I read with interest the several stories in the Jan. 11, 2015, Dispatch, with an eye towards our state’s education. The first story I encountered was about Representative Greg Snowden from Meridian at a state Chamber of Commerce and Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) meeting coming out against the bond issue to fund Mississippi’s schools.
The bond issue would go towards funding the 1997 Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), a law with a great intent but no funding. As would be expected by any CofC crony, Rep. Snowden expounds on the waste of taxpayer money to try to improve our schools through a statewide bond issue. As is the Chamber’s nationwide mission, any funds that do not directly support big business is a bad idea, and should not be supported. To hell with the most important job of this legislator, educating our children.
Next, as usual, Rufus did not slow down in his history lesson regarding the Battle of New Orleans, where 200 years ago, we defeated the British invaders at New Orleans. In the forces that defended America from the Brit’s were African-American soldiers who, shoulder-to-shoulder with their white counterparts, worked to defend our country.
I was unaware of that, and with the approaching Dr. Martin Luther King Day, this bit of history is even more notable.
This was not the last invasion of our country by the Brits. We were again invaded by them when they shattered our pristine Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, with their negligence and reckless exploration of oil. Eleven U.S. souls were lost in this attack and untold damage was bestowed on the Gulf States. We were under siege for 87 days in a man-made disaster that discharged about 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf.
The Brits in this invasion stated that they would pay recompense to those damaged and injured by this calamity. BP structured a formula that was designed to pay the folks adversely affected. This mega-corporation offered those in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and some of Texas and Florida, money for their losses. Then, when folks used the BP formula to file claims, this Brit corporation developed buyer’s remorse and appealed its own decision to pay claimants to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the United States Supreme Court.
Both courts informed the Brits they had made the deal, and reminded the imperialists that in this country, a deal is a deal.
And who was on our shores supporting the Brits — The United States Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber filed “friends of the court” briefs supporting the interests of BP over that of many of its grass-roots members, many of which had themselves filed BP claims.
Hypocrisy at its best.
If you support your local Chamber of Commerce, ask how much these briefs cost to file, and realize that a portion of your dues are going to defeat the interest of many United States’ citizens.
Then, Mr. Ben C. Toledano informed us of the crazy Columbus School Board’s decision to buy about a million dollars’ worth of books when only half that was needed. About one-half of this folly is an inexcusable waste and misappropriation of taxpayers’ money. I was unaware of this “mistake” until I read Mr. Toledano’s epistle, but if this is true, maybe the Chamber should get involved. Heck, maybe The Chamber can get the corporation that profited to belly up to the bar and assist with the education of our children.
Then the last article, on page 8 that showed that once again, Mississippi is rated last in education. We get a “D.” ((edweek.org/ew/qc). Rep. Snowden may want to read this story before he gives speeches to his REAL constituents, the Chamber of Commerce and the MEC.
Part of my law practice is as a Lowndes County Youth Court public defender. This the most rewarding part of my law practice. Our Youth Court is second to none in this state. Our school attendance officers are also second to none. In our job to see that our Compulsory School Law (CSL) is followed, we all try mightily to see that those under 17 follow the law and go to school.
Oftentimes, however, there are impediments to this law being followed. Some pupils cannot get to school, some have parents that don’t care, and some simply don’t want to go.
Wake up, parents, school board members and legislators! Our children ARE our future, and if we do not give them the chance to be educated, who will?
David Owen practices law in Columbus.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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