The State of Louisiana currently ranks #1 when it comes to population loss. Louisiana is losing more population than any other nation and there are solid reasons why this is happening.
Louisiana’s continuing loss of population can be blamed on many of the traditional things like lack of economic growth and the increase in jobs is at 2% compared to the national average of 20%. Insurance rates are ridiculously outrageous in Louisiana, especially auto insurance. Auto insurance rates for New Orleans are astronomical and add to the state’s high rates. Housing and rent, particularly in New Orleans, are extremely high as well.
When you have a state with the primary city disproportionately contributing to a higher cost of living while the economic growth is weak, you have a situation that is not attractive to people moving into the state or keeping people from leaving the state.
But there is another reason that I strongly believe is inhibiting Louisiana’s population growth and retention rate and it’s something that is not mentioned as a factor.
Louisiana’s Governor Jeff Landry is a right-winger with ultra-conservative views that are offensive to many young people and many people who have the ability to move. Gov. Landry is a stereotypical MAGA supporter and has done all he can to get the attention of President Trump, who finally threw Landry a bone in naming him a special envoy to Greenland. Landry will help facilitate the president’s goal of taking over Greenland against the collective will of the people. But make no mistake about it - Gov. Landry does not represent many mainstream Republicans and conservatives and lives on the extreme edge of conservative ideology. One of Landry’s primary goals is to totally ban abortion rights. Banning abortion rights has been rejected by voters in some red states much to the disappointment of the Republican Party. Many Republicans and conservatives in this state, and across America, are not being represented by Gov. Landry.
And it doesn’t end with abortion rights. Gov. Landry is a fringe conservative who supports banning books and by the governor’s standards for banning books from school and public libraries The Bible would be among the books that would have to be banned.
The Louisiana Legislature is an archaic institution that does not reflect the thinking of many younger people in our state and every year seems to generate negative publicity about something stupid it has passed. Do you know that the Louisiana Legislature has failed to remove the law that bans sodomy from the books, even after The Supreme Court declared that laws banning sodomy were unconstitutional? Because of the 2003 Supreme Court ruling no state can enforce anti-sodomy laws, yet the Louisiana Legislature keeps the moot law on the books. I guess they keep it on the books because they believe sodomy should be illegal - not realizing that many of them participate in acts of sodomy.
Louisiana is a beautiful state from the bayous and waterways that allow countless areas for recreational boating and excellent fresh and salt water fishing - to the plush, wooded landscape filled with wildlife for hunters - to the historic facades and rooftops of the French Quarter - to the soft, gray moss that cascades from the majestic oaks in the parks and woods - to the lively and colorful people of our many cultures. Louisiana is a beautiful state, but the past tense path of the political drive to the far right robs Louisiana of population growth.
Experts can talk about the lack of economics and job growth in the state and the lack of affordability when it comes to insurance and housing, but one of the primary reasons people don’t stay in the state or people don’t move their families to the state is because of the backwards mentality of our governor and our legislative branch of government.