The latest issue of Vanity Fair has what I believe to be a most revealing article about the state of hypocrisy in Mississippi. Our fair state leads or is in the top ten of the following dubious distinctions: Number two in the nation, in 2003, with the highest incarceration rate; this one I'm particularly proud of: in 2003 we were number one in the U.S. for incarcerating women; in 2003 we were number 7 in the U.S. for deaths by firearms; number three in the U.S. for gambling profits (pre-Katrina figures); number three in the U.S., in 2003, for highest illegitimacy rate; and number one in the U.S. for highest rate of obesity.
All this in a state that is supposed to be in the heart of the bible belt and classified as a red state. What is wrong with this picture?
I am not a native Mississippian but moved here 13 years ago and this is now my home state. Some people think I have no right to be so critical of the backward and nineteenth century mindset of, what seems like the majority of state residents and, party aside, the reluctance of our elected officials to change things and bring this state kicking and screaming into the 21st century. Let me cite some examples: the refusal of state legislatures to give radar to county sheriffs ( would somebody please explain to me what is so bad about giving them the ability to enforce speed limits in our counties); the domestic animal protection laws in this state are barbaric at best - our neighbors to the immediate west of us have better domestic animal protection laws than we do - this state provides for felony punishments for a first offense abuse of a farm animal, but for a dog or cat it is just a misdemeanor for the first two offenses; our department of transportation is the only one in the U.S. that is an independent agency and is not answerable to our elected officials; we have a department of environmental quality that is more interested in not offending big business that protecting the health of its citizens. I could go on and on but I'm sure you all get the idea. We MUST pull together to turn this state around and get it headed in the right direction. The only way to do that is to elect progressive thinkers and kick the red necks out that insist on keeping the status quo.
About Me
- Dave
- I retired from the Air Force in 1981 after having served for 20 years. The first four years of active duty I served as a Security Policeman, the next 16 years I was an Air Traffic controller. After retirement I worked for a contractor as an Air Traffic Control Subject Matter Expert. In 1985 I again joined the government, this time as a civilian. I retired on the 31st of Dec 2005 after over twenty years in civil service. I am now fully retired. I will be the first to admit that I supported Reagan. I think it was during that administration that I first questioned my political leanings. I will further admit that I use to watch Fox News, that changed when it became apparent that they were a mouthpiece for the right wing neocons. During the Afghanistan war Fox used to use Ret Col. Hackworth as its military expert. During the build-up for the illegal war against Iraq, Col. Hackworth denounced the unprovoked attack on a soverign nation. That was the last time you saw Col. Hackworth. That made it plain to me that Fox would not put up with guests that had different opinions than what they espoused.
1 comment:
You go Dave!! Love it love it love it! Congrats on starting up this blog!
I have wanted to collect the misc. data concerning our state's dubious and often pathetic No. 1s and No. 50s and you have done a great job with "announcing" some of those "honors." I'd like to know the rest of the story...
This is my home state, but but I've lived in 13 others and I think we, as a state, are in a sad state of affairs. Seems we always have been. People just don't get it. I guess they're too busy huntin' or gamblin' to realize "what's goin' on."
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