As we fire up the grill for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations, let’s remember what Louisiana has experienced in the past few weeks in context of Independence Day.
Governor Jindal has declared that the legislature is not an independent body when the people have pushed his own feet to the fire on an issue of significant importance to them.
The legislature cannot run roughshod over the people on issues that are selfishly motivated at a time when the average Joe cannot take care of his or her own family.
The people of Louisiana engaged in their own revolution of recalls, threatened rallies and citizen actions unparallel in the state.The citizens crossed party lines because they felt they had an obligation and a right to seek civil redress.
Never has Independence Day had such meaning to Louisiana than this year.
There is one line in the Declaration of Independence that really strikes a chord and is relevant to the moment:“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”.
What we, as the people, discovered was that there was immense inequality between the government and the citizens for whom the government serves.
We quickly found out that the legislators could set their own salaries without real debate in the legislature.The people have decided that this process is unfair.
We realized that while our Governor Bobby Jindal was not created equal but ironically, in one respect, he is actually equal among all men.His innate intelligence certainly surpasses many of us in this state.But the citizens were smarter than him on an issue of basic intelligence and we forced him to stand up for us.
Governor Jindal and the people of Louisiana have much to celebrate this Independence Day.Our revenues are flowing to help government fund certain services.We are rebuilding (although very slowly) the basic infrastructure ripped apart by Katrina and Rita.Our legislature has put into motion laws that could make Louisiana more functional.However, we must test these new laws and policies over time to tell if these new laws and policies will work.
The people know that for one moment in Louisiana history, we came together almost unified and stood up to our leaders and declared our own independence with the recalls, the rallies and the citizen actions.To ensure a more perfect union, we must continue our own vigilance, watch and perhaps rebel against our government and our leaders when they represent themselves, not us.
Louisiana has an abundance of great natural resources and wonderful people and leaders.
But, we cannot be dependent upon our own ignorance and our own inactions.Our founding fathers would have none of that, nor should we.
Did you know that only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
Written by P.O.V.
on 7/7/2008
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For an auto generated spoof, the below was remarkably ..... Well..... interesting to say the least.... Written by ..............................STRONGCONCRETE......
on 7/7/2008
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There are many problems with Mr. Stephen Sabludowski's vaporings. The one that's the most blatant, and the one that I will limit my discussion to, is related to his overt support of prætorianism. I would like to start by discussing Stephen's stratagems, mainly because they scare me. The thing I'm the most frightened about is that Stephen always looks the other way when one of his hangers-on gets it in his head to stir up trouble. Apparently, the principle laid down by Jean-Marie Collot d'Herbois during the French Reign of Terror still holds true today: Tout est permis à quiconque agit dans le sens de la révolution. This is particularly interesting when you consider that he is locked into his present course of destruction. He does not have the interest or the will to change his fundamentally oleaginous fulminations.
It may seem difficult at first to provide you with vital information which Stephen has gone to great lengths to prevent you from discovering. It is. But what I find frightening is that some academics actually believe Stephen's line that the average working-class person can't see through his chicanery. In this case, "academics" refers to a stratum of the residual intelligentsia surviving the recession of its demotic base, not to those seekers of truth who understand that Stephen's "I'm right and you're wrong" attitude is simple-minded because it leaves no room for compromise. Stephen broadens his appeal by seeking influence and adherents in the Dadaism movement -- an instructive warning for the future. We must reach out to people with the message that you don't know how tempted I am to slap the stuffing out of him. We must alert people of that. We must educate them. We must inspire them. And we must encourage them to rally good-hearted people to the side of our cause. In closing, we must work together to reveal the truth about Mr. Stephen Sabludowski's communiqués. Together, we can make a difference. Forever and always.
Written by S.G. Long
on 7/7/2008
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"But we have new revenue sources coming in the future and that will provide us with an opportunity to use money that is not now dedicated for any purpose to fund these vital changes, along with addressing basic shortcomings in public school education and economic and technical infrastructure. If we reduce the cost of hiring employees and doing business in Louisiana, raise the educational skills of our workforce, and modernize our economic and technical infrastructure we will have jobs and population growth instead of the continuing impoverishment of our middle class and out-migration of our young, skilled workforce. And complaining about what goes on in Washington, or changing it, will have no impact upon the resolution or continuance of this basic fault of our state either way. We must confront our own problems here in Louisiana, especially now when we will have the financial resources to address them."
