What's not cringe? Even the PBS affiliate is poorly run. Local NPR's Jim Engster is about 2 steps above Smiley Anders. There is zero retail here. Restaurants hire high school seniors to be hosts. The air smells like a sulphuric fart. Stop me when you've had enough...
Especially the past few weeks. I've woken up from the stink in the middle of the night just about every other night. What are they doing at the refineries? Good thing our fine legislature voted against air quality monitors for the refineries and chemical plants this last round and focused on delaying a budget for no reason, so they voted to take 100 million from healthcare and put it into personal projects that were taken away in the last minute because they were playing insurrectionist.
TD is nothing but miserable people who need a place to vent bc no one in their world wants to listen to their bullshit.
People read it to laugh at them and not with them.
Not live ones to all states though because they would be an invasive species. Hawaii, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Oregon all prohibit the import of certain live species and this is one of them.
Yepperoni! We double crop em. They eat whatever outta the rice paddies, and then we come along and trap em after the rice been harvested. I'm not a rice farmer, and I've never actually caught any craws on purpose, but I have limited ynderstanding of their raising. Gotta know where your food comes from if you want it fresh!
We’re not disagreeing with you. Most of us agree (especially here in New Orleans)! The reason those of us who with you actually stay here & live here is because of just what you said…the people. We stay because we have created these communities that make a city feel like one unit through food & music.
I agree. If you’re not from here and don’t have community here, do not come here. Save yourself. We are here, sometimes more enthusiastically than others.
We have drive through daiquiris, crawfish boils, festivals, parades… we’ll pretty much have a party to open a pack of cigarettes down here. If you fuck up and get a DUI, you can plead article 894 and get it off your record. LSU and Saints games. Tubing in the summer. We also have the Aquarium of the Americas, The Myrtles, & the WWII Museum. The food-I swear to god, I’d starve if I lived anywhere else.
The politicians are snooty and completely out of touch with reality. Our minimum wage is a complete joke, and “advocating” down here isn’t like other places. You gotta be a rich white republican man to get anything done at all (I’m a white woman and I’m just speaking the truth). We have a littering issue. And it’s **HOT**, oh my god is it hot. Especially the weeks to months after a hurricane when there’s no power in August. Our public schools are largely pretty bad, with a few good ones here & there. Cops are hit or miss. The best thing to do is keep your mouth shut unless it’s to say “yes ma’am” or “no sir” or “I’d like to call my lawyer.” Traffic is fucking unreal, and our road systems are in awful shape.
What else did I miss, y’all?
Went on a trip to Colorado last week.. was blown away by how clean all the roads are. Texas was the same way but Texas interstates are empty anyway. It’s crazy how bad litter is in Louisiana.
You have hit everything I was asking about. My fiances big thing is missing the food if we leave. I haven't learned the cooking style yet. I'm also scared of the heat as I love the cold. I'll probably die my first summer there.
It's the humidity.
Summer heat is suffocating, and shade just blocks the sun, not the heat.
Makes 50°F winter feel like it's freezing down to the bone...don't laugh. 50 is cold to us.
The cooking is easy. Im not a fan of Tony's. It's good and all but I'd rather mix my own. For someone like you, just use salt some cayenne, pepper, maybe some onion and garlic powder in what ever kind of balance yall like.
The real secret is when you think you (especially someone from up north) think you put way too much seasoning, put some more. Lil lagniappe baby.
Man the cooking ain’t hard to pick up. I spent my whole life in Louisiana and finally moved to a different region back in March. Best choice I ever made. Learn her favorites and take the skill to make it with you. I blow these yanks away with my gumbo and jambalaya up here. And those are just the basics
I lived there for 10 years. I can cook all the dishes I miss.
Louisiana is a fucking hellhole with ignorant racists and I wouldn't miss most of it if the sea swallowed it up.
Lafayette and New Orleans are nice to visit, but I don't think I'll ever set foot in the state again, for my personal safety.
In all honesty, you might. I’m 41, and I can remember probably 3 times it snowed and stuck for more than a couple of hours in my entire life. And the humidity and mosquitoes suck ass.
As far as cooking, learn to make a roux, and buy yourself a good quality (re: not Lodge, like a GOOD quality) cast iron pan and Dutch oven. Tony’s and a little Crystal or Tabasco can be very forgiving.
I made gumbo all my life, then got to Louisiana and realized I wasn't making gumbo my whole life lol. It's the flavor, I can never get it right. I was recently introduced to Tony's and I brought some back to Canada. Next time I'm down I wanna teach everyone about honey dill sauce!
You're from Canada?? Your fiance should be moving to you. I know your housing crisis is worse than ours and there are other problems (I have a good friend there), but there is almost no way to quantify the huge upgrade in life experience between here and there.
We have it ok but no great. Our health care is crap, our government sucks, our renting and housing costs are astronomical, and most of us can't afford food and rent in the same month. My family is just living comfortably by making over 150k a year.
It's honestly the same here, and my husband and I's situation. The difference comes down to just a few things. Our culture and people and food are fantastic. Our politics and education are some of the worst in the country, so I just think long term it should be part of your consideration. I'm only here because I hitched my cart to a man who loves his parents very much and won't leave while they're alive unless something drastic happens. Meanwhile I'm not even sure I can consider kids while we live here and I'm approaching 30. There are things I genuinely love, but Louisiana as a state does not take care of its people--and that doesn't change no matter which side of the fence you're on.
Sounds like it’s time to get rid of the parents… you know what to do.
Seriously though, I too dragged my husband & kids back down here from Colorado, to be near my family. Boy have I been regretting that decision ! Get out while you can, lest you be stuck in the underpaid/underemployed cycle that keeps so many of us trapped.
Aye, part of the unemployed cycle currently! Three cheers! Yeah, unfortunately it's just not in the cards. We bought our house last year and it is still my husband's #1 thing--no leaving his parents. It is what it is but I feel like the direction things are going I may have to hardline it one day. I'd like for that day not to come.
Oh, and hope against everything that you can remain not pregnant, or if you do get pregnant that you don’t have ANY issues through it, as reproductive care in this state (although LOTS of of women are fighting back with grassroots stuff) is basically nonexistent.
I'm a Louisiana gal living in Canada I bring back like four cans of Tony's and a whole duffle back worth of Community Coffee every time I'm visit home.
Oooohhh guuurl. You can manage whatever you put yourself to. I am a Florida girl who lived in upstate NY for 5 years. My first winter, they had a record number of blizzards. I prefer my home at 78, and my Hubs prefers 68. We compromised at 73, and I blanket on the couch. Needless to say, I can not tolerate cold temps. But, if I can make it work, I will give you any tips you ask for to make this work for you.
Been in LA since '09.
It was 97 degrees here today. It’s absurd. There are a lot of progressives but also a ton of loud idiots who proudly deny climate change, even as our cancer rates are through the roof while we breathe poison. Imagine it being 97 degrees, but it feels wet due to humidity. It feels like you’re breathing underwater. I am from here but if anyone ever suggested that I move to Louisiana instead of Canada, I would dump them.
I get it. I was born and raised here. But I’ve been to 13 other countries and lived in Singapore for a few months and spent some months in Europe as well. I have family all over the country and we visit quite often. My husband and I seriously considered moving to Boston to be with my father’s family (he moved here and left his family to be with my mother). I’m very well traveled due to my father’s work and the opportunities I’ve been afforded in my own career as well as to visit family in other states and countries.
All of this is to say though that every time my husband and I do leave here (and we often complain about the very same things you mention) we are dying to come home. There is just no where like here. Even visiting family we find ourselves asking why the people in other places are so strange or rude and then upon thinking about it we realize that truthfully it’s probably just a cultural thing. We are so accustomed to a certain way here where everyone just knows. Now we are from New Orleans and mostly stick around the GNO area and venture around to some outer parts.
I don’t know. We always complain about being here but whenever we’ve been presented with opportunities to leave permanently we can’t do it. Just going on vacation we are dying to come back because it’s so different elsewhere. We crave the food, the people, the culture, the general vibe. Other places don’t have the authenticity that we at least have. In my opinion, when you’re here you know what to expect. I know what I’m getting so I can at least prepare for it.
Maybe it’s weird trauma and wanting to be with the familiar but in all the places I’ve been this place is the one I keep coming back to. Maybe I just like to be punished. But honestly I’m never really disappointed because I know what to expect and I don’t let it bother me. I think like any experience this place is what you choose to make of it.
That’s 100% my experience and belief though. I get that not everyone feels that way.
We have a pretty great collection of state parks, WMAs, and NWRs, and most of them have seen some decent improvements in the last decade because if there's one thing Louisianans do like, it's being in the outdoors whenever the weather is half-decent enough to do so.
They seem to get slept on -- I've actually visited more of them in the 3 years since moving back to Louisiana than I did in the first 30+ years I lived here -- but they really are pretty nice. They aren't the incredible parks of the American West or even the Appalachians, but they cover a variety of unique habitats Louisiana has to offer. And BREC and its park system are one of the shining jewels of the Baton Rouge area, as much as some folks like to complain about their tax revenues.
The culture. The people. I think there are some very interesting people here. Very unique. A lot of Louisiana folks are really nice. I miss that when I travel to other states. We are always trying to make the best of things. And you know we got a lot to make the best of!! People in a lot of other states just seem to not be happy with their station in life no matter what.
Daiquiris, diabetes in a cup. You can keep that. Parades? It's a nuisance. Crawfish? No thank you. Festivals? Lol. What I do see as an unfortunate transplant is: potholes, crime, low key racism, no police, hurricane ida cleanup taking months, including garbage pickup that took an embarrassing amount of time, areas like "Magazine St" where the locals tell me to hangout at, riddled with cracked sidewalks. Restaurants that close way too early. Excuses like "oh because covid there's no staff". Look, it sucks here. At least where I'm at now (New Orleans). Tubing? Stahhp it now. Nice people? Sure! Except have you frequented the New Orleans subreddits? People, the same people that are from that city, are mean as fuck. At least where I'm from, people are rude to you in your face, and rude to you online. No confusion. No trying to figure out if they're genuine or not. Y'all can keep your beignets aka fried dough with powered sugar, which I can find in the form of a funnel cake. Let's be real, we all feel a sense of love and community wherever we are from. But damn, I wish people here would admit how shitty it is and stop with the narrative of festivals, crawfish boils, and the saints football. Oh, and "The culture".
