Jackson Jambalaya

If you can’t find employment it’s your own damn fault, and you don’t want to or care to find employment. It’s programs like these that have so many employers looking for employees.

“All Federal money is cruel. Except, federal money easily grifted for personal trainers and volleyball arenas”. - Tate Reeves

And the Republican death cult continues to cult.

The Republican leadership in MS is truly sick. All the outrage about rent assistance but hardly a word about millions of dollars stolen. The biggest pool of sewage in Jackson is located at the Capital.

Unemployment for men is destructive. It can cause alcoholism, domestic violence or drug addiction. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop. It also sets a bad example for children and grandchildren. The dependency becomes generational.

Democrats love to make people dependent on government handouts. It’s the 21st century version of slavery. It locks in their votes. Using hard earned taxpayer money to buy votes.

I agree with Reeves on this. I'm tired of working all of my life so others can get free rent and stay home.
Employers are begging for workers. Get a job!

Bill Crawford with his idiotic hot socialist take of the week

Being employed at less than a living wage make homeownership, rent, food, utilities, transportation expenses almost impossible. Being unemployed makes it impossible. Governor, Please read the beatitudes (sermon on the mount) & then deny those that live on the margins of life.

They would rather sling dope than work.

Does this mean that Chowke's "dope boys" will no longer get free rent?

This column makes sense until you realize that Wendy's, Hobby Lobby, and dozens of other places in MS pay over $30k starting with benefits and help wanted signs are everywhere.

Dependency on smack or state, both deplete eager striving to succeed.

Word. Reeves. Right on.

@12:19, THAT is a comment you need to sit back and think about. When I was younger and I’m a “boomer” those of us in the crew, not the “team” which is a word I cannot stand since we are not a sports group, would tell one another “ I’m Better at this than you…let’s see who can do the most today!” If you say that to anyone now they get “salty” and call us boomers. It’s the damn truth. People don’t want to work today because of the government assistance that’s available. Just like college. Back before all of this tuition assistance the only people who go to college were those that had the ambition to work and go to pay their way, a “true” scholarship or their family was well off enough to pay it. I come from a blue collar family, I had siblings who were afforded the college rout and they blew it so I was sent straight to the workplace and I would up running the damn show. You do not have to be college educated to be a business owner and be successful But the group that shoves their college loan/education down these young peoples throats are the issue and that’s what’s wrong as to why we as employers can’t find “useable” employees because their parents were not taught the correct way to advance in society. We are 25th in the world in education….what does that tell you? As an employer I can’t find one out of 250 who can assimilate into the workforce. Sad to say the least. No wonder people who are hungry and want a better chance of life are flooding the border. We lost our place at the table. And with these young toddlers wanting to be petted then you know what I’m talking about. Let them go hungry….I don’t give a shit…call me a boomer, I love it!

Something is terribly wrong if you have been looking for a job for 90 days and can't find one. There are posters all over the place looking for people. Many say no experience needed. They will train you. If you cannot get one of those jobs the fault is yours alone. There is no use in the government paying your rent.

Bill, there is a difference (as you well know, but don't want to admit here because it would keep you from taking another shot at your nemises Tater) between being "unemployed for 90 days" and "unable to find work".

If I had someone willing to pay my rent and utilities I wouldn't have an incentive to go look for a job - especially when there are many ways to earn money that is not reportable and don't result from a "job" in the unemployment insurance definition.

This program was started as part of the response to COVID - when the government told many employers to shut down. Those employers were offered cash (federal tax dollars) to pay their employees while they stayed home not working. Many folks found ways to work from home during those times. Whatever. This rental cash program was for THOSE WHO LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO COVID AND CANT FIND A JOB.

Today, we have hundreds of employers looking for workers. Bill, you even reported on this in an earlier column (I clearly misused the term "reported" here, but never mind) that there were jobs looking for workers throughout the state in many industries. These folks that want their rent and utilities paid for them could take one of these thousands of jobs - but no, people like you, and Simmons, and the ilk that thinks the we should turn into an entire socialistic form of government don't think that those should start pulling the wagon but continue to ride in it.

Greece is failing as a former democracy due to these type government programs. We are fast heading there with the massive attempts to spend more federal dollars under the guise of COVID to put more people on the dole - the child care tax, paying $300/month for every child under 18; writing off student loan debt for everybody, just because; another stimulus checks in an inflationary economy; expanded SNAP benefits; rent and utility payments. Where (or when) do you think it ought to stop?

