This week my garbage collector refused to pick up my recyclables. He said that a wine bottle was clearly visible and that drinking alcoholic beverages is against his religion. I asked what that had to do with my wine bottle and he said that he could not condone my drinking because then he would not be complying with God's will. I said "Fine, can you take the rest of my recyclables?" He said no, that I might have more materials in there which he could not, in good conscience handle. After he left, I put all the recyclables into the garbage can.
Then my other garbage collector came. He refused to pick up my trash. He said that the wind had blown the lid open and he could see a cat food bag in there. He said that he is a vegan and that as such, he can not condone the mass slaughter of animals for feeding cats who overpopulate our country and murder millions of birds annually. I said "Fine, I will take the cat food bag out, ok?" Unlike the unreasonable guy above, this trash man agreed. I pulled the bag out. It brought with it the wrapper from the chicken sausage I had bought with my nephew when we made pizza together. The guy took one look, shook his head and drove off.
Ok, this is just nuts. How are we supposed to survive as a civilization when people refuse to do their jobs based on their own religious or moral beliefs? I mean, ok, if the first guy does not believe in drinking alcohol, fine. But if that is gonna influence his job performance, maybe he should think about a different career. The same thing goes for the second guy. Sheesh. Now my garbage, which is overflowing is gonna be pretty damn ripe by next week. And how am I gonna get them to take it then? I may have to haul it to the dump myself. I just hope the dump attendants are not as morally driven as these two.
I am gonna write my congressman about this. Something has to be done. Our entire country could be overrun with vermin at this rate. Think of the disease spread we are talking about if our waste disposal comes to a screeching halt.
Fortunately, my congressman, Senator Ron Wyden, is a reasonable and responsive man, unlike these elected reps I keep hearing about who would probably side with my waste disposal guys. I mean, let's see: We have legislation constantly being proposed which allows health care to be denied to women should their employer find said care to conflict with his or her moral or religious beliefs. As for people refusing to perform their job based on their religious beliefs, we have one guy on the Science Committee who has proclaimed scientific theory to be "straight from the pit of hell". I doubt those congressmen (dare I say "and women"?) are gonna be much help dealing with this garbage situation.
Fortunately, it is coming up on election time. Everyone better vote for reasonable representatives in government so that we can have some serious waste management in effect.
Obviously, I made up that stuff about my trash and recycling. I am serious, tho, about the other messy situation.
Funny how the reps who refuse to vote on the Jobs Bill, who refuse to do anything really, except legislate women's choices are the ones crying out that we need to "cut government waste".
Vote! It is time to take out the garbage.
