Comment by Powell Gammill

Entered on: 3/23/2009 12:29:58 PM

I like Frosty. He is one of the most interesting and engaging persons I have ever talked with. But his writing is a one hit samba of immigration, overpopulation, pollution and dwindling resources --- all interrelated.

I too am dismayed at the foolishness of dumping anything into the oceans. There are plenty of landfills. And with the exception of chemicals leaching into the landfill's water table, such buries trash can become buried treasure later. Ocean debris is simply pollution.

But to say plastic is the worst invention is ludicrous. Plastic is the best invenion ever bar none. From where you are sitting right now...plastic makes up some of your clothing dramatically increasing its longevity, that upholster and stuff chair you sit in, the computer you are viewing this on, the fillings in your teeth, the paint on your walls, your carpet, the insulation in your walls that reduce your electrical, oil, coal and gas use, the protective coating on your wood prolonging its life, the fans that lower your heating/cooling bills, your TV, multimedia, and portable media, that wrap your food prolonging its life, that may make the cup you drink out of....

It is irresponsible people that make up the vast majority of plastic waste, and government regulations and protectionism that make recycling cost prohibitive. True plastic is with us for over our lifetime, but that is what makes it soooo valuable.