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Stick a fork in it, we're done (another Pelosi program dead)
Los Angeles Times ^ | Feb 13, 2011 | Charlotte Allen

Posted on 02/13/2011 11:40:47 PM PST by Innovative

But the GOP has succeeded in short order in one critically important venture: getting rid of the "compostable" cornstarch-based knives, forks and spoons that were a universally - and bipartisanly - hated feature of the House cafeteria operation.

It turns out that the composting program not only cost the House an estimated $475,000 a year (according to the House inspector general) but actually increased energy consumption in the form of "additional energy for the pulping process and the increased hauling distance to the composting facility," according to a news release from Lungren.

Lungren's stick-a-biodegradable-fork-in-it (if you can) stance toward a linchpin of Pelosi's grand green plan marks the latest skirmish in a lifestyle war that may on its surface seem purely partisan: GOP global-warming skeptics versus a Gaia-worshipping Democratic Party. But I'd say the battle lines are really between an elite determined to impose upon a captive populace its notions of what is good for it - cost be damned - and the populace itself, which would rather not be coerced.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: congress; danlungren; elections; globalwarming; lungren; pelosi
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And how many other things are out there that we aren't even aware of. Interesting that this appeared in the LA Times.
1 posted on 02/13/2011 11:40:54 PM PST by Innovative
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To: Innovative
It turns out that the composting program not only cost the House an estimated $475,000 a year (according to the House inspector general) but actually increased energy consumption in the form of "additional energy for the pulping process and the increased hauling distance to the composting facility,"

Econ 101. If it costs more money, this is your first clue that it is not more "green". It costs more in energy, materials, handling, something, or it wouldn't cost more.

2 posted on 02/13/2011 11:47:37 PM PST by marron
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To: Innovative

Under Pelosi’s watch the national debt skyrocketed.

Under Pelosi’s watch Congress adjourned without passing a budget for the first time since 1974.

Under Pelosi’s watch the democRAT party was handed its biggest losses in generations.

Under Pelosi’s watch the number of women in congress was reduced to numbers reminiscent of the 1970s.

By any reasonable or measurable standard, Nancy Pelosi, as a leader, was a colossal failure.

She was great at one thing though, creating jobs for Republican lawmakers.


3 posted on 02/13/2011 11:52:24 PM PST by South40 (Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid. ~Ronald Reagan)
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To: Innovative

It should be easy to find one program per day like this that is highly wasteful, and makes the public love the GOP. Go cut stuff!


4 posted on 02/13/2011 11:53:18 PM PST by Uncle Miltie ("And did you exchange a walk on part in a War, for a lead role in a cage?")
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To: Innovative

There really is no substitute for metal used in eating utensils. Except for porcelain spoons, especially the Chinese kind, which are really cool.


5 posted on 02/13/2011 11:58:42 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
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To: Innovative

Silverware is better than recyclable: It’s reusable!


6 posted on 02/14/2011 12:00:40 AM PST by Uncle Miltie ("And did you exchange a walk on part in a War, for a lead role in a cage?")
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To: Uncle Miltie

Silverware I would think would be something they could handle.


7 posted on 02/14/2011 12:13:18 AM PST by truthfreedom
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To: South40
there's a great bumper sticker there somewhere...
8 posted on 02/14/2011 12:14:18 AM PST by M-cubed
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To: M-cubed

I use that when liberals say how great a leader Nancy Pelooser was. Most are unaware, which makes sense, of course, as they would never be exposed to such facts while watching Keith Olberman Or Christy Matthews.


9 posted on 02/14/2011 12:20:13 AM PST by South40 (Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid. ~Ronald Reagan)
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To: Uncle Miltie
Silverware is better than recyclable: It’s reusable!

Silverware needs polishin'.

Stainless is more practical.

10 posted on 02/14/2011 12:21:14 AM PST by Cobra64
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To: Innovative
the battle lines are really between an elite determined to impose upon a captive populace its notions of what is good for it - cost be damned - and the populace itself, which would rather not be coerced

And that, sir, is the crux of the matter.

11 posted on 02/14/2011 1:05:43 AM PST by GVnana
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To: Innovative
The years from 2006 through 2010, starting with the Democratic takeover of the House and ending with the party's rout after two years of Barack Obama's presidency, were four years of an effort by a know-it-all liberal elite to impose sweeping and extreme social and fiscal measures on a centrist-to-right public: four years of turkey escabeche, so to speak.

Now, with a GOP House and divided government, there seems to be a return to normalcy, and it's beginning with the promise of knives and forks that work.

Love it!

12 posted on 02/14/2011 1:13:02 AM PST by GVnana
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To: Cobra64

Pure silver wouldn’t tarnish, but it would be awfully soft. The sterling silver out of which precious utensils are made is an alloy of silver with about 8% copper. It’s harder but it tarnishes badly.

There’s something that rankles about using disposables in Washington — unless it’s an apt commentary on the politicians. I’d imagine that metal utensils would disappear as people sneaked them out as mementos.


13 posted on 02/14/2011 1:21:10 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (Hawk)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

Our cafeteria at work has metal utensils, and I gather there’s a fair amount of “shrinkage,” to use a retail euphemism, even though it’s essentially dollar-store stainless.


14 posted on 02/14/2011 2:44:36 AM PST by mvpel (Michael Pelletier)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“I’d imagine that metal utensils would disappear as people sneaked them out as mementos.”

Maybe they could put metal detectors at the door, or even the full body X-ray machines like they have at the airport, then get some TSA guys to man the machines and make sure no one takes anything out they didn’t come in with.

They could even give the congress critters full body searches just like at the airports.


15 posted on 02/14/2011 2:55:37 AM PST by DaiHuy (One Big Assed Mistake America)
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To: Innovative; kristinn; Clinton's a liar; paltz; Trueblackman; icwhatudo

Compostable, cornstarch-based forks? Do they crumble when you try to use them?


16 posted on 02/14/2011 2:58:49 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Valentine's Day: when you buy stuff you can't afford for somebody who won't [NSFW] anyway.)
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To: Innovative

See my tagline (distressingly applicable to just about every current story out of Mordor-on-the-Potomac).


17 posted on 02/14/2011 3:09:18 AM PST by Tenniel2 (Ignore politics and you'll end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato)
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To: South40

Don’t forget Unemployment, from 5.4 to a ‘seasonally adjusted’ 9.8.


18 posted on 02/14/2011 3:49:58 AM PST by Justa
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

You just have to ask yourself what Nancy uses to dine with at her pad? And is that gin in the drink she’s drinking compostible?


19 posted on 02/14/2011 3:53:22 AM PST by Thebaddog (Shakey Jake said, " The hippies will never survive!")
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I thought exactly the same thing...do they CRUMBLE when you try to use them to cut something!!


20 posted on 02/14/2011 4:13:05 AM PST by Ann Archy (Abortion is the Human Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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