Columns

By Stephen Waguespack

It’s time to face the truth we have long avoided: Louisianac annot tax, spend and mandate its way to prosperity.

For decades, one politician after another has tried every idea under the sun to make the Baton Rouge-heavy, something-for-every one Huey Long model effective at solving problems and protecting taxpayers. It just won’t work. It’s a square peg in a round hole. Sending our hard-earned tax dollars to the state capitol each year in the hopes it will lead to good schools,dependable roads and a stable economy has proven to be a bankrupt game plan that must be replaced.

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By Raymond Powell

Mansfield and DeSoto Parish have seen some “Real Characters”throughout their past history. None more colorful that Jake Jacobs and Lord Allen. To set the stage for these two a little background on each is needed. According to reliable sources the following is basically true.

Jake Jacobs was a native of the eastern seaboard with proud aristocratic parents of considerable means. They attempted to raise their son in a like manner, but the “call of the wild side” seems to have struck Jake at an early age. After being ejected from several colleges his father procured him a government position in Washington, where he continued his wild style of life.

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By Stephen Waguespack

As the pressure mounts on the media for social media clicks and reader attention in a highly competitive market place,anonymous sources have become more frequently used by some writers to get stories out quickly and sell certain controversial narratives.

The excessive use of these types of sources, once considered taboo by most journalists and journalism schools, has unfortunately become much more commonplace. Whether productive or not, this atypical approach to traditional journalism appears to be a growing trend.

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By Stephen Waguespack

As the pressure mounts on the media for social media clicks and reader attention in a highly competitive marketplace,anonymous sources have become more frequently used by some writers to get stories out quickly and sell certain controversial narratives.

The excessive use of these types of sources, once considered taboo by most journalists and journalism schools, has unfortunately become much more commonplace. Whether productive or not, this atypicalapproach to traditional journalismappears to be a growing trend.

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By: Stephen Waguespack

This weekend, Christians all over the world will be celebrating the most important holiday of the church calendar. It marks the resurrection of Jesus, who died for our sins and rose on the third day, in fulfillment of the scriptures. It follows Lent, the 40-day time of fasting and penance when Christians prepare for this occasion.

In Louisiana, we also place a heavy emphasis on the days leading up to Lent. Each year at Mardi Gras, we pass a good time with friends and family, knowing that 40 days of sacrifice await us.

This cycle repeats itself each year. As we begin another legislative session this week, there are some seasonal parallels to the debate we are preparing to have on the somber and sobering cycle of incarceration.

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By: Raymond Powell

The most recent issue of the V.F.W. Magazine had an excellent detailed account of W.W. I the last W.W.I veteran was Frank Buckles who died in2011. It is the thought on this writer, a W.W. II veteran of the European War Theater that, while some W.W. II veterans are still alive, would enjoyreading an article concerning W.W. II in Europe. Not knowing as muchabout the Pacific part of the war that will be left to someone else to discuss.

In spite of the attacks on American shipping by German submarines, it was not Germany that plunged us into W.W. II, but Japan. Our relations with Japan had become strained since they invaded China in 1937 with full intent of conquering all of the Pacific. In 1941 Japan became apartner with Italy and Germany as a member of the Axis Nations.

By: Raymond Powell

Strange now to remember how as a youngster the American Flag was taken for granted. An old W.W.I veteran would come to school and talk about the flag and patriotism and we would stand and sing Francis Scott key’s national anthem. Of course W.W. II followed when everyone became real patriotic, but time passed - then on September 11, 2001 when two jet liners (one American, one United) crashed into the World Trade Center towers with everyone watching on T.V. and almost moments later another American airliner struck the Pentagon and a United airliner heading to the U.S. Capitol burst into flames as it crashed into an open field in Pennsylvania.

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By Stephen Waguespack

It’s time to face the truth we have long avoided: Louisiana cannot tax, spend and mandate its way to prosperity.

For decades, one politician after another has tried every idea under the sun to make the Baton Rougeheavy, something-for-everyone Huey Long model effective at solving problems and protecting taxpayers. It just won’t work. It’s a square peg in a round hole. Sending our hard-earned tax dollars to the state capitol each year in the hopes it will lead to good schools, dependable roads and a stable economy has proven to be a bankrupt game plan that must be replaced.

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By Raymond Powell

Times have changed – as everyone knows. Early in the century most young boys wished they had lived in the Pony Express era. They dreamed of riding across the plains on a fast pony facing the dangers the trip incurred. There were few of the distractions that youth face today, therefore dreaming of exciting bygone days was the main pastime.

On April 3, 1860 the Pony Express was initiated with the plan to reduce the time from three months to ten days to deliver Letters from the east coast to the west coast. The hazards facing the riders included empty wilderness, howling blizzards, scorching sun, hostile Indians and terrible loneliness.

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By Stephen Waguespack

The last couple of years we have heard much opposition to Louisiana officials taking public pledges to outside groups.

The most obvious example is the Taxpayer Protection Pledge pushed by the Americans for Tax Reform since 1986, which asks elected officials to oppose tax increases. Many press articles and public debates have focused on criticizing elected officials for taking this public stance against new taxes.

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