Here’s the first pop quiz of the semester: What does this refer to? — “We’re at the bottom of the good lists and the top of the bad lists.” Stumped? Louisiana, of course.
And, judging from Census numbers, we’re not top on the list of places where people want to move. During the 1990s, about one million people left the state and only 862,000 moved in.
Chances are, you know several Louisianians planning to leave after graduation. Their reasons vary — poor economic opportunity, the conservative attitudes of the population or simply wanting a change. According to Baton Rouge’s The Advocate, 72 percent of voters questioned for a statewide poll said they’d like to stay where they were in Louisiana. But 20 percent of those polled said they would like to leave. And, 45 percent of people with some college education want to leave the state.
This is to Louisiana’s detriment. As a poor state with many problems, the last thing it needs is to lose educated people.
To the state’s credit, it enticed many students, myself included, to attend a Louisiana college with the TOPS program. But if it can’t keep us here after college, then improvement is lost.
Basically, Louisiana taxpayers are paying to educate students who take their skills and money elsewhere.
But why? As a Louisiana resident for 22 years, I’m aching to move. I attribute some of this to a typical urge to make a life for myself elsewhere.
I also seek a better job market. As a journalism student my options are limited, as Louisiana only has two large newspapers and a handful of smaller dailies and weeklies. I’ve grown accustomed to living in a city the size of Baton Rouge and am in no hurry to move anywhere smaller.
And, the state of education bothers me. In East Baton Rouge Parish, the public schools have been embroiled in a desegregation lawsuit for more than 45 years. When school officials should have focused on progress in schools, they’ve instead battled in federal court to get the lawsuit settled.
The original lawsuit was based on the fact that white schools had better funding and equipment than black schools. Now, the focus is more on getting black students and white students at the same schools.
Unknown sums of money have been spent to fix this problem, money that could have been spent on better technology in schools, higher teacher pay and other resources, if only the problem hadn’t happened in the first place. Thus, our public schools usually are ranked low nationwide.
The state’s priorities aren’t in line when it comes to higher education either. For example, the state gave the New Orleans Saints millions to stay in Louisiana, but LSU charges its students a utility fee because it didn’t have the money to pay its bills.
I’m also not thrilled with our national reputation. I’m not stupid — I know people think we’re of hicks who live on the bayou, drink too much and eat inordinately spicy food. This outrageous caricature isn’t what bothers me, because I know it isn’t realistic. What bothers me is the idea that we’re slow to accept change and possess backward ideas about different races and lifestyles.
Our public officials aren’t helping. In the wake of Sept. 11, when questioned about racial profiling of Muslims, U.S. Rep. John Cooksey, R-Monroe, said “If I see someone who comes in that’s got a diaper on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper on his head, that guy needs to be pulled over.”
Thanks for helping the cause, John. On a side note, he’s running for Mary Landrieu’s spot in the U.S. Senate.
Louisiana — the politicians, the residents and the administration — need to refocus the state’s priorities and embrace different ideas, cultures and lifestyles in order to keep people from leaving.
Some would argue that my leaving isn’t helping things. In some ways, they’re correct — those migrating out because of problems could stay and help fix them. I’m just hoping to be part of the exodus that helps people realize we have a problem.
Despite these problems, I do recognize Louisiana’s uniqueness. People are friendly, the food’s great and we throw a great party. This state is my home, warts and all.
I realize problems exist elsewhere. No place is perfect, but it is my hope, and the hope of Louisianians planning to leave, that the grass really is greener on the other side.