Freedom of Speech might be lit in Lafayette

Freedom of Speech might be lit in Lafayette

By: Ken LaRive

For many years Lafayette’s The Advertiser newspaper has been called overly biased toward the left and both a manipulator and destroyer of free speech. Though they deny this, those accusations have cost them both subscription and advertising revenue.

Conservative writers say it is because The Gannett Corporation has sent agenda based instructional mandates to all of their local papers superseding the predilection of local residents. Conservative values are in the majority in Acadiana, and writers question why their home-town news-paper is not a reflection of this, and why they are so reluctant to state their point of view.

“Blackballing” seems real but hard to prove, but there are positive indications Conservatism might be getting more voice.

There is growing concern for government’s tendencies toward spending, nationalism and socialism, and the so called “Silent Majority” is organizing as never before. A second Tea Party for Acadiana and the surrounding areas indicate a new push for individual responsibility, and this has gotten their attention.

In the United States, the Gannett publishes 84 daily newspapers, including USA TODAY, and nearly 850 non-daily publications, so they are a formidable voice and an influencer of ideas.

Attempting to move online, they may be realizing that giving the public the free press they demand might be a pay off in the long run. Truth, that is, both sides of an argument, might indeed be profitable now that the bottom line has hit rock bottom, and change may be for the good of both Free Speech and liberty.

Some say hard copy newspapers will find it increasing difficult to stay in business and experimenting with an on line presence. Whatever direction they choose, they may find that truth is both in great demand, and profitable.

New Orleans crime overflows Louisiana

New Orleans crime overflows Louisiana
By: Ken LaRive

Lafayette took in a lot of good people after Katrina, but crime rate indicated that some we accepted did not make good citizens.

For a generation at least, New Orleans has been appraised to be one of the most violent cities in America, and several imply it is now number one.

Law abiding and responsible Louisiana inhabitants have demanded authority to put a stop to this, but little or nothing can be done. Organized crime has such a stranglehold that honest Cops will not travel through certain sections of New Orleans and Baton Rouge at night, for fear of their lives.

Some estimate the proceeds coming from drug sales to be greater than the entire Louisiana free market, including agriculture revenue, but nowhere can the truth be found, as information such as that is dangerous to the tourist industry and new business.

Port of New Orleans brings in a lot of taxable revenue; and tourism is growing fast after the crime-cleansing of Katrina, and should be protected. Sure enough, the word on the street is that organized crime mandates those who work for them never to harm an average citizen, and that those who do be punished. Now this is good business sense!

It might be comforting to know that they care. If you do get mugged for your wallet, it will be done by a person high on drugs, and not a savvy business man, like a drug dealer.

Why this is allowed is anyone’s guess, but even a limited worldly imagination could figure out why and who.

No sir, martial law can not be considered as it may endanger their rights as Americans!

America must be so proud of their southern neighbor, uneducated but caring, the true heart of our new banana republic.

The real answer for Louisiana's coastline

The real answer for Louisiana’s lost coastline
By: Ken LaRive081009

Acadiana has been lucky with hurricane damage. There are others just twenty miles south who were devastated.

Looking at maps only ten years ago will show the amazingly fast erosion of our Louisiana coastline once giving us protection.

Many ideas have come forward, from the use of Christmas Trees to dredging up bottom sand, but the trend continues unabated.

There is an answer, but few want to consider it.

Coastline is maintained by sediment, mostly form the Mississippi River. Naturally, the Mississippi river changes course every few hundred years or so, diverting to the Atchafalaya.

A topical map indicates that water level is much shallower at the base of the Atchafalaya, and drops off sharply at the base of the Mississippi. With the Mississippi redirected, a good portion of the basin was washed away, quickly building and maintaining marshland, our primary protection from storm serge. After time, sediment built up to a critical point, and the Mississippi diverted back, as it has for millions of years.

The building of levies and inland canals inhibit the free movement of sediment too, showing another incompetent decision.

The answer is difficult to consider. Most of Morgan City would be washed away, and the port of New Orleans would be a quarter of a mile from what water was left, if any.

A lot of very expensive studies have formulated many scenarios, but this idea is hardly mentioned.

Another, post Katrina feasibility study, as most will agree, must weigh cost as the primary consideration, as hurricane damage is now approaching the price of a new port, and the loss of a major town.

Whatever the decision, it would indeed be an expensive proposition, and it is one that grows more serious as it is set aside.