Shouldn't the Great Lakes states, and adjacent Canadian provinces sell some of the water?
Asked by
josie (
30934
)
August 3rd, 2011
Places in the US are experiencing drought.
The Great Lakes are full of water.
Seems like a great deal waiting to made. Especially since the Great Lakes are desperately looking for a way to make money since the auto and steel industry tanked.
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I was just thinking the same thing, now that is ee-rie.
No, as I understand it under the terms of NAFTA once we start selling water we’re not allowed to stop selling it even if we’re experiencing a drought ourselves. Now if the terms were different and we could stop selling it then I would be all for it.
You do not want to try to touch our water.
Oh, and we’re not allowed to decrease the amount from current levels either.
That clause definitely needs to be re-written.
@mazingerz88 It’s one of the few assets we have, so we guard it carefully.
The great lake states are pissed that other states are asking for their water. Or, might be given their water. From what I understand places like Arizona want it, maybe they already get some. Some of my MI friends have the atitude that if they are building houses and businesses in arid lands that is their tough shit. Of course it is different if there is just one dry year, then we should pitch in as a country, but they have little sympathy for annual predictable water difficulties.
No, should Arizona give it’s sunshine to Oregon?
@Adirondackwannabe Well that I did not know. Retracting my gigantic drinking straw now.
Although you’re closer up North so doesn’t that mean your chances of not replenishing your water the same as Lady Gaga going into a convent?
FYI, I live in a Great Lakes state. I look at it from the prospective of making some money. I am with @Adirondackwannabe – nobody better try to steal it. That will start the second American Civil War.
@mazingerz88 Right now we’re a little dry. This Spring was wet, but the Summer has been on the dry side. And once we start selling water it’s not going to stop, regardless of our situation. We could be in a drought and they would still want to draw on the water. I think we never start then we’re better off. Give it awhile, people will learn how valuable water is.
If you don’t want to live in a swamp, don’t live in a swamp.
If you don’t want to live in a desert, don’t live in a desert.
I know that is simplistic, but the Great Lakes are fragile enough without sucking them dry.
I don’t think it’s over simplistic at all, @wilma.
Prior to my ancestors moving here, they made certain the climate and land was similar to what they had in Europe. They wanted their families to never run out of water or food. They made wise choices. If people decide to not have water or food as a top priority , that’s a choice they have to live with.
Sheesh. People are moving out of here so fast it would make your head spin. I’m not gonna send you water, but you’re welcome to come move into my neighborhood…
Bonus points if you bring job opportunities for the ex-steel workers and auto-workers that are currently struggling to feed their families.
The problem with the Great Lakes states is it is so fucking cold! Maybe if the people in those states moved a little south we could all be together and we could all use all the resources of the US? We are the United States of America afterall. I would love for the south to get infiltrated by midwesterners and western NY.
@JLeslie Cold?? Where?? It’s been in the upper 90’s here for WEEKS!! More like a frying pan! We need our lakes to cool off in!
@Cruiser Talk to me in January. It’s hot everywhere in the US right now, so? Plus, to be clear, I was half joking if it did not come through.
@JLeslie I like the cold. It kills bugs, and tells criminals to stay in their own homes
@SpatzieLover I had fewer bug problems in FL than I do in TN. You can’t tell me you don’t have a bunch of mosquitos at dusk this time of year, and there are bees buzzing around. You never see a bee in Fort Lauderdale. But, I agree there are some postives to cold weather. One of the things I like is not having to rush home when you have groceries in the car.
@JLeslie I’ve never seen a cockroach living in snow
It may get cold in the northeast, but that’s why they invented hockey.
@SpatzieLover They live in NY. But, I agree, when I lived in MI crawling bugs were much much less of a problem if any at all. I am more freaked by the flying and stinging ones. I don’t even want to go outside. I am being dead serious. One of the reasons I am trying to sell my house and will take a huge loss on it, is because I want to build a big screened in porch like I had in FL. I pulled out all the flowers around my house when I moved in.
@SpatzieLover “Prior to my ancestors moving here, they made certain the climate and land was similar to what they had in Europe. They wanted their families to never run out of water or food. They made wise choices. If people decide to not have water or food as a top priority , that’s a choice they have to live with.”
I agree, mine did the same.
I suffer with the down side of living in Michigan, but I choose to live here for the things that are great about it. The lakes are some of those things. If I wished to live in a different area, with a different climate, and different resources, then I would.
@JLeslie but our bugs don’t grow to be the size of small rodents, because they die off every year. ;) Some of the bugs in the south look like they would require a damn BB gun to kill, those things are mutants.
