I listened to El Presidente’s speech to Congress last Tuesday night, not knowing why. I was cheered when at least one Democrat did not sit on their hands but stood and challenged the lies that immediately frothed forth from the podium. Rep. Al Green from Texas was then escorted by the security detail out of the room, an unprecedented act of repression not just of Rep. Green, but also of free speech. Later in the week he was censured by the Congress, a double whammy.
If it had been Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green behaving badly, she would have been cheered, not shut up. Just thought I’d mention it.
The next night I continued to listen to the radio after supper. I’m crocheting a shawl in yellow and blue to represent the Ukrainian flag, and it gives me time to think. One of the programs on the radio that night was “Hidden Brain.” The topic was lies and why we tell them, as well as why we go along with them even when we know they’re lies.
It was very informative, but the most interesting segment was about the motive for one form of lying: to bully. As I listened, much of my life became clear in 20/20 hindsight. I realized that bully-lying is what we’re hearing from the Oval Office of the White House, from DOGE headquarters just down the hall, and from whatever dark corner they’ve assigned our vice president. Believe me and go along with it or I will make you pay.
The real flashback, however, was from my many years of trying to decipher the language of agribusinessmen when they talk water. It’s code, impenetrable to logic, unresponsive to questioning, beautifully chromed. There is a presumption that we plebes should be glad these experts are handling our precious resources with which they feed the world. As long as we buy into that proposition, they keep the kid gloves on, smile patronizingly and thank you for your interest. I’m ashamed of all the years I haven’t asked the right questions, have just let it go in frustration.
The month of February was my immersion course in our county’s LAFCO process for approving water districts. From September of last year to March of this year, the amount of land LAFCO approved to be inside water districts in Tulare County is more than 100,000 acres, tripling the county acreage in these antidemocratic, pro-investor-driven districts. This is occurring at a time when the influence of these corporate interests over groundwater management has been sabotaging efforts to bring over-pumping under control.
I asked to meet with LAFCO’s staff to discuss the important legal distinctions between antidemocratic water districts and the more democratically-structured irrigation districts, hoping to discover, at least, what is driving the increase of the more problematic kind. When I arrived, staff assured me that they knew all about it and turned to some of the questionable notification procedures they employ, providing justifications but not answers. For the first time in my life I walked out of the meeting before it ended. I’d realized that not one of my questions had been received, much less answered, and that I’d been talking to a bully, not a public servant. My cooperating days were suddenly over.
As a result, three separate entities have decided to challenge the LAFCO process on one of the expansions they approved: 13,000 acres of “white” lands annexed into the Atwell Island Water District. There’s a $300 filing fee for the reconsideration of that approval, and LAFCO required all three entities each to pay that fee even though it will be only one reconsideration hearing, with one set of advertising and staff costs. Alpaugh Irrigation District is one entity; Allensworth Community Services District and Progressive Association is the second, each with different concerns for their communities. I will be arguing on behalf of the public interest in curtailing the privileges of “landowner districts,” advocating for irrigation districts and their structure of governance that keeps local control over groundwater a possibility.
The hearing is set for April 2 at 2 p.m. in the Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chambers. Come see how the wheels of this local government agency work—or stay home and pray for us that we find the best anti-bullying words available.
Trudy Wischemann is grateful for this pulpit. Send her your discouraging words about LAFCO and water districts c/o P.O. Box 1374, Lindsay CA 93247. This column is not a news article but the opinion of the writer and does not reflect the views of the Mid Valley Times newspaper.
