I noticed the last few days a news story about junk in the Mississippi River. Some group is going around removing it and I certainly commend them for it.

The fact that the junk is there says a thing or two about Americans. When I first stepped out onto Sydney streets during my R&R there, I was amazed. They were clean. The parks were not just just litter free but also well landscaped.

It has been over fifty years since I was there so I don’t know if it’s the same there. However, it somewhat shamed me. Consider what it is like in San Francisco or NY, NY these days.

Most Americans are careful about the way they maintain the appearance of the interior of their car so they toss the paper cups out the window.

I guess, from time to time my car is a little trashy. I hold onto my trash until I can dispose of it properly. On the other hand, I frequently see folks lower the window of their Lincoln Town Car and toss their coffee cups out.

Sometimes, it makes me wish I was carrying a badge. Then as I think it over, I realize it would do little or no good. Nowadays, the police are not permitted to pursue for hijacking. Don’t think I would be permitted for illegally discarding a Starbucks coffee cup.

Looks like we’re doomed to put up with hijackers and litterers… streets and rivers. Also, reminds me of the trash thrown out by the news media.