The lesson from the Families First debacle is that we should never confuse local, private charity with taxpayer-funded, government-granted charity.
In 2018, $428 billion was given to charity in the United States of America. Sixty-eight percent of that giving was given by individuals; 18 percent by foundations; 9 percent by bequests, and only five percent by corporations. Of the types of giving, $125 billion was given to religious causes – by far the largest category of all giving. Education was a distant second, receiving $59 billion.
The evidence is very clear in America. We are a generous lot and the most generous among us are religious. Religious practice is the behavioral variable most consistently associated with charitable giving. What’s more, the religious giver is also much more likely to give to secular causes than the non-religious.
According to the Philanthropy Roundtable, Mississippi ranks number two nationally in the percentage of our gross income that goes to charitable giving. We are second only to Utah, which has a disproportionate number of Mormons, who are expected to give at least 10 percent. Utahans give 6.2 percent of their gross income on average whereas Mississippians give 5.6 percent of theirs.
It is no surprise then to know that Mississippians also rank at the top in several categories of religious practice. According to the most recent data from Pew Research, we rank number one for belief in heaven (88 percent); the frequency of prayer (75 percent); frequency of reading scripture weekly (59 percent); religious service attendance (49 percent); and participation in religious study and education (43 percent).
But there is one piece of data from the Pew Research that caught my eye and sent a shiver up my spine. Despite our remarkable history of charitable giving and religious practice, we only ranked number 33 in the number of residents who believe in limited government. This is a yawning paradox. And it’s in total incongruence with the above.
Not only is this lack of a belief in limited government not consistent with the behaviors of most Mississippians, it’s also not consistent with Christian doctrine. Theologians from across the spectrum of Christianity have warned of the danger of the consolidation of power into higher-level organizations. John Locke, whose writing heavily influenced our own founders’ view of liberty, was himself a deeply religious man who consistently warned of the disempowerment of ourselves and our communities of the responsibility we own naturally to help others by leaning instead on a large, complex, and expensive government.
Pope John Paul II once wrote about what happens when the government intervenes into the communities and starts competing with local charities, saying, “this leads to a loss of human energies and an inordinate increase of public agencies which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients and which are accompanied by an enormous increase in spending.”
We have missed these warmings. We’ve allowed ourselves to be convinced that our tax dollars are an efficient way to solve problems and meet need where it is. It is only in a place where we’ve transferred personal accountability to the state and ceded moral authority in exchange for federal grants that a program like Families First could emerge.
Rather than trust government propaganda and unaccountable claims of doing good, we need to be engaged and aware of what is being done in the name of our “common good.” Thankfully, State Auditor Shad White and his staff were able to prevent further waste and theft in the name of charity. We should heed the lesson.
There are major differences between charities that depend upon the giving of donors to fund specific types of work and the non-profits who depend upon government grants for funding and often morph and change their missions in order to qualify for grants, which are of course ultimately funded by taxpayers. Perhaps this will help us to recognize the incongruence of our nature as one of the most generous and religious states in America but one that has fallen into the trap of a dependence upon government.
We can do better. God has already shown us the way.
This column appeared in the Clarion Ledger on March 11, 2020.
Senate Bill 2726, sponsored by Sen. Derrick Simmons, and House Bill 1299, sponsored by Rep. Abe Hudson, would prohibit food establishments from offering plastic straws, unless requested by a customer.
This law would be enforced by the Department of Health and repeat offenders could receive fines of no more than $300 each year.
For the past few years, the left has moved to plastic straw bans in the name of saving the planet after winning the war on the evil cousin to straws, plastic bags. Saving the planet is a noble idea, if in fact you believe we only have limited years remaining. But plastic straws aren’t going to do it. At least not from America. The U.S. contributes about 1 percent of global plastic waste. Because we have well managed waste management and recycling facilities. In contrast, around 80 percent of plastic waste comes from China and other Asian countries that do not.
Many businesses in an attempt to show their wokeness have stopped using plastic straws. However misguided the virtue signaling may have been, it was the decision of a private company, not the state. And that is where it should stay.
MCPP has reviewed this legislation and finds that it violates our principles and therefore must be opposed.
Track the status of this and all bills in our legislative tracker.
