It’s amazing what can happen when a gaggle of politicians and their Ivy League-educated, McKinsey & Company-trained policy wonks get together for a little brainstorming session.
In a word: Magic.
I’m speaking, of course, of the National Governors Association, a public policy organization that includes our very own Bobby Jindal.
It seems last December—and I’m guessing the brain cells started firing late into a wild and whacky Christmas party, featuring eggnog-flavored Jell-O shots [each one shaped like a different state] and the ever-hilarious “Pin the mistletoe on the Kennedy School graduate”—someone decided it would be really cool to figure out how individual states can remain economically competitive in a global economy.
A handful of Tylenol tablets and several months of research later, this collection of heads of states and intellectuals with super-sized brains produced something called “Innovation America.” Essentially, the report concludes that states, in order to be a blip on the global economic radar, must minimize their dependence on inherited assets and focus on assets they can create.
Or, said in way that a non-Harvard grad can understand: States with consistently healthy economic growth in the 21st century will be those with strong think-based economies.
Geez, where have we read that before? Oh yea, in this column at least a dozen times over the past six years.
The trouble with most reports and blue ribbon studies is they do little more than tell you what you already know. [Which is why being a consultant is the greatest job in America; simply figure out what the client wants to hear, repackage the answer with trendy buzz words and clever analogies, put together a killer PowerPoint presentation and collect your $50,000 check.]
We go to Austin and see the boom that comes from research-based industry, open and fair technology transfer policies between higher education and the private sector, and a guiding belief that its economic destiny will be determined by the ideas born in the minds of its college graduates.
We go to Nashville and see a thriving city that celebrates its economic legacy [the country music industry] while dedicating its economic development resources to growing its financial and health care industries.
We go to Raleigh-Durham and see the power of strong universities and a research triangle built on public-private partnerships and a vision to remain ahead of the research and innovation curve.
We go to Portland and see a technology-rich region that believes its future is tied to higher education research and creates three research facilities similar to Pennington Biomedical over a five-year period.
And what do we have to show for what we’ve seen and learned? Very little.
Why? Because the Capital Region and the state of Louisiana—despite any number of position papers, advisory councils and Vision 2020s—refuses to commit its resources to the building of a think-based economy.
Higher education funding, while better, is still a joke. Equally ridiculous is the way Pennington—and other research facilities around the state—are treated by the Legislature. Tech transfer policies, especially at LSU, are still way too restrictive. The list goes on and on, but the reality is this: While we keep talking about the importance of a think-based economy, our prospects for actually getting it done are disappearing.
While we talk about the problem, other states, like Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, are actually doing something about it.
I get that this might be a hard concept to grasp with the state budget getting fat off $120-a-barrel oil and anyone lucky enough to own land along something known as the Haynesville Shale becoming instant millionaires. But remember, this state has gotten rich before off expensive oil, and residents going Jed Clampett is nothing new [think Tuscaloosa trend].
But let me ask you this: How’d those get-rich-quick opportunities work out for us?
Not so great, considering ranking after ranking says our residents—compared to the rest of America—are getting dumber, poorer and sicker by the minute.
So don’t you think it’s time we try something new?
Comments
Posted by LiberatedTiger on August 11, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I've always felt that many people in Louisiana have their priorities all backward. What we are most proud of in our state is LSU football, crawfish (or cajun food in general) and colorful politicians. Lessez le bon temps rouler (sp?), right? I happen to love LSU football (see username) and crawfish just as much as the next guy, but only when we expect more than this from ourselves will we ever get the respect of others and attract more intellect into our state.
Posted by fourx5 on August 11, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JR asks: "So don’t you think it’s time we try something new?"
How about denouncing the religious right as a voting bloc? It's clear that the anti-science. anti-progressive policies so in vogue lately are simply pandering to the folks who can't seem to separate "one nation under God" from "having mass and bible study in school every morning".
This isn't an attack on either party, but stats show Louisiana is the only state in which the Republican party is still showing growing registrations. Every other state is reacting to the misgovernance of the nation over the past eight years by flocking to the Democratic party - which despite toothless leaders and a dearth of new ideas or a return to its populist roots looks set to gain still more seats in congress as well as the presidency.
I don't see Jindal bucking any of these trends, either. Louisiana's politicians are cowed by zealots.
Why is Louisiana bringing up the rear again? I'd venture a guess that it's the power of the anti-progress, anti-science religionists and their power as a voting bloc. So stop listening to them. Stop pandering for their votes. And stop letting them dictate the future of the state.
Posted by pmccarron on August 15, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Louisiana State takeovers of our EBR Parish Public Schools is "trying something new". Advance Baton Rouge (ABR) and other charter school takeovers is the first step. Maybe a voucher system will be the second step.
Posted by pmccarron on August 15, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we need a study to determine if studies really work.
