Monday, October 5, 2009

Joey’s Take: Turn the Water On

For centuries, my ancestors earned their livelihood on the fishing boats of Portugal. So I know the value and economic importance of fishing. I also know the value of water. So when I take my seat in Congress, I will introduce legislation to ensure that the government never again engages in the desertification of once-productive U.S. farmland.

Although we scream about practices that have led to desertification in Africa, our government is intentionally promoting the desertification of the fields and orchards of much of California by locking up the water for the survival of the tiny Delta smelt. The only value of the Delta smelt is as food for bigger fish. But the value of the land we’re turning into a desert can be measured in jobs, families, communities – and enough food to feed nations.

The culprit of this environmental catastrophe is the Endangered Species Act. Like many other well-intentioned government interventions, this act provides a one-size-fits-all solution to environmental issues that ignores all other concerns. I’m all for keeping the doghouse clean, but we can’t live – or govern – in a vacuum. Life is about balance.

It’s time to bring balance back to our government policies. And it’s time to turn the water back on in California.

Yes, I’m a water dog, and I approved this message. Vote Joey for Congress.

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