Poor Louisiana. Its dependence on the oil industry and, according to the state treasurer, thousands of private contracts, as well as other market and self-inflicted reasons, have led the state to an estimated $950 million shortfall in this fiscal year’s budget.

Never fear, however, because there are at least two people out there calling upon the charity of the softhearted folks of Louisiana and beyond and are designing means by which anyone can donate more of their hard-earned cash to save us all.

Houma Republican state Rep. Beryl Amedée has introduced HB77, which would allow anyone to donate money to the state. A fourth would go to the state’s rainy day fund. Ten percent would go to pay down the state’s teacher retirement system debt and the rest to state borrowing debt, according to an Associated Press story.

Eric Boleyn of Natchitoches, however, went for the modern way to raise money: gofundme.com. The account was established on Feb. 11 and was reported on by media all over the state. As of Monday, it has raised $590, including an anonymous donation of $100 (the largest single donation), a donation of $60 from Christina Heard and $50 donations each from Chris Blanchard and Colleen Ladnier. The hometowns of the donors are not listed.

Of course, if every man, woman and child in Louisiana gave just $193 each, all that pesky debt would be covered. Or maybe some of the Democratic U.S. senators who are multimillionaires and have long said the rich do not pay enough taxes would not mind contributing a million or two, just to get things rolling.

This is written tongue-in-cheek, of course. The seriousness of the state’s debt is great enough that legislators likely will be faced with slashing programs and raising taxes. This is the time for the public to pay attention and communicate with their legislators.

JEFF ZERINGUE

MANAGING EDITOR