by Kenneth Cooper

I’m worse at what I do best / And for this gift, I feel blessed!” So sang Kurt Cobain way back in 1992. 17 years later, Louisiana, in its own declaration of irony, has inverted those lyrics. For the 3rd year in a row, our beloved state is best at what it does worst – mainly education, economic opportunity, locking citizens up, infrastructure, providing non-toxic air quality, or just generally functioning as a state. According to U.S. News World Report’s annual state rankings, we citizens, denizens of the perpetually worst state in the nation, should definitely not feel blessed, as the headlines read: Louisiana ranked worst state in the nation for the 3rd year in a row. How does something like this happen? Let’s delve into the deplorableness.

U.S. News ranks states based on 8 categories. Here’s how Louisiana breaks down in those 8:  health care #45, infrastructure #48, education #48, economy #49, opportunity #50, fiscal stability #43, crime & corrections #50, and natural environment #50. As you can see, the state ranks last in 3 of the 8 categories, 2nd to last in one, and 3rd to last in two others. Even with last year’s budget surplus, it still only ranks 43rd when it comes to fiscal stability. Of these 8 rankings, 3 should be the most concerning.

Education

It all begins with education. Typically, when a school system is in bad shape, it ripples across most other metrics. Louisiana was ranked 48th overall in education. Surprisingly, the state was 10th overall in preschool enrollment, but only 45th and 42nd in the high school graduation rate and college readiness. Translation: even though parents are putting their kids in school earlier, they’re not seeing the results. Apparently, the only thing worse than enrolling your child in one of the state’s k-12 schools is enrolling them in one of its colleges. Despite being ranked 26th in tuition, and 20th in student loan debt, Louisiana is 49th in the 4-year graduation rate, and 44th in education attainment. This means that even though the state is doing a decent job of making sure students can afford to go to college, it’s not doing enough with them once they get there.

Opportunity

Even if students do manage to make it out of college, they don’t find much opportunity once they graduate. Louisiana was ranked dead last when it comes to opportunity. This lack of opportunity translates into an average household income of $46,145 (47th in the country), which translates into a poverty rate of 19.7% (2nd worst in the country), which translates into a high crime rate. Speaking of crime…

Crime & Corrections

No surprise here. Louisiana ranked 50th when it comes to Crime & Corrections. Equipped with low education and limited opportunities, citizens here too often turn to crime. Louisiana ranked 47th in property crime, and 48th in violent crime, which resulted in the highest incarceration rate in the country.

Louisiana has ranked not only last overall but last or near last in these 3 areas for 3 years in a row. That is…spectacular. You know how hard it is to do something spectacular 3 times in a row. Beethoven, for all his greatness, never wrote 3 great symphonies in a row. Miles Davis, for all his great quintets, never put out 3 great jazz albums in a row, and the Patriots, despite all their dominance, have never won 3 Super Bowls in a row. That type of rare air is reserved for Michael Jordan’s NBA championships, Ishmael Reed’s first 3 novels, Donald Barthelme’s first 3 short story collections, and of course Louisiana when it comes to being the worst of the worst. Side note: notice that I didn’t type “worst of the worse.” Why? “Worse” is a comparative adjective, which means it only describes the relationship between 2 things; whereas “worst” is a superlative one, meaning it describes the relationship between 3 or more things, and since there are more than two states in this country…yes, I’m from Louisiana, but I self educated. Judging from the Head Start the state provides our children, maybe it’s something we all should consider doing.

9 thoughts on “This State Is Rank”
  1. New Orleans used to be a wonderful place to live. When the focus wasn’t on education for all people and especially our youth crime and the corruption of the elected officials,police corruption and until this is cleaned up in this city Nola will always be last. The working class will remain at mimium wages except for the people in charge their families and associates will remain at the top of the city.

  2. Jeff, I don’t know if your long term solution will work but I can tell you the short term one Doesn’t. I represent a large community in Eastern New Orleans. We make it a priority to remind our community to follow your short term solution. That has stopped no one. The cars not in garages were broken into by blocks. These criminal don’t waste time looking inside cars to see if anything is in there. They check if the car is open and if it isn’t, they break the window. My short term solution, make the parents pay for these car damages that their under age children damage. Theses parents MUST know that these young people are up to no good when their children are not home at 2 a.m. They must take responsibility for their children’s action. They made them and raised them.; now be responsible for them.

