PRIDE-MAYBE YOU START WITH THE HOTDOGS!

Monday, June 22^nd, 2026

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 PRIDE-MAYBE YOU START WITH THE HOTDOGS!

One of the biggest challenges facing Louisiana’s newly elected Governor Jeff Landry is the task of re-instilling pride in the attitudes of many Louisianians. Government can only do so much. But a governor can be a catalyst in raising the public’s expectations.

The whole focus of public accountability and local pride came to mind this past weekend as I was receiving some medical help in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now I do admit a bit of favorable prejudice towards the Tar Heel State, having graduated from Chapel Hill back in the 60s. And 50 years ago, many observers linked North Carolina and Louisiana as the two southern states with the greatest potential for economic growth and a higher quality of life in the South.

Both states had a strong agricultural base, with tobacco being king in Carolina and both cotton and sugar cane offering farmers a good living in Louisiana. It was textiles in Carolina and oil in Louisiana. The two great university presses in the South were located at Chapel Hill and Baton Rouge with major American literary figures concentrated around the two prodigious state universities.

But an economic downturn hit both states in the late 1970s. North Carolina quickly diversified and centered its future economic development on an innovative research triangle that attracted startup businesses all over the state. High oil prices enticed Louisiana to keep the status quo. And things haven’t changed much.

Several Louisiana cities have recently sent groups of business leaders and public officials around the country to observe what seems to be working in other cities. They would do well to make a pilgrimage to Charlotte. Here is what they would find.

One of the first things you notice is the cleanliness, not just in Charlotte, but throughout much of the state. There are exceptions. But by and large, you just don’t see the litter that seems to cover Louisiana.

A few years ago, former Louisiana State Senator Robert Barham was a guest on my nationally syndicated radio show. He told the story of his efforts to bring a Japanese automobile plant to Northeast Louisiana. The Senator had picked up the Japanese officials in Shreveport and drove them to the plant site some 20 miles east of Monroe. He and his group made what they thought was a first-rate presentation, but the Japanese decided to go elsewhere. When he followed up the visit to find out why Louisiana was turned down, he was given two reasons. First was the lack of a trained workforce. But just as important, was the litter along highways. He was told: “Your people do not seem to take much pride in keeping their state clean.”

A brand-new monorail system has just opened in Charlotte, traveling throughout the downtown area and linking all the major hotels to the convention center. Congestion throughout the inner city has been greatly reduced, and I found it to be a quick and easy way to travel from my hotel to the sports arena. An idea well worth considering by the city of New Orleans.

Charlotte, as well as a number of other North Carolina cities, is in the process of becoming “wired.” Even midsize cities like Winston Salem are installing wireless broadband networks. As one city official told me: “We are trying to differentiate our North Carolina cities from other locations as we are competing for those knowledge — based companies. If your city is not wired up, you’re just not going to be competitive. Louisiana is only partially “wired.” More than 20% of the state—especially rural areas—lacks traditional wired connections.

And what’s all this about hotdogs? Let me confess that I love a tasty, grilled all beef hotdog with chili, mustard and relish on a warm bun. And that’s just what I got at several stops in Charlotte. Now I’m a regular in Tiger Stadium, the LSU Maravich Center, and the Superdome. And let me tell you, the hotdog comparison is like night and day. At these locations, you get a boiled, shriveled weenie on a cold, often stale bun. Certainly no pride here.

The bottom line, Governor, is that in setting out your new agenda, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There are a number of progressive ideas emanating from cities and states all over the country. Many of these ideas will require a major financial investment. But others, like keeping our roadways clean, are simply a matter of instilling a sense of personal responsibility. That’s where pride begins.

And Governor, you will particularly make me proud of your efforts if you make it your personal mission to do something about those lousy hotdogs at Tiger Stadium.

Peace and Justice

Jim Brown

Jim Brown’s syndicated column appears each week in numerous newspapers throughout the nation and on websites worldwide. You can read all his past columns and see continuing updates at http://www.jimbrownla.com