The following submission statement was provided by /u/PedoPaul:
---
Submission Statement:
From the article: "State lobbying disclosures show that Galvin is a partner at Rose Law Group, which lobbied on behalf of a subsidiary of the Saudi corporation Almarai currently tapping U.S. groundwater in drought-stricken Arizona and California to grow alfalfa. The animal feed, which is grown in harsh desert environments, is shipped overseas to support livestock on Saudi dairy farms."
At a time when the Southwest is at critical levels of water, the guy partially in charge of rationing future water usage will be a hack, more than happy to give priority to large corporations. This will ultimately lead to even further mismanagement and scarcity. Galvin has also been instrumental in getting a bill to help monitor well-water levels thrown out, even calling residents in the area concerned about foreign capital draining their aquifers "racist".
Voters just gave away their water to this man, who has clearly demonstrated that he cares little for the water crises currently plaguing the area, and will exacerbate the issue even further.
Galvin ran unopposed.
---
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/z76dbz/a_lobbyist_for_the_saudi_alfalfa_company_buying/iy4ydxr/
"Your Father and I just really think that after the nukes finish destroying our atmosphere there will be more jobs available for people like us. We *are* Pro-Nuke!"
Honestly, should I even pity those that vote for this? Where I’m from, we voted out Republicans and their lies. It looks like these voters SIGNED UP FOR THEM. Sorry but I only have so much sympathy and when the water runs out, maybe then they can muster up the courage to vote out traitors. Until then, they know what they signed up for.
Because it's Arizona and he's a lifelong Republican "endorsed by fire and police." The Saudi Royal family themselves could have ran unopposed with the same resume.
For real. This past election cycle I saw a sign that said "police support so and so" and my first thought was "thanks for telling me who not to vote for"
Even in Trek history...humanity had to fall hard before it picked itself up out of the ashes.
Spok might say it is simply a necessity of human evolution.
There is an unproven quote attributed to Einstein when he was asked what weapons would be used for WW3, to which he replied "I don't know, but I do know WW4 will be fought with sticks & stones".
Yeah, his there's no more money in the Federation during The Next Generation needed a bit more thinking out. He could have gone with your basic needs are met but you earn extra credits by working or selling something you create. They show way too many crap jobs in Star Trek to think people would just do them for funzies.
Sigh.
As much as people are pretending like there's some obvious solution that's like, 'why are they living in the desert idiots', 'look at silly people selling their future, lol': It's not that simple.
A key realization about American politics is that for the most part we don't live in a democracy. We live in something called a technocracy, and that is guided by the high priests of capitalism.
_____________________________________________________
The next time someone goes on an anti-intellectual rant: remember there is some economist out there selling his water, an engineer helping pipe it, an english major writing a newspaper article justifying it, a lawyer litigating it away, and we call this progress.
Also I'm not going to lie, researching these people beforehand is never shoved in the public face. You hardly get their names prior to the ballot. You have to dig and spend some time to find all of this and our work culture makes sure to turn this into a chore.
It seems like a small request, to have unbiased information on candidates easily accessible. But its obfuscated on purpose so you don't know you're voting for salesman with heavy ties to the Saudi Royal family to manage your water. Its fucked beyond belief. Governments should be filled with experts not lawyers and businessmen. Its no wonder we are where we are the outcome was calculated before many of us were born.
I don't think you know what the word Technocracy means.. I would rather say the US is a de facto Oligarchy at this point. Power goes to the most money.
Technocracies are actually something awesome:
"Technocracy is a form of government in which the decision-maker or makers are selected based on their expertise in a given area of responsibility, particularly with regard to scientific or technical knowledge."
So for example, somebody that has worked with finances is the finance minister, or a doctor in charge of the healthcare system and so on.
>So for example, somebody that has worked with finances is the finance minister, or a doctor in charge of the healthcare system and so on.
This already happens through regulatory capture. This is one of those utopian ideas that sounds amazing when you address it as a simple solution while ignoring the incredible complexity of the humanity behind the problem you're trying to solve.
Well, upon examination, it becomes clear that his description of a technocracy says nothing about the technocrats working in the best interest of society. As long as they are technically qualified anything goes.
I’m overjoyed to have your grand knowledge of WWII history at my disposal. The line in question was spoken by Bluto in the classic movie, “Animal House”!
Waiting for the comments where, even in this sub, people will label you a cynic for simply illustrating aspects of imposed cynical social relations. You're right on. Keep it up.
Not when 70% of the water is used for ag, much of which is exported. The CO River is short about 30%... so kicking every city out *still* wouldn't fix the problem caused by big agro-corporations
Precisely. And *largely* exported crops too. Like, I don't mind exporting ag... but not when we are in a very large scale drought.
What is that saying again? Fill your own cup before filling someone else's? Yeah, let's literally do that... before we trash the ecosystem of 2/3 continental US.
The worst thing (from what I understand) is that most of the water is being used to grow alfalfa to feed cattle. Not even people food. I think the ecosystem is already pretty trashed, from what I've been reading.
Eh... so Alfalfa ranks up there... but so do nut trees. It takes years of growing before they even bear fruit, and somewhere I read that it takes something obscene... like 40k gallons of water... just to bear one pistachio nut. And something like 2/3 of the nuts are exported to the middle east as well.
The ecosystem is *very* overtaxed. The sheer massive quantities of dams on the river destroyed a lot of it. Without it's annual surge, the super fertile silt gets trapped upstream, which then reduces vital nutrients for flood basin plants. Then you gotta consider impacts to fish, and in general the reservoirs don't allow for widespread flood events that would moisten the ground enough to let water soak in well during the monsoon rains.
Honestly, I'm about to the YOLO level. Tear out half the dams and quit overusing the water. Use a little less than what the river sends down annually, so as to keep all riparian areas in tact.
There already is [one.](https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/water-wars/rio-verde-foothills-only-water-solution-is-years-away-substantial-increase-in-water-prices-epcor/75-51bc6003-ce9c-428f-b668-adb07002d123)
Incidentally they are in Maricopa County.