  3. Thank You Jesus,,, !!!
    We are so proud of our successes of implementing demorat ideas! Just a few more and Louisiana will may win the award for lower than worse!
    For 50 years I have heard everything under the sun blamed for the continual decrease in what is alleged leads to this.
    Trillions spent, but failure still exits, quality in human competence reveals much.
    Society lowered standards, common core and others keep people in delusions, college educated installed new education methods, college ed adults relaxed the laws, cities and courts relaxed justice, and mocked the past, and so much more!
    SO, the results are in !!!
    LOSERS have been running the asylum and it has been successful!
    We hate Gods ways, we hate truth, we hate laws and discipline, we hate morality,
    we hate justice and accountability, we hate ethics, we hate virtue, and above all we hate those that tell us the truth, especially our Creator!
    Ohh,, but we love and for our children, continue to promote all the Idols of this world that harm us, hurt us, and make us follow illusions, delusions, and produce decades of confusion.
    Wow! And we wrap all that up and flaunt it, portray it and herald it before children and show them how to worship, Hedonism, drunkenness, debauchery, sorcery, witchcraft, envy, greed, covetousness, lust, adultery, fornication, murder, malice, gossip, and thus children are then educated (mind washed) to the lowest expectations and lowest achievements of scores and Tada, now, we have a State composed of humans who are blind and deaf to what really is hurting them.
    AND then they go out and vote for more of the same allusions because the mind washing from the King of Darkness who leads them slowly to their own eternal barbecue.
    Louisiana people lover their Idols, and Loathe their creator!
    2019, May 20.

  4. This article needs to be mailed in bold black colors to the Governor, Parish Presidents, and Mayors and require an answer or response for all the money that was poured into this state from various sources for the recovery because of Katrina. I often wonder about all the corruption and mismanagement and expect and hope the constituency will revolt and make a stance to vote these people out of office. Where is the energy for change? Like the old adage says, you can’t keep doing the same thing and expect different results. What is keeping newly elected and appointed officials from standing on their own morals and not being influenced by outside big and old money?

  5. The Infinity Loop of Incompetence? Sometimes it has to be called what it is!
    LBRC- Incompetence is an “Infinity Loop”! Here’s 1 Political Algorithym-

    1. Poor Public Education = A Low Info Voter = Poor Results + Commensurate Politicians = More Rhetoric – Results Manifested aka Efficacy = More of The Same = De Facto Insanity!

    2. What Government Does?

    a. Tax “You” then Spend (The Park where you live is utterly Ghetto, but you Tax yourself to provide a “Quasi” one for? You flood each rain and the Politicos who appointed the Board Members to fix problems says more money on top of what’s been wasted is necessary aka What did The Temps say- “Politicians say more taxes will solve everything”, and ‘Simps agree! How easy is it to spend and not appreciate what others have earned? What’s the difference between “A Government Entitlement” and a “Government/ Politicos who feel entitled to and btw- Generally speaking on Politicos who feel entitled, add Hefty Pension and Medical Plans to include family members, then remember their “Retirement Plans” are generally 10X to 20X what average constutients earn. Ironically, Politicos turn around and boast about what they did with “Your” money. Years later and in due season, the poor dupes called “The Constuientcy” learn- oops…, some never do, otherwise they wouldn’t be electing the same ‘ole- same ‘ole over and over! De Facto Insanity!

    b. Fundamental types of Governments to include but not limited to- Democracy and  Parlimentary (Great for Brexit! Terresa is vulnerable before General Elections and she knows it! Not so for Trump, he can “Hawk” his circus until his whole term in office is over and Neither Parties will veer from “House” aka Game Rules aka “We’re the same bird with 2 Wings and lots of “Feathers” (‘Simps and The Pseudo Intellectuals will never Get it! Sorry…?). Forget about Impeachment! Impeachment only means to “Charge”! Remember? Nixon resigned and then was “Pardoned”! How many U.S. Presidents in the history ofnthe country, have actually been “Removed”? Jeporady music please…

    c. Totalitarian governments and Autocrats think and do for citizens what they will!  “Propaganda” aka “Fake News” rule! ***Get this- Didn’t Trump tell you U.S. Media is “Fake News” aka Propaganda? True/False? How Democracatic or Totalitarian is The U.S., especially when Corporations are called people and “Citizens” matter in negligable terms aka “Neglected”! Corporations are “Gangs” and ‘Gangsta, why Politicos fear ‘Dem not you! Duh…?  Uh oh…

