This is an analogy, so I am properly ashamed. I’ll put it under the fold so innocents don’t have to see if they don’t want to.
I feel like my conversations with (almost all) water market enthusiasts go like this:
Them: I want matches!
Me: You do? What for? What kind of matches?
Them: Really want ’em. Matches are good.
Me: Ok, but what do you want matches for?
Them: A lot of matches. Some of them long handled matches, too. Right now, I don’t have matches, so that is bad.
Me: Do you want to start a fire? Do you want to play pick-up sticks? Do you want to build a mini log cabin? What are the matches FOR? We have other things that might get you what you want even better, if you tell me what you want.
Them: We need policies that will get me lots and lots of matches. Other countries have matches.
Me: Most times, matches are for fires. Do you want a little fire in a fireplace to keep you warm? Do you want a controlled burn for fuels removal? Do you want to start a forest fire? What do you WANT?
Them: I want MATCHES. MATCHES!!!! MAAAATTTCCHHEESS!
So I went around my house this morning shouting MATCHES like a four year old and had a great time of it. You can do the same thing with HAMMER! But the point is that most people arguing for water markets aren’t arguing for a purpose, they’re arguing for a tool. I think that markets are a great big jackhammer of a tool, so before we pull that out, I want to know what we’ll have when we’re done. Convince me that the end state is good, and a great big jackhammer is the way to get it done, and I’m in. Until you do that, I’m gonna keep asking what we’re getting out the matches FOR.
funny (wo)man, you…
I want matches b/c I am cold and a fire is handy.
substitute markets for matches and “highest and best use” for fire and you’re done.
Econ 1.
OK. I want markets because I am cold and a highest and best use is handy.
Help me out here. Please explain.
I have grand plans to write a few posts on this, but sloth may prevail. We’ll see.