OPINION:
In the divisive political times we live in, one unmistakable thing is happening right before our eyes: Blue states are leaning toward socialism while red states are leaning toward liberty. Look no further than the case of Louisiana under rising star conservative Republican Gov. Jeff Landry and New York under the leadership of far-left Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and socialist New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
During Mr. Landry’s tenure in Baton Rouge, the state has stopped whispering about economic freedom and is shouting it from the rooftops. With a recent full-page ad in The Wall Street Journal declaring, “In Louisiana, we value capitalism, not socialism,” the Pelican State didn’t mince words. In fact, the ad drew a bold, unapologetic contrast between states that still believe in rewarding success through innovative policies that promote hope, growth and opportunity for all and those that have surrendered to the heavy hand of big government and perpetual dependence. Hopefully, New Yorkers didn’t miss the message.
President Trump’s bold leadership and keen ability to articulate his long-held agenda of putting “America First” by advocating for commonsense solutions have provided much-needed clarity and a road map for Republican leaders at all levels of government. The juxtaposition of the failing records of governors in blue states with what’s happening in states such as Louisiana, Texas and Florida is startling.
For example, New York’s democratic socialist political class has become a laboratory of radical left-wing excess: higher taxes, hostile regulations, runaway spending and a suffocating culture of bureaucracy that works to defend the failed status quo it created at all costs.
Businesses are treated like piggy banks; families are regarded as revenue streams; police men and women, once honored, are now second-guessed, sidelined or smeared to satisfy deep-pocketed liberal benefactors and unhinged activists. Sadly, the same could be said for states such as California, Illinois and Maryland.
Louisiana, on the other hand, is charting a more optimistic course: the mirror opposite of Ms. Hochul and Mr. Mamdani’s warped vision. The message to job creators and workers alike is obvious: If you’re tired of being punished for producing, leave New York and come to culturally diverse Louisiana, where productivity is still celebrated and encouraged.
The effective ad made it clear what Mr. Landry is offering.
“We reward success — not punish it,” the ad reads. “We compete. We don’t complain. We cut taxes to win new business. We grow jobs — not government.”
This back-to-basics mindset is carrying the day in attracting employers, entrepreneurs and families to reform-minded states that understand the tried-and-tested formula for making economic growth and upward mobility a reality.
The business world is taking note of Louisiana’s smart moves. Meta, Hyundai, Woodside Energy, Venture Global and many others are investing in the state because good things are happening. The state is now No. 1 in America for capital investment per capita, proof that free market principles still work when leaders like Mr. Landry dare to fight for them and the work ethic to implement them.
Meanwhile, leftist New York politicians hide behind buzzwords and policies such as equity and wokeism. As they do, businesses flee in record numbers, explosive taxes grow faster than wages, rampant crime pushes out families, and government regulations choke innovation. New York did not drift to the extreme left by accident. It sprinted there under a reckless one-party rule, and its residents are paying the price every day.
For those considering a fresh start, up-and-coming red Southern states such as Louisiana are offering new opportunities and room to grow and excel.
Louisiana’s transformation isn’t short-term or superficial. The Landry administration is laying the foundation for long-term economic strength, featuring a world-class artificial intelligence hub, one of the newest and most advanced steel plants, competitive support for early-stage companies, and workforce development programs aligned with high-wage and high-demand industries.
Equally important, Louisiana is restoring something that Trump-deranged Democrats in blue states let erode: respect for first responders. Law enforcement, firefighters and emergency personnel in Louisiana are supported and treated as heroes, not besmirched.
Louisiana’s invitation — “As you rethink New York City, rethink Louisiana” — is not just a clever slogan. It captures the real choice facing American employers and workers today. On one side: high taxes, regulatory suffocation, ideological governance and declining public safety. On the other: lower taxes, fewer barriers, world-class investment, genuine affordability and a government that openly embraces capitalism and those who make it thrive.
Red states are building the future, and Louisiana is leading the way. New York and other blue states are lacking fresh ideas and are stuck in the past. The choice is clear.
• David N. Bossie is the president of Citizens United. He served as a senior adviser to the Trump 2024 and 2020 campaigns. He served as deputy campaign manager for Donald J. Trump for President in 2016 and deputy executive director for the Trump transition team.
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