Down the line, though, there are serious questions about how to keep showers and lawn sprinklers going in the retirement communities of Nevada and Arizona.

It is certifiably insane to try to transpland the English grass lawn to Arizona, but that's exactly what the US suburban lifestyle is: certifiably insane.

When we lived in Southern California our landlady (who was a friend) told us that, since we didn't pay for water (!) we should just water the lawn as much as necessary. We were never able to keep the sprinklers running long enough to keep it green out of concern for the amount of wasted water, and it got green by itself every time it rained.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?