Sometimes, you just have to gawk with wonderment and say with pride that Louisiana is being governed by young men and women with so much potential that it makes one want to jump with joy instead of jumping out of the state.
Then, at times, you have to just wonder if the potential we can achieve might be diverted due to political circumstances.
Those were my mixed emotions after attending two events in New Orleans featuring Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret and Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal.
The first event was an ewards banquet hosted by the Louisiana Technology Council and the Greater New Orleans Inc, which is the economic development engine of the Greater New Orleans region.
Stephen Moret was the guest speaker and he outlined his vision of Louisiana.Without using notes, he eloquently spoke for approximately one-half hour with great detail about the Jindal administration’s efforts and plans and about the emphasis upon “people capital”.To my delight, one of the major focuses will be on technology and New Media which I personally have tried to cultivate in this state.Moret also mentioned Louisiana’s future role with nuclear energy and creating other energy sources.While acknowledging that the Obama administration is not keen on nuclear energy, he felt the rest of the world is heading in that direction and that Louisiana can be a stronger player in that arena.Moret, also talked about processing energy from food such as unused chicken parts.He also emphasized the need to retain businesses and to train for the “New Economy”.
Starting Monday, Bayoubuzz will present video clips of his entire speech which gives an outstanding overview of his goals and how he plans to achieve them.
Then, last night, Governor Bobby Jindal glowed as he addressed the Southeast Louisiana Council of the Boy Scouts of America’s award dinner where he was presented with the Distinguished Citizens Award. The event was attended by over 300 community leaders who volunteer and financially support the Boy Scout troops in Southeast Louisiana. One of the attendees Valero presented the Boy Scout organization with a check for a whopping $150,000.00.
Jindal was introduced by shipper, Boysie Bollinger, a Republican stalwart who delivered a very moving overview of Jindal’s career.He ended the introduction noting that Jindal has been appearing nationally and might be looking at a higher position.Bollinger said that Jindal, an Oxford graduate could have attended medical school or law school but instead chose public service.
Which is the ultimate point.Our Governor is a man whose personal career is soaring at a very young age and yet, he was so personally moved about the efforts that are made by boy scouts and by soldiers fighting for America.While Jindal could be in the private sector raking in millions of dollars, he has chosen the public sector, for now.Also, scouts and members of the military could be pursuing their respective moments of the impulse, but instead, are giving of their lives for their communities and for their country.
What is truly so moving is that Governor Jindal appears to have such a sincere appreciation for the efforts made by everyday people who are making sacrifices to give to others, yet, asking so little in return.
To his discredit, Jindal could have discounted Bollinger’s reference to Jindal’s future ambitions.By not commenting, he has only fueled speculation regarding whether Governor Jindal will run for President soon, thus abandoning his attention upon our state.
But, at these two events, there is little doubt in my mind that Louisiana is blessed with two major thinkers with sparkling futures and hopefully Louisiana will be the direct and ultimate major beneficiaries of their own personas, their dreams, and their appreciation of the efforts of others.
While thanking the Southeast Louisiana Council for the award, Governor Jindal said, "The Boy Scouts teach and develop values that every parent hopes to instill in their child – personal responsibility, ethical decision-making, respect for your fellow man and community service”.
Both Moret and Jindal are indeed “superstars” serving the Louisiana community and are so appreciative of the efforts made by others.Over the next few years, I truly hope they both stay focused serving Louisiana and not fighting for a higher cause.Any other distractions could disrupt the momentum Louisiana can make for the future.So many other Louisiana “superstar” citizens are making personal sacrifices.They are staking their careers and businesses in a state so vulnerable to fickle storms and a history of wrong moves.They are fighting overwhelming odds trying to preserve our state and attempting to help it achieve its rightful place in destiny. We are fortunate to have Secretary Moret and Governor Bobby Jindal.While they have made errors of judgment during this first year, they are both on the right track with their hearts in the right place.I only hope they stay in place.