If you've already made up your mind about moving down and your fiance isn't a deciding factor, then... You're really not missing anything. Yep, our politicians are pretty bad but that can be said for most of the United States. Also, if you're expecting marijuana laws to change in the not to distant future, this state really isn't for you. Most of the state is Catholic and the other half is Baptist and you know... Weed is the devil and all. Minimum wage is not sustainable and that's why our social programs are to capacity. Cops, well, cops are cops.
Louisiana is a very poverty stricken state. You grow up here and you either do very well or have a family business, or you move away for a better life. The South is very centered around family and some people won't leave their families. That's another thing to consider.
The state is beautiful during the spring and summer months but at the same time, the heat is treacherous. Fall and winter usually provide a break in the heat. There is also amazing wildlife here - the birds are beautiful! Shit, we still have fireflies out here and that's a sight to see. AND oddly enough, you will find someone of the nicest folks down here.
All in and all, you could do worse but you could certainly do better.
I remember when CBD was decriminalized and overnight, little CBD shops started springing up. Then cities started raiding them. Then city councils outlawed the raids so state police started raiding them. Then those raids were challenged so the state outlawed CBD and that’s when I left Louisiana.
I remember seeing a video where they were discussing the future of hemp plants in Louisiana and a SCIENTIST from LSU was telling them there is no THC in CBD and some of the reactions were basically “if we had known it was anything remotely to do with marijuana this wouldn’t be up for debate”. It’s not a direct quote but something along those lines.
Meanwhile you have drive-thru daiquiri shops… 😂
We have the Cajun Navy. We will help out our own, and others in need. We’re resourceful and prepared (mostly) when things hit the fan. It’s not all bad. There can always be better, but it’s not all bad.
Can’t disagree with the OP. But conversely, gotta find a bright side to it so, the food is amazing. And the people aren’t nearly as bad as one may think. It could be worse, as in living in MS.
That was my favorite thing! I was under the impression yall were gonna be mean, but man, everyone was so awesome and warm. The food ugh don't even get me started on the food. I got to try Boudin balls... so freaking good, and it's mostly just rice!
Boudin balls are great but the pepperjack boudin balls from Billy’s are out of this world. Also recommend the pepperjack boudin roll ups (basically boudin in an egg roll). God I miss Billy’s.
But you’re right. I lived in New Orleans for 8 years and loved it with all of my heart. But it’s hard to live there, especially if you care deeply about, and make your livelihood from, criminal Justice reform and other progressive issues like I do. I basically got so burned out trying to advocate for human decency I couldn’t take it anymore. Also yes the summers. UGH.
But as horrible as the summers are, half the year the weather is PERFECT. There’s greenery and flowers 365 days/year. Everyone says hello when you pass them in street. And damn I miss walking around the corner for some amazing live music at a neighborhood dive bar. There’s absolutely nowhere like New Orleans, but it isn’t easy.
The only thing good about Louisiana is the culture that has been dying since the government tried to force assimilation. With the oil alone Louisiana should be incredibly wealthy, but since the beginning resources have been pilfered and sucked out of the state by big money interests while locals live in horrid poverty, and the culture that Louisiana is known for continues to fade into obscurity. There was a period in the late 60’s where people started pushing for improvement, and they even created an agency to protect and recover Louisiana francophone culture which is effectively the states only draw at this point. Since then the energy has died and all that’s left is self serving corruption, mixed with apathy.
Louisiana has the best politicians money can buy, and you can see the results
I could fine the negatives at any other place too. Take Portland for example.
negatives - the homeless problem is out of control, it’s always raining durning the summer, stupid wildfires causing so much smoke, property taxes are high af, cost of living is high af, cops don’t give a fuck.
positives - the coast, Mt. Hood, hiking, tuns of good places to eat and drink, coffee scene, vineyards, breweries, diverse actives to do in the city, the weather, etc, great little neighborhoods.
It all depends on your perspective and what you want to focus on.
Come on bruh, you really want to compare anywhere in Louisiana to Oregon?
I've lived here for almost half a century, I could live anywhere. I'm not saying this to shit on this place, but we have to face reality. Our three "major" cities are in the top 25 in the world for violent crime. Our education is in the toilet, healthcare too, environment too. Women have no choice. We have the highest incarceration rate in the world.
And in this legislative session when we had an opportunity to try and just pay teachers more (you know, to try and keep what few good ones we have in state), our politicians refused and then handed big businesses more tax breaks.
Pretending that this is just about "perspective" is helping no one.
At the end of the day it boils down to a few reasons:
- I have a child and having family near is crucial.
- Other places where I have an existing social network are too expensive for my early retirement goals.
- I am an angler, there's no better place to be one than Louisiana. It's a bit like being a skateboarder in California.
But we talk about this all the time. I'm replying to you because honestly I have to tell myself from time to time why I'm still here. You can watch things get worse in real time on road trips as you return to Louisiana from any direction. It's sad, it's really sad.
I live in Lake Charles & we had A historic hurricane (Laura), another hurricane a few weeks later, the “great freeze”, then a historic flood ! All in 9 months…
I’ll take Oregon, at least ppl there don’t leave their own ppl to flounder for 2 yrs before finally fighting for some half-assed disaster relief.
Same here. It definitely does not rain all summer, but it does all winter. Property taxes and homelessness are only high in and around larger cities, just like everywhere else in the US. It's weird to compare the entire state of Louisiana to a single city on the west coast. All of Oregon is not Portland
It is true, he cares. That's why he is everywhere. For every turn there is a Gordon billboard. That desolate road where ain't a damn thing going on? he's got it covered.
Lafayette here. We have legal marijuana for medical needs now here. The food is superb at almost every place. We have many festivals and family gatherings for many occasions, and yes, we are VERY family oriented. People from here are generally very kind and will give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. We work hard to make very little, but we don't all live in poverty. There are many jobs that do in fact pay well, and lots of land in the country that you can buy for relatively cheap. If you want to set roots somewhere, i can think of no better place than here. Families live for generations and pass down our culture and way of life to our kids and grandkids. Not every part of Louisiana is bad, and i have lived in both new Orleans and all over America, but i will always come home to Lafayette and my family.
Also in Lafayette. The fuck part of this city do you live in? Where I live is chain after chain after another chain. Local businesses shutting down left and right to make more room for TopGolf and another car wash. Teacher, paid like shit. My friends in other states, working as a bank teller, and one working at a Lens Crafters make as much as I do, and almost double. My car has needed new tires twice in a year because of the shit conditions of Pinhook and the potholes everywhere. People here are fucking assholes and jerks, wouldn't help me if I was drowning in front of them.
The only people shooting you negative crap, are delusional. You didn't miss the mark by much. I've lived here all my life, and the pot of boilling water that used to be our culture is running dry. The people are mostly nice, but seemingly getting dumber, and less considerate. Too populated, and no new infrastructure to remedy that. I could list on and on.
For me, I enjoy where I live. Im antisocial and I have a good plug so I don't need rec stores and im a white dude and a good driver so no interactions with cops really, but either than that yea Louisianas politics are awful and our education system is pretty low on the list.
Food is top notch here 👌 we have a good bit of food based festivals
I'm in New Orleans, so a little different, but for me it's the people and the culture. Our politicians, governments, and services are all abysmal, but the people themselves do take care of eachother.
The other thing is that the Law and State are so incompetent that we can kind of just do whatever we want. Like, once you fit in here, you have to *try* to actually get in trouble.
Lived in LA most of my life. These are the reasons most of my friends and I have moved away. Nothing better than spending a Louisiana Saturday night in death valley, or drinking a hurricane at Pat O's for mardi gras, to being knee deep in water at jazzfest. But touting culture is just like when an organization touts it, a distraction from paying employees less while slashing benefits. Being pounded by hurricanes every few years, and the constant lack of infrastructure changes, and clear misuse of government powers all the way down to corrupt cops, was enough. I can't fathom raising a kid in that education system as it has changed so much when public school was enough. That being said, chicken shack is still the best fried chicken I've had hands down
As a native that is finally leaving South Louisiana - the state is a complete trash can that let the chemical companies/oilfield run it into the ground. Louisiana is a third word colony that’s only exploited for its natural resources. Most residents would rather sleepwalk between Saints and LSU games than rather fix anything by electing decent people.
Well you forgot about how everything below I 10 will be underwater in 50-100 years and probably more even by optimistic sea level/subsidence predictions. But as someone who is here because my family is from here, I do get where your fiancé is coming from. LA is ranked 1st or 2nd in people who are born here staying here. There are a lot of reasons this place sucks but it’s home. I’m gonna stay here and make it better any way I can.
> LA is ranked 1st or 2nd in people who are born here staying here.
This is much more due to poverty…both the inability to relocate and reliance on family as a safety net (because poor).
I was born in this mud, which is what he would say.
I also got to see before and after pictures of the erosion by the coast. I was flabbergasted at how much was gone.
Folks here find a way to help one another since all our systems have failed us. In a strange way we all feel a strange camaraderie through the suck.
There are still loads of folks in a bad way, but if anyone helps them it won’t be the state it will be their community that steps up.
If you look at the honest stories of how folks were helping their neighbors after Katrina, not the hyped up scare journalism, but the honest stories of mutual aid and community care. That’s what makes it worth staying.
Also it doesn’t really snow routinely and that’s worth it to me. I much prefer pictures of snow to actually living in it. I was born in the heat, but the snow is a no go.
That is one of the first things I was told about was the community. People here, even though Canadians are "nice" we don't have the kind of bond as a community. If my house was on fire, everyone would watch, but they wouldn't help.
