Do you know anyone – or have you ever met anyone – who is in favor of plastic straw bans?

My experiences are anecdotal, to be sure, but I don’t know nor have I ever met a single person who is okay with them. Though some seem resigned to the inevitability of it happening in their city and/or state on down the road, they’re still not crazy about the idea. Seems invasive. Unnecessary.

Yesterday on Twitter, a user by the name of “moe” tweeted a lengthy rant on trying to obtain a plastic straw at a restaurant she was at with her dad Thursday morning, and how humiliating the experience was for her. Here’s what she said happened:

My dad flagged her down and when she returned to the table, I asked again “miss sorry but I really do need a straw”. She then said “we only give them to the elderly” — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

5 minutes later, still no straw. Finally I ask for a manager and the waitress looks pissed as hell but goes to get them. The manager heard me out, handed me a straw, then turned to the waitress and whispered “people like that aren’t worth it just give them the damn straw” — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

And while he was shouting, people were turning to look at me.. he was literally just shouting “her spine is deteriorating she uses crutches most days you MORON” and I was SO EMBARRASSED. I got up and walked out of the restaurant and my mom followed me. — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

So, this is kind of blowing up more than I thought it would, I just wanted to rant. I am glad this thread is starting the conversation and helping to educate others. — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

I have muted my twitter notifications, as this tweet has picked up a lot more traction than I had ever thought possible, and I’m honestly a bit stressed 😅 I appreciate all the kind words and solidarity ❤️ ableds reading this thread, LISTEN TO US IN THE REPLIES✊ HEAR US. — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 13, 2019

She also tweeted a graphic demonstrating why single-use plastic straws are the best option for many disabled individuals. Apparently environmentalists came after her, because in the next couple of tweets she clapped back regarding her green habits:

You are all for the most part missing the entire point of the thread. I had to disclose medical information to a WAITRESS so that she could DECIDE if I was DISABLED ENOUGH. This isn’t about straws. If you think it’s just about straws, you have zero care for disabled lives. — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 14, 2019

I like how all you performance environmentalists tell me I need to “make sacrifices” for the environment… yet… you know NOTHING about my waste reduction habits or my green efforts in my life or what sacrifices I ALREADY MAKE. IRONIC- Isn’t it? — moe (@EhlersDanlosgrl) June 14, 2019

Read the full thread, unrolled, here. As of this writing, the first tweet in the thread has gotten nearly 18,000 retweets and close to 70,000 likes.

I assume the restaurant in question was either following some city or state law about plastic straw use in restaurants, or had their own individual policy on the matter.

Either way, there are a number of things wrong here.

1) No one should have to beg for a plastic straw in a dining establishment. No one.

2) A disabled person should not have to “prove” their disability in order to obtain a plastic straw. Period.

3) People should not have to carry their own personal “straw stash” with them to restaurants. It’s ridiculous.

4) Assuming someone doesn’t care about the environment simply because they prefer to use plastic straws is absurd.

There are many reasons why plastic straw bans are unnecessary. “Moe” tweeted a big one. Another big reason why is the fact that plastic straws only make up a super, duper tiny percentage of the plastic that is actually out there in the environment:

The concern most often cited is the problem of pollution. But plastic pollution represents only a small fraction of all litter, and plastic straws comprise only a small fraction of plastic. A Bloomberg estimate suggests that if every single plastic straw discarded on a beach were swept into the sea all at once, those straws would represent 0.3 percent of all ocean plastic pollution in a year. If cities want to attack pollution, there are far more meaningful efforts that could be undertaken. Of plastic waste that moves from land to ocean, the United States accounts for only 0.9 percent worldwide, according to the International Solid Waste Association. The top five offenders are China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka, which together account for 54.5 percent of mismanaged plastic waste globally. The problem is not in Seattle.

Ultimately, the environmentalist left’s straw bans are little more than virtue signaling on steroids. The government-mandated bans are an unnecessary inconvenience, especially for the disabled.

Free the plastic straws!

Related –>> Revolutionary: Oklahoma Has Just Put A Ban In Effect – Banning Bans On Plastic Bags

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—Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter.–