Letter: Jindal needs help, not criticism

After viewing so many anti-Gov. Jindal letters and articles in The Advocate, I simply can no longer put off writing a response of my own. Gov. Bobby Jindal is doing the very best he can with what he has. He has an obligation to balance a very difficult budget. No matter what cuts he makes, he will upset someone who is not getting what they think they should.

The legislators we have know that a balanced budget is important; however, none seem interested in assisting to balance the budget or even try working with him for a change instead of fighting with him.

This governor is honest. He is very professional, intelligent and a genuinely good person. How can the people of this state not realize this? To have a statement in a recent letter to the editor that he is cold, calculating and will step on anyone to get where he wants to go is ridiculous.

He is definitely sending a positive message to the rest of the country that Louisiana is trying hard to be a good citizen. Let’s try to help him, not constantly criticize every little thing he does.

Beverly Laudermill

retired from chemical company

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by gjnyc - 24/02/2013

Kenneth the page is really making Louisiana the laughing stock of America

2) Comment by Warp7 - 18/02/2013

Let's see, Jindal needs help not criticism! What cloud did you get off of! How can you help someone who thinks he knows it all and that only his way is the way to do things. Maybe if you helped him reduce that overblown ego, he would actually start doing some good for all Louisianians and not just his deep pocket supporters. Governor no, a joke yes!

3) Comment by agagent - 18/02/2013

The liberal alternative to Jindal would be: higher taxes and more spending, higher unemployment and more dependence on government, status-quo in failing public schools, bankrupt public pension funds, jobs exiting the state, shut down oil and gas, more Democrat governors going to jail, Medicaid taking up most of the state budget, and a bankrupt state.

4) Comment by DMJ - 18/02/2013

You're right, agagent. Liberals don't like the conservative policies of Jindal and others. Also, the sky is blue and popes wear funny hats. And since when does "the media" share one point of view? Clearly, it doesn't, as you're always posting links from conservative media outlets, outlets that I'm guessing think Rubio is just fine. And I doubt any of "the media" said he's not fit for office. Maybe "not ready for prime-time" which means he needs work on his screen prescence, which, frankly, he does.

5) Comment by agagent - 18/02/2013

Politics. Any conservative who is a threat to liberals must be taken out. Scott had to face a recall even though his policies rescued Wisconsin from huge deficits and a slumping economy. The media says Rubio is not fit for office because he took a sip of water.

6) Comment by oldschoolromad - 18/02/2013

Okay I don't follow local politics so why do we hate jindal so much... lol,

7) Comment by DMJ - 18/02/2013

Help, not criticism, eh? First of all...he doesn't want help. Second of all....he doesn't listen to criticism. All we can do now is hope and wait.

8) Comment by PLac - 18/02/2013

The author needs help, not criticism.

9) Comment by squiggly - 17/02/2013

@Bouncer, comment 19) hits the nail on the head!

10) Comment by squiggly - 17/02/2013

Beverly, you are delusional; or are you really Jindal , who is also delusional? As I recall, when Jindal first took office there was a $1 billion surplus, now we are $1 billion in the hole. He gave tax cuts when the state couldn't afford to. He is a tyrant the way he runs the state. If anyone has the gall to buck against him, they will be fired or removed from the board or committee. He spends most of his time out of state promoting his future political career (so he thinks). He rarely addresses the citizens of the state. I could go on and on. He has all of the markings of a bad leader. If he does not get impeached or indicted before his term ends, it will be a long 3 years.

11) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

The ones criticizing Jindal support Obama and his policies. Thank goodness they are not in charge of most states.

12) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

Most states require a balanced budget. After record spending, trillion dollar-plus annual deficits, and record debt Obama says we must raise the debt ceiling. He thinks he should have the authority to raise the debt ceiling instead of Congress, and he claims he does not have a spending problem.

13) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

Obama placed vast areas of federal lands off limits to energy exploration and rescinded permits approved by the Bush administration. This prevented the creation of over 1.2 million jobs. The EPA has severely, restricted shale oil, oil and natural gas leasing, coal mining, nuclear power plants, and even wind and solar energy on public lands. When energy production increased on private and state lands Obama promptly held a press conference claiming his energy policies were working.

14) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

A 2011 BLS report showed that 48% of all new jobs created in the US since the end of the recession in June, 2009 were created in the state of Texas. Obama promptly held a news conference claiming the success of his economic policies.

15) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

Texas governor Perry’s economic plan is the opposite of Obama’s: “Don’t spend all the money; keep the taxes low and under control; have regulations that are fair and predictable so that business owners know what to expect from one quarter to the next; and reform the legal system so that frivolous lawsuits don’t paralyze employers that are trying to create real wealth.”

16) Comment by Bouncer - 17/02/2013

No argument here, nimby.

17) Comment by nimby? - 17/02/2013

Bouncer , over the past two years the wife and I have been traveling a lot of back roads all over the state of Miss. , talked to folks from all walks of life . while it may be a poorer state , it is cleaner , the roads are better , facilities are well taken care of , they have rest areas , gas is cheaper , the bar b q is much better . for all of it's faults the population has a more positive outlook for the future than those in La. , they are the ones making the jokes now ...

18) Comment by healthbudget - 17/02/2013

What flavor kool-ade are you drinking? He is intellectually dishonest - example - allowing creationism to be taught in our schools He is arrogant I don't think an intelligent person would threaten a $150,000 per year hospice program He should be removed from office immediately

19) Comment by mcarter - 17/02/2013

Exactly agagent. And did you notice you can't make a comment on Michelle M's "itenerary" of Jindal which of course would be a moot point if there was a "D" behind his name. It was ok for a former governor to be out "skrewing" everything in sight (while married i might add), big time gambling, and taking exotic hunting trips.

20) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

"9) Only in America could the government collect more tax dollars from the people than any nation in recorded history, still spend a Trillion dollars more than it has per year - for total spending of $7-Million PER MINUTE, and complain that it doesn't have nearly enough money. 10) Only in America could politicians talk about the greed of the rich at a $35,000.00 a plate campaign fund-raising event."--Commentary by a Canadian

21) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

"6) Only in America could the people who believe in balancing the budget and sticking by the country's Constitution be thought of as "extremists." 7) Only in America could you need to present a driver's license tocash a check or buy alcohol, but not to vote."--Commentary by a Canadian

22) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

From: "ONLY IN AMERICA" OBSERVATIONS -- BY A CANADIAN* "1) Only in America could the rich people - who pay 86% of all income taxes - be accused of not paying their "fair share" by people who don't pay any income taxes at all. 2) Only in America could people claim that the government still discriminates against black Americans when they have a black President, a black Attorney General, and roughly 18% of the federal workforce is black while only 12% of the population is black 3) Only in America could they have had the two people most responsible for our tax code, Timothy Geithner, the head of the TreasuryDepartment and Charles Rangel who once ran the Ways and Means Committee, BOTH turn out to be tax cheats who are in favor of higher taxes." It makes sense . . . they are Democrats and are not accountable.

23) Comment by agagent - 17/02/2013

Liberals love Obama for having a national unemployment rate of 7.9%, and they hate Jindal for Louisiana’s unemployment rate of 5.5% . “The unemployment rate in these Republican-led states is a full 1.2 points lower than it is in their Democratic-led counterparts.” --Washington Examiner.

24) Comment by MBW - 17/02/2013

Can't wait for Jindal to just go away. And no, he's never going to be president either.

25) Comment by MBW - 17/02/2013

Sorry Beverly, I don't agree. Jindal is a smart man, but he's also shameless. He talks like a pragmatist, but governs like an ideologue. He's running for president and trying to curry favor with the far right rather than trying to unify the state. And so, the Banana Republic of Louisiana continues.

26) Comment by slye753 - 17/02/2013

at least he leaves the state one out of four days. now if we could get that bunch of democrats to do that in washington, America would be so much better.

27) Comment by Whatnow - 17/02/2013

"A sociopathic narcisistic pathological liar with a messiah complex." There you go...Obama again. How come it's okay for Obama to be that way and you all adore him, but accuse Jindal of the same things that Obama is guilty of? Such hypocrisy.