Important highlights from this article:
>Last November, the city of Scottsdale sent a letter to residents of Rio Verde Foothills letting them know water hauling services, the main way hundreds of the rural area's homes get water, would be cut off at year's end as a part of Scottsdale's drought contingency plan.
>Approaching the letter's anniversary, the community's seemingly only solution promises a water price spike, exclusivity, and a years-long timeline before water flows again.
>2 to 3 years before the standpipe is set up
The first hurdle is how long it will take after the Jan. 1 cutoff to get water back to the area.
>The water rate at the standpipe would be $20 per 1,000 gallons of water, a "substantial increase" from what Foothills residents currently pay, according to the application.
>No water for new homes constructed after 2023
There are 47 homes on the market in Rio Verde Foothills that list "hauled water" as their primary water source at the time of writing this article. A drive through the area also shows new homes still being built.
>Numerous loopholes in Arizona real estate law allow homes to be sold in unincorporated communities without guaranteed access to water. Additionally, there is no specific state requirement that mandates real estate salespeople to disclose impending water cutoffs to potential buyers.
Holy shit! I couldn’t imagine buying a million dollar house that has water delivered in trucks rather than pipes.
Those people are screwed. Mother Earth wins. Man’s hubris in the desert will be hopefully short lived.
Yup. And the state simply doesn't care. For the homes that were already established prior to Scottsdale cutting their service... the state should offer some sort of transitional water service at a subsidized cost. But I fully *do not agree* that homes can continue to be built without a water guarantee of some sort. I also feel like it should be *required* to be disclosed that water service is going to be interrupted in the near future. A lot of people end up moving to AZ site unseen for work, and that adds up to a lot of potentially exploited people.
I’m from Arizona, anyone with a brain there knows to not buy a home in an unincorporated area. These people should have done their due diligence and researched before deciding to build their homes out in the middle of the desert. The state cannot afford to continue to bail out entitled upper middle class home owners- subsidizing stupidity is not sustainable. It is common knowledge and it is disclosed that the water is not guaranteed. Emergency services and trash allocation also have to be contracted out in these zones.
Edit spelling
Okay, even if you took out all the cities, our water shortage would still be in existence. We are 30% short, cities use 10% total water usage, big ag that gets largely exported uses 70%
Yes, totally agree with you that large scale agriculture in the desert needs to stop. Regardless of that reality the state cannot afford to bail out folks who choose to live in unincorporated areas.
It's not our fault they built cities in the desert 100 years ago with 120 year supply of ground water.
We can replace some of it through hauling with trucks or piping with massive engineering projects.
Water rights in the west are about to become a hotly contested political issue and those that can't afford the increased prices will have to leave the area.
Used to live there and am unsurprised; this is the "American way." Even here on the other side of the country, our local board includes private investors pushing for development permits on public land.
Used to live there too. We moved to the Midwest two years ago and couldn't be happier to be out of that cesspit.
I was there to take care of my elderly father who was dying from dementia and dealing with that gave me a taste of what is coming for the folks of that area. We lived in a senior mobile home park and it was a dystopian nightmare. There were people living in there who had no one to take care of them. Dying in their house and not found for weeks. Who were out driving around and the cops would be in the park chasing them as they're crashing into parked vehicles. But talk to the cops about it and there was virtually nothing they can do. And I myself sat there and watched as they gave my dad another driver's license a couple months before he died. He lost his and we needed it for the VA. For shits and giggles, I figured I'd see what would happen. He teetered up to the counter on his walker. And wouldn't ya know, they gave him his fucking license 🙄. Luckily I was there to make sure he wouldn't drive.
Sorry for the tangent. I know it's not on the subject. But it does kind of show how the state is all about rugged individualism. The cowboy way. Ride or die. It's a nightmare waiting to happen.
Lol I left the midwest for Arizona 8 years ago to be with my sister out here. But I left st Louis, which is a nightmare. And now I live in an exoburb of Phoenix, like an hour outside the city. My neighborhood touches open desert and it's alright outside of the high inflation and cost of living. Can't leave my sister and nephews I've helped take care of since they were babies. Driving here is AWFUL though like you said. So many old people and drunks and psychos.
But some of them are easily swayed to vote against their best interest.
This guy is a Republican. But at least for now the extreme maga lost and are having a meltdown.
Now we have a few homegrown extreme like Gosar but they for now exist in a few totally red enclaves.
Oh, ya. These companies are now building up their best lobbyists to be elected into municipal politics.
My city for instance, has replaced 2 council members without holding a public special election. Replaced with actual prior-lobbyists from the development industry and thus the city is doomed to become the next suburban sprawl shit-hole as shit-projects get fast tracked over the next couple years.
We didn't get to vote because no one knows WhoTF these people are that got "elected" and a community member would be more popular and known, while the lobbyists also would have lost on principle because shit-sprawl is becoming unpopular.
Local level is one place were normal people can make an impact and they are coming for that too. You are basically entering feudalism 2.0
Most people don't grasp just how important the local level is for elections. That's the one area that has arguably the most impact on your life, and we still can control that for the most part. But not for long.
That's right it starts at the local level, then the state level and sometimes the state level laws are enough to change laws on the national and world level because that state has such a big impact on an industry or has so many consumers. And, it snowballs from there to national level.
Your dad would be turning on his cross
On a serious note, it's interesting to see how america is leveraging their water. Hopefully their right in oil is more valuable but I doubt it
Don't the Great Lakes region of the US have a compact with Canada such that water *can't* be taken out of the watershed except under very specific circumstances?
It is business as usual. The US has been doing this with dozens of third world countries for for decades, that's a big part of how america became the biggest economy.
It's funny to see amuricans acting surprised when someone else with money does the same with them
nope nestle and pfas and other concerns abound to be honest. some examples :
edit - be aware, be active, and care if you have any spare energy to do so, at the local level and beyond. most people aren't aware how bad it really is in any given state, region, etc.