    3. Grandma said- “if given the choice between dealing with a “Whole Fool” not “Foods”,  or a 1/2 Fool, pick The Whole Fool! Why? Because the 1/2 Fool knows just enough to believe they are more brilliant than most aka “Self Deceived” the worst deception of all! 

    *Warning- Never allow a Fool or Sycophant access to a microphone before comprehending who and what they are, and never be surprised how quickly their ranks can multiply! Why? What do Lemmings do? Ans. Follow their leader right over the cliff! Some with Buck Dancing and Minstrel Smiles!

    Peace Out…

  6. LBRC- Mainstream Media is an illiterate Talking Head! Learn the Truth here! Most never research, just believe! How many times have you heard from people who should know better and who tell you what to think- Branches of government are “CoEqual”? What does Federalist Paper #47 say about “CoEqual” Branches of Government? Ans. Nothing! Though you failed Civics “De Facto”, here’s what’s really Educational! Don’t be Status Quo Louisiana, Illiterate and Aoorgant!! A Great Poet said-!”There is no such thing as Free Thought when your writings and thoughts must conform to somebody else’s standards”! Free means “Unobstructed”!

    James Madisin says- Branches “Must be Separate and Balanced”! Proof? Let’s get Educated…

    Federalist Paper #47

    James Madison begins this paper by telling his readers that he is going to examine a specific principle of republican government: “separation of powers.” One of the principal objections to the constitution is that it violates this important principle. Its opponents claim that the three branches of government are not sufficiently separate and independent and that power is too unevenly distributed. It is feared that the new government will collapse, and that liberty will be threatened.

    Madison agrees with those who place great importance on the separation of powers, especially on the point that an unequal division of power could result in the loss of liberty. If one branch has too much power, it does not matter how many men govern or how they obtain office. Too much power in one branch of government “is the very definition of tyranny.” If these claims were true, Madison says that no other arguments would need oppose it. He, however, is convinced that this charge cannot be supported. How separate should each branch of government be?

    Montesquieu, the French political writer, formulated this principle of government. He took the British constitution as his model, which he called “the mirror of political liberty.” However, the most casual glance at that constitution reveals that the branches of the British government are far from totally separate or distinct. For example, the English king acts in a legislative capacity when he enters into treaties with foreign sovereigns: once treaties are signed they have the force of legislative acts. The English king not only appoints and removes judges; he frequently consults them. The judicial branch, then, acts in an advisory capacity to the executive branch. The legislative branch advises the king on constitutional matters and, in cases of impeachment, the Houses of Lords assumes judicial power. From these few facts, Madison infers that Montesquieu, when he wrote that “there can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person . . . or, if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and executive powers,” did not mean that the powers should remain absolutely separate or that each branch should not have any control over the other branches.

    Madison continues that if one looks at the state constitutions, there is no state in which the branches of government are absolutely separate and distinct. The state constitutions do not violate the separation of power doctrine set forth by Montesquieu, Madison concludes, and neither does the United States Constitution.

    Analysis

    In this essay, Madison clearly delineates his philosophy concerning separation of powers. Calling the accumulation of legislative, executive, and judicial power in the same hands – whether of one, of a few, or of many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective – the very definition of tyranny, Madison considers their separation essential to the preservation of liberty. He points out that when the legislative and executive powers are united there can be no liberty, because apprehensions may arise lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws to execute them in a tyrannical manner. Furthermore, “were the power of judging joined with the legislative, the life and liberty of the subjects would be exposed to arbitrary control, for the judge would then be the legislator. Were it joined to the executive power, the judge might behave with all the violence of an oppressor.”