I guess that is a rhetorical question. You don't think it should ever stop. Even if and when the feds figure out a way to expand Medicaid over the objection of those states that refuse to do so.

Being employed at less than a living wage ...

Define 'living wage'. What is the minimum you consider 'living wage'? PUT UP.

Sooo…

Reeves should raise the minimum wage in MS.

Before y’all blast the comment, think of it this way:

A person earning minimum wage working full time makes about $20,000 per year or less, qualifying them for welfare, etc. to make ends meet and actually make it to work.

That welfare funding comes from the taxpayers.

It REALLY means that businesses that pay minimum wage are getting their true labor force costs subsidized by the taxpayers.

Wouldn’t it be better if the true labor costs were born by the employer and passed through to the direct consumer of the goods and services sold?

Why are you asking a secular government official to do what the church should be doing?

We own several businesses, all have open positions and all have struggled to find quality job candidates who will reliably show up for work. There are plenty of jobs available, I have to agree with the Governor on this one. The feds have bred a culture of mediocrity and laziness, instead of bringing up the marginalized through pride of work.

Democrats gonna Democrat. Gotta keep everyone on the plantation.

The dope boys will always have free rent.

Their toilets can't flush, but their rent is covered.

12:19pm
"Living wage"? Teens used to work in restaurants after school for low wages. Now commies want restaurants to pay enough to buy a home, a car, meals? That is so AOC! Teenagers should do those jobs and salt away their wages toward a car or to help with college.

12:19 PM, being employed at less than a living wage is not the fault of the government or the taxpayers. There are signs along the highways offering jobs to people. They will even hire people with no experience and train them. In todays world if you are employed at less than a working wage it is time to take a good honest look at yourself. What is keeping you from taking a job that would pay more?

1. The program stopped requiring proof of being affected by Covid, despite what the "rules" stated. It was a free for all keeping able bodied persons from working and supporting themselves.

2. Why would anyone other than just a few seriously ill persons still be affected by Covid and prevent he or she from working? And, if they are still affected by Covid, won't they permanently be affected by Covid as Covid is never going away? So, such a person should move to a more permanent housing assistance program, no?

My previous comment might have made the grade to be published so here goes. Before 1964 the Family unit existed for both races. Now, you don’t have to work to be housed and fed. We lost our way and our direction. I would hear my parents speak of how easy it was prior to 1964 to be able to hire people that actually had a desire to work, common sense and a purpose to exist. One president took that all away and a few followed has become worse. Handouts only make us weaker and that was the idea feom the onset of subsidies. Those of us that own businesses know the struggles of hiring capable workers and it has become even worse with the onset of mental illness sue to drug abuse. Back when people had to work to go to college that meant a lot. Now you’re laughed at.

Bob Boteler, your thougths are over a couple of decades out of date. And certainly over a couple of years out of date.

There are jobs out there throughout the state for anybody that wants to work for well over a "living wage' - unless you are making the term 'living wage' equal to your living in your nice NE Jackson home.

Minimum wage is no longer an issue - Your President's abandoning the idea of legislating the $15 minimum wage was overcome by his economic actions. $15 an hour is now defacto the minimum wage and is surpassed by employers everywhere as they look for employees, with our without experience.

But as long as folks don't have to work, they aren't worried about your 'living wage' - they got their stimulus checks, they got the expanded and extended unemployment, they got the child care payments, they got their expanded SNAP benefits, if they had kids, they got free school meals throughout the school year (even when they weren't in school) and extended throughout the summer, and they got free rent and utilities. I am sure I am missing many other benefits - along with the cash economy that many are living in to add income to the household that doesn't count against any eligibility requirements.

For those of us that didn't live on the government tit for any, much less all, of our lifetimes, and are paying the cost of these programs for folks that don't contribute to the tax base but also don't contribute to the economy - we are glad to see the Governor take the stance that says its time for the government (in this case, it takes the state) to start to do things that will help employers move forward by sending these folks back into the workforce and off their free couch.

The Dems didn't have a monopoly on throwing money away during the Covid pandemic. Both parties went bat shit crazy IMO.

The advocates I've seen on local TV news who argue for continuing the RAMP program make the same point - the cost of living is high. Gas prices, food costs, & electricity rates are sky high, they remind us. But when has that not been the case? Not one of these advocates I've seen on the news argues that thousands of people are still put of work because of Covid. They just want free rent. I could have used free rent many times over the years but did without.

Bill Crawford, you had potential at one point - but your Gil Carmichael days are long gone.

