A rose to the peaceful transition of power that has been a hallmark of our nation since its inception and to President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s harsh campaign rhetoric has created a palpable sense of fear among many Americans, but since his stunning victory, through both his words and actions, he has struck a conciliatory tone.
His bitter criticism of his opponent, Hillary Clinton, and sitting president Barack Obama during the campaign have since turned gracious, while his decision to jettison crony Chris Christie in favor of the more measured Mike Pence to head his transition team is a promising sign as well.
Clearly, earning the trust and approval of a divided country will require far more than that, but he’s off to a hopeful start. As we have noted, it is the obligation of every president to serve all the people and all the people’s duty to support a president’s good faith efforts in achieving that goal.
A rose to those who exercised their right to vote in Tuesday’s election. In Lowndes County, 25,139 people turned out to the polls Tuesday, with many standing in line prior to the opening of the voting precincts at 7 p.m. That’s a 54.5 percent turnout of all registered voters in the county. The turnout was even better in Oktibbeha County, where 16,336 people voted, 58.7 percent of all registered voters in the county. While we still lament that so many choose not to vote, we hope this election is a sign that the numbers of those who do will grow over subsequent elections.
A rose for the “Too Good for Drugs” program which is now being implemented at Columbus Middle School and other schools throughout a four-county area. The school’s 10-week program features on prescription drug and alcohol prevention and puts a heavy emphasis on essential tools that can help young people avoid the obstacles that drug/alcohol abuse can put in the way of a healthy life and future. Community Counseling Services received a 5-year Mississippi Prevention Alliance for Communities and Colleges (mPACC) grant from the Mississippi Department of Mental Health to implement the curriculum in schools, churches, colleges and universities in four counties. “The reason we have this grant is because the four counties — Choctaw, Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Winston — have some of the highest rates for underage drinking and prescription drug abuse,” said Arleen Weatherby, mPACC prevention coordinator. Reaching children at this age, when they are often first exposed to drugs/alcohol, is critical in enabling children to make wise, informed choices.
A rose to the Oktibbeha County Board of Supervisors at the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District for exploring possible ways to partner in repurposing the county’s abandoned Moor High School into a community services facility.
Talks are under way between the two entities, and there are no firm plans on the table. The general idea, however, seems promising. Using the abandoned school as a venue that can be shared by several service agencies, not only guards against the site becoming an eyesore, but can provide access to services in the area that are currently unavailable. This is especially important for residents, for whom transportation can be a real issue. Having those services in their community through this joint effort can make a real difference in the life of those residents. We urge the supervisors and school district to aggressively pursue this idea.
A rose to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, who plans to challenge a federal ban on online sales tax in the state. Jim Hood is one of 11 state attorney generals who have filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 1992 ruling that bars states from collecting sales tax on Internet purchases.
We agree that the ban is patently unfair to local businesses who are required to collect sales taxes. In Mississippi, this is especially important as the state faces serious budget shortfalls, mostly because of a lack of tax revenue. There is little doubt now that the state must increase its taxes to provide citizens basic services. Implementing a sale tax on internet purchases won’t solve the state’s budget problem by itself, but it is a logical, fair step in that direction.
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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