homestate louisiana
By Ben Everidge for Thomas
Photo Credit: Explore Louisiana
louisiana at the Crossroads: 10 Issues That Define the pelican’s Future
“Louisiana lives with water at its feet and fire in its heart. It’s where the levees break, the music plays, and the people refuse to give up, because some places don’t just survive, they sing their way back.”
- Ben Everidge
Louisiana lives on the edge of beauty and burden, a place where culture, crisis, and creativity all collide. From the jazz of New Orleans to the oilfields of Houma, from bayou towns to booming ports, the state’s spirit is unbreakable. But the challenges it faces, from rising waters to rising costs, will test that endurance like never before. The next decade will decide whether Louisiana’s future is written in resilience or washed away by neglect.
1. Coastal Erosion and Climate Change
Louisiana is losing a football field of land every 90 minutes. Without aggressive coastal restoration, the state’s wetland and much of its economy will vanish. Balancing energy production with environmental survival is the defining fight of its future.
2. Energy Transition and Economic Diversification
Oil and gas remain vital, but Louisiana’s future depends on embracing renewables, carbon capture, and green industry. Ports, refineries, and research institutions can make the state a leader in the new energy economy if leadership is bold enough to act.
3. Infrastructure and Flood Resilience
Hurricanes, floods, and failing drainage systems threaten every corner of the state. Billions in federal aid are flowing in, but accountability and long-term planning will determine whether rebuilding is smarter or just repetitive.
4. Education and Workforce Reductions
Persistent underfunding and uneven quality have left Louisiana near the bottom of national rankings. Expanding early education, raising teacher pay, and connecting schools to modern industries could finally turn potential into productivity.
5. Healthcare Access and Equity
Rural hospitals are closing, and urban healthcare systems are strained. Investing in preventive care, mental health, and equitable access could save both lives and dollars, especially in a state where poverty and poor health remain intertwined.
6. Corruption, Accountability, and Governance
Louisiana’s reputation for political corruption has improved, but distrust lingers. Restoring faith in government requires stronger ethics laws, transparent spending, and leaders who prioritize people over patronage.
7. Economic Inequality and Poverty
Nearly one in five Louisianans lives below the poverty line. Diversifying job opportunities, improving wages, and expanding workforce development will be essential to lifting communities long left behind.
8. Crime, Policing, and Public Safety
Violent crime in cities like New Orleans remains a crisis. Reforming policing, improving education, and rebuilding community trust will define whether the state can replace fear with opportunity.
9. Cultural Preservation and Tourism Renewal
Louisiana’s culture – food, music, festivals, and faith – is one of America’s great treasures. Protecting that heritage while rebuilding tourism after natural disasters and economic disruption will be a key to statewide revival.
10. Migration, Housing, and the Future of New Orleans
Population loss threatens the state’s political power and tax base. Making Louisiana a place where young people can afford to live, work, and raise families will decide whether its future grows or fades.
The Thomas Take
Louisiana is America’s soul set to music. Joyful, defiant, and endlessly resilient. Its challenges are immense, but its creativity is greater. The state’s future will depend not just on what it rebuilds, but on how it reimagines itself. If Louisiana can finally match its spirit with its systems, it will not only endure the storms ahead, but it will dance right through them.
To learn more about Louisiana’s issues, read: