California Seems Ending the Year With About 3 Billion Dollars Surplus (Modesto: how much, luxury)

[dexter14]

Originally Posted by nslander

Or we could stop bleeding 80% of our water supply to sustain largely corporate interests which comprise a tiny portion to our state GDP so they can grow things like cotton in semi-arid land and sell it on the global market!

Or we could take some of that $10 BILLION a year given to illegals....

[nslander]

Originally Posted by mbell75

Or we could take some of that $10 BILLION a year given to illegals....

Well, you are consistent. If we stopped the groundwater gravy-train to an agri-business that's also dependent on cheap labor, both our goals could largely be met.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by nslander

Well, you are consistent. If we stopped the groundwater gravy-train to an agri-business that's also dependent on cheap labor, both our goals could largely be met.

I just read that some of that groundwater, which is getting depleted, so farmers have to drill into ever-deeper aquifers, is being used for especially thirsty crops, like almonds. Now come on, people, we can live without almonds in order to safe some groundwater, can't we? Imagine all those candies and baked goods without almonds (the chocolate industry would pitch a fit), we can manage without that, can't we? Or would we rather keep the juggernaut going until its collapse?

[SophieModan]

The America's locomotive is getting back on track.

[Tulemutt]

I have posted on this almond /water thing before. Too lazy to look up the actual stats again, but it's something like California is supplying most of the world's almonds as well as America's. About 90%? Anyway, about 85% of our production goes out of the country. More to China than any other place. The Chinese have developed a passion for our almonds. And, apparently, thus our water. Because it takes about 10% of our state's water to produce those almonds. So we are sending our water to China. Cleverly disguised as almonds. Because the people of California would never put up with just sending our water there in bottles. Right?

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

I have posted on this almond /water thing before. Too lazy to look up the actual stats again, but it's something like California is supplying most of the world's almonds as well as America's. About 90%? Anyway, about 85% of our production goes out of the country. More to China than any other place. The Chinese have developed a passion for our almonds. And, apparently, thus our water. Because it takes about 10% of our state's water to produce those almonds. So we are sending our water to China. Cleverly disguised as almonds. Because the people of California would never put up with just sending our water there in bottles. Right?

I'm sure China can find someplace with the right climate conditions at home to grow their own almonds. But now that you mention it, almond-flavored deserts are big in China and Taiwan. I suppose it helps even out the balance of trade between China and the US. Not sure it's worth all that groundwater, though.

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

I have posted on this almond /water thing before. Too lazy to look up the actual stats again, but it's something like California is supplying most of the world's almonds as well as America's. About 90%? Anyway, about 85% of our production goes out of the country. More to China than any other place. The Chinese have developed a passion for our almonds. And, apparently, thus our water. Because it takes about 10% of our state's water to produce those almonds. So we are sending our water to China. Cleverly disguised as almonds. Because the people of California would never put up with just sending our water there in bottles. Right?

Good point. Also overlooked is the role of industrialized almond production in the increasing disappearance of bees thru Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Basically most of the nation's bee supply is shipped out here for the pollination season, and then they get shipped back home again, often ending up either dead or heavily infected with mites and other pathogens which they pass on.

Are California Almonds Destroying the U.S. Bee Supply?

[Ruth4Truth]

Back to the state's new surplus, I discovered that during his first governorship, he also left the state with an enormous surplus. I also found this, about his stint as Sec'y of State. This Moonbeam guy sounds ok!


In 1970, Brown was elected California Secretary of State. Brown argued before the California Supreme Court and won cases against Standard Oil of California, International Telephone and Telegraph, Gulf Oil, and Mobil for election law violations.[7] In addition, he forced legislators to comply with campaign disclosure laws. While holding this office, he discovered the use of falsely notarized documents to earn a tax deduction by then-President Richard Nixon. Brown also drafted and helped to pass the California Political Reform Act of 1974, Proposition 9, passed by 70% of California's voters in June, 1974. Among other provisions, it established the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

I'd sure like to know what those election law violations were! Sounds like Big Oil was rigging politics in their favor. It's amazing what goes on that you don't know about until someone bothers to investigate.

GO, JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

GO, JER-RY! JER-RY! JER-RY!

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by nslander

Or we could stop bleeding 80% of our water supply to sustain largely corporate interests which comprise a tiny portion to our state GDP so they can grow things like cotton in semi-arid land and sell it on the global market!

Idea!

Let's kill a business sector of CA that produces income and jobs (not to mention feeds the world) so folks in LA can have grass lawns and full swimming pools!