Very well put. Louisiana now enjoys more revenue from its oil resources. If this money is spent wisely, Louisiana the beautiful state it is, its people and culture being unequaled anywhere, and all the attractions it offers, Louisiana can compete with any state for business and no longer export its greatest treasure, its children. Leaving Louisiana was the most difficult thing my husband and I ever did but we had no choice and the choice was economic.
Louisiana should look to itself for strength and growth. It is a waste of time to blame, complain, and look back but especially to depend on the Federal Government or anyone else to make Louisiana what the People want it to be. Written by Sharon
on 7/6/2008
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Well; allow me to respond to Mr. Sullivan. If he had taken the time to read the information in the articles at the links I posted he would have understood that the impetus for the investment in developing both the increased rig activity on land here in Louisiana and the discovery of the Walker Ridge field in the Lower Teritiary formation far offshore has come from private industry, not government sponsored-action. This means that the money is coming into the revenue chest of the government of the State of Louisiana all on its own. Mr. Sullivan, do you propose that we give it back? And regarding your comment that we need to invest in alternative energy and move away from oil, did you notice that among the recommendations I listed for new spending initiatives in Louisiana was included a suggestion that state funding of the modernization of our electrical grid could stimulate investment in offshore wind energy production? And in so far as you raise the issue of spending on the War in Iraq as draining national resources away from domestic investment; I must ask how that relates to the future direction of policy within governmental affairs in the State of Louisiana? Do you propose that we do nothing in this state so that we can force the federal government to withdraw troops from Iraq to free funds for our development? The point I am making is that, historically, we have killed the chances for the multi-faceted development of modern business and industry here in Louisiana by a combination of a poorly-structured state fiscal system that penalizes business and industry in its tax and employee expense policies, along with a legal system that makes insurance costs for businesses and employment unprofitable when compared with neighboring states like Texas and Oklahoma. That is why existing jobs leave this state for elsewhere and the youth of Louisiana, who we educate, i.e. "invest in," at the expense of Louisiana tax dollars, go with them. These are the problems we must address to turn this state around and it has been politically impossible to implement the necessary changes we must put into effect to make that happen so long as it would require taking money away from "program A or B" and moving it to "legislative initiative C or D," because vested interests have stood ready to defend the status quo. But we have new revenue sources coming in the future and that will provide us with an opportunity to use money that is not now dedicated for any purpose to fund these vital changes, along with addressing basic shortcomings in public school education and economic and technical infrastructure. If we reduce the cost of hiring employees and doing business in Louisiana, raise the educational skills of our workforce, and modernize our economic and technical infrastructure we will have jobs and population growth instead of the continuing impoverishment of our middle class and out-migration of our young, skilled workforce. And complaining about what goes on in Washington, or changing it, will have no impact upon the resolution or continuance of this basic fault of our state either way. We must confront our own problems here in Louisiana, especially now when we will have the financial resources to address them. Written by Jacob Sulzbach
on 7/5/2008
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The responses to Steve and Jeff's writings are as interesting as the writings themselves. It's encouraging to know I live in a city with so many dynamic people. . . . Mr. Sulzbach listed programs and services we would like to spend money on. He then argued that the oil industry would provide the money. That seems destructive, not productive. The state has lost so much land in subservience to the oil industry that we are discussing how we can compel them to subsidize the repairs to wetlands and the refilling of their transport canals. I'm not holding my breath until they care enough to do so. . . . It is time to turn away from oil. We are capable of producing energy from sun, wind, and moving water, if we dedicate funds to the research. The Bush administration has actually reduced funding for research in alternative energy, so we're obviously choosing to continue the non-sustainable ways of the petroleum past. We could bicycle more, drive electric cars, and support public transportation. . . . It is also time to turn toward industries that cultivate traditional Louisiana enterprises other than oil and nurture new enterprises. Our government support for creative action in music, medicine, and cuisine is feeble compared to what it could be. We've done well with the film industry. We could do well with furniture manufacture, language instruction, and visual arts. These are commercial as well as cultural activities that provide jobs. . . . Finally, the biggest elephant in the room is the military budget. It is outrageously and unnecessarily enormous. By terminating Mr. Bush's little wars, we would economize so much that Mr. Salzbach's services and programs would be easily funded. If Louisianians have demonstrated by opposition to the legislator's pay raises that they want fiscal responsibility and ethical integrity from their government, I would like to see that energy focused on the least responsible and least ethical government of them all, namely, the government of George Bush and Dick Cheney. It is time to impeach them and then to arrest them. In a trial like the ones at Nuremburg, they would be sentenced to death. Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 7/5/2008
