Louisiana Petro-Populism and public services in the city of New

Orleans By Brian Marks and Christian Roselund

Huey Long, 1893-1935

What is petro-populism?What is petro-populism? A political system whose primary feature is the A political system whose primary feature is the

redistribution of oil and gas revenues through one or redistribution of oil and gas revenues through one or more means for the benefit of the general populationmore means for the benefit of the general population

Term first coined by journalist and author Christian Term first coined by journalist and author Christian Parenti to describe the Chavista regime in VenezuelaParenti to describe the Chavista regime in Venezuela

Longite Petro-Populism is an oil production/ votes/ Longite Petro-Populism is an oil production/ votes/ public services deal between big oil companies, public services deal between big oil companies, Longite political leaders and the masses in the state of Longite political leaders and the masses in the state of Louisiana.Louisiana.

The role of public services in the city of New Orleans

Services such as public schools, Charity Hospitals and housing under-girded the social reproduction of New Orleans residents

In the early decades, public housing provides a quality of life not otherwise available to many urban residents

Increased the productivity of New Orleans residents

Public funding for such services was particularly important for New Orleans as an economically under-developed city with high, persistent poverty

Longite Petro-Populism and the New Deal

Longite Petro-Populism:

Predates the New Deal (first major features established in 1928)

Is an influence on the New Deal via the roads programs, “Share Our Wealth”, and political threat that Huey Long posed to Roosevelt.

Becomes a regional variant on the New Deal after the Death of Huey Long and the basic political economy of the state of Louisiana

Longite Petro-Populism and the Longite Petro-Populism and the New Deal contrastedNew Deal contrasted

Longite Petro-PopulismLongite Petro-Populism

Based on a resource Based on a resource extraction economyextraction economy

Public services/votes Public services/votes dealdeal

Direct connection Direct connection between charismatic between charismatic leader and the massesleader and the masses

The New DealThe New Deal

Based on a Based on a manufacturing economymanufacturing economy

Wages/productivity dealWages/productivity deal

Unions mediate between Unions mediate between working people, working people, corporations and the corporations and the statestate

Petro-populism: inputs and outputs

Inputs Oil and gas

severance taxes Gasoline tax Other taxes Bonds Federal money (after

death of Huey Long)

Outputs Education (largely

through severance taxes)

Roads and bridges Charity hospitals State old age pensions Welfare systems

Petro-populism: outputs for New Petro-populism: outputs for New OrleansOrleans

New Orleans is a primary beneficiary of Longite New Orleans is a primary beneficiary of Longite Petro-PopulismPetro-Populism

Education:Education: Including textbooks, adult literacy, Including textbooks, adult literacy, UNO, LSU medical school, scholarships, teacher UNO, LSU medical school, scholarships, teacher pay increases and equalization. pay increases and equalization.

Public hospitals:Public hospitals: Funding for Charity, medical Funding for Charity, medical training, associated servicestraining, associated services

Old age pensions: Old age pensions: Increased to $50/month Increased to $50/month under Earl Long in 1948under Earl Long in 1948

Welfare programs: Welfare programs: Including free school lunchesIncluding free school lunches

The special case of public housingThe special case of public housing

• Public Housing is not a Longite promise or Public Housing is not a Longite promise or concept, but a product of the New Dealconcept, but a product of the New Deal

• New Orleans receives a large share of federal New Orleans receives a large share of federal funds for public housing, and these funds are funds for public housing, and these funds are used swiftly by the Longite Maestri used swiftly by the Longite Maestri AdministrationAdministration

• Fits into the scheme of Longite public services Fits into the scheme of Longite public services (votes for services), but on a federal level(votes for services), but on a federal level

Crisis of race 1960- Longite petro-populism is a system that provides

services to all state residents, but those services are profoundly unequal on racial lines

This becomes unacceptable in the post-war period

Public services - schools, hospitals and housing – are a primary battleground of integration and equality

Longite petro-populism is class-based and race-neutral, which does not hold up during a time of heightened racial tension

Whites de-invest from the city and public services regime starting in the late 1960's

Frantz Elementary, 1960

Crisis of oil production 1970-

Mineral wealth, both in production and consumer forms, is the primary fuel of petro-populism

Louisiana fails to obtain its share of the OCS oil wealth, starting in 1948

Oil and gas production in Louisiana land and state waters peaks in 1970 and declines steadily thereafter

Prices fall 1984-1986, leading to a collapse of the system and a fiscal crisis in Louisiana