Category: Opinion
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Specht: The Growing Pains of a Fast-Expanding Website
If you’ve visited our newspaper website recently, you may have noticed something frustrating—the speed isn’t quite where we want it to be. Trust me, we feel it too. But I want to take a moment to explain what’s going on behind the scenes, reflect on where we’ve been, and share how we’re tackling this issue…
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Royal Alexander: Gov. Landry’s Tax Reform Proposal is Worthy of Consideration
Many of us who were born and raised in Louisiana or who have lived here for a number of years understand that our state tax code, specifically including that portion of it located in our State Constitution, needs some re-evaluation and updating to account for current and future fiscal realities. In connection with this, Gov.…
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How I Became “Mentally Ill” from JFK to Today
I urge you to learn the harsh facts that lurk behind the mask of official illusion with which we have concealed our true circumstances, even from ourselves. Our country is in danger: not just from foreign enemies, but above all, from our own misguided policies—and what they can do to the nation that Thomas Jefferson once…
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A Ministry of Risk in a Time of War
“A ministry of risk goes unerringly to the side of the victims, to those threatened or destroyed by greed, prejudice, and war. From the side of those victims, it teaches two simple, indispensable lessons: (1) that we all belong in the ditch, or in the breach, with the victims; and (2) that until we go…
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Royal Alexander: Who won the debate?
Along with millions of Americans, I watched the Trump-Harris debate this past Tuesday night. I generally saw what I expected to see. After the Trump-Biden debate in June with Biden being exposed as the addled staggerer he has become, the bar for Vice President Kamala Harris was a low one, which she met. President…
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Louisiana is positioning itself to power the Southern Renaissance
A renaissance is underway in the South, the foundation of which is Louisiana’s impressive capacity to generate electricity. This new Southern industrial revolution is powered by clean, plentiful and reliable energy that will stabilize both rural and urban communities. It is not limited just to manufacturing and jobs. With Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s pro-business agenda…
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Building connected communities, one circle at a time
“Guess what?!” A 12-year-old Pittsburgh school boy spoke excitedly with his teacher one morning last fall. “My mommy and daddy were having a fight last night, and I asked them if we could have a peace circle! We sat and talked, and they’re not fighting anymore!” The boy had been involved in a program to…
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State Treasurer Fleming responds to left-wing attack
In his WWL-TV commentary and several columns, Gambit political editor Clancy DuBos has attacked my decision to not recommend Bank of America as a state fiscal agent. He said it amounts to “cheap political theater.” DuBos refers to Bank of America as “one of the largest financiers of the fossil fuel industry.” In contrast, if…
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So, you think you know what democracy is
Houston, we have a problem. Today’s Democrats, who should know better, and Republicans, who should also know better, have absolutely no idea what democracy is, though they regularly use the term to describe what their parties are all about. I’m not kidding, not one Democrat leader or one Republican leader I have listened to over…
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Royal Alexander: Significant Changes in Felony Sentencing in Louisiana
Governor Jeff Landry has moved at a dizzying legislative pace since being elected governor and one very significant change made to Louisiana law is what is referred to as “Truth in Sentencing.” What is Truth in Sentencing? The long and short of it is that for years Judges, District Attorneys and Defense Attorneys have…