Glad to see the speaker of the house tackling the real issues at hand She's so Californian

[URL]http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/01/10/couricandco/entry2349355.shtml[/URL]

What's next a mandate for environmental friendly toilet paper in the congressional bathrooms?

Re: Pelosi: Politics in Action

[QUOTE=AntonyM;432174] What's next a mandate for environmental friendly toilet paper in the congressional bathrooms?[/QUOTE]

For the sake of our lawmakers, I sure hope not. That recycled toilet paper chafes like a mo' fo'. I'm all for saving the earth, but come on -- when it comes to rubbing my ass down with something, I want it to be as soft as possible.

Re: Pelosi: Politics in Action

Recylced paper is possibly one of the most wasteful practices we have.

It takes more energy and water to recylce paper than to make it from virgin wood. Plus, it takes more energy to run the extra collection trucks all over town picking up the recycleables.

But we're saving trees, right? Not exactly. Most all fresh paper is made from trees which are specifically grown for the purpose of paper-making. So, by recylcing paper we are saving trees which are being farmed for making paper.... that's all.

To draw a parallel.... we have farmers who grow potatoes. The potatoes are grown for our consumption. Do we have a shortage of potatoes? No. It is a renewable resource, and we cultivate them specifically for the purpose of harvesting. Trees are the same way. We grow them in farms so we can harvest them to make paper. So nothing is lost by using them for that purpose.

But by recycling, we are expending more electrical power to make a product.... and that electricity comes from a power plant. And that power plant, more than likely, runs on fuels which pollute the environment.

Re: Pelosi: Politics in Action

The only reason we spend more energy on most recyclable products is because not enough people actually recycle...see economies of scale...

Re: Pelosi: Politics in Action

Not the whole story. The physical process of breaking down used paper and turning it into new paper takes more energy than creating paper from trees. THAT is the real issue. Now, if the tradeoff were worth it for some reason.... for example, if we were not growing trees in farms.... then perhaps the increased pollution would be acceptable. But that isn't the case.

Re: Pelosi: Politics in Action

Saw this today. Thought it was funny so had to pass it on.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi today announced that the Democrats will change the country's emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the new government's political stance. A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of Priques, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed