A while ago Danny and Dan held a contest in economics, the aim being to see who could distract Mr. A. from the topic at hand for the longest period of time. That day Danny won with around 6 minutes. Well, today Danny became the champion of all time with a full half an hour.

Here is what Danny asked:

"How does rice grow."

Here the answer I supplied:

"It grows in water. It's a grass, so it's just tall stems."

Here is Mr. A.'s answer:

Farmers in the northern portion of California's central valley use massive amounts of water to grow rice because that area is a desert.

This water, which they pay almost nothing for (implying government collusion), would be better used if given to LA.

Rice farming uses massive amounts more of water than do population centers, like LA.

Rice farming is the reason LA has to take water from the Colorado River.

It would better serve California or the country as a whole if rice was grown somewhere better suited to it.

The water for rice farming comes from the Sierras.

Even if California is not in drought, rice farmers steal so much water that we are in constant water shortage.

Danny saying, "Let's trust the farmers" is the fallacy of composition.

The fallacy of composition is the assumption that what's good for one person to do is good for everyone to do. This is illustrated by the concept that one person standing up at a baseball game has a better view, but if everyone stands up not everyone has a better view.

At this last point Jenna spoke up. "But then the rice farming thing isn't the fallacy of composion. Only the rice farmers are saying it's good for them to use the water to grow rice. Yeah, if everyone tried to grow rice it wouldn't be good. But only the farmers are doing it."

Mr. A. got mad and yelled at us for being difficult.

It's funny that there was ever a time parents would say "Teacher is always right." I've gotten to the point where if a teacher (okay, Mr. A. or Mr. U.) says something I'm likely to believe the exact opposite just because I know my chances of getting the right information are improved.

Here's what I know about the water/rice farming situation:

California grows more rice than any other country in the world.

California's rice is grown alongside the Sacromento River, which is not drinking water.

I like to trust farmers.

LA uses massive amounts of water.

Northern Californians occasionally call for California to be split into two states, North and South, because Southern California steals the North's water so much we'd be better off as a separate state selling them the water.

The northern central valley is not a desert.

There was screaming in my head for most of class. Sigh. At least I don't have to go back until next Thursday.