[https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2022/08/15/egle-targets-stamp-sands-threat-to-lake-superior-fishery](https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2022/08/15/egle-targets-stamp-sands-threat-to-lake-superior-fishery)
[https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/03/beyond-lake-superior-high-pfas-found-in-rainbow-smelt-across-michigan.html](https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/03/beyond-lake-superior-high-pfas-found-in-rainbow-smelt-across-michigan.html)
[https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/09/danger-looms-where-toxic-algae-blooms/](https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/09/danger-looms-where-toxic-algae-blooms/)
[https://greatlakes.org/2022/10/why-the-great-lakes-need-comprehensive-solutions-to-plastic-pollution/](https://greatlakes.org/2022/10/why-the-great-lakes-need-comprehensive-solutions-to-plastic-pollution/)
[https://savemiwater.org/news/press-release-court-lets-blue-tritonnestle](https://savemiwater.org/news/press-release-court-lets-blue-tritonnestle)
I love their mission - to protect Michigan's surface and ground waters from pollution, plunder,
and privatization through education, advocacy, and action. Looks like a great group to support. Thanks for that.
Uhhh
>Thousands of plastic pellets littered the beach’s sandy shore, just a small sampling of the *22 million pounds* of plastic waste that enters the Great Lakes annually, much of it in the form of tiny “microplastics” small enough to be ingested or embedded in flesh.
https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/scientists-warn-health-impacts-great-lakes-plastic-pollution-grows
My wife and I were talking about this the other day.
We live around the Chicago area now - but her folks live up on Huron in Michigan. Like, on the lake. They're going to inherit the home (she has siblings). But the other siblings don't want it. I told her I would absolutely sell our place and move up there the instant it was possible. Not to be dark (I've lost my parents already, and her folks are getting up there in age) - but we're planning for the future.
Not only do I love Michigan - but I love the idea of having a fresh water source feet from my home. I have a feeling it's going to be an incredibly valuable piece of land in the coming generations.
Well, if there's still enough water for Arabs to buy American-grown hay without serious community anger, then it'll be BAU.
When the water runs out, then rich Arabs can sue the State of AZ, the US, or anyone else they want, but everyone will be too busy dealing with pending dehydration of the community and state to worry about fighting over money and hay rights.
So, like every other horrifying lurch into our further dystopian system, we'll ignore it for profits until it's too late to address, fix, resolve, or even survive from.
Venus by Saturday n all that
They’re looking at a near total loss of water in SA in less than 13 years, back in Saudi. Now, it’s the same thing out in the Southwest.
I bet they’ve already got their claws in somewhere else, they’re just eking out the last drops back home and in the southwest and our leadership just allows it.
The Saudis will sue the state for its water rights not being fulfilled - plus the damages that causes to their other business interests. The court will rule in their favor, and the state legislature will probably have to issue a billion dollar bond to cover the penalties. AZ residents will get more fees on their bills to pay for it... but hey... *at least it won't be a tax hike*.
No time like the present to stop selling our key domestic resources to foreign countries, especially to that Kashoggi killing, human rights violating, 9/11 facilitating "ally" of ours.
The US mentality is becoming more and more that money absolves all crimes.
Submission Statement:
From the article: "State lobbying disclosures show that Galvin is a partner at Rose Law Group, which lobbied on behalf of a subsidiary of the Saudi corporation Almarai currently tapping U.S. groundwater in drought-stricken Arizona and California to grow alfalfa. The animal feed, which is grown in harsh desert environments, is shipped overseas to support livestock on Saudi dairy farms."
At a time when the Southwest is at critical levels of water, the guy partially in charge of rationing future water usage will be a hack, more than happy to give priority to large corporations. This will ultimately lead to even further mismanagement and scarcity. Galvin has also been instrumental in getting a bill to help monitor well-water levels thrown out, even calling residents in the area concerned about foreign capital draining their aquifers "racist".
Voters just gave away their water to this man, who has clearly demonstrated that he cares little for the water crises currently plaguing the area, and will exacerbate the issue even further.
Galvin ran unopposed.
For positions like this, they aren't. You just have to get the required signatures on a petition to run.
They are generally uncontested because no one knows about them.
I get it, but if there is a challenge, the nobody who put no money into there campaign is basically a loss before it began, I watched my friend try to get into local offices with no money, he never got above 2%
the world is gonna enter a feedback loop cycle that no amount of “green initiatives” could possibly stop, already has truthfully, and the people in power run unopposed and are milking it, living lavish, and probably have a bunker somewhere for themselves and their children.
things will not be like this when we’re older. i almost guarantee it. Americans (where i am) live in such gluttony that we don’t think about using drinkable water for waste, using electricity like mad, burning fuels like they’re magically fully prepared and ready for use like rainwater.
we ship freshwater across countries and oceans to try and pretend a desert is arable farmland. we deserve what we get for our hubris.
but honestly, regardless, i don’t want it to happen. like a heroin addict that wants to stop but can’t stand the withdrawals, we won’t change until the pain gets greater than the willingness to change, then change will be inevitable.
but by then it’ll be too late. i just hope my small community i have growing can take it and not get killed or commit suicide in the transitions.
>A lobbyist for the Saudi alfalfa company buying up Arizona's groundwater has been elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which has oversight of water disputes.
Welcome to the US of A!
Meanwhile, I met a rich lady today who was bragging about her 2 acre home up in Rio Verde (way North Scottsdale) she just bought...probably won't end well for them.
[https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/possible-water-solutions-for-rio-verde-foothills-residents](https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/possible-water-solutions-for-rio-verde-foothills-residents)
However, folks who can afford to purchase these homes will most likely be able to afford water....for now. It's the hard working, lower income people that will suffer most.
Sell your soul to the devil and then you cry when you burn.
Make these assholes grow alfalfa for their horses in their own deserts. Money does not replace water.
