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The insidious thing about rivers, is that the flow through places. Seems to create a perfect storm of detachment of cause and effect, and deniability for anyone

The insidious thing about rivers, is that the flow through places. Seems to create a perfect storm of detachment of cause and effect, and deniability for anyone's responsibly to act.

micromacrofoot 4y ago
Yeah it’s the prisoner’s dilemma… everyone is worried that if they don’t take what they can get, they’ll be left with nothing while everyone else prospers off of their loss
- colechristensen 4y ago
  It’s not really that at all. There is a broad sector of people making their living off of inappropriately inexpensive water and governments unwilling to bankrupt a sizable fraction of them.
  - micromacrofoot 4y ago
    Fits the pattern of "I don't want to give up what I can get and watch others prosper from my loss"
BurningFrog 4y ago
Systems of ownable water rights to rivers is centuries old. This is a solved problem.
- monocasa 4y ago
  There's very much a system of water rights already in place on the Colorado river. The problem isn't solved.
  - BurningFrog 4y ago
    I responded to the problem of "detachment of cause and effect, and deniability for anyone's responsibly to act". I think it's clear who is responsible for what water in the current system. That who owns what and with very uneven conditions is a disaster is to me a separate problem. But I might be splitting hairs here.
    - chrisseaton 4y ago
      > I think it's clear who is responsible for what water in the current system. River water rights are not always 'clear'. It's a common problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_politics_in_the_Nile_Basin#Treaties_affecting_Nile_water_use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_politics_in_the_Nile_Bas...
  - colechristensen 4y ago
    The problem of having legal institutions in place to regulate river usage is solved. The problem of having those legal institutions do so in a reasonable manner is not, but will be soon enough as large public water shortages will really motivate the electorate to force the issue.
- ClumsyPilot 4y ago
  System of nobles owning land and serfs on that land was centuries old. Does it fit today's needs? Was it possible to divert 100% of a massive river centuries ago? Was it needed for electricity generation? Did climate change rapidly?

The insidious thing about rivers, is that the flow through places. Seems to create a perfect storm of detachment of cause and effect, and deniability for anyone's responsibly to act.

micromacrofoot 4y ago

Yeah it’s the prisoner’s dilemma… everyone is worried that if they don’t take what they can get, they’ll be left with nothing while everyone else prospers off of their loss

colechristensen 4y ago
It’s not really that at all. There is a broad sector of people making their living off of inappropriately inexpensive water and governments unwilling to bankrupt a sizable fraction of them.
- micromacrofoot 4y ago
  Fits the pattern of "I don't want to give up what I can get and watch others prosper from my loss"

BurningFrog 4y ago

Systems of ownable water rights to rivers is centuries old. This is a solved problem.

monocasa 4y ago
There's very much a system of water rights already in place on the Colorado river. The problem isn't solved.
- BurningFrog 4y ago
  I responded to the problem of "detachment of cause and effect, and deniability for anyone's responsibly to act". I think it's clear who is responsible for what water in the current system. That who owns what and with very uneven conditions is a disaster is to me a separate problem. But I might be splitting hairs here.
  - chrisseaton 4y ago
    > I think it's clear who is responsible for what water in the current system. River water rights are not always 'clear'. It's a common problem. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_politics_in_the_Nile_Basin#Treaties_affecting_Nile_water_use https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_politics_in_the_Nile_Bas...
- colechristensen 4y ago
  The problem of having legal institutions in place to regulate river usage is solved. The problem of having those legal institutions do so in a reasonable manner is not, but will be soon enough as large public water shortages will really motivate the electorate to force the issue.
ClumsyPilot 4y ago
System of nobles owning land and serfs on that land was centuries old. Does it fit today's needs? Was it possible to divert 100% of a massive river centuries ago? Was it needed for electricity generation? Did climate change rapidly?