Christopher Etienne: The State of Louisiana Political Leadership

In the first 100 days of the new Louisiana Republican Governor Jeff Landry and the Republican supermajorities in the House and Senate, the Louisiana residents are witnessing a political leadership that doesn’t reflect the state we see and doesn’t address our challenges. As a result, we have an urgent reminder of why voter registration and voter education are important and& change the& status& quo& in& Baton& Rouge& so& we& can finally& startmaking& meaningful& progress& for all& Louisiana& residents. As the& late& U.S. President& John F. Kennedy noted in his speech about the educated citizens obligations at the 90th& anniversary convocation of Vanderbilt University in 1963,“He& knows that& ‘knowledge is& power,’& more& so& today& than ever& before.& He& knows& that& only an educated and informed people will be a free people, that the ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the& security of all, and that if we can, as [Thomas] Jefferson put& it, ‘enlighten the& people& generally…& tyranny& and& the& oppressions& of& mind& and& bodywill& vanish,& like& evil& spirits at the dawn of the day.’” The& Landry& administration& and& supermajority& are& long& on& rhetoric& but& short& on& substances. Their& politics is more& about& apathy& than& empathy. That& power& trumps...