To be sure, officials involved in economic development in Caddo Parish are eager to find a viable tenant who will create jobs at the former General Motors plant. Perhaps too eager. The deal cut with Elio Motors to build a three-wheeled vehicle and hire 1,500 workers is stuck in neutral, having faced delay after delay.

There is an old saying: “You can’t really understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.” It’s not a bad philosophy to follow, and I have often thought of that saying many times over my lifetime when difficult situations arose.

Whether it’s electing officials to governmental entities or deciding on a tax proposition, our lives are affected in one way or another. And so it is for Caddo Parish voters May 2. There are two propositions on the ballot which will impact residents – and their children – for years to come.

Making a living these days is not easy. For some, both spouses work, some work two jobs, and making ends meet with costs rising to raise a family and for necessities result in living paycheck to paycheck. And it doesn’t help matters that governmental entities take a big bite out of our income every payday to spend as they see fit – often not wisely.

It’s not easy being an elected official for a governmental entity these days at the national, state and local levels. To be sure, things will not change for the better for elected officials in 2015. It might be wise, if you care how your tax dollars are spent, to stay informed and pay attention this year to what these entities are doing.

Talk about overload. It is just hard to relax these days. We had the climax to the 2014 election year, which was stressful enough. Then came the college bowl games and playoffs and the NFL football playoffs. You would think sports would provide a relaxing break.