Jackson Jambalaya

Stated differently :

Here’s a concise analytical breakdown of what the passage conveys:

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1. Federal Dependence
• Mississippi relies on federal funds for 44.3% of total state revenue, ranking 7th highest nationally.
• Heavy dependence makes the state particularly exposed during federal shutdowns, when federal disbursements (Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, etc.) are delayed.

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2. Pandemic Context
• COVID-era federal aid dramatically increased state reliance—from 31.4% (pre-pandemic) to 37% (2023) nationwide.
• The $1.05 trillion in federal outlays in 2023 underscores how much Washington underpins state budgets.

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3. Human Impact of a Shutdown
• 385,000 Mississippians (13.1%) receive SNAP, and nearly 60,000 are on WIC—both federally funded.
• Federal payrolls (approx. 30,000 employees) would be disrupted, plus state employees whose positions depend on federal grants.
• The ripple effects would hit local economies, contractors, and small businesses tied to federal funding.

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4. Countervailing State Reforms
• Mississippi enacted the Build Up Mississippi Act (2025):
• Phases out individual income tax by 2030.
• Cuts grocery tax from 7% to 5%.
• Raises gas tax for infrastructure.
• Aim: attract business investment, compete with no-income-tax states like Texas, Florida, and Tennessee.

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5. Long-Term vs. Short-Term Reality
• Economic development and tax reform are strategic long plays, but federal aid remains indispensable now.
• The author calls for pragmatic policymaking that balances ideological goals with fiscal reality.

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6. Closing Message
• The metaphor — “When Washington sneezes, Mississippi catches the flu” — captures the central warning:
Federal dysfunction instantly becomes a Mississippi problem.

So most of the people who read and comment here will not be affected by the shutdown in a significant manner. So the “off with their heads” comments will continue. But a large % will be hurt badly and the ripple effect will widen more quickly here in MS than less federally reliant states. What portends for MS should ties be permanently cut? I bet grok has some pretty scary scenarios.

Do us all a favor KF and shitcan these AI takes.

I cannot speak for the "off with their heads" crowd. But personally, I have no issue with people getting help from these programs when needed. They were designed to be safety nets to help people during hard times. But as a taxpayer that gets to work half the day for me and half for taxes, the abuse and the waste of these programs really pisses me off. For many that safety net has become a hammock. And now we see some of these same people threatening to steal and loot and pillage because their teat is temporarily dry? These abusers seem to have money for iPhones, hair, nails, nice cars, etc...so why not food? Few people in this state appear to be starving.

Off with their heads!

1. Dependency is a tightly clad temptress. One minute she's putting out, the next she's holding back.
2. The thin gray milk of government's shrunken teats may seem "indispensible", until one finds a work around.
3. MS can escape dependency through parental choice in education, which emphasizes accomplishments of students, not grift of school administrators.

If only we had money and governor like Louisana .

Don't these federal funds/grants originate from taxpayers, not from a money tree in WDC? This of course after the feds take a 66% cut (vigorish?)

Has Sid always used the em dash, or is he not just cranking out these columns with ChatGPT?

Taxpayers barely cover but a small fraction of the federal budget. The majority of the federal budget is borrowed from the Rothschilds via their Federal Reserve fractional-reserve banking scheme. It’s just a perpetual debt scheme where the taxpayers service the debt. But the US is no different than any of the other Rothschild controlled central banks. The only countries left without a Rothschild controlled bank are North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Burma. Globalist mercenaries ensured that Libya, Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan were toppled and they now have Rothschild banks.

I've noticed absolutely no difference during the shutdown, other than receiving an IRS notice that I owe additional income tax.

Sid, tell Bennie to vote for the clean CR and reopen the guvmint. This isn’t complicated.

Those most dependent on federal dollars have never had much control of Mississippi governmental policies on the statewide level. Their troubles have simply never been a priority in this state. Most of this article is purely academic, an irrelevance when it comes to the actual direction this state will choose. He should direct his attention to some other place.

Why do you not like the analysis? Are you mad at the numbers? Are you mad you cannot attack the author personally? The AI feature simply took Sid’s numbers and distilled them down and did so without hiding how it was created. Run it through your own AI chosen bot?

You kinda talked your way in to being a spokesman for that crowd…and it makes sense imho. How to fix?

Sid did nothing of the sort. The reply states it’s from AI and is a cut and paste of Sid’s info. Nothing more nothing less….

Bennie Thompson needs to vote to open the government back up. He is really hurting his voters. Do it now Bennie! I need my WIC/HUD/SNAP payment.