In this episode of Unlicensed, Brett and Hunter talk about goat milk, higher ed, the Democratic primary, and the passing of Lecile Harris, the rodeo clown who is synonymous with the Dixie National Rodeo.
Chief District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III has sent a free speech lawsuit filed by the Mississippi Justice Institute (MJI) back to state court and ordered the city of Jackson to pay the attorneys’ fees incurred by the plaintiffs while opposing the city’s attempt to move the case to federal court.
The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of an ordinance recently enacted by the city of Jackson which bans free speech outside of the state’s only abortion clinic. MJI is representing the plaintiffs, who are members of Sidewalk Advocates of Life – Jackson, Mississippi.
After MJI filed the lawsuit in Hinds County Circuit Court last fall, the city attempted to remove the lawsuit to federal court, stating in a press release that federal court was “the appropriate venue for this matter,” despite the fact that the plaintiffs had alleged only that the challenged ordinance violated the Mississippi Constitution, and had not made allegations regarding the U.S. Constitution.
In an opinion issued today, Jordan sided with MJI’s motion to remand the case back to state court, stating, “It is up to Mississippi’s courts to interpret the state’s constitution and develop the state’s constitutional law.
“The Court is hard-pressed to find a reasonable basis justifying removal in this case. All of Plaintiffs’ claims allege that the ordinance violated their rights under the Mississippi Constitution. As to Plaintiffs’ free-speech claim, the city said that Plaintiffs necessarily raised a federal issue because their claim concerns an abortion-related law, which ‘is at the center of controversial and evolving federal jurisprudence[.]’ That may be true, but the city cites no case law—nor can the Court find any—from which it could reasonably conclude that this could form the basis of federal-question jurisdiction. As explained, the case law, and basic principles of federalism, are to the contrary.”
The judge also held that attorneys for the city of Jackson lacked any reasonable basis to believe their removal of the case to federal court was legally proper, and therefore ordered the city to pay the legal fees and court costs incurred by the plaintiffs in opposing the move. The Court instructed counsel for the Sidewalk Advocates to submit a motion with an affidavit supported by billing records documenting the reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs that they have incurred. While the plaintiffs are represented by MJI for free, the law allows public interest law firms such as MJI to recover reasonable costs and fees incurred when a defendant improperly removes a case to federal court.
“Quite frankly, we were shocked by the position taken by the city of Jackson in these court filings,” said Aaron Rice, the Director of the Mississippi Justice Institute. “Jackson’s argument completely disregarded the principles of federalism upon which our country was founded, denigrated the competence of state courts to hear state law claims, and was dismissive of the authority of state courts to interpret their own state’s constitution. Fortunately, the federal court understood that, and ensured that state courts will have this important opportunity to interpret the Mississippi Constitution’s free speech protections.”
The new ordinance bans individuals who are near health facilities from approaching within eight feet of any person without consent, for the purpose of engaging in various forms of speech such as counseling, education, or distributing leaflets; bans people from congregating or demonstrating within 15 feet of the abortion facility, and bans any amplified sound. Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
“Women regularly accept our offer to help in the midst of an unexpected pregnancy, said Pam Miller, Co-Leader of Sidewalk Advocates for Life – Jackson, Mississippi. “In fact, in partnership with other peaceful community members, more women than ever have opted to take advantage of the free, alternative resources the Jackson community provides. We are committed to connecting women with the loving, life-affirming assistance they deserve, and we will continue to serve the women of Mississippi in a peaceful and law-abiding way.”
“Now that we have resolved this jurisdictional issue, MJI looks forward to vigorously defending our client’s fundamental freedom to have peaceful, compassionate, and respectful conversations in public places about one of the most profound moral and political issues facing our nation,” said Rice. “To deny that right would be to deny the very essence of a free society.”
House Bill 526, sponsored by Rep. Steve Hopkins, and House Bill 628, sponsored by Rep. Randy Boyd, will prohibit municipalities from restricting free speech activities within the vicinity of a medical facility.
This is a response to the city of Jackson’s ordinance that was adopted last year and is designed to prevent individuals from engaging in free speech outside of the state’s only abortion facility.
That ordinance bans individuals who are near health facilities from approaching within eight feet of any person without consent, for the purpose of engaging in various forms of speech such as counseling, education, or distributing leaflets; bans people from congregating or demonstrating within 15 feet of the abortion facility, and bans any amplified sound. Violations of the ordinance could result in fines of up to $1,000 and 90 days in jail.
