Clegg calls on supermarkets to implement 5p plastic bag tax

[Red]

I know you are playing devils advocate but can at least try and not make suggestions that are so bloody moronic. Hardly feasible for people to keep their dog's locked inside and some people do NEED dogs. I wouldn't say my area has a major problem with litter/chewing gum being dropped. If you see your city centre littered at 4am surely that is cleaned up by the council? Aluminum cans and plastic bottles can be recycled. Plastic bags take what 1000 years to decompose?

[Yawn]

So you'll agree with me on the banning of chewing gum and small bottles/cans too?

that quite a big difference to charging a measly 5p for a carrier bag undertaker!

i think that helping the environment by making ppl think twice about taking more plastic carrier bags than they need and donating all money made through these carrier bag sales to charity is far more beneficial than having a few free carrier bags to pick up after ur dog tbh!

[-:Undertaker:-]

I know you are playing devils advocate but can at least try and not make suggestions that are so bloody moronic. Hardly feasible for people to keep their dog's locked inside and some people do NEED dogs.

Not talking about people who need dogs, talking about people who just happen to like having a dog. I personally aren't a fan of dogs and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if they were banned/their movements restricted, infact it'd probably benefit me in that I wouldn't have to look out for dog **** all over the pavements round where I live.

But would I back a ban or restrictions? no. Why? because I don't believe in punishing the majority for the sins of a minority just as I never used to agree with the teacher holding back the entire class just because one idiot acted up like a clown in class.

Catch my drift?

I wouldn't say my area has a major problem with litter/chewing gum being dropped. If you see your city centre littered at 4am surely that is cleaned up by the council? Aluminum cans and plastic bottles can be recycled.

If your area doesn't have a problem with litter then why are you wanting to ban plastic bags?

Everytime I propose banning something similar you come back with the retort of 'well my area doesnt have that problem' - in which case, why ban bags then?

Plastic bags take what 1000 years to decompose?

Again, when was the last time you saw a plastic bag from the 1980s whizzing past you?

that quite a big difference to charging a measly 5p for a carrier bag undertaker!

i think that helping the environment by making ppl think twice about taking more plastic carrier bags than they need and donating all money made through these carrier bag sales to charity is far more beneficial than having a few free carrier bags to pick up after ur dog tbh!

Ohhhhhhhhh so in other words it isn't about the environment which you pretended is the principle of your argument, it's just about you feeling good about something that doesn't really concern you therefore your backing it. I thought so, because the minute I start suggesting banning similar things that people enjoy having they instantly make weak excuses as to why the things they enjoy/find helpful shouldn't be banned. I see.

You know the irony in all of this is that i've probably done more in my life in terms of my garden and all the trees and flowers i've established for the environment than either of you two as normal younger people have done - I can actually do good things for the environment myself and on my own accord rather than using the law to force individuals and private companies to make me feel good that I have done something, when in reality i've done nothing but stifle the small freedoms of other people.

If you really believed in the environment argument your putting forward in support of this ban then you'd back the chewing gum and bottle ban I proposed earlier. But you won't because that would cause you upset/inconveniences even though, going by your own logic, it'd benefit the environment.

[Yawn]

u will still have carrier bags just slightly less than u wouldve done when they were free and u will have to pay a small charge which will go to charity. u may be tempted to invest in a fabulous reusable bag. at morrisons u can buy them for just 20p and when they break we will replace for free. they r gr8 and u can use them for many other purposes as well, they r rly useful.

i just dont understand u sometimes undertaker the pros far outweigh the cons. ur argument just seems to be because the store is being forced to charge us for carrier bags which were once given for free. :S

it is merely a gentle nudge into a greener lifestyle for the general public and in the process will help charities. it is not a major shift or loss for any1. when i go into work next week i will look at the figure we have on the board about how many carrier bags we go thru a week(??) or w/e it is a massive number. i mean it would even be beneficial for the company no? they will be cutting the spending on carrier bags which like i said is a massive figure

[-:Undertaker:-]

u will still have carrier bags just slightly less than u wouldve done when they were free and u will have to pay a small charge which will go to charity. u may be tempted to invest in a fabulous reusable bag. at morrisons u can buy them for just 20p and when they break we will replace for free. they r gr8 and u can use them for many other purposes as well, they r rly useful.

Sounds convincing.

Indeed if it's so plain simple and convincing, then surely you don't need to use the law to force people to comply with your logic?

i just dont understand u sometimes undertaker the pros far outweigh the cons. ur argument just seems to be because the store is being forced to charge us for carrier bags which were once given for free. :S

Indeed, that's the principle of my argument that freedom should be protected and force/micromanagement is negative. Absolutely, that's why you'll see me defending internet freedom even alongside some things I don't agree with such as taking drugs or smoking - because although I might not agree with those lifestyle choices, it's none of my business.

Catch my drift?

it is merely a gentle nudge into a greener lifestyle for the general public and in the process will help charities. it is not a major shift or loss for any1. when i go into work next week i will look at the figure we have on the board about how many carrier bags we go thru a week(??) or w/e it is a massive number.

If you care so much about helping charities then you are welcome to go and fundraise for them anyday of the week.

i mean it would even be beneficial for the company no? they will be cutting the spending on carrier bags which like i said is a massive figure

If it's beneficial for the company to charge for bags then the company will decide that for itself rather than Nick Clegg (a man who has no knowledge or experience in business and generally has spent his entire career promoting the micromanagement of society).

