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More than half of the country was under moderate to extreme drought in June, the largest area of the contiguous United States affected by such dryness in nearly 60 years. Nearly 1,300 counties across 29 states have been declared federal disaster areas. Areas under moderate to extreme drought in June of each year are shown in orange below.
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The US Drought In Context
“The drought that has settled over more than half of the continental United States this summer is the most widespread in more than half a century,” and as the New York Times points out “is likely to grow worse.” However, a glance at the last 112 years’ June ‘drought’ conditions does not suggest this is a systemic trend (a la global warming) – with notably drier/hotter periods in the past – but we do note some interesting analogs as drought conditions as epic as the current one evolve and fade: from 1936-1938 the Dow fell almost 50%; from 1955-1957 the Dow fell over 18% (11% p.a.); and 1987 of course saw a 40% plunge. “It’s got the potential to be the worst drought we’ve ever had in Arkansas,” said Butch Calhoun, the state’s secretary of agriculture. “It’s going to be very detrimental to our economy.”
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None of these comments will fly…why? Because the “need to have intelligent people in office who work toward the best interests of the citizens of the COUNTRY, not the super-rich, and not for a political party” do not have the dollars of the super rich and cannot afford to run for office!!! The mayor of New York spent 80 million dollars to get elected…ad he’s worth 16 BILLION.say what? Yep, so ask yourself why would a mayor spend that kind of money to get a job that he takes $1 in salary because he does not need the money!!!! It is POWER, POWER that this man craves and the stupid people of NY just don’t get it!! (along with the rest of this country who still live with blindfolds over their eyes). We’ve tried doing it the nice way, systematic way and I hate to get to this point but it truly comes down to the “R” word to make changes.
I so agree with you Mr. Swann.I too see no end in sight until people get over themselves and others quit being blind.
@ Pamela – just to clarify….I am female; not male! LOL
Oh my I guess thats a whoops my bad please accept my sincere apologies.
I agree with both prior comments when are people going to wake up to what needs to be done and stop being dummed down?
Right. Let’s bring in the amateur teabagger dumbheads that refused to raise the debt ceiling, and thus cost us over $1.4BILLION+. We need statesmen/women, not empty rhetoric historically ignorant extremists. We need intelligent people in office who work toward the best interests of the citizens of the COUNTRY, not the super-rich, and not for a political party.
All encumbents must go