Barbour calls for merger of MUW, Mississippi State
By The Associated Press November 16, 2009 2:41:00 PM
JACKSON -- Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said today the state should consider merging some of its universities to save money.
Barbour, in announcing his budget recommendations, said Mississippi University for Women should merge with nearby Mississippi State University and that Alcorn State University and Mississippi Valley State University be merged into Jackson State University.
Barbour said none of the campuses would close but the proposed mergers would save money by reducing the number of administrative jobs.
The proposed change would leave Mississippi with five public universities rather than the current eight.
Barbour's consolidation proposal would have to be approved by lawmakers. It is part of his suggested budget for the fiscal year that begins next July 1.
The Democratic chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee, Rep. Kelvin Buck of Holly Springs, opposes the Republican governor's proposal. Buck said Mississippi would hurt its own economic future by limiting higher education.
"While the state is clearly experiencing some of the most difficult times in our modern history, it is not the time to panic and undermine the very economic engine that can greatly enhance our ability to rise above the recession," Buck said in a news release.
The chairman of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, Republican Doug Davis of Hernando, said in an interview Monday that he's willing to consider Barbour's consolidation ideas. Davis said he wants to talk to College Board members and Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds about how the proposed changes would affect students.
"I'm not willing to say that we will go forward or that we will stop the conversation," Davis said.
MUW is in Columbus and is about 22 miles from MSU in Starkville. Preliminary enrollment figures released by the College Board in September showed MUW has 2,478 students this fall. MUW has a majority-female enrollment, although it has accepted male students since the 1980s. MSU, with 18,601, is the state's largest university.
MVSU, ASU and JSU are Mississippi's historically black universities. Jackson State is Mississippi's lone urban university.
Buck said consolidation would hurt students.
"I would caution that playing politics with the future of young people enthusiastic about the vast possibilities a higher education offers them is the wrong approach," Buck said. "Nor should we allow our past racial errors to again impede our efforts to address today's educational problems."
Davis said Mississippi faces a "very serious math problem" in setting a balanced budget for the coming year, so he's willing to consider cost-cutting ideas.
Barbour also proposed that the state's 152 public school districts be consolidated into 100. He said he would expect the better performing school districts to remain intact while lower performing districts would be merged with others.
"Also in education, let me say that we propose the School for the Arts in Brookhaven be closed and moved to Columbus on the campus of the Mississippi Math and Science School. We hope to find a good use for the campus in Brookhaven," Barbour said.
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Mark | 11/16/2009 3:30:00 PMmark as inappropriate It sounds like Kelvin Buck is the one playing politics, spitting out sound bites with no facts to back him up.
Ed | 11/16/2009 3:40:00 PMmark as inappropriate Good idea moving the Brookhaven gifted school to MSMS.
walter | 11/16/2009 3:44:00 PMmark as inappropriate What a very, very, very interesting proposal re education for the Governor to be making, at this juncture in the state's history!!!
As is the case, all over America, something needs to be done to improve the quality of education that young people are receiving. That something, isn't the mere consolidation or closure of campus(es), however.
A better proposal, I submit, would be the election of persons to the executive and legislative branches of government who really are committed to developing a first-class educational system for all Mississipians, K-college. To begin, as former state Senator, Henry Kirksey urged, education should be given the priority that these times demand. Followed with a revenue gathering mechanism which realistically produces sufficient monies to fund education exclusively.
Section 16 Land provisions enacted more than a century ago are obsolete for today and tomorrow educational needs. Thus, elected-officials must be voted into office who will place nothing and nobody in a higher priority than the children of Mississippi and their schooling.
For years, a not-so-silent minority of the state's citizens have sounded the clarion alarm. A mis-educated or un-educated "negro-child" is equally as much a liability as an un-educated or mis-educated white child. Both impact the economic status of us all. Neither can become productive, contributing members of society without equipment, educational materiel, and highly-trained and dedicated teachers/professors.
MB | 11/16/2009 4:06:00 PMmark as inappropriate Walter,
We need to cut school districts here in MS! There 152 school districts here in MS and the total salaries for the superintendents are $14 million a year. That is just the superintendents and not all of the assistants and other office personnel. We need one district per county! That would still be too many but that would help. Bolivar County has 6 different districts with a total salary of $750,000 just for that county's superintendents. Education should not be fully funded until the politicians cut out the waste at the top! The state superintendent makes about $300,000 a year, which is about $100,000 more per year than the state superintendent of New York. First in salary and almost last in education! That right there proves that more money is not the answer.
