I was dismayed to see in one of the front-page photos in the Dec. 3 Monitor that each seat – whether empty or occupied – at the state Legislature’s Organization Day had been supplied with two plastic bottles of water. Those little bottles are theoretically recyclable, but more often just trashed; and even if recycled they are a huge contributor to the world’s environmental degradation. As well, most bottled water is more expensive than gasoline.
I would much prefer to have my tax dollars buy each legislator a reusable and refillable bottle. If they are worthy of our trust, it’s reasonable to believe that each of them could fill their own bottle with however much water they needed, day after day after day.
Save our money; save our environment. Perhaps both Democrats and Republicans could agree on at least one simple gesture that would be practical, fiscally responsible, and symbolic.
CHIP MORGAN
Hopkinton