This Oped is about how the Oil Industry has been more a detriment than a postive for Louisiana as true for a lot of third world countries rich in Oil. It reminded of Spike Lee's documenetary on Katrina, this issue was addressed. However on the Katrina documentary, I remember the people being upset because a lot of that oil money goes to Texas, which is also briefly mentioned in this piece. Bargain with Dev urrgghh Oil
I think there is some truth to this Louisiana is still being treated like that. Consider how Jindal and others are up in arms over a 6 month moratorium on offshore drilling while just one accident, the cause of which still isn't exactly known, is destroying La's tourism and seafood industry.
Louisiana IS a third world country. In fact, scratch that, I have been to multiple third world nations, and some of them are nicer places to be than Louisiana, with far nicer people. I think if the USA could lose a few states from the South, our overall social-economic-health-educational standings would immediately improve.