Paranoid brains at a think thank in Canada are demanding the Canadian government outlaw sending bulk shipments of water to the United States. The thirsty thinkers are worried that the drying West will eventually cause the US to look north for ways to keep their lawns green.

The Canadian government told the Polaris Institute to chill out, since the export of water as a commodity is illegal under NAFTA. But, the group points out that presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been talking about making changes to NAFTA once they get into office. It's worth noting that much of this campaign rhetoric has focused on states suffering job losses that have been blamed on the free trade agreement, not on stealing Canada's water.

We suggest that instead of worrying about saving Canada's abundant fresh water resources from export, Canadians spend their energy trying to prevent the export of oil from tar sands. Not only is oil production from tar sands extremely degrading to the environment, it is also water intensive, using at least one barrel of water for ever barrel of oil produced. And since that oil is destined for the US, it's an equally effective way to stop the US from stealing Canada's water.