Steve-O, I wonder, how is it that you figure Jindal could be in the 'private sector' raking in 'millions' if he hadn't decided to get into politics? What genius discovery did he make before he was the mailboy in the Foster administration that would have afforded him to make such stellar wealth? Are you saying that the Louisiana business atmosphere is so conducive to fostering success that this would be the norm instead of the exception to the rule? I think not..... Written by
on 11/25/2008
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Huey P. Newton, founder of the Black Panthers… A Monroe, Louisiana product….. andDerrick Todd Lee……. A St. Francisville, Louisiana product. John Allen ‘Muhhamad’ Williams, a New Orleans product and his ‘disciple’ John Lee Malvo, a.k.a. Malik Malvo that was imported from Kingston, Jamaica….. The current contemplated bailout of at least 1 along with the other 2 in the “Big 3”? 25 billion and expected to actually be 50 billion or higher…. Cost of New Orleans after Katrina as a result of a ‘literal bailout’? 50 billion +? Very easily……. (Who really knows what the actual numbers are, they are all so screwed up….. ) “Big 3” disappearing? It will be felt nationwide……. For decades to come….. Had New Orleans not been rebuilt? In nationwide economic terms It wouldn’t even have been noticed …. And when it came time to be noticed, bout the only affect it did have on a nationwide level was the massive media coverage and its domination of news time on CNN.. But a lot of folks in Louisiana are saying no to the “Big 3 bailout”….. Including our prominent politicians….. What a bunch of selfish individuals….. But it is not entirely unbiased when I write that the effects of Katrina were not really noticeable outside of Louisiana……. Speaking of New Orleans, and Louisiana economic products…. After Katrina, general crime levels as well as violent crime levels in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and various other cities and towns around the nation where our ‘products’ landed ‘spiked’ significantly…….. So I suppose we did have a viable export product…. So I would wonder, what is really at the crux of Louisiana’s ability to produce such outstanding and productive products to be enjoyed by the masses? Written by
on 11/25/2008
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Obama – FDR – New Deal imagery… blah, blah, blah……. Looks good to the desperate in the beginning, but unfortunately there is one important equation to that historical period in time missing from the picture……… WAR……. coupled with expansion/advantage potential………. And the only alternative to that prospect, in lieu of invigorated growth (which NONE will occur) can only be the pursuit of a socialist agenda…… Unless someone invents anti-gravity shoes, which will allow the consumer the freedom to move to a fro unhindered and unrestrained, or someone comes up with some kind of Star Trek food ‘replicator device’ there are no new technologies out there to be exponated upon….. There are no trendy/fad gadgets that will sweep the market place causing people to engage in the phenomena of mindless production and consumption…… Much like the computer boom of the mid 80’s – late 90’s…….. There is only one thing that will allow this nation to escape a socialist agenda……. Lower the cost of living while increasing the standard of living…… This can only be achieved through one methodology…… Increased production/export…….. coupled with decreased imports/domestic costs. We are right now slipping into the same lull as our parent countries, (such as the U.K., etc.) are…… that of stagnation devoid of evident growth potentials for the common population….. That is what freedom translates out to…. The possibility to grow…. the potential for the common man’s ability to forge ahead and form its own destinies…. Otherwise folks, just grab go sit on the bank with a six pac of beer and a fishing pole while you watch the world go by…. I am not anti-social, I simply don’t like to be around, or be run around by stupid people all the time……… Written by
on 11/24/2008
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The jury is still out on Obama, nevertheless he has spoken of policies that sound socialist to me. Such as "creating jobs" - does he mean more government employees for the private sector to support? If so, that's socialist to me. Does he desire affordable energy or does he want energy to be "green." If "green" energy is taking money from the taxpayers to develop more costly (but "green") energy sources than is already available then that too is socialistic. ANY policies that differ from pure market forces (including tariffs, subsidies, bailouts, etc.) are socialistic in that they attempt to determine market outcome outside of pure market forces (consumer preference, supply and demand, true market prices). Perhaps “socialist” is not the proper term, market meddling is done by both the left and the right; and is always a mistake in my opinion. Finally I would love to see affordable healthcare offered to all Americans, but unless we trim the fat from government and truly attempt to lift people from poverty, I do not see this happening without dire consequences to our economy. I hope I am wrong on this, but I fear that the party of government dependency desires to keep people dependant upon government, as that is where their voting base is. I truly hope President Obama cares enough for the poor to move them from poverty, even though this makes them taxpayers and therefore more likely to vote Republican. We'll see. Written by kpf
on 11/24/2008
