Letter: Why not give Miles a million more?

There are no words to say how angry I am about the LSU decision to give a football coach a half-million-dollar raise! Not a $500,000 yearly salary, but a $500,000 raise.

As a retired nurse practitioner in the LSU Health Care Family Practice Clinic and as a part-time nurse practitioner in the Earl K. Long system, I am both appalled and offended by this decision.

Earl K. Long Hospital, as so many other state hospitals and clinics, has cared for the underserved and indigent people in this state for many years. Now, Earl K. Long, as well as many other state institutions, is being either severely cut or totally deleted because of our wonderful governor and his overpaid staff.

Many people feel, as does our governor obviously, that we should not care for people who are underinsured or not insured. I can tell you as a health-care provider in this system that many of my patients are working two, and some are even working three jobs, and still cannot afford insurance.

I am also extremely embarrassed to say that many of these people work for the same LSU system that has just agreed to this raise. I say let Arkansas have the overpaid football coach, the LSU board and our governor. It is time that we get our priorities straight in this state!

Cathi A. Pourciau

• urse practitioner

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by phil - 06/12/2012

My economics 101 says that we all buy goods at stores. Those goods cost more because TV ads are used to help pay for TV rights for college football. Some of that money is used to pay these stupid gigantic salaries for college football coaches. Of course the same principle applies to many other high-paid sports, both professional and college level. So get out your wallet the next time you go to the store and remember a part of that money is probably paying for those $million salaries - while you may be struggling to pay for that food you are buying. Economics 101.

2) Comment by ScotB - 02/12/2012

LSU derives 14% of its revenue from all sources from the football program alone. Hundreds of jobs, several academic programs, and literally millions of dollars depend on football success. Thank you Les Miles for what you do. I am not only NOT angry, I am very thankful for the great job you do and your willingness to endure the high pressure it entails. Many at LSU, both students and faculty, depend on you sir and you have not let us down! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203513604577143250385056524.html#project%3DBCSREVENUE20120105%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive

3) Comment by bourbon-soda - 30/11/2012

The puritanical left considers money tainted unless it is cleansed by passing through the hands of the tax collector.

4) Comment by Fyreduo - 30/11/2012

LSU Football not only pays for itself, but also gives millions to the academic side of the university. Stop complaining and thank them for their contribution. Geaux Tigers!

5) Comment by bourbon-soda - 30/11/2012

No multicultural tolerance here. It's just a different value system. Quit trying to impose the missionary position.

6) Comment by DMJ - 30/11/2012

Amen, Cathi. We value football over education and health care in this state. It's a sorry state of affairs indeed.

7) Comment by 8point6 - 30/11/2012

Geaux Tigers!

8) Comment by bourbon-soda - 30/11/2012

1) An applicable economic model for the perplexed, is the diamond-water paradox - water is essential to life but diamonds cost more. There are innumerable examples. Sanitation and sewage are more important than football, too, but people who can do them at Mile's level, are much more available and numerous. Remonstrating against this phenomenon is a waste of time. Enjoy the game. It produces a lot tax revenues for the nurses and teachers. 2) I am under the impression that other states' med school hospital profit center status is accomplished without Louisiana's anachronistic albatross residuum of the "charity" (actually, over at least the past 75 years or so, tax-extorted) system, abolition of which is a third-rail of Louisiana politics.

9) Comment by potkcalb - 30/11/2012

Yes Cathi it's disgraceful, but you have to realize that football (fubah) is more important in this and many other states than nursing or anything else that is really important.

10) Comment by bourbon-soda - 30/11/2012

@ Kilgore, do you think the US should be more like India? Which way is net immigration?

11) Comment by bourbon-soda - 30/11/2012

Supply and demand. Football coaches like Les Miles are much rarer than nurses, neurosurgeons, and teachers.

12) Comment by healthbudget - 29/11/2012

@Bighug: in most states the STate Med School hospital brings in more dollars than the Football team like MD ANderson in Texas and UAB in Alabama. Those states seem to manage investing in both. Les got a raise because LSU sports is run by a foundation and Jindal and other idiots in BR cant screw it up like the rest of LSU and the hospitals. You get what you elect in LA

13) Comment by Bighug - 29/11/2012

The football program at LSU is a profitable venture which contributes to other programs at the university. Would you be in favor of losing a coach who has contributed to a successful team if it meant less funds for professors and the clinic? Don't throw the baby out with the wash water.

14) Comment by KilgoreTrout - 29/11/2012

Well, we need football so that we can differentiate ourselves from India, otherwise, how could anyone tell the difference in the future? .