Scottie Saturday

I am continuing my rant and rave about some of the observations that have come to me over the years concerning my present outlook state and federal politics. Louisiana has a uniquely crummy reputation political behavior that often defies believable categories. We know that the virus of carpetbagger politics is still alive and well, not at all a forgotten time following the end of the Civil War. This behavior is not limited to one party. The looting is often carried out by bold officials of both parties.

The order of concern is focused on taking care of themselves first, then the spouse, then the children, then aunts and uncles, in-laws, outlaws and friends. You know that you are in trouble when the state legislature announces that they will do all they can during a session to do what is best and right for the people. If such does happen it is often just an accident. Most of the state does not think well of what often happens in Baton Rouge.

The one of the more inventive destructive games that they play is one I call the semantic shell game. For instance, our constitution prohibits gambling. That would seem to be clear enough. But the legislature played the semantic shell game and told the state that we certainly do not have gambling here. We have gaming. That surely clears up that little working problem. You can wreck your life and future here with gaming, but not with gambling. Now that is a real relief.

At the state level we continue to elect a confederacy of clowns. At the federal level, we seem to have elected a deluge of dunces. We elect them over and over again expecting that this time they will attempt to represent the US, but that simply doesn’t happen. So much of the blame for this situation is on those of us who refuse to demand more in terms of ethical behavior and our low voter participation in the elective process. If we continue to put clowns, dunces, donkeys, and elephants in charge, we will continue to reap the whirlwind and the circus will continue. After all, four horsemen of the zoo do what you would expect them to do. They can be counted on to keep things looking like a zoo.

I have become convinced that I am a big part of the problem because I have chosen to be silent for too many years. I have done almost nothing to contact those in local, state and federal government about how they govern and have failed to ask more of them than I have done. If I continue to do so little, the confederacy of clowns and the deluge of dunces will continue to make life a circus. Here’s to all of us being willing to demand more of ourselves and more of those who are supposed to represent the greater good.

During the past few years, Louisiana has played host to four hurricanes. And those experiences gave rise to the new four letter word in this state. The new four letter word is FEMA. Katrina showed just how poorly the government can respond. At all levels. It also showed, in Katrina's case just what can happen when welfare, in place for a long time, can do to cripple. It became evident that the welfare crutch that was supposed to help had become the crutch that crippled. It was a real tragedy to see such a breakdown. And this state still has to determine how to help those who have been taught not to learn how to help themselves.