@wilma And I suffer with the downside of living in Wisconsin. However, I realize as I age, that there is a definite downside everywhere. My provisions have to be accounted for before I’d go for filling my desires like 75 degrees and sunny everyday.
@JLeslie A screen porch is worth whatever you have to do to get it. We’d also like one and are considering how & where to do this. Mosquitoes adore me. Summer sucks for me. I party in fall & spring in my garden. Our winter has been coming later each year. I now have most of November to putter with my trees.
Lake levels already get low enough some years to interfere with shipping.
I often times say people who say they could never leave the four seasons don’t know any better. Living in springlike weather 8–9 months out of the year is liberating. Of course, some people genuinely like cold weather and winter sports, I respect that. But my friends who complain about the winter and rejoice in spring and fall, could have that favorite weather (sans the leaves changing color and falling) in FL for many mnay many months. Or, a compromise of a shorter winter in the south. One thing though, the midwest has some of the nicest people in the country. I understand why it is hard to leave. My friends in the midwest also seem more loath to move away from family. I don’t think it is so much a conscious decision to stay by a great lake, but rather being very rooted.
@JLeslie For reasons stated above I love the midwest because the winter controls the bug population up here. I will take mosquitoes over Love bugs and fist sized water beetles any day!
@JLeslie I have plenty of relatives in FL & TX. Here in the midwest, besides the lack of cockroaches, we do not have an abundance of: rats, snakes, alligators, nor have I ever have a lizard live in my house unless it was invited as a pet ;)
@Cruiser There are no bugs on the beach, you are talking the FL turnpike LOL.
@SpatzieLover Alligators! Yeah, that can be scary. I never saw one snake in FL. I see them here in Memphis. I get afraid of some of those hot states that have killer bees. FL is not one fo them.
You all do know I loved my time in MI, again I am only half serious. I would move back to the midwest no problem. We do a lot of racing up there, and it feels good to be back in that part of the country every time.
@JLeslie I know it’s in jest ;) But, I’ve never had a rat on my roof. Last time I was at my aunt & uncle’s in FLone lept from a palm onto their screen porch. Once my husband realized rats lived “up” in trees in FL, well…our nightly walks became interesting ;)
@JLeslie I drove through those damn things one year with my grandma and was curious to all the preparation she did before we hit the road. Rain-X in the windshield washer….netting across the grill and when we hit the swarm the sky turned black we had to put on the headlights and drive 5 mph for 20 miles!! HS!! If I felt I could afford beach front home I might consider living down there!
Lowering Great Lake levels would have an effect similar to tearing up the major N-S and E-W rail lines or closing all the Interstates.
Think again!
I’m not really for selling water out of the great lakes, but the thinking here is pretty disturbing.
The water is yours because your ancestors laid claim to it? Really? So all the defenders of the great lakes water make sure that their states are completely self sufficient, right?
How’s the Great Lakes lumber industry?
Do you guys grow all your own food?
Michigan Oil and Gas fueling all those Detroit automobiles, right?
It’s like saying the Pacific belongs to California and the Atlantic to New York, because they said so.
@funkdaddy
My ancestors didn’t lay a claim to oil because it isn’t a provision.
Considering I come from farmers the answer to Do you guys grow all your own food? is yes.
As for oil, I could care less what people do with it. I have a hybrid HVAC and car. If we needed to, we could be off the grid fairly easily.
@SpatzieLover – your electricity is generated using ????
a) Great Lakes Coal
b) Great Lakes Wind
c) Great Lakes Sun
d) Great Lakes Finest™ Uranium
or
e) Fuel imported from outside the borders of your fine state
I’d guess E, but I don’t know what state you live in so can’t say for sure.
My point is simply that all states, cities, countries, and areas import something from outside their borders. It’s not because their ancestors didn’t think ahead or because they should just move to where the <blank> is. We all need something that simply isn’t produced where we’re at.
Feeling superior because you have access to fresh water doesn’t help anyone. I’m all for protecting natural resources but not because they belong to you personally.
And if they do, I’m coming to get em. And I’m bringing a bucket, a bag full of sunshine, a brisket, and 47 feet of coastline as trade. ~
Great Lakes Coal. That is only until we are powered either by wind or sun or both. We are attempting to get off the grid. My ancestors were all self-sufficient, “off-the-grid” living individuals.
@funkdaddy I don’t think anyone thinks that they (the lakes) belong to anyone personally, but they must be protected.
@josie ‘s question is about selling the water. As we all know, often when money is involved our environment and it’s resources can be in jeopardy.
I didn’t get the impression that anyone was feeling superior, just giving their opinions about the subject.
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