You are right, the Missouri side is prosperous/productive than the Illinois side. And starting Cairo anew, might well be the best thing that could that could happen to it. The hundreds of people being forced to leave their homes from the floodway will likely loose everything if the levees are blown.
The Mississippi is nearly as high as it was in ‘93 and that was a record. But this year the Ohio is also at flood stage. Cairo may well be doomed, whether or not the levees are blown.
I’ll confess, I don’t know how “political” the Corps of Engineers is. But I’d like to think that the decision that they make will not be based on the victims politics.
The COE is plenty political. Just do some snooping into the hows/whys/wheres of the COE in New Orleans prior to Katrina and you’ll see for yourself.
“I’ll confess, I don’t know how “political” the Corps of Engineers is. But I’d like to think that the decision that they make will not be based on the victims politics.”
They don’t call them the Whore of Engineers for nothing. Why do you think they have projects in just about every Congressional district of any importance to their budget. Their motto should be incompetence is a way of life.
My feeling is that this plan is based on ossified doctrine.