The only time I had heard the word "Levee" was in the lyrics of the song "American Pie" for which the link gives a good explanation.
As the issues unravel in Mississippi it raises a large number of issues for the USA and the world.
Firstly, it is clear that Bush was more interested in 3,000 generally rich people dying in New York than over 10,000 relatively poor people drowning in Mississipi.
Secondly, what the US is sowing in terms of carbon emissions it has now reaped in terms of a climatic weather disaster (much that Bangladesh has already had this).
Thirdly, if the US had spent a proportion of the funds it has spent in Iraq and on the "War on Terror" on building up the Levees then the big disaster would not have happened. It was clearly predicted.
Fourthly, and this story is a good basis for this in the USA and probably other countries there are substantial problems with a low social capital, corrupt environment being generated in some urban areas. This is ignored by those in power because it does not affect them. We have had some of this in the UK and it is syptomatic in the developing gang based revenge attacks. I have some interesting evidence of corruption which will go to court later this year, but many people ignore these issues as "too difficult".
Fifthly, the oil supply consumption balance is so constrained that there is no leeway at all for any disruption - much that this disruption is quite substantial.
Sixthly, the US Government is not really that good at organising anything whether in Iraq or the US.
The evidence internationally is very very clear, countries which are corrupt are poor - to some extent even if they have massive natural resources. It is the issues of following the rule of law and giving security to inviduals that generate secure and just societies that can then develop economic security.
This applies to poorer areas of the western nations just as much as it applies to countries that are run by gangster politicians.
Clearly the challenges we face in the future with resource constraints, greater polarisation and headless chickens as political leaders include also greater pressures from the natural environment.
As the issues unravel in Mississippi it raises a large number of issues for the USA and the world.
Firstly, it is clear that Bush was more interested in 3,000 generally rich people dying in New York than over 10,000 relatively poor people drowning in Mississipi.
Secondly, what the US is sowing in terms of carbon emissions it has now reaped in terms of a climatic weather disaster (much that Bangladesh has already had this).
Thirdly, if the US had spent a proportion of the funds it has spent in Iraq and on the "War on Terror" on building up the Levees then the big disaster would not have happened. It was clearly predicted.
Fourthly, and this story is a good basis for this in the USA and probably other countries there are substantial problems with a low social capital, corrupt environment being generated in some urban areas. This is ignored by those in power because it does not affect them. We have had some of this in the UK and it is syptomatic in the developing gang based revenge attacks. I have some interesting evidence of corruption which will go to court later this year, but many people ignore these issues as "too difficult".
Fifthly, the oil supply consumption balance is so constrained that there is no leeway at all for any disruption - much that this disruption is quite substantial.
Sixthly, the US Government is not really that good at organising anything whether in Iraq or the US.
The evidence internationally is very very clear, countries which are corrupt are poor - to some extent even if they have massive natural resources. It is the issues of following the rule of law and giving security to inviduals that generate secure and just societies that can then develop economic security.
This applies to poorer areas of the western nations just as much as it applies to countries that are run by gangster politicians.
Clearly the challenges we face in the future with resource constraints, greater polarisation and headless chickens as political leaders include also greater pressures from the natural environment.
Comments
Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
Now, crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.
Now, I know you were not even a twinke in Mrs Hemming's eye back then, but surely you must remember the Led Zepplin version from 1971?
Not only are the troops missing, I bet that the federal budget could have done without the massive tax cut he pushed through early in his first term.
Still, just like Yardley, the eyes are on the next election.
My challenge with the government rests with international air travel which is very significant and totally ignored.
DTQs are probably the only sort of approach that will have some real impact on fossil fuel usage. However, if the government don't accept that there is a need to at least change their predictions on air flight then we are miles of achieveing anything. Don't feel constrained from posting anything to the email list.
I am happy to work at his 25/5 challenge. I think, however, that given that I rarely fly, drive a diesel vehicle (35mpg), don't commute that far on a daily basis and also cycle and use public transport that my own emissions are relatively low.
My project for today is to get the treasury economic model to look at these issues (I have a copy of it).