Something Happening Here

There is something brewing in Central California.  Yesterday thousands of marchers started their first leg of an eighty mile march from Mendota to the San Luis Resevoir.  I think it’s the first time I can remember growers marching together with immigrant laborers.

The goal is to raise awareness of the devastating effect the drought and the Endangered Species Act is having on West Side families and  the regional economy.  The march was organized by the California Latino Water Coalition but it has transcended race and party affiliations. Now, the growers are fighting for their lives too.

I’m a working man trying to hang on to my job so I wasn’t marching, but I wished I was and my heart is with those people. The wind was blowing real hard out on there and will be howling again today.  Governor Schwarzeneggar will meet them at the San Luis Resevoir he’ll be flying in by helicopter and will probably be wearing a blue chambray shirt (sleeves rolled up no doubt) and an old pair of khakis. 

Then there is the big Central California Tea Party today at the Save Mart Center. Many are expecting this to be the largest demonstration to date.  Supposedly, the Tea Parties are a non-partisan movement aimed at halting out of control  spending and taxation.  

Some think that the Tea Parties are just a way for the Republican Party to bootstrap itself back into some semblance of relevance but many feel that like the march for water, this is bigger than political parties and the social issues that have been used to drive a wedge between people with common interests. Hopefully I’ll be able to finish my work and get out there before the event is finished.