Letter: Move Jindal politics elsewhere

Feb. 17’s front-page article stating that Gov. Bobby Jindal was out of the state 86 days in 2012 was both good news and bad news — the bad news being that he was in the state the other 280 days.

Consider if you will the harm done when he was here to put his gubernatorial prerogatives into play. Consider the damage to the rights and benefits of so many public school teachers and state workers, the extraction of funds officially designated for the hard-pressed public schools and the conversion of those funds to vouchers which helped finance private enterprises, the reductions of state financing of higher education, the damage done to the health-care resources for the impoverished and for the support of public hospitals.

Now he proposes to tax those with the least money so that those with the most money don’t have to pay income taxes by inflating our already-large sales tax. Since so many in Louisiana frequent Christian churches on Sunday, I was surprised this proposal even saw the light of day. Where are the pastors? It seems to me that limiting taxes on the poor is equivalent to giving to charity and that’s what Christians advocate.

On the other hand, I was surprised that I was surprised considering what Jindal has been able to push through the Legislature the last five years in a state that historically has been known for its generosity and tolerance.

The state of Louisiana has been inebriated with five years of Jindal’s political initiatives. Like a vagrant who has consumed too much alcohol or too many drugs, so many people in Louisiana are staggering as a result of these actions. It’s time for the rest of the country to experience a dose of Jindal’s politics. Louisiana has been overdosed, and it’s time to sober up.

Even if it costs the state mountains of money for transportation and security, it’s worth the cost of helping Jindal relocate his politics to other parts of the country. It’s a good investment. Louisiana needs a break. Consider those who have endured so much.

James V. Blasi

teacher

Baton Rouge,

Comments

1) Comment by Scrooge - 03/03/2013

The indiscriminate casting of platitudes in agagent style might be that it appears that St Tammany public school parents parents are not real happy about the diversion of public funds for "vouchers"

2) Comment by agagent - 02/03/2013

Even though the “vouchers” cost the taxpayer less than the cost of educating a student in the public school system, it is a matter of giving parents more choice on where to send their children to be educated. Many public school officials are very upset but parents are very happy with more choices for their children. Most taxpayers just want the best educational outcomes for our students, whether it is in a public school or a school selected by a parent.

3) Comment by agagent - 02/03/2013

It is also easy for liberals to demagogue the issue and blame the governor, especially when the media is biased and does not report the full story. The state retirement systems should be reformed, just like many other states and many businesses are reforming their retirement systems. It is easier to reform the system with new employees and to enact the reform before it is a full crisis like in California’s case.

4) Comment by ScotB - 01/03/2013

LOL!!! This is exactly what I tell my friends about Obama's many vacations.....I wish he would stay on vacation 100% of the time! It'd cost us less!

5) Comment by agagent - 01/03/2013

Our safety net is supposed to be temporary assistance to help citizens in need to help them reenter the workforce. The system has never accomplished its objective. How Christian is it for the government to take from some to give to others and ruin the lives of those in need . . . the normal outcome of programs designed by liberals with “compassion.” That is not charity.

6) Comment by DMJ - 01/03/2013

Always interesting to hear the logical gymnastics that accompanies trying to reconcile the teachings of Christ with the actions and beliefs of modern-day American Christians.

7) Comment by jedleland - 01/03/2013

most christians arent hypocrites and most christians do care - they are just very hard to find. do you know any? i know plenty with bibles in hand and regular church attendance theyre just not christians. not according to the directions in that bible thing they own but dont bother to read (except the bit about hating gay people/women/poor people/foreigners/non christians). its them that give the actual christains such a bad name, and it IS a bad name these day (how would our satirical friend beingstupid put it? religious right = hatemonger = biblethump = tea partier = taliban = creationist = yougettheidea). i say lets give real christaisn (wherever they are ) a break. their name and good works have been sullied by the religous right long enough.

8) Comment by Whatnow - 01/03/2013

Like a vagrant who has consumed too much alcohol or too many drugs, so many people in Louisiana are staggering as a result of over-draining the system. Why get an education or a job if everything is handed to you. To say that Christians don't care is a lie. It's just my opinion, but too many people are on assistance that shouldn't be and there is too much fraud in the programs for the needy that take away from the truly needy. Besides, how many Christian people get to vote on any government decisions? They don't, so why condemn Christians as a whole? By the way, just asking for all those able bodies people defrauding the taxpayers...are their EBT cards taxed? Is their allocation of Medicaid taxed? Do they pay property tax or parish taxes? Any taxes now? Who pays for all the things they get from the government? The working class, the rich and businesses. So many are getting their hours cut, their pay decreased, and paying higher insurance premiums and higher taxes. Maybe Dr. Carson is right about taxes. I mean, fair is fair. Everyone should pay his fair share.

9) Comment by DMJ - 01/03/2013

"It seems to me that limiting taxes on the poor is equivalent to giving to charity and that’s what Christians advocate." Well, you'd be right if most Christians weren't hypocrites.

10) Comment by crazycajun - 01/03/2013

ag, as usual ur so far beyond help. Your simplistic view of the situation is mind boggling. You do know ur supposed to drink the kool aid not snort it do u? LOL

11) Comment by tradewinns - 01/03/2013

may i quote what liberals have been saying to republicans, "jindal won, get over it!".

12) Comment by jwfiero - 01/03/2013

What is frightening, lovemykids, is how big the margin of victory of a Jindall/Vitter ticket would be in Louisiana.

13) Comment by jwfiero - 01/03/2013

14) Comment by 8point6 - 01/03/2013

Three anti-Jindal letters today. Now, THAT'S the advocate I'm proud of. Geaux, advocate! That was sarcasm for my "progressive" friends.

15) Comment by agagent - 01/03/2013

Jindal has been effective in passing his legislative agenda and unemployment has dropped to 5.5%. States which have increased taxes and continued the spending have much high unemployment rates. If your children are in a failing public school you may qualify for state assistance to send them to another school of your choice. If your children’s public school teacher is ineffective that teacher might not qualify for tenure. Louisiana’s public pensions are not sustainable so reform might save them for the future. No income taxes will give new businesses an incentive to locate in Louisiana or help retain current businesses.

16) Comment by lovemykids - 01/03/2013

I have a solution. JIndal/Vitter 2016

17) Comment by prbeav - 01/03/2013

I agree with Bighug. Furthermore, Christian churches put Jindal into office and are thus responsible for the results. Their candidate in the wing is Vitter, and the non-Christians in the state need to rally to keep Vitter out of the Governorship. In my lifetime, I have never seen such clear justification for separation of church and state as Jindal and Vitter bring to light.

18) Comment by Bighug - 01/03/2013

Where are the pastors? They are doing their bidding to their Pope, Gene Mills, and gloating over all the tax money Jindal has allowed to be diverted to their Christian schools. The problem with Jindal leaving for another job is that it could put him in a position to harm the entire country. The US has enough enemies with North Korea, Iran, the Taliban, and the Tea Party without giving them his help.