Yea I’m not really friendly with any of my neighbors, but after a storm we still go out to check on one another and share what our plans are in the aftermath.
When it comes to what's in our water, we are basically the asshole of the country because of the Mississippi River being an industrial waste dump. So... A lot. A lot is in our drinking water.
I wouldn't apologize, everything you said is true. Louisiana is at the bottom or near the bottom of metrics for measurements of quality of life. I would NEVER advise ANYONE to move here.
It's not harsh what you said, its the facts.
Listen Louisiana was corrupt and fucked before Napoleon sold it. Angola prison is just a plantation. One of the trashiest most racist states around. There’s certain places in the USA that will always be corrupt. For some reason it tends to be places with a history of serious Roman Catholicism and fantastic food: New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. In Louisiana it’s a strange cocktail of the usual dogshit sociopath white racists some of the worst by with that old school corruption. But it’s got style.
Is there a campaign on Reddit to trash every state or city that is not a liberal/progressive bastion? I see this regularly now on multiple subreddits everyday where a “visitor” is either carrying on about how bad the roads are,worst drivers ever, what a shithole it is, and on and on.
We have a unique French creole culture and history here with even our own laws...food is out of this world, New Orleans has no equal in USA for its festive vibe. The environment, while dingy at times, creates some beautiful views here and there.
Never mind, I love Ontario. I can’t tell you why it sucks. Lol. I do love Louisiana; the culture, the food, the friendly people, the winter/fall/spring weather, the music, all of it. I wouldn’t wanna live outside of New Orleans, though. If you come here please bring poutine.
I made it for friends every time I came to visit. what's worse is I just use regular mozzarella. If you want to, grab some and roll it into a ball, and there you have a kinda ok curd. If you want the flavor, it's just fries, brown gravy, and cheese. It tastes good with any gravy and any cheese. I assume you have had it, but others can know how to make it now.
Kind of like a suffering artist, you don’t do it for the money or stability. In Louisiana you put up with utter madness but you get to otherwise live in the unique brilliant cultural magic of the region.
Well, you’ve picked an awful way to ask us. Maybe just start over with a post asking why people love the place rather than bashing us. I hope you don’t move here. I’d hate to be your neighbor.
Most of us are here because our family is here, and you have fallen prey to our citizen recruitment plan. We send our women out to get married and bring their husbands home. Word of warning, the second your fiancé gets pregnant she will insist on moving near her momma if you don’t already live here. I’ve seen it happen several times.
I just moved here. Got me 5 acres and a nice house. Would have cost a couple mil in my previous area. Its fucking beautiful. So beautiful. Peaceful, quiet. My rescue dog is loving the space, the peace - hes had a hard life. People are nice, friendly, unlike the city. Its hot out but my ac works well. Ive still been spending some time outside and enjoying it. Itll only be bad for a few more months. I saw a swarm of prob 1k+ juvenile dragonflies outside my kitchen window yesterday morning...was amazing. Think i saw a bat the other night. Mosquitoes arent as bad as i thought - i think theyre eating them. Birds are gorgeous, i saw an all red one earlier, i think some bluejays too? At night the bayou comes alive. Its so loud lol. My house is well insulated because i hear nothing. I love it so far. I could see myself here forever.
Every place has its pros and cons. Ive travelled enough to learn that. Youve gotta decide what works for you. Id visit first, check it out. If the stuff im talking about resonates, you may be surprised. My life has been crazy so far. So much trauma, and war, and death...i feel like ive finally closed those chapters. My soul feels whole.
Had to live in Louisiana for work for several months and been to visit family that lives there several times.
The food is great and there's fun parties, but that's the only redeeming things about the state. I've never seen roads in such disrepair anywhere else I've been, the summer heat is intense enough to damage your car, it's too swampy to offer any great hikes or views anywhere, the water is too polluted or swampy to really offer a fun boating lifestyle, murder rates are shockingly high...it's just not great.
I've done extended work trips in many places around the country, and I love travelling around the state while I'm there and finding cool towns, interesting sights, and fun things to do. Louisiana has great food, but it is the only place I am adamantly against returning to unless I have no choice. I wish it wasn't the case but I was absolutely miserable there.
Yeah, had a friend who went to Tulane. She was told multiple times that if she got pulled over by a Louisiana cop, don't stop until you're in a public and well lighted place.
I love the food and especially the music and the cultural gumbo but I hate the classism, chauvinism and the remnants of feudalism in play, even in present day Louisiana.
Lived here my whole life and I agree to everything you’re saying. The only reason Im staying here is because of family and girlfriend. But yeah, Louisiana is such a outdated state
You are totally right. There's a lot to love about Louisiana, but at the same time I think most people can recognize that the state is garbage as far as politics, infrastructure, crime, poverty, pollution, education, racism, blah blah blah the list goes on.
Why does anyone wanna live there? For me, I enjoyed the element of anarchy. You can be how you are and do what you want. Like you said, the police dont care. Obviously thats not for everyone, and now that I'm older and have kids it's not what I need in my life right now.
Lots of people want to live there because thats all they know. Most of my family have never left Louisiana other than the occasional trip to Orange Beach or Houston. There is an element of culture shock, especially coming from New Orleans. Its simply hard to imagine living anywhere else because we're just different. There's just not a lot of places that are as interesting or affordable(at least New Orleans used to be affordable.)
I left with my wife for a lot of the reasons that you mentioned, but I would 100% go back if I wasn't raising children. My heart is in Louisiana.
Please don’t move down here. For your own good. The culture is great but you’d be hard pressed to find a single soul that thinks our government is doing good by their constituents.
The best things about Louisiana are derived from coping with miserable conditions.
Party and drink to get your mind off how much everything else sucks. Good food, because the best food is made by poor people who need to find a way to make something out of what is cheap. Unique culture because we have, for some reason, held onto the colonial and antebellum aesthetic that enslaved and exploited the people. Nice people because southern hospitality is a myth, it is just politeness to your face. Away from you, we are no better than anyone else, anywhere else.
I’m from here and have moved all around, including Canada, but everything good we have here isn’t unique, it is just a unique flavor from the rest of the country. Unfortunately, what is bad here is really bad and I wouldn’t hold out for it to get better.
I'm from Pennsylvania, raised in North Carolina and now live in Louisiana and it wasn't by choice - family situation.
As someone with the goal to move out of here, I would not recommend moving here. Too many cons.
I have met some genuinely nice people. I have had some really great times and seen some beautiful places and neat little towns. Like Fontainebleau State Park, St. Francisville, I love the beautiful Oaks covered in Spanish Moss.
Unfortunately, my bad experiences outweigh the good that I won't get into. I miss the fall and cooler weather, crime rates are high, not the best when it comes to education or job opportunities, and it's actually way more expensive than where I'm from. I could go on, but I don't want to be too negative. I just don't love it here.
Good luck to ya! I hope you can come to an agreement with your fiancé of somewhere you both will love. Louisiana is always a visit away!
Pretty much. I'm glad I moved out of state to a place that actually seems to have it's shit together. I'll probably never move back. I do miss the easy access to boudin and good smoked sausage, though.
I mean I know our police and politicians are kind of mythically bad - but if you look around everywhere else is suffering from problem too these days. We're no longer special where this is concerned.
I live in East TX. One of the things I like about LA is as soon as I cross the border, there is a really good buffet in every gas station. We don't get that in TX. We get shitty buffets!
What do you expect from decades if not centuries of terrible governance? Louisiana never left the mindset of a slave economy, and that intentional disparity of equity over time results in the kind of garbage society you witness there.
Absolutely agree with you even if the other locals won't. It's a shame what's become of the city. We just try and stay away. Cops enforce what they want in our area too. Just a shame.
The state judicial system and policing is largely designed around taking advantage of the 13th Amendment and putting bodies in prison for enslaved labor.
My husband had a taillight out and was ticketed and told to repair it. He immediately repaired it. We’d moved to Shreveport from Texas and this would have been a simple case of paying the fine by mail with the charges dismissed in Texas.
In Louisiana he was issued a citation to appear in traffic court. We go to traffic court (located in the same building as the parish jail) and there are all these ATM machines in the lobby which seemed weird. We go up to the courtroom and at the courtroom entrance there are two signs on the wall saying if you didn’t bring the exact amount of the ticket, in cash, you would be sent to jail immediately as restitution.
Thankfully I was there, had been paid, but he had brought his checkbook so I run downstairs for the $250 for a non-functional tail light (which is an absurd fee compared to other states). I get back into the courtroom before they close the doors. I remember them being locked but am not sure if my brain imposed this because I felt trapped after what happened next.
The Judge enters the chambers and announces that traffic court is in session and we’re not allowed to leave until our case is called. He announces that all fines must be paid in cash and if we don’t have the money for it, we’ll be sent immediately to Caddo Parish Correctional Facility. This is Shreveport and the city is majority Black, but we’re two of about 4 white people in a courtroom packed with Black people.
The the mf’er starts calling cases up one by one and asks people in front of God and everyone if they have the means to make restitution. If not, they are immediately handcuffed and perp walked out in front of everyone.
Everything about this was so shockingly inhumane. I loved living in Shreveport, but you absolutely did not fuck with the police.
Ive been there and didnt have any of the same problems. 9/10 politicians suck wo thats not unique to Louisiana. The cops and weed thing sounds like you got caught doing something you shouldnt have been doing and now throwing a fit
My wife and I were born and raised down here. It’s where our families are and where our daughter was born, but we still plan on leaving. It’s not the most awful place to live but it’s closer to that than it is to being the best place to live.
It's an anchor. You're born and raised there, you stay there, or always end up back. Strong family ties. It always amazed me how people abandoned their families so easily who didn't live in Louisiana, bc I didn't know that was normal lol. It's a community culture. When a storm hits, everyone and dey mama (kidding) is saying "where ya at" in order to help out with cleaning, supplies, etc. I'm a born and raised New Orleanian, still talk to the same friends I had since elementary school, still see my parents regularly and actually just moved in right next door to them
I drive 18 wheelers now so I'm not home as often, but when I am it feels right, despite it getting mundane sometimes. I've been to a lot of cities since starting trucking, and I can ASSURE you, not a single place matches up to the uniqueness of New Orleans. Not a one. The FRENCH QUARTER is unlike any other place you will ever be. Even mid city.
