That’s the title of a posting by Jeffrey Tucker at the Mises Economic Blog. Tucker eloquently discusses the government’s assault on civilization as symbolized by the 1.6 gallon toilet, foisted upon Americans by federal regulation in 1992.
I’ve long maintained – and Tucker apparently concurs – that sewer workers are the true heroes of civilization. One of the first requirements in any civilized society is to properly dispose of human waste. By “proper” I mean disposal that’s safe and sanitary. Central sewers and indoor plumbing have been symbols of advanced civilization since at least 1500 BC.
As Tucker observes, the toilet’s purpose is to remove waste completely to the sewer and the 1.6 gallon toilet fails this essential civilizational test. Our step backward is symbolized by a filthy toilet plunger, which is now ubiquitous beside most of the newer toilets.
In a state of nature, the problem of human waste and what to do about it is persistent. Do the wrong thing and you spread disease and misery.
Indoor plumbing since the time of the ancient world has been a sign of prosperity and human well-being. Indoor toilets that flow into a sewer have been around since 1500 B.C., but every new settlement of people in a new area presents the problem anew. In rural America, indoor toilets weren’t common until the 1930s. That today everyone assumes them to be part of life is a testament to the creative power of economic progress.
What we have in these regulations passed since the 1990s is therefore a step backwards from a central aspiration of mankind to dispose of human waste in the best possible way. We have here an instance of government having forced society into a lower stage of existence.
Government has reduced us as people to the point that we either have to enter the black market to get good sewage or come to terms with living amidst periodic spreading of human waste all over our domestic and commercial environment.
In my house, I usually have to flush a new toilet twice – the first time usually fails to remove my Morning Glory. Can anyone get me a pre-1992 toilet?
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