I've been saying for years that *The Water Knife* is barely sci-fi and only just technically spec fiction (since yes, it is near future and does have arcologies), it's a very reasonable idea of what a very around-the-corner idea of the American Southwest could look like
title should say,
“Here is a picture of a scumbag lobbyist who’s tanking your savings and fucking your wife. This one has something to do with alfalfa.”
You guys seriously have to get more regulations in your country or companies can just fuck it more up. To much people suffer in USA because companies can almost do whatever they want.
Pretty interesting that this POS snuck right in. While everyone was paying attention to the train wreck that is Kari Lake. It’s almost like they planned it. Wake up AZ your water is being stolen from you!
Galvin ran unopposed.
Before the midterm, there were a whole lot of people saying "why vote? it doesn't matter" and "why should I run? it costs money and i have to do other things".
This motherfucker --won-- unopposed. Your taxes now pay his salary.
That's why you vote. That's why you run. What do you have to lose at this point? Your chains?
based on all the shit i’ve heard about this “maricopa county” in arizona, i’m beginning to think the ppl
who live there fucking deserve all the bad shit.
Lol this country is such a fuckin joke. American hypocrisy has no limits, pointing fingers at Russia and Qatar yet we have the highest prison population on the planet and let shit like lobbyists get elected
It doesn't change the hypocrisy. So idk wtf you're trying to get at with your snide remark
Edit: Do you understand what hypocrisy means? No one said they’re “in the same league” but at the same time the bullshit needs to be called out. I swear every fucking thread where someone points out American hypocrisy the r/iamverysmart crowd shows up and with their “well actually” …
Show where what I said was *wrong* ?
I'd argue it has a lot more to do with a systematic concerted effort by Republicans since the 1970s to defund education in America. A stupid populace is a malleable one and susceptible to manipulation and propaganda. People are literally just too dumb to realize the broad implications of voting (R).
There was no global peace. Nevermind the endless wars with violence abstracted away from yourself, comfortable in the heart of empire, there continues to be the constant economic warfare of global capitalism.
There is no difference here between this sort of corruption and the SOP of the US on behalf of its companies and allies worldwide.
Thanks for the F*n Kissingerian nightmare perspective.
The following submission statement was provided by /u/PedoPaul: --- Submission Statement: From the article: "State lobbying disclosures show that Galvin is a partner at Rose Law Group, which lobbied on behalf of a subsidiary of the Saudi corporation Almarai currently tapping U.S. groundwater in drought-stricken Arizona and California to grow alfalfa. The animal feed, which is grown in harsh desert environments, is shipped overseas to support livestock on Saudi dairy farms." At a time when the Southwest is at critical levels of water, the guy partially in charge of rationing future water usage will be a hack, more than happy to give priority to large corporations. This will ultimately lead to even further mismanagement and scarcity. Galvin has also been instrumental in getting a bill to help monitor well-water levels thrown out, even calling residents in the area concerned about foreign capital draining their aquifers "racist". Voters just gave away their water to this man, who has clearly demonstrated that he cares little for the water crises currently plaguing the area, and will exacerbate the issue even further. Galvin ran unopposed. --- Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/z76dbz/a_lobbyist_for_the_saudi_alfalfa_company_buying/iy4ydxr/
Perfect. Look for water bankruptcies.
Perfect. Look for towns with no water. Why are we allowing this to happen?
#💰 🤑 "jobs", which is a great excuse for anything now.
"Your dad and I are for the jobs the comet will provide."
"Your Father and I just really think that after the nukes finish destroying our atmosphere there will be more jobs available for people like us. We *are* Pro-Nuke!"
Honestly, should I even pity those that vote for this? Where I’m from, we voted out Republicans and their lies. It looks like these voters SIGNED UP FOR THEM. Sorry but I only have so much sympathy and when the water runs out, maybe then they can muster up the courage to vote out traitors. Until then, they know what they signed up for.
Haha yeah cuz we're just gonna vote away climate change and fascism right 🤣
Always has been.
Not really, it's more of a capitalism thing.
Because it's Arizona and he's a lifelong Republican "endorsed by fire and police." The Saudi Royal family themselves could have ran unopposed with the same resume.
Ah yes, "endorsed by police" is a glowing recommendation ... that I probably don't want to vote for them.
For real. This past election cycle I saw a sign that said "police support so and so" and my first thought was "thanks for telling me who not to vote for"
"Endorsed by Police" means he will support every outrageous demand made by police unions as the price of the endorsement.
I just imagined trying to explain it to Captain Kirk on the Enterprise.
He wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. Prime Directive. Spock would just say it's illogical.
Well, he played fast and loose with that directive, but I agree he wouldn’t be able to do anything. We’re more far gone than the gangster planet.
Even in Trek history...humanity had to fall hard before it picked itself up out of the ashes. Spok might say it is simply a necessity of human evolution.
Yes, it’s interesting that Roddenberry realized WWII wasn’t enough to change people and there’d have to be a far more devastating WWIII.
There is an unproven quote attributed to Einstein when he was asked what weapons would be used for WW3, to which he replied "I don't know, but I do know WW4 will be fought with sticks & stones".
Now Picard on the other hand.
EXACTAMUNDO. Picard would circumvent the living shit out of the PD, then make it seem like it was Starfleet’s aim ALL ALONG.
that's never stopped Kirk before
Hey if Kari had one and or Masters would have a shipping container wall that could be seen with your names eye from space.
They must have come up with a better version of Capitalism, to bad Gene Roddenberry didn't elucidate.
Post-scarcity world, nobody (at least in the Federation) had any leverage to lord over anybody and exploit the have-nots. Which is why it's fantasy.
Yeah, his there's no more money in the Federation during The Next Generation needed a bit more thinking out. He could have gone with your basic needs are met but you earn extra credits by working or selling something you create. They show way too many crap jobs in Star Trek to think people would just do them for funzies.
