Green Overreach? Biden’s War on Plastic Cutlery!

On July 19, amidst a world grappling with challenges unseen since World War II, the Biden-Harris administration unveiled a plan to tackle what it sees as a major threat: plastic cutlery. This move, which comes amid a myriad of global crises, has sparked both ridicule and outrage among many Americans.

“Communities across the United States and around the world are facing a plastic pollution crisis,” the White House stated.

As the world watches escalating conflicts and economic instability, the administration’s focus on plastic silverware appears to many as a misguided priority. Two sentences into the statement, the administration makes clear its stance on issues of equity and environmental justice.

According to the White House statement, “The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that pollution can occur at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, disproportionately impacting communities with environmental justice concerns, contributing to loss of biodiversity, and exacerbating the impacts of climate change.”

Critics argue that these words could have been crafted by those mocking human folly. Yet, the statement is more than mere rhetoric. It accompanies an 83-page report titled “Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities,” outlining the administration’s strategy to combat plastic pollution.

The report suggests a government-wide initiative to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food services, events, and packaging by 2027, extending this ban to all federal operations by 2035. The plan promises significant changes, but also raises concerns about overreach and unintended consequences.

Moreover, the report states, “Tackling plastic pollution and its associated impacts will require unprecedented action at every stage of the plastic lifecycle — from reining in the pollution from petrochemical production that is poisoning communities and driving climate change, to reorienting infrastructure to ensure dramatic increases in recycling and reuse, to investing in innovative materials to replace the pervasive use of plastics in our society.”

While this announcement was made weeks ago, it initially flew under the radar due to the political turmoil surrounding former President Donald Trump and the internal struggles within the Biden administration. However, the delayed reactions from lawmakers have brought it back into the spotlight.

Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota voiced his disbelief at the administration’s priorities. “The world’s on fire, and he’s worried about plastic forks,” Rounds remarked in an interview with the U.K.’s Daily Mail. While acknowledging the importance of reducing plastic pollution, Rounds criticized the administration’s approach as overly rigid.

“Black and white mandates like this typically backfire. I think there’s things that we could do as a government, as well as individuals, to keep improving our environment,” Rounds added.

Similarly, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah expressed skepticism about the necessity of banning plastic utensils. “I mean, first of all, what is so bad about plastic forks and spoons? I mean, I assume the biggest impact this will have will be at government workplaces, military bases, things like that,” Lee said.

“They should shrink the government if they want it to be less of a consumer. The reason it’s the largest consumer is because it employs so many people, and it’s doing so many things it was probably never intended to do,” Lee further commented.

The broader question remains: Should the government be focusing on banning plastic cutlery while the world faces far more pressing issues? For some, the answer is clear. They would willingly accept fewer plastic forks if it meant a reduction in government overreach.

The report clearly indicates that the initiative represents not a decrease but an increase in government intervention. This often seems to be the case with such policies, leaving critics to wonder if the focus on plastic cutlery is more about symbolism than substance.

As the debate rages on, many Americans find themselves caught between laughter and frustration. The administration’s plan to fight climate change by eliminating plastic cutlery is seen by some as a distraction from more significant global challenges. Others may find humor in the irony of the situation, but only to keep from shedding tears over misplaced priorities.