225BatonRouge.com - Blogs

Excuse me, young professional? Yeah, I'm talking to you. Didn't I overhear you at that swanky gathering downtown, groaning about those "idiot city councilmen" as you sipped some pinot? Ah yes, I remember now. You curled your index finger toward the setting sun and vowed to fight the narrow-minded policy that alienates you from this city.

But what happened? I haven't heard a peep from you since.

Most of us young professionals talk with our close circle of colleagues about what we want for Baton Rouge, how we'd rid the "old guard" of elected (and appointed) officials who make decisions about our lifestyles, our businesses, our property, our money. Yet, we leave behind all our grandiose chatter with the bar tab, or in the office breakroom -- and nobody who's anybody is listening.

"Oh, but I can't be active in local politics because I'll lose my job." "How can I speak out at a city council meeting when my boss won't even let me have a candidate's bumper sticker on my car?" Or, and I love this one, "Forum 35's really the only group I can participate in because they're more community-oriented, and not so political." (Read here how Forum 35's encouraging young professionals to run for office.) Some of you can't even write a letter to the editor.

We all share the frustrations of not being able to publicly support or oppose a cause or a candidate without fear of crippling our careers. Enter Out Loud, 225 online's premiere blog on government, policy and current events. We'll examine local and state politricks, and any national issues that directly affect us in the 225. Consider this your forum to challenge these Republocrats in office who are making us live by their own principles -- just say it out loud.

"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in." --Andrew Jackson