" Sorry to see you go, Jim! -- When I consider you against the backdrop of most of the other Napa Valley Bushite Republican enablers, you generally used moderately civil language between bouts of calling me a "commie" or commenting on how much I like RED because I enjoy fiestas and Mexican food. I'm not a commie, and never have been, served in the US military just like you, and... I forgive you for your slippages into a 1950s throwback McCarthyism timewarp. I don't think you mean any harm. Just a little knowlege bump for you on California water issues, before you go. If we saved 5% of our agricultural water usage, we could about double the population of California cities and provide water for them all. There are lots of non-suicidal ways to cut down on agriculture water waste in California and still not commit economic or personal suicide. Napa Valley grape-growers lead the way in this, and their grape production numbers have not suffered. Sure, we might have to stop growing a few high water consumption crops like rice in California desert valleys, but there are still lots of other places to grow rice that make more sense. Repeatedly flooding sandy desert soil is a terrible waste of a precious resource. Maybe before you go you could tell us why you think that decent, hard-working, tax-paying, ecology-minded Americans like me who want to stop waste and pollution and are going to make our voices heard are such a threat to OUR country? In any case, I hope you find that special piece of America that you can call home. Lots of folks like Idaho and Nebraska, but they are trending blue so the LIBRULZ are taking over there too. Good luck! ~Ruff "

" I wouldn't recommend Nebraska unless you like paying high property taxes... "

" Ruff is absolutely right. In a typical year California’s agricultural industry uses about 34 million acre feet of water or about 80% of the developed water consumed by urban and agricultural users in the state (1). Depending upon the year (and the source of data) anywhere from 30% to 50% of that water is used to grow four low value, water intensive crops: cotton, rice, alfalfa and irrigated pasture (2).

Those four low value, water intensive crops contributed about $2.5 billion to California’s economy in 2005 (3). All of California agricultural production was about $32 billion in 2005 (4). California’s gross state product in 2005 was about $1.62 trillion (5). Thus, the contribution of all agriculture to the state’s economy was just under 2% of gross state product and the contribution of cotton, rice, alfalfa and irrigated pasture was an infinitesimal 0.15 of 1% (fifteen one hundredths of one percent).

1. California Water Plan, 2005 Update, Volume 1, Chapter 3,Table 3-1 (http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/previous/cwpu2005/index.cfm)

2. Hundley, Norris; The Great Thirst, U. of California Press, 2001 Revised Edition (pp. 465-66);
http://www.landwateruse.water.ca.gov/annualdata/datalevels.cfm

3. Table entitled “California’s Top 20 Commodities” in “California Agriculture Overview/Summary (PDF)” at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Statistics.html.

4. Ibid

5.http://www.lao.ca.gov/2006/cal_facts/2006_calfacts_econ.htm#economy
"

" Not going any where Ruffus. If and when I do, I'll stay in touch. Has anyone suggested counseling? It will make you a better person. "

" Kevin: The state I'm considering is a top secret as I don't want to cause a trail of limblogs fouling landscape.

I shall raise Angus and grow the kind of corn that will feed them. I may live there but I will do business there. "

" I'd like to respond to the comments evoked by my letter about early child care.

First of all, no one would be happier than I to know that each and every child could come home to a mother who could devote time to her child. And I’d love to know that each night children could sit and talk to their parents, be read to, and have quality time. Unfortunately, we live in a complex society where that often does not take place. I think it should, but it doesn’t. We have homes where both parents must work, and homes with single parents. Times are different, and the family is different. I don’t like it, but it's a fact. I agree with Sandra that the main support should come from the home experience, but often that isn't the case.

Furthermore, I retired early from teaching, a profession I loved, because I could no longer tolerate what the State, under the mandate of “No Child Left Behind” was doing to the schools. So, do I want to see a state-run pre-school program? No. But I'm afraid that’s what we’ll get unless there are some more creative ways to implement programs where we can get high-quality people to do a loving, intelligent job of it. I do not know what the answers are. Companies banding together to provide decent care for employees’ children? Adopt-a-grandparent programs? I just want to open the question up regarding child care, so that we perhaps can look at the possibilities.

I do appreciate that most responses were thoughtful and considerate, and did not express any assumptions about me. Thank you.

Davina Rubin "

" Daevina, you are posting a response on a Jan 2nd blog to a letter you originally wrote on Jan 3rd. Please be careful, as you could cause a shift in the time-space continuim. Besides, it makes my head hurt... "