ON THE RANCH 514 July 6
2007 #2
California Has Been Sold
Yes, you heard it right.
Governor Schwarzenegger and the California Legislature has sold the state with
the fifth largest economy in the world, to the Indian tribes who demanded a
huge expansion to their slot machine numbers despite surrounding communities
opposition. There has been a surprising amount of press surrounding this issue
indicating concern, even on the part of some legislators who have stated
publicly that there are absolutely no vehicles in place to verify whether the
tribes are actually paying the state the percentages they have promised. In
fact, there are studies that have been out for some time which show clearly
that previous claims of payments to the state have been greatly exaggerated.
The payments promised never materialized and no one paid attention. The fact
that at least some of the legislators cared enough about the economy affecting
all Californians to talk about the lack of verifiability of the proposed
compacts was hopeful. It was hopeful until they then just voted for it anyway.
I am outraged that these people dare to call themselves our “representatives”.
They certainly do not represent my interests nor, I believe, do they represent
the residents of this Valley except for the tribal members here. I think we
have, once again, been sold down the proverbial river in exchange for cash to
support the state’s bloated budget. I’m beginning to feel like I’m being held
hostage in my own home. My crime was to love this Valley as my grandmother did.
I fear for its future and I fear for rural communities all over this country who
are suffering, as we are, from the sudden influx of traffic and crime due to
casinos in their once quiet valleys. How did this happen?
Alternative Fuels or Are They?
There has been a lot of
discussion and considerable pressure from certain segments of the community to
wean ourselves from oil products and move towards “alternative” fuels such as
solar, wind and ethanol. Although I believe the United States, including
California could provide a large part of our oil, so-called environmentalists
have, for the last thirty years, prevented the development of adequate refining
facilities, even if we would have the political will to drill our own oil which
we don’t. Lessening our dependence on foreign oil is certainly a critical goal,
but the related availability of domestic oil must be pursued immediately.
The discussions surrounding
the topics of solar and wind energy have been equally politicized to our
detriment. I have some experience with solar since I have a house which is
entirely dependent on solar energy. What I have found out about it is
disturbing since some people proclaim that this is the solution for the future.
It is very expensive. It is so expensive that a 1200 square foot house takes
approximately $50,000 to $75,000 to install an adequate system which, when there are two or
more days of cloud cover or rain, fails and does not cover air conditioning. Solar
heating water is pretty “ify” at times as well. So too, wind power is something
that is geographically restricted. Some locations are blessed with breezes on a
constant basis but whether it is enough to power your house or not is a
question. It is really too bad that some people who are ignorant about the
facts keep saying that all we need to do is switch to these
“environmentally-friendly” methods. It isn’t as simple as that. I wish it were
because it is a wonderful feeling to know that the sun or wind can power your
life. The technology is still not there. Even some of the biggest or loudest
environmental legislators who have wind farms proposed in their areas are
fighting them tooth and nail. What hypocrisy!
The Repercussions of Ethanol
There are different issues
with ethanol. I have friends who think that this is THE answer to air quality
and foreign oil questions; a two-for-one kind of solution. Unfortunately, there
are some unforeseen problems that should have been explored by people who had
the qualifications to understand the repercussions of major agricultural
changes. Because most of these things are proposed by people who have no clue
what they are talking about and, usually, the public doesn’t have the proper
information to know potential consequences of these changes, they go along with
the new ideas because they sound good. Here is some information for you to
ponder before you support ethanol as the preferred fuel. Raising corn, which is
what ethanol is made from will have and is already having the following
negative impacts: (1) food prices will rise; riots in Mexico have occurred
because the price of corn has made tortillas too expensive for many people, (2)
livestock producers will have to find something else to feed their animals in
feedlots raising prices on all meat, (3) it takes MORE water which we don’t have to produce this
amount of corn than other fuels, and (4) if we planted corn in every corner of
the United States where it would grow to the exclusion of any other crop, we
still would not be able to grow enough to supply the demand of this country.