    This was not the only time that Madison had talked about the separation of powers. Before the first Congress, Madison said on June 17, 1789, that the principle of the separation of powers “is to be found in the political writings of the most celebrated civilians and is everywhere held as essential to the preservation of liberty . . . ; and if in any case they are blended, it is in order to admit a partial qualification, in order more effectually to guard against an entire consolidation.”

    The authors of the Federalist took a rather cautious attitude toward legislative supremacy. In their desire to secure free government, they were in favor of a system of government under which the legislature would not be more important than the other branches of government. This led them to follow the classic exponent of the separation of powers, Montesquieu. The Frenchman provided the additional machinery that was necessary to make a reality of the ideal of a government of laws and not of men, combined with the Lockeian concept of free government and the sacrosancity of property.

    Peace out…

  7. Paper Bag Negroes and NYT? NYT ought to be ashamed?

    LBRC- Shame on You NY Times!…

    1. If your writers are “Free” thinkers- Then why what they submit is “Edited”?

    2. 1 of your so- called “Chief” Editors is a “Negro” from NOLA who claims “French” aka “Creole” Dominant DNA? Ipso facto, what aligns this “Negro” with “Black Sensitivities” when we know in NOLA these Negroes are “Paper Bag” proponents! Ask this,Negro to elaborate components!

    3. Don’t insult us NYT! Your “Preferrred” Negro has led astray who?

    Peace Out… 

  8. NOLA is still a La. Sharecropper! We urge The Mayor to stay Strong!

    LBRC- NOLA Schools and The RSD have “Legislated” and enforced “Bills of Attainder”! The U.S. Constitution says, Bills of Attainder are “Unconstitutional”! btw- Friends internationally have asked about crazy Bills passed by The Louisiana Legislature. 4 Words- Last Place Education Ranking! Also a Red Racist State and lots of Negro Coons, Apostates and Sell- out Politicos!

    1. What are Bills of Attainder? Attainders are about creating classes of citizens and determining “who” deserves full protection of law, so “Laws” are legislated to fit the “Conviction of Whole Classes”! 

    The U.S. Constitution says-

    *Definition: Bill of Attainder. Definition: A legislative act that singles out an individual or group (Like What Happened to Black Schools in NOLA During Katrina. Black Teachers were fired en masse, only in NOLA/Majority Black! Also Black Support Staff!) for punishment without a trial. The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 provides that: “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed.”*

    2. A bill of attainder (also known as an act of attainder or writ of attainder or bill of pains and penalties) is an act of a “legislature” declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them, often without a trial. As with attainder resulting from the normal judicial process, the effect of such a bill is to nullify the targeted person’s civil rights, most notably the right to own property (and thus pass it on to heirs), the right to a title of nobility, and, in at least the original usage, the right to life itself. Bills of attainder passed in Parliament by Henry Vlll on 29 January 1542 resulted in the executions of a number of notable historical figures.

    The use of these bills by Parliament eventually fell into disfavour due to the obvious potential for abuse and the violation of several legal principles, most importantly the right to due process, the precept that a law should address a particular form of behaviour rather than a specific individual or group, and the separation of powers.

    3. The Right of “Women”/Citizen Class (Pro Choice) is nullified by ignorance and Attainder by which their Civil Right to determine “Medical Issues” has been legislated away! Vice Versa for Gays, Blacks et al! NOLA is a De Facto La. Sharecropper still! Lots of timid Negro Politicos and Coons! In majority Negro Districts, they worship and elect known obviously Caucasion Racist and 1st Generation Immigrants! What did The Hon. Harriet Tubman say- “Most don’t know they’re slaves”! She carried a pistol to keep Coons from sabotaging missions to freedom! What’s different in 2019? 

    4. The ignorant Louisiana Legislature voided the rights of Black NOLA when they fired “All” the Black Teachers in NOLA, but no where else, especially not in “Majority Caucasion Controlled School Districts”! Afterwards and after protest of Racism and Discrimination against Majority Black NOLA, the RSD was created elsewhere, but consequences like what happened in NOLA to Black Professionals are “Non Existant”! Negro Coons complicit in these moves have been “Re- Elected” over and over again! What explains this ignorance Stupidity? No need for reduce! 

