We often forget who really did in New Orleans: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with its ridiculous projects like the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet ("Mr. Go"), which quite literally welcomed storm surges into the city. But you won't forget after reading Michael Grunwald's great feature in the latest New Republic. You need a subscription or something, but believe me, it's worth it. The article puts me in mind of lyrics by Mike West, a fantastic New Orleans singer songwriter whom I now suspect is displaced, in a song called "Corps of Engineers":
there's been a lot of talk about widening the lock baby can you tell me is it true they're gonna make the levee steeper so they can dig the canal deeper so i was told so i'm telling you they held a big meeting i didn't go but i been reading all about it, of course it's ...
