It is really easy to fall into the trap of trashing Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm after her recent barb at Mississippi.
According to the Gongwer News Service, Granholm was defending tax increases this week when she said, “Now is the time to stand up for those priorities. What we’re fighting for is Michigan not becoming Mississippi.”
Let’s throw the stats at her. … Mississippi has the 33rd lowest unemployment rate in the country at 9.5 percent while Michigan has the highest at 15.2 percent, according to the August statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Shame on you Governor Granholm,” Mississippi’s State Senator Dean Kirby, a Republican who is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, wrote in an e-mail. “Have you compared your tax structure to that of Mississippi? Have you ever been to Mississippi? Shame, shame shame !!”
Shame, Shame, Shame !!!!!
OK, now let’s take a look at the real issue here — perception.
We still have a perception problem. Folks around the country view us as uneducated and backwoods.
We know that’s not true.
But it wasn’t so long ago that New York’s Charles Rangel made similar comments that enraged us all. Instead of firing back, we must do a better job of educating folks about our wonderful slice of the South.
It should be pointed out that whatever music Granholm listens to likely was born in Mississippi.
She should be reminded that every major form of music in America got its roots in Mississippi - from Elvis Presley and rock n roll in Tupelo to country and western in Meridian to blues and jazz in the Mississippi Delta.
Gov. Granholm should be reminded of the great literature and writers who have come from Mississippi - from Faulkner to Welty.
We also would like to point out the great journalism tradition that we have in Mississippi ranging from Pulitzer winners of the 1940s with the Delta Democrat Times to a 2006 Pulitzer winner in the Sun Herald of Biloxi.
Mississippi is a wonderful place, and we would like the opportunity to show everyone what we are talking about.
Many of us in Mississippi have visited Michigan and been treated wonderfully. We would like to show Gov. Granholm the type of hospitality we can extend.
Certainly, Gov. Granholm would not have made the insensitive comments she has against Mississippi if she had spent any significant time here.
Having said all of that, there are plenty of reasons that Mississippi isn’t always at the top of the popularity list.
We all know the reasons — education, racial tensions etc…
While we are right to defend ourselves against the ignorance of the Rangels and Granholms of the world, we must be honest with ourselves.
We have a long way to go, and people like Granholm and Rangel wouldn’t have made the comments they made if there we didn’t have a problem with perception.
October 17th, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Well, when we - as in Mississippi - stop being last in everything, then we’d have a valid argument.
Dead last in health care (how ironic is it that the state last in healthcare is one of the biggest fighters AGAINST healthcare reform?), fattest state in the nation, poorest state in the nation, receive the most money per dollar contributed from Medicare, next to last in education.. tons more things we are horrible in. That’s not perception, that’s fact. We’re even last in the latest study in internet government: A recent national survey found that while many states put basic public records on the Internet, Mississippi still requires people to request most documents by mail or in person, and sometimes the state requires people to pay for the records.
If we can’t even get with the modern times and get records online, what does that say to technology and IT companies? It says avoid Mississippi.
December 23rd, 2009 at 10:09 am
Hi
December 30th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
I say let them continue to believe the worst about Mississippi, it will keep them out….
I have lived in most states and worked in all and I made the choice to settle in Mississippi, and those people who would say we have racial tensions,I suggest you get out more,as for fattest state,hogwash!! the only reason that was awarded the state was because other state’s fat people do not get out and go to doctors..Fat by who’s account..According to the AMA I am fat at 5′3″ and 159lbs..well I wear a size 5 woman’s and not spandex I can do 60 push ups in the mornings before work and I climb,crawl tote 100lbs plus,so am I fat?
Who really cares what the rest of the world thinks about us??
I hope they continue to think crazy things about us,it will keep the riff raff out…
The one thing that may cause them to believe stupid things about this state is the fact that we are the number 1 state in belief in GOD..So I am sure those liberal minded people who do the studies are hoping to embarrass us into “Change” We Can Count On??