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I hope that you journalist will keep us posted on anything that comes up that looks as if the legislature is quietly trying to pass through. thanks again People like me need your imput. Someone told me years ago that you can not find out who is swimmng naked until the tide goes out. Just keep us aware who is swimming naked. I thank each of you who write in. Written by BOBBY
on 7/4/2008
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If I had a dollar for every time the Wall Street Journal stoked economic fears based on the probability of a Democrat winning the White House, I'd be a very wealthy man. TW Written by Tee Dub
on 7/4/2008
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Steve; with all due respect, I think you are overestimating the importance and centrality of the recent popular uprising to stop the legislative pay raise in so far as it relates to our future course. That article you posted about putting cameras in the Governor's office and more was just downright silly (that was the one I wanted to comment upon when I got that "login" message). Though we have by no means fixed Louisiana's ethics problems, we are well on the way as the pay raise controversy demonstrates. However; you are not wrong to strike a confrontational pose, you are just missing the confrontations that matter. Our state is in a uniquely advantaged situation at this critical moment for reasons of factors that are outside of our control. The rising price of oil and the declining value of the American dollar (which means the price of oil will continue to rise) have convinced many in the oil industry that exploration in Louisiana is once again a good idea. Our latest rig count is 176 ( http://www.ogj.com/display_article/333433/7/ONART/none/DriPr/1/US-drilling-rig-count-at-23-year-high/ ) which is up from a 2002 low of 76 ( http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/techasmt/newsletters/2006/2006-07_topic_2.pdf ), which really explains the improved bond rating by the way. Since it appears Obama will win the presidency, the economic outlook is that the dollar's value will continue to decline (skip the links, it's all over the Wall Street Journal), so the price of oil will continue to rise. But on top of all of that is the bonanza windfall that is about to come home to us. Go read this: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14678206/ and learn about how the Lower Tertiary formation that should be delivering its massive oil production from Walker Ridge, which will only be the first field, will probably come online in 2010. The find is rated in that article -- and you can find more elsewhere that back its findings up -- as comparable to the Prudhoe Bay find on Alaska's North Slope in the 1970's. We are about to become the American equivalent of Kuwait serving oil to an energy-starved America. This will create a golden opportunity for our state to use the revenues to restructure our fiscal policy so as to do the one thing that is most necessary for our state; reduce the cost of employment and business operations so that we create good jobs in our state. This means that we will be able to: reform workmen's compensation, implement tort reform, reduce corporate income taxes, and share state revenues with local parish school boards to create an equality of educational opportunity across the state. We will also be able to invest in our capital infrastructure to make the prospect of business development in Louisiana even more attractive than just a function of its reduced costs. Imagine state-funded fiber optic telecommunications systems in our major urban areas, an improved electrical grid that will encourage offshore wind power generation (this is getting major attention from GE and others right now), and more. And don't be so stupid as to skip the reform phase and go straight to the spending, because unless the cost of doing business is reduced the jobs will not come. THAT is where the focus of confrontation needs to be Steve; against those interests who are vested in maintaining the current fiscal system that has been in place in at least similar form in this state since the 1930's and a legal structure that went haywire in the 1980's. Look to organized labor, trial attorneys, and many others who associate with them. And put the so-called "revolution" in perspective. The election of 2007 got that started, not the opposition to the pay raise, which was an effect of the change in regime. Written by Jacob Sulzbach
on 7/3/2008
