Politics is reminiscent of the Roman Games. The games are held to appease the people. People are led to opulent settings and led to believe they’re a part of the production. The people get the peanuts and the chance to gaze upon the face of Caesar as he feasts on gourmet meals and the finest wine. The people get grape juice, but it’s free.

I don’t often write letters to my readers but felt that this was an important message and it was too good not to share with others. I went to church yesterday, as a normal routine, and the pastor preached about the Golden Rule: Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you. As humans, we often struggle with this at times because some people can be down right ugly to us.

People often say mothers have the hardest job in the world – and I wouldn't dispute that. But being a father might be the second hardest job in the world. And becoming a dad for the first time is a challenge for all men.
Putting aside the physical and emotional rigors of fatherhood, the financial implications of having a child are staggering.
According to the USDA, the average cost for a middle-income family to raise a child until age 18 is over $200,000 – and that doesn't even include college. Small wonder, then, that nearly 40 percent of Americans surveyed by Visa Inc. said they weren't prepared financially for the birth of their first child.
As one dad to another, let me share a few financial planning strategies that can help map out a strong financial future for your family:
Get insured. Although young, single adults often go underinsured, if your family depends on your income, you shouldn't be unprepared for life's unexpected events. Buy adequate coverage for:
* Health insurance. If you don't think kids are expensive, start adding up the costs for prenatal exams, delivery, immunizations, check-ups, broken arms, medications, dentist appointments, and braces – the list goes on. When comparing medical plans, focus on issues like monthly premium, copayment, deductible and prescription amounts, in- and out-of-network charges, and coverage limits and exclusions.
* Homeowner/renter's insurance. Don't allow theft, fire, faulty plumbing or other catastrophes to leave your family without possessions or a place to live. Consider choosing a higher deductible to lower your premium, and opt for "replacement cost" coverage, which will replace items in today's dollars.
* Life insurance. Depending on your family's size and ages, you'll probably want coverage worth at least five to 10 times your annual pay; more, if you want to cover college costs. And don't forget to insure your spouse so you'll be protected as well.
* Disability insurance. Nearly a third of us will suffer serious disabilities between ages 35 and 65. Yet many folks forego long-term disability insurance, potentially leaving them without an income after a serious accident or illness. To learn more about the financial implications of disability and other unexpected life events, visit Practical Money Skills for Life, Visa's free personal financial management site (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/unexpected).
Start saving now. It's ironic: When you're young and can least afford it, that's when you can make the most lasting impact on your financial future. The earlier you start saving and "compounding" or reinvesting the interest earned, the faster your savings will grow. That's true whether you're saving to buy a house, pay for retirement or send your kids to college.
One tip: If your employer offers 401(k) matching contributions, contribute at least enough to take full advantage of the match: A 50 percent match is the same as earning 50 percent interest on savings.
And finally, spend responsibly. If you buy things you don't really need or can't afford, you'll just end up having to work longer hours to pay for them. That's unrecoverable time you could have spent watching your kids grow.

 

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

We have been very pleased with the academic progress we have made in our schools in Ascension Parish as we have embraced the state’s accountability programs and sought to make positive changes. Our school system is currently a top-tier district in the state, and we are the first school district in the Greater Baton Rouge Metro Area to earn district accreditation from the nation’s leading educational organization for certifying standards among schools.

Dear Editor,

Who was the first practicing African-American physician in Ascension Parish?

Was it the very well-known and often-celebrated Dr. John Lowery, who according to The Chief of October 13, 2010 was Ascension Parish's "first African-American physician," having begun his practice in 1894?

The 34th President of the United States took office 50 years ago last week, with tributes and remembrances flowing from all over the world.  Republicans look to Ronald Regan as their ideal. But to Republicans and Democrats alike, John Kennedy seemed to capture the hearts of the American people in a way that has been unique in presidents before or since.  And from the first stirrings of his efforts to become president, to events that took place after his death, my home state of Louisiana has a special place in the Kennedy legacy.

The battle lines were firmly drawn on February 9 in the war between Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the EPA's plans to regulate greenhouse gases, in particular, carbon dioxide. If the regulations come to fruition, it will cost consumers billions of dollars in increased energy costs and the economic ramifications could greatly increase unemployment.

Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is starting a new tax/bond initiative. Communities surrounding Baton Rouge (BR) should consider it as the retail hub it’s become for all of us. The Capitol City has always been the "go-to" place. You "go-to" BR to shop at a mall. You “go-to” BR to attend a live theater performance. You “go to” BR for LSU/SU Football games, etc. Mr. Holden’s drive for tax increases, especially Sales Tax increases, might cause developers to reconsider more Regional Mall Complexes; more centers designed toward accommodating the Arts outside of BR, more consumer-oriented buying centers on the rim of the spokes leading away from BR.

In mid-January I authored a column on the importance of the LHSAA Annual Convention, which was held in Baton Rouge at the end of the month. While some decisions made during the meetings have been met with criticism, I would like to discuss them and how the LHSAA will proceed from the conference moving forward.

