In 1773, frustrated American colonists who were tired of government oppression and “taxation without representation” held the Boston tea party. This event sparked the American Revolution and led to the founding of our nation.
In the summer of 2008, frustrated Louisiana taxpayers who were tired of our state government acting against our interests, held our own tea party. Of course the issue that caused the uproar in this state was not taxation, but the huge 124% legislative pay increases. It has been an incredible movement to witness and will hopefully lead to our own political revolution.
This movement reminded the politicians of this state who is in charge, the people. In this whole campaign to stop the pay raises, we took back control of our government and set the course, not the politicians. If not for the popular uprising, these pay raises would have become law.
The heat was so intense that Governor Bobby Jindal revered course and vetoed the pay increases after committing to legislators that he would not intervene. He also claimed in numerous public statements that he would not veto the raises. So, it was an amazing spectacle yesterday to see Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal retract his pledge and finally succumb to the will of the people.. By doing the right thing, following his own campaign pledge and listening to the overwhelming majority of the people of Louisiana, Jindal has restored some of his lost credibility with the voters.
It is still disturbing that Governor Jindal did not veto the raises initially or inform legislators that these raises would not stand. His behavior is reminiscent of how he handled the tax cut issue. Initially, Jindal opposed the income tax cuts that would eliminate the Stelly increases. After receiving pressure from the people of Louisiana, Jindal eventually signed the tax cut bill.
So, his initial impulses on the tax cut bill and the legislative pay raises were wrong and went against the will of the people of Louisiana. He only changed course after hearing loudly and clearly from the voters. It shows that Jindal is politically responsive and is a good politician, but what sort of principles does he have? It is interesting that he has allowed over one hundred bills to become law without his signature. In just five months as Governor, Jindal has used this tactic more than Governors Roemer, Foster and Blanco combined. He obviously does not want to be associated with anything that is controversial or could harm his ambitions for national political office. Needless to say, we should be wary and vigilant for the remainder of his tenure as Governor.
The Louisiana Tea Party is a victory for all of the long suffering citizens of our state who have watched helplessly for so many years as our politicians have wrecked this state. Now, the dynamic has been changed and the roles reversed. Congratulations to everyone who called their legislator, contacted the Governor, called talk radio, wrote a letter to the editor and loudly complained about this issue.
This hard earned victory should be a reminder that we can never let our guard down and trust the politicians. We need to continually direct their activities and make sure that their actions are consistent with the interests of the people of this state, not with their political self interests.
Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. For more information, visit his web site at www.ringsidepolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
Hahahahahahahhaha!!!!! Now {THAT'S} funny!!!!!!!!!! [The Hilarious Alcoholic Tale's] Written by WTFDOK
on 7/2/2008
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aye hve ben drken nawlins wata fo ova fift yrs an i suffer no il affeks tha im awre uv. Written by so there!
on 7/2/2008
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Does IMHO stand for "It's My Hokey Observation"?????????? Or does it stand for "I Mean He's Odd"? or does it stand for "It's More Horsesh!^ Osborn"?????...... WTF!!!!! - - - - [Wut's THAT for!!!!!!!!?] Written by
on 7/2/2008
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e’Claire, Your apparent angst over both religion being even mentioned in any of our public institutions and the forced medication of our populace is somewhat contradictory.
Certainly no self-righteous liberal could possibly be against the fluoridation of our water supply when it was one of your own – Moon Landrieu – who effected this travesty under the guise of saving the poor children of NOLA from that dreaded medical condition known as tooth cavities. Many think that this dubious experiment in “progressivism” was less humanitarianism toward the young of NOLA than it was just one more way for a local politician to acquire additional federal funds to dispense to his “constituency.” The slush funds from Edwin Edwards were to come later. Perhaps, though, your anxiety over the fluoridation of our water supply could best be served by demanding an “unjaundiced” study by our medical community as to what health risks, if any, are associated with this involuntary and unwanted program, and how it has affected the local populace over the past four decades – at least those who due to economics have been forced to drink this suspect tap water. And then maybe they could do a follow-up comparative study as to what is more deleterious to a populace: the mention of a Prime Mover to public school students or the forced medication of an unwitting, unsuspecting citizenry.
Maybe we could get the current group running the city to add aspirin to the water supply for the express purpose of alleviating the suffering of our elderly from their arthritis. It certainly would be “progressive” and it would make about the same amount of sense.
Written by jackamo
on 7/2/2008
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If not THE, we have at least got to be ONE of the most backward states in the Union!
Not only did our legislators, seemingly facilely, pass into law a bill that would inject religion into science classes in our public schools; they are also said to be ready to pass another that is equally disturbing not to mention anachronistic, i.e. to add fluoride to all of the Louisiana public water system which has not already been treated with such. And this, just as the general public are finally becoming aware of the toxicity of this substance, and some even planning to remove it from their drinking water!!!
In essence, our public-school students will be subjected to religious brainwashing and many in our general populace, to severe health problems.
It is my sincere hope and prayer that the first of these atrocities will make its way to the Supreme Court quickly and that the second will be soundly defeated by an increasingly aware electorate. Written by e'Claire
on 7/1/2008
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This is a great victory for the People of Louisiana. It speaks volumes in my mind that this Governor is willing to admit a mistake and correct it. I have said that Jindal needs "seasoning" and is naive. His statement was right on point. Disagreeing with the pay raise but allowing the Legislature to handle its own business is incompatible. He compounded things by believing until the last moment that the Legislature would reverse itself. He had to veto this bill. One of the problems with very smart people is they often "over think" something. The best quote of the day IMHO is "But there may be a silver lining for Jindal in all this. "In the end, we may look back on this and say that this experience made Bobby Jindal a better, smarter politician and a better, smarter governor," added Katz." And the people of Louisiana can make a difference in the direction their state takes. Written by Sharon
on 7/1/2008
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It is distrubing that Governor Jindal is swayed so easily by public opinion rather than taking a principled stand. I recall looking forward to casting my vote for Paul Tsongas for president in '92. I had to admire a man who said we might just have to raise taxes AND cut benefits to have a responsible fiscal spending policy. Of course his opponent in the '92 Democratic primaries - "the Man from Hope (barf)" - claimed he would give the middle class a tax cut. Telling the people what they wanted to hear only to back away from his promise (the Republicans fault, of course). Clearly an example where we get the government we deserve.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tsongas Written by kpf
on 7/1/2008
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Angelina Jolie's birthing of twins in France got several million times more attention than the veto 'burp' eruption in the Louisiana timeline................ So what does that really say about Louisiana and our priorities??? Written by Ben
on 7/1/2008
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It wasn't a tea party, it was a cream party................. At the core of it was legislative payraises that were to come from Louisiana taxpayers pockets.... Now, if the feds were covering the tab, no fuss, no muss................... It was merely an argument over a little bit of cream..... Or in Steve's words, "an insignificant amount".................. Written by
on 7/1/2008
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In 1773, frustrated American colonists who were tired of government oppression and “taxation without representation” held the 
