The Goat

The first step to the next war being fought over water is heading to congress. A proposed ban would protect the Great Lakes from Arizona building a freshwater pipeline that would allow them to open dozens of golf courses. Don’t get me wrong—I’m all for protecting the Great Lakes and keeping that water in the Great Lake Basin, I just think that this is a sign we’re turning a corner. People used to look at those oceans of freshwater and not think twice about dumping their motor oil. Resources are disappearing; economies are floundering. This ban on diverting water has major support from all the states, the Congress, and the White House—but a few dissenters are saying that it doesn’t go far enough because it would let bottled water be exported. Where are these lawmakers on conservation? This wouldn’t be so contentious if we weren’t polluting the rest of the fresh water in the world. The problem isn’t that they could export bottled water; the problem is that people still drink bottled water shipped from Fiji. You think we’re going to run out of water because we drink too much of it? No, we don’t need to worry about protecting this water as long as we don’t ruin everyone else’s.