    Peace Out…

    Langmippe: Federalist Paper #44-“No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make any thing but gold and silver a legal tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex-post-facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts; or grant any title of nobility. (*NOLA Teacher Contracts, Retirement and Medical Benefits were voided for Black School employees en masse as a “Class” in NOLA “During Hurricane Katrina”, without public hearings or debate! 

    ***Madison called Bills of Attainder a “Monster” whereby members of a body guide the Brain-

    “In the third place, as the constitutions of the States differ much from each other, it might happen that a treaty or national law, of great and equal importance to the States, would interfere with some and not with other constitutions, and would consequently be valid in some of the States, at the same time that it would have no effect in others. In fine, the world would have seen, for the first time, a system of government founded on an inversion of the fundamental principles of all government; it would have seen the authority of the whole society every where subordinate to the authority of the parts; it would have seen a monster, in which the head was under the direction of the  members.”//end quote//

  9. This might be painful?
    LBRC- We Just ‘Sayin? ‘Sum ’em is wrong with ‘Dis ‘Pitcha! Why is it…

    1. You see throngs od Negroes “Endorsing” Caucasion Attorneys on The Idiot Tube, lots  of whom are “Ghetto Fabolous”. Some want their 15min. of Fame or Infamy, right? But conversely, where are the throngs of Caucasions endorsing Negro Attorneys?

    2. Next political contest, watch how Caucasion Candidates flood majority Negro Districts with Lawn Signs and Push Cards to “Ubiquitous Levels”! Conversely, when and if ever have Negro Candidates had their signs appear anywhere near “Negligable Numbers” in majority Caucasion Districts? 

    3. Why are Negro Media Types and ilk, so over accomodating in the “Physical” presence  of Caucasions in 2019, many times throwing “Soft Ball” inquires, hardly probing when an  “Honest Examination” is warranted? Some go so far as to confess, “I will protect”! Courtesy is not a vice, however, “Actual Dscourtesy” warrants intervention, not an anticipated or irrational “Apprehension! it’s “Sacriligous” to criticize or cause discomfort to ‘Massa? Never heard a Caucasion Media Outlet admonish their audience in similiar fashion. What does this say- Negroes need reminding about “Common Manners”? No edit 3 Sec. delay buttons? Hmmm… 

    4. Once elected, why do Negro Politicos easily ignore their constuitency with perceived impunity? Suddenly, most are bottom dwellers with respect to “The Political Caste”? They get sprinkled with The Fairy Dust of “Arrogance”! Wish it was “Genius” Dust!

    5. Church Apostates, non elected, generally stay in charge for life! Rape Allegations, Homosexual or other, Stealing Church Funds, Adultery and yada…, like their hymn says- “I shall not be moved”! What’s the difference with Negro Politicos? In fact, most only get impeached or moved via “Indictments”, Fereral Authorities, Federal Courts et al! Most can be re- elected! Conversely, what happens when a Caucasion Politico betrays the “Public Trust” of his office? Isn’t there a “New” Coroner in St. Tammany? Not only ‘Dat, new rules governing his office have been legislated!

    6. Question: What is a “High Standard” and who imposes it? A “High Standard” is indicative of “High Expectations”! A Healthy Self- Esteem is no more comfortable with “Low Outcomes”, than is a Fish with a Condo in The Sahara Desert!

    7. In 2019, “Self- Esteem” and Poverty is so crippling and deep in the “Psyche” (Conscious and Unconscious) of so many Negroes-

    a. They still  “Revere” and will defend ‘Massa in anticipation of his/her discomfort, in ways rivaling “Manchurian Candidates”! Maybe why they spend money with and support ‘Massa’s Economics against their own better interest? When ‘Massa, any ‘Massa, gives them a play, he/her is “Over Accomodated”? Why? Hmmm…

    b. Many Negroes crave to “Endorse” ‘Massa! A commercial in which they can express how “Great” ‘Massa is, “appear” to drive their Epinefferin Levels off charts! Lots will endorse ‘Massa  for “Free”! For accomplishing? Conversely, other than “Media Created High Profile Manufactured Negroes” for “Negroes”, where and what other Negroes “Float ‘Massa’s ‘Boat”? We missed their “Commercials”? We just ‘askin…

    Sum ’em is wrong with ‘Dis ‘Pitcha!

    Peace Out…

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