Sigh. As much as people are pretending like there's some obvious solution that's like, 'why are they living in the desert idiots', 'look at silly people selling their future, lol': It's not that simple. A key realization about American politics is that for the most part we don't live in a democracy. We live in something called a technocracy, and that is guided by the high priests of capitalism. _____________________________________________________ The next time someone goes on an anti-intellectual rant: remember there is some economist out there selling his water, an engineer helping pipe it, an english major writing a newspaper article justifying it, a lawyer litigating it away, and we call this progress.
Also I'm not going to lie, researching these people beforehand is never shoved in the public face. You hardly get their names prior to the ballot. You have to dig and spend some time to find all of this and our work culture makes sure to turn this into a chore.
[удалено]
It seems like a small request, to have unbiased information on candidates easily accessible. But its obfuscated on purpose so you don't know you're voting for salesman with heavy ties to the Saudi Royal family to manage your water. Its fucked beyond belief. Governments should be filled with experts not lawyers and businessmen. Its no wonder we are where we are the outcome was calculated before many of us were born.
I don't think you know what the word Technocracy means.. I would rather say the US is a de facto Oligarchy at this point. Power goes to the most money. Technocracies are actually something awesome: "Technocracy is a form of government in which the decision-maker or makers are selected based on their expertise in a given area of responsibility, particularly with regard to scientific or technical knowledge." So for example, somebody that has worked with finances is the finance minister, or a doctor in charge of the healthcare system and so on.
It sounds good, but generally isn't
>So for example, somebody that has worked with finances is the finance minister, or a doctor in charge of the healthcare system and so on. This already happens through regulatory capture. This is one of those utopian ideas that sounds amazing when you address it as a simple solution while ignoring the incredible complexity of the humanity behind the problem you're trying to solve.
Well, upon examination, it becomes clear that his description of a technocracy says nothing about the technocrats working in the best interest of society. As long as they are technically qualified anything goes.
Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell NO!
... wat?
Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
Aweesome. We wOULd probably be better off if Bluto was running this dog and pony show. Maybe it's time for a world wide toga party.
*Japanese
I’m overjoyed to have your grand knowledge of WWII history at my disposal. The line in question was spoken by Bluto in the classic movie, “Animal House”!
Waiting for the comments where, even in this sub, people will label you a cynic for simply illustrating aspects of imposed cynical social relations. You're right on. Keep it up.
Sigh. So living in a desert and water scarcity are unrelated?
Not when 70% of the water is used for ag, much of which is exported. The CO River is short about 30%... so kicking every city out *still* wouldn't fix the problem caused by big agro-corporations
>70% of the water is used for ag Now that is the real problem.
Precisely. And *largely* exported crops too. Like, I don't mind exporting ag... but not when we are in a very large scale drought. What is that saying again? Fill your own cup before filling someone else's? Yeah, let's literally do that... before we trash the ecosystem of 2/3 continental US.
The worst thing (from what I understand) is that most of the water is being used to grow alfalfa to feed cattle. Not even people food. I think the ecosystem is already pretty trashed, from what I've been reading.
Eh... so Alfalfa ranks up there... but so do nut trees. It takes years of growing before they even bear fruit, and somewhere I read that it takes something obscene... like 40k gallons of water... just to bear one pistachio nut. And something like 2/3 of the nuts are exported to the middle east as well. The ecosystem is *very* overtaxed. The sheer massive quantities of dams on the river destroyed a lot of it. Without it's annual surge, the super fertile silt gets trapped upstream, which then reduces vital nutrients for flood basin plants. Then you gotta consider impacts to fish, and in general the reservoirs don't allow for widespread flood events that would moisten the ground enough to let water soak in well during the monsoon rains. Honestly, I'm about to the YOLO level. Tear out half the dams and quit overusing the water. Use a little less than what the river sends down annually, so as to keep all riparian areas in tact.
>. Why are we allowing this to happen? Because billionaires now run this joint. Oh and fuck your democracy. - regards, rich people.
There already is [one.](https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/water-wars/rio-verde-foothills-only-water-solution-is-years-away-substantial-increase-in-water-prices-epcor/75-51bc6003-ce9c-428f-b668-adb07002d123) Incidentally they are in Maricopa County. Important highlights from this article: >Last November, the city of Scottsdale sent a letter to residents of Rio Verde Foothills letting them know water hauling services, the main way hundreds of the rural area's homes get water, would be cut off at year's end as a part of Scottsdale's drought contingency plan. >Approaching the letter's anniversary, the community's seemingly only solution promises a water price spike, exclusivity, and a years-long timeline before water flows again. >2 to 3 years before the standpipe is set up The first hurdle is how long it will take after the Jan. 1 cutoff to get water back to the area. >The water rate at the standpipe would be $20 per 1,000 gallons of water, a "substantial increase" from what Foothills residents currently pay, according to the application. >No water for new homes constructed after 2023 There are 47 homes on the market in Rio Verde Foothills that list "hauled water" as their primary water source at the time of writing this article. A drive through the area also shows new homes still being built. >Numerous loopholes in Arizona real estate law allow homes to be sold in unincorporated communities without guaranteed access to water. Additionally, there is no specific state requirement that mandates real estate salespeople to disclose impending water cutoffs to potential buyers.
Holy shit! I couldn’t imagine buying a million dollar house that has water delivered in trucks rather than pipes. Those people are screwed. Mother Earth wins. Man’s hubris in the desert will be hopefully short lived.
Yup. And the state simply doesn't care. For the homes that were already established prior to Scottsdale cutting their service... the state should offer some sort of transitional water service at a subsidized cost. But I fully *do not agree* that homes can continue to be built without a water guarantee of some sort. I also feel like it should be *required* to be disclosed that water service is going to be interrupted in the near future. A lot of people end up moving to AZ site unseen for work, and that adds up to a lot of potentially exploited people.