Mississippi has low crime, Check it out..You will find that other states do not report the crimes of illegal aliens..They are not citizens and they don’t count..Other states hide their nasty side..Looking for the tourist trade…Well I find the best tourist are the ones who live in this state,they spend their money here and enjoy their state family..If you don’t like the state,you do still have the freedom to move out,but what I see is people who have moved,coming back including thousands from Michigan ..
As for the document issue..Oh yes ,let’s give money to those to companies so they can come here build and hire only to lay off people, after they have bought homes or that new car,and move their jobs to India…
I have the opinion that people who bash Mississippi are jealous of the state and the people here…
January 18th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I came here from bing. After reading
January 20th, 2010 at 12:55 am
Lidell’s looping rights
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Hey I found your website by accident on ask while trying to find something completely obscure but I am really pleased that I did, You have just snagged yourself another subscriber.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:31 am
Considerably, the article is really the sweetest topic on getting ex back. I agree with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to your approaching updates. Saying thanks will not just be adequate, for the phenomenal lucidity in your writing. I will immediately grab your rss feed to stay abreast of any updates.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:49 am
Pride not only pays more in general and on average to their fighters, you have people making obscene amounts of money (i.e. Ogawa vs Yoshida, Wanderlei vs Mark Hunt, Fedor vs Cro-Cop). Even with QJ making it to the finals in the 2003 GP and headlining Pride 28, he most likely made a damn-good pay check from that, something else I doubt the UFC would be willing to offer, let alone be able to pay QJ.
February 24th, 2010 at 7:29 pm
I am new to blogging and getting information out there. Your post here is watch very informative and gives me more insight as to creating an watch impact when commenting.
February 27th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Don’t forget Rangel as head of the committee that decides tax legislation has evaded taxes by not reporting rental income on caribbean property he owns. He also illegal holds rent fixed housing in NY. He’s as corrupt as they come. Dodd who was given a pass by the ethics committee on his sweetheart mortgage with countryside and told not to do it again will get a$125,500 pension. So Pelosi aids the corruption by not squelching it and then we get to pay this guy a pension to boot. Amazing. The Dems have to go. Rangel should resign and take the other ethically challenged Dems with him, such as Waters and Frank. Murtha escaped.
February 28th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I think that finding out if Veterans have PTSD that fast is important. But the veterans that go get tested and it comes back saying that they don’t have it? What if they come back years later to get tested again because they are showing signs? do they just get told that they got tested before and it was negative? Do they retest? With people who do have PTSD what is the treatment for it? Why make there life any more stressful
March 3rd, 2010 at 6:41 pm
This is my first time i visit here. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the excellent work.
March 6th, 2010 at 2:26 am
great post! If you’re looking for more advice about structured settlements, you can find additional resources : structured settlement lawyer
March 6th, 2010 at 2:38 am
good info. - If you need more details regarding structured settlements, you read more basics like : what is a structured settlement on my blog.
March 9th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Proficient blog! I’ll probably be mentioning some of this info in my next assignment.
March 11th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
This is my first time to visit your blog and I would say you share nice information. But I am confident this post will be popular as well as your site if you use a Blog Commenter to build backlinks. I saw a free one here - http://dofollowblogcommenter.blogspot.com/
March 11th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Found a great wee tool for a great online jobs it’s called the flex belt.
March 12th, 2010 at 2:40 am
Another quality post. I posted a plug for this website at mine. Anyway, I think many people forget the point you are making.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Thanks for the interesting website. This is what most people are not aware of. I love your perspective. Well reasearched and quite an eye opener! …
March 14th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Good to be visiting your web site once more, it have been many weeks for me. Nicely this write-up that i’ve been waited for so lengthy. I need this posting to total my task inside the college, and it has identical topic together with your posting. Thanks, fantastic reveal.
March 14th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
It only goes to show where there’s will there’s a way. Keep on trying. - Gentlemen, include me out. - Samuel Goldwyn 1882 - 1974
March 16th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Hey, found your site by accident doing a search on Google but I’ll definitely be coming back. - I ran into Isosceles. He had a great idea for a new triangle! - Woody Allen Born 1935
March 17th, 2010 at 4:51 am
Hey guys I just wanted to ask all you guys go to http://www.helphaitinow.org