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Wiped out: House rejects cloths for shopping carts

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Friday, May 15, 2009

(Updated 6:06 am)

By Mark Binker
Staff Writer

RALEIGH — Don’t blame Rep. Earl Jones if you get the swine flu from a shopping cart while you’re out gathering swine for the breakfast table.

The Greensboro Democrat pushed a bill all the way to the House floor that would have encouraged stores that provide shopping carts to also provide wipes to clean germ-infested handles.

“Researchers have identified handles on shopping carts (as providing) the most exposure to viruses and germs, and it’s most risky for infants younger than 6,” Jones said.

Maybe it was the fact legislators were moving through more than 100 bills Thursday in advance of a key deadline. Maybe it was the state’s approximately $4 billion budget deficit waiting to be dealt with. Maybe it was the 10-second-per-member time limit Speaker Joe Hackney of Chapel Hill imposed on those debating the bill.

But color Jones’ colleagues unconvinced.

“I can’t believe we’re even considering this, to be truthful,” said Rep. George Cleveland, a Jacksonville Republican who said he was baffled by stores that already do this. He spoke of a grubbier, but maybe happier, upbringing.

“We’re going to lead our society to the point where we’re going to be so sterile we’ll all just have to live in bubbles,” Cleveland said.

Greensboro Republican John Blust also failed to see the point.

“Any consumer can take a wipe themselves to the store,” Blust said, suggesting Jones add a speed limit for pushing the carts.

The measure failed, with 73 opposed and 44 in favor.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com

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Sawdust

May 15, 2009 - 7:01 am EDT

About 30 years ago I was doing a job in Haiti, and I asked one of the locals if a cold beer was to be had. Yes, he replied Prestige beer. "Good beer. Make you loose as a goose". And so it did. I asked if it had the same effect on him, and he said it did not.

That got me to thinking. Had to be because visitors were exposed to a new kind of bug, while the locals had built up resistance. I decided to try an experiment. I quit trying to avoid exposure to germs. The one thing that had the most effect, for me, was to quit washing my hands so often. If they look dirty I wash them, otherwise I just go on.

Results: I have had two colds in the past thirty years, whereas I used to get at least one every year. I'm not saying it will work for everyone, but it seems to have worked for me.

When growing up, my Dad would eat three poison ivy leaves every spring, said it kept him from getting poison ivy. About ten years ago, on a whim, I tried it. I didn't suffer from poison ivy that summer, so I've been doing it ever since. No poison ivy.
I beleive that an obsession with sterility can be, and often is, self-defeating.

Panacea

May 15, 2009 - 9:23 am EDT

Eating poison ivy can be dangerous. Some people just have a natural immunity to it. I can walk barefoot through it, and get nary a blister.

Others are hypersensitive to it. A friend of mine would get a rash just picking up a log that had been touching poison ivy. Eating the leaves would probably kill her.

Handwashing is a proven way to reduce the spread of infection . . . to others.

But I don't support the idea of forcing businesses to provide wipes to customers by law. That just adds a needless expense. If I customer is going to use a provided wipe, they'll be the sort to bring their own anyway. The ones who don't care won't use provided wipes.

thestatelottery

May 15, 2009 - 12:13 pm EDT

Wow, I actually agree with two Republicans on this issue! It's true that we are too concerned with germs. The more we try to "prevent" them, the worse off we are.

Createanything

June 2, 2009 - 11:29 pm EDT

Well the only problem is the entire bill was misrepresented. I am 13 years old and I was responsible for getting this in the hands of Rep. Earl Jones.The shopping cart idea was to require business owners to clean their carts not to make owners supply wipes. I emailed the two republicans and I told them that they both responded very disrespectful. You should see the email that Rep Georgie sent me. I pray for his attitude and I wish I was old enough to vote......Mr.Jones,please try again! Signed Disappointed in adults....