North Dakota has seen a surge in nanny-state activism in recent history. I suppose it comes with the influx of new people, many of them from areas of the country already ravaged by the very “progressive” policies which are driving people away.

Home-grown or not, the idea of mandatory recycling in Bismarck-Mandan is not too far from reality. In an effort to force you and me to comply with their efforts to “save the earth”, a pair of local teachers have decided that you should no longer have a choice in the matter.

They’ve found a mouthpiece in this Bismarck Tribune article, complete with “you’ve got no class if you don’t do what we want” headline. This article is tagged by the Bismarck Hi-Herald, the student newspaper of BHS, but was one of the top 3 headlined stories on the Bismarck Tribune website last night when I visited the site. One thing I learned early on is that once you put it online, you own it. Apparently the Tribune likes headlining high-school level advocacy reporting.

As if there aren’t enough financial constraints placed on families these days, they would like to see fines imposed on those who don’t adhere to their ideology. BHS teacher Vallerie Smallbeck is quoted as saying, “They (the community) need to recycle … If not willingly, then maybe they would be more cooperative if there was a cost for not complying,” Of course, the Tribune offers no alternative viewpoint or cost analysis of such a program in a small community.

Just in case you think this is simply another instance of liberal enviro-naivete’, you should know that Mayor Warford mentioned this very idea during the last State of the Cities address. I was there, of course, and my ears perked up when I heard him make a very brief mention of the cities looking into the idea. Don’t expect this sort of policy to get much publicity until it’s too late for you to do anything about it.

Naturally I’m all about good stewardship. I recycle various household items which I know are bad for the environment. I don’t, however, think it’s the job of some city official or nanny-state do-gooder to assess a financial penalty to my family if we don’t choose to rinse out and sort all our garbage. We can all decide what level of responsible recycling we choose for ourselves, thank you.

In issues like this, people tend to fall into two groups. The majority includes hose who want to go about living our lives responsibly as we see fit, minding our own business and expecting others to mind theirs. Then you have the minority, the vocal activists, who see injustice everywhere they turn and are frustrated that they can’t get the rest of us on board their campaign to reshape the community as they see fit. Sadly, those are the more vocal group.

You can help even the playing field by sending a quick note to your city government, urging them not to put a mandatory recycling program in place. At the very least they should put this sort of thing to a popular vote and let the cities’ residents decide if they wish to fund, enact, and submit tens of thousands of people to flaky ideas such as a mandatory recycling program. Click here to contact the City of Bismarck via a contact form, click here for the email addresses of Mandan city commissioners, and keep a watchful eye on your city government.

As this Tribune article demonstrates, there are plenty of activists out there trying to direct your life for you. Don’t let them get away with it.