Nice compilation of quotes from NYT.
I watched a program on PBS last night, (amazing how fast they put it together!) on the disappearing delta of the Mississippi and how that marshland is meant to be the natural barrier to protect LA from hurricane forces. With massive loads of money, a man-made system of "reverse levees" (my words) can direct some the annual flooding of the MS back onto the land to deposit the silt that now is sluicing straight to the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico.
However! At the end of the 20 min presentation, after all this talk of reverting to mother nature, they said that "the Bush Administration has cut the funding by 90% for reclaiming wetlands. The COE asked for $78 milion to Maintain the pumps of New Orleans - that were designed to handle rainwater, not river flood! - and the Bush admin cut this request by half. This admin and others before it did not do enough."
We must slap down the "Bush admin cut" every time we hear it. If the Bush admin gave half of a requested amount, then "the Bush admin Gave $39 million dollars to the city of New Orleans for pump improvements."
This was the first time I ever heard what the functional capability of the NO pumps were designed to be.
Maica, I hope that EVERYONE reads both yours and Enchante's posts.