re: La. needs to grow the economy

That's MS....look at Louisiana and the results of (borrowing from YA):

1. Off track betting
2. Lottery
2. Riverboat Casinos
3. Truck Stop Casinos
4. New Orleans Land Based Casino

Anything else will simply be added to the list and squandered. LA is the Mexico of the US - a latin culture of corruption, patronage, and imbecile politicians.

There's no changing it so the only option for ambitious, intelligent people is to leave. Consider the fact that those type of people have been leaving for probably the last 50 years. What's left? A lower IQ pop and some intelligent folks who are just resigned to the state of affairs, have carved out a little niche for themselves and just enjoy the laissez faire life style.