When I worked in Seattle, I interviewed many people when city officials first proposed a 20-cent fee on disposable bags.  The vast majority supported the idea, so I was a bit surprised that the measure failed.

I have a couple of conflicting views on the issue.  Personally, I use reusable bags and wish more people would do the same.   There are billions of plastic bags in our landfills, along our highways and on the bottom of the ocean– all harmful conditions for our environment.  Some opponents have said that there isn’t any proof that less bags or the proposed fee would actually help the environment.  Well, I say, it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

But, on the flip side, I think when it comes down to it, I would not support a measure that tried to affect change through a tax.  Maybe with time and education more people will choose to do the right thing on their own, not forced into action with a tax.