Saturday, April 19, 2008

The new "We don't need no Harvards" legislator: Cecil Brown

For too long, Mississippi has had a history considered biased against anything cultural or intellectual. Remember the legislator in the 1980's who infamously stated, "We don't need no Harvards here."? For a time however, it seemed Mississippi was finally getting it right when it created the schools for the gifted. For too long, Mississippi has been afflicted with brain drain since its best students too often moved to other states.

Unfortunately, some of our legislators are determined to repeat the past and have declared war on our best students. The leader of the latest shenanigans is State Representative Cecil Brown, once the Chief of Staff for Ray Mabus and ironically considered one of the smartest people in state government. Regardless of his credentials, his recent actions show when you scratch the surface, this liberal who is on the right lists and receives accolades from our so called "creative" class, is just as anti-progressive as any tobacco-spittin' share-cropping backwoods redneck Mississippi legislator from the 1800's or 1950's.

In this case, Mr. Brown decided to sneak into a bill a provision to charge parents of said students $500 a semester for room and board. As a bean-counting, out of touch CPA, he naturally defended his attack on the families of these students by claiming, "It's a matter of equity," Brown said. "Why would we pay for room and board for children of parents who can pay for their room and board? This would only apply for parents who can afford it."

Why indeed, Mr. Brown. Since you are obviously caught up in debits and credits, perhaps it's time someone reminded you not all monies spent are expenses but instead are investments. They did teach you about investments when you were majoring in Accounting, didn't they?

For too long, Mississippi suffered from a very poor history of educating its children. Too many people moved away because there was little opportunity to better themselves through education or work. The small amount of money spent on these students' room and board by Mississippi is an investment in their future AND in Mississippi's. If Mississippi is to advance in the 21st century, it needs to invest in its best students and figure out ways to keep them home where they are needed.

Mr. Brown's logic reminds me of a bad manager I had one time who told me the company could make a profit even at the bottom of the market. Needless to say, that company went out of business as even itsdiscovered it couldn't avoid the laws of economics. Mr. Brown did have his chance once in the Mabus administration, which saw state finances in disarray as they were completely mismanaged and plagued by deficits. If anything, Mr. Brown should be kept away from deciding what is best for our state. One hopes Governor Barbour kills this bill, even if it means we have to call a special session and write a new education bill from scratch.

News article: http://search.clarionledger.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=20280924&rNum=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clarionledger.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2008804170371&siteIdType=2
Editorial: http://search.clarionledger.com/sp?eId=100&gcId=20280924&rNum=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clarionledger.com%2Fapps%2Fpbcs.dll%2Farticle%3FAID%3D2008804190320&siteIdType=2

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is wrong with asking for $25 per week to contribute to housing and food? Even public school kids who live at home pay for lunch!

s_baghaii said...

Dear Uninformed Anonymous person, when students attend a boarding school, they do not see their parents daily. That means that parents pay for cellphones or calling cards to have the privilege of speaking to their children in the evening.

The students are required to go home once a month. The school shuts down, and they are not allowed to stay in the dorms. When home is several hours away, that can be fairly expensive with the current price of gas.

When I was a student at MSMS twelve years ago, there was a nice man with a van who would drive you to a location in Hattiesburg once a month for about $60. My mom would drive an hour to come pick me up in Hattiesburg for our monthly visit.

$60 dollars once a month for nine months and a very basic cellphone plan for the same period ($30/mo) comes out to $810 that parents already pay. This neglects other costs such as the $100 graphing calculator every student must buy and the lab coat and an assortment of other fees and supplies that most public school students do not have to pay.


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Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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