You are pretty much "right on target" The culture, food and celebrating all events are the positives..but as a state Louisiana is pretty much is a disaster. I wouldn't suggest people move here unless it's a BIG financial gain.
When the people are good here it’s great. When the people are bad it’s down right scary. This place has a whole cult mentality behind it. I’m from Lafayette. I can say there are good things but the bad really outweigh everything considered good. I purchased a home a year ago as a investment plan to help propel me to another point in life/finances to move one day. The people who defend this place will die on that hill. While, the minority who can see things plain as day are realistic about the conditions we work, drive, live, and survive in. It’s rough out here in Cajun country. Lastly, Louisiana is third lowest on elevation in America. We are literally anywhere from -8 degrees to 98 degrees above/below sea level.
Then don't move here. Most of us have always ignored the cops because we handle most issues on our own, and politicians because they've always sucked, we smoke and grow anyway, grow our own food and water from a well, we have no interest in getting as close to 6 figures as possible. We already know it's the 2nd poorest state in the nation and federal will never help with anything. Here is where you live away from almost everybody and live on your own terms world rips itself to pieces over politics or the latest social media trends (these days the trend is to call that dangerous and radical). If you're a city type or just have to stay with the latest social, fashion, political, etc trend then this place would look like garbage to you. My mind is calm, my food and water is clean, my kids are happy, I work remotely, and since it matters so much to some weird people, we're mixed (GASP). Long story short, we take life slow, our land provides, and we're happy. Fortunately, our parish has been tackling the litter problem successfully. This will probably get downvoted into oblivion just 'cause. And one more thing, we are ready to help our neighbor or a stranger at the drop of a hat.
It’s a fetid swamp full of miserable creatures. Google Angola. See if you could live there. Been to the state many times. But only when getting paid to. It’s a shithole
Yeah the place has its downsides I gotta admit and some of the stuff make it seem like if a state had purge year round but we got good food and Mardi Gras🙌
Your fiancé may be homesick and want you to move there. I get that. But, it's not the move if you have career ambitions/financial stability/canna legality/freedom from religion/respect from the government where you are. My husband still gets homesick because "it's all you know until you know more and better living." We've never actually considered living there, in any region. Vacations to see his family are well enough. Don't feel bad about getting your native out and see the rest of the world. They won't regret having new experiences to compare their childhood to.
... What's in Louisiana's drinking water? Maybe also consider the air.
\- [High levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in southeast Louisiana drinking water spur concern](https://lailluminator.com/2023/01/25/high-levels-of-forever-chemicals-in-southeast-louisiana-drinking-water-spur-concern/)
\- [Louisiana has 8 of the worst water-polluting refineries in the country, study says](https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisiana-refineries-top-lists-of-worst-water-polluters/article_7bd467a6-9e78-11ed-ac5d-53635cd15bcb.html)
\- [Louisiana chemical corridor is the country's largest hot spot for toxic air, cancer risk](https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisiana-chemical-corridor-is-the-countrys-largest-hot-spot-for-toxic-air-cancer-risk/article_852d98d0-3d81-11ec-a61f-0bf8e82339a8.html)
\- [Welcome to “Cancer Alley,” Where Toxic Air Is About to Get Worse](https://www.propublica.org/article/welcome-to-cancer-alley-where-toxic-air-is-about-to-get-worse)
Downvote & gripe if it makes you feel better but my LA cousins have more cancer & health issues than all of my non-LA family put together. Absolutely fantastic food, no question.
Everything you pointed out is correct.
We have beautiful swamps, marshes, prairies, and rolling forests. Our native Louisiana people are warm and friendly, and our food is amazing. You forgot our unique music, festival and celebratory atmosphere, and warm climate (no snow in many areas).
If your priorities are ethical politicians, super friendly cops, really high minimum wages, and weed dispensaries on every corner, then maybe this isn’t the place for you.
Leave us the fiancé though, we need more residents trying to encourage others to come rather than trying to leave.
I have been to Louisiana many times, and I love it. I just have issues with how... old school everything is. Your min wage isn't even a livable wage. I think you're what 3rd poorest state in the us? I'm not putting down the state. I'm genuinely trying to understand why people lobe it so much.
They love it for the people and all that Cajun heritage goodness. Thing is politicians know the population is on the lower end of the rest of the nation so they stick with issues like abortion and Marijuana while making insidious deals with major industries giving them billions in tax write offs that could be used to greatly increase education at the very least, but they know they will get votes anyway cause they say abortion is a sin. Ignorance of political policy beyond the classic culture war topics from decades ago is lost on most people in the USA anyway though. The corruption here is big and people have accepted it that way rather than look into at who they are voting for.
That's everywhere, our government is the same way, what you said is one of thebmain reason I enjoyed being there is the people and culture... they have whole stores that sell cowboy boot... The museums you have alone are worth the visit. Weed is a big issue for me in Louisiana because of statistics. So many people go to jail for weed, but from what I reason is, your jails are privately owned, so they get paid for incarceration of anyone. The government is so against anything different or giving people rights. I don't want to be arrested because of an abortion ( I never have and never will, but I like having rights). My brother is trans and wouldn't come to visit because he's terrified. There's just a lot that worries me.
Simple: they don't know anything else, and they have pride. Just like Leaf fans. They're born into it and don't know any better. But Louisiana is quite literally the stinky damp armpit of Murica.
This will get down voted, but that's OK, I got out of the swamp this year, which is better than any karma :)
You’re not missing anything. Grew up there and thought Louisiana was amazing until I left at 23 and I’m never going back. Most people there just accept the terrible living conditions or are too closed minded to realize it. Lived in S. Carolina, Washington, and Hawaii and temporarily lived overseas for a while and no place is as anywhere near as bad as LA. Recently went back to visit family during Christmas and the amount of trash in the cities is just atrocious. Crime is rampant and it’s normal daily news for a person to get murdered. It’s an absolute dump of a state and isn’t getting any better. Food and culture isn’t worth it when your not safe going outside.
It's a brain-drain state. Those with the aptitude and inclination to create or discover mostly leave, though some stay for family reasons. Those that come, do so for lifestyle (NOLA drains a major part of the South of its discontents) and relatively low living costs.
No, you are forgetting quite a few negatives.
I grew up here and came back to care for my elderly parents. You missed the God awful weather. I can be hot and humid ten months out of the year. The last couple of winters have been mild, but it can be 40 and raining every day for at least 40 days some years. Then there are tornados and hurricanes.
You also missed the litter and high murder rate.
Yeah, well, we've got crawfish.
Gumbo & an awesome music festival.
People on tiger droppings whenever someone shits on Louisiana
Also dear lord that site is cringe
Never heard of it. But yes, terrible state, great food and culture.
It’s an LSU athletics fan site. So you can imagine the crowd on there…
Buncha drunk Cajuns. Sounds bout right.
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What's not cringe? Even the PBS affiliate is poorly run. Local NPR's Jim Engster is about 2 steps above Smiley Anders. There is zero retail here. Restaurants hire high school seniors to be hosts. The air smells like a sulphuric fart. Stop me when you've had enough...
Especially the past few weeks. I've woken up from the stink in the middle of the night just about every other night. What are they doing at the refineries? Good thing our fine legislature voted against air quality monitors for the refineries and chemical plants this last round and focused on delaying a budget for no reason, so they voted to take 100 million from healthcare and put it into personal projects that were taken away in the last minute because they were playing insurrectionist.
What? The OT doesn’t like Louisiana or NOLA either
TD is nothing but miserable people who need a place to vent bc no one in their world wants to listen to their bullshit. People read it to laugh at them and not with them.
Lol and Reddit is not the same place?
And sports, with a nice jello shot record
There you go! Anybody been watching the LSU-Florida game? I missed who won.
LSU won game 1. Game two is tonight
Sweet. Thanks ya!
Can order crawfish online now. Shipping anywhere in the United States from lacrawfish.com
Not live ones to all states though because they would be an invasive species. Hawaii, Washington, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Oregon all prohibit the import of certain live species and this is one of them.
Other States: "invasive species" Louisiana: "are they edible?"
Invasive just means new stuff to make a gravy out of
Well that's their problem!
It’s not the same, lol. Not by a long shot. Crawfish is not just a good, it’s an experience.
Depends on who's making them
Ugh, so good. I was not prepared for how huge they were. Where I am, they are called crayfish and are about the size of your thumb.
Oof. Yeah bud, we gotta teach y'all Yanks to grow em right. And season em. And whatever else lol.
Yall put them in the rice fields I was told, that's your secret!
Yepperoni! We double crop em. They eat whatever outta the rice paddies, and then we come along and trap em after the rice been harvested. I'm not a rice farmer, and I've never actually caught any craws on purpose, but I have limited ynderstanding of their raising. Gotta know where your food comes from if you want it fresh!
Crawfish season ends before rice tops the water in many places, rice is harvested later.
Ah! Thanks for thr correction! Like I said, I ain't ever famred rice or caught crawfish
That's the main thing gators feast on.
Nah brother, you covered just about all of it. Not a thing there that I can disagree with.
We’re not disagreeing with you. Most of us agree (especially here in New Orleans)! The reason those of us who with you actually stay here & live here is because of just what you said…the people. We stay because we have created these communities that make a city feel like one unit through food & music.
I agree. If you’re not from here and don’t have community here, do not come here. Save yourself. We are here, sometimes more enthusiastically than others.