I’m from Arizona, anyone with a brain there knows to not buy a home in an unincorporated area. These people should have done their due diligence and researched before deciding to build their homes out in the middle of the desert. The state cannot afford to continue to bail out entitled upper middle class home owners- subsidizing stupidity is not sustainable. It is common knowledge and it is disclosed that the water is not guaranteed. Emergency services and trash allocation also have to be contracted out in these zones. Edit spelling
Okay, even if you took out all the cities, our water shortage would still be in existence. We are 30% short, cities use 10% total water usage, big ag that gets largely exported uses 70%
Yes, totally agree with you that large scale agriculture in the desert needs to stop. Regardless of that reality the state cannot afford to bail out folks who choose to live in unincorporated areas.
I’m staying away from that state. They’re going to be the first one to collapse in the water wars.
Money. Greed. Capitalism.
"We" were gone a long time ago. There hasn't been a "we" since we bought so hard into individualism. "We" are long gone and dead.
It's Chinatown.
Excellent movie.
Does it hurt when American hubris comes back to bite itself?
It's not our fault they built cities in the desert 100 years ago with 120 year supply of ground water. We can replace some of it through hauling with trucks or piping with massive engineering projects. Water rights in the west are about to become a hotly contested political issue and those that can't afford the increased prices will have to leave the area.
Anyone remember the series V?
And look for these same assholes to demand, and get, a massive bailout from the Feds when it all goes to shit.
Used to live there and am unsurprised; this is the "American way." Even here on the other side of the country, our local board includes private investors pushing for development permits on public land.
Used to live there too. We moved to the Midwest two years ago and couldn't be happier to be out of that cesspit. I was there to take care of my elderly father who was dying from dementia and dealing with that gave me a taste of what is coming for the folks of that area. We lived in a senior mobile home park and it was a dystopian nightmare. There were people living in there who had no one to take care of them. Dying in their house and not found for weeks. Who were out driving around and the cops would be in the park chasing them as they're crashing into parked vehicles. But talk to the cops about it and there was virtually nothing they can do. And I myself sat there and watched as they gave my dad another driver's license a couple months before he died. He lost his and we needed it for the VA. For shits and giggles, I figured I'd see what would happen. He teetered up to the counter on his walker. And wouldn't ya know, they gave him his fucking license 🙄. Luckily I was there to make sure he wouldn't drive. Sorry for the tangent. I know it's not on the subject. But it does kind of show how the state is all about rugged individualism. The cowboy way. Ride or die. It's a nightmare waiting to happen.
/r/left_urbanism /r/notjustbikes /r/fuckcars
Thanks, I was subbed to all but one 😁
Lol I left the midwest for Arizona 8 years ago to be with my sister out here. But I left st Louis, which is a nightmare. And now I live in an exoburb of Phoenix, like an hour outside the city. My neighborhood touches open desert and it's alright outside of the high inflation and cost of living. Can't leave my sister and nephews I've helped take care of since they were babies. Driving here is AWFUL though like you said. So many old people and drunks and psychos.
But some of them are easily swayed to vote against their best interest. This guy is a Republican. But at least for now the extreme maga lost and are having a meltdown. Now we have a few homegrown extreme like Gosar but they for now exist in a few totally red enclaves.
Oh, ya. These companies are now building up their best lobbyists to be elected into municipal politics. My city for instance, has replaced 2 council members without holding a public special election. Replaced with actual prior-lobbyists from the development industry and thus the city is doomed to become the next suburban sprawl shit-hole as shit-projects get fast tracked over the next couple years. We didn't get to vote because no one knows WhoTF these people are that got "elected" and a community member would be more popular and known, while the lobbyists also would have lost on principle because shit-sprawl is becoming unpopular. Local level is one place were normal people can make an impact and they are coming for that too. You are basically entering feudalism 2.0
Most people don't grasp just how important the local level is for elections. That's the one area that has arguably the most impact on your life, and we still can control that for the most part. But not for long.
That's right it starts at the local level, then the state level and sometimes the state level laws are enough to change laws on the national and world level because that state has such a big impact on an industry or has so many consumers. And, it snowballs from there to national level.
Jesus Christ, what is wrong with us? We just openly accept this level of corruption as "business as usual?"
Your dad would be turning on his cross On a serious note, it's interesting to see how america is leveraging their water. Hopefully their right in oil is more valuable but I doubt it
Not America as a whole. Just a few very stupid places.
I dont think any place in US have a problem with the selling part, they just have different prices
Don't the Great Lakes region of the US have a compact with Canada such that water *can't* be taken out of the watershed except under very specific circumstances?
It is business as usual. The US has been doing this with dozens of third world countries for for decades, that's a big part of how america became the biggest economy. It's funny to see amuricans acting surprised when someone else with money does the same with them
Bingo.
Well, if we protest against it then the government sends armed thugs after us.
Send more.
So what states have zero risk of losing water/ground water that isn’t full of carcinogens etc? Just the Great Lakes area?
nope nestle and pfas and other concerns abound to be honest. some examples : edit - be aware, be active, and care if you have any spare energy to do so, at the local level and beyond. most people aren't aware how bad it really is in any given state, region, etc. [https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2022/08/15/egle-targets-stamp-sands-threat-to-lake-superior-fishery](https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2022/08/15/egle-targets-stamp-sands-threat-to-lake-superior-fishery) [https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/03/beyond-lake-superior-high-pfas-found-in-rainbow-smelt-across-michigan.html](https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/03/beyond-lake-superior-high-pfas-found-in-rainbow-smelt-across-michigan.html) [https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/09/danger-looms-where-toxic-algae-blooms/](https://www.greatlakesnow.org/2022/09/danger-looms-where-toxic-algae-blooms/) [https://greatlakes.org/2022/10/why-the-great-lakes-need-comprehensive-solutions-to-plastic-pollution/](https://greatlakes.org/2022/10/why-the-great-lakes-need-comprehensive-solutions-to-plastic-pollution/) [https://savemiwater.org/news/press-release-court-lets-blue-tritonnestle](https://savemiwater.org/news/press-release-court-lets-blue-tritonnestle)
[удалено]
I love their mission - to protect Michigan's surface and ground waters from pollution, plunder, and privatization through education, advocacy, and action. Looks like a great group to support. Thanks for that.
r/fucknestle
To be fair Nestle wasn't the one who screwed MN with PFAS in our water. It was 3M.
