As drought-stricken Arizona bakes in searing heat, the Scottsdale City Council unanimously agreed this week to ban natural grass in front of future single-family homes in an effort to conserve water.
Why ban natural grass? Would putting people on a water meter not accomplish the same thing? Being on a water meter would, theoretically, reduce waste, but at the same time allows one to maintain some of their liberty.
A water shortage effects everyone, so at that point, since their liberty to have a lawn would effect the surrounding area negatively, it probably shouldn’t be protected. Personal liberties stop where they tread on another person’s liberties.
And besides, there’s plenty of native plants that thrive without watering and look rad as hell, so it’s not like it’s actually going to effect the lawn owner in some deeply harmful way to get rid of their grass.
If you think about it, it’s not too different from laws banning planting invasive species (which technically reduces your liberty), except instead of it being because it’s invasive, its to prevent a different problem that’s just as significant.
Why ban natural grass? Would putting people on a water meter not accomplish the same thing? Being on a water meter would, theoretically, reduce waste, but at the same time allows one to maintain some of their liberty.
There’s plenty of more wealthy folk that would gladly foot the bill to keep their lawns, probably enough to where it would still be a problem.
I’m all for personal liberty, but having a grass lawn out in the desert just isn’t viable with our current climate and water rights issues, and honestly was never a good idea to begin with.
A water shortage effects everyone, so at that point, since their liberty to have a lawn would effect the surrounding area negatively, it probably shouldn’t be protected. Personal liberties stop where they tread on another person’s liberties.
And besides, there’s plenty of native plants that thrive without watering and look rad as hell, so it’s not like it’s actually going to effect the lawn owner in some deeply harmful way to get rid of their grass.
If you think about it, it’s not too different from laws banning planting invasive species (which technically reduces your liberty), except instead of it being because it’s invasive, its to prevent a different problem that’s just as significant.