California taking more than their fare share of water

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

California leads the country in agriculture in terms of revenue and produces over half the nation's fruit and vegetables - but only ranks 9th in terms of subsbidies (91% of CA farmers do not receive them)

[luckytxn 2,265]

California leads the country in agriculture in terms of revenue and produces over half the nation's fruit and vegetables - but only ranks 9th in terms of subsbidies (91% of CA farmers do not receive them)

And if California is unable to meet the needs then there are other parts of the country more than capable to start producing what we need to make up any losses. California also has a huge population that needs water. This population is growing. Industry that is needed to keep this population working also needs a lot of water. There are other states and now major cities that need water from the same source that California uses. Something has to give. Growing food in the desert is water intensive. There are parts of the country with the same climate that has the water sources to pick up any slack. Telling other states and Mexico that California is more important is not going to fly. People are more important.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

People are more important.

Not really. Less people, less stress on the system. People can live just about anywhere. Agriculture is dependent on topography and climate, as well as soil and available water. Time for some of these cities to stop growing. We have greenbelted the area where I live. We decided as a county that farmland is more important than housing developments.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

"Much of" does not equal "most", but that is okay. This time of year, we start getting most of our produce from Mexico, Central and South America, especially Chile. But, many of the crops are produced year around, unlike the Midwest. If you take a flight over California, you will notice that this is predominately an agricultural state.

And California can export all those food products to the US when that state is cut from the union. We can be trading partners. Don't forget though that California is about to be $12.8 billion dollars in the red next year. That's a lot of money to owe. It doesn't matter how big California's economy is, when you spend $5 for every $1 you make somethings wrong.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

And California can export all those food products to the US when that state is cut from the union. We can be trading partners. Don't forget though that California is about to be $12.8 billion dollars in the red next year. That's a lot of money to owe. It doesn't matter how big California's economy is, when you spend $5 for every $1 you make somethings wrong.

California economy among world economies
Gross domestic product in $ trillions
Rank	Country / State	GDP
1	United States (without California)	12.3
2	Japan	5.07
3	China	4.98
4	Germany	3.33
5	France	2.65
6	United Kingdom	2.17
7	Italy	2.11
8	California	1.89
9	Brazil	1.57
10	Spain	1.46

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

California economy among world economies
Gross domestic product in $ trillions
Rank	Country / State	GDP
1	United States (without California)	12.3
2	Japan	5.07
3	China	4.98
4	Germany	3.33
5	France	2.65
6	United Kingdom	2.17
7	Italy	2.11
8	California	1.89
9	Brazil	1.57
10	Spain	1.46

http://news.yahoo.com/ny-california-hitting-millionaires-again-073245513.html

California faces a $3.7 billion shortfall for the current fiscal year and projected $12.8 billion deficit in 2013.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Not really. Less people, less stress on the system. People can live just about anywhere. Agriculture is dependent on topography and climate, as well as soil and available water. Time for some of these cities to stop growing. We have greenbelted the area where I live. We decided as a county that farmland is more important than housing developments.

We can agree on this. I am also sure we can agree that people need water. California has a big population that needs water. The other southwestern states have been growing and needs water. Water is getting scarce in the Southwest. Now California can try to make a law saying to that people need to move out of the state and the ones that are allowed to stay can have no more babies but we both know that this is not going to happen. Maybe California can force the other southwest states and Mexico to stop growing and stunt their growth.

We also know that desert land was cheap many decades ago. Some went and bought it up and with the plentiful water at the time irrigated it and created a large agricultural region for the state. To maintain it they needed to somehow assure they would always have plenty of water but population in the state grew and the whole southwest has grown. This has started to strain the resources that all use the same source.

What I have tried to show is that there are other areas of the country that can and will increase their agriculture to offset California. There are other ares that are also just as temperate as south California and even larger in area and have the water resources to do so. The country will not starve in the least.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

We can agree on this. I am also sure we can agree that people need water. California has a big population that needs water. The other southwestern states have been growing and needs water. Water is getting scarce in the Southwest. Now California can try to make a law saying to that people need to move out of the state and the ones that are allowed to stay can have no more babies but we both know that this is not going to happen. Maybe California can force the other southwest states and Mexico to stop growing and stunt their growth.

We also know that desert land was cheap many decades ago. Some went and bought it up and with the plentiful water at the time irrigated it and created a large agricultural region for the state. To maintain it they needed to somehow assure they would always have plenty of water but population in the state grew and the whole southwest has grown. This has started to strain the resources that all use the same source.

What I have tried to show is that there are other areas of the country that can and will increase their agriculture to offset California. There are other ares that are also just as temperate as south California and even larger in area and have the water resources to do so. The country will not starve in the least.

California also gets electricity far below market price from the Bonneville Dam in Washington state, and that's about to come to an end also. Washington state and Oregon have taken California to court over it.

California needs other states water and power like a heroin addict needs it's next fix.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

http://news.yahoo.com/ny-california-hitting-millionaires-again-073245513.html

California faces a $3.7 billion shortfall for the current fiscal year and projected $12.8 billion deficit in 2013.

California cannot run a deficit by law. When the money runs out, they stop writing checks.

[luckytxn 2,265]

California cannot run a deficit by law. When the money runs out, they stop writing checks.

Same as Texas. California does issue IOU's and that burdens the next years budget.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Same as Texas. California does issue IOU's and that burdens the next years budget.

Yep. They also suck out of the pension funds with promises for high returns later on. Now is later, and that is why the state is having this problem. Well, that, and a lot of double dipping among state workers and politicians, and a teachers union that is out of control.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Yep. They also suck out of the pension funds with promises for high returns later on. Now is later, and that is why the state is having this problem. Well, that, and a lot of double dipping among state workers and politicians, and a teachers union that is out of control.

Same as many states. The strange thing is that other states are run by one of the two major parties and the same results.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Most of California's food supply is shipped by rail (Union Pacific) FYI.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Yep. They also suck out of the pension funds with promises for high returns later on. Now is later, and that is why the state is having this problem. Well, that, and a lot of double dipping among state workers and politicians, and a teachers union that is out of control.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm

Illegal Immigration Costs California Over Ten Billion Annually

State's "cheap labor" costs average household $1,183 a year

http://abcnews.go.com/US/california-dream-act-cover-college-costs-illegal-immigrants/story?id=14701143

California 'Dream Act' Will Help Cover College Costs for Illegal Immigrants

Illegal immigrants will be able to apply for financial aid and merit-based scholarships to help pay their way through California's public colleges and universities, now that Gov. Jerry Brown this weekend signed the state's groundbreaking and controversial Dream Act, which ramps up existing allowances for the students in question.

Since 2001, California law has extended in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants as long as they have attended a California high school for at least three years, earned a high school diploma or GED and have proof that they are working to obtain citizenship. Under rules newly signed by Brown, beginning Jan. 1, 2012, illegal immigrants can apply for and receive scholarships derived from non-state funds and, beginning Jan. 1, 2013, for financial aid partially comprised of state funds.

Dream Act supporters have said they also will push for illegal immigrants to become eligible for driver licenses, a next move in a bid for full U.S. citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Edited December 11, 2011 by Why_Me

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

At the end of the day, California is still a donor state when it comes to federal dollars. And in spite of the idiocy in Sacramento is still the world's 8th largest economy which happens to be very diverse (agriculture, IT, aerospace, entertainment, etc)