Another reason I'm glad I don't live in a Big City:

DC Resident Fined Thousands For Not Recycling Cat Litter: MyFoxDC.com

From FoxDC.com:

By MATT ACKLAND/myfoxdc

WASHINGTON - It's the law in D.C. - recycle or face a fine from the Department of Public Works. But is enforcement of the law going too far?

Dupont Circle resident Patricia White says she has been fined eight times for throwing homemade cat litter in her trash. The fines total $2,000. White says she shreds old newspaper and junk mail to use as cat litter. She believes she is helping the environment by reusing the paper and avoiding cat litter you will find in stores.

After being fined several times, White says she called the Department of Public Works inspector who issued the tickets. According to White, the inspector admitted to digging through trash looking for violations. White even appealed the violations in D.C. court. Judge Audrey Jenkins agreed with the inspector after White explained the situation. FOX 5 tried to reach Judge Jenkins, but her office has declined to comment.

Again, amongst a host of other things, government intruding -- now -- into your trash piles.

As if it weren't already sufficiently intrusive.

Keep living in Big Cities, Americans. Be crushed like herring and fined and taxed.

Me? I'll keep my pine trees and mountains, thank you.

BZ