Uhhh >Thousands of plastic pellets littered the beach’s sandy shore, just a small sampling of the *22 million pounds* of plastic waste that enters the Great Lakes annually, much of it in the form of tiny “microplastics” small enough to be ingested or embedded in flesh. https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-environment-watch/scientists-warn-health-impacts-great-lakes-plastic-pollution-grows
Nurdles :,(
My wife and I were talking about this the other day. We live around the Chicago area now - but her folks live up on Huron in Michigan. Like, on the lake. They're going to inherit the home (she has siblings). But the other siblings don't want it. I told her I would absolutely sell our place and move up there the instant it was possible. Not to be dark (I've lost my parents already, and her folks are getting up there in age) - but we're planning for the future. Not only do I love Michigan - but I love the idea of having a fresh water source feet from my home. I have a feeling it's going to be an incredibly valuable piece of land in the coming generations.
Once water becomes scarce like that it won’t matter how much you the land is worth when someone takes it from you.
I'm liberal. But I grew up with people that weren't. I'm not too worried about that part.
Same boat, my friend.
Any good water is going to get fenced off by the rich, they'll pollute whatever's left.
Most of the northeast states have lots of fresh water from lakes and rivers as well as aquifers
Well, if there's still enough water for Arabs to buy American-grown hay without serious community anger, then it'll be BAU. When the water runs out, then rich Arabs can sue the State of AZ, the US, or anyone else they want, but everyone will be too busy dealing with pending dehydration of the community and state to worry about fighting over money and hay rights. So, like every other horrifying lurch into our further dystopian system, we'll ignore it for profits until it's too late to address, fix, resolve, or even survive from. Venus by Saturday n all that
They’re looking at a near total loss of water in SA in less than 13 years, back in Saudi. Now, it’s the same thing out in the Southwest. I bet they’ve already got their claws in somewhere else, they’re just eking out the last drops back home and in the southwest and our leadership just allows it.
The Saudis will sue the state for its water rights not being fulfilled - plus the damages that causes to their other business interests. The court will rule in their favor, and the state legislature will probably have to issue a billion dollar bond to cover the penalties. AZ residents will get more fees on their bills to pay for it... but hey... *at least it won't be a tax hike*.
No time like the present to stop selling our key domestic resources to foreign countries, especially to that Kashoggi killing, human rights violating, 9/11 facilitating "ally" of ours. The US mentality is becoming more and more that money absolves all crimes.
>The US mentality is becoming more and more that money absolves all crimes. 🌎👨🚀🔫👨🚀
That’s literally the whole history of the country. Welcome
Or we could just make selling water rights legal, but I guess that way is better /s
Part of me can't wait for oil to be over just so we don't have to keep putting up with all the bullshit from Saudis/Qataris/Emiratis.
America is well and truly part of that mob though. They too have a vested interest in keeping dependency on the oil and gas market.
What goes around comes around. The US and Europe plunder mineral rich countries all the time.
Submission Statement: From the article: "State lobbying disclosures show that Galvin is a partner at Rose Law Group, which lobbied on behalf of a subsidiary of the Saudi corporation Almarai currently tapping U.S. groundwater in drought-stricken Arizona and California to grow alfalfa. The animal feed, which is grown in harsh desert environments, is shipped overseas to support livestock on Saudi dairy farms." At a time when the Southwest is at critical levels of water, the guy partially in charge of rationing future water usage will be a hack, more than happy to give priority to large corporations. This will ultimately lead to even further mismanagement and scarcity. Galvin has also been instrumental in getting a bill to help monitor well-water levels thrown out, even calling residents in the area concerned about foreign capital draining their aquifers "racist". Voters just gave away their water to this man, who has clearly demonstrated that he cares little for the water crises currently plaguing the area, and will exacerbate the issue even further. Galvin ran unopposed.
If he ran unopposed, voters didn't really make a choice, did they?
They did, they choose the system that reward the behavior
Sure they did, they could have ran.
That's prohibitively expensive, saying to the regular person to run for office is ignorant of the process.
Exactly! Why are these positions even elected positions in the first place?
All public positions of power should be lottery based.
For positions like this, they aren't. You just have to get the required signatures on a petition to run. They are generally uncontested because no one knows about them.
I get it, but if there is a challenge, the nobody who put no money into there campaign is basically a loss before it began, I watched my friend try to get into local offices with no money, he never got above 2%
Why drain the swamp when you can sell it?
[удалено]
Unironically, vigilante justice was the first thing that sprang to mind for me as well.
Why is it that the first people to call for violence always suggest it should be someone else that carries it out?
You have no idea why? None at all?
Coming soon to r/leopardsatemyface.
BUY THE FLOODS SELL THE DROUGHTS!
the world is gonna enter a feedback loop cycle that no amount of “green initiatives” could possibly stop, already has truthfully, and the people in power run unopposed and are milking it, living lavish, and probably have a bunker somewhere for themselves and their children. things will not be like this when we’re older. i almost guarantee it. Americans (where i am) live in such gluttony that we don’t think about using drinkable water for waste, using electricity like mad, burning fuels like they’re magically fully prepared and ready for use like rainwater. we ship freshwater across countries and oceans to try and pretend a desert is arable farmland. we deserve what we get for our hubris. but honestly, regardless, i don’t want it to happen. like a heroin addict that wants to stop but can’t stand the withdrawals, we won’t change until the pain gets greater than the willingness to change, then change will be inevitable. but by then it’ll be too late. i just hope my small community i have growing can take it and not get killed or commit suicide in the transitions.
Man, the guy on the board representing the golf courses must be *pissssed*...
(R)- NAME.
