A realistic assessment must include more than just the levees. Granted it is paramount that we repair the gaps, find out what went wrong and fix what we can to buy us a few years. But we also need to look at the coastal erosion problem with a renewed sense of urgency. No amount of engineering can protect us if we fail to save the marshes, reinstate the silt renewal cycle, deal with subsidence rates of the entire area and  rebuild our coastline. And it will take decades of persistent effort to undo the damage  that decades of neglect and abuse have brought upon us.

Once our physical protection is assured we still have lots of other problems to address.

New Orleans has benefitted from windfall natural resources throughout its history. Short of discovering another windfall it will take hard work and determination to restore the city as a desirable place to work and live. It starts with government which creates the backdrop that either impedes or invigorates business development. A smaller consolidated government footprint providing world class services at a fair price is needed to jumpstart the economy and put the city back on a path to growth.

A vital economy, good schools, social and legal justice, and competitive tax rates will bring the people back. Inspired leadership at the local and state level will be needed to for years to lift us from the current morass to this vision. At least with the promise of billions in federal aid there is plenty of motivation for good leaders to step up.

Things like building codes, available and affordable insurance, competitive utility rates, disaster planning and land usage strategy give the city a chance. Population demographics reveal that New Orleans was a poor city living in a temporarily reclaimed swamp. This isn't good enough to keep the city competitive. New Orleans is at a juncture between becoming a world class city or just dying out.

A lot of people are upset about this view of the future. Some think there must be some huge conspiracy at work. There will be huge political fallout. It will get ugly with claims of racism and counterclaims of anything you can imagine. As all this unfolds what support do you think Congress will do? Remember it is their good will, needed for decades to come that will be necessary to rebuild the wetlands.