After seven months of imaginably arduous work, New Orleans retiree and state government watchdog Tony Gagliano has compiled the second issue of his webzine, Transform Louisiana, an encyclopedic review of the Byzantine structure and finances of Louisiana government. The first issue of Transform Louisiana, which exists only as a Web entity, was released last April.
Following the release of the first issue, Gagliano told the INDsider the purpose of Transform Louisiana is “to prod Louisiana’s leaders and its people into taking immediate steps to transform the structure, financing, processes and political ideologies of state government as a means of alleviating the chronic poverty, poor physical and mental health, learning deficits, and social conditions of too many of Louisiana’s people.”
His key points:
● That Louisiana, compared to other states, as well as to the nation as a whole, and considering its own aspirations and ideals, has made little or no significant progress over the last 30 years
● That this stagnancy is particularly evident in terms of the state’s human development — the poor physical and mental health of its people, high levels of crime, and other conditions associated with poverty, family instability, high levels of substance abuse, and low educational attainment
● That state government can and should lead a collective effort involving all mainstream institutions and all individuals of good will to radically improve these problematic human conditions in Louisiana
● That Louisiana’s entire governmental system needs to be fundamentally transformed if its people are ever to progress beyond mediocrity and towards excellence
● That the key principles of the transformation involve the development of more effective policies, programs, and investments in the state’s human infrastructure, i.e., education, physical and mental health, criminal and juvenile justice, and human services by all sectors in the society
● That to make more effective investments in human infrastructure the state government must transform its own structure, financing, process and political attitudes
... written by ragin_cajun , December 30, 2009 - 12:51 pm
All the time and money we've poured into these laudable goals over the last 30 years has made no difference. But, don't worry, state government can get it right if it just changes a few things. I'm sure higher taxes (I mean, more investment from citizens) would also help the state make progress on these issues, too. Pay up! It's all for a worthy cause!
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN : , December 30, 2009 - 03:28 pm
HEY INDY, YA'LL IN THE MIX. ET MOI /ET TOIS, SOMETHIN TELLS ME I AM BEING LEFT OUT TO DRY ! EVERY MAN AH KNOW HAS AN AGENDA, SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ALL GOING IN ONE DIRECTION, AND I'VE BEEN THERE, AND ITS NOWHERE AT ALL.............. AY RAGIN CAJUN, IT ONLY TAKES HARD WORK TO CHANGE THAT WHICH IS AH AWRY CRUSADE...... I LOVE AH GOOD FIGHT, THE MORE UNEVEN, THE BETTER" YOU AND ME AGAINST THE WHOLE OF THEM. EH?
... written by supportLSU , December 30, 2009 - 03:29 pm
Unfortunately, that has been the attitude in Louisiana for too long. Whenever, the state hits trouble, the government rushes to cut higher education and healthcare, leading to the situation we are in now. Many companies refuse to come here (or leave) due to sub-standard education levels.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , December 31, 2009 - 02:23 pm
AY, MANY YEARS PAST A YOUNG MAN FROM TEXAS SAID TO HIS PARENTS I'M GOING TO LOUISIANA! IF! THOSE DUMB COONASSES CAN MAKE A FORTUNE IN THE OIL INDUSTRY I'LL BE AH MILLIONAIRE IN NO TIME AT ALL ................. FORTY YEARS LATER, I MET THIS MAN AND HE SAID TO ME! "I CAME TO LOUISIANA FIGURING THAT, "IF AH DUMB COONASS COULD BECOME AH MILLIONAIRE, I COULD TOO" ....................... HE SAID, "I'VE BEEN HEAH 40 YEARS AND I'VE YET TO BECOME AH MILLIONAIRE, "AND I'VE YET TO MEET AH DUMB COONASS.
THINK ABOUT THIS: QUOTE MOI """HOW MANY COONASSES HAVE WE ELECTED INTO OFFICE, WHO HAVE'NT BECOME MILLIONAIRES.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 01, 2010 - 04:35 pm
Ay, if you perceive it from the correct angle, you'll understand that there is nothing you can change, the format has been designed and the power moguls have greased the outstretched palms.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 01, 2010 - 09:52 pm
LET THIS SHORT MESSAGE BE YOUR NEW YEARS INTRO : JUST AS NATURE HAS A WAY OF BALANCING THE SCALES, MAN HAS LEARNED TO CAPTALIZE ON THE INEQUALITY OF THE MASSES, TO MAINTAIN THAT INEQUALITY THE *HAVES MUST INSURE THAT THE INBALANCE OF THE SCALE IS NEVAH TILTED AGAINST THE HAVES........IN ORDER FOR THE HAVES TO EXIST AND ENJOY A BETTER LIFE THAN THE HAVENOTS THERE MUST REMAIN AH LARGE DEGREE OF VARIANCE BETWEEN THE HALVES AND THE HAVENOTS, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS THE EARTH TURNING IN THE TILTSLANT GYRATING SPIN OF ITS COURSE. IF ALL MEN ON THIS EARTH WERE OF EQUAL WEALTH AND STATUS THE PROBLEM OF INEQUALITY WOULD NOT EXIST, NO-ONE COULD LAY CLAIM TO BEING,OR HAVING THE BEST, OR MORE RICHES, OR ANYMORE INTELLIGENCE, THAN ONE ANOTHER,. IF WE ALL, WERE EQUAL IN, """"""""EVERY MANNER,IF ALL OF US HAD IDENTICAL WEALTH: OIL $ GAS ENERGY, LOVE, LOOKS, FOOD, CLOTHING. """WHAT WOULD WE HAVE? TO FIGHT OVER? .............................
... written by Malcolm Xmas , January 03, 2010 - 06:49 pm
Who cares, we are happy (according to a recent study).
... written by Sydney Whiplash , January 03, 2010 - 06:56 pm
It is a short and concise report. I am certain everyone in Louisiana will be captivated by it. Sorta like the new health care plan.
... written by NORTHSIDIAN SHOTGUN , January 03, 2010 - 08:48 pm
AYE ,ITS MEANT FOR YOU CHIRIN THAT UNDERSTAND THE PHILOSPHY OF ZENNZAN, AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF RETIOLOGY,THE STUDY OF MANS UNIMPORTANCE, THUS ALL BEING RELATIVE, IN RELATION THE IMPORTANCE OF ESSENTIAL PASSAGE OF THE PAST UNTO THE PRESENT, SHALL RESOLVE THE EXISTENCE OF MANKIND.............
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