The only way in these economic times to fund education is to raise taxes. I for one do not want my taxes raised when the politicians miss-handle the money we pay in. There are a lot of places we can make cuts and cutting districts will be the best place to start. Keep the schools open but just eliminate the excessive amounts of districts.
I think I read one time that about $.30 of every dollar actually makes it to the classroom. That means $.70 of every dollar goes to administrative costs!! That should just about be flipped or at least 50/50. It parents want this to change they need to contact their legislators and tell them to consolidate districts!!
Mark | 11/16/2009 4:19:00 PMmark as inappropriate Well said MB. The question now is will Chism and Brown have the guts to be fiscally conservative as they claim or will they coward down to the "Blue-haired mafia"
bout time | 11/16/2009 4:24:00 PMmark as inappropriate Agree with MB and Mark! Long past time to consolidate the school districts and the "W" has got to have a name change and looks like this is the chance to make it happen. Go Haley! Shut out the Blue Hair Mafia.
Kayci | 11/16/2009 4:31:00 PMmark as inappropriate What a horrible idea. Why on earth would anyone ever try to start saving money by tinkering with our school systems in any way, shape, form, or fashion? If anything, Mississippi's education systems should have more money allotted to them. Education is overlooked in our state, anyway, and doesn't get nearly the amount of money it needs to operate.
No one cares! | 11/16/2009 4:33:00 PMmark as inappropriate Love'n it, Mark! The "B.H.M." have no chance with Haley. Give up blue hair's.
bout time | 11/16/2009 4:54:00 PMmark as inappropriate Kayci- have you not been listen to the Talk radio station 100.9, about once a week for over a year they preaching on how much money the State is spending on the 152 school districts within the state and the $14million we pay our school superintendents. Just like here in Columbus - Why on earth do we need a City Superintendent and a County Superintendent, who make over $100K a yr. One could do the job and if all school districts cut one or two, just think how much money would be saved. Our two measley districts could be run under the same office, by one Superintendent, with one securtary, one financial officer, etc and just think how much the state of Miss could save. Everybody needs to call their Congressman and ask them to consolidate school districts such as ours. We are not the only County with more than one school district.
.
Golden Boy | 11/16/2009 5:07:00 PMmark as inappropriate Some of you guys are just impractical idiots. MS is always last in everything due to the education system down here if it wasn't north east MS this state would really look worse than it already does. You need to find the economic engines to fund the schools, and make the educators accountable for teaching and not just drawing a pay check. Wake up MS, Jim Crow should have been buried a long time ago. Oh my bad Jim Haley Barbour Crow is live and kicking...
ta | 11/16/2009 8:12:00 PMmark as inappropriate Cut our legislators to one or maybe two per county if everyone wants to contribute.
Merge to Suvive | 11/16/2009 8:25:00 PMmark as inappropriate How about we get Powerball or MegaMillions here and send the money to education? Could equal billions.
I think before you start throwing stones you should consider the 3,000 students on campus who don't have a degree and could potentially lose all their scholarship money and potentially have to drop out of college because of the tuition increase State would cause. In addition, MUW has already fought more than eight merger attempts, one of which was proposed not long after the school was opened. Funny that.
By the way, moving the Mississippi School of the Arts is completely impractical. That's the point of a specialty school. There are not facilities available for all of those students regardless. You know what you get when you merge math and science and art and drama? A regular high school.
It would be a better idea to combine elementary schools where the curriculums are all the same instead of trying to ruin the lives of already broke students who came to MUW for a good reason. If we wanted to go to State, we would have gone to State--end of story.
stir it | 11/16/2009 9:25:00 PMmark as inappropriate Just like stirring the crap to see how people react to bogus comments. You know most who comment here are just "stirring it".
Sink or Swim | 11/16/2009 9:31:00 PMmark as inappropriate I think they should leave the W just as it is. Give them their budget structure just like the other universities have, budget cuts and all. Let the W hash it out and if they sink, then there can be a lot of "I told you so's and We tried to help." and if they swim then there can be egg on everyone else's face. Don't merge with MSU, MSU doesn't need the drama and headache the W carries with it.
lem1970 | 11/16/2009 9:39:00 PMmark as inappropriate Wow, Mississippi has too many Universities for the population and money available to fund higher education. There needs to be a realignment to put more money into the classroom and this is just a start. Clay County has a County Supertindent of education and they contract with West Point City schools to educate the county students. There are many other things that need to be looked at to put the kids first. Maybe the option to not merging MUW is to close, and that is probably not a good thing. How many MSU students could take classes in Columbus until they have to attend specialized curriculum classes in Starkville. This would give MUW students additional options. The nursing school should remain intact, I hope.
