Louisiana tops the chart as the most corrupt state in the nation, according to Corporate Crime Reporter. Reports from the U.S. Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section are based on the rankings of public convictions that come from federal prosecution. There were 7.67 convictions per 100,000 Louisiana residents. This number was figured by calculating the convictions from each state from 1997 to 2006. They were then added together to total the number of public corruption convictions per 100,000 residents. Mississippi is ranked second, followed by Kentucky, Alabama, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey and New York. The analysis by Corporate Crime Reporter did not include the 15 states with a population under two million. “Louisiana is corrupt because of the ‘good ole boy system,'” said Joe Spoon, criminology senior. “Everyone knows everyone here. I think there should be more equal opportunity jobs and more public elections.” Russell Mokhiber, editor of Corporate Crime Reporter, said poverty plays a role in corruption.
“In a culture of poverty, the poor submit to their environment and stop agitating for change. Poverty persists. In a culture of corruption, the citizenry submits and stops agitating for change. Corruption persists,” Mokhiber said. U.S. News and World Report reported in October 2005 on Louisiana’s history of corruption and the relief money headed its way. The article “A Troubling Bayou Tradition,” said Louisiana would gain billions in federal dollars for reconstruction and relief after hurricanes Katrina and Rita took the state by storm. The article said many people and government officials were worried where the money would actually go. It also said Louisiana is known for scamming politics. Students on campus said the aftermath of Katrina spurred more corruption in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and surrounding areas.
“We were corrupt before Katrina. Politicians take money from the government,” said anthropology sophomore Kristen Bourgeois.
Other students believe there is more to Louisiana corruption than just politics.
“Louisiana is the most corrupt state from the result of drugs, alcohol and partying,” said mechanical engineering sophomore Wayne Mitchell.
Corruption has many factors.
“Citizens need to stand up and demand a war on corruption to break the cycle of corruption in Louisiana and elsewhere,” Mokhiber said.
——Contact Jessica Greenfield at [email protected]