Alicia: hahahayeah, spanky’s pretty cool too. :)and yeah, i actually didn’t know anything about the shut down fisherman businesses. it just sounds like nobody can win this one. :(

I’ve heard suggestions that Delta water is overpromised on the order of 8x. Nobody’s going to win in a situation like that – especially once a drought hits.

Alicia: well, alfalfa was my fav character from the little rascals. :)

I’m more a Spanky guy. But see, now we got common ground to start discussing the big issues… (for guys, that’s Ginger or Maryann).

Alicia: It is very disturbing to know that some people care more about a fish than PEOPLE’S lives.

Yeah, it’s astonishing how few people are covering the story of the commercial salmon fishermen and the sport fishing-related businesses who have suffered complete shutdowns of their businesses the last two years

I guess some just care more about alfalfa than people.

This issue is hardly that simple. Pumping restrictions only accounted for 10% of the total water delivery shortfall; the other 90% was due to the drought, pure and simple.

That you want to lay this at the feet of collapsing Delta is just plain wrong.

Realist: Tom,I’m sorry to break it to you buddy, but the livelihoods of thousands or millions should take precedence over a smelt the size of your thumb.There is nothing altruistic about inflicting hardship on millions to save your little fish.It is downright disturbing that anyone would think otherwise.

I hate to break it to you buddy, but the Delta Smelt isn’t affecting you like you think it is.

The pumps, after all, are running right now and have been for months. Even Lester Snow – head of the state water resources folks – said turning the pumps off only drove water deliveries down 5% of the total.

And the most generous estimate I’ve seen is that restrictions only made up 1/4 of the water shortfall – the other 75% coming to you courtesy of our three year drought (you did notice the drought, yes).

In other words, the Delta Smelt issue is more red herring than real, but sadly, it’s become a cause celebre among those unwilling to read critically. Again, I’ve seen estimates suggesting that 80%-90% of the *new* unemployment in California’s central valley has absolutely nothing to do with pumping restrictions, and everything to do with a bad economy and the drought.

That opportunists like Westlands Irrigation District and Sean Hannity jump on this is hardly a surprise; they’ve got a lot to gain by once again casting a tiny fish as the issue. After all, it affords some a chance to become self-righteous victims, when in fact, the problem has been magnified dramatically by the record amounts of water pumped from the Delta in the handful of years prior to the drought.

To borrow your words, something’s downright disturbing here, but it’s largely the willingness of people to act like sheep, blaming everyone for their problems but greed, the weather, and more greed.

The Delta Smelt isn’t the problem here, but given the willingness of folks to stampeded, it probably won’t matter in the long run.

You seem overly concerned about watery tomatos and limp lettuce, but I’d suggest the main course is in jeopardy. Smelt are only the target du jour, what about all the fisheries jobs you imperil by sucking every last drop from Northern California – to water the fields and lawns of Southern California?

I think Salmon taste a lot better than pallid tomatoes … and while my doctor insists I eat more roughfage, he also suggests a couple of meals per week of fish – and salmon particularly…

Those fishermen and cannery workers vote as well – and while your farming interests enjoy the benefit of countless lobbyists and an archaic system combining “Spanish Land Grants” with Payola – at some point you’ll have drained everything north of Fresno.

Then you can do battle with the Hollywood enclave – insisting your desalinization pipeline run clean across Malibu beach – and you can make your case to the courts and voters while Tom Cruise’s lawyer tears you a new one.

I’m sorry to break it to you buddy, but the livelihoods of thousands or millions should take precedence over a smelt the size of your thumb. There is nothing altruistic about inflicting hardship on millions to save your little fish. It is downright disturbing that anyone would think otherwise.

Ok, sandwich or Sushi from..we’ll adopt an international stance.

If you mentioned that the Delta Smelt were what Mickey Dee’s makes the “Fillet O’ Fish” sandwich from, it would make it an instant national disaster.

GreenPeace followers would throw themselves into the pumps by the hundred, there may even be ritual gashing, and self immolation.

Folks care about what they see and feel, which is why the national debt spirals out of control.

Make this a cause celeb, it ain’t enough to say, “Gosh Darn, hate that.”

I added your blog to my RSS reader. You do good work!