Reply #207: What if you don't have lights or appliances?

[knitter4democracy]

A lot of people keep lights off simply because they can't afford their electric bills, not for the environment. These same people turn to electric heaters in the winter, though, since their electric bill's better than their gas bill (or their only heat is electric). Ripping on them for using space heaters doesn't take into account that they need their living space warm enough for them to function in and not freeze to death.

The situation posted in the OP is weighted against the poor. To them, ten cents a bag is a lot of money. To the upper middle class and richer, ten cents a bag is nothing. What's another dollar for groceries? Nothing. So, they'll just pay it. When that dollar is a lot of money and the difference between getting a half gallon of milk or a whole gallon or getting fresh fruit or not, then it's weighted against the poor.

The reality is, we need to take care of the poor without making life harder on them. They can't afford it, and if it's a choice between survival and taking care of the Earth, most people will pick survival.