Make America Beautiful Again

I’m driving down the highway, taking in the beautiful blue skies and the glorious morning sunshine, enjoying the air conditioning in my car, and listening to one of my favorite songs and this gigantic billboard ruins my ambiance.

Many of you remember Lady Bird Johnson. She was the wife of our 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson. President Johnson signed The Highway Beautification Act which was a pet project of Mrs. Johnson. The act encourages scenic enhancement which limits billboards as well as other forms of outdoor advertisement, junk yards, and other road messes along the interstates.

I would like to know whatever happened to that act? Now, we see litter alongside the highways, all kinds of signs, tires, mattresses and furniture-an old dirty couch. It’s sad how our citizens just don’t care.

People at Yale and Columbia Universities conducted research to rank countries from the cleanest to the dirtiest in the world. The researchers worked together with the World Economic Forum and found that Switzerland is the cleanest country in the world. The criteria were air quality, water, sanitation, forests, climate change, etc.

And why was Switzerland chosen? I thought it was because they are covered with snow most of the year but was I ever wrong. This country is known for its thick forests, wildlife and clean drinking water. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Also, this country has an ideal climate. They do have four seasons but it never gets too hot or too cold.

The United States is ranked 37 in the world among 179 countries. People, we need to clean up our act. My husband I have seen in recent weeks, someone is dumping diapers on a road. Yes, dirty diapers. People, we have plastic trash bags for that. Along the bluff, I have seen cans upon cans dumped alongside of the road. The bluff drive is one of the most scenic roads in Fayette County and it is a shame that people are not respectful of the beauty of our county.

Just think about March in Texas. The bluebonnets and Indian paint brushes are in full bloom, the grass is green, the temperature is mild and the skies are blue. That’s when Texas and Fayette County really shines. But, if we continue to see litter along our highways and interstates, eventually we won’t be able to see those glorious flowers anymore or the landscape. We may just see a dirty diaper or an old dirty couch.

Let’s get back to supporting the Highway Beautification Act that President Johnson signed years ago. Let’s make America beautiful again.