Analyzing My Text's Cultural Setting

In this post, I continue to look at how different cultural beliefs are tied to the issue of US drought, and how these values are worked into the article "It's not just a 'California drought'" by Cynthia Barnett.

Kliczek, Adam. "Hoover Dam, Lake Mead." 4/13/12 via Wikimedia Commons.
Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Poland License.

The norms expressed in this piece are that of American culture's general attitude towards water shortages.  Barnett addresses these norms directly when she explains how drought is not treated in the same way that other natural disasters are, using examples of hurricanes.  She then deconstructs this norm/popular belief by explaining how drought is just as dangerous as hurricanes, and their impacts are long lasting and dangerous.  Barnett believes that in order to break this common misconception, Americans need to begin accurate dialogue about droughts, and raise awareness.

The idea of responsibility is also central to the article.  Although Barnett only implies this, and doesn't use the word directly, it is obvious she believes all Americans should be invested in the issue of water shortage, and all Americans should seek to use water responsibly.  She argues that everyone uses water, but doesn't understand the value and scarcity of this resource, going back to the idea of misconception and popular belief.

Barnett believes Americans aren't taking responsibility for their water consumption, because many don't understand it's a serious issue affecting the entire country.  No one who understands that water shortage is a critical issue will deny water usage shouldn't be in part their responsibility, because everyone uses water.  People just aren't aware it's such a critical issue, so they don't think they need to act responsibly and use conservative amounts of water.

Another belief discrepancy stems from where people live int he United States.  Some people who live in the western states are more aware of drought as an issue.  States like Arizona understand that they receive less rainfall than eastern states, but most people don't make the connection between natural rainfall and how long their showers take, for instance.  Barnett points out that even eastern states that receive much more rainfall to recharge their aquifers still have the issue of overuse.  She wants to reverse the common belief that water is only an issue drier states should worry about; states like Arizona that have a naturally dry climate with desert.

Barnett believes there needs to be more water laws to regulate water use, an issue she raises in her article directly.  Part of why the general public doesn't understand water shortage is an issue is because there are no laws governing water consumption.  Laws would not only reduce usage, but also simply bring awareness to the masses.  Barnett wants all states to impose water regulation laws that will reduce usage.