@1:47. $20K a year is out of touch. Housekeepers and landscape workers are making $20-$25 per hour and most want cash.Waffle House starts waiters at $15 and they get tips. A hard working couple can make $80K per year. There has never been such a good opportunity In America for hard working folks to do well.However there are situations where some cant physically work and I have no problem in helping them—-just quit making a welfare state out of healthy people.

Just because there are jobs in one part of the state doesn't mean there are jobs everywhere.Look at the county by county unemployment rates. And, most fast food places aren't paying $15.00 an hour and giving fulltime hours. I live in a college town and while Covid was at the peak some places were offering $13 but now that the college kids have come back they are back to advertising $10 an hour and unless you are a manager you aren't getting fulltime hours and managers are working 60 plus for about 40,000. And, I know this because I work with several charities to help get people back in the workforce. It isn't as easy as everyone seems to think. And, shift jobs often want people to work a few hours in the morning rush and then maybe have a few hours off and schedule them again. For people who don't have transportation this isn't workable. Everyone isn't lazy and our unemployment is low. How is that no one wants to work but national unemployment is at 3.5 and Mississippi's is 4.5 percent in June compared to 7.1 percent a year ago. But, keep telling yourself no one wants to work.It doesn't have to be the truth just keep repeating it often enough and loud enough and folks just believe it.

Keep the zoo on clean water, Mr. Crawford, you may have to eat zoo tacos a la Caracas for protein some day soon, once the homeless can't get by on inflated "living wages" any more and all the stray dogs and cats are cooked.

Tater, Phil, Brett, and Nancy will put that $130 million to good use.

I believe taking benefits from the impoverished for political capital is a special kind of evil, especially if you're diverting other funds from the poor to deliver to your buddies. I pray Tate has a change of heart.

I'm sick of reading on Facebook people asking for recommendations for Full-time or Part-time work!!

Heck get off Facebook & go look! Everyone is hiring!! And while we're at it, pay your own dang student loan back!

There is a degree of abuse associated with every program intended to benefit the poor. That does not justify scrapping the entire program. Instead, better controls should be implemented. But that approach would not allow Tate to grandstand for his right wing minions. Sickening.

Bill wants more people on welfare.
Bill wanted to be a Republican congressman.
Glad we didn’t elect Bill.

@5:17, nobody wants to work, talk to the hiring managers and employers trying to hire them , they’ll tell you. Why work when taxpayers will pay your rent, send you an unemployment or disability check, food stamps, Medicare/Medicaid, free utilities, free cell phone… again why work when you can sit on your freeloading ass every day and watch Netflix on the backs of the taxpayers???

2 Thessalonians 3:10- you don't work, you don't eat. (Exemptions exist for those that physically or mentally can't work)

How about this? If you don't want to live in poverty, stop having litters of children.(for a verifiable example: 11 kids by 9 different men) The money the government gives you for each child will NEVER reach the amount you and your children need to live a comfortable life. You are being enslaved...they just don't wear white sheets and burn crosses. They're much more subtle. Wake up.

I can’t take Tater tots comments seriously . How in the freakin world he has the audacity to state how lazy someone is for not working and taking govt handouts and he’s part of a cult of governors and politicians that have allowed the theft and loss of millions of monies targeted for families that are trying to work and be less dependent on welfare hence the purpose of the TANF fund. I agree that some people take advantage of the system and hurts those that truly needs the assistance but Tate should be the last to determine that! Come on, over 77 millions robbed and he is mum about that. Yeah give that federal RAMP money back and the TANF monies your buddies stole and delegated for their own selfish endeavors. Keep living your comfortable lie.

8:55 ummm I know many women that have a lot of children in the suburbs of madison with the same man and they one paycheck away from needing RAMP bc they want to be SAHM like the ones you are referencing and if the man loses his job or gets sick they lose everything. Looks like many in our state would qualify for RAMP to me. But wait a minute, our state is pro life now and wants women to have litters of babies, right? Sorry 8:55 you’ll have to pay for those too so work away!

This political stunt has accomplished its purpose, judging by the comments.

It took our focus off of Tate, who is neck-deep in the welfare funds scandal, and refocused the public dialogue on a debate of political science and religion.

Why publish Bill Crawford? Other than to annoy your loyal readership. I can understand re-printing Anna Wolfe even though much of her musing is cringeworthy, but this guy…

I own a small business with one employee — me — and don’t need to hire any help, thank the Lord. But if I did need to hire help, I couldn’t hold my nose with one hand and pay with the other these entitled, dope-smoking, do-the job-half-assed, show-up-late, tattooed kids deluding themselves that their college degree makes them some kind of qualified professional. And when I say “kids,” I mean anyone 50 and under.

