By Pat Orr
For the Apple Valley Review

That now infamous response from Marie Antoinette when asked about what to do with the poor hungry citizens of France cost her to literally lose her head eventually and fueled the French Revolution.

Were it only so with some in our State Legislature.

Governor Sunspot and Democratic leader Kevin de Leon are pushing for quick passage of SB350 which mandates a 50-percent reduction in fossil fuel use in California by 2030. That's a mere 15 years.

The “climate change crowd” is saying things like, “Make everyone buy solar and drive an electric vehicle, what’s wrong with that?"

What’s wrong with that? It shows a complete lack of understanding of the economic reality of the average Californian. We are being flooded with immigrants who are lucky to drive a 20-year-old Plymouth let alone go out and lease a new Nissan Leaf. Most apartment and multi-unit dwellings don't have a solar system which is cost prohibitive. Is SB350 envisioning a day when the electric bill will be more than the rent due to new taxes on “dirty energy”?

Once again, as with AB32, our leaders are not taking the time to think this through. The devastating impact will be on businesses of all kinds, the least of which is auto sales, and transportation costs will be stunning. Why the rush? Well, you see, both Sunspot and de Leon will be traveling — on your dime — to the big U.N. conference on climate change in Paris and they want to wave SB350 around to show the world that California knows how to attack the issue.

These people continue to take drastic steps to destroy our state and we sit by and elect the same people time after time. Perhaps in 2016 it's time to break out the proverbial guillotine and lop off some political heads.

Go ahead, I dare you

After over 30 years in business for myself in the Golden State, I challenge you to start a new business today and be successful here. The task is not for the faint of heart nor those who have a low tolerance for pain.

Assuming that you do want to start a business as soon as you get a release from your psychologist, there is a great seminar on Wednesday at the Town Hall Community Building presented by three local electeds, Senator Sharon Runner, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte and Board of Equalization Trustee George Runner.

Folks from their offices and others will be on hand to discuss different forms of business formation, the impact of sales and use taxes, available loan programs and importantly, how to create a business plan. You can start a business with an idea, desire and money but without a solid well thought out and research business plan it is very tough to succeed long term.

The gathering will go from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. To register to attend call 1-888-847-9652 right now, after all this is tomorrow. The first thing you need to know about owning a business is stay ahead of the flow of information or you can drown. Here is your first opportunity to learn.

Why spend money on a new pump for an old well?

Now that construction around the golf course is evident, I'm hearing the question, “Why spend a bunch of money to get that old well into service when we will be using reclaimed water from the VVWRA Reclamation Plant?”

There are a few reasons that seem apparent.

Just because reclaimed water will be flowing to the golf course to fill new and existing settlement ponds doesn’t mean the Town needs to use it to water the golf course. Even VVWRA water won’t be “free.”

With all that water going back into the water table through the lakes at the golf course, the chance of the Town’s well having supply issues is nil. But if the Town does decide the reclaimed water is a better deal than pumping their own they can still sell some water or divert more water to other parks and schools than originally planned.

It really is a win-win particularly considering the current dollar savings over buying Apple Valley Ranchos water from now until the VVWRA project really kicks in which is late 2017. It goes contrary to the semi-popular theme that the Town is on a drunken spending spree, but on closer inspection it does seem to make sense.

— Pat Orr is a local business owner, community volunteer and political junkie.