Reservoirs. Growing up in Wichita, Kansas, my family was too poor to afford family vacations. However, we were blessed by my dad’s job.
He was the lowest level employee at the Wichita Bank for Cooperatives. He graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Civil Engineering. That education qualified him to be a property appraiser for the Bank.
The Bank gave loans to agricultural cooperatives in four states: Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and thankfully Colorado. We never accompanied him on trips to the first three, but any summer trip to Colorado our family tried to accompany him. Those trips were our family vacations.
The majority of his trips to Colorado had something to do with appraising irrigation projects. He valed collection ditches, tunnels through the mountains and reservoirs. Although I am not an expert, I am knowledgeable about water rights and agricultural use of water.
In simple terms, water that is held in most reservoirs is owned by someone. The water rights often go back many years. The reservoirs hold the water until the owners need the water. In my dad’s situation the water was gathered and held in the mountains until farmers in Eastern Colorado or Western Kansas needed it for their crops. Then the person in charge of the reservoir released it – inch by inch. Farmers knew how much they could withdraw from the river as it passed by their land.
In light of my understanding of reservoirs, I am puzzled by President Trump’s release of billions of gallons of water usually used in the summer by farmers in the San Joaquin Valley.
He claimed it was because if the water had been released the Los Angeles would not have had problems with wildfires. To my understanding, I find several problems with his argument. First there is no water route from the reservoirs to Los Angeles. Second, the water was taken out by farmers and dumped on their land in January – they need it in the summer. Third, there was enough water in Southern California; the problem was with the ferocious winds and the delivery system.
Donald Trump’s Release of California Waters Stuns Locals
Water unexpectedly released from dams on Trump’s order didn’t help farms or L.A. – Los Angeles Times
Transgender Policy. A high-school classmate was a highly successful track coach. A couple of years ago, I asked him what he thought about transgender participation in women’s sports. He said he did not believe it was fair. Being a liberal, he went on to say he was hesitant to express his thoughts because they agree with Trump.
Trump was true to those beliefs and recently signed an executive order banning transgender participation in sport. Previously I expressed my support for the LPGA action to deny post-puberty transgender participation, so I agree with the spirit of the executive order.
My concern is not the decision, but how it was put into place. We are a country of laws. I much prefer the tangled, deliberative process of Congress writing the laws. I would prefer the ban developing from a congressional process rather than a single person making the law. My preference holds for Democrat as well as Republican presidents. A single person writing his or her preferred laws, surrounded by “yes” people, is dangerous.
Democratic Struggles. I continue to struggle with the lack of clear focus by Democrats.
Hakim Jeffries released a 10-part war plan. All 10 points are fighting against Republican initiatives. I can interpret his plan and see some of what Democrats believe but his ideas are reactionary not proactive statements of principles. I am not entirely clear what they stand for — only what they are against.
Hakeem Jeffries lays out 10-part war plan for Democrats to take on Trump
Amy Klobuchar’s call for bipartisanship were resisted with the claim –you can’t negotiate with fascists.
You may not like James Carville but he is clear to me and his message is worth attention.
First, he calls attention to a statement made during the recent DNC elections: “Our rules specify that when we have a non-binary candidate or officer, the non-binary individual is counted as neither male nor female, and the remaining six offices must be gender balanced with the results of the previous four elections.” Second, he pointed to an appeal for three days of paid bereavement for the death of a pet. He did not think that would play well with farmers.
Carville sounded the alarm about the statements during his podcast and said it was the level of “jack—ery” that the party has embraced.
He went on to say — “We lost for one very simple reason: It was, it is, and it always will be the economy. We have to begin 2025 with that truth as our political north star and not get distracted by anything else.”
James Carville Urges Democrats To Focus On ‘No. 1 Promise’ Donald Trump Is Failing To Deliver
James Carville Blasts Progressive Ideas As “Stunningly Stupid” In Fiery Critique
This and That
Let this sink in!
Americans spent over 119 billion dollars on LEGAL sports betting last year.
An interesting read for people of faith regarding the White House faith office.
The DOGE reality is starting to hit home in Alabama.
MAGA Senator Asks DOGE for Mercy as State’s Largest Employer Comes Under Threat
Good News
First Responder
Hero Cop Dives Into Frozen Lake To Save 11-Year-Old Boy
Kindness
A Makeover Of Hope: Cancer Patients Receive Confidence-Boosting Transformations
Barber Shop In Idaho Gives Free Haircuts To Veterans As A Tribute To Service
Peace
Jerry
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