28) Comment by Bouncer - 16/02/2013

Perhaps some levity is called for. Here's how to be a staunch Louisiana uber-conservative: 1) Maintain that the Bible always supports you and agrees with your position. No matter what you’re arguing about, be sure to find a passage, however tenuous, to support your side. Remember not to actually read the Bible, though, or Jesus’ messages of peace and understanding might clash with your “judge everyone as guilty sinners” point of view. 2) Don’t learn both sides. If someone is debating you, don’t even listen to their side. Surely they won’t say anything worth listening to anyway. Just keep saying your one or two talking points over and over again. 3) Be above the rules. If the Bible says “Thou shall not kill,” then you’ve already justified murdering an abortion clinic doctor. After all, Jesus doesn’t care what YOU do…as long as it’s in his name. 4) Helping someone never helps them. Charity can’t help people. If they’re poor, the best thing for them to do is to go out, clean themselves up, and get a job. Never mind the fact that they’re trying to raise 5 children and have no real skills. Welfare and free schooling will only make people worse off. 5) Small government---big control. Always claim to want a smaller government, even when you support wars across the globe, you want stricter drug laws, and more police. Somehow, despite spending more and more money for government programs to police America, implementing health care or state-funded educations would be socialism and would mean the government has too strong of a grasp.

29) Comment by Scrooge - 16/02/2013

agagent advocates for low taxes to make us competitive but also "Louisiana’s average income is still low, but the cost of living is also very low. When our education system produces better educated employees and when our workers’ skills can command higher salaries, those jobs will come here if we allow enough economic freedom to do so." agent do you read and think about what you post? I imagine most CEO's might consider taxes to be but one determinant of a desirable location, especially regarding more skilled workers who might appreciate living in a place with high quality of life indicators, like a low murder rate. Since you asserted the converse relationship between wealth and educational levels and economic freedom, wouldn't the best qualified teachers, being human, respond to economic incentive? How exactly does cutting education to accommodate tax cuts attract the most qualified to be teachers? According to your assertion of "economic freedom" shouldn't the best qualified be in charge of education, not political hack jobbers? The reverse is happening in Louisiana and Obama has little to do with it, unfortunately for party fanatics.Consider this, GOP party fanatics may regret a better educated Louisiana because recent election results suggest a correlation between educational efficacy and party affiliation.

30) Comment by Michael Gary Scott - 16/02/2013

The kind of help Jindal needs may not be available since he has closed most of the state psychiatric facilities. For that mater I am not sure if there is a cure for being a sociopathic narcisistic pathological liar with a messiah complex.

31) Comment by Whatnow - 16/02/2013

Gee, state53, you just described Obama...

32) Comment by state53 - 16/02/2013

To be "professional, intelligent, and a genuinely good person" would require the ability to work in a collaborative fashion with other branches of government, respecting the fact that others may have an opinion different than yours. His heavy handed approach to getting rid of the opposition shows a lack of respect for others.

33) Comment by Maelstrom - 16/02/2013

Honest?

34) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

Take a look at the pockets of extreme poverty and many of those communities have been run by Democrat politicians for years. Many of our best public schools and communities with the highest incomes are populated by those “right wing nuts.”

35) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

Louisiana’s average income is still low, but the cost of living is also very low. When our education system produces better educated employees and when our workers’ skills can command higher salaries, those jobs will come here if we allow enough economic freedom to do so.

36) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

Like most states Louisiana has a pension deficit problem. Ignoring the problem makes solving the problem more difficult in the future. California is paying the price for ignoring its pension deficit problem in the form of a lower credit rating. All their state bonds will cost a lot more interest because they ignored the problem.

37) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

You made a valid point in support of eliminating income taxes. In spite of Jindal holding the line on tax increases, Louisiana’s higher corporate income tax rate makes us less competitive than states without income taxes. We are more competitive than states which have raised taxes in response to the recession.

38) Comment by Bouncer - 16/02/2013

One of the reasons the unemployment rate is at that comparatively low level is that so many Louisianans are employed at menial labor or part-time jobs like sales clerks and so forth. Those low paying and part time jobs are factored into rate calculation. It is telling that despite that deceptively impressive 5.5% unemployment rate, Louisiana is still second in poverty level of its citizens, at a rate of 18%, as compared to the 14% national average. The only state with more of its citizens living in poverty is Mississippi.

39) Comment by potkcalb - 16/02/2013

Anyone who would inject religion into science education, thereby making a mockery of both science and religion, needs to be helped getting out of public office.

