JIM BROWN-TIME TO RETIRE!

Monday, May 5^th, 2025

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

JIM BROWN-TIME TO RETIRE!

What’s the saying? All good things must come to an end?  We experience a number of “lasts.” In the secular world, I recall The Last Picture Show, the Last of the Mohicans, The Last Samurai.  In the religious world, Christianity says there are four last things: death, judgment, heaven and hell.  We give the dying faithful last rites, and we recall the Last Supper. Taverns have a last call  – which Leonard Cohen used metaphorically in his wonderful song “Closing Time.” I  hope my  weekly columns qualify as a special stop each week for those who read this weekly publication. But this will be my last time I’ll write.

I have been writing a weekly column for newspapers across Louisiana since 2004. That’s almost 1100 columns of my personal opinions, commenting on state and national issues. Besides these weekly ramblings, I’ve been able to tuck seven books into my portfolio. I haven’t gained a lot in personal renumeration, but I hope I have been able to continue receiving my readers’ respect.

I always wanted to be a writer, but the world of politics got in the way.  Eight years in the Louisiana state senate, a delegate to the 1973 constitutional convention, eight years as secretary of state, a failed bid for governor, and a final twelve years as commissioner of insurance.  When I ran for governor in 1987 challenging incumbent  Edwin Edwards, I decided to put my writing skills to a test. My vision of Louisiana’s future was set out in a 188 Page document called the Brown Papers.  I was convinced the public would be blown away by a number of changes that I felt needed to be made in running the state. Besides me, I imagine the only other person that read this document was my mother.

Following politics, I poured forward on writing about the highs and lows of Louisiana life. I found that voters have small expectations of what to presume from their elected officials. They just don’t feel whoever gets elected is going to make any real difference.  Oh, there are certainly Louisianians to admire out there. But they primarily come from the private sector; the musicians, the writers, a wealth of marvelous chefs, artists, and athletes. You can urge your children to be accomplished in so many fields that emanate from the Bayou state. But as Willie Nelson would have phrased it: “Mama, don’t let your babies grow up to be politicians.”

Walker Percy, who before his death was from Covington, has always been one of my favorite writers. We had a number of conversations, and he lamented to me that Louisiana should be much more than what he decried as “a slightly sleazy playground for tourists and conventioneers.”  And even though the state ranks at the bottom of the better quality of life lists, I personally still have hope.  My birthday is this week. I’m turning 85. And I’m starting to wear down. It’s time for me to stop and smell the roses.

I hope I’ll be remembered as someone who made common sense when he spoke and never shied away from telling it like it is. Thanks for being a regular reader of my column. Perhaps I’ll see you in the future along the way.

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.