’t much care. Just please, stay out of my garden, dude!