Posted by FIXthestick on August 15, 2008 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is is possible that Louisiana might be lacking a large population of our young professionals, say 22-35 year olds? It has seemed for decades that most of ours go right down the road to Houston. I believe there may be stats to back that up. I think young educated professionals with fresh ideas is what probably drives change in other more progressive and educated states. They push for positive, creative change and then vote it into being.
Isn't all the money we spend on freely educating Louisiana kids with the TOPS program progressive and supporting higher education? Well if it is or isn't, shouldn't we be spending as much money and effort to keep them here once they earn their degree? If I understand correctly there is an idea on the table to help a small number of graduates purchase a home (I think I heard as little as 100), as long as it's in the state of Louisiana and they continue to reside here for a set number of years. I believe this might be a good idea, have them apply what they've learned to better Louisiana. I say any student that uses the TOPS program should have to work and reside in the state for at least the same number of years they received that free or partially free education. They owe that much to the great citizens and taxpayers of Louisiana.
One more thing. I believe every American should have to view FACTUAL information about all candidates and laws on the ballots on election day before being allowed to vote! Possibly a half hour video or power point presentation, but something, anything that is guaranteed factual! Truth in campaign advertising is hardly existent and I'm sure very few seek out the facts on both Republicans and Democrats running for any office at any given time. It's ashamed that so many are chosen because of the party they belong to, the way they look, the way they sound, or because they have a way cool TV or radio Ad knocking the other guy.
Don't we owe it to the tens of thousands who have died for our freedom to vote, to put in place, a smart idiot-proof precedent for those Americans wanting to make such a serious decision. Some gave all, couldn't we give a little more time at the polls?
Posted by LiberatedTiger on August 15, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The government basically paying people to stay here in just another form of welfare - higher education welfare. It might work at first for a short while, but it isn't going to sustain itself. What we need is for the free enterprise system to work and for people to stay here (or return after living away for a while) because they want to. Because it's profitable and/or more affordable for them to live in a nice place. All the government can, and should, do is make the environment here more profitable (less taxing) for businesses to move and thrive here. The smartest folks will then follow.
Posted by fisherking on August 15, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fourx5...So I guess there is no "religious right voting bloc" in North Carolina. I think they're doing pretty well for themselves wouldn't you say??? Come on, you just hate religious people don't you....a bit of hypocrisy on your part huh Mr. Open Minded Progressive.
I went back and read all your previous post and you harp on the same theme, I think you’re a little obsessed.
Oh, and I would not put your money on ole Barack to the White House just yet.
Posted by LiberatedTiger on August 15, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Since the door is now cracked open a bit, can anyone imagine Obama (or for that matter Chelsea's mama) playing hardball with the Russians? This has to be one area (maybe the only one) where McCain has a leg up.
Posted by fisherking on August 15, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You're right, I guess that would have been that 3 a.m. call she was talking about.
Posted by fourx5 on August 21, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for proving my point, FisherKing. My comments above referenced Louisiana's knee-jerk "you're agin' us or for us" religious voters - not North Carolina's.
It seems that anytime anyone criticizes anything about Louisiana's religious culture intertwining with political interests at the expense of the furtherance of a science and "think" based economy, they're attacked as anti-religion. I'm not anti-religion - but when various evangelical interests steer the state towards intolerance of new ideas and policies that will make Louisiana stronger economically, they push us all toward a medieval mindset where fear rules.
I don't hate religious people - most of my family is deeply religious and I respect their faith, but I do not respect the chorus of fanatical religious zealots in Louisiana who are responsible for so many of the state's embarrassing failures.
Unlike you, I've lived in areas that are both predominantly well-educated secular progressives (San Jose and Mountain View, California) and predominantly made up of less educated voters who happen to be very religious (Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Orleans). I'm no sociologist, so I'm not going to draw conclusions based on that - but I can tell you what I've experienced.
The standard of living in "think"-based economies dominated by people who don't wear religion on their sleeve is far higher, more attractive to youth, draws far more investment, and "lifts all boats" to a greater degree than areas that are notable for their giant crosses and failed religious colleges. You and I both know that fundamentalist Christians hold a large voting bloc in Louisiana and that their shrill adherence to whichever part of the Bible reinforces their existing beliefs holds Louisiana back.
I have great respect for people's religions as long as they keep it in their place of worship and out of the policy making sphere. You mention North Carolina as if Raleigh-Durham was the same as Baton Rouge. Raleigh-Durham was already making changes to diversify and "think-anchor" their regional economy twenty-five years ago!
The upshot is that Louisiana's culture is unique - and I have no ill will toward people of religion, except when they force their views on the citizenry through government. That includes the peculiar view of intelligent secularists as "elitists" - people who can't be trusted for whatever reason because they think things through using the knowledge of man, instead of going by edicts from an old religious text.
As for your baiting comments about Obama, I'll leave that to another thread, but hold it up as evidence that Louisiana's citizens and politicians are so far behind the rest of the country that they can't even see how cheated and angry most people in this nation feel toward the GOP - they'll vote for a candidate who has little experience (although many good ideas) and less attachment to the existing political establishment.
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