Boyd Blundell at After the Levees directs us to this absolutely perfect USA TODAY opinion piece by author John Barry, entitled "A City Worth Saving".
Every Louisianan should know the information contained in the essay. Barry summarizes why Louisiana's current vulnerability stems, in large part, from its service to the nation as a port and an oil-deliverer. Then he clearly lays out the main steps to solving our flood protection problems, which includes wetlands restoration.
Despite the media attention after Katrina, most Americans still don't understand why New Orleans and South Louisiana are indispensable. They don't understand why it's in everyone's best interest to afford us Category 5 hurricane/flood protection, which will include investments in coastal wetlands restoration.
The best part of the deal is that the Pelican State is willing to do most of this restoration work by itself if it merely gets its fair share of off-shore oil royalties! Think about it: we are a poor state facing a monumental environmental crisis (if not utter extinction!), and we are willing to commit our fair share of oil-royalties to protect our cities and coasts so that every other state can enjoy their oil-dependent lifestyles. In a way, we are once again "giving away the farm". We are desperately clinging to survival here, and are willing to guarantee that a huge potential influx of revenue is invested in, basically... spreading dirt. Dirt to strengthen vital swamps, and dirt to build protective hills.... that's what we're going to do with our oil money, so that a national economic and environmental crisis is averted.
The rest of the country doesn't realize the risks that South Louisianans continue to take on their behalf. They don't understand why oil revenue sharing is such a great deal... for them! South Louisiana is in desperate straits, and doesn't have many cards left to play; so if, say, the mediocre Landrieu Energy bill is scuttled at the last minute... then... I believe we must consider other means to get the country's attention. Gov. Blanco's lawsuit is one good step, and there are others. Even now, the rest of the country is either skeptical or blissfully unaware about this growing coastal crisis. What should we do?
Try to imagine the following scenario: Imagine that South Tejas was devastated by a natural disaster, and their citizens got FEMA'd, and that a Louisianan President made sure Louisiana companies like Cajunburton and Fleur Inc. and CH2Monkey Hill got no-bid contracts to "rebuild" the state. Imagine that the rest of the country wasn't terribly concerned with Tejas' slow recovery, because that "part of the world" has a history of corruption, and a different "culture", and does things "differently" there. Imagine if Tejas had a weak congressional delegation, and Louisiana had a stranglehold on the federal government. (I know it's clearly a "bizarro-world" scenario, but try to imagine those things.)
Now, does anyone think for a second that the state of Texas-- if it thought its survival was at stake and felt it was being continually mistreated and rooked-- wouldn't raise the threat of "secession", or other extreme measures?
Anyone? (Perhaps more on that alarming "Texas scenario" later. Shane Landry could do a guest post. Update: More here.)
Hmm...
Ok, for now let's remember that storm protection and coastal restoration are unifying issues for Louisianans of all political stripes, and we should be thankful that a New Orleanian like Barry can make our case so clearly and forcefully to the other United States. Let's follow his lead.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The original "Rising Tider"
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I just read Barry's piece. It was right on and the rest of the country needs to wake up to the fact that Louisiana does infact deserve AT LEAST 75% of the offshore oil & gas royalties, especially when you consider that Port Fourchon alone brings in one-quarter of the nation's supply.
Port Fourchon brings in 25% of the U.S.'s oil supply, domestic and foreign, 80-90% of the nation's oil & gas supply goes through Louisiana by way of production and pipelines, and the Barataria-Terrobone Estuary produces close to 20-25% of the U.S.'s seafood. The nation's energy and seafood production greatly hinges upon Louisiana's coast being protected, and it's time for all the anti-LA hacks to wake up to that realization.
Exactly, Nick. If I hear any more "This [Senate] Bill is a raid on the Treasury" (from people of all political bents) I'm gonna get wicked. This is actually a great deal for the rest of the country-- they should be helping us restore our wetlands in addition to giving us sizable royalty checks.
The Senate Bill is peanuts compare to what we need and deserve. The House Bill seems fair, but it's also probably dead in the water.
If we get shafted during the House/Senate negotiations, or some dipshit filibusters the final Energy Bill. I think serious hardball must commence-- perhaps a doubleheader.
Well, that hardball should consist of more lawsuits to find every attempt to block the federal lease sales, either that or stop all transportation of oil out of Fourchon. That may sound extreme, and could possibly affect my profession and jobs of other Louisiana residents. However, though I do like my job, I can find (or bear) another one if I have to. If Grand Isle can't be protected and is destroyed, I can't find another Grand Isle to have a camp and go fishing. If our marshland is destroyed and eaten away, I can't find another place like it and the domestic oil companies can't either.
I've never been a strict partisan voter, but from now on, my voting will be largely based on who properly recognizes the importance of our coast. To hell with the rest of the country. Tell Wisconsin and Idaho to pay $7/gallon for gas and find fresh seafood elsewhere.
Actually, I think Louisiana could be pretty self-sufficient if we had to. Hell, in this day and age, oil is the number one commodity, plus we have plenty of sugarcane for ethonol use and plenty of water for hydro-power. All we may need is steel products, and Pennsylvania, I'm sure, would like to receive oil & gas at a cheaper price than the rest of America.
Could I be referring to a near succession?
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