The speech none of our gubernatorial candidates can give: Robert Mann [View all]

My fellow Louisianians, it's time someone spoke honestly about where our state stands and why we're in such deep distress.

It would be easy to keep telling you that everything wrong is the fault of Gov. Bobby Jindal. Sure, his eight years were a disaster. Instead of moving us forward, he moved to Iowa. Jindal cared only about using his office as a steppingstone. Our wellbeing was never his concern. Still, Jindal did not create our state's deep, chronic problems. He just ignored them or made them worse.

For the past year, my opponents and I have been campaigning for governor, promising to change the state dramatically for the better. We don't say it will all be ice cream and puppies, but the implication is clear: We're selling the phony and cruel notion that one person can fundamentally reform our politics.

Well, that's bunk, and it's time someone leveled with you about it. If you elect me, all I can promise is incremental change. To suggest anything else would be a lie.

You know why Louisiana won't make huge strides anytime soon? It's because we, the voters, don't want fundamental change. Oh, sure, we pretend we do. But, judging by the people we send to Baton Rouge, we really don't.

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