J | 11/16/2009 9:40:00 PMmark as inappropriate An article here in the Dispatch last week quoted several state legislators as saying they usually just crumple up Barbour's suggestions and toss them in the garbage. What makes anyone think that they'll follow his wishes this time? This is another non-story.
MB | 11/16/2009 9:40:00 PMmark as inappropriate Merge to Suvive,
When we allowed the Casinos to open here it was going to save education! That was all that the legislators was saying at that time in the early
'90s. Haley Barbour is not the problem and was not in power at the time when the casinos came into the picture.
We have the same people in power now in the legislature that we had in power in the early '90s when they lied to us about how gambling was going to save education. Personally we do not need anything else like that, powerball or megamillions. If you look at the powers that be in the legislature, they have been in power for about 15-20 years and just about all of them are Democrats. It all comes back to if you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting! We still have the same men and women in power and we are still getting the same thing. Our legislators are too dumb to know what to do because they keep doing the same things. It we want the education system to change we have got to let them know we want them to make changes. The biggest problem in our education system sits under that capitol dome in Jackson starting in January, our legislature! If we had not had a governor that understands a budget and a Senate that would work with him, our state would be in a HUGE financial mess right now. This next year is going to be tough and just like most of us at home the legislature has got to make cuts. I don't know about most of you but I do not spend money I do not have!!!
JS | 11/16/2009 9:44:00 PMmark as inappropriate There are 2,500 students at the W. There are reasons that the W has had to fight merger attempts 8 times, why do you think that is? Is it because everyone is just picky on the W? Or, is it because it STILL doesn't make sense to fund the university at its current enrollment level. I was walking through campus just yesterday and noticed something, would it be fair to say the campus is running at 50% capacity? The State must receive a reasonable return on the investment that it makes here. The last thing that I want to see is the closure of the campus. The majority agrees that an image change is necessary. I don't know that the merger is the answer, but it's safe to say that the administration at the W isn't getting the job done. MSU may provide the energy needed to unleash all that this campus has to offer. In short, the campus and resources of the W are currently being underutilized. Let's do whatever we can, whatever it is, to change that.
MB | 11/16/2009 9:47:00 PMmark as inappropriate Mark,
I am going to you your "Blue-haired mafia" here a minute! BTW, that is awesome! If The "W" can not stand alone than MSU needs to take it under its umbrella. If the "Blue-haired mafia" does not like it, then they need to pool their money and pay for the school to stay open. As a state we do not have the money to keep all of these small colleges open. If it can not operate on its own and they do not want to be a part of MSU then SHUT IT DOWN!!!! There is no reason why we need so many small colleges if they can not operate on their own. WHAT PART OF NOT HAVING ANY MONEY DO THESE PEOPLE WITH THEIR HANDS OUT NOT UNDERSTAND??????
Betty Lou Busby - President, Blue Hair Mafia | 11/16/2009 10:10:00 PMmark as inappropriate Me and my homegirls are gonna turn over our social security checks to the W to keep it going. History is everything, the future is super-scary! I've started a BHM Tweeter site and we're gonna get our message out to the world!
Chris Ellis | 11/16/2009 10:13:00 PMmark as inappropriate As a W Alum, I would support the merger. What about the potential such a merger could offer Columbus? This suggestion trumps a band-aid called "Name Change".
Renee | 11/17/2009 7:00:00 AMmark as inappropriate I am not happy to hear of the Governor's plan. My daughter chose to attend the W because it's a small intimate school. She had no desire to attend a large campus like MSU. I will continue to watch this story closely.
MB | 11/17/2009 7:25:00 AMmark as inappropriate Renee,
As far as I know there is no plan to close The W but just let if fall under the management of MSU. It will still be the same small school with more than likely a slight student increase. Depending on her major, there might be a change in classes but its still early to know. Would you rather they keep it open under MSU management or close it? If there is not any money to keep the place open the MSU deal would make sense. Tax revenues are down because of the economy and the government has got to tighten the belt.