As I wrote previously, the business meetings are structured to allow for participation in the democratic rules-making process by allmember schools. Convention specifics are made available to our membership months in advance, and it is up to the members themselves whether or not they will participate. As I had hoped, attendance this year was up from the previous conference—more than 75 percent of our membership was represented.

As winter’s icy grip on Louisiana will soon loosen, we are once again treated to the thrills that accompany spring high school sports.

The action hasn’t stopped after the fall championships. LHSAA’s winter sports—basketball, soccer, wrestling and indoor track and field—all have rich traditions. Soccer and wrestling seasons conclude this week, followed closely by track and field, with all three sports’ championships held in February. Basketball championships will be decided on the hardwood in early March. The girls will play at Southeastern University in Hammond, and the boys will play at the Lafayette Cajundome.

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"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me." My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4.  Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.


5.  Pay off your credit cards every month.


6.  You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.


7.   Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.


8.   It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9.   Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.


10.  When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.


11.  Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.


12.  It's OK to let your children see you cry.


13.  Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.


14.  If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.


15.  Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.


16.  Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.


17.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.


18.  Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.


19.  It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.


20.  When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.


21.  Burn the candles, use the nice sheets. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.


22.  Over prepare, then go with the flow.


23.  Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.


24.  The most important organ is the brain.


25.  No one is in charge of your happiness but you.


26.  Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'


27.  Always choose life.


28.  Forgive everyone everything.


29.  What other people think of you is none of your business.


30.  Time heals almost everything. Give time time.


31.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change.


32.  Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.


33.  Believe in miracles.


34.  God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.


35.  Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.


36.  Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37.  Your children get only one childhood.


38.  All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.


39.  Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.


40.  If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.


41.  Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.


42.  The best is yet to come.

43.  No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.


44.  Yield!


45.  Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
 

It’s time for the American people to wake up and realize that their government is heading down a slippery slope and into a culture that endangers all that makes this a great nation.
It’s clear that the government plays favorites as it has certain companies it cheers on and infuses with money.
General Motors, the century-old automobile company that once employed some half a million workers, has bumbled its way into bankruptcy.
Never fear, the government is here.
Apparently we need to prop up this dead horse and reward their incompetence.
President Barack Obama claims he has no interest in running General Motors. Yet he has taken an interest in the the company’s success.
Like anyone, I have a nostalgic love for General Motors and the classic cars the company has produced over the decades. I also enjoy the classic songs of rock band Led Zeppelin, but they haven’t produced anything interesting or marketable since the late 1970s.
Should we wire cash to Robert Plant and Jimmy Page to get them back in the studio? Maybe they’re fresh out of ideas. Give the guys a break, they wrote “Stairway to Heaven,” for crying out loud.
Maybe General Motors is fresh out of ideas, too. Maybe they don’t have another ‘57 Chevy in them. And that’s OK.
Let some other company invest their own capital into building a better vehicle. Then let the people decide which automobile they want – by buying them.
If the members of the free market vote with its wallet to buy from another company, then so be it.
Nobody bailed out the horse and buggy industry. Should we have given taxpayer dollars to the buggy manufacturers to keep them in business simply because it would save jobs? That would be foolish.
There’s a host of businesses that have vanished because there was no market left for it. Only the fittest businesses survive, especially during an economic recession. Sometimes whole industries go extinct. That’s why the horse and buggy has been reduced to a novelty tourist attraction in cities like New Orleans and a cheap method of production on small farms. It’s no longer an efficient means of transportation.
Throwing taxpayer money at General Motors won’t solve its problems.
“Can you imagine what it’s going to be like when the government runs General Motors?” U.S. Rep. Ron Paul asked on this week’s “Freedom Watch” with Judge Andrew Napolitano. “You think they’re going to make a profit? There’s not a chance in the world for that. They’re going to run it like they run the Post Office. They’re always going to need additional funds.”
General Motors should venture into bankruptcy just as any other company would.
Now that the government has cracked open the door, other companies undoubtedly will be next.
This sort of thing will seem normal. And the economy will only suffer more, and prolong an already bleak economic situation.
Have we thrown the Constitution out of the window? The government seems to be making up new rules as it goes along, and by doing so has further wrecked the economy.
People who see what’s happening to this country are fed up.
Our country was founded on the freedom for all of us to guide our lives as we see fit. Government shouldn’t tell us how to spend the money we work hard to earn.
Liberty is what makes this country great.
Stay free.
 