40) Comment by Preppy6917 - 16/02/2013

Ditto what spqr said. When I completed grad school in 2011, I would have loved to have begun my career in New Orleans. Unfortunately, in my field (Internal Audit, Enterprise Risk Management, and Fraud Examination) career opportunities are, at best, "limited" in Louisiana, so it was onward to Dallas I went. I grew up in Baton Rouge and found my soul in New Orleans, but honestly have no intention of living in Louisiana again...perhaps a pied a terre in New Orleans eventually.

41) Comment by 8point6 - 16/02/2013

Ms. Laudermill. Printing criticisms of this governor is what this medium is known for.

42) Comment by [e-mail] - 16/02/2013

The problem has been that Louisiana had been dominated by parasitic politicians who thought that the cash cow would never end so they continued to ignore common sense, like that bunch up in DC.

43) Comment by spqr - 16/02/2013

Uh, agagent...BR just lost Shaw to Texas, one of three Fortune 500 companies in the state. And everyone of means, especially the young, are leaving for Texas. Ask around. Open the eyes...this letter to the editor belongs on the cartoon page.

44) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

It is a thankless job to balance budgets after a period of unsustainable spending and when the economy is still struggling, but Jindal made the right choice. Had we followed the path of states like Illinois or California, or like the federal government, unemployment would be much greater than 5.5% and businesses and jobs would be leaving Louisiana for states like Texas.

45) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

Prior to Jindal state spending had increased 20% a year. Even the Jindal critics must realize that is not sustainable. The less painful way to address our spending problem is to ease the growth of government so that the economy catches up with government spending. With the recent budget deficits Louisiana has not had the luxury of easing into a new spending pattern. In response to the recession Louisiana has held the line on spending and consequently Louisiana’s economy is in better position than states which increased spending and taxes.

46) Comment by agagent - 16/02/2013

Jindal did not create our budget problems because for decades Louisiana government has had a spending problem. From 1987 to 2007, state government spending increased at about 3 times that of the private sector. It was not sustainable or we all become employed by the government with no revenues to pay for it. We have elected reform governors in the past but Jindal is the only one to get reelected.

47) Comment by chem - 16/02/2013

After everything that Piyush has done to this state, this woman must be smoking some really good stuff to write a letter like that. Wake up, lady, and smell reality.

48) Comment by dday198 - 16/02/2013

i find this lady's letter is delusional on every level

49) Comment by Bighug - 16/02/2013

I agree with all the previous statements, except for the comment about last judgement. His transfer of our tax money to churches, via their schools, will probably be enough to buy his way into a better residence.

50) Comment by prbeav - 15/02/2013

It's good for Ms Laudermill to have opinion.>>>>Mine is that Jindal does not have the humility to realize he is hurting the nation, let alone Louisiana.>>>>On the other hand, if his harm convinces Christians it is in their interest to separate church from state, he will have fulfilled an unintended good.

51) Comment by twinkie1cat - 15/02/2013

He needs help, alright, help out of office via a resignation or impeachment. The man is not ignorant nor a fool. He is a calculating political sadist not caring who he harms as long as it isn't a rich Republican or rich businessman who can potentially contribute to his campaign for national office. He could raise taxes a little and stop giving overly generous tax breaks to businesses and have as much money as needed to prudently fund the public schools, Medicaid and necessary social programs. He could legalize marijuana as a cash crop raising billions and saving the money wasted on enforcement of laws against it and commit to human rights by legalizing same sex marriage, which would also bring in revenue. He could quit wasting government money traveling for the Republican Party and pretending it is for the good of Louisiana......... He is double paying one of his staff members. He won't hold regular press conferences. He fires anyone who disagrees with him. The battered women's program in Livingston Parish has to sell fireworks to raise funds and even the funding that helps the homeless through St. Vincent DePaul was eviscerated. He sells our schools to the highest bidder and hired an incompetent non-teacher as Superintendent of Schools for $250,000 per year and stacked BESE by supporting the campaigns of candidates who would do as he says. Need I say more. Bobby Jindal needs no sympathy. He needs a boot to his tail and Christian salvation or he is going to have to answer some big questions at the Last Judgement.

52) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 15/02/2013

I'll help him find his way out of the state. Oh. Wait. Never mind.

53) Comment by Bouncer - 15/02/2013

Yes, he needs help, to be sure. But not the kind we can give him.