I have just finished reading the article in Tuesday’s Dispatch concerning Initiative 42 (Slimantics: Just in time for Halloween: The scary story of the “single liberal judge”). I have come to the conclusion that there is not a single politician you don’t despise.
I only have one thing to say by way of defense of myself as a local politician. At least I had the guts to run for office and to try and make a difference instead of standing on the sideline and criticizing every single thing done. I am afraid your constant criticism, deserved and undeserved of both state and local politicians, is causing many good would-be candidates to steer away from this field all together. But your comments in this article naming most of our state leaders as “fat cat career politicians,” who are going to any length to defeat I42 stoops to a new low.
The only thing you get right in this article is that the issue is confusing.
To claim that this issue has not been put forward by a liberal group of “out of state” special interests is dishonest and just sticking your head in the sand. But perhaps you already know this and are just being disingenuous with your readers to move your position forward. You have taken up their mantra, “It’s all for the children.”
Let me say it was not the “fat cat politicians” in Mississippi who went through the initiative process to try and change the state constitution. The record on this is clear that it was out of state liberal groups seeking to exert influence in our state by investing millions of dollars to see this passed. Obviously, there are many sincere Mississippians who supported this ballot initiative by signing petitions. In my opinion they were misinformed.
If you are going to attack a proposition, please at least be honest with the facts. You treat lightly and make fun of the fact that proponents are saying our education system will be controlled by a single judge. …
Don’t take my word for it. Let me quote you directly from the ballot; “The CHANCERY COURTS of the state SHALL have the power to enforce this section with appropriate injunctive relief.”
What this means is that a suit could be filed by any citizen against the state funding proposal for any particular year. It is a fact in state law that any suit against the state has to be filed in Hinds County. So it is also a fact that “one single judge” will have control and rule on this funding.
For you to make the statement that there are no “liberal judges” in this state is just another “pig in a poke” that you are trying to sell to your readers. There are a least two judges in Hinds county that have consistently shown their liberal stripes. You claim that this is not a radical idea. I disagree.
It’s not just the funding of the schools that is at issue. These judges would also have vast authority to make changes in the systems as they saw fit. They could take money from the Lowndes County School District, which is one of the best run in the state, and give it to Leflore County at their single discretion. You say, “Oh, but they wouldn’t do that.” Really?
Voters should carefully consider how 142 will reduce legislative and executive authority while increasing judicial power over school funding. We must remember that this is going to be put in our state constitution and this will not be easy to change back. Fact is, this is extraordinary and far beyond normal judicial control.
I have seen over the last few years what five unelected judges in Washington have done to our country. I am not willing to give a “single” judge who I can’t vote for any control or authority over my life. What is really boils down to is a constitutionally mandated entitlement program. Do we not have enough entitlement programs now?
You also need to look at why Washington political committees, Better School-Better Jobs and New Venture, have donated millions of dollars to this project. Also, digging a little deeper will show that the Southern Education Foundation has put in a lot of money (millions). Go to their website and read about their mission.
You might be right is claiming that this is a defining moment in our educational system. We have tried for years to just throw baskets of money at our system and it has not been working. We are still at or near the bottom in all categories. More money is not the answer. We need some fundamental changes in how our schools are structured and run. We need a constitutional amendment to reduce the number of school districts. That would bring meaningful and effective change.
I hope that the voters will read and inform themselves on this matter and then vote to allow our elected officials in Jackson to control school funding rather than a judge.
Charlie Box is Columbus city councilman for Ward 3.
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