Eco Nanny

by Jeanne Weierheiser on 6/10/2009

eco nanny If my 8 year old were to dump his morning bowl of cereal on the kitchen floor, he knows, without a doubt, that he'd have to clean it up. That's a logical consequence for his behavior. Why can't we use this same logic when dealing with businesses that pollute? Isn't cleaning up after themselves a natural, logical, and reasonable consequence? Why can't our government exercise the same authority that I exercise in my home? If my 8 year old can get it, surely multimillion dollar corporations can get it.

I think the U.S. government needs to bring in its own Eco Nanny! Seriously, the U.S. is letting big business run amuck and the whole world is suffering the consequences. The U.S. accounts for 4.5% of the world's population and 24% of CO2 emissions. That makes us by far and away, the largest polluters on the planet. There's no doubt we're out of control. Just like those households on that television show, Super Nanny, only instead of running around dropping 'F' bombs and hitting his little sister like 6 year old, Billy, Big Business in the U.S. is dumping it's pollution into the oceans and the atmosphere.

If the Eco Nanny visited the White House, all those special interest lobbyists would have to sit in the "naughty chair". She wouldn't take that. And no doubt she'd have a stern talking to with Uncle Sam. She'd tell him, "These big businesses are out of control! Why are you letting this happen? Look at poor Mummy Earth, she can't take anymore! We need to fix this!"

So come on Obama! You promised us change. Let's see some accountability, some consequences, and some reason. Let's stop being the country that's killing the planet, and start setting an example. Let's show some common decency to the rest of the world, the animals, the oceans, and the air. Let's take a cue from my 8 year old and clean up after ourselves!