quote:

ORIGINAL: Dvr22999874

That COULD have been really interesting

quote:

The California Department of Water Resources also estimates it would cost $1.4 billion just to get the levees to acceptable standards to protect crops—not people. “None of these would meet the standard for a 100-year flood,” said Mount.

quote:

ORIGINAL: HaveRopeWillBind

When you build levees in earthquake territory isn't eventual failure pretty much assured?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: HaveRopeWillBind

When you build levees in earthquake territory isn't eventual failure pretty much assured?

Not according to one particular individual.

What the individual either fails to realize, or refuses to accept is that the Army corp of Engineers issues an infrastructure report every year.

As of 2016, 96% of interstate highway bridges are listed as substandard, 92% of all major publicly owned dams are below substandard, and 98% of the levee system in the US is substandard and in need of immediate renovation.

Now, the cost of those repairs and renovation projects has not yet been released, but the last year with a dollar figure, 2014, the projected cost was 2.6 trillion dollars over 20 years.

Now for the real kicker, considering that there are only 10 construction firms in the US that are qualified to bid on major USACE contracts of this magnitude, it would mean that each of those companies would have to expand dramatically, or to put it another way, if it was authorized tomorrow, it would put over a million and a half people to work, most of whom would need to be trained in the skills needed.

A law passed in the 70's makes it mandatory for the USACE to purchase all materials needed for such contracts domestically. At present, the US Steel industry is at a low point of production, meaning that the steel mills would have to retool, expand, and update, or another quarter of a million jobs.

Iron ore is sold on the futures markets, so, to meet the increased demands of the renewed steel industry, iron mines would have to expand, meaning about 300 thousand jobs, with more expansion as the steel mills bring more foundries on line.

Bottom line is that within five years, the unemployment rate (only counting those who are actively looking for work) would fall below 3 percent.

Federal tax revenues across the board would bring about a balanced budget in 10 years, with outstanding debts paid off.

However, to fund the projects, either cuts would have to be made in pet programs or taxes would have to go up.

If taxes have to go up, the conservatives will scream rape.

If cuts are made GOP favorites, they will scream rape.

If cuts are made in Dem favorites, the dems will scream rape.

And even if both sides come to an agreement on how to fund the projects, they will fight it tooth and nail if the other party proposes it, even if taxes could be lowered dramatically within 7 to 10 years.

Bottom line, the only way anything will happen is if a few damns burst and kill a ten or twenty thousand people or a few highway bridges go down and a few hundred die, or all of the above.

quote:

What is going on with this weather?

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: HaveRopeWillBind

When you build levees in earthquake territory isn't eventual failure pretty much assured?

Not according to one particular individual.

What the individual either fails to realize, or refuses to accept is that the Army corp of Engineers issues an infrastructure report every year.

As of 2016, 96% of interstate highway bridges are listed as substandard, 92% of all major publicly owned dams are below substandard, and 98% of the levee system in the US is substandard and in need of immediate renovation.

Now, the cost of those repairs and renovation projects has not yet been released, but the last year with a dollar figure, 2014, the projected cost was 2.6 trillion dollars over 20 years.

Now for the real kicker, considering that there are only 10 construction firms in the US that are qualified to bid on major USACE contracts of this magnitude, it would mean that each of those companies would have to expand dramatically, or to put it another way, if it was authorized tomorrow, it would put over a million and a half people to work, most of whom would need to be trained in the skills needed.

A law passed in the 70's makes it mandatory for the USACE to purchase all materials needed for such contracts domestically. At present, the US Steel industry is at a low point of production, meaning that the steel mills would have to retool, expand, and update, or another quarter of a million jobs.

Iron ore is sold on the futures markets, so, to meet the increased demands of the renewed steel industry, iron mines would have to expand, meaning about 300 thousand jobs, with more expansion as the steel mills bring more foundries on line.

Bottom line is that within five years, the unemployment rate (only counting those who are actively looking for work) would fall below 3 percent.

Federal tax revenues across the board would bring about a balanced budget in 10 years, with outstanding debts paid off.

However, to fund the projects, either cuts would have to be made in pet programs or taxes would have to go up.

If taxes have to go up, the conservatives will scream rape.

If cuts are made GOP favorites, they will scream rape.

If cuts are made in Dem favorites, the dems will scream rape.

And even if both sides come to an agreement on how to fund the projects, they will fight it tooth and nail if the other party proposes it, even if taxes could be lowered dramatically within 7 to 10 years.

Bottom line, the only way anything will happen is if a few damns burst and kill a ten or twenty thousand people or a few highway bridges go down and a few hundred die, or all of the above.

quote:

ORIGINAL: duglaz

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: HaveRopeWillBind

When you build levees in earthquake territory isn't eventual failure pretty much assured?

Not according to one particular individual.

What the individual either fails to realize, or refuses to accept is that the Army corp of Engineers issues an infrastructure report every year.

As of 2016, 96% of interstate highway bridges are listed as substandard, 92% of all major publicly owned dams are below substandard, and 98% of the levee system in the US is substandard and in need of immediate renovation.

Now, the cost of those repairs and renovation projects has not yet been released, but the last year with a dollar figure, 2014, the projected cost was 2.6 trillion dollars over 20 years.

Now for the real kicker, considering that there are only 10 construction firms in the US that are qualified to bid on major USACE contracts of this magnitude, it would mean that each of those companies would have to expand dramatically, or to put it another way, if it was authorized tomorrow, it would put over a million and a half people to work, most of whom would need to be trained in the skills needed.

