[Joe 6-pack]

"Place it as a national goal to collapse the cost of water desalination and transport. so that all deserts within 1000 miles of any seacoast could have fresh water cheap enough for farming brought from the coasts...it would also triple the size of Mexico...Mexico suddenly becomes a much richer country and a better destination."

And the cartels would take over water distribution. A nation's wealth is predicated not only on its natural resources, but on the freedom of its people to develop them. If wealth were based on natural resources alone, Africa would be perhaps the wealthiest continent on earth.

[ckilmer]

And the cartels would take over water distribution.

In the middle east sure. Not in north america
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A nation’s wealth is predicated not only on its natural resources, but on the freedom of its people to develop them.

The US southwest today is made possible by the Hoover Dam.
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If wealth were based on natural resources alone, Africa would be perhaps the wealthiest continent on earth.

Mexico actually right now enjoys a higher gnp growth and a lower unemployment rate than the USA.

In order to lower the cost of desalination, you’re also going to have to make the cost of electrical generation much lower. This has powerful beneficial knock on effects.