Time to fix California

A Senior View

Ed Lyons

(Updated: Thursday, February 18, 2010, 12:00 AM)

"Whatta you want to bet, that you and I together, can come up with a viable solution to many of California's current problems? Whanna try? O.K. -- here goes...

First, we build four giant desalination plants up and down the California Coast. Giant turbines, powered by the tidal forces which, while driving the sea water through the desalting process, would also produce clean, electrical power.

Then, both the fresh water and electricity could be equally distributed throughout the state underground, thus avoiding the easy contamination of the water and the vulnerability of the present overhead power lines.

Now, the construction of these facilities would employ tens of thousands of workers and a thousand miles of new roads. Plus, the delivery of the materials needed would mandate a complete refurbishment of our railroad system which would provide several thousand new jobs and provide an updated public transportation system.

All of this could be paid for with the money we're now spending in the middle east.

Let's see now... where are we? Looks like we've gone a long way in providing a solution to unemployment, transportation, seasonal droughts, pollution and the crippling electrical power failures due to the exposure of our power lines.

Oh, and one other thing -- it looks like we should do something about all those people in Sacramento who are not on the same page as we are. So, if you can bring yourself to agree that these suggestions are valid, despite the fact that we are not civil engineers and are woefully underserved by our representatives, then we, you and I have done what we're paying them to do. So, who needs 'em?

Grandpa sez "Looks like we should get rid of all those people in Sacramento who have been there --- done nothing."