When I first became aware of this story several months back, on the attempt to ban plastic water bottles in Concord Mass, I never believed for a second it would actually become law.  Now, after a town vote of 403 to 364, the ban has been approved.  Anyone found violating the law, which prohibits the sale of plastic bottles of one litre or less, will face a fine of twenty-five dollars for the first offense and fifty dollars for every subsequent offense.  The bottled water companies in response, are threatening a lawsuit.  This drive for the ban was spearheaded by eighty-four year old Jean Hill who stated that she feels “bottled water is a waste of money”.  So now, anyone can inflict their “feelings” on other people.  This story is the perfect example of why liberals are not progressives.  There is nothing liberal or progressive about increasing government control over people’s lives.  Despite the belief that plastic is bad for individuals as well as the environment, it should not be legislated.  The same way, smokers should be allowed to smoke without government intervention.  If insurance companies don’t wish to cover smokers against cancer, that should be their prerogative.  But the main point to be made here, is less government is always better.  It’s what true “progressive conservatives” believe.  If plastic water bottles can be banned, what’s next?  There will of course, be liberal environmentalists who applaud the ban.  But banning plastic water bottles is absolutely no different from banning abortion.  No Different!  Government control is government control and I will never be for that under any circumstances whether it be a ban on abortion, ban on water bottles or a ban on sidearms.  Any open-minded political thinker will understand that.  Otherwise, people will continue to make distinctions based on their political or religious beliefs and that is not what the principles of this country are founded upon.