Every Friday morning here in our quaint little condominium development in Norton Shores, Michigan, the lawn care crew arrives. The main cutting is done with very loud sit-on or stand-on lawnmowers, and then the trimming is done with gas-powered trimmers and then gas-powered blowers. These blowers are the big ones that go on the worker's back like a knapsack, with the flexible blower tube connected to a long, straight tube that is guided by the worker's arm. Of course the workers wear ear protection, but there is nothing like that available for the residents - of 40 units, only about 3 or 4 are occupied by someone younger than 70. A couple of weeks ago a worker left his power mower running just outside my bedroom window, while he went to get the trimmer and take care of all the edging. After about 10 minutes, I walked out and shut the beast off. I don't think it occurred to him that the noise was affecting someone else. And I don't think anyone involved considers the effects to the workers and residents of the poison that is spewed into the air.

But as much as I despise these anachronistic noisemakers I often wonder what it would cost the owner to replace them. Certainly without any financial assistance the cost would be prohibitive; if they were banned, he would be forced to shut down his business. This contractor does a good job for us, and the price is quite reasonable - less than half that of his nearest competitor. And so I'm loathe to ask the condo association to make such a request. Same goes for the state or the municipality - outlawing the noisy dinosaurs would create a financial challenge that lawn care companies - as well as many homeowners - are ill equipped to even consider. So yes - it does take a while to implement such a change, and I don't think the process you describe happening in D.C. has even been contemplated here.

But then I live in Michigan, home of Motor City, USA. There is still a great deal of motor oil running through the DNA of many of the older residents here. Like the relationship between hunting and guns, this relationship between internal combustion engines and getting things done is going to be a tough one to overcome. Of course I want it to happen sooner rather than later, but it needs to begin very, very soon.