Having recently moved from the Great State of Texas, I have been settling the household and kids. Putting everything in it's place, sorting the things we don't need for the next year and adjusting to new climate, lifestyle, schools and neighborhood.
While in Texas, I was kidded for being "green" or a "tree hugger." While I am by no means living as green as I want or should, I was more conscientious about waste, electricity usage, and recycling than most people I ran into or knew in Texas. They lovingly called me a crazy Californian - from the state that would rather go bankrupt than give up it's "green" calling.
I like to think that California is doing more than it's part in helping the world become a cleaner, greener place all around. I think all Californians want to believe that. We have sacrificed jobs, businesses, and money to make regulations that will help the environment.
Every action has a reaction. It is not always easy to figure out how extreme the reaction will be. If I buy organic food, will my life be extended or will I feel healthier? For how long? What is the price I need to pay to get the exact result I am looking for?
The budget in California has been an issue for as long as I can remember. The legislature gets locked in, or sessions get extended or the governor demands resolution. Where do the cuts come from? Where can we generate more revenue? How big do the cuts have to be to get the results we need? How much do taxes have to rise to get the results we need? With a fluctuating market place, the right formula is a moving target. As house values drop, revenue from taxes drop. As jobs are lost, revenue from income tax is lost. As businesses go under, the revenue from sales tax and corporate business tax is lost. As programs are cut, revenue is saved.
Looking at the local level programs that have been cut, the one that is affecting me today is the buses for the schools. Not only are the schools overcrowded according to the state mandate for classroom size, the kids either have to walk to school or have someone drive them. How far is too far to walk to school? Not sure of that answer, but it would take us 45 minutes to walk to school, so for us, it is too far, expecially on a rainy, windy day.
The schools were not built with the idea in mind that the majority or even half the parents would be dropping off and picking up their children. The parking lots are proof of that. There is only enough room for the staff and the drive through areas are tiny. The traffic build up around the 2 other schools I pass on my way to pick up my kids is even worse because the schools are bigger.
So, instead of a few buses driving around, 400 parents have to drive around. I'm hoping a scientist or someone with footprint knowledge can help me. My question is, what is the carbon footprint when we had busing and what is it with so many parents driving?
What are we teaching our children? If it were just hat we should walk more, I'd be in agreement. But with all the sacrifices we ask the businesses to make to be green, I would think maybe the busiensses would require that we teach our kids how to be green, too. I'm wondering if I'm the only one who thinks all the extra cars on the road is not the right message to send.
I'm Moving!!
12 years ago
