What is Lafayette's #1 Industry?

[cypremort]

Fungus, here is some more data from the WSJ for your endeavor...

http://www.emailthis.clickability.co...oID=1621815966

Extremely disappointing that UL is not linked with the low Lafayette unemployment rate unlike the other cities listed.

(FYI, link is only good for 7 days , Wall Street Journal online is a paid subscription service)

[CajunFun]

_ Education may employ more people than anyone, but it is not an industry. Something government related cannot be an industry. What education does is prepare people for industry. It does work hand in hand though as an area with educated folks makes it more likely industry will locate in that area. Also, if you think health care would be as strong here as it is without the oil industry foundation, you are sadly mistaken. Although many major producing companies have left, Lafayette is the hub of the oil service industry throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Oil service companies are the Halliburton's and Schlumberger's while producing companies are Stone and Chevron. They are different aspects. Were that to dry up, support for education would be reduced and much of the health care growth would disappear. Although oil may not be the top employer in the area, it is the base which everything else revolves around. Just go ask the United Way folks where most of their contributions come from and you will see how much of a force it is in the economy of the area. _

Mike,

I thought about your comments... are you excluding education because the government runs it?

At one time, roads, libraries, and schools were all private industries, profitable ones. And there are still examples of private corporations that supply these things. They were so profitable, and so beneficial, that the government supplied them for everyone.

Likewise, health care is an industry; does it stop being an industry when the Armed Forces, the VA, or other public entities supply it?

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just interested in how you came at that position, and where and when you draw the line, that's all.

[Just1More]

I like highlighting the importance of UL to the local economy in a number of ways... but calling education an industry is a stretch. From what Fun pointed out about the definition of an industry (where your money goes)... did we analyze "Welfare" as an industry and rank it... or perhaps "Social Security"? Or how about "Bank Bail-outs" and "Automobile Industry Bail-outs"... or perhaps the "401k and the Stock Market"... I know that only recently I allowed some public servants to flush a lot of my money down these toilets. Can we call them an industry and rank them?

[Cajunsmike]

Mike,

I thought about your comments... are you excluding education because the government runs it?

At one time, roads, libraries, and schools were all private industries, profitable ones. And there are still examples of private corporations that supply these things. They were so profitable, and so beneficial, that the government supplied them for everyone.

Likewise, health care is an industry; does it stop being an industry when the Armed Forces, the VA, or other public entities supply it?

I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just interested in how you came at that position, and where and when you draw the line, that's all.

Yes, my definition of industry is something that government is not the primary driver behind. Simply put, industry generates tax revenue while something run by tax money is not an industry. That in no means indicates I don't recognize the importance of education. Without it, there would be no industry as you need educated employees to be successful in business.

[LsuULfan]

_ Yes, my definition of industry is something that government is not the primary driver behind. Simply put, industry generates tax revenue while something run by tax money is not an industry. That in no means indicates I don't recognize the importance of education. Without it, there would be no industry as you need educated employees to be successful in business. _

Agree. To me education is more like infrastructure. Definately important but not the same as private industry/business.

[CajunFun]

_ I like highlighting the importance of UL to the local economy in a number of ways... but calling education an industry is a stretch. From what Fun pointed out about the definition of an industry (where your money goes)... did we analyze "Welfare" as an industry and rank it... or perhaps "Social Security"? Or how about "Bank Bail-outs" and "Automobile Industry Bail-outs"... or perhaps the "401k and the Stock Market"... I know that only recently I allowed some public servants to flush a lot of my money down these toilets. Can we call them an industry and rank them? _

Isn't crime an industry? Remember, Al Capone did not go to jail because of murder, robbery, extortion, trafficking, or any of those.

He was convicted of income tax evasion. So by IRS standards, crime is an industry, albeit an illegal one.

The word "industry" refers to any commerce, and originates from the term for skill, and diligence. Although we often use "commerce" and "commercial" to be synonymous with "private," they actually refer to any exchange of money.

Words can mean whatever we want, and we can change them. If you guys want to say that public entities aren't commerce, and aren't industry, I'm open. But we need a definition that is consistent, and we need a good reason for modifying it.

So if we want to say that public activity is not industry, we need a definition that makes Remington an industry, but not UL.

And we need a good reason for saying it.

[CajunFun]

...Definately important but not the same as private industry/business. _

Why the modifier?

If you say "private" industry/business, doesn't that automatically indicate there is non-private-- which means public-- industry/business?

[Just1More]

_ Isn't crime an industry? Remember, Al Capone did not go to jail because of murder, robbery, extortion, trafficking, or any of those.

He was convicted of income tax evasion. So by IRS standards, crime is an industry, albeit an illegal one.

The word "industry" refers to any commerce, and originates from the term for skill, and diligence. Although we often use "commerce" and "commercial" to be synonymous with "private," they actually refer to any exchange of money.

Words can mean whatever we want, and we can change them. If you guys want to say that public entities aren't commerce, and aren't industry, I'm open. But we need a definition that is consistent, and we need a good reason for modifying it.

So if we want to say that public activity is not industry, we need a definition that makes Remington an industry, but not UL.

And we need a good reason for saying it. _

I understand the use of the term "industry" even in the context of education. I can see it being applied to religion, crime and any number of entities that exchange money. But, I would prefer framing the importance of UL to the Acadiana economy in a way that does not immediately promote terminology arguments like this one... "is education really an industry?"

Your article has a catchy title... but I am far more interested in effectively articulating the valid reasons for UL to be supported monsterously by the Acadiana community, rather than introduce more opportunities for debating terminology and possibly having the key message missed altogether. Just something to consider...