The other day a caller said this writer ought to "go back to where you came from" because we dared oppose the 20-cent tax on plastic and paper grocery bags. The caller said it was obvious we were just another supporter of out-of-control business and did not care about global warming or the future of mankind.

Wow! All we did is say there had to be a better way to clean up the environment than to tax the poor and the middle class - who are quickly becoming poor, living in this city. Ah, well, this too shall pass, we thought.

Then the Washington Food Industry, a group representing independent markets, announced it was starting a petition drive to put the bag "fee" on the ballot for the people to decide if they wanted this requirement they pay the city to use paper or plastic bags. Good idea, but we had said our say so why add to the conversation?

But we found out supporters of the bag fee were urging people not to sign the petitions. Fair enough, they favor it and hope it remains in effect.

But some have gone so far as to harrass the signature collectors and anyone who supports the placing of this measure on the ballot.

An e-mailed press release came Sunday from "local enviromental and community groups" urging "decline to sign" the petition. On Monday they had the "bag monster" at the Metropolitan Market on Lower Queen Anne to say not to sign the petition from the "chemical industry/grocers effort to repeal Seattle Green Bag Fee."

No, coalition, the signatures are being gathered to place the matter on the election ballot and let the citizens of the city decide whether the tax should be repealed. Signing the petition does not at all indicate repeal, only a chance for residents to make a decision on whether or not to support the actions of the City Council and mayor.

The Sunday press release also made an outrageous statement.

"The coalition is asking Seattleites to decline to sign the petitions and boycott the stores who are working with the chemical industry."

What evidence do they have that there is a connection with the chemical industry? And we should boycott stores simply because independent stores want citizens to vote on this tax on the use of bags? Anyone who signs such a petition is against the environment and therefore against the American Way?

The so-called coalition is made up of People for Puget Sound, local Sierra Club, CoolMom.org, and Foam-Free Seattle. All have well-stated positions on the environment, ones this newspaper supports, in general.

We do not fight the fact that plastic bags are bad for the environment.

What we vehemeintly argue is the need to tax people into behaving the way others think we should behave. Teach us, help us learn, but do not tax us to get your way.

When Washington Food Industry approached the City Council with a counter proposal (see Op-Ed, this page for details) the group said "it was rejected without consideration and we were told that they already had the votes to pass the new fee."

We have the votes so go take a hike, eh? Great representative government. Hearings are only good if someone listens before making up his or her mind.

Since when is asking citizens to vote on a measure that affects them unAmerican?

The "green" coalition seems to seriously fear that if that measure gets on the ballot, the people may reject the fees. The coalition seems to feel the only way to win is to block any chance the public might have to weigh in.

If the citizens of Seattle agree with the "bag fee" then we will accept that. But we doubt the coalition will accept it, probably contesting the election in court in some last-ditch effort to save society their way.

Sign the petition, folks. Then vote for or against the fee. That is the real American Way.

- Jack Mayne