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> In California, everyone’s after whatever water they can get. Because of the low supply, the Palo Verde Irrigation District is currently three years into a 30-
by waterhouse 6y ago
> In California, everyone’s after whatever water they can get. Because of the low supply, the Palo Verde Irrigation District is currently three years into a 30-year fallowing contract – when farmers are paid not to plant a portion of their fields so the water can instead be sent to cities...
Oh man, it's just like in Catch-22:
His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of alfalfa he did not grow. The more alfalfa he did not grow, the more money the government gave him, and he spent every penny he didn't earn on new land to increase the amount of alfalfa he did not produce. Major Major's father worked without rest at not growing alfalfa. On long winter evenings he remained indoors and did not mend harness, and he sprang out of bed at the crack of noon every day just to make certain that the chores would not be done. He invested in land wisely and soon was not growing more alfalfa than any other man in the county. Neighbours sought him out for advice on all subjects, for he had made much money and was therefore wise. “As ye sow, so shall ye reap,” he counselled one and all, and everyone said “Amen.”
- happyconcepts 6y agoAmen. Wise Presidents such as Trump Trump need further elevation from as astute an observation as yours.
- waterhouse 6y agoThe character "Major Major" has a surname of Major, and a double given name of Major Major, and also was promoted to the rank of Major at one point, so his full title and name is "Major Major Major Major", which is the title of the chapter about him. Catch-22 is deliberately silly in places, but is also clearly referring to some real things.
- happyconcepts 6y ago>but is also clearly referring to some real things. And as I previously pointed out, it clearly refers more to Trump Trump than to California water issues. You can be deliberately ignorant and downvote all you want if thats the best use of your time.
- waterhouse 6y ago1. FYI, on Hacker News it's impossible to downvote a direct reply to one's comment. 2. I hope you realize that Catch-22 was published 55 years before Trump was elected. 3. I think the "paying people not to grow food" policies Catch-22 mentions came from Roosevelt's New Deal, and seem like the kind of thing Trump would likely oppose.
- mtnGoat 6y agoThis describes my great uncle. Got paid almost his entire life, to not grow wheat. Now his kids are slowly selling off the land, cause the government payments (welfare) isn’t enough to keep them all in mansions anymore. Too many greedy, lazy, non working siblings.
- tinus_hn 6y agoIn the end they’ll no longer be living on the governments dime. Seems like a happy ending after all.