Posted on 08/31/2005 4:40:59 PM PDT by LonePalm
I am posting this question to our Louisiana FReepers in an effort to prompt discussion. It is meant only as a question, I do not know the answer.
About every thousand years or so the Mississippi River changes course. Right now the current channel of the Mississippi is NOT preferred course for the river. Left to its own devices, the river would divert down the Atchafalaya basin.
My question is, should we demolish the Old River Control Structure and allow the Mississippi to seek its new path? Then we build a new New Orleans.
I understand that this would cut off the ports of New Orleans and Baton Rouge and would be VERY expensive.
But might we be better as a nation if we do this NOW rather than later?
Consider this scenario: We go through the expense of rebuilding New Orleans and then in say 2015 we get a very snowy winter in the upper midwest and great plains followed by a rainy and rapid thaw. The Old River Control Structure and Low Sill structures fail. After we scrape Morgan City off the Yucatan Peninsula, we are still left with Baton Rouge and New Orleans low and dry.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
It is NOT a man-made diversion. If the river had been left up to it's own, it would have diverted many years ago. It is a man made concrete dam that keeps the Mississippi going on the current unnatural course.
"the consequences of such a diversion would produce consequences not thought of that may or may not (as is usually the case) be good."
Exactly. It is easier for us to adapt to the river. They can start by not building below the level of the river.. just off the river.
The Mississippi is NOT going to change for them. It hasn't for hundreds of thousands of years. Galveston adapted to their situation.. and it worked. Same here. The citizens just need to get the will and get it done!
You do realize that you're talking in terms of reinforced concrete?
I realize this is a problematic suggestion. Take a look at the devistation and tell me that is better.
People in LA have to build to codes that eliminate quite a bit of the damage from earthquakes. People in hurricane alley, should do something similar.
Where can I find the Federal Register about Clinton denying funding re the levee system?
I'm composing a letter to the editor right now and a full fledged article for our local paper.
Where can I find the Federal Register about Clinton denying funding re the levee system?
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Wow, I wish I could be more specfic. I believe there is a search system for the Federal Register...I am also going to contact the radio show that put it out yesterday and see if they will give it to me -- if so, will post right away.
If you get that information, could you please make a separate thread?
And write my screen name down and freepmail me. I have so many pings I'm afraid I'll miss it.
I have copied what you wrote and just know we will need this information as the crisis calms down and the finger pointing begins. Thank you for any and all help you can give us in this, EagleUSA. This is part of what makes FR the best place around to get information and research.
If you get that information, could you please make a separate thread?
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Will do -- I am hoping to go on the air with the talk show host in the Bay Area here in a little while -- and be able to ask him to repeat the information.
Will give it my best shot.
PLEASE provide a link for your allegation.
I'm having trouble searching for it, since you give few details (name of document, date, etc.)
This is most interesting news.
PLEASE provide a link for your allegation.
I'm having trouble searching for it, since you give few details (name of document, date, etc.)
This is most interesting news.
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I was on the air with the show host about half an hour ago - he said he would repeat the information about the reference to the Federal Register. I am listening to the show and waiting for the info....hang in there.
Waiting patiently.
The only thing I've been able to find is this:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/1998/June/Day-23/i16642.htm
I can't find any info on subsequent action by the Clinton administration.
Perhaps someone else can do some further searching.
Hey -- thank you for that. I'm saving it to my file. And we need to find out if Clinton did indeed turn down requests for funding and upgrade to the levee.
It people like you who make FR the best place to be!
You're too kind.
My google skills are limited. We need another "buckhead" to find out what happened to this initial request for funding to shore up the levees.
If Clinton turned this down back in 1998, the people need to know.
Right now, there's non-stop Bush bashing going on all over the media, and I'm sick of it!
Diane Sawyer was a disgrace this morning, sneering and glaring at the president, her voice dripping with disdain.
Someone will come along to help us find out what happened with this project.
I heard about Sawyer this morning. Since this is the worst disaster our country has faced since the Civil War, the left is terribly afraid that people will support the president the way they did after 9/11. And they aren't going to let that happen.
It's going to be ugly with the finger pointing.
I'll check in later and see if someone came along with better computer skills than we have :-)
We should hardly be blaming Clinton for denying Federal money for a local project because it MAY have prevented some of today's problems. That is the reasoning that results in numberous rediculous lawsuits (i.e., greedy company X could have added Y safety feature for only $5 per car, saving person Z's life; therefore company X is liable for $157 million). However, this denial by Clinton is a useful thing to point out if liberals start blaming Bush for failing to be adequately prepared.
We should hardly be blaming Clinton for denying Federal money for a local project because it MAY have prevented some of today's problems.
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Nice try. Deal with reality. If those levees and other areas had been built up, New Orleans would be mostly dry right now and you would not have a disaster. He is to blame because his politics, more than the money was far more important, as was the case with all of his moves.
Rationalize all you want. I deal in reality.
You might also want to pay attention to how the leftist complicit MSM, is trying to blame the whole mess on Bush -- what an atrocity. You are concerned about FAIR, HOW ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS?? Not only totally political, but totally unrealistic and UNFAIR.
The politics can work both ways -- the libs want to politicize (of course) --- OK let's politicize the other side too -- and do IT WITH FACTS, NOT LIES AND FANTASTIC, STUPID ACCUSATIONS.
EXACTLY.
They're lying about our president.
Fight the lies with the TRUTH about a certain previous administration.
Now somebody get out there and track down the facts on this matter.
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