Bobby’s got a legitimate point about the relative lack of opportunities in Louisiana, but he’s dead wrong about Katrina’s relationship to the recent migration, or rather, the LA and New Orleans’ governments HANDLING (mangling?) of the post-Katrina RECOVERY as a cause of migration.
Here’s a look at the population trends: In 1995 the Census estimate for Louisiana’s population was 4,495,670, which was basically even with the 2000 Census count (actually very slightly higher). According to the U.S. Census, population in LA grew from 4,219,973 in 1990 to 4,468,976 in 2000. Granted that is an abysmally low (relative to the rest of the U.S.) rate of 0.6% annualized, but it WAS growth. There was a late 1980s migration out of state – of which I was a part – but the state had just as many people in 1990 as it did in 1980.
After holding steady for decades (which is another problem), to fall by 6-7% in just three years has GOT to be a result of two things: Katrina, and the “government’s” mangling of post-Katrina recovery efforts.
Aside from Bobby’s mischaracterization of the recent fall in LA population, the man does have a point. Considering the rather robust population growth in the U.S. over the last couple of decades, simply holding constant (as Louisiana had been doing before Katrina) is evidence of failure – of a state that, relatively speaking, people prefer to be FROM rather than IN. Bobby says it’s “a lack of educational and economic opportunities in Louisiana” – that sounds about right to me. I don’t believe that “government” can CREATE such opportunities, but I certainly believe that “government” can GET IN THE WAY of those who would create such opportunities, and I think Louisiana’s “rulers” have only themselves to blame.
So the problem with Louisiana’s population growth is really all about the “management” of the state. It’s just that Katrina, like catastrophes are wont to do, exposed the problem more obviously.
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Bobby’s got a legitimate point about the relative lack of opportunities in Louisiana, but he’s dead wrong about Katrina’s relationship to the recent migration, or rather, the LA and New Orleans’ governments HANDLING (mangling?) of the post-Katrina RECOVERY as a cause of migration.
Here’s a look at the population trends: In 1995 the Census estimate for Louisiana’s population was 4,495,670, which was basically even with the 2000 Census count (actually very slightly higher). According to the U.S. Census, population in LA grew from 4,219,973 in 1990 to 4,468,976 in 2000. Granted that is an abysmally low (relative to the rest of the U.S.) rate of 0.6% annualized, but it WAS growth. There was a late 1980s migration out of state – of which I was a part – but the state had just as many people in 1990 as it did in 1980.
After holding steady for decades (which is another problem), to fall by 6-7% in just three years has GOT to be a result of two things: Katrina, and the “government’s” mangling of post-Katrina recovery efforts.
Aside from Bobby’s mischaracterization of the recent fall in LA population, the man does have a point. Considering the rather robust population growth in the U.S. over the last couple of decades, simply holding constant (as Louisiana had been doing before Katrina) is evidence of failure – of a state that, relatively speaking, people prefer to be FROM rather than IN. Bobby says it’s “a lack of educational and economic opportunities in Louisiana” – that sounds about right to me. I don’t believe that “government” can CREATE such opportunities, but I certainly believe that “government” can GET IN THE WAY of those who would create such opportunities, and I think Louisiana’s “rulers” have only themselves to blame.
So the problem with Louisiana’s population growth is really all about the “management” of the state. It’s just that Katrina, like catastrophes are wont to do, exposed the problem more obviously.
Swamps, rampant corruption, hurricane prone, bad public education and lack of economic opportunities would be enough for me to leave the state.