A law passed in the 70's makes it mandatory for the USACE to purchase all materials needed for such contracts domestically. At present, the US Steel industry is at a low point of production, meaning that the steel mills would have to retool, expand, and update, or another quarter of a million jobs.

Iron ore is sold on the futures markets, so, to meet the increased demands of the renewed steel industry, iron mines would have to expand, meaning about 300 thousand jobs, with more expansion as the steel mills bring more foundries on line.

Bottom line is that within five years, the unemployment rate (only counting those who are actively looking for work) would fall below 3 percent.

Federal tax revenues across the board would bring about a balanced budget in 10 years, with outstanding debts paid off.

However, to fund the projects, either cuts would have to be made in pet programs or taxes would have to go up.

If taxes have to go up, the conservatives will scream rape.

If cuts are made GOP favorites, they will scream rape.

If cuts are made in Dem favorites, the dems will scream rape.

And even if both sides come to an agreement on how to fund the projects, they will fight it tooth and nail if the other party proposes it, even if taxes could be lowered dramatically within 7 to 10 years.

Bottom line, the only way anything will happen is if a few damns burst and kill a ten or twenty thousand people or a few highway bridges go down and a few hundred die, or all of the above.

Or, we one by one replace the Congressional oligarchy with 3rd party people interested in actually governing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

quote:

ORIGINAL: HaveRopeWillBind

When you build levees in earthquake territory isn't eventual failure pretty much assured?

Not according to one particular individual.

What the individual either fails to realize, or refuses to accept is that the Army corp of Engineers issues an infrastructure report every year.

As of 2016, 96% of interstate highway bridges are listed as substandard, 92% of all major publicly owned dams are below substandard, and 98% of the levee system in the US is substandard and in need of immediate renovation.

Now, the cost of those repairs and renovation projects has not yet been released, but the last year with a dollar figure, 2014, the projected cost was 2.6 trillion dollars over 20 years.

Now for the real kicker, considering that there are only 10 construction firms in the US that are qualified to bid on major USACE contracts of this magnitude, it would mean that each of those companies would have to expand dramatically, or to put it another way, if it was authorized tomorrow, it would put over a million and a half people to work, most of whom would need to be trained in the skills needed.

A law passed in the 70's makes it mandatory for the USACE to purchase all materials needed for such contracts domestically. At present, the US Steel industry is at a low point of production, meaning that the steel mills would have to retool, expand, and update, or another quarter of a million jobs.

Iron ore is sold on the futures markets, so, to meet the increased demands of the renewed steel industry, iron mines would have to expand, meaning about 300 thousand jobs, with more expansion as the steel mills bring more foundries on line.

Bottom line is that within five years, the unemployment rate (only counting those who are actively looking for work) would fall below 3 percent.

Federal tax revenues across the board would bring about a balanced budget in 10 years, with outstanding debts paid off.

However, to fund the projects, either cuts would have to be made in pet programs or taxes would have to go up.

If taxes have to go up, the conservatives will scream rape.

If cuts are made GOP favorites, they will scream rape.

If cuts are made in Dem favorites, the dems will scream rape.

And even if both sides come to an agreement on how to fund the projects, they will fight it tooth and nail if the other party proposes it, even if taxes could be lowered dramatically within 7 to 10 years.

Bottom line, the only way anything will happen is if a few damns burst and kill a ten or twenty thousand people or a few highway bridges go down and a few hundred die, or all of the above.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

Thanks for taking the time, to elaborate and share.
*I am no one in particular.

I don't fully understand all the nuances you are speaking of, but I am getting the big picture.
Capitalism

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

Thanks for taking the time, to elaborate and share.
*I am no one in particular.

I don't fully understand all the nuances you are speaking of, but I am getting the big picture.
Capitalism

Marni, this article gives the history of Houston (& area).. thought you might find it interesting.. I thin Mother Nature is trying to take it back...

"Inundation is nothing new here. Right from the start, it took tremendous effort and loss of life to claim the Houston area from the prevailing floods.
O.F. Allen, an early settler and nephew of a Houston founder, wrote of his experience in the infant city:
"Once could hardly picture the jungle and swampy woods that a good portion of the city is built upon. These swampy grounds had to be cleared and drained. The writer himself quite clearly remembers that the southwestern portion of the city was a green scum lake, studded with giant sweet gum trees, and water from one to two and a half feet deep... "

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/The-trouble-with-living-in-a-swamp-Houston-7954514.php

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

quote:

ORIGINAL: tj444

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

Thanks for taking the time, to elaborate and share.
*I am no one in particular.

I don't fully understand all the nuances you are speaking of, but I am getting the big picture.
Capitalism

Marni, this article gives the history of Houston (& area).. thought you might find it interesting.. I thin Mother Nature is trying to take it back...

"Inundation is nothing new here. Right from the start, it took tremendous effort and loss of life to claim the Houston area from the prevailing floods.
O.F. Allen, an early settler and nephew of a Houston founder, wrote of his experience in the infant city:
"Once could hardly picture the jungle and swampy woods that a good portion of the city is built upon. These swampy grounds had to be cleared and drained. The writer himself quite clearly remembers that the southwestern portion of the city was a green scum lake, studded with giant sweet gum trees, and water from one to two and a half feet deep... "

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/explainer/article/The-trouble-with-living-in-a-swamp-Houston-7954514.php

That is interesting, I am not sure I would want to rebuild in Houston, but people will.
Looking at the damage and devastation is unbelievable.

Inside home damaged by Hurricane Harvey