Shortly after the city adopted the ordinance, the Mississippi Justice Institute filed suit against the city, arguing that the prohibition violates free speech rights.
While the issue of abortion clouds the judgment of many on this issue, free speech – whether you agree with the issue or not – is something that should be encouraged, and protected.
MCPP has reviewed this legislation and finds that it is aligned with our principles and therefore should be supported.
Track the status of this and all bills in our legislative tracker.
Senate Bill 2050, sponsored by Sen. Angela Hill, would ensure free speech on college campuses by prohibiting a state university or community college from implementing a policy that violates freedom of speech, religion, or association.
If the governor receives notice that a public university has such a policy, they shall notify the university and that school would have 30 days to show compliance before the state fiscal officer would withhold state funds.
This, unfortunately, is needed in Mississippi.
A former student at Jones County Junior College is suing the school for infringing on his free speech rights, and the U.S. Department of Justice is supporting his suit.
Michael Brown was stopped twice by campus police for trying to inform students about the political club he was involved with, Young Americans for Liberty, without prior authorization from the school’s administration, according to the complaint filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Brown was stopped by campus officials early last year about an inflatable beach ball, known as a “free speech ball,” upon which students could write messages of their choice and again in the spring for polling students about marijuana legalization.
An administrator told YAL that they weren’t permitted on campus since they hadn’t sought permission from the college.
The current regulations at JCJC require at least three days’ notice to administrators before “gathering for any purpose.” The student handbook also puts even more restrictions on college-connected student organizations, which must schedule their events through the vice president of student affairs. The school administration also reserves the right, according to the handbook, to not schedule a speaker or an activity.
The DOJ statement says that these restrictions operate as a prior restraint on student speech and contain no exception for individuals or small groups, and grant school officials unbridled discretion to determine about what students may speak.
MCPP has reviewed this legislation and finds that it is aligned with our principles and therefore should be supported.
Read the bill here.
Track the status of this bill and all bills in our legislative tracker.
A former student at Jones County Junior College is suing the school for infringing on his free speech rights. And the U.S. Department of Justice is coming to his defense.
Michael Brown, who is now a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, was stopped twice by campus police for trying to inform students about the political club he was involved with, Young Americans for Liberty, without prior authorization from the school’s administration, according to the complaint filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Brown was stopped by campus officials early last year about an inflatable beach ball, known as a “free speech ball,” upon which students could write messages of their choice and again in the spring for polling students about marijuana legalization.
An administrator told YAL that they weren’t permitted on campus since they hadn’t sought permission from the college.
According to Brown, he and another student held up a sign polling students on marijuana. Campus police took him and another student to their office after telling a friend, who wasn’t a student, to leave. Campus officers later escorted the friend off campus.
The DOJ has now issued what is known as a statement of interest.
The DOJ statement compared the school’s regulations regarding public speech from their handbook to the tyrannical state of Oceania in George Orwell’s “1984.” The statement also says the college has an obligation to comply with the First Amendment.
The current regulations require at least three days’ notice to administrators before “gathering for any purpose.” The student handbook also puts even more restrictions on college-connected student organizations, which must schedule their events through the vice president of student affairs. The school administration also reserves the right, according to the handbook, to not schedule a speaker or an activity.
The statement says that these restrictions operate as a prior restraint on student speech and contain no exception for individuals or small groups, and grant school officials unbridled discretion to determine about what students may speak.
The DOJ urges JCJC to revisit and revise its speech policies. In May, FIRE wrote a letter to Jones Count Junior College President Jesse Smith offering to help the community college bring its policies into compliance with the First Amendment. The school didn’t respond to the letter.
This, however, is not the first – or even the most recent – instance of college campuses in Mississippi restricting free speech.
This fall, the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at Ole Miss rescinded an invitation of Elisha Krauss, a conservative commentator, days before she was scheduled to appear. The event was hosted by Young America’s Foundation. The Center is housed in the same building as the School of Journalism and New Media but is a separate organization.
The Overby Center claimed they do not allow ideological speakers, yet with a 2019 lineup that included a former Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate and partisan journalists from the New York Times and Washington Post (among others), the definition of “ideological” seems to fluctuate based on how much you may agree with certain speech.
