I have a friend who seems to be stuck in the mindset that New Orleans is just a bayou city that doesn't matter. He actually told me that the increase in gas prices after Katrina was a bs attempt on the part of the oil companies to raise the prices. I tried to explain to him that it was not so simple as I cited statistics on the percentages of oil we supply to the country. I also added in, for good measure, what the Gulf coast provides, overall, to the national and international economy. Perhaps still bruised and battered from the political commentary that New Orleans should not have rebuilt, I found myself offended by my friend's comment and subsequent attacks on my city.

I am going somewhere with this.
Here is an article, related to the oil spill, that I think highlights the importance of the Gulf Coast.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/gulf_of_mexico_oil_spill_has_c.html