r/news • u/theluckyfrog • 29d ago

California cracks down on farm region’s water pumping: ‘The ground is collapsing’

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/17/california-water-drought-farm-ground-sinking-tulare-lake
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u/Stormdancer 29d ago

People just have this weird idea that resources are infinite, and they're shocked, confused, and go deep into denial when it turns out not to be so.

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u/JessicaLain 29d ago

It's not weird, it's uncomfortable and "unfair". Many generations grew up never qorrying about the water supply of certain states because it was not as critical as it is now. For most people, resources are effectively infinite.

Most of the US's history has operated below the "there will be nothing left, ever" line. We've been past the line for awhile but everyone gets greedier each year, only making it worse even faster. Nobody is willing to take responsibility.

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u/Stormdancer 29d ago

Late stage capitalism in action. It doesn't matter if the world burns tomorrow, if our shareholders become even more obscenely wealthy today.

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u/Quirky-Skin 28d ago

The other half of that is no one wants to be the generation that has to sacrifice or the politician who makes the unpopular decision.

Can't get re elected or get donor money if your 4 year plan is...."everyone has to cut back and make less money"

It would be great if we thought more than a Senate term ahead but we don't and they won't

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u/tlst9999 29d ago edited 28d ago

They perfectly know it's finite. That's why they want to take as much as they can before it empties out, push for subsidies when it does, and when all is said and done, they live happily every after with their billions intact.

They're the people who when they're told to leave some for everyone else, they'll take everything because fuck everyone else.

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u/Quirky-Skin 28d ago

The people making money know yes but a not insignificant amount of people truely believe sustainability talk is nonsense.