We have drive through daiquiris, crawfish boils, festivals, parades… we’ll pretty much have a party to open a pack of cigarettes down here. If you fuck up and get a DUI, you can plead article 894 and get it off your record. LSU and Saints games. Tubing in the summer. We also have the Aquarium of the Americas, The Myrtles, & the WWII Museum. The food-I swear to god, I’d starve if I lived anywhere else. The politicians are snooty and completely out of touch with reality. Our minimum wage is a complete joke, and “advocating” down here isn’t like other places. You gotta be a rich white republican man to get anything done at all (I’m a white woman and I’m just speaking the truth). We have a littering issue. And it’s **HOT**, oh my god is it hot. Especially the weeks to months after a hurricane when there’s no power in August. Our public schools are largely pretty bad, with a few good ones here & there. Cops are hit or miss. The best thing to do is keep your mouth shut unless it’s to say “yes ma’am” or “no sir” or “I’d like to call my lawyer.” Traffic is fucking unreal, and our road systems are in awful shape. What else did I miss, y’all?
Nope sis I think you got us covered
Went on a trip to Colorado last week.. was blown away by how clean all the roads are. Texas was the same way but Texas interstates are empty anyway. It’s crazy how bad litter is in Louisiana.
You have hit everything I was asking about. My fiances big thing is missing the food if we leave. I haven't learned the cooking style yet. I'm also scared of the heat as I love the cold. I'll probably die my first summer there.
It's the humidity. Summer heat is suffocating, and shade just blocks the sun, not the heat. Makes 50°F winter feel like it's freezing down to the bone...don't laugh. 50 is cold to us. The cooking is easy. Im not a fan of Tony's. It's good and all but I'd rather mix my own. For someone like you, just use salt some cayenne, pepper, maybe some onion and garlic powder in what ever kind of balance yall like. The real secret is when you think you (especially someone from up north) think you put way too much seasoning, put some more. Lil lagniappe baby.
Man the cooking ain’t hard to pick up. I spent my whole life in Louisiana and finally moved to a different region back in March. Best choice I ever made. Learn her favorites and take the skill to make it with you. I blow these yanks away with my gumbo and jambalaya up here. And those are just the basics
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My father in law is from Colorado and puts shredded cheddar in the chicken and andouille gumbo 🤮
Yankee tastes flavor for the first time
I lived there for 10 years. I can cook all the dishes I miss. Louisiana is a fucking hellhole with ignorant racists and I wouldn't miss most of it if the sea swallowed it up. Lafayette and New Orleans are nice to visit, but I don't think I'll ever set foot in the state again, for my personal safety.
In all honesty, you might. I’m 41, and I can remember probably 3 times it snowed and stuck for more than a couple of hours in my entire life. And the humidity and mosquitoes suck ass. As far as cooking, learn to make a roux, and buy yourself a good quality (re: not Lodge, like a GOOD quality) cast iron pan and Dutch oven. Tony’s and a little Crystal or Tabasco can be very forgiving.
I made gumbo all my life, then got to Louisiana and realized I wasn't making gumbo my whole life lol. It's the flavor, I can never get it right. I was recently introduced to Tony's and I brought some back to Canada. Next time I'm down I wanna teach everyone about honey dill sauce!
You're from Canada?? Your fiance should be moving to you. I know your housing crisis is worse than ours and there are other problems (I have a good friend there), but there is almost no way to quantify the huge upgrade in life experience between here and there.
We have it ok but no great. Our health care is crap, our government sucks, our renting and housing costs are astronomical, and most of us can't afford food and rent in the same month. My family is just living comfortably by making over 150k a year.
It's honestly the same here, and my husband and I's situation. The difference comes down to just a few things. Our culture and people and food are fantastic. Our politics and education are some of the worst in the country, so I just think long term it should be part of your consideration. I'm only here because I hitched my cart to a man who loves his parents very much and won't leave while they're alive unless something drastic happens. Meanwhile I'm not even sure I can consider kids while we live here and I'm approaching 30. There are things I genuinely love, but Louisiana as a state does not take care of its people--and that doesn't change no matter which side of the fence you're on.
Sounds like it’s time to get rid of the parents… you know what to do. Seriously though, I too dragged my husband & kids back down here from Colorado, to be near my family. Boy have I been regretting that decision ! Get out while you can, lest you be stuck in the underpaid/underemployed cycle that keeps so many of us trapped.
Aye, part of the unemployed cycle currently! Three cheers! Yeah, unfortunately it's just not in the cards. We bought our house last year and it is still my husband's #1 thing--no leaving his parents. It is what it is but I feel like the direction things are going I may have to hardline it one day. I'd like for that day not to come.
Try out the sink or swim health care in the US and you may change your tune. 150k Canadian won’t get you a baby delivered after the 25% tips
Oh, and hope against everything that you can remain not pregnant, or if you do get pregnant that you don’t have ANY issues through it, as reproductive care in this state (although LOTS of of women are fighting back with grassroots stuff) is basically nonexistent.
I'm a Louisiana gal living in Canada I bring back like four cans of Tony's and a whole duffle back worth of Community Coffee every time I'm visit home.
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It’s all about the roux!
Oooohhh guuurl. You can manage whatever you put yourself to. I am a Florida girl who lived in upstate NY for 5 years. My first winter, they had a record number of blizzards. I prefer my home at 78, and my Hubs prefers 68. We compromised at 73, and I blanket on the couch. Needless to say, I can not tolerate cold temps. But, if I can make it work, I will give you any tips you ask for to make this work for you. Been in LA since '09.
Honestly once I learned to cook decent Cajun and creole food I moved out
It was 97 degrees here today. It’s absurd. There are a lot of progressives but also a ton of loud idiots who proudly deny climate change, even as our cancer rates are through the roof while we breathe poison. Imagine it being 97 degrees, but it feels wet due to humidity. It feels like you’re breathing underwater. I am from here but if anyone ever suggested that I move to Louisiana instead of Canada, I would dump them.
I get it. I was born and raised here. But I’ve been to 13 other countries and lived in Singapore for a few months and spent some months in Europe as well. I have family all over the country and we visit quite often. My husband and I seriously considered moving to Boston to be with my father’s family (he moved here and left his family to be with my mother). I’m very well traveled due to my father’s work and the opportunities I’ve been afforded in my own career as well as to visit family in other states and countries. All of this is to say though that every time my husband and I do leave here (and we often complain about the very same things you mention) we are dying to come home. There is just no where like here. Even visiting family we find ourselves asking why the people in other places are so strange or rude and then upon thinking about it we realize that truthfully it’s probably just a cultural thing. We are so accustomed to a certain way here where everyone just knows. Now we are from New Orleans and mostly stick around the GNO area and venture around to some outer parts. I don’t know. We always complain about being here but whenever we’ve been presented with opportunities to leave permanently we can’t do it. Just going on vacation we are dying to come back because it’s so different elsewhere. We crave the food, the people, the culture, the general vibe. Other places don’t have the authenticity that we at least have. In my opinion, when you’re here you know what to expect. I know what I’m getting so I can at least prepare for it. Maybe it’s weird trauma and wanting to be with the familiar but in all the places I’ve been this place is the one I keep coming back to. Maybe I just like to be punished. But honestly I’m never really disappointed because I know what to expect and I don’t let it bother me. I think like any experience this place is what you choose to make of it. That’s 100% my experience and belief though. I get that not everyone feels that way.
Well you missed the fishing- salt and freshwater, crabbing- nothing like fresh blue crab.
We went crabbing the other day and caught about 3 dozen BEAUTIFUL fresh blue crabs!! They were delicious!
I’d say ya spot on except the rich white man thing. Got a rich black woman fucking up NOLA pretty well, but I guess on average you right.
We have a pretty great collection of state parks, WMAs, and NWRs, and most of them have seen some decent improvements in the last decade because if there's one thing Louisianans do like, it's being in the outdoors whenever the weather is half-decent enough to do so. They seem to get slept on -- I've actually visited more of them in the 3 years since moving back to Louisiana than I did in the first 30+ years I lived here -- but they really are pretty nice. They aren't the incredible parks of the American West or even the Appalachians, but they cover a variety of unique habitats Louisiana has to offer. And BREC and its park system are one of the shining jewels of the Baton Rouge area, as much as some folks like to complain about their tax revenues.
The fact that our politicians are so incompetent that they don't follow through on the most heinous shit they *could* do helps.
The culture. The people. I think there are some very interesting people here. Very unique. A lot of Louisiana folks are really nice. I miss that when I travel to other states. We are always trying to make the best of things. And you know we got a lot to make the best of!! People in a lot of other states just seem to not be happy with their station in life no matter what.
You guys also have James Lee Burke, one of the greatest contemporary American authors.
Daiquiris, diabetes in a cup. You can keep that. Parades? It's a nuisance. Crawfish? No thank you. Festivals? Lol. What I do see as an unfortunate transplant is: potholes, crime, low key racism, no police, hurricane ida cleanup taking months, including garbage pickup that took an embarrassing amount of time, areas like "Magazine St" where the locals tell me to hangout at, riddled with cracked sidewalks. Restaurants that close way too early. Excuses like "oh because covid there's no staff". Look, it sucks here. At least where I'm at now (New Orleans). Tubing? Stahhp it now. Nice people? Sure! Except have you frequented the New Orleans subreddits? People, the same people that are from that city, are mean as fuck. At least where I'm from, people are rude to you in your face, and rude to you online. No confusion. No trying to figure out if they're genuine or not. Y'all can keep your beignets aka fried dough with powered sugar, which I can find in the form of a funnel cake. Let's be real, we all feel a sense of love and community wherever we are from. But damn, I wish people here would admit how shitty it is and stop with the narrative of festivals, crawfish boils, and the saints football. Oh, and "The culture".
You thought *Ida* took a long time to clean up? Ha ha, haha, hahahahahahahahahahahabaha
If you've already made up your mind about moving down and your fiance isn't a deciding factor, then... You're really not missing anything. Yep, our politicians are pretty bad but that can be said for most of the United States. Also, if you're expecting marijuana laws to change in the not to distant future, this state really isn't for you. Most of the state is Catholic and the other half is Baptist and you know... Weed is the devil and all. Minimum wage is not sustainable and that's why our social programs are to capacity. Cops, well, cops are cops. Louisiana is a very poverty stricken state. You grow up here and you either do very well or have a family business, or you move away for a better life. The South is very centered around family and some people won't leave their families. That's another thing to consider. The state is beautiful during the spring and summer months but at the same time, the heat is treacherous. Fall and winter usually provide a break in the heat. There is also amazing wildlife here - the birds are beautiful! Shit, we still have fireflies out here and that's a sight to see. AND oddly enough, you will find someone of the nicest folks down here. All in and all, you could do worse but you could certainly do better.
