I'M PROUD OF MY STATE...AND MY TOWN!

I'm proud to be a Louisianian! I love it, even with all our problems. I've traveled a good bit, but never have I met better hard-working folks anywhere. Now, I know that's all up for debate, and you probably think your State has better folks... But the food, the culture, the unique racial mix, the weather...all of it...there just ain't no place like it. And I love it.

We can be pretty ignorant about a lot of things. Louisiana usually ends up at 49th, or 51st on all the "bad" lists...education, poverty, good places to do business, etc. And heck, we elected Edwin Edwards 7 or 8 times or something as Governor. We voted for Bubba Clinton twice for President. We actually elected Kathleen "Blank Check" Blanco as Governor, and New Orleans has been a cesspool for 50 years under the leadership of Moon Landrieu, Marc Morial, and now Ray (G.D. Greyhound) Nagin. I've always wished that we could just slice off the Southeast corner of Louisiana at I-10, to somewhere around 10 miles West of Baton Rouge, and let 'em be a State of their own. Then the rest of us wouldn't be pulled down...but I guess it ain't gonna happen.

But things are changing, and I'm proud for it. We elected my good buddy Bobby Jindal as Governor...and probably the proudest moment I've had lately was Nov. 4. Louisiana voted for John McCain over Hussein 59% to 40%. Of course, we screwed ourselves by re-electing our worthless, two-faced Senator Mary Landrieu...but that's another story. I guess progress comes along slow.

And I'm proud of my town. Business Week magazine went out and found the best city in each State to raise young'uns. They looked at a bunch of stuff like the quality of the schools, lack of crime, and churches, and a whole bunch of junk. There were some commonly well-known towns on the list. Phoenix, AZ (where I have a good buddy that has raised a great family), Columbus, OH (where my #2 son lives...I hope he'll raise a great family there one day), etc. But my town, Bossier City, LA was figured to be the best place to raise young'uns in the Bayou State.

I have to agree. I was born and raised right here. I left, but something about my town drew me back. I've raised 4 sons here (well, The Mrs. has, for the most part), and I can't imagine it would have been easier anywhere else.

I sure don't ever like to brag on myself, but dang...I was raised here...that oughta be evidence enough that these Business Week folks are currekt!