General Discussion

Sen. Walter Sobchak

(8,692 posts)

20. It isn't the population growth, it's the lettuce

Mon Apr 20, 2015, 04:31 PM

Apr 2015

Desert agriculture was a necessity of another age, you couldn't really ship anything other than frozen meat by train and have it arrive edible. Produce would either arrive frozen or spoiled. Now that is just a non-issue, we all eat food grown all over the world that arrived as air freight.

But there are huge fortunes invested and political capital in keeping desert agriculture going at whatever the cost. Until they get their fuck-off money and head for the Mississippi River this will never be resolved.

Suburban sprawl was the best thing to ever happen to Phoenix, every acre of agriculture that was displaced by development was less water being wasted.

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California drying up right before your eyes... [View all] MrScorpio Apr 2015 OP

Maybe, one day, we'll learn that population growth is unsustainable. Here and throughout the world. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #1

Curbing use will not take care of the problem. JDPriestly Apr 2015 #16

It isn't the population growth, it's the lettuce Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2015 #20

It's both... We are over populated and we are wasteful... haikugal Apr 2015 #30

There is a lot less use in vegetable agriculture than animal agriculture mucifer Apr 2015 #51

The hell? Act_of_Reparation Apr 2015 #31

Those enormous farms feed an enormous population. progressoid Apr 2015 #55

No, they feed an anormous economic sector. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2015 #56

You're absolutely right tabasco Apr 2015 #41

Well said!! n/t RKP5637 Apr 2015 #52

In college in IL, I had a T.A. originally from Santa Barbara, CA who closeupready Apr 2015 #2

Exactly! We really live in a world of stupid! Only disasters seem to motivate the human RKP5637 Apr 2015 #53

It's clear to me now geomon666 Apr 2015 #3

Rain Dance!! BKH70041 Apr 2015 #4

"It's not very effective..." Jamaal510 Apr 2015 #48

This is a phony problem! zappaman Apr 2015 #5

ahhhhh seabeyond Apr 2015 #11

Well, they're certainly on mine now! zappaman Apr 2015 #14

same thought at seeing that name JI7 Apr 2015 #39

Yes, we cannot equate the real water shortage problem with the Enron caused rolling blackouts Dont call me Shirley Apr 2015 #21

Most of Central (food basket) and Southern California is desert. The main source is the libdem4life Apr 2015 #6

No more water skis Warpy Apr 2015 #7

But isn't ISIS a greater threat? tenderfoot Apr 2015 #8

Looks like the Reservoir in those photos (Lake Oroville) was purposely drained 951-Riverside Apr 2015 #9

A desperate act to fill other reservoirs tabasco Apr 2015 #42

wasteful agriculture irrigation SHRED Apr 2015 #10

California agiculture also contributes... Spider Jerusalem Apr 2015 #13

True. But Calif. ag water use is unsustainable. And attitudes have got to change progree Apr 2015 #17

The problem with calling it a "drought" is that it probably isn't a drought Spider Jerusalem Apr 2015 #18

The warming of the planet has introduced a new weather paradigm in California Auggie Apr 2015 #22

mind you, more people eat beef and drink milk reddread Apr 2015 #26

I saw that 47% number floated around somewhere... ag_dude Apr 2015 #57

Pacific Institute analysis of California's water footprint Spider Jerusalem Apr 2015 #58

Thank you, been looking for that. ag_dude Apr 2015 #59

Jesus! Major Hogwash Apr 2015 #27

same way they have livestock in a desert like west Texas tishaLA Apr 2015 #37

thats the thing about corruption reddread Apr 2015 #25

Well, I'm sure the problem is getting all the discussion it deserves...... daleanime Apr 2015 #12

maybe it's time to start moving out of california Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #15

I emailed a friend a few weeks back, to ask if the drought made him consider moving. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Apr 2015 #28

his answer might be a whole lot different next year Romeo.lima333 Apr 2015 #43

Reverse the Okie or 49er movements? erronis Apr 2015 #33

millions reddread Apr 2015 #36

I'm not leaving PasadenaTrudy Apr 2015 #35

I'm with you Trudy yuiyoshida Apr 2015 #46

America is literally dying of thirst but the main fear is....ISIS, AQ and Iran? Fucked up. Fred Sanders Apr 2015 #19

wow Liberal_in_LA Apr 2015 #23

It's just a flesh wound! Rex Apr 2015 #24

Nestle will start paying it's fair share aaaaannnnnnyyyyyyyyy day now right? bluevoter4life Apr 2015 #29

they will indeed reddread Apr 2015 #38

Central Texas is still in a minor drought and 4/5 years ago Houston was hit hard Gothmog Apr 2015 #32

That ain't what the senator with the snow ball told me. The Jungle 1 Apr 2015 #34

Wow. KnR. nt tblue37 Apr 2015 #40

What's using all of California's water? rhett o rick Apr 2015 #44

And the fracking - TBF Apr 2015 #45

so much dirt running down that flume reddread Apr 2015 #47

That doesn't surprise me ... TBF Apr 2015 #50

California is in a hurt locker davidpdx Apr 2015 #49

Be a good time to look for lost lures, anchors, fishing rods, etc etc. B Calm Apr 2015 #54