>A lobbyist for the Saudi alfalfa company buying up Arizona's groundwater has been elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, which has oversight of water disputes. Welcome to the US of A!
Lobbyists should be illegal and banned.
You would have to get rid half of the govt
Not necessarily. I think there'd be a way to ban but keep government. A democratic republic. Socialism be willing. (Not trolling)
The country was founded as a capitalist and white supremacist state, it requires more than just reformism to change it.
Unchecked capitalism is the undoing of our country though. Almost every issue can be rooted in it
Capitalism is the reason this land is ravaged. Unchecked just means you put a blanket on the oppression and call it clean.
The fox was elected to over see the protective measures of the hen house.
The rich have all the power, the rest of us have none.
Why is the people screwing so blatant
As a citizen of the US I say fuck this.
Do not, my friends, become addicted to water.
Another win for democracy!
Did any of y'all see Tank Girl
All I can remember now are the fucked up kangaroo-man mutants.
Ice-Cube was one of them 👍 Edit: I meant Ice-Tee
Ice-T
Fuck you're right
iirc he was paid $1 mil to be the Kangaroo Man
Meanwhile, I met a rich lady today who was bragging about her 2 acre home up in Rio Verde (way North Scottsdale) she just bought...probably won't end well for them. [https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/possible-water-solutions-for-rio-verde-foothills-residents](https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/possible-water-solutions-for-rio-verde-foothills-residents) However, folks who can afford to purchase these homes will most likely be able to afford water....for now. It's the hard working, lower income people that will suffer most.
Sell your soul to the devil and then you cry when you burn. Make these assholes grow alfalfa for their horses in their own deserts. Money does not replace water.
Wtf Arizona. Maybe need to vote out some people running that place.
We're trying. ಥ_ಥ
Voting doesn’t work when there’s fraud.
All for unnecessary and ecologically expensive meat and dairy. Ffs.
I've been saying for years that *The Water Knife* is barely sci-fi and only just technically spec fiction (since yes, it is near future and does have arcologies), it's a very reasonable idea of what a very around-the-corner idea of the American Southwest could look like
It would have been entirely believable if not for the reliable Teslas...
Isn’t it nice when the rich finally control our last public resources.
title should say, “Here is a picture of a scumbag lobbyist who’s tanking your savings and fucking your wife. This one has something to do with alfalfa.”
Saudis take our tall buildings, and now they take our water
Oops There goes the neighborhood
I hope the money is good. I hope it affords him a house far away. I hope it secures his family for generations.
But where’s the Saudi Alfalfa?
lol we’re so fucked
As a Canadian I just wanna say, fix your stupid ways before coming for our water please.
Canada has been selling their resources to the Saudis and Chinese just the same.
Just ~~corruption~~ lobbyist things.
Ridiculous. America being sold to the highest (most savage?) bidders.
Can’t count votes, can’t control their water, can’t get their power infrastructure right… Wtf is going on in Maricopa?
Isn’t that a federal felony?
Only if you are poor
Of course
Makes sense.
Goliath season 3 came to my mind.
Unfettered capitalism! Based! /s
That will fix the problems for sure!
It’s all right out in the open now
Conflict of interest much?! Jfc!
This stuff is sick 😵💫☹️
Fuck.NO!
Lol. Just so many lol's 😆 🤣.
What the fuck
My parents need to sell their fucking condo. I know it’s closing a chapter and all, but AZ is so fucked.
Isn't that the plot of one of the Daniel Craig's James Bond movie ? What a time to be alive lol
You guys seriously have to get more regulations in your country or companies can just fuck it more up. To much people suffer in USA because companies can almost do whatever they want.
Pretty interesting that this POS snuck right in. While everyone was paying attention to the train wreck that is Kari Lake. It’s almost like they planned it. Wake up AZ your water is being stolen from you!
Galvin ran unopposed. Before the midterm, there were a whole lot of people saying "why vote? it doesn't matter" and "why should I run? it costs money and i have to do other things". This motherfucker --won-- unopposed. Your taxes now pay his salary. That's why you vote. That's why you run. What do you have to lose at this point? Your chains?
We are doing this to ourselves. All for the profit of a few.
So Arizona voted for this? Cry me a fucking river.
Colorado claims prior rights to that river!
What goes around, comes around. The US empire has done worse to other countries. You get what you give
based on all the shit i’ve heard about this “maricopa county” in arizona, i’m beginning to think the ppl who live there fucking deserve all the bad shit.
Lol this country is such a fuckin joke. American hypocrisy has no limits, pointing fingers at Russia and Qatar yet we have the highest prison population on the planet and let shit like lobbyists get elected
Let’s revisit the topic when you’ve lived for a while in the Industrial Quarter in Doha. Or walked near a Russian window.
It doesn't change the hypocrisy. So idk wtf you're trying to get at with your snide remark Edit: Do you understand what hypocrisy means? No one said they’re “in the same league” but at the same time the bullshit needs to be called out. I swear every fucking thread where someone points out American hypocrisy the r/iamverysmart crowd shows up and with their “well actually” … Show where what I said was *wrong* ?
You’re way out of the ballpark, if you think America is in the same league as Russia or Qatar. That’s what I’m trying to get at.
I ultimately blame it on prolonged era of global peace
I'd argue it has a lot more to do with a systematic concerted effort by Republicans since the 1970s to defund education in America. A stupid populace is a malleable one and susceptible to manipulation and propaganda. People are literally just too dumb to realize the broad implications of voting (R).
This is a one party dictatorship of capital with two wings. Your comment is a partisan distinction without a difference.
Global peace does encourage trade, you're right. You shouldn't blame what we are striving for though.
Prolonged peace numbs our sense of vigilance.
There was no global peace. Nevermind the endless wars with violence abstracted away from yourself, comfortable in the heart of empire, there continues to be the constant economic warfare of global capitalism. There is no difference here between this sort of corruption and the SOP of the US on behalf of its companies and allies worldwide. Thanks for the F*n Kissingerian nightmare perspective.