Recent editorials from Mississippi newspapers:
April 10
The Vicksburg Post on Thompson’s leadership on Corps’ plan to ease backwater flooding
There have been plenty of times we have been critical of U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson for what has been perceived as forgetting - rather ignoring - Vicksburg as a part of his congressional district. It seems the only time the Congressman visits Vicksburg is for a random town hall meetings during an election year.
And while this time we are thankful for his support for a plan long proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to place pumps in the delta to drain water from the confluence of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers, we are disappointed by what appears to be lukewarm support and what appears him coming late to the party.
In comments to The Associated Press last week, Thompson said the plan - which is now being heavily supported by both Democrats and Republicans in Congress and leaders in Jackson - should be part of a larger plan. Agreed.
But, the quote “even if we had the money for the pumps, it would take about four years to get installed,” sadly only served to pour water on a burning issue.
Thompson then said, “if you are going to pump it, where is it going to go? We are going to have to work with the people downstream to assure them that if we’re successful, we won’t just be moving the problem 50, 60 miles down the river.”
Congressman Thompson, we understand those concerns and questions, but we are also certain that those much smarter than us, more experienced than us and far more educated on the impact such pumps would have, have already answered those questions long before making the suggestion to the Bush administration, who later killed the plan.
Some of the brightest minds around are on the problem. What we need now, Congressman, is not someone to downplay the solution, but rather someone to be the loudest advocate for solutions. And, given this problem is affecting your congressional district, we would ask that you, sir, be its biggest champion.
If it is going to take four years, let us not waste any more time on deciding if it is needed.
Instead, let us start that clock need so that no more homes are lost, livestock are killed and farmland ruined.
The Mississippi and Yazoo rivers are not going to sit idly by while we get our act together. It’s time we get to work.
Online https://www.vicksburgpost.com
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April 10
The Natchez Democrat on the upcoming Mississippi governor’s race:
The race to become Mississippi’s next governor has just begun, but unfortunately, the divisiveness has already arrived.
Monday night, three months after he filed qualifying papers to run for the office, current Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves launched a “kick-off rally” in which he clearly outlined his strategy - stir up divisiveness and mistrust.
Reeves claimed the “radical liberals” were taking aim at Mississippi.
In doing so, Reeves made a blanket name-drop in the process saying, the “liberals” are upset that Mississippi elected former Gov. Haley Barbour and current Gov. Phil Bryant each for two consecutive terms, then later dropped a Donald Trump reference as well.
Then he went for the GOP jugular - guns and church.
“The liberals are mad that we go hunting on Saturday and then we still go to church on Sunday.”
We were hopeful that this election would be different. That we could collectively talk about real issues facing Mississippi like the need for better economic opportunities for our children and improving educational standards.
Instead, it appears the candidate with the most money in the bank per the last campaign finance reports instead wants to follow the national narrative of fussing and squabbling rather than talking and debating.
Online: https://www.natchezdemocrat.com
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April 2
The Daily Leader on a soldier’s sacrifice:
Welcome home, soldier.
Those are probably the sweetest words a deployed member of the Armed Forces can hear. Over the past few weeks, local members of the 155th Armored Brigade have been arriving after a long deployment to Kuwait. It was the unit’s third deployment to the Middle East since 2001.
Some came home to parades. Other soldiers surprised children at schools. Some got a well-deserved hero’s welcome. Lee Stringer of Brookhaven got just that when his neighborhood organized a black party to celebrate his return Saturday.
Carl Tate Jr. came home earlier this year to see his 8-month-old son for the first time in person. He surprised his three older children at their school. The sign greeting him said it all: “No more FaceTime dates, kissing pictures of Daddy’s face or counting down the days because Daddy’s home!”
It is hard to imagine the sacrifice of the 155th - and their families back home. They went more than a year without a hug or a kiss or a shoulder to cry on. Husbands and wives carried on with life as normally as possible while their loved one served. Kids still had to get to school. Diapers still had to be changed. The grass still had to be cut. The routines of daily life still had to happen - but with one-half of a marriage missing.
Those of us who have never experienced a deployment can’t possibly understand how difficult it is for everyone involved.
“Exciting is not even the way to describe it. We’re waiting to find our new normal again,” Dusti Smith, wife of Spec. Dylan Smith, said prior to her husband’s return.
We are grateful for the sacrifice of these soldiers and their families. Here’s to hoping they all find their “new normal” again.
Online: https://www.dailyleader.com
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