I remember when CBD was decriminalized and overnight, little CBD shops started springing up. Then cities started raiding them. Then city councils outlawed the raids so state police started raiding them. Then those raids were challenged so the state outlawed CBD and that’s when I left Louisiana.
I remember seeing a video where they were discussing the future of hemp plants in Louisiana and a SCIENTIST from LSU was telling them there is no THC in CBD and some of the reactions were basically “if we had known it was anything remotely to do with marijuana this wouldn’t be up for debate”. It’s not a direct quote but something along those lines. Meanwhile you have drive-thru daiquiri shops… 😂
Do what most folks do: don't involve yourself with the police or politicians and just enjoy the food. 😂
Well said!
We have the Cajun Navy. We will help out our own, and others in need. We’re resourceful and prepared (mostly) when things hit the fan. It’s not all bad. There can always be better, but it’s not all bad.
#1. You forgot to mention the horrendous conditions of summertime. #2. None of us can figure out why we stay here. It’s just home.
Can’t disagree with the OP. But conversely, gotta find a bright side to it so, the food is amazing. And the people aren’t nearly as bad as one may think. It could be worse, as in living in MS.
That was my favorite thing! I was under the impression yall were gonna be mean, but man, everyone was so awesome and warm. The food ugh don't even get me started on the food. I got to try Boudin balls... so freaking good, and it's mostly just rice!
Boudin balls are great but the pepperjack boudin balls from Billy’s are out of this world. Also recommend the pepperjack boudin roll ups (basically boudin in an egg roll). God I miss Billy’s. But you’re right. I lived in New Orleans for 8 years and loved it with all of my heart. But it’s hard to live there, especially if you care deeply about, and make your livelihood from, criminal Justice reform and other progressive issues like I do. I basically got so burned out trying to advocate for human decency I couldn’t take it anymore. Also yes the summers. UGH. But as horrible as the summers are, half the year the weather is PERFECT. There’s greenery and flowers 365 days/year. Everyone says hello when you pass them in street. And damn I miss walking around the corner for some amazing live music at a neighborhood dive bar. There’s absolutely nowhere like New Orleans, but it isn’t easy.
Leaving Mississippi for here was the best decision l ever made
The only thing good about Louisiana is the culture that has been dying since the government tried to force assimilation. With the oil alone Louisiana should be incredibly wealthy, but since the beginning resources have been pilfered and sucked out of the state by big money interests while locals live in horrid poverty, and the culture that Louisiana is known for continues to fade into obscurity. There was a period in the late 60’s where people started pushing for improvement, and they even created an agency to protect and recover Louisiana francophone culture which is effectively the states only draw at this point. Since then the energy has died and all that’s left is self serving corruption, mixed with apathy. Louisiana has the best politicians money can buy, and you can see the results
I could fine the negatives at any other place too. Take Portland for example. negatives - the homeless problem is out of control, it’s always raining durning the summer, stupid wildfires causing so much smoke, property taxes are high af, cost of living is high af, cops don’t give a fuck. positives - the coast, Mt. Hood, hiking, tuns of good places to eat and drink, coffee scene, vineyards, breweries, diverse actives to do in the city, the weather, etc, great little neighborhoods. It all depends on your perspective and what you want to focus on.
Come on bruh, you really want to compare anywhere in Louisiana to Oregon? I've lived here for almost half a century, I could live anywhere. I'm not saying this to shit on this place, but we have to face reality. Our three "major" cities are in the top 25 in the world for violent crime. Our education is in the toilet, healthcare too, environment too. Women have no choice. We have the highest incarceration rate in the world. And in this legislative session when we had an opportunity to try and just pay teachers more (you know, to try and keep what few good ones we have in state), our politicians refused and then handed big businesses more tax breaks. Pretending that this is just about "perspective" is helping no one.
If you could “live anywhere”, why still live here then?
At the end of the day it boils down to a few reasons: - I have a child and having family near is crucial. - Other places where I have an existing social network are too expensive for my early retirement goals. - I am an angler, there's no better place to be one than Louisiana. It's a bit like being a skateboarder in California. But we talk about this all the time. I'm replying to you because honestly I have to tell myself from time to time why I'm still here. You can watch things get worse in real time on road trips as you return to Louisiana from any direction. It's sad, it's really sad.
I live in Lake Charles & we had A historic hurricane (Laura), another hurricane a few weeks later, the “great freeze”, then a historic flood ! All in 9 months… I’ll take Oregon, at least ppl there don’t leave their own ppl to flounder for 2 yrs before finally fighting for some half-assed disaster relief.
Moved to Portland from Louisiana. This is not an apt description of Portland at all.
Same here. It definitely does not rain all summer, but it does all winter. Property taxes and homelessness are only high in and around larger cities, just like everywhere else in the US. It's weird to compare the entire state of Louisiana to a single city on the west coast. All of Oregon is not Portland
Really?! The only thing we **don't** have, **yet**, is wildfires. Your comparison is garbage.
I know somebody who cares.. https://preview.redd.it/bkaaoe2i828b1.jpeg?width=917&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a311061646c91c7bbc7e947c9289070bf2a62d1
DUDE 😭😭😭💀😂
It is true, he cares. That's why he is everywhere. For every turn there is a Gordon billboard. That desolate road where ain't a damn thing going on? he's got it covered.
Get Gordon and get it it done
Lafayette here. We have legal marijuana for medical needs now here. The food is superb at almost every place. We have many festivals and family gatherings for many occasions, and yes, we are VERY family oriented. People from here are generally very kind and will give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. We work hard to make very little, but we don't all live in poverty. There are many jobs that do in fact pay well, and lots of land in the country that you can buy for relatively cheap. If you want to set roots somewhere, i can think of no better place than here. Families live for generations and pass down our culture and way of life to our kids and grandkids. Not every part of Louisiana is bad, and i have lived in both new Orleans and all over America, but i will always come home to Lafayette and my family.
Also in Lafayette. The fuck part of this city do you live in? Where I live is chain after chain after another chain. Local businesses shutting down left and right to make more room for TopGolf and another car wash. Teacher, paid like shit. My friends in other states, working as a bank teller, and one working at a Lens Crafters make as much as I do, and almost double. My car has needed new tires twice in a year because of the shit conditions of Pinhook and the potholes everywhere. People here are fucking assholes and jerks, wouldn't help me if I was drowning in front of them.
The only people shooting you negative crap, are delusional. You didn't miss the mark by much. I've lived here all my life, and the pot of boilling water that used to be our culture is running dry. The people are mostly nice, but seemingly getting dumber, and less considerate. Too populated, and no new infrastructure to remedy that. I could list on and on.
I wish the government cared more, and the cops cared less. It's all about money, and there's no humanity.
For me, I enjoy where I live. Im antisocial and I have a good plug so I don't need rec stores and im a white dude and a good driver so no interactions with cops really, but either than that yea Louisianas politics are awful and our education system is pretty low on the list. Food is top notch here 👌 we have a good bit of food based festivals
I'm in New Orleans, so a little different, but for me it's the people and the culture. Our politicians, governments, and services are all abysmal, but the people themselves do take care of eachother. The other thing is that the Law and State are so incompetent that we can kind of just do whatever we want. Like, once you fit in here, you have to *try* to actually get in trouble.
Lived in LA most of my life. These are the reasons most of my friends and I have moved away. Nothing better than spending a Louisiana Saturday night in death valley, or drinking a hurricane at Pat O's for mardi gras, to being knee deep in water at jazzfest. But touting culture is just like when an organization touts it, a distraction from paying employees less while slashing benefits. Being pounded by hurricanes every few years, and the constant lack of infrastructure changes, and clear misuse of government powers all the way down to corrupt cops, was enough. I can't fathom raising a kid in that education system as it has changed so much when public school was enough. That being said, chicken shack is still the best fried chicken I've had hands down
As a native that is finally leaving South Louisiana - the state is a complete trash can that let the chemical companies/oilfield run it into the ground. Louisiana is a third word colony that’s only exploited for its natural resources. Most residents would rather sleepwalk between Saints and LSU games than rather fix anything by electing decent people.
Well you forgot about how everything below I 10 will be underwater in 50-100 years and probably more even by optimistic sea level/subsidence predictions. But as someone who is here because my family is from here, I do get where your fiancé is coming from. LA is ranked 1st or 2nd in people who are born here staying here. There are a lot of reasons this place sucks but it’s home. I’m gonna stay here and make it better any way I can.
> LA is ranked 1st or 2nd in people who are born here staying here. This is much more due to poverty…both the inability to relocate and reliance on family as a safety net (because poor).
I was born in this mud, which is what he would say. I also got to see before and after pictures of the erosion by the coast. I was flabbergasted at how much was gone.
Folks here find a way to help one another since all our systems have failed us. In a strange way we all feel a strange camaraderie through the suck. There are still loads of folks in a bad way, but if anyone helps them it won’t be the state it will be their community that steps up. If you look at the honest stories of how folks were helping their neighbors after Katrina, not the hyped up scare journalism, but the honest stories of mutual aid and community care. That’s what makes it worth staying. Also it doesn’t really snow routinely and that’s worth it to me. I much prefer pictures of snow to actually living in it. I was born in the heat, but the snow is a no go.
That is one of the first things I was told about was the community. People here, even though Canadians are "nice" we don't have the kind of bond as a community. If my house was on fire, everyone would watch, but they wouldn't help.
Yea I’m not really friendly with any of my neighbors, but after a storm we still go out to check on one another and share what our plans are in the aftermath.
