re: Tell me about Earl K. Long

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Interesting anecdote about Norway, but using it as a shining example of what Louisiana ‘could have been’ is beyond a stretch…corporate interests from other parts of the US taking advantage of LA’s natural resources and short changing the citizens of LA is not Long’s doing. He fought against that.

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Corporate interests taking a resource owned by the State can be managed by robust and honest governmental oversight. That Long "managed" them for his personal financial gain is not in dispute.

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And I can’t imagine that’s something Norways government as had to contend with, as I imagine a lot of their oil companies are government-owned/sponsored.

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Briefly, true and run by competent professionals fully accountable to governmental oversight boards, with outside investors allowed such as Exxon and Shell.

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Also, there are clear cut example of career politicians around the US enriching themselves through their political machines and their grifting before Long ever got into politics.

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There are many examples, none of which excuse Long's or any politicians similar behavior. Long was simply better and more brazen with it than most.

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Now as to why Louisiana is dead last in everything? I attribute much more of that to flight of capital after natural disasters like the flood of 1927 than to any one individual like Huey Long.

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Seriously, 1927 is your reference point?

All the major oil co's had significant engineering and operating offices in Nola until they left for Houston in the 90's / 2000's. Business wise generally, Nola was on par with Houston and Atlanta in the 60's and 70's, and blew it. I could go on but it's obvious, and pointless.

The reason Louisiana is dead last in "everything" is because of our ingrained political culture of corruption, and the apologists that keep voting for it.

I would suggest you are a perfect example.