[Red]

Not talking about people who need dogs, talking about people who just happen to like having a dog. I personally aren't a fan of dogs and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if they were banned/their movements restricted, infact it'd probably benefit me in that I wouldn't have to look out for dog **** all over the pavements round where I live.

But would I back a ban or restrictions? no. Why? because I don't believe in punishing the majority for the sins of a minority just as I never used to agree with the teacher holding back the entire class just because one idiot acted up like a clown in class.

Catch my drift?



If your area doesn't have a problem with litter then why are you wanting to ban plastic bags?



Again, when was the last time you saw a plastic bag from the 1980s whizzing past you?

'I don't believe in punishing the majority for the sins of a minority' I can see how that is related to those who don't pick up dog poo or who drop chewing gum but not how that is related to taking plastic bags when you don't need them?!? explain please

I don't want plastic bags banned lol... I just think its good how a small charge makes people think about how many they use and take them only when they need them. Plastic bag use is down by 80% in Northern Ireland. Roughly from 300 million to 17.5 million. 280 million less bags polluting the environment sounds good to me.

[Yawn]

Not talking about people who need dogs, talking about people who just happen to like having a dog. I personally aren't a fan of dogs and it wouldn't bother me in the slightest if they were banned/their movements restricted, infact it'd probably benefit me in that I wouldn't have to look out for dog **** all over the pavements round where I live.

But would I back a ban or restrictions? no. Why? because I don't believe in punishing the majority for the sins of a minority just as I never used to agree with the teacher holding back the entire class just because one idiot acted up like a clown in class.

Catch my drift?



If your area doesn't have a problem with litter then why are you wanting to ban plastic bags?

Everytime I propose banning something similar you come back with the retort of 'well my area doesnt have that problem' - in which case, why ban bags then?



Again, when was the last time you saw a plastic bag from the 1980s whizzing past you?



Ohhhhhhhhh so in other words it isn't about the environment which you pretended is the principle of your argument, it's just about you feeling good about something that doesn't really concern you therefore your backing it. I thought so, because the minute I start suggesting banning similar things that people enjoy having they instantly make weak excuses as to why the things they enjoy/find helpful shouldn't be banned. I see.

You know the irony in all of this is that i've probably done more in my life in terms of my garden and all the trees and flowers i've established for the environment than either of you two as normal younger people have done - I can actually do good things for the environment myself and on my own accord rather than using the law to force individuals and private companies to make me feel good that I have done something, when in reality i've done nothing but stifle the small freedoms of other people.

If you really believed in the environment argument your putting forward in support of this ban then you'd back the chewing gum and bottle ban I proposed earlier. But you won't because that would cause you upset/inconveniences even though, going by your own logic, it'd benefit the environment.

undertaker pls!

such a small change that can achieve so much gd should be welcomed. yes im lazy and selfish like much of the general public. i need the push and minor inconvenience to change my terrible polluting behaviour!

[-:Undertaker:-]

'I don't believe in punishing the majority for the sins of a minority' I can see how that is related to those who don't pick up dog poo or who drop chewing gum but not how that is related to taking plastic bags when you don't need them?!? explain please

Because you are forcing the majority of society to pay this 5p tax on plastic bags via the law just because a small minority are selfish and drop their carrier bags. My family use all of our plastic bags up, so why should we be punished because a small group in society are careless and selfish?

I don't want plastic bags banned lol... I just think its good how a small charge makes people think about how many they use and take them only when they need them. Plastic bag use is down by 80% in Northern Ireland. Roughly from 300 million to 17.5 million. 280 million less bags polluting the environment sounds good to me.

So why not ban chewing gum then? or place a higher tax on it (say 50p a packet) to make people think about the impact that chewing gum has on our streets and on wildlife?

undertaker pls!

such a small change that can achieve so much gd should be welcomed. yes im lazy and selfish like much of the general public. i need the push and minor inconvenience to change my terrible polluting behaviour!

Indeed absolutely, so let's ban chewing gum and ban bottles and cans yeah?

And i'm sure there's lots more we can ban and restrict for the good of the general public too, because we know best.

[Yawn]

Because you are forcing the majority of society to pay this 5p tax on plastic bags via the law just because a small minority are selfish and drop their carrier bags. My family use all of our plastic bags up, so why should we be punished because a small group in society are careless and selfish?



So why not ban chewing gum then? or place a higher tax on it (say 50p a packet) to make people think about the impact that chewing gum has on our streets and on wildlife?



Indeed absolutely, so let's ban chewing gum and ban bottles and cans yeah?

And i'm sure there's lots more we can ban and restrict for the good of the general public too, because we know best.

no undertaker this is v small change which cause v little inconvenience. we r not making crazy sweeping bans but if u have gd alternative to cans then u should ban them !

u r so stubborn i wish u would just have a gd seeing to from a hot male maybe u wouldnt be so up tight then :@@@@@

[-:Undertaker:-]

no undertaker this is v small change which cause v little inconvenience. we r not making crazy sweeping bans but if u have gd alternative to cans then u should ban them !

Aka it causes little inconvenience to you personally.

u r so stubborn i wish u would just have a gd seeing to from a hot male maybe u wouldnt be so up tight then :@@@@@

Called principle.

Once you start banning things and micromanaging other people, then that means they will at some point do the same to you.