perhaps because it's not as "sexy" or "newsy" as partisan politics and name-calling.
as those of you familiar with me already know, my partner and i have a horse breeding farm in the middle of CD10...currently represented in d.c. by michael mccaul (r-clear channel). unlike justin, we are represented in the state house by lois kolkhorst (r-brenham). i have been searching "teh google" but can't find any position statements by rep. kolkhorst on this issue.
although we have a 15-acre hay pasture, we've been forced to purchase hay for the last 3 years...so much for self-sufficiency. not only that, but we've seen the price for a square bale go from around $3/bale to $8/bale (and the quality has gone down as fast as the prices have risen).
so, without further ado, here is a very thoughtful peace by another rural texan (reposted in its entirety, without edits, with the originator's permission):
Water, water everywhere and none to drink. Imagine yourself on a boat, in
the middle of the ocean without drinking water. This would be a stressful
and trying time for you fighting the urge to drink. Either choice leads to
death.
If one could open his or her eyes, one should see that Texas is in
the same situation. It does not matter if its urban metro areas like
Houston, Austin, and San Antonio or rural area like ours. We are all
affected. It is evident with the long term drought, the burn bans and the
growth of population.
I maybe a day late and dollar short on the this subject, but it
seems to me that there are no long term solutions being made. It seems no
one-NO ONE- are putting two and two together. We can not afford in not
preventing water storages. The common plan is to create or plan water
districts or zones. A simple water district does NOT solve the problem.
According to a local area newspaper, last spring one pillar of the
community who testify in front of a county commissioner court said that
desalination is "too costly" for Texans. I have to ponder if desalination is
so costly, then lets add up all of the local burn bans, local unemployment,
budgets of water districts, and the sky rocketing price of hay, feed,
cattle, and farm equipments. Correct me if I am wrong, but does that cost at
least one desalination plant? I mean the budget of the Texas Water
Commission is over 128 million dollars. Again why not Desalination Plants?
Our so-called friends in the Middle East have them. Why can't the Great U.S.
of A? Why can't the former republic of Texas?
We must remind ourselves of what happen in 2006 and 2007 with our
sister state of Georgia. Due to the major drought in those two years. The
man-made lake, the name escapes me for the moment, that feeds the Atlanta
metro area could no long sustain itself. This was due to fact that the
population of Atlanta was growing and the lack of rainfall. It was so bad
that Governor George Ervin "Sonny" Perdue III (R-GA) had to asked the nearby
states, like Tennessee and Kentucky, to deliver tons of water to relieve
Atlanta.
Today, here in the crossroads area, there are rumors - real or
imagine- that a city like San Antonio would take water from this area even
during a drought. The sad thing that our State House Rep and our State
Senator are muted on this subject. Our State House Rep. Geanie Morrison (R-
Victoria) and State Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) voted to force one county,
Lavaca, to vote on a water district, not once, but three times. By the way,
the fourth election is in 2010. This is like creepy guy advancing his
feelings to a girl who doesn't want it. This is kind of like stalking to me.
This is not leadership from the two officials we elected to Austin. Real
leadership is about making HARD CHOICES. Hard choices must be made , not
political pandering and grandstanding to be elected to the "millionth" term.
No one is talking about that.
The questions remain. Where is the leadership? Where is the foresight? Where
is the wisdom? Where is the commitment? We do not need Apathy,
backwardness, and shyness. Unlike the our two elected officials to Austin, I
have a solution to the water problem. My solution is lay aside money from
the corrupt Texas Department of Transportation and require and help San
Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi to built a system of two or
three Desalination Plants to feed their populations. Think of the
possibilities of saving and creating jobs in Victoria, Dewitt, Lavaca,
Jackson, and other counties in the crossroads. It is time for us to be like
Joseph and King Solomon. Some of you do not want to hear about the Bible.
Too bad, there is no time for political correctness. Joseph. dreams saved
Egypt from incoming disasters that the monarch appointed him something that
of a Primer. How about King Solomon who uses wisdom to solve problems in
ancient Israel? Let us not be like Oedipus Rex, yes folks I know Greek
literature. Me's can read too. He, unlike Joseph and Solomon, was loud,
arrogant, and obnoxious with envious pride that made him blind from seeing
the way. He did not have the foresight, the wisdom, the leadership and the
compassion to solve the problem. That is like some of us , well some people,
who accuses, making up wacky conspiracies, and use code words like
socialism, political correctness, Ebonics, "Nobama" or some other stupid
language because they can't take a lost.
Water is VERY, very important for us. Ranches need water. Farms need
water. Small communities need water. We ALL need water. The so called Water
wars has not, not been lost. The time is now not tomorrow, now. It is time
to dream and have foresight like Joseph and apply wisdom of Solomon to solve
the issues of the day. Or we will be like Oedipus, the foolish King,
blinded and ashamed by his own pride. Atlanta, Georgia should be a warning
for us. You just been warned.
Justin W.
Hallettsville, Texas
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