Lambert Strether of Naked Capitalism wrote two good posts about how the floods in the Midwest reflect not only a changing climate, but a failure of government to maintain and improve flood control systems.
After disastrous floods in 1936, Congress authorized a construction program of dams, and channels to prevent a recurrence. These dams and levees have not been maintained, with disastrous results.
One was a breach of the levees around New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Strether cited similar failures of infrastructure in the Midwest now.
In the 1930s, we Americans were capable of national efforts that served the common good. Now we don’t seem to be able to maintain what we have, even when obviously necessary.
As Strether noted, a 21st century flood control program would be less about dams, levees and channels and more about protecting wetlands and moving development back from flood plains, so that flood waters can be soaked him instead of directed elsewhere. But the principle is the same. The nation needs to come together again.
LINKS
‘Breaking Everywhere’: Flooding Bursts Midwest Levees and Tough Questions Follow by Mitch Smith and John Schwartz for the New York Times.
The New Deal, the Green New Deal and Flood Control by Lambert Strether for Naked Capitalism.
More on Flood Control: The Missouri River, the Levees and the Gavins Point and Spencer Dams by Lambert Strether for Naked Capitalism.
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