Louisiana Is Sick And Dying Essay

Louisiana is not dead. The state has been plagued by pollution, abused by politicians, and abandoned by those who call it home, yet Louisiana has managed to survive. As Louisiana citizens, we cannot deny the severity of the state’s situation. If left as it is, Louisiana’s future is unquestionably bleak. Bob Mann realizes and emphasizes the direness of Louisiana’s condition in his column “Let’s Face Facts: Louisiana is Sick and Dying”. He emphasizes the grave state that Louisiana has succumbed to and seems to firmly believe that Louisiana’s downfall is inevitable. He is wrong. Many like Mann who have recognized the repetitive cycle of ignorance among Louisiana citizens have lost all hope of their being salvation for the state. Louisiana may

be sick, but it certainly is not dead and neither should be our hope for a better future. The path to salvation must begin with acceptance of the truth and understanding of the poor choices that have led Louisiana to the deplorable condition it is in today. This is a path that can only be forged through initiative action, words, and a certain degree of optimism.
We cannot deny the reality of our state’s misfortunes.

Louisiana has been crippled by poverty, pollution, and unemployment, yet the elected officials whose duties are to heal the wounds caused by these issues only seem to broaden them. Michael Sandel explains in his book Justice three different approaches to justice: maximizing welfare, cultivating virtue, and respecting freedom. The current political nature of Louisiana manages to disrespect every one of these approaches. Political leaders have continued to enact policies that further disadvantage the already disadvantaged. Those born into poverty lack the tools needed to cultivate a greater understanding of their state’s situation, leading to a cycle of repeated mistakes and misfortune. There are also many people who live in denial of Louisiana’s sad state. The state has done an excellent job of teaching the public to turn a blind eye to its problems and as a result has cultivated a society of ignorance. It seems as if citizens either support policies that contribute to the corruption of Louisiana or detach themselves from the political world all together. Those who are aware of Louisiana’s grim state get out as fast as they can leaving Louisiana bleeding and

abandoned.
If left as it is, I am certain Louisiana has no future.

Ignorance, denial, and apathy have fortified the hopelessness of Louisiana’s situation; however, as hopeless as it may seem Louisiana’s fate is not definite. Mann states in his article, “The question isn't whether there is much hope or aspiration left in Louisiana's people. There is not”. Unlike Mann I have hope for the future of Louisiana. Throughout the years, a society of lies and denial has been cultivated in Louisiana, but it is not too late to cultivate a new society based on knowledge and understanding. Actions and words are the only means through which we can clean up the enormous mess that has been made in our society. Without open discussion about the poor condition of Louisiana, there can be no change. Silently contemplating Louisiana’s problems will bring forth no solution. Recognizing these problems and informing others of their severity is the only hope we have to save Louisiana. Psychologist Stanley Milgram once did a study on the impact that words have on our actions. In the study, one participant was selected to be the “learner” while other participants took on the role of “teachers”. The “learner”, who in reality was an actor hired by Milgram, was given a series of various learning tests. Every time he failed a test the “teachers” were instructed by an authoritative figure to flip a switch which would administer an electrical shock to the “learner”. The “learner” pretended to be shocked each time the

switch was flipped while the “teachers” actually believed they were electrocuting someone. Amazingly, when continuously told by the authoritative figure to increase the severity of the electrical shock after each failed test, many complied; however, when a third party who verbally opposed the idea of administering the shock was introduced to the study, the amount of “teachers” willing to flip the switch massively decreased. After hearing someone else openly express how morally wrong it is to shock another person, the “teachers” felt much more compelled to stand up against the morally questionable demands of the authoritative figure This study exemplifies how impactful our words can be on the actions of others. It shows that if we can encourage others to take action through our words, then we can without a doubt eradicate the apathetic culture that has been engrained into Louisiana society. By publicly proclaiming our desire to change the state of Louisiana, we can encourage others to want to make a change as well. We are the ones who dictate the future, but this can only be achieved through action. Sandel recognizes the responsibility we have to our community.
This is not the kind of thing we can do at home. We can sit on the sidelines and wonder what policies we would favor if we had to decide. But this is not the same as sharing in significant action and bearing responsibility for the fate of the community as a whole. We become good at deliberating only by entering the arena, weighing the alternatives, arguing our case, ruling and being ruled—¬¬¬in short, by being citizens. (Sandel 199)
Mann was wrong in his assumption. Hope for a better Louisiana still exists; It depends upon our willingness to advance our education as a society and to take action against the wrongdoings that have reverted our once great state to a poverty-stricken stretch of polluted land.
Despite the seemingly desperate state of Louisiana’s future, there is still reason to hope for a change. Giving up hope would be admitting defeat and would most certainly lead to Louisiana’s downfall. As Louisiana citizens, we must strive to eradicate apathy in our society and endeavor to cultivate understanding. Hope still lives and so can Louisiana, but we must act soon.