Before getting to my subject—the final day of our fall fundraiser—I would like to put this disclaimer out there:
I’ve been told by one of my readers that an ad for Public Service Commission candidate Dr. Craig Green keeps popping up on my LouisianaVoice page each time he opens it, leading the perception that I might be endorsing his candidacy.
First of all, I know nothing of Dr. Green. Second, I don’t endorse candidates. And third, as I have said on previous occasions, I do not accept any advertising other than that to Cavalier House Books, a local book store in Denham Springs—and that only because the proprietor, John Cavalier, was kind enough to construct the LouisianaVoice web page to get this blog started. I do not charge him for the ad.
The way I’m told it works is this: When you, the reader, go to web pages on your computer, the web browser somehow retains that information as the type information that you are interested in. So, when you open subsequent pages, i.e. LouisianaVoice, ads containing information similar to the previous search you did may pop up on your computer screen. I don’t know how accurate that information is because when I opened my LouisianaVoice page to write this, pop-up ads touting some financial investment service appeared. I certainly haven’t searched any investment bank pages because I have nothing to invest, but anyway, there’s your explanation: LouisianaVoice is not endorsing any candidate for any office. Period.
Enough about that and enough (finally) about LouisianaVoice‘s fall fundraiser.
Today is the final day for me go come hat in hand, asking for alms. But the fact is, it takes more and more financial resources to keep this going.
What started as investigative reporting only on state government in Baton Rouge has expanded statewide into all branches of government—state, parish, and municipal. That puts considerable strain on the ol’ pocketbook with the purchase of gasoline, public documents and filing and defending court actions when some aggrieved agency or bureaucrat wants to push back.
So, please, on our last day of the fall fundraiser (You can contribute any time; this is just our official fundraising effort), do what you can to support us. Large or small, all contributions matter and are deeply appreciated. Just click on the yellow “DONATE” button to the upper right of this post and contribute by credit card to our Pay Pal account. You don’t have to be a member of Pay Pal to do it. If, as in the case of one would-be contributor, the “DONATE” button doesn’t work for you, or if you prefer to send a check, the address is:
LouisianaVoice
P.O. Box 922
Denham Springs, LA. 70727
And a most sincere thank you for your support, both financial and moral!
Louisiana Voice 
Just a note about Dr. Green – although I have not seen his ad on your blog. A few months ago, Dr. Green, an orthopedic trauma surgeon on duty at the Our Lady of the Lake ER, performed emergency surgery on a finger after Spouse had an unfortunate accident with a table saw. Dr. Green was very professional and concerned but not touchy-feely. He heard us say that the injury would prevent Spouse from going on mission to Honduras in a few days. Just before rolling off to surgery, Dr. Green said “I have a question: may I pray with you?” Of course, we were grateful, and he spread his arms around us both and offered a heartfelt prayer. The next day a friend checking on the situation told me that Dr. Green is a devout Christian, an incredible surgeon, and he regularly leads missions to Haiti to help people there. He saved the finger and earned our votes as someone who would make an excellent public servant.
That’s a great testimony, earthmother, and, yes, Dr. Greene (BTW, just an FYI for you and Tom, his last name has an extra “e” on the end) is a very well-respected member and leader at Healing Place Church here in Baton Rouge (full disclosure: I am not a member nor do I attend).
That fact notwithstanding, I believe Ms. Whitney is going to prevail authoritatively via a mere 10-Second soundbite which you’re welcome to watch here at this link:
http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=1114
We’ll soon know, but that’s my prediction for what it’s worth.
I know Dr. Greene’s father and I know he was raised in a compassionate, caring family with excellent values. That is why he has my vote.
I voted for his father in the 1999 race for governor. It’s part of why I’m on a 22-year losing streak in voting for a winner for Governor. The last time my guy won was 1995 when I voted for Foster.
I just returned from doing my patriotic duty, by voting… my conclusion is not a good one, the candidates for Treasury Secretary left me, shall I say uninspired…..I have lived in Louisiana for 45 years, and nothing changes, oh, the same old candidates, spill the same old rhetoric, as the go through the same old revolving door, each side blaming the other, and nothing changes…. we are losing our bright young people to more progressive thinking places…I have a grandson graduating college next spring, just one of many top students in this state, who have done the right thing, great students, great minds and we should be keeping them…. but most will have to go.
Good point, Charmaine, but I can tell you that, if the current governor doesn’t back off these constant tax increases, you’re going to see a heck of a lot more people than just young college graduates departing.
When Edwards (through Walt Leger) was looking at removing deductibility of Federal income taxes on our Louisiana returns last year, I asked my best friend in Spring, Texas to start researching apartment complexes in that area. I was fully prepared to move had that legislation passed and voters supported it (it would require a constitutional amendment).
When I confronted Rep. Julie Stokes (who heavily pushed the same proposal) about capping the exemption for state pensions at $50,000 so that fat cats like Jay Dardenne would have to at least start paying some state income taxes, I think her response speaks volumes (see first video and, for full disclosure, Dardenne subsequently said my suggestion sounded “quite reasonable”):
http://www.soundoffla.com/?p=362
So, while you make a great point, somebody better address Louisiana’s bloated governmental cost structure. It is sinking this state further and further every year!!