As an aside, comments beginning with “ummm” are universally horse shit.

Have a pleasant day.

If you think there's bitching now about people that won't work and the handout generations, wait until the Universal Basic Income gets to rolling. Oh, yeah, it's a coming.

Wow! I can't believe how many of you live in another time period in history.
First, look at the jobs going unfilled?
Have you looked at what kind of jobs were lost?
Have you looked at the age of the person qualifying for this program?

Employers don't like to hire the "over qualified" or " short termers".

If you lose your white collar job or blue collar job, how do you make ends meet until you learn a new skill? How long do you think a burger joint is going to keep a former airline employee or the supervisor at a manufacturing plant. How successfully will someone with a desk job for years and didn't go the the gym do in manual labor? A college educated person would have to take education courses to teach a subject .in which they have a degree and expertise.
These are people who had a job and were paying rent.
Don't you people read the entire article or know how any damn thing works? You never bother to make a distinction between what you know and what you don't know or whether YOUR
personal experience applies at all!
Clearly not or you wouldn't be falling for propaganda so easily!
And, y'all lack ( like the Governor apparently) can't imagine that some of those needing temporary assistance suffer from long haul Covid or are homemakers or employees whose "bread earner" or " employer died from Covid.
I can only guess that having only a few real friends or limited intelligence and limited control over your emotions makes you so unaware of the realities of human existence.
When challenged I know these "certainies" many of you describe are all second hand information from unreliable sources.
And, one of you has no idea how much college tuition is these days.Nor do you know how much interest accrues from some of these nefarious loans and what ridiculous " late fee" penalties are accessed thanks to deregulation YOU supported. And, you assume incorrectly, that in Mississippi, going to a junior college will reduce costs and work for every major.
It's not the 1950's,it's not the 1960's, it's not even the 1970's anymore! Try to keep up with current events!

Welcome to 2022.

Where finite charity is racist, and expecting folks to eventually become self-sufficient is unthinkable.

Our country is going downhill. Our state is leading the charge downhill. We are a welfare state. We have more people on some form of government assistance than we have working for a living. Then we tax the hell out of the few working people. Our politicians spend their time equally divided between coming up with new ways to tax the working people and stealing the tax money the working people pay.

What is going to happen to Mississippi as more states go down the same road we have already traveled? Where will our money come from when other states are not able to pay for our free rides?

There's no such thing as a 'living wage'. It will always move according to the whims of dems. Set it at whatever wage you like, 15, 20, 30, 45 dollars per hour and the dems will decide to tack on federal benefits, gratuities and gimmees on top of that and it never stops moving, ever. And it doesn't MOVE WITH inflation. It DRIVES inflation.

In the 80s and 90s, we had mandatory attendance at Job Search Skills Training (JSST) conducted by Employment Security personnel at every one of their offices for EVERY Unemployment Insurance claimant. We also had was was called WIN, Work Incentive Program which required welfare recipients to engage in work search with documentation and take available work. Democrats made all of that disappear.

Now liberals like Crawford think it's unfair to require any form of job search, much less being required to TAKE available work. To quote Crawford, "So, essentially, Reeves decided a household with a wage earner who has been unable to find employment for 90 days or more..." HELL, there IS no household with a wage earner (the catch phrase) who is unable to find employment for 90 days or more. Show me one.

They are not 'wage earners' in most cases to begin with. They are suckers of the federal tit who now (in exchange for votes) thought we would pay their utility bills and (as long as the US Mail and Federal Banking System exist) the feds will find a quick way to sidestep Reeves' logical decision.

It's time to return to some form of mandatory attendance at job search skills training and proof of seeking employment, not just listing three places you say you called. And people like Crawford need to get the hell out of the way.

11:37 - I enjoy JJ, but I get sick of the cussing and bigotry by fat insecure rednecks. I'm an ashy old white guy, VERY conservative, but by making blanket statements like that is, well, not very intelligent. Work on your coping skills pal. You seem awfuly angry

For the very conservative ashy old white guy at 5:28. I tried but can't seem to find the post to which you refer.

But, that aside, how can you preface your vaunted view of life by grouping others into a category you call fat, insecure rednecks? You have several 'skills' on which to work before recommending that to others.

Looks like 55 million was paid out.............check Bennie Thompson's pockets!!!!