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OH WELL, THE ARTICLE I WAS GOING TO BUZZ BACK ON CONVENIENTLY WENT AWOL WHILE I WAS WRITTING THE FOLLOWING, INTERESTING, IT WAS THE ONLY ARTICLE TO GO AWRY.... SO I WILL POST THIS ON THIS ARTICLE FOR YOU STEVE..... YOU WERE RANTING IN THE OTHER ARTICLE SOMETHING ABOUT HOW I SHOULD START A RALLY OR SOMETHING,,,, WHATEVER........ SO HERE IS MY REPLY TO YOUR POST ON YOUR ARTICLE..................Well Steve, can’t extend any apologies about your ‘computer glitch’, glad to see you could fix the random Oingo-Boingo though………. Sort of considered it to be a bit odd, yet it was an interesting distraction……. Sort of like prompts on the screen……. And when posting, I consider cause, and effect as well as timing, seems the timing on those events you allude to like a child with its hand caught in a cookie jar were ‘striking’……. Not saying you did it Steve, but you supposedly do have a staff, and in the absence of any reader posts following an article, I do have to wonder sometimes who is really doing a lot of the posting there as well…… Ah, but you have reverse IP tracking software……… Well, so do I……. As with any rational person I consider the ‘circumstance’, then ‘the happenstance’, and ultimately ‘the what it is’ when it comes time for the decision rendering processes to become complete…… To spell it out so that you can keep up that is the 1, 2, …………3. of the situation…… I enjoyed your dissertation and accusations however you failed to address the crux of the post you seemingly want to jump on…. Which is…… [Nothing personal Steve, you and I have our differences where tactics and logical pursuits are concerned..... My question is; "What is the good of Louisiana you are purportedly pursuing and or advocating?"""""] Every good tactician has a goal, as well as a primary mission when a campaign is drawn up….. Now if your goal is to improve the ‘Trust’ of the people in the Government of Louisiana then this buzz board is nothing more than another government propaganda machine……. And if it is such, and the offers of aid posted on page 12 @ www.strongconcrete.com are still being overlooked, well, let me just say, in your own words sort of; that if the 5 million in Legislative pay raise was insignificant in comparison to a multi-billion dollar budget…… then why the fuss, and why the call to rally? Because what you are really saying is that a rally regarding over 5 million bucks in pay raises is more important than the citizenship of Louisiana having the opportunity to establish heightened atmospheric/hydrographic disaster protection at a minimum cost, and that they should be happy in continuing on shelling out tax dollars in return for inept planning and execution on the part of the State Government and its affiliated agencies……… And for Mr RRowley’s post….. Well, to find out the answer to your question may I suggest putting some overpriced gasoline in your vehicle, and driving around the country and ask them……… On the subject of me organizing some kind of rally regarding STRONGCONCRETE, well let me say that is a ludicrous suggestion at best…….. That would be closely akin to starting an Oral Hygiene Rally to try to convince people they should brush their teeth when they already know that is a logical thing to do…….. That is if that was what they were taught during their lifetime…… Shame of it is folks that brush their teeth are the ones that show up at the rally, and those that don’t,,,,, well those are the same folks whose teeth rot out and then they wish they had a second chance to do what’s right…… Myself, I have had plenty of offers, turned everyone of them down because I employed not only ‘ethics’ but morals in my decision making processes where any discussion concerning STRONGCONCRETE was embarked upon by the State of Louisiana, or any of its affiliated agencies or associated personalities in order to insure that the Common People of the State of Louisiana got the biggest bang for its buck, or in other words, the best value for its tax dollar expenditures… It is called being a good steward, and that is what I am, in stewardship of a benefit for the State of Louisiana…. No, I am not going to stand on a street corner with a sign slung around my neck saying ‘THE WORLD IS COMING TO AN END!!!!” even though for some it was seemingly so, that is called employing fear tactics which are counterproductive, and conversely neither am I going to stand on a street corner with a sign slung around my neck that says; “KICK ME IN THE BAWLz FOR 5 BUCKS”……. If the leaders in the position of mission implementation directed towards a goal as well as the authority to cause plans into fruition that will heighten the security of Louisiana and its citizenry do not have the common sense to get on with STRONGCONCRETE approaches, well then, again Mr RRowley, you have again answered your question for yourself, because in the roundabout words of Pi last night while he was on the local news station, ‘Time is a precious commodity which shouldn’t be wasted”….. So Steve, again……. The question…. "What is the good of Louisiana you are purportedly pursuing and or advocating?"
Written by ...............STRONGCONCRETE..................... on 7/3/2008
Written by .....In case you missed my answer to you Steve...
on 7/3/2008
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Stephen, dear, you end by saying: But, we cannot be dependent upon our own ignorance and our own inactions. Our founding fathers would have none of that, nor should we.
We simply say to all WE WILL NEVER DO SO AGAIN. WE WILL ACT TOGETHER AND WE WILL UNIFY THIS CITY OF OURS AND THE CITIES OF THE STATE INTO A UNITED LOUISIANA, A STATE THAT WILL UNITE WITH ALL THE OTHER STATES IN CALLING OUR LEADERS TO ACCOUNTABILITY. IN GOD WE TRUST, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA. PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS AND ANCESTRIES JOINING TOGETHER WITH A COMMON CAUSE - THE GOOD OF ALL. Written by RhettsWife
on 7/3/2008
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As we fire up the grill for the July 4th Independence Day celebrations, let’s remember what 
