The announcement that Northern California water projects will get $260 million in federal stimulus funds at the same time Valley farmers and farmworkers are marching for more water is either terrible political timing or an in-your-face message from the Obama Administration that Valley agriculture doesn't matter. It appears that it's the latter.
The Fresno Bee editorial board criticizes the Obama Administration for it's lack of action on the water problem on the Valley's west side in this editorial.
Most of us used to be proud to be Californians because we had elected officials with intelligence, courage and common sense. I totally agree with the editorial position. I am however, disappointed that ths topic does not get headlines daily...there should be images of the "people" who suffer....and all of us who benefit from food produced in the Valley. I would have pictures of our elected leaders eating fruits and vegetables, drinking milk, eating cheese and drinking wine...all produced in California and then have reporters interviews with each of them. I would ask the question: where did you get the food you are seen eating in these photos? What is the role of water in their production? Have them EXPLAIN the science of "salmon restoration?" I guarantee even with talking points you would soon find they know nothing except the talking points. We need people with vision and courage who will not fear special interests and do what is right for human beings. KEEP UP THE PRESSURE!
Is the Fresno Bee going for revisionist history? Would it make sense to allocate Fed money to the San Joaquin Valley, the hotbed of California's extreme Right Wing politics? The Democrats in Washington are not stupid. By the way; most of the Westside crop is being raised with socialist water. And who recalled Gray Davis? Who voted for Schwarzenegger? Californians did. Cause and effect. No way to get around it.
I thought the editorial today was rather petulant. It looked like it was written by a staffer from the Westlands Water district. So what were you hoping for - billions of dollars for some unspecified water projects somewhere?
You also recently chastised Obama for not coming to Fresno. What would he see if he came here - lush landscaping, sprinklers running day and night and water running in the gutters? Yeah, we're really acting like we take water seriously here. Maybe he could visit the Tulare Lake basin and see thousands of acres of subsidized, water-thirsty cotton being grown with subsidized water? So, hey, let's give them more water so they can expand production on more selenium-tainted land, then come back crying again during the next dry spell. Fact is, no matter how much more water we give to the west side farmers, it will never be enough.
This whole idea of spending billions of dollars on new dams to supply more water for Big Ag, so that a handful of those dollars might reach the farmworkers is the ultimate trickle-down scheme. I'm surprised the Bee has fallen for it so badly. But I guess with Gottschalks gone, you can't afford to tick off any other local big-money interests.
Here is a scenario for Governor Schwarzenegger's next film production.
A few dozen valley children dressed like Mayflower pilgrims enter a field with Squanto played by Governor Schwarzenegger. He nobley leads them in planting a row of crops using a traditional indian digging stick. The pilgrim children then run up and surround him in excitement, one pilgrim boy pulls out a smelt from a burlap bag and holds it over the hole. The child looks up to him with an expression of hope. He initially responds with sternly but politically melts to charmed approval. Relaxing his flexed shoulder muscles he smiles broadly saying..."Don't worry little boy, its ok grow healthy food the way I do. You learned that in school didn't you? What is a few measly fish anyway...right?" Squanto then takes the fish in hand and places it reverently into the hole. Then almost imperceptibly he scans over his shoulder. The children respond to his kind words and actions with a cheer and a seed is carefully sown and covered with valley soil by their litle hands. Finally a lone pilgrim is seen walking along the row carefully tilting a watering can over each little mound. The can is labeled "Official California Water."
That is wrong. Oboma should turn the water back on. This being green shit is taking away our rights. That is so stupid. Fish is worth more than people. DONT PEOPLE SEE THAT THE GOVERMENT IS USING THE GREEN STUFF TO TAKE AWAY OUR FREEDOM.