JSH | 11/17/2009 9:07:00 AMmark as inappropriate Some basic facts...and you can look 'em up:
Politicians always say that casino/lottery money will "go to help our schools". But the schools still stink.
Politicians always say the answer to improving schools is more and more and more money. And the schools still stink.
As long as I've lived in this state (since 1974), I've heard countless politicians say, "We have to improve our educational system...it's the only way to get Mississippi off the bottom". But education in this state is still sub-par. Why? Mainly because of the politicians, teachers unions, and special interest groups who insists on putting their OWN interests ahead of educating children.
Our state is facing the same economic realities as the entire nation. Sensible solutions are required to help Mississippi get out of the red. This state of barely 3 million people has EIGHT state universities. That fact alone is ridiculous...even more so when compared to other states with larger populations. There are 82 counties in the state... but 152 school districts?? Again, ridiculous.
The choices are clear: the state can cut needless, wasteful spending in an effort to improve our economic situation or raise money through additional taxes and fees. Don't we have enough of those already? Without question some people will be negatively impacted by consolidation of universities and school districts, but as a whole the state and its citizens will benefit from cutting needless spending. We've been talking about this in Mississippi for decades and ultimately doing nothing. Our current economic situation demands action...now.
Change-We Need it. | 11/17/2009 9:49:00 AMmark as inappropriate Go Betty Lou and the Blue-hairs, if ya'll want to keep it the "W" so bad then one of the Ole Geezer Alum's need to fork over their Millions as a donation and then just shut up and see what happens to your donation and the school. I am sure there are plenty of Old Money Rich Alumni Blue-Hairs that could pool their money and save for whatever reasons the name "W". Pull out those checkbooks, cash in your Daddy's trust funds, skip your vacations to Aide Africa, and give back to your "W". Keep the name and continue to limit the school's future! No real guy wants MUW on their diploma! "Keep stirring it" , But if you really think it should remain the "W" I urge you to write that $8 or $10million dollar check to the school.
Walter | 11/17/2009 9:54:00 AMmark as inappropriate When certain members of a particular political party begin to talk of closure and merger, I cringe. The history of my beloved state teaches that closures and mergers are done along racial lines. And, regrettably, a very disproportionate number of persons of my race are the ones whose find their jobs/positions and institutions eliminated.
Has there been sufficient change within the state to ensure that the race is no longer the controlling factor in the determination of which schools will close or merge? Positions eliminated? If so, then Governor, you have my support 110% of the way. If not, or just maybe, we've changed, Governor, don't change a darn thing until there is clearance, as required or should be required by federal law.
No one cares! | 11/17/2009 9:57:00 AMmark as inappropriate HaHaHa, that's funny! LOL, LMAO!!!!! The best solution yet, Daddy's Trust Fund!
walter | 11/17/2009 10:36:00 AMmark as inappropriate Here's a radical, futuristic idea: Keep all of the state-supported institutions of higher learning open. Create two separate regions with a governing body for each. Allocate financial and all other resources to the regions based solely upon the number of students enrolled in the universities/colleges within each region.
Locate all administrative offices in one central office within each region. In other words, a chancellor position for each of the regions. All student recruitment, testing, employment, administrative, and similar matters would be handled by the regional offices.
To guarantee fairness and the appearance of fairness, one chancellor should be white, the other black; one chancellor should be female, the other male. Each of the region should reflect the overall demographic of the state.
walter | 11/17/2009 12:05:00 PMmark as inappropriate Ditto, 11/17/09 @ 10:36 A.M., for the state's public schools. Create as many regions needed to achieve the educational objectives for the number of school aged persons within the state.
Instaed of chancellors, simply elect/appoint superintendants.
Only a suggestion, folks. If unsatisfied, suggest fair and balanced solutions of your own, that, due to our state's history, affirmatively act to retain and hire females and minorities, in order to dispel any remnants of past racial disciminationm or fears that past policies will continue to thwart development and growth tomorrow.
