Some things weren’t so special about this session
Politicians are sometimes unfairly portrayed as buffoons when they’re unable to do the business they were elected to do.
Sure there are plenty of simpletons and even outright crooks that somehow convince enough voters that they’re worthy of the public’s trust, but there are often other factors at play when the process breaks down.
Sometimes the political process gets in the way as both sides seek to strengthen their position before reaching a compromise. It’s frustrating, but it’s to be expected to some degree.
Sometimes we elect honest and nice people who are simply unqualified for their positions. They’re doing the best they can, but they’re in over their heads. This is at least forgivable.
But then there are instances when some elected officials deserve every bit of criticism they get. A perfect example occurred this week when the members of the Mississippi House of Representatives took time out of a special session – a taxpayer-funded session that was only necessary because the Legislature failed to adopt a budget during the regular session – to pass a resolution honoring the late Michael Jackson.
House Resolution No. 8, sponsored by District 80 Rep. Omeria Scott is, “a resolution honoring the life, career, musical accomplishments, contributions and legacy of Michael Joseph Jackson, ‘the King of Pop,’ and expressing deepest sympathy to his family and friends upon his passing.”
With nearly every television station ignoring most real news in favor of continuing coverage of Jackson’s death with interviews with countless irrelevant “celebrities” for days, I don’t think that his friends and family are counting on the Mississippi Legislature’s support to pull through this. If you want to show your support, go join the crowds standing outside of his home or maybe just buy one of his albums.
Do anything you want except waste time honoring someone with no Mississippi connection whatsoever in a special session that’s costing the taxpayers money when you should be focusing on getting the budget resolved before the clock strikes midnight and state agencies start shutting down.
Another great example of asinine behavior came from Rep. George Flaggs of Vicksburg as he demanded to have the highly anticipated Medicaid compromise bill read aloud prior to the vote. The bill was over 70 pages long.
Flaggs apparently made this demand to be annoying because he was upset that some amendments he favored failed. Keep in mind that this bill was the main thing holding up the budgeting process and that both sides of the table had to make compromises to reach an agreement. It was a childish protest that only accomplished delaying the very important business at hand.
Despite these obstacles, state lawmakers did manage to craft a budget before the new fiscal year began on Wednesday. Hopefully they’ll immediately begin looking forward and figuring out what we’re going to do without the millions of federal stimulus dollars next year.
In the end even the Michael Jackson resolution may have served a valuable purpose. Perhaps voters will have Jackson on their minds when some of these politicians come around asking to be re-elected. Jackson did have one tune that was appropriate for such an occasion.
The song is called “Beat It.”
...........................................
Jason Patterson is the managing editor of The Yazoo Herald. He can be reached at 746-4911 or by sending an e-mail to managing1@bellsouth.net.
Hopefully my child won’t inherit my fear of the water
With the temperatures rising to almost the triple digits last week, nothing sounded better than an afternoon at the pool.
Only it wasn’t the luxurious pools you find at country clubs or neighborhood block parties.
My husband Jason and I plopped down around a 3-inch deep, plastic, blown-up turtle pool for our son James. Nestled under the shade of a magnolia tree, we joined my mother-in-law for a quick dip in the newest edition of James’ many “gifts.”
James splashed around the small pool, falling down at times to gulp up a few sips of warm water in his mouth. A few times, he would slip backwards into the pool, landing on the inflated ridges along the side.
James even took off out of the pool to collect a few dead leaves on his feet. He would then slide back into the pool to clean off the mess.
His face was full of smiles, and his giggles could be heard throughout the back yard. He was having the time of his life, and we all enjoyed just watching him.
I can only pray that he continues to love the water through the swimming lessons and the endless days of summer that lie ahead in his future.
I, on the other hand, am deathly afraid of water. I took swimming lessons when I was a child, and I got the hang of it when my instructors were in the water with me.
But as soon as I was out on my own, I just forgot everything I learned.
I can’t swim. I can’t doggie paddle. I can barely just float.
I also tend to place myself in situations that have me scratching my head later, wondering what I was thinking.
One summer day in Natchez, my friends and I were complaining about the hot temperatures. A few of them decided the best way to cool off would be to go to a family pond on some land across the street from my house.
Within seconds, a group of kids were heading down the shady road to the pond. Coolers of Coke and Dr. Pepper were under our arms. A few inflated rafts were tucked away.
When we got there, I just hung my feet off the pier and looked out across the pond at all my friends. They were flipping off into the water. A few of them were just floating along on their backs.
My friends kept begging me to just get in the water. They knew I couldn’t swim, but they assured me that a raft would keep me afloat and safe.
I was scared to death, but I decided to lay down on one to join in the fun. I laid on my back, and one of my friends pulled me out away from the bank.
After a minute, I thought it wasn’t so bad. It was even kind of relaxing. Gathering up my courage, I eased off the raft, and plopped down in the middle of it. Using the raft as a floatation device, I let my legs dangle below me in the water.
Then I kept hearing something. It sounded like how a soda pop sounds when it is fizzing out of a hole in a can.
Then it hit me. The raft was deflating.
In an effort to paddle back to shore, I think I made the situation worse. The raft started to stick to my skin, and the air was really coming out.
I don’t pretend to be Michael Phelps, but I was really trucking it back to the bank. I started screaming cries of anguish, hoping my friends would hear me.
My friend Jon made his way toward me and scooped me under his arms.
“Just relax,” he said, with a hint of laughter in his voice.
You just wait until I get on land, I thought to myself. I’m not sure if I should hug him for saving me or kick him in the rear for laughing at me.
I safely made it back to the pier, and the half-deflated raft floated out into the water.
I vowed never to try to play off my non-swimming skills again. From then on out, I was just the kid on the pier.
I hope James learns how to swim like his dad, who can swim like a fish. My fear of the water is one trait I hope that James missed out on.
But if he insists on me getting into the water with him, I think I am going to double check the raft this time.
Better yet, I better put on some arm floaties and a lifejacket too...just for safe measure.
...........................................
Jamie Patterson is a reporter for The Yazoo Herald. She can be reached at 746-4911 or by sending an e-mail to community2@bellsouth.net.