It has become common to equate a new face in government with positive change. That is particularly true when that person has little or no track record in government.
Looking ahead to this fall’s election for governor, a note of caution is due to those among us who, perhaps out of desperation for good news, have a tendency to anoint a politician a “reformer” based on their political rhetoric rather than their action.
A classic case of hopeful thinking was the election of New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin. Nagin was branded by the media and others as a “reformer” despite having never served a day in elective office.
Currently, Nagin is doing time in a Federal prison for corruption during his two terms as mayor. Nuff said.Right after being elected governor in 2007, but before he even took office; Bobby Jindal was also hailed as a “reformer.”
Today, hardly anyone in the state or national media (except Sean Hannity) is lauding Jindal for his “reforms” dubbed by Bobby as the “Louisiana Miracle.”
Even worse, in Jindal’s case, because of his professionally-crafted reformer image along with his alleged intelligence due to his having been a Rhodes Scholar, the leges and others in Louisiana have been reluctant to even question his initiatives.
Jindal’s budget initiatives alone have turned a $1.1 billion surplus into a $1.6 billion (and growing) revenue shortfall. Meanwhile colleges, healthcare and other vital services for the public have been slashed.
Bobby refers to another of his initiatives as Louisiana’s “Gold Standard of Ethics.” It has left us with a law that is virtually unenforceable. The law invites abuse rather than adherence.
Please wait until the next governor ends his/her public service before ordaining them as a “reformer.”
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