MB | 11/17/2009 12:52:00 PMmark as inappropriate Walter,
If you are a African American, which I am assuming you area, some of the areas with issues are majority black areas. We need to help those areas with good teachers and not top heavy administrations. What I think needs to be done is eliminate excessive numbers of districts but not close any schools. We have a county like Bolivar with 6 districts and about 7,000 students and most of the schools are level 2 schools which are under performing schools. Then take for instance DeSoto County School District where there are 30,000 students and the schools are level 4 and level 5. Do you think it would better to take Bolivar County and cut it back to one district and save that money in administration fees so that the kids could get a better education and maybe hire more teachers or keep all the districts where money is over spent on administration fees and the schools still stay at a under performing level? I say cut jobs in administration but add teachers. The kids need the teachers more than the administrators.
concerned | 11/17/2009 1:10:00 PMmark as inappropriate It's all the about the students. Cut funding and you cut education advancement. It's all about the students not the politicians. How did you get where you are politicians? Think about it? these students are trying to do the same get where you politicians are and get educated. Please do not cut funding for education!!!!
Grady | 11/17/2009 3:10:00 PMmark as inappropriate Walter is living in the dark ages. Remember when high schools had white/black homecoming courts? I think he is still stuck there.
Billy Bob | 11/17/2009 3:34:00 PMmark as inappropriate Well first I would say that things at the W do need to change. I for one feel that the administration has been the W's worst enemy. Until the administration is removed from the grasps of Limbert and her associates things will not ever get better for the W. At this point I feel that merger is necessary. The W is too far gone due to the bickering and fighting within the past few years. I personally loved the W when I first came here but I myself have noticed a difference since I have been here. As a student I feel that merging is the only option to save the W from closing period..
Kathy | 11/17/2009 8:02:00 PMmark as inappropriate Well, the way I see it, go ahead and merge. So many people have been screaming to change the "W's" name...atleast this way, the school will get a name change, while retaining 2/3 of the name it already had. It will still have Mississippi and University in it's name.
John Logan | 11/17/2009 9:48:00 PMmark as inappropriate Merging state schools comes up fairly regularly. Everytime it does, recruitment is hurt. M.U.W. sports was killed by a tornado and they still get 2,500 students? Thats pretty awesome in itself. If M.S.U. lost its sports programs how bad would it hurt them? Liberal Arts are not what M.S.U. is about. It was said after Katrina that over half our tax revenue came from gaming. If thats true, the lottery should have been voted in overnite. Being the nations first state supported womens college and all the work thats been done over the years to keep a pulse at the "W", lets find a way to keep it alive !!!
k | 11/18/2009 10:06:00 AMmark as inappropriate Looks like merger is winning the poll.
http://mresoftware.com/wp_news.htm
Walter | 11/18/2009 11:55:00 AMmark as inappropriate No, Grady. I do not live there ("Dark Ages"). I"m merely a student of history and it just so happens that I'm also blessed with a very long memory.
Has Mississippi undergone a drastic change, in terms of race-relations? Has any person of African descent, other than Bennie Thomas, been elected to represent Mississippians in D.C. or any state-wide office? Incidentally, Thomas represents a district that is almost 65% black.
So, Grady, you tell me, since you obviously are living way into the future: Have we reached a post-racial era, already, in Mississippi, such that you feel confident enough to say I'm living in the Dark Ages for candidly asking about a very, very recent and well-entrenched attitude respecting race in my beloved state?
I pray that race will soon, no longer be an issue, in Mississipi. However, the Gradys of the state or the world, in my humble opinion would be fool-hardy to ignore the issue of racism, as long as there is more than a mere vestige of it at play within the state. This is especially the position I take, when it involves new proposals dealing with the education of our young. State your opinion, Sir, if you're so inclined. But, please do so, without attempting to denigrade me for stating mine.
I assure any who read here that I unequivocally hold to my early promise to the Governor: I will support his proposal 110%, if I see evidence that it is done with complete race-neutral impact. Our history shows that when consolidation and closures are undertaken in Mississippi, it has disproportionately affected the state's African American population. Thus, I ask: Is it wrong to challenge decision-makers to avoid a similar consequence, now, or into the future, if mergers or closures, are realistically placed on the table for consideration? I think not, Mr. Grady. I praise my state, at every turn. I do not duck my head in the sand, when strong winds blow and I do not deny reality.
Something must be done to improve the system. We all know that. I want persons of color and females to be fairly represented in all phases of the change being proposed. And, I do not want some head scratching or people pleasing individual of any persuasion rubber-stamping decisions by some Mr. Big Shot. Our children ability to compete, not only with others within the state and country, but with children throughout the world, is what is at stake.