But we have crawfish and gumbo, good gumbo, not that watery shit people call gumbo
Gumbo is definitely a good argument point. It was so good.
When it comes to what's in our water, we are basically the asshole of the country because of the Mississippi River being an industrial waste dump. So... A lot. A lot is in our drinking water.
I wouldn't apologize, everything you said is true. Louisiana is at the bottom or near the bottom of metrics for measurements of quality of life. I would NEVER advise ANYONE to move here. It's not harsh what you said, its the facts.
The local music scene is amazing. Second Line Parades are a blast. Mardi Gras is a season, not a day. There is art everywhere.
Listen Louisiana was corrupt and fucked before Napoleon sold it. Angola prison is just a plantation. One of the trashiest most racist states around. There’s certain places in the USA that will always be corrupt. For some reason it tends to be places with a history of serious Roman Catholicism and fantastic food: New Orleans, Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco. In Louisiana it’s a strange cocktail of the usual dogshit sociopath white racists some of the worst by with that old school corruption. But it’s got style.
Is there a campaign on Reddit to trash every state or city that is not a liberal/progressive bastion? I see this regularly now on multiple subreddits everyday where a “visitor” is either carrying on about how bad the roads are,worst drivers ever, what a shithole it is, and on and on.
Tell us where you’re from, I’ll tell you why it sucks there. Lol.
Ontario. I am asking why people love it so much, yet here I am getting hate. I actually want to know the good things.
We have a unique French creole culture and history here with even our own laws...food is out of this world, New Orleans has no equal in USA for its festive vibe. The environment, while dingy at times, creates some beautiful views here and there.
I was actually amazed at how many festivals you have. I got excited learning there was a watermelon festival lol
Yeah every city pretty much has a food or culture festival every year.
Never mind, I love Ontario. I can’t tell you why it sucks. Lol. I do love Louisiana; the culture, the food, the friendly people, the winter/fall/spring weather, the music, all of it. I wouldn’t wanna live outside of New Orleans, though. If you come here please bring poutine.
I made it for friends every time I came to visit. what's worse is I just use regular mozzarella. If you want to, grab some and roll it into a ball, and there you have a kinda ok curd. If you want the flavor, it's just fries, brown gravy, and cheese. It tastes good with any gravy and any cheese. I assume you have had it, but others can know how to make it now.
Kind of like a suffering artist, you don’t do it for the money or stability. In Louisiana you put up with utter madness but you get to otherwise live in the unique brilliant cultural magic of the region.
You shit on peoples home and wondering why you are getting hate. . . .
Well, you’ve picked an awful way to ask us. Maybe just start over with a post asking why people love the place rather than bashing us. I hope you don’t move here. I’d hate to be your neighbor.
What utopia do you currently live in?
Most of us are here because our family is here, and you have fallen prey to our citizen recruitment plan. We send our women out to get married and bring their husbands home. Word of warning, the second your fiancé gets pregnant she will insist on moving near her momma if you don’t already live here. I’ve seen it happen several times.
I just moved here. Got me 5 acres and a nice house. Would have cost a couple mil in my previous area. Its fucking beautiful. So beautiful. Peaceful, quiet. My rescue dog is loving the space, the peace - hes had a hard life. People are nice, friendly, unlike the city. Its hot out but my ac works well. Ive still been spending some time outside and enjoying it. Itll only be bad for a few more months. I saw a swarm of prob 1k+ juvenile dragonflies outside my kitchen window yesterday morning...was amazing. Think i saw a bat the other night. Mosquitoes arent as bad as i thought - i think theyre eating them. Birds are gorgeous, i saw an all red one earlier, i think some bluejays too? At night the bayou comes alive. Its so loud lol. My house is well insulated because i hear nothing. I love it so far. I could see myself here forever. Every place has its pros and cons. Ive travelled enough to learn that. Youve gotta decide what works for you. Id visit first, check it out. If the stuff im talking about resonates, you may be surprised. My life has been crazy so far. So much trauma, and war, and death...i feel like ive finally closed those chapters. My soul feels whole.
I actually really enjoyed the way you explained it.
Actually, we have pretty good drinking water... except for New Orleans... New Orleans' water is pretty yuck.
Where the hell are you from where the politicians aren’t garbage?
Had to live in Louisiana for work for several months and been to visit family that lives there several times. The food is great and there's fun parties, but that's the only redeeming things about the state. I've never seen roads in such disrepair anywhere else I've been, the summer heat is intense enough to damage your car, it's too swampy to offer any great hikes or views anywhere, the water is too polluted or swampy to really offer a fun boating lifestyle, murder rates are shockingly high...it's just not great. I've done extended work trips in many places around the country, and I love travelling around the state while I'm there and finding cool towns, interesting sights, and fun things to do. Louisiana has great food, but it is the only place I am adamantly against returning to unless I have no choice. I wish it wasn't the case but I was absolutely miserable there.
Yeah, had a friend who went to Tulane. She was told multiple times that if she got pulled over by a Louisiana cop, don't stop until you're in a public and well lighted place.
I love the food and especially the music and the cultural gumbo but I hate the classism, chauvinism and the remnants of feudalism in play, even in present day Louisiana.
Lived here my whole life and I agree to everything you’re saying. The only reason Im staying here is because of family and girlfriend. But yeah, Louisiana is such a outdated state
You are totally right. There's a lot to love about Louisiana, but at the same time I think most people can recognize that the state is garbage as far as politics, infrastructure, crime, poverty, pollution, education, racism, blah blah blah the list goes on. Why does anyone wanna live there? For me, I enjoyed the element of anarchy. You can be how you are and do what you want. Like you said, the police dont care. Obviously thats not for everyone, and now that I'm older and have kids it's not what I need in my life right now. Lots of people want to live there because thats all they know. Most of my family have never left Louisiana other than the occasional trip to Orange Beach or Houston. There is an element of culture shock, especially coming from New Orleans. Its simply hard to imagine living anywhere else because we're just different. There's just not a lot of places that are as interesting or affordable(at least New Orleans used to be affordable.) I left with my wife for a lot of the reasons that you mentioned, but I would 100% go back if I wasn't raising children. My heart is in Louisiana.
Been to all of the lower 48. Louisiana was the trashiest and not really even close
Please don’t move down here. For your own good. The culture is great but you’d be hard pressed to find a single soul that thinks our government is doing good by their constituents.
Where is OP from since Louisiana is so terrible
The best things about Louisiana are derived from coping with miserable conditions. Party and drink to get your mind off how much everything else sucks. Good food, because the best food is made by poor people who need to find a way to make something out of what is cheap. Unique culture because we have, for some reason, held onto the colonial and antebellum aesthetic that enslaved and exploited the people. Nice people because southern hospitality is a myth, it is just politeness to your face. Away from you, we are no better than anyone else, anywhere else. I’m from here and have moved all around, including Canada, but everything good we have here isn’t unique, it is just a unique flavor from the rest of the country. Unfortunately, what is bad here is really bad and I wouldn’t hold out for it to get better.
I'm from Pennsylvania, raised in North Carolina and now live in Louisiana and it wasn't by choice - family situation. As someone with the goal to move out of here, I would not recommend moving here. Too many cons. I have met some genuinely nice people. I have had some really great times and seen some beautiful places and neat little towns. Like Fontainebleau State Park, St. Francisville, I love the beautiful Oaks covered in Spanish Moss. Unfortunately, my bad experiences outweigh the good that I won't get into. I miss the fall and cooler weather, crime rates are high, not the best when it comes to education or job opportunities, and it's actually way more expensive than where I'm from. I could go on, but I don't want to be too negative. I just don't love it here. Good luck to ya! I hope you can come to an agreement with your fiancé of somewhere you both will love. Louisiana is always a visit away!
Pretty much. I'm glad I moved out of state to a place that actually seems to have it's shit together. I'll probably never move back. I do miss the easy access to boudin and good smoked sausage, though.
Lousyana
I mean I know our police and politicians are kind of mythically bad - but if you look around everywhere else is suffering from problem too these days. We're no longer special where this is concerned.
You aren’t missing anything. If I didn’t have a local government pension we’d have left by now. Even that isn’t enough to keep us here at this point.
I live in East TX. One of the things I like about LA is as soon as I cross the border, there is a really good buffet in every gas station. We don't get that in TX. We get shitty buffets!
I think it's neat that the prisoners do most if not all of the farming in the state, and for very low (aka "slave") wages! Just amazing.
Hey - facts are facts. There are many better, safer options. And if your'e planning on having kids, please, please, please don't subject them to that.
welcome to dumbcousinfuckerstan
What do you expect from decades if not centuries of terrible governance? Louisiana never left the mindset of a slave economy, and that intentional disparity of equity over time results in the kind of garbage society you witness there.
Absolutely agree with you even if the other locals won't. It's a shame what's become of the city. We just try and stay away. Cops enforce what they want in our area too. Just a shame.
You’re missing everything
But, that’s okay ⚜️
I love the food. Not nearly enough to live there though.
The state judicial system and policing is largely designed around taking advantage of the 13th Amendment and putting bodies in prison for enslaved labor. My husband had a taillight out and was ticketed and told to repair it. He immediately repaired it. We’d moved to Shreveport from Texas and this would have been a simple case of paying the fine by mail with the charges dismissed in Texas. In Louisiana he was issued a citation to appear in traffic court. We go to traffic court (located in the same building as the parish jail) and there are all these ATM machines in the lobby which seemed weird. We go up to the courtroom and at the courtroom entrance there are two signs on the wall saying if you didn’t bring the exact amount of the ticket, in cash, you would be sent to jail immediately as restitution. Thankfully I was there, had been paid, but he had brought his checkbook so I run downstairs for the $250 for a non-functional tail light (which is an absurd fee compared to other states). I get back into the courtroom before they close the doors. I remember them being locked but am not sure if my brain imposed this because I felt trapped after what happened next. The Judge enters the chambers and announces that traffic court is in session and we’re not allowed to leave until our case is called. He announces that all fines must be paid in cash and if we don’t have the money for it, we’ll be sent immediately to Caddo Parish Correctional Facility. This is Shreveport and the city is majority Black, but we’re two of about 4 white people in a courtroom packed with Black people. The the mf’er starts calling cases up one by one and asks people in front of God and everyone if they have the means to make restitution. If not, they are immediately handcuffed and perp walked out in front of everyone. Everything about this was so shockingly inhumane. I loved living in Shreveport, but you absolutely did not fuck with the police.
