Depleting natural resources

Since I require two consecutive science classes in order to graduate, I've been taking one this Winter. One of the questions that has been discussed in this class recently is about the consumption of our resources and how it needs to be handled for people to use less energy and continue to use the resources they have. I've been a little surprised by the number of students that seem to feel as if it is the President's job to limit the fuel used, the number of televisions in each household, the number of cell phones a person can have, etc.

I think it is absolutely ridiculous to assume that it is our President's job to regulate the way each individual lives their life. And, for the record, the President cannot simply make a law. It has to go through Congress and be approved by them. A Congress that can't seem to agree on anything. If our government can't agree on a way to handle the fiscal cliff, how are they ever going to pass a law that tells a family how many miles they are allowed to drive and how many television they can have or how often they can get a new television and what kind of car people have to drive?

Does that really seem like a viable solution to this culture that prides itself on always having the latest and greatest gadget? Can anyone see Congress actually getting together and banning all cars that are non-hybrid and limiting the number of electronics a person can have? No one would ever give up their individual right to determine how much light they want in their living room and how many relaxing bubble baths they want to take.

Maybe we should instead look at taxing things at a higher rate. Alcohol and cigarettes are taxed at a higher "luxury" tax because they are unhealthy and bad for individuals as well as the environment. Maybe fuel should be taxed at a higher rate? When gas prices went up in recent years, people have learned to do less driving. Maybe there needs to be more regulations about the fuel efficiency of cars that are allowed in the US (there might be, I don't really keep up with what goes on in vehicle regulations). Maybe there should be a tax that is added in when people file their taxes if they choose to have an older car that is worse for the environment. But that wont change the fact that people will always want the newest television, blue-ray player, video game system, and cell phone. How could we fix this problem that is quickly depleting so many of our natural resources?

For this, I say we need to take a look at this society that says it is okay to line up every year for a new cell phone. If you have people lined up for days ever year to get a brand new model of a cell phone, this is a problem. Cell phones and televisions and cameras and all electronics require an awful lot of resources that are quickly being used. Society as a whole needs to get over this idea that they have to have a new, shiny device every six months. People also need to focus more on recycling their "old" devices. There are many programs out there to recycle old electronics that few people take advantage of. Many people get a new television and just throw out their old one. they stuff an old cell phone into a drawer and forget about it.

People need to be able to change. We need to stop expecting the government to tell us how to live our lives. Especially if we're going to get mad if they attempt to do just that. So recycle your old wrapping paper, remember to recycle your electronics if you got a new one for Christmas, donate clothes when you get new ones, and turn off your lights when you're not in the room. This isn't rocket science people. Be responsible for yourself and your own home.