Trashy Quotes

I’m not going to discuss the merits/drawbacks of the new St. Louis Country solid waste disposal proposal, but I will mention that it has many county residents up in arms about their loss of autonomy. A full discussion of the issue is presented in this morning’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Suffice it to say, the proposal consolidates unincorporated St. Louis County trash service (which will provide more uniform and cheaper service), but will also require each district to offer an extensive recycling service.

I personally think that this is a good idea and that it is within the government’s proper powers. But there is a certain level of arrogance in the county’s response to the criticism of the proposal:

“Giving up the right to choose their own hauler is a small sacrifice to make [in order] to achieve something the county really needs.”

I will never understand the collectivist mindset of elected officials, and their belief that what they view is “best” for someone always trumps that of the individual’s. A simple "I feel your pain" would suffice.