[StBernard] Population

[Westley Annis]

Hey Jer,
All of what you said is true. You referred to the "bandwagon effect" which I
believe stems from rumors. Politicians do a good job of starting and
spreading rumors. You've seen in political races where a politician will
start a rumor about himself and blame it on his opponent. 
If you talk to someone who was a neighbor or friend their story about the
condition of the parish and the population will likely have more truth than
the words of a politician.   In many if not most cases the politician has an
ulterior motive.
And a rumor takes on a life of it's own and changes as it is repeated over
and over. 
Play the game with a roomful of people where a story is started by you and
goes around the room. When the story gets back to you, you won't recognize
it. Sadly enough you won't know fact from fiction until you traverse the
parish. Then what you heard as fact is actuall fiction.
Thanks,
David Jochum