When Will They Ever Learn? (Levee Repairs vs. Public Perception in NOLA)

In the words of George Santayana:

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

Seen at MSNBC:

In a yearlong review of levee work here, The Associated Press has tracked a pattern of public misperception, political jockeying and legal fighting, along with economic and engineering miscalculations since Katrina, that threaten to make New Orleans the scene of another devastating flood.

Dozens of interviews with engineers, historians, policymakers and flood zone residents confirmed many have not learned from public policy mistakes made after Hurricane Betsy in 1965, which set the stage for Katrina; many mistakes are being repeated.

The article moves on from there, pointing out that while there are some very promising trends, much of the levee reconstruction work is reminiscent of the work that was promised after Betsy, the prior storm to breach New Orleans levees – where overly ambitious promises were made and political will and public interest waned…until Katrina reminded everybody of the hazards of having a major metropolis existing below sea level so close to the coast.