Long before Al Gore went off the deep end over global
warming, my home state of California was experiencing climate extremes. In fact
Mark Twain, a former resident of San Francisco, used to complain that everyone
talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
Currently the state is experiencing the most severe drought
since 1877 when record-keeping began. The
Los Angeles Times reports, “In June, nearly 80 percent of California was
considered to be under "extreme" and "exceptional" drought
conditions, the highest categories of dryness, according to the latest U.S.
Drought Monitor map.”
But it’s not like this is California’s first drought.
(Homeowners whose formerly grass-covered front lawns have turned into
mini-deserts might take issue with the notion that “the past century has been
among the wettest of the last 7,000 years,” as Scott Stine, professor of
geography and environmental studies at Cal State East Bay, asserted in the San
Jose Mercury News.)
In response to the shortage of water, the California Water
Resources Board wants to institute a punitive fine of $500/day for people it
calls “water hogs.” But I think Thomas
Del Beccaro, writing in Forbes, has a better idea: Let’s fine the board for
failing to do its job over the last 40 years.
He explains, “California is the most populated state in the
Union, with more than 38 million people. Its population was just under 20
million in 1970, when the bulk of its current water storage and delivery
systems were already built. In other words, the California governments have
done very little to significantly increase water supplies in over 40 years,
even though its population has doubled during that period of time.”
Instead of realizing that “water” was its middle name, the
board has been made captive by enviro-Nazis who think people in general are the
enemy. Rather than build dams and reservoirs to keep up with a growing
population, state government has preferred to depend on the kindness of clouds
to provide water for taxpayers. Then the clouds stopped being kind.
Felicia Marcus, chairman of the water board, exemplifies the
arrogant, buck-passing mentality of its members: “I like to say, having a
browning lawn and a dirty car is a badge of honor.” No Felicia, the dead grass
and filthy car are the result of a do-nothing board that should be thrown out
on its ear.
Source:<http://news.reaganreports.com/t/4664542/93377280/712058/1003/> Michael Reagan is the son of former President
Ronald Reagan and chairman of the League of American Voters. His blog appears
on reaganreports.com.
Comments
During the years Georgia’s population was
booming, those with the charter to deliver basic human infrastructure were
chasing less weighty goals designed to line the pockets of favorite
cronies. Government cannot escape their
responsibility to deliver affordable water, power, roads and bridges in
abundance and good repair. Unlike
California, Georgia is having a good year for rain, but our turn for drought
will come again, probably before we have a water fix in place.
Like California, Georgia has failed. There
needs to be a recognition that these are priorities and must be expanded just
to catch up. We need more reservoirs near
Atlanta. We need to keep the EPA far
away from our coal-fired power plants. We need to expand our highways to allow
drivers some alternatives to I-285. We need to let the free market work. We
need our State Sovereignty legally in place to deal with the Feds.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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