The old Louisiana political machine scored a major victory Saturday and proved it was able to defeat new foes and unusual alliances. But at what cost to Louisiana’s citizens, especially the future of the state, its college students?
Admittedly, I was deflated after hearing the election had been called for Kathleen Blanco, even after traveling to Tuscaloosa to see a big LSU win. It seemed every student I ran into after the game carried a similar feeling of disappointment, anger and anxiety about the future. These feelings were unrelated to political affiliation or ideology, but a sincere concern for Louisiana’s future, a future that all of us hold a big stake in.
Since entering the race, Bobby Jindal impressed observers with his intellect and problem-solving mentality. His detailed plans for Louisiana’s recovery offered encouragement that our next governor would actually make a change and end the good-ole-boy status quo that has plagued the state since the days of Huey Long.
Blanco offered few solutions and often seemed apathetic to the fundamental problems in Louisiana’s infrastructure and economy caused by the political ruling class. Not only did she refuse to take on issues that concern most young people, but her campaign often showed disdain for the LSU community.
During the runoff, various Reveille reporters contacted the Blanco and Jindal campaigns repeatedly.
Jindal’s campaign was easy to contact and often gave Reveille reporters access to the candidate, but each time Blanco failed to respond. Jindal also agreed to appear in a debate to be held by LSU Student Government, but Blanco declined.
These actions and others, combined with her husband’s top administrative position at UL-Lafayette, contribute to the thought that Blanco will place ULL at a higher level in her educational agenda than the state’s flagship university.
Throughout the campaign, Blanco refused to detail plans to fix our ailing economy. Holding summits was Blanco’s principal answer to problems from health care to education. Maybe our best hope is that Blanco invites knowledgeable college students to all the “summits” she plans to hold.
Jindal laid out detailed plans to bring economic opportunity. One of his ideas was to stop Louisiana from being one of the few states that heavily taxes, corporate investment, thereby preventing corporations from locating in the state.
Besides fixing the tax situation, Jindal campaigned to stop the tradition of having the worst funded flagship university in the nation. By funding LSU at a higher level it would boost education levels throughout the state and create opportunity for all of Louisiana’s citizens.
Although Blanco’s election set a precedent because of the fact that she is a female, the 730,747 people who voted for her effectively said they are happy with the status quo. Perhaps this is the most discouraging part of her election. How can anybody be happy with the current status of the state?
Blanco never proved to be any different from the politics of old during her government service, nor did she show much competence during the campaign.
Targeting special interests groups, not providing specific answers and teaming with a political machine may be an effective way to win an election, but it provides little hope for the future. Jobs, opportunity and a bright future for the state is what matters most to college students. Blanco’s lack of direction and solutions not only shows a disturbing lack of competence. It gives us little hope that we will be able to stay in the state we love.
I find the on campus location of Blanco’s transition team more than a little ironic. Especially given the fact she has shown little interest in college students, much less LSU students. Students who failed to vote at the polls Saturday may now be now forced to vote with their feet come graduation day.