Krauss is certainly someone who has a conservative background, but also someone who has spent considerable time in the larger world of journalism. Someone who would have been a good balance to many of the other speakers allowed to convey their thoughts and ideas at the Overby Center.
Fortunately, the story in Oxford ended on a positive note. The administration invited Krauss back. And she gave a well-received speech, naturally, regarding free speech on college campuses.
But whether it’s a junior college or the oldest public university in the state, we shouldn’t be having these fights in Mississippi. Free speech should be welcomed and encouraged on every college campus in the state, regardless of whether you like the speech or not. And it shouldn’t take a lawsuit or an administrator overriding one or two decision makers.
To date, 14 states, including every state that borders Mississippi, have passed legislation to protect campus free speech and ensure different voices can be heard. The Magnolia State has the opportunity to join this growing trend in 2020.
The U.S. Department of Justice is coming out in support of a former Jones County Junior College student who is suing the school for infringing on his free speech rights.
The DOJ issued a statement of interest in the case of J. Michael Brown, a former JCJC student at the school who is now at the University of Southern Mississippi.
It says that college campuses shouldn’t be mini police states and that the college shouldn’t wait for a court to steamroll it into compliance, but comply voluntarily with the First Amendment.
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on September 3. The complaint says that Brown was stopped twice by campus police for trying to inform students about the political club he was involved, Young Americans for Liberty, without prior authorization from the school’s administration.
The DOJ statement compared the school’s regulations regarding public speech from their handbook to the tyrannical state of Oceania in the George Orwell’s “1984.” The statement also says the college has an obligation to comply with the First Amendment.
These regulations requires at least three days’ notice to administrators before “gathering for any purpose.” The student handbook also puts even more restrictions on college-connected student organizations, which must schedule their events through the vice president of student affairs. The school administration also reserves the right, according to the handbook, to not schedule a speaker or an activity.
The statement says that these restrictions operate as a prior restraint on student speech and contain no exception for individuals or small group and grant school officials unbridled discretion to determine what students may speak and about what they may speak.
The DOJ urges JCJC to revisit and revise its speech policies. In May, FIRE wrote a letter to Jones Count Junior College President Jesse Smith offering to help the community college bring its policies into compliance with the First Amendment. The school didn’t respond to the letter.
Brown was stopped by campus officials twice, once in February about an inflatable beach ball, known as a “free speech ball,” upon which students could write messages of their choice and the second in April for polling students about marijuana legalization.
An administrator told YAL that they weren’t permitted on campus since they hadn’t sought permission from the college.
According to Brown, he and another student held up a sign polling students on marijuana. Campus police took him and another student to their office after telling a friend who wasn’t a student to leave and escorted off campus.
The lawsuit seeks declaratory judgement to strike the free speech restraints from the student handbook, a permanent injunction against the school to restrain their enforcement of unconstitutional policies and practices, monetary damages and attorneys’ fees.
Religion, Speech, Press, Assembly, Petition. These are the constitutional rights engraved on the entrance to the Overby Center for Southern Politics and Journalism.
This is a rather ironic inscription for a building which just last week prohibited Daily Wire contributor Elisha Krauss from speaking on behalf of a University chapter of Young America’s Foundation.
Blocking the event days before it was scheduled, the School of Journalism and New Media cited an unlisted regulation that prohibited “partisan” figures from speaking at the center.
Following an outcry by conservative student activists and an intervention by Chancellor Glenn Boyce to overrule the initial decision, Krauss will be making her debut on the Ole Miss campus tonight; this time at the newly renovated Student Union.
While the idea that censoring a career journalist who once served as a senior producer to The Sean Hannity Show and a co-host to the Ben Shapiro Show may feel antithetical to the mission of a journalism school; if you were to understand the current political climate at Ole Miss this would all seem as right as rain.
These days at Ole Miss, the academic class is evangelical in their pursuit of progressive values; seeking to censor, harass, and nullify the opinions of those students who still carry with them main street values.
While Boyce deserves credit for reversing the decision of the journalism school, there still is work to be done in promoting free speech on campus as well as addressing institutional biases in departments.
Maybe that will all start with Krauss reminding Ole Miss the meaning of those five words inscribed on the walls of the Overby Center.