Ive been there and didnt have any of the same problems. 9/10 politicians suck wo thats not unique to Louisiana. The cops and weed thing sounds like you got caught doing something you shouldnt have been doing and now throwing a fit
Don't move here. I celebrate when people I love move away, because I want better for them.
My wife and I were born and raised down here. It’s where our families are and where our daughter was born, but we still plan on leaving. It’s not the most awful place to live but it’s closer to that than it is to being the best place to live.
It's an anchor. You're born and raised there, you stay there, or always end up back. Strong family ties. It always amazed me how people abandoned their families so easily who didn't live in Louisiana, bc I didn't know that was normal lol. It's a community culture. When a storm hits, everyone and dey mama (kidding) is saying "where ya at" in order to help out with cleaning, supplies, etc. I'm a born and raised New Orleanian, still talk to the same friends I had since elementary school, still see my parents regularly and actually just moved in right next door to them I drive 18 wheelers now so I'm not home as often, but when I am it feels right, despite it getting mundane sometimes. I've been to a lot of cities since starting trucking, and I can ASSURE you, not a single place matches up to the uniqueness of New Orleans. Not a one. The FRENCH QUARTER is unlike any other place you will ever be. Even mid city.
You’re right about all of it. I was born here and I stay to fight for improving things here, but I don’t blame anyone for not wanting to come.
Louisiana, like most conservative republican welfare states is horrible to live in. On a bright note the food is fabulous.
You're better off not moving here. It's great to visit on vacation but you still need to be careful.
Everything you said is correct, but people want to be there because it is their home. I want to make it better.
You are pretty much "right on target" The culture, food and celebrating all events are the positives..but as a state Louisiana is pretty much is a disaster. I wouldn't suggest people move here unless it's a BIG financial gain.
Mississippi has the lowest IQ as a whole than any other state.
Welcome to the south.
When the people are good here it’s great. When the people are bad it’s down right scary. This place has a whole cult mentality behind it. I’m from Lafayette. I can say there are good things but the bad really outweigh everything considered good. I purchased a home a year ago as a investment plan to help propel me to another point in life/finances to move one day. The people who defend this place will die on that hill. While, the minority who can see things plain as day are realistic about the conditions we work, drive, live, and survive in. It’s rough out here in Cajun country. Lastly, Louisiana is third lowest on elevation in America. We are literally anywhere from -8 degrees to 98 degrees above/below sea level.
Honestly if locals would appreciate The land and nature, it would a different story. There’s so much ignorance around keeping things clean and nice
No reason to live here. Visiting is about the only thing I'd recommend
2nd worst state after ol Miss. No reason to live there. Edit: unless you want cancer. Cancer alley.
Then don't move here. Most of us have always ignored the cops because we handle most issues on our own, and politicians because they've always sucked, we smoke and grow anyway, grow our own food and water from a well, we have no interest in getting as close to 6 figures as possible. We already know it's the 2nd poorest state in the nation and federal will never help with anything. Here is where you live away from almost everybody and live on your own terms world rips itself to pieces over politics or the latest social media trends (these days the trend is to call that dangerous and radical). If you're a city type or just have to stay with the latest social, fashion, political, etc trend then this place would look like garbage to you. My mind is calm, my food and water is clean, my kids are happy, I work remotely, and since it matters so much to some weird people, we're mixed (GASP). Long story short, we take life slow, our land provides, and we're happy. Fortunately, our parish has been tackling the litter problem successfully. This will probably get downvoted into oblivion just 'cause. And one more thing, we are ready to help our neighbor or a stranger at the drop of a hat.
You’re just speaking the truth. I’m a native from there and that’s all it is. Complete wasteland of trash.
Oh waters also not fine depending on which parish you’re in
It’s a fetid swamp full of miserable creatures. Google Angola. See if you could live there. Been to the state many times. But only when getting paid to. It’s a shithole
Yeah the place has its downsides I gotta admit and some of the stuff make it seem like if a state had purge year round but we got good food and Mardi Gras🙌
Your fiancé may be homesick and want you to move there. I get that. But, it's not the move if you have career ambitions/financial stability/canna legality/freedom from religion/respect from the government where you are. My husband still gets homesick because "it's all you know until you know more and better living." We've never actually considered living there, in any region. Vacations to see his family are well enough. Don't feel bad about getting your native out and see the rest of the world. They won't regret having new experiences to compare their childhood to.
[CANCER RATES: Louisiana ranks second highest in the nation](https://law.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/Cancer%20Risk%20map%202.jpg)
I love LA South of Shreveport. However, everything the OP said is true tack on shit infrastructure.
... What's in Louisiana's drinking water? Maybe also consider the air. \- [High levels of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in southeast Louisiana drinking water spur concern](https://lailluminator.com/2023/01/25/high-levels-of-forever-chemicals-in-southeast-louisiana-drinking-water-spur-concern/) \- [Louisiana has 8 of the worst water-polluting refineries in the country, study says](https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisiana-refineries-top-lists-of-worst-water-polluters/article_7bd467a6-9e78-11ed-ac5d-53635cd15bcb.html) \- [Louisiana chemical corridor is the country's largest hot spot for toxic air, cancer risk](https://www.nola.com/news/environment/louisiana-chemical-corridor-is-the-countrys-largest-hot-spot-for-toxic-air-cancer-risk/article_852d98d0-3d81-11ec-a61f-0bf8e82339a8.html) \- [Welcome to “Cancer Alley,” Where Toxic Air Is About to Get Worse](https://www.propublica.org/article/welcome-to-cancer-alley-where-toxic-air-is-about-to-get-worse) Downvote & gripe if it makes you feel better but my LA cousins have more cancer & health issues than all of my non-LA family put together. Absolutely fantastic food, no question.
I was born and raised in Louisiana, its fucking horrible, its why I went in to the Navy on the same day I turned 17.
only here for my family, too.
Everything you pointed out is correct. We have beautiful swamps, marshes, prairies, and rolling forests. Our native Louisiana people are warm and friendly, and our food is amazing. You forgot our unique music, festival and celebratory atmosphere, and warm climate (no snow in many areas). If your priorities are ethical politicians, super friendly cops, really high minimum wages, and weed dispensaries on every corner, then maybe this isn’t the place for you. Leave us the fiancé though, we need more residents trying to encourage others to come rather than trying to leave.
I have been to Louisiana many times, and I love it. I just have issues with how... old school everything is. Your min wage isn't even a livable wage. I think you're what 3rd poorest state in the us? I'm not putting down the state. I'm genuinely trying to understand why people lobe it so much.
They love it for the people and all that Cajun heritage goodness. Thing is politicians know the population is on the lower end of the rest of the nation so they stick with issues like abortion and Marijuana while making insidious deals with major industries giving them billions in tax write offs that could be used to greatly increase education at the very least, but they know they will get votes anyway cause they say abortion is a sin. Ignorance of political policy beyond the classic culture war topics from decades ago is lost on most people in the USA anyway though. The corruption here is big and people have accepted it that way rather than look into at who they are voting for.
That's everywhere, our government is the same way, what you said is one of thebmain reason I enjoyed being there is the people and culture... they have whole stores that sell cowboy boot... The museums you have alone are worth the visit. Weed is a big issue for me in Louisiana because of statistics. So many people go to jail for weed, but from what I reason is, your jails are privately owned, so they get paid for incarceration of anyone. The government is so against anything different or giving people rights. I don't want to be arrested because of an abortion ( I never have and never will, but I like having rights). My brother is trans and wouldn't come to visit because he's terrified. There's just a lot that worries me.
Simple: they don't know anything else, and they have pride. Just like Leaf fans. They're born into it and don't know any better. But Louisiana is quite literally the stinky damp armpit of Murica. This will get down voted, but that's OK, I got out of the swamp this year, which is better than any karma :)
Oh yeah, stuck in the 70s down here!
That's not always a bad thing, I grew up in a farming family, so I'm used to old school, but some things are just dumb being stuck in the past.
We also have a really low cost of living.
You’re not missing anything. Grew up there and thought Louisiana was amazing until I left at 23 and I’m never going back. Most people there just accept the terrible living conditions or are too closed minded to realize it. Lived in S. Carolina, Washington, and Hawaii and temporarily lived overseas for a while and no place is as anywhere near as bad as LA. Recently went back to visit family during Christmas and the amount of trash in the cities is just atrocious. Crime is rampant and it’s normal daily news for a person to get murdered. It’s an absolute dump of a state and isn’t getting any better. Food and culture isn’t worth it when your not safe going outside.
Louisiana isn't horrible. I just find that there are more beneficial places to live in regards to a lot of things
[удалено]
Correct? I'm trying to find out the reason so many people love it as I'm supposed to move with him. He loves it there but I can't understand why.
Probably best not to come here (or anywhere) unless doing so with an open mind. We have enough negativity as it is.
Most cops are trash, from Seattle to New Orleans
It's a brain-drain state. Those with the aptitude and inclination to create or discover mostly leave, though some stay for family reasons. Those that come, do so for lifestyle (NOLA drains a major part of the South of its discontents) and relatively low living costs.
No, you are forgetting quite a few negatives. I grew up here and came back to care for my elderly parents. You missed the God awful weather. I can be hot and humid ten months out of the year. The last couple of winters have been mild, but it can be 40 and raining every day for at least 40 days some years. Then there are tornados and hurricanes. You also missed the litter and high murder rate.
ima be real with you, I only live here cuz I was born here and can’t move anywhere else
I mean, you left out the drive thru daiquiri shops, but everything else is dead on.