This year, many people in our state have fewer tangible things to be thankful for, but countless people have said they have a new appreciation for the things they do still have, especially those intangible things that are truly most important.
Have you ever heard of a public school being built at no cost to the taxpayers? That�s exactly what happened in our nation�s capital, in a deal that may have some merit in Mississippi school districts affected by Hurricane Katrina.
As the Governor�s Commission prepares its recommendations for rebuilding south Mississippi, the quickest and easiest approach would be to come up with a laundry list of programs and projects the government could create or expand to meet all the needs in the region. After all, it�s easier for people to grasp that concept than it is to comprehend how the private sector could piece together a cohesive economy.
Since the tax base of many communities along the Coast has been severely impacted or even decimated, it�s an opportune time for public officials to re-evaluate the purpose and priorities of local government. Here are some questions to consider.
Governor Barbour and Jim Barksdale, who is the chairman of the governor's commission on rebuilding the coast, have been encouraging "big ideas" for the rebuilding effort.
With so much devastation on the Gulf Coast, it�s difficult to imagine how the homes and businesses - and lives - can be rebuilt. And while we, especially in the church, need to be sensitive to the needs of individuals, we also need to look for ways to ensure that when the Coast communities are rebuilt, the essentials of a strong community are accommodated and even promoted. (more…)
Natural disasters bring out the best and the worst in people, and Hurricane Katrina is no exception. The church has risen to the occasion so far, responding immediately and with great strength to provide food, water, clothing, and other products to people who needed it where they needed it. (more…)
For the first time in Mississippi history (as far as we know), the state legislature adjourned its regular session without approving a budget for the next fiscal year.
There are many reasons this occurred. Most people will say that it was because of political grandstanding. (more…)
Mississippi has so far escaped lawsuits over public school financing. Suits in other states have focused on whether school funding was [quote] "adequate." Setting aside for a moment whether it�s appropriate for a court to decide this rather than a legislature, one problem with these suits is that adequacy is an entirely subjective standard. (more…)