One of the frequent topics of discussion regarding how to handle the state's current budget crisis centers on the "Rainy Day" Trust Fund. State officials seeking the least painful way forward are haunted by the fact that they can't easily tap into a significant amount of the $780 million in the fund due to constitutional restraints. The first restraint is that no more than one-third of the fund can be accessed during a two-year period. The second—and far more complicated—restriction has to do with the requirement that any oil and gas revenues in excess of $850 million must first be used to replenish any withdrawal from the trust fund before any can be used for appropriations.
Let's put the conundrum facing the Legislature in focus. The House and the Senate can pass a resolution that takes up to $260 million out of the trust fund and use those revenues to help balance the budget they are now struggling to confect. But if they do, they would have to replenish the fund with oil and gas revenues during the course of the next budget year when the total amount of collections reaches the $850 million level. That greatly diminishes the value of tapping the Rainy Day Fund as a solution for the budget crisis. Many legislators are grumbling about this "flaw" in the Rainy Day Fund and one—Rep. Franklin Foil (R-Baton Rouge)—has filed a constitutional amendment that would remove the requirement that excess oil and gas revenues replenish the fund in the year the revenues are removed from it.
Sometimes legislators forget that history tends to repeat itself, so what follows is a friendly reminder about the "flaw" in Rep. Foil's "solution."
The correct name of the so-called Rainy Day Trust Fund is actually the Budget Stabilization Fund. It wasn't actually designed primarily to put money away for a "rainy day." It was enacted to restrict the use of windfall revenues—especially volatile oil and gas revenues—in budgeting. Originally, the constitutional amendment that created it mandated that any oil and gas revenues in excess of $750 million had to go into the fund until the cap (a percentage of general fund revenues) was reached. Perhaps the only reason the constitutional amendment made it through the Legislature back then was because most legislators never thought those revenues would hit the $750 million mark again. But they did, and as soon as that happened, the Legislature bumped the threshold up to $850 million where it is today.
The primary source of the current budget crisis comes from the fact that exploding oil and gas revenues in the past few years filled up the trust fund and then flowed over by hundreds of millions into the state general fund. Those volatile revenues were quickly spent by a Legislature eager to spend every dime available. Today, oil and gas revenues are about $800 million less than in the last budget—volatility personified.  The "flaw" that some in the Legislature find with the stabilization fund has to do with the intent of that amendment to the constitution: to place restraints on legislators from funding recurring expenditures with revenues that are anything but stable.
Rep. Foil's proposed constitutional amendment (which couldn't take effect for several years even if enacted by the Legislature and approved by the voters next year) is a classic example of ignoring what history has taught us. The Legislature overspent significantly in the last two budgets. Diverting more volatile revenues to keep that spending train going will quickly lead to an even larger crisis.
 

Jason Alderman

The winter holidays are upon us and with them the added stress of tight financial times. This year, enjoy the season without letting holiday spending get the better of you. We've put together expert advice and practical tools to help you minimize spending concerns and make this holiday season a joyous time.
1. Make a budget and stick to it:
Start your holiday budgeting by looking at what you spent last year. Were you on target, or did last year's spending land you in debt? Make a list of what you plan to spend money on this year. Knowing your spending goals beforehand will keep you on track. Some financial planners recommend spending no more than 1.5% of your annual income ($750 per $50,000 of annual income). Look at your major spending categories - gifts, entertaining, meals, and travel- and estimate how much you can afford in each category.
Use this easy Holiday Budget Calculator to help determine your holiday budget.
2. Get Creative
Save money this year by getting creative. Store-bought gifts are great, but when you make a gift for someone they truly appreciate your time and effort. Ideas for creative gift projects are plentiful online. A fun place to start is Instructables.com, a do-it-yourself web site full of step-by-step tutorials for everyone.
Perhaps you don't have time to make something yourself but still like the affordability and personal touch of giving homemade gifts. At Craftzine.com you'll not only find ideas that you can make yourself, but budget gifts available from other crafters. The ultimate marketplace for homemade gifts however is Etsy, where you can find crafty items from over 200,000 sellers.
3. Join Together
Instead of excessively spending on each other this year, join together with family members to help those who may be less fortunate. Online opportunities are easy to find, and there are several in this article, "Helping others when money is tight." Other opportunities for online giving can be found at the websites for Oxfam International and ACCION.
4. Travel Wisely
If you plan on traveling, take some time to determine how much it will cost you with our Holiday Travel Planner and don't forget these holiday travel planning tips.
5. Avoid the Holiday Hangover
Holidays are a wonderful time to entertain. And a little planning and budgeting will help you avoid financial headaches. Give our Holiday Entertainment Planner a try and let it help you plan your entertainment so that you don't have to pay for it the rest of the year. And Check out these holiday entertainment tips to help you keep your holiday budget in shape.
 

On behalf of the City of Donaldsonville, the Donaldsonville Downtown Development District would like to thank everyone who participated and attended the Donaldsonville Christmas Parade.  This event could not have been held without the combined efforts of the Christmas Parade Committee (Danielle Doyle, Toni Chachatti, Jamie Delatte, Tonja Aubert, Liz Eure), the Donaldsonville City Council, Mayor Leroy Sullivan, Ascension Parish Sheriff's office, Donaldsonville Fire Department, and the DDD Board of Directors.  And special thank you to KKAY's Kirk Landry and Harry Hoyler for covering the parade live on the radio, and to committee chairman Danielle Doyle for overseeing the month-long planning of the event.
The purpose of the Donaldsonville Christmas Parade, as well as Come 4th on the 3rd of July and other similar events, is to foster a sense of pride in our community--to bring everyone together for a few hours of enjoyment as we celebrate the holidays.  If you were unable to attend this year's event, the largest in recent years, we encourage you to attend next year.  Thank you again to everyone who took part in making this year's event a success.
 
John Rodgers
Executive Director, Donaldsonville Downtown Development District
Manager, Main Street Donaldsonville program