By the way, Grady, I know Mississippi is changing. I was so over-joyed when I learned that the majority of the people within the state joined with the rest of the voters of the nation in casting its vote for the first person of African descent to be President of the U.S. So, you're right, Sir, anyone who thinks Mississippi is still behind the times, surely must be living within the Dark Ages.
MB, I do not object to consolidation, merely for the sake of objecting. I simply cannot support such a plan, without adequate assurances tht it will not be done in such a way as to force black teachers, aministrators, and institutions to bare the brunt of the change. The state's elected-official's luke-warm efforts to integrate in the 60's did just that. Consolidate with one motive and one motive only, enhancing our children's chances of becoming free, law-abiding, happy, independent-thinking, and productive citizens of the world, regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual-orientation. Of necessity, the fat must be cut from the system and persons who have grown over-weight doing nothing, ought to be eliminated from the system, one way or the other.
Lizy | 11/18/2009 1:43:00 PMmark as inappropriate Blue-Haired Mafia! Why would you say that? You didn't attend college did you? The idot in you just came out!
MB | 11/18/2009 3:52:00 PMmark as inappropriate Walter,
Bennie Thompson, not Bennie Thomas, is a joke of a representative. I grew up in the district he "serves" and I use "serves" very loosely. Bennie is the poorest ever person to be elected to congress and is also in the poorest district in the country. He is now worth $29 million (plus) according the the paper in Jackson, MS. His district has not made any improvements since he has been in office. His district has the worst education system as any other district in the state, if not the nation. Bennie Thomas, as you called him, runs for one reason and that is to fill his pockets with lobbyist money, take trips on the lobbyist money, and use the poor people of his district to make money. He is a prime example of a politician that wants to hold people back to keep his position! If his district stays the poorest and the most uneducated district, then he can keep promising like he has been and keep getting elected!! If you keep doing what you are doing you will keep getting what you are getting! Bennie Thompson is living proof of that statement!
Walter | 11/19/2009 10:53:00 AMmark as inappropriate Forgive me. Exact names of persons that I do not see or call every day, sometimes escape me. More often than I would like, I mispell even common words. However, whether spelled properly or not, I seldom fail to convey what I mean or to properly identify the person(s) or group of whom I speak.
Your point: "...doing what you...doing you keep getting what you are getting!" is well-taken. Which brings me back to my earlier point: Mississippi has a population composed of at least 40% African American. There are two Senators and five Representatives, one of the latter is Cong. Bennie Thompson, who you basically accuses of being unscrupulous and totally corrupt. Why, do you suppose, there isn't someone else elcted to replace Thompson, if he's as bad as you say he is? Why isn't there at least one other congress-person of African descent, if race is no longer a factor in Mississippi's politics, economic development and decisions regarding education. We know that race is still obviously involved in law enforcement, ie, the composition of the state's prison and persons actively involved in the correctional system.
Poorly educated individuals, obviously, elect persons who represent them poorly. It is true that some of the individuals they choose to elect them within the state and in Washington are corrupt to the core; others are simply incompetent, although they mean well. A number of others are just overwhelmed by the immensity and complexity of the issues affecting Mississippians, plus the latter individuals must constantly contend with outright crooked colleagues, as well as other operatives in business and state agencies. They get little support from citizens, because again, citizens are kept perpetually ill-informed about a host of issues that directly impact them.
I resided within the district represented by Cong. Thompson, although I didn't growup there. I have spoken with him on more than one occasion. And, I have closely observed him and his voting practices. From my observation, he has done as great a job as any pushing a very heavy bolder uphill. As you will recall, the Congress of the U.S has been constantly in gridlock along partisan lines. Thompson is a Democrat and for the majority of the time that he has attempted to serve the district, the other Party was in control of either the White House and Congress. In fact, he has been forced to serve during a time in which all branches of government were controlled by the other pary! Recently, the opposition even called the President of the United States a liar while seated in the hollow halls of Congress and in front of a battalion of international reporters. So, I ask, how much, despite yeomen
efforts on his part, could Thompson wrestle from the national treasure on behalf of his constituents? Constituents who you aptly describe as being the poorest and most illiterate individuals, not only within Mississippi, but the entire nation. Politics is a game of power! Poor, illiterate persons are powerless. Anyone representing them, it goes without saying, will have very limited power, as well, if any power at all.
