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Comment by freedude | Hacker News Reader

That profit pays for your infrastructure in CA. All of the trucking road taxes paves your roads, builds bridges, etc...

No it doesn't, agriculture makes up less than 3% of California's economy and is heavily subsidized (read - money is taken from other industries are given to farmers by the government). It's tech companies, tourism, and the entertainment industry that pay for most of the infrastructure in California.

3% of what? GDP Dollars or Employees' wages? It's certainly not 3% of the food production since Califonria produces 1/3 of the entire nations vegetables and 3/4 of the nations fruit and nuts. And yet therein lies the problem... To many Fruit and Nuts in California.

The best thing for this country would be if California axed their agricultural industry because it would both force and encourage Ag development elsewhere. It would simultaneously be the worst thing for Californians and the cost of food production. But why am I arguing with you? It ultimately, brings my food production closer to home and you and your neighbors bear the cost of higher food prices.

I'm sure it does bring money, that's kind of the point of profit and taxes, but I think they are saying the drought is caused by government as a way to (I suppose) innoculate the locals and workers against water related regulations which would reduce their profits.

Or maybe they believe it, who knows.

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