Berkeley to Track and Tax the Sale of Disposable Cups

The Sacramento Bee explains, “Patrons of restaurants and coffee shops in Berkeley, California, who don't bring a reusable cup for their beverage will have to pay a 25-cent fee for a disposable cup as part of an ordinance approved by city officials to reduce restaurant waste.”

This is a perfect example of political moral exhibitionism. The politician demonstrates his "concern" for the environment and someone else gets to bear all the complications and expense of this Planetary Pharisee’s bright idea.

The unanimous vote of the city council — proving totalitarian idiocy may be contagious — is to take effect in January 2020.

Using the usual coercive TrendySpeak Councilmember Sophie Hahn explained, “The goal is to transition Berkeley from throwaway to reusable food ware, to incentivize people to bring their own cup.”

Let the confusion begin.

Councilwoman Hahn is obviously a woman who gets out among the unwashed about as often as Fauxcahontas. She is evidently entirely unfamiliar with the concept of a ‘Big Gulp.” For those who have never visited a 7/11, a ‘Big Gulp’ is a drink cup that’s large enough to act as an impromptu cistern in the event of nuclear attack.

As customers getting into the spirit of the new ordinance start bringing in their reusable #3 wash tubs and demand they be filled with coffee, what is the restaurateur going to do? Charge for caffeine like Wawa charges for gas?

Even better, this is a law much like "common-sense" gun laws that only the law-abiding will obey. The fee that is supposed to be collected doesn’t go to the city. The Hyperactive Hahn explains, “Restaurants would keep all proceeds, and it would be up to them to decide what to do with the extra money. The funds, for example, could be used to replace plastic cutlery for more environmentally friendly silverware.”

Or the money could go to a big honking party for management. Or the fee could never be collected at all as scofflaw cuisine criminals wink as customers take the deadly disposable cup with them.

How will the city know?

It just goes to show as the problems caused by leftist government grow larger and larger, the politicians extend their expanse of control to the smaller and smaller. Today it’s cups and straws, but I’m thinking paper napkins are not a good investment for your 401K.

We predict the revolution will finally come when and if leftists lose their last remaining mooring to reality and ban disposable diapers.

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Reagan, is a Newsmax TV analyst. A syndicated columnist and author, he chairs The Reagan Legacy Foundation. Michael is an in-demand speaker with Premiere speaker’s bureau. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.

Michael R. Shannon is a commentator, researcher for the League of American Voters, and an award-winning political and advertising consultant with nationwide and international experience. He is author of "Conservative Christian’s Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!)." Read more of Michael Shannon's reports — Go Here Now.