Hudson Valley Town Considers Going Straw-Free

I wouldn't in any way consider myself a "traditionalist." In fact, in most ways, I annoy everyone for having my own insane, bizarre way of thinking or doing things. But I do love me some good ol' Americana. For specifics on how much I love old-time American things, refer here.

So, to me, there's something that I love about drinking from a straw. Maybe that's incredibly silly, but I think there's something very American about hanging out with a Big Gulp or sitting at a diner with a straw in a soda. It's like something out of Happy Days or something. I feel like I'm at the soda fountain with Buddy Holly on in the background.

But one Hudson Valley town, Marbletown in Ulster County, is considering whether or not the environmental impact of straw use is worth trying to curb. The Marbletown Town Board included a discussion item about straw use on its July 19 agenda.

According to the board's May 17 meeting minutes, the town's Environmental Conservation Commission wants to discourage businesses from handing out disposable plastic straws.

All right, so maybe my need to feel like Fonzie isn't exactly more important than the destruction of the planet and decimation of my grandkids' future... so maybe I just won't have grandkids and not worry about it. You can have my straws when you pry them out of my cold, dead--but well-hydrated--hands.

Anyway, what do you think? Worthwhile endeavor? Silly? Ineffective?