Anyone with agricultural experience knows, as well, that monoculture (growing
only one crop) tends to invite pests and other organisms which will quickly
destroy that crop and the ability to grow it there for some time to come.
So what is the answer to our foreign oil dependence?
I, for one, do not want to
continue financing countries who have such disdain for us who harbor people who
want to kill us and destroy our culture but how do we convince those in our
community who consistently pressure legislators to prevent any local
development which would relieve this dependence? I know that those of you who
have to commute every day to work ponder this topic frequently, so what do you
think?
Confusion
I get more and more
confused about what some people believe. I heard on the news the other day
something about some cities, mostly bigger than what we have here in Santa
Barbara County, requiring businesses to build outside shelters, water fountains
and bathrooms for illegal aliens to hang out in while they are waiting for
work. I’m sure that everybody has seen places where these people gather. It is
in so-called “sanctuary” cities where government officials have chosen to ignore
the law that this is occurring. These same officials, and I use the term
loosely, are now requiring businesses to violate Federal law. I believe this
constitutes some level of anarchy, and perhaps any Federal funds should be
withheld from those cities until they uphold the laws they have sworn to
defend. What a horrible example they are setting for not just our children but
all members of society. I also feel that these people can and should be removed
from office and never allowed to hold public office again since they clearly
cannot perform their duties. I’m not sure whether they should be prosecuted for
breaking the law or not but it surely requires public discussion. I support
one’s freedom to believe whatever one wants to, but as a person charged with
upholding the law and trying to force local businesses to break the law, this
is intolerable.
Society, History, and Education
I write periodically about
what is being taught to our children which will color how they view history and
the future of society. I am becoming increasingly alarmed with what I am
hearing about the secular progressive agenda being taught in many schools these
days from early grammar school through university levels. I have mentioned the
grandchild of a local rancher coming home with a writing assignment to explain
why cows are bad for the environment and how horrified she was that her
grandchildren were being taught these lies.
The Santa Ynez Valley has
been an agricultural area for as long as people have been here. Many people
have been here for multiple generations either in agriculture directly or some
business which supports it. The vistas that still exist today are primarily due
to private landowners who have chosen to continue the tradition of agriculture
rather than sell out to developers. This is not an easy decision as estate
taxes (which will be further discussed in the future) and anti-agriculture
regulations often make decisions for the farmers and ranchers. Most people are
not aware of how devastating some of these rules crafted by people who are
ignorant of the constraints of agriculture are.
This history, which is a
great source of pride for many, has numerous facets to it. Depending on whether
one is a farmer or rancher, there are different things one treasures. For example,
in this very area, a revered type of horsemanship was practiced which today’s
Reined Cow Horse community emulates. Talented cowboys in this region, working
with cattle, developed not only techniques but also equipment for the horses
which, over a course of years, trained the cow horses to be able to move,
control and help doctor cattle as needed. Over the years the horse is
introduced to the snaffle bit first, then the hackamore, the two-rein and
finally the full bridle horse emerges. Talented artisans developed saddles,
rawhide braiding, horsehair ropes and special bits (one named the Santa Barbara
bit) all of which was part of the training of the horse to do the work needed.
The historical values of
these things are integral to what the Valley is today. It is an enormous
resource that many newcomers are not even aware of although they are surrounded
by it everyday. Some in our community would denigrate the practice of farming
and ranching which brings food to their table, clothes on their back and
medicines to keep them alive. Some of these same people are educating our
children as we speak to not value these people’s contributions and, to the
contrary, are teaching them ideas which are directly contradictory to what we
know to be true. Why are we allowing this? Since when has it been the school’s
choice to teach mangled history and values? Why is there almost no education
provided explaining the importance of agriculture to everybody? Is there an
agenda being followed here and is it something we want our children to absorb
or would we rather have more control over what our children believe to be true?
It is a question of our future.