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I'd like to know what is exactly so socialist about what Obama has proposed or announced or in his appointments so far. I find that a curious statement. Most of his announced appointments would appear in the centrist Clinton-esque category. Indeed, many in strident liberal camp are displeased, given that they have long felt that Clinton never delivered much to them (as much as Reagan has been the sainted one for the Right Wing Base, the liberals do not have much love for Clinton, which may be news to some). Personally, I'm very pleased. Obama seems to want to have the most experienced team he can get and that's needed. They will definitely need to be able to move quickly once settled in place, given the problems that this nation is facing. Now is the time to move beyond politics and toward governing and it does seem like Obama is not one to waste time in that transition process. Indeed, the Right Wing Base adherents have, to me, lost much perspective. What's in fact a centrist government, if not for much of the rest of the democratic world a fairly right-wing one, appears socialist to them. And it needs to be pointed out that many of these nations who adopted single-payer healthcare systems long ago easily have populations who are far healthier than most Americans and can get better healthcare than most Americans can, if they need it, and have economies who have done at least as well as the American economy has. The problem with this country is that the middle-class has seen its quality of life and quality of opportunity stagnate if not slip back while costs for healthcare have increased dramatically while the baby-boomer population has been aging and also we have been in the post-industrial age for at least a generation. What does America actually produce these days? Is financial services/real estate our number one national industry? What to do in the post-industrial/post-Cold War age (are the Russians and the Chinese our enemies or our allies or are they both competitor and business partner at the same time in this increasingly complex world)? It's important to re-invest in our infrastructure and in education and research as well as modernize healthcare and healthcare delivery. This whole era of Reagan/Bush-ism has brought a certain stagnation over this country with ideas that sounded fresh and appealing about 30 years ago but which have themselves long ago grown stale. America can't afford to be behind the times (and Louisiana, for certain, for its part is nowhere near the cutting-edge as far as this country as a whole goes). There is no downplaying or dismissing that we do have a deep crisis of an unprecedented nature and not comparable to earlier crises in this country's history. Written by Moderate Independent Voice
on 11/23/2008
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I know you favor protectionist policies that would keep American manufacturing strong. While that's better than what we have now I still disagree. Allowing those countries who can manufacture the same items as we could - but cheaper - is good for us IF (a big "if" there) we use the money saved to grow our economy by investing in the things American do well at (measure by productivity). Instead what we have is a system where we lose high paying manufacturing jobs but instead of allowing the public to use this savings (from cheaper imports) to grow our economy the money saved is used to provide non-productive government dependants to live and in fact increase their numbers. I am very glad to see that when the most socialistic government we've ever had is coming to office that the economy is in dire need of government doing the right thing. It will be interesting to see what is done and the consequences of the new policies. Written by kpf
on 11/22/2008
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Let's see now, scratch off tickets, lotto tickets, riverboats to help fund education.... Education still whimpering for dollars....... Tobacco settlement to help fund health care? Everyone crying for health care........ Ahh, and Louisiana sold the tobacco settlement annuity off for????? Ahhh, offshore oil and gas royalties sometime in the future....... Congress going broke......... Congress need money........ Ahhh, Congress moves to repeal H.R. wutever and take back the oil and gas royalty revenues in federal offshore waters so that Congress has money to give to the other states that are screaming for Federal aid........ Ahhhhhh,, need counter that move, and try to sell oil and gas royalties before Congress can act...... Bummmer, no one has money to buy oil and gas royalties, everyone broke...... Ahhhhhh, we spend much time building nuclear reactors, hmmmmmm world go broke, no can afford nuclear powerplants from Westinghouse...... Hmmmmm, maybe Saints play in Superbowl, we win heap big at off track betting parlor....... Ohhhh, no more Superbowl, other states no can support NFL stadiums and dump'um from tax role..... Super Dome get much wampum from Louisiana so New Orleans look fabulous.... Oh, no, budget short falls.... No can afford'um 15 million a year... Sell'um Saints to Wilmington, Delaware..... Great price.... Sell'um Hornets to Lubbock, Texas..... Good price.... Sell'um New Orleans to Beijing.... Good price..... Sell'um state capitol to Kurdish embassy.... Good price... Sell'um Baton Rouge to the Coushatta tribe, good price.... Sell'um 1-10 to Israel for toll booth, good price.... we now international.... Sell'um St.Bernard Parish to Cuba..... good price..... Sell'um Angola to China.... good price.... China sell'um us homesteads there...... not so good price, but it is a living.... Written by
on 11/21/2008
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Cold fusion...... That is the future..... Amongst other forms of energy.... Although I am curious to see the new miniature nuclear generating plant currently being designed at Los Alamos that will power 20,000 homes when it rolls out of the laboratory next year…. Written by
on 11/21/2008
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I am very glad Jindal is looking at nuclear power - a proven technology. Much of what many advocate to meet our future energy needs is unproven, too expensive and often times - as with ethanol - more harmful to the environment AND more expensive as well. Written by kpf
on 11/21/2008
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Jindal would have been better off if he had gone to medical school or law school before going into politics. Written by David Quidd
on 11/21/2008
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Superstars.
