Counterspin  

2008: The year of Controversy

By Phil Hayworth

Pioneer Press

January 2, 2008

page E24, column 1

pioneerp@sisqtel.net

Here's a look at some of the top stories I think will dominate the headlines in 2008.

The Klamath Dam Settlement - yep, it'll be a beast that is sure to have farmers and irrigators eyeing more threatening water shut offs. The solution this year is  to be as proactive as possible, so the leaders in both Siskiyou and Klamath counties are going to be busy this year. Unity of purpose and smart organization will be the key to getting what we need and keeping it - at least until another "settlement" comes down the pike. Expect controversy over it all to continue well into the year.

Assembly District 2 - The state election for the open seat will get exciting this year, especially with Mike Martinez in the race. Now, Mike is a good choice, but his platform is a bit controversial, even for the often gutsy and controversy-loving folks of the great State of Jefferson . Remember, folks: Jefferson was the principal author of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His belief that the citizens of this country were good enough and smart enough to make the right choices are essentially the essence of the document that has served us well for years. Let's keep it that way and elect someone to office with no connection to the establishment. A rebel, if you will. Frankly, I think it likely that Martinez will win it - he'll just have to find a few compromises here and there. My feeling, however, is that Mike is one of the least likely to curb his words - and that, my friends, will light up this election year like the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland by British ships in Chesapeake Bay during the War of 1812.

February 5 Primary Election - the first of it's kind in California, I think folks will find themselves split, with Republican wives arguing with Republican husbands, Democrats arguing over the benefits of having Obama or Hillary in office, and kids wondering what all the fuse is about. It will be the most important Presidential race of our lifetimes. Parents, teachers and leaders will be required to step up and explain the finer points of politics to our younger citizens. Education will be important. And maybe, for the first time in years, protests will actually happened in the streets of Klamath Falls and Yreka.

Water - anything to do with water. Water from all the Klamath Tributaries, all the way down to Whiskeytown. You can bet that the state and federal governments will find more, creative ways to get in our business. Farmers in the area already know this and are taking proactive measures to stay ahead of the environmental minutia that are sure to make farming more like Chemistry than agriculture. This will be a year dominated by headlines about water rights. Expect the Pioneer Press to help flesh it all out. But in the end, it's up to you, dear reader, to do the math.

Finally, it'll be another warm summer - perhaps the warmest on record. Bring out the sunscreen, because things are gonna get hot.

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