During a discussion at work, we came up with an idea of how to solve the New Orleans problem.
Really, the place is a write off. The bowl was cracked and water came pouring in. It will cost way too much money to fix the levy and then pump all the water out.
And look, the place is filled with looters who are generally up to no good.
Well, why not embrace these changes and run with it.
I’m sure you’ve all seen “Escape from New York”…

Wall it up, dump bad people there, and forget the city ever existed.

Of course, the United States has a very good record with rescuing people from flooding. They will happily break international water agreements to save a few hundred people (see Devil’s Lake) so I’m sure they will bend over backwards to rescue New Orleans.