To Edwards, “living in a fantasy land” means not expecting Democrats to raise taxes.
When I moved to Lousyana in ‘81, the kid’s junior high school had a brand new football stadium complete with concrete stands - and he was given a geography book that was printed my senior year in high school.
Jindal did some good things, but he didn’t change the culture.
When oil prices are high, they piss away increases in state revenues; when oil prices drop, they scream “essential services are at risk, need more revenue.”
During repeated budget crises in the early ‘80s they claimed 80% of state employees were essential. Yet, if there was a chance of severe weather in the morning, they told 80% of employees to stay home (with pay, of course).
During the N.O. Worlds Fair boondoggle (’83?) when they (predictably) got way over budget during construction, they raised state income tax rates in a special session right after Christmas - and made them retroactive for the entire year. In response to complaints, the politicians said, “Oh this is not a tax increase, we’re only rescinding the previous tax cut.” They should dust off this strategy.