morwannegMakyStraws account for 0.01% of plastic pollution, the United States, as a whole accounts for less then 10 percent of all the world's pollution. The United States and its citizens are not at fault for "global warming" or "climate change". Countries like China and India are so filthy that nearly 90% of their water supply is tainted, the problem, if any, are other countries, not the US. Unfortunately alot of the countries that account for pollution are not apart of NATO or any other global system. China, at this point, cares more about turning a profit then the well being if its citizens.
This is the most bizarre logic. "Oh it's only a bit of trash, so it shouldn't matter what I as a private citizen do." This is the same logic that leads to low voter turnout (eh, a single vote doesn't matter) that in turn leads to clueless old guys who don't know what they're talking about being elected year after year. If you as a citizen don't take care of the environment, why should an official that is supposed to be a representative of you as a citizen care? Why should these elected officials place political pressure on countries that produce the most pollution if they're elected by an uncaring citizenry? Why should they work to raise awareness of such issues if you, the citizens they represent, shift the blame to "oh it's India and China and I can't do anything about that." If you aren't doing anything, then why should the government who represents you? Also, just because China is at the top doesn't mean the United States magically produces zero pollution. China may be 2x as much, but the US is ranked second on the top sources of pollution by country, followed by the EU, then India.
But the alternative is actually worse. Starbucks decided to start selling paper straws... in a one time use plastic bag, the "strawless lids" they invented actually use more plastic then the old straw/lid combo. I live in an area of California where you not only have to buy a paper straw but you are forced to pay even more for plastic products. Compared to other countries, the US is actually one of the cleanest countries, if you look at the actual numbers. If you removed LA, NY, Chicago, SF, and Cleveland, the Unites States would be much cleaner.
The city of LA started painting the streets white in March in order to combat "global warming", it will cost over 40,000 dollars per mile. Don't you think that that money could have been spent better? LA county is plagued with poverty and crime, don't you think that the billions of dollars they spent on white paint could have been sent to anything better? Not only that but the paint will actually make things hotter! The white paint will reflect the heat off the road make the road cooler, yes, but where will that excess heat go? That heat will not just dissipate because of the white paint, it will most likely be reflected into the glass buildings creating even more of a greenhouse affect. So this "project" to save the earth, will actually make LA about 20 degrees hotter.
I agree that there is a good deal of evidence in favor of global warming, but lets ask the question: If the world is warming up? Then why was last winter a record cold winter?