The shutdown is 100% bull**** grandstanding. The leaders of both parties in congress and the executive branch need to be taken into a cold dark alley in DC and given what for with a set of brass knuckles. Employees are missing paychecks. Essential workers are working and not getting paid. This is no way to run a small business with two employees, much less a country of 300 + million people. There is plenty of blame to go around, but the Party who controls the House and Senate are responsible for setting the agenda and directing the lawmaking process. If the majority party does not have the votes to pass a measure, they have to make enough concessions to get the votes they need. That is simply how the process works. If they don't like that, they need to see about getting more seats. What gets done or does not get done is ultimately on them.

I think we call can read Sid's column and comprehend what he is saying then decide for ourselves whether or not to consult other tools for whatever other information and/or clarity they may provide. If you are driven to pub AI content then start your own f'ing media outlet.

@8:52 you forgot the latest and greatest big screens.

If the majority party does not have the votes to pass a measure, they have to make enough concessions to get the votes they need.

Categorically incorrect.

10:07am
"Noticed no difference during shutdown".
Perhaps, like me, you drive, never fly. Many will notice delayed/canceled flights at Thanksgiving & Christmas. Demwits caused this shit, they hate Thanksgiving & Christmas, but can't afford to interrupt those holidays. They will cave in 10 days.

"Federal dysfunction instantly becomes a Mississippi problem".

Appreciated your breakdown, but that last phrase (above) is horseshit. Let's rephrase: "Mississippi dysfunction causes dependency on outside Federal dollars".

IF Mississippi had proper leadership, it wouldn't be in pickle alwasy flirting with disaster. Strange how MS wanted Secession, but now it can't make do without the Mama tit.

10:29 try to keep up. One party's position is to keep the budget in place and renew it. They are not trying to cut anything, or change anything. The other party is the one holding out and demanding enormous budget increases to go to people who are citizens of other countries.

Notice how absolutely no foreign power is ramping up an invasion force to take over the country while the Government is shut down.

Oh boy, one of the trolls is now driven to regurgitate AI output here. What fun Kingfish.

Jim Geraghty in National Review yesterday:

Last year, the Congressional Budget Office calculated that extending this credit for a decade would cost $415 billion in direct costs from the subsidies, a $48 billion increase in interest payments from higher deficits, and $25 billion in spending for other programs.

That’s $488 billion, or almost half a trillion dollars. That’s the Democrats’ price to “release the hostage.”

Because this kind of move will blow up the deficit and debt, Democrats want a Republican-run House and Senate to make them permanent, even though Democrats chose not to make these tax credits permanent when they had the chance in 2021 or 2022.

Isn't it weird that the "deep red" states where so many scream "off with their heads" about welfare recipients are the largest state-level welfare recipients. Those sporting the red hats constantly complain about the extreme policies of the blue states, which are the states generating the welfare the red states suck up so readily. I think that those living in blue states would happily agree to let each state receive only as much revenue from the Fed as they contribute. That sounds fair, right?

I'm not dependent on the Federal Government, the Federal government is dependent on me. Because I see a shitload of my money confiscated by both the Federal and state and they don't send me back anything return. No welfare. No SNAP. No WIC. No Medicaid. No housing assistance. Nada, Zip, zilch, nothing, narn.
There are thousands and thousands of Mississippians that are on the government tit unnecessarily. I for one am beyond sick and tired of working my ass off doing a full time and a part time job only to be taxed at a confiscatory rate while others sit on their collective asses.
And these idiots that say "well she's a single parent" like it's some badge of honor make me sick. My question is why is she a single parent? Because she has made bad life choices and had 5 kids by 5 different men? Guess what that's not my responsibility. It's hers and the father's not mine, and I no longer feel sorry for the kids, it is way past time to hold the parents accountable for their choices.

You mean the states with the highest black populations?

Yes, dig deeper into your leftist parroting on “deep red states” and you’ll find the truth. Here’s a hint, which cities and demographics in those cities commit the most crime.

Categorically incorrect, you say? That how else do you pass a bill - change the threshold of votes needed? Say you passed it when you didn't and hope nobody notices?

There is a town in the state of NY called Kiryas Joel, where 95% of the population lives on welfare. The men don’t work and the women are home makers. And they try to have as many kids as possible. This qualifies them for housing, food, money, etc. Kiryas Joel, NY. Look it up!

Your post isn't correct. The states with the most SNAP recipients are California, New York, Florida, and Texas.

I say we need more of that Yankee money, every dime we can get. Tell them Yankees to go to hell, the south will rise again.