Way back before time began, I was a police officer in Alaska. Littering was an arrest able offense. Officers could issue a citation or arrest a violator. Maybe I should have been tougher, but I doubt it would have done any good. I caught flack on nearly every arrest I made as it was. It is interesting that those who yell the most about the police are law violators. (Police abuse, not enforcement the exception. We can not talk about what should be done with those uniformed SOB's here) You can shame a few violators into turning the corner, but just be certain, a large block of American people will not self discipline. No respect for law, others or the environment. You just can't win.

I agree. It is such a simple thing to put the trash where it belongs- in the trash. From my youngest days my folks reminded us to “leave the place cleaner than we found it when we arrived.” As a family, we still do.

That said, the sad reality of our US culture is that we are “teaching” our kids to be slobs. At almost every sporting or performance event in the country, adults/parents attending these events from middle school concerts to professional events leave their trash in the bleachers/auditoriums after the event is over. On more that one occasion I have had adults tell me that “this (ie the mess they are leaving in the stands) is what we pay our custodians for.” We teach our kids that it’s someone else’s job to pick up after us...
Is it any wonder that we see an attitude problem in our country?

We know it’s not everyone, but it is enough of us that our fishing access sites and ponds often end up a mess with everything from empty beer cans and floating styrofoam worm cartons to lunch wrappers and old monofilament leader...

As fishermen and women, we can model what we value. It doesn’t take much extra effort to carry a few pieces of other people’s trash back to the trash can at the parking lot, or net some floating garbage and drop it in the trash when we get back to the dock, or go back and pick up that wrapper that the wind blew out of our rig...
Maybe, just maybe, we can help others see the need and choose to make a difference too.

Thanks to the army of FS volunteers who do the dirty work every time they are out and are helping make our favorite spots better than when we arrived! May the tribe increase!
You all are the best.

I’m a custodian! I work at a K thru 8 School , I have heard that many times! Oh we left it for the custodian, B.S what you did is litter! My job is not to pick up after people who have no respect for not only the school I work at, but the Beautiful world we live in, I agree with seeing more mask on the ground left behind by the slobs! I have always had a reward program with the kids, i only reward them if they pick up something that dint belong to them! If I catch them littering, then they get the bucket and picker, if parents would teach there kids respect for this great world we live in it would be a much better place! I’m not saying all parents don’t, I’m saying more need to.. help keep American Beautiful!!