While I'm not an apologist for the congressman, I do not beleive there is much mileage in singling him out for enhancing his financial status. I don't know of a single politician, including dog-catchers, judges, and parole officers, whose financial positions didn't improve substantially, after they were elected, appointed or hired. Unfortunately, the preceding is a given throughout American society! Finally, few positions leave office of their own volition. Witness Sen. Byrd of W. VA and our own Thad Cochran. How about Trent Lott or Thurman? Did, or do, either of those individuals entertain any fewer lobbyists than Thompson? Did they take any fewer trips?
But, all of the above is not on point. The point is this: The current governor's proposal respecting consolidation (closure) of schools, colleges and university represents a major development that will have consequences, intended and unintended, that will affect Mississippians far into the future. Before changes such as he is proposing are enacted, we, especially those who have been left out from the state's inception, had better be vigilant to ensure that the changes do not create an even more desparate situation for them than what presently exist. To determine the possible impact of a proposal, one needs look no farther than the past and most recent propositions enacted into law(s) by the architect of the instant proposal. Have they had a race-neutral impact? Answer that question and you'll know, for sure, if the current proposal will have a negative or positive impact upon all of Mississippi's citizens, EQUALLY.
Lance | 11/20/2009 10:17:00 AMmark as inappropriate I love it, "We know that race is still obviously involved in law enforcement, ie, the composition of the state's prison and persons actively involved in the correctional system." Just the man trying to hold you down huh? I agree that race still plays a large part in politics. If you you vote for a black man, you are progressive, if you vote against him, you are a racist. Do, you think thousands of blacks that had never voted before lined up to vote for Obama just because he was the first president whose policies they agreed with? Quit kidding yourself. If anybody votes on race lines it is blacks.
walter | 11/20/2009 4:28:00 PMmark as inappropriate Lance, believe me when I say this: I am the first to challenge blacks to ignore President, then candidate-Obama's nationality. Despite there not ever have been an African American elected to the highest office, the times we're living in demanded that our votes be cast for the most qualified persons to lead us in this time of crisis. The majority of blacks and a considerable number of non-blacks believed Obama fit the bill.
Regretably, just as it is true of many persons of non-black prsuasion throughout the south, blacks voted for the person who they thought looked the most like themselves. Sadly, for both groups, race trumps ideas and ideals.
AND YES, race, is obviously still very much a significant factor in law enforcement. More often than not, it determines outcomes, beginning with the initial stop, search, arrest, charge, representation, jury pool, sentence and appeal. A case in point, the person who was convicted of killing/assassinating Medgar Evers who was unarmed, seeking racial-harmony and peace, while entering his own home had, in my opinion, the greatest defense attorney the state has ever known, court-appointed to represent him. How many persons of color get a very, very, very competent attorney, like Buddy, appointed to represent them?
Race still matters, Lance. And, it is unfortunate that it does because it prevents us all from more completely reaching our full potential as human beings. Blacks who voted for Obama merely because of his race are wrong; whites who voted against him, because of it, aren't any less wrong.
Truth be told, people still using race as the primary guide will soon find themselves viewed, in the eyes of the rest of humanity, as being obsolete as dinosaurs, cartoon-characters who far outlived their usefullness to mankind. Race, for those too illiterate to realize it, was no more than a tool to enable this nation to be developed during antebellum period. With China and other asian countries developing and competing with us, the least important variable and most counter-productive to our progress, is the race of U.S. Citizens.
The thing that will carry the day, in the future, and I mean very near future, if we're to succeed, is a person's competency. And, the degree to which one is competent will be on display for the entire world to witness, Lance.
I never kid myself. At this point, in my life, I haven't the time to kid, or kid with, others. You're right, far too many blacks did line-up and vote for Obama because he's almost black. That's regrettable, I agree with you whole-heartedly.
good point | 12/12/2009 1:10:00 PMmark as inappropriate this would actually help columbus, look at starkville. That would grow that school so much. it would still be here in columbus it isn't going anywhere it will be in the history books. the W isn't contributing to columbus like MSU has to starkville. no contributations no leg to stand on!
jermain | 12/15/2009 4:56:00 PMmark as inappropriate LANCE you got to be the most stupid idiot on the planet what you have against blacks? whatever it is its because you find that quality you hate in us that you wish you had. By the way our ancestors were in slavery so we were kind of held back dont you think so why aren't you rich idiot its because your family weren't smart sorta like you so now you see a black president, judge, or any rich blacks its because they had to work twice as hard to catch up and your ancestors were doing good and you still have sh** now ain't that a shame
