System of a Drown

The long history of political bungling that sank New Orleans

In "The Slow Drowning of New Orleans," The Washington Post's Michael Grunwald and Susan B. Glasser trace the centuries-long history of shortsighted greed and political expediency that left the Crescent City vulnerable to disaster. In recent decades, Louisiana has received more Army Corps of Engineers funding than any other state, but the money has as often been spent on developing coastal wetlands and bolstering poorly designed levees as developing a long-term defense against serious hurricanes. Though it's become a popular sport to bash environmentalists for failing to mobilize the public on issues like global warming and biodiversity loss, Grunwald and Glasser's story is a reminder that it's hard to get people to think ahead on any issue, even one where their own safety is at stake.