Thursday, March 20, 2003 Proof Positive That No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
Dell changes PC recycling program
Company says it will pick up machines at consumers' homes
By Amy Schatz
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, March 20, 2003
Under attack by environmentalists, Dell Computer Corp. said Wednesday it's changing its voluntary PC recycling program to make it easier for consumers.
Starting Tuesday, Dell will arrange for home pickup of discarded computers for $15. Customers are responsible for packing computers, monitors and related items in boxes. The $15 fee pays for shipping to a recycling center.
The program is similar to one that's been in place since October. Previously, customers had to take their unwanted computers to a post office and spend $30 to $50 in shipping.
"We think recycling is everyone's responsibility," said John Hamlin, senior vice president of Dell's U.S. consumer business. The company announced a five-city tour in April to promote the program and collect discarded PCs for free. The tour hits Austin on April 27.
But environmental groups remain skeptical. They say Dell's program is cumbersome and object to the company's use of prison labor. Dell contracts with Unicor, a program that uses federal inmates, to recycle the products.
Since 1991, Dell says 2 million computers have been collected. But only about 1,000 have been recycled since Dell began offering consumers the option last year.
"This shows their current program isn't working," said Robin Schneider of the Texas Campaign for the Environment. Texas lawmakers have filed bills this session to require computer manufacturers to improve recycling programs.
IBM Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. also run PC recycling programs. H-P's program costs between $13 to $34 for shipping, but consumers who recycle receive a $50 coupon for other H-P products.
Finally, a lawmaker tells us her cold, hard truth
AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Thursday, March 13, 2003
"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart. It's not a tender heart. It's ripping the heart out of this country."
-- Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, after a March 5 hearing of the House Border Affairs Committee
Depending on the reader's politics and worldview, reaction to Riddle's comment will range from sputtering outrage to a happily shouted "yes!"
We lean toward outrage, but we'll give her this: It's the most honest thing that has been said during this legislative session.
At least some legislators privately agree with her, we think, but know that saying so out loud sounds cold and cruel. So they've hitched a ride on the $9.9 billion budget gap as a way to say, "Sorry, but we've got to slash these human service programs because we just don't have the money. And no, we can't raise taxes, even a little bit, because that would break our promise not to raise taxes, and that promise is more important than the sufferings of the poor and the children."
As to her questions, we don't think our answers will satisfy Riddle, but here they are:
We have public education because, in the long run, it's not only good for the children, but necessary for the health of our democracy and our economy. The idea that the people of a democracy should be educated doesn't come from Moscow but the Founding Fathers, especially Thomas Jefferson. And the idea that people should be educated is supported by business.
Some people don't pay for medical care because human beings should not endure pain without treatment simply because they are poor. That's especially the case for children, who have no control over their financial circumstances. And though ours has become a secular society, so many citizens who still try to be good Christians have a hard time reconciling denial of medical care because of income or national origin with their assertion that everyone is a child of God.
Finally, those who have done well in our democracy and pay taxes can take pride in their hard work and self-discipline. But they cannot take all the credit for their success. They cannot take credit for having the luck to have been born in this country, and they cannot take credit for the sacrifices borne by our predecessors who built this country -- more than a few of whom were killed in wars and never reaped the benefits.
We can and will argue endlessly over how much to help those at the bottom of the ladder. Riddle doesn't think we should help them much at all, it appears, and while we couldn't disagree more, it's refreshing to hear a lawmaker say what she really thinks.
I could not agree more with Rep. Riddle's statement, nor could I agree less with the smug, idiotic position the venerable Statesman editorial board takes. Reading her statement warmed my heart and gives me faith that there are still decent people in the world.
10:39 AM
