Louisiana is the most corrupt state in the nation, according to a Department of Justice congressional report in 2006.Some say the Big Easy — or, more appropriately, the Big Sleazy — should step aside and relinquish its throne. They say the Crescent City crown should be forfeited to one of its closest competitors (at least in terms of federal convictions for public officials).But we must have faith that the leaders of the Pelican state will not bow to the pressure of their critics and stand idly by while public officials from  some prairie state try to steal their glory.For years, federal judges have thrown out convictions like it was Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street, with our public officials standing in for big-breasted women.But some go further, claiming Illinois — which ranked in the bottom half of the top-10 most corrupt states — has always been and will always be the most corrupt state.Illinois may be ahead in a headline horse race — but when it comes to a rich history of corruption, Louisiana still reigns supreme.Just ask David Duke about supremacy.Duke, former Louisiana state representative and gubernatorial candidate, served time in prison for tax fraud. Oh yeah — and he’s a former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.Duke ran against former governor Edwin Edwards, who served an unprecedented four terms as Louisiana governor from 1972-1996, with a brief four-year vacation thanks to former governor Buddy Roemer.Edwards is now serving 10 years for racketeering charges. In unrelated news, his son was released from federal prison last year.Sometimes corruption in Louisiana is so common, it comes just as sure as a last name.See: Morial, Jefferson, Long.In 2005, former New Orleans mayor Marc Morial’s administration came under federal investigation. That same year, former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La, came under intense investigation as well. Since then, three of Morial’s and three of Jefferson’s close relatives have been convicted on corruption charges.And don’t forget the Long family. Sure, Huey and Earl gave out free textbooks and improved infrastructure, but they also stole, lied and cheated elections.One of America’s most popular and admired presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, once called Huey one of the most dangerous men in America.And this was at a time when the world faced the worst economic times in modern history — at a time when tyrants were plotting global conquest.The state faces a coastal crisis that pales in comparison to its ethical erosion.Sure, there’s always Gov. Bobby Jindal and that whole ethics reform thing, but Jindal is running for another office now.Don’t expect his changes to last.Marc Petanaude, Louisiana history instructor here on campus, noted Louisiana’s governors have historically been successful in their attempts to swindle the federal government out of money.Petanaude referred to the 1939 scandals involving officials in various levels of government — including former LSU system president James Smith and former Gov. Richard Leche — who took money primarily from the Works Project Administration.”One of the more interesting stories about the 1939 scandals was Smith spent $500,000 on the commodities market and after he lost that money, he basically stole another half million and fled the country,” Petanaude said.”And this is in 1939 dollars while the Great Depression was still going on,” he added.  There is sufficient time and space to simply mention Eddie Jordan, Katrina, the levee board, federal disaster funding, looters, FEMA, education and the New Orleans Police Department — who are the kindest, most caring, best overall police officers in the land.With a cherry on top.But this isn’t where Louisiana’s corruption tally ends.First, corruption can only be measured through the prism of public data. There’s no telling how much corruption Louisiana’s public officials get away with.Second, the aforementioned corruption rankings are inaccurate to begin with — the Justice Department statistics don’t include prosecutions by state district attorneys or attorney generals. The DOJ estimated about 80 percent of public corruption prosecutions are brought by federal officials. In sum, unreported corruption and at least 20 percent of all public corruption charges did not figure in the rankings.But to consider when the state’s corruption problems will end is a waste of time. If Louisiana citizens are serious about corruption, they must look where corruption begins — with voters.Maybe Louisiana doesn’t need to drop the “Laissez le bon temps rouler” motto. But maybe it’s time to replace “c’est la vie” with “c’est va.”Tell “ya mom and ‘em” to quit voting for crooks.–Contact Daniel Lumetta at [email protected]