Don't give Louisiana a dime!

Our officials don't deserve it

Published on October 31, 2005 By just john In Current Events

Friends, I am a resident of Louisiana. Our state is in the one of the worst financial turmoils this country has ever seen. We have entire parishes (counties for the rest of you) that have no tax base left after the devastating storms. We need the federal money but don't give it to us. Our government will only throw it away.

How? How about a cool million for a horse arena or a half million for a new lake? (I know we don't need that. I can't drive in any direction for a half an hour and not run into water somewhere.) Yes, folks Louisiana officials have just voted to spend 45 million dollars on mostly pork.

Now I am sure this horse arena will be built by a firm who has no ties whatsoever to the local government. Right? Surely they wouldn't award that sort of contract to one of their buddies. Wait and see, they will.

This state sucks. I love the people of south Louisiana. (excluding everything east of Baton Rouge and south of Slidell) But I hate what is about to happen to us. The feds are going to say HELL NO to our government.

Why? Ask yourself this... Would you give money to a person if he asked and you thought he needed it? (I don't always, but when I can see need and when I have it to spare) Would you still give him money if you saw him in a store just before he asked buying alcohol, a pack of cigarettes and maybe a couple of scratchers? (Fu... err I mean forget him)

You see, that is what we are asking you, the American public, to do. Let us spend our money on what we want and take your money too. Then when you aren't looking we will head back into the store for a little more booze and hey why not a few more scratchers.

Louisiana government collectively turns to you, the American public, with one hand out and the other raised in a single finger salute.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Oct 31, 2005

I know what you are talking about. I think the Feds need to do a complete audit and start really cleaning up the state for the first time in history.

Or this past year is just a preview of things to come.

TaBoo Tenente

on Oct 31, 2005

great article, jj.

are you a life-long louisiana resident? what do you do, then? im a lefty-left liberal so i tend to see corruption everywhere in the government but i still want to give them my money. the more i give the more they can use to buy diamond yo-yos, and hopefully still have a little left for health care.

i cant think of one reason that you shouldnt be spitting-pissed with your government. i wish you and the rest of your state the more representative, no-cronied government you deserve.

man, jj:

"Sen. Robert Barham, R-Oak Ridge, called a proposed equine center in Morehouse Parish a "boondoggle" last week. That characterization chafed the center's organizers."

im sorry. boo to your local gov.

tbt

ParaTed2k

on Oct 31, 2005

My brother lived in and Southern Louisiana for a couple of years. After the hurricanes and floods, he told me... "You watch, when the recovery starts, the money will be spent on casinos, luxury hotels and making this next Mardis Gras the biggest one ever... Yet a year from now, only a small percentage of the homes will be rebuilt."

From your post, I can see that my brother has been right so far. Nagin and Blanco can't handle any problem if the solution doesn't include buying off someone or being bought off themselves.

stutefish

on Oct 31, 2005

Actually, I'm okay with that.

If less homes are built, then more land can be returned to the swamps as buffer against future floods. Also, less people will be at risk in future floods. Also, less people will be made into refugees in future floods, which will limit the burden on society, the amount of complaining that goes on about government failures, etc.

Dr Guy

on Nov 01, 2005

im a lefty-left liberal so i tend to see corruption everywhere in the government but i still want to give them my money.

We call those Masochists.

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

are you a life-long louisiana resident? what do you do, then?

I was born in LA but my parents moved when I was six. I had an opportunity to come back to the state in the early 90's. All of my family is from the Lake Charles area and I rarely got to see them. (Since my parents moved we were always atleast seven hours away) I wanted to get to know my family. I really don't have any plans to leave the state, but living in North Louisiana we are sheilded from most of the corruption.

What do I do? Well, I am going to continue my path until the cost is too great to bear. I will stay here until it is no longer financially viable. I want to be close enough to my family so I can still see them on the weekends.

To me my family is more important. I have tried living in the Houston area, but the cost of living is too high and I am a small fish in the largest of oceans.

The answer is, stay put until I can't stand it any longer. How shitty is that?

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

I think the Feds need to do a complete audit and start really cleaning up the state for the first time in history.

You think these guys really want the feds in here? They will fight that tooth and nail.

They will use and abuse the laws to make sure that doesn't happen. For you see, the law is only good to a Louisiana politician when it lines his pockets with a lille cash or keeps him/her from spending time in a state pen.

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

"You watch, when the recovery starts, the money will be spent on casinos, luxury hotels and making this next Mardis Gras the biggest one ever... Yet a year from now, only a small percentage of the homes will be rebuilt."

I have been to Lake Charles a couple of times since Rita and they seem to be fairing well. I am still waiting to hear to people of Cameron screaming "where's my hand out". I guess they are just too proud to lower themselves to begging, but that's nothing new.

(excluding everything east of Baton Rouge and south of Slidell)

Ths area will still have their hand out years from now because the people who need the federal aid wont see it.

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

Actually, I'm okay with that.

Immediately after Katrina, I could not see a world without New Orleans. Now, I don't know. I want to see New Orleans come back, but I am not willing to pay the price and I don't think the American people should either.

The best news I have heard coming from New Orleans is that many of the poor will not be returning. (Here is my disclaimer - I DON'T HATE POOR PEOPLE) The demographic makeup of New Orleans has been skewed for so many years. It has continually allowed the rich to get richer and the poor to remain in the kitchen.

The government down there wants stupid people who really believe the promises made and if you are too intelligent to believe ... just open your pocket and watch it fill with money.

Dr Guy

on Nov 01, 2005

You think these guys really want the feds in here? They will fight that tooth and nail.

But if they take the money, the Feds will be in there. Just ask the 500 here in Va who got busted for Fraud (chump change too) after Isabel.

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

But if they take the money, the Feds will be in there.

I guess that means we wont be getting any money.

just john

on Nov 01, 2005

Blanco also called for legislation that would compel elected officials to disclose what they earn through recovery-related contracts, but stopped short of calling for a bar on such potential conflicts of interest. Link

Now the elected officials would have to tell what they make through contracts they were awarded, if this passed. I don't really think any of these law makers want to have that information disclosed.

I wonder though, how many times has Blanco bitched about Cheney's ties to Halliburton? How many of these elected officials would just let their brother-in-laws company be the one who makes the money?

Come on this is Louisiana! Forcing a disclosure only forces more backroom deals. More backroom deals are sure to lead to more failed projects. Failed projects will only set this state further back.

Dr Guy

on Nov 01, 2005

Can you impeach her?

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