Comments for Talk About the South: An Opinion Blog

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by Sid

Sid — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 16:11:48 +0000

Back in 1989 when it was named the Louisiana College Tuition Plan it was set up for low and moderate income students who met the academic requirements. In 1997 it was opened for all students. Now it’s a political football whether you admit it or not. The original intent was noble and helped many young people get a college education that may not have been able to otherwise. The change to open it up to all income levels and students was probably done with good intentions. It needs tweaking and with the legislature involved only heaven knows what will happen. The piece mill approach to fixing TOPS is fiscally stupid when what is needed is comprehensive and fundamental changes to the way the state funds and administers higher education. Until we have a responsible person in charge, not someone who cries the sky is falling and LSU won’t be playing football unless taxes are increased, we are not going to change. John Alario has been in the Legislature for almost half a century. He voted with Mr. Jindal on every budget, in my opinion he is the poster child of what’s wrong in this state. A good ole boy professional politician who is responsible for the mess we’re in.

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by admin

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:37:39 +0000

Thanks!

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by admin

admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 00:37:15 +0000

Sid, the reps are bad because they are putting party loyalty ahead of the state’s people. I’d like to see any documentation where TOPS has changed and how. Give me some facts on how it WAS great but now is DIFFERENT. It’s not free money for EVERYONE. Only a percentage of college students even get TOPS. It’s not ubiquitous. Alario did NOT destroy TOPS. It was a collection of butt kissers in the HOUSE. They need to be voted out.

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by Sid

Sid — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 13:33:12 +0000

Mr. Gautreaux, et al, why are these representatives all considered bad? This state needs and must have some serious fiscal reforms. The status quo is killing us. The original TOPS plan was fantastic but the legislature has been involved and turned it into a political football of free money for everybody. I honestly do not believe that Vitter and the vile Teeple were involved in lobbying these reps. The only fix to this situation is to vote out the professional politicians and start over. How can we expect change when Mr. B. Edwards hand picks John Allario for Senate Prez, dear God, we’ll never change with the good ole boy network still running the show.

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by Butch Gautreaux

Butch Gautreaux — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 01:15:49 +0000

The opposition was well organized by David Vitter and Timmy Teeple. And let’s not forget former Chief Council and Chief of Staff for Bobby Jindal Stephen Waguespack who now heads up LABI. A strong rating by LABI is a sure sign that a legislator wants to continue the failed Jindal policies that got us in this mess.

Comment on Naming the TOPS saboteurs by John P. Wefel

John P. Wefel — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 03:40:25 +0000

Right on …….. but you failed to say what the citizens can do. Be informed and vote the obstructionists out of office at the next opportunity. Publishing their names won’t ‘faze’ them, but a voter effort just might get their attention.

Comment on CB Forgotston: A Tribute by DAWN GUIDRY MONTZ

DAWN GUIDRY MONTZ — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 18:08:55 +0000

A kindred spirit has left the building . . . but his legacy remains. ALWAYS REMEMBER . . . NEVER FORGET.

Comment on CB Forgotston: A Tribute by Blessed Are the Sarcastic Truthtellers–On Blogging and the Late CB Forgotston | LA Higher Ed Confessions

Mon, 04 Jan 2016 17:21:46 +0000

[…] Mann and Dayne Sherman have already written lovely tributes. Unlike them, I didn’t know CB personally and indeed […]

Comment on A Better Choice than Vitter by Dr. Istvan S. N. Berkeley

Dr. Istvan S. N. Berkeley — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 05:35:48 +0000

Edwards is THE man. I asked him and his wife why he was running, given that he would inherit ‘Hurricane’ Bobby’s fiscal mess. She said it was a question she asked often. Apparently, his answer to her was basically because a good man needed to stand up against the less than able candates. When I asked Edwards himself the same question his reply was more interesting: He said that actually getting elected and having to figure a way out of Bobby’s mess was something which woke him up at night. To me, those sound like the words of an honest man, not a slimeball politician. As a resident alien (along with ET and the blob from planet X), I cannot vote. However, if I could, I would vote for Edwards. Candour and honesty in Louisiana politics? It would be such a novelty.

Comment on Will Jindal Resign on June 24? by Janet

Janet — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 23:05:35 +0000

BRILLIANT!!!