FRED ALMOST MADE ME CRY THIS TIME . . .

[Jim H]

I remember going to lake michigan and swim unsupervised, not only because my parents didn't mind that I was out and having fun but also because the lake wasn't the complete cesspool that it is now.

What?  The general thing I've read is that the pollution going into Lake Michigan was considerably worse 25-30 years than it is now.  At the very least, Lake Erie is WAY less polluted than it was back in the day.  My sisters and her family were also just in Lake Michigan a couple months ago, without complaints.  Am I missing something?  Maybe it's just really bad closer to the Illinois/Indiana side?  If so, I'd like to know, as few things irritate me more than the constant attempts to ruin the Great Lakes.  I remember when I lived in Michigan it seemed there was ALWAYS someone trying to wreck the Lakes in some way or another - whether through pollution, overfishing, destroying the coastline, or just stealing the water itself.

On a related note, that's the one issue I can NEVER understand certain right wingers attitudes on (usually when I disagree, I can at least understand their side).  Anyone who is OK with heavy dumping of raw sewage and industrial wastes into lakes is, in my book, a bad person.  It's not much different than someone who poisons a well.

[wickednick]

I remember going to lake michigan and swim unsupervised, not only because my parents didn't mind that I was out and having fun but also because the lake wasn't the complete cesspool that it is now.

What?  The general thing I've read is that the pollution going into Lake Michigan was considerably worse 25-30 years than it is now.  At the very least, Lake Erie is WAY less polluted than it was back in the day.  My sisters and her family were also just in Lake Michigan a couple months ago, without complaints.  Am I missing something?  Maybe it's just really bad closer to the Illinois/Indiana side?  If so, I'd like to know, as few things irritate me more than the constant attempts to ruin the Great Lakes.  I remember when I lived in Michigan it seemed there was ALWAYS someone trying to wreck the Lakes in some way or another - whether through pollution, overfishing, destroying the coastline, or just stealing the water itself.

On a related note, that's the one issue I can NEVER understand certain right wingers attitudes on (usually when I disagree, I can at least understand their side).  Anyone who is OK with heavy dumping of raw sewage and industrial wastes into lakes is, in my book, a bad person.  It's not much different than someone who poisons a well.

Actually here in wisconsin its largely the right wingers that are in the biggest up roar over the pollution in the lakes. The biggest issue is with MMSD (Milwaukee Municipal Sewage Department) and their massive sewage dumps every time it rains. With all the crap being dumped into the lakes you don't want to swim in it.

[Jim H]

Yeah, maybe I was right that's it's mostly on the western edges then?  That would follow.  Regardless, it's an outrage. 

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

The simplicity of life even in the 80's was so nostalgic and free in spirit. When people wanted to get a hold of you they would call you on the house phone or come visit your home. Now its all text messaging and face book, everyone has a phone, everyone can give their two cents on the internet and act like everyone reading should care.

This was the one that really rung my bell, man. I lived thru the 80's (as old enough to drink then too) and that was what people did..they came over your house and got you, and you took off and went whereever, or you got phone calls.  Right on. 

[Newt]

This was the one that really rung my bell

And sometimes they knocked.   

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

This was the one that really rung my bell

And sometimes they knocked.   

Haha, yes they did    I always remember someone calling or coming to the house back in those good old days of yesteryear. As well as the good old knock. Good call.

[Teabagman]

 Damn right!  Damn no good liberal government is always screwing things up. Oh, for the days when a kid could carry a lethal weapon unsupervised and treat it as a recreational device. Nowadays if some kid wants to shoot cans his parents have to get him a crossman or a daisy air rifle. Why those damn things can't kill anything bigger than a rat, they can barely put a man's eye out! Damn liberals.