The Mississippi Delta has produced blues legends, literary giants, NFL stars, and enough political intrigue to keep a small army of bloggers employed. But can it produce a comeback?
State Rep. Otis Anthony joins Grant Callen on the Empower Podcast for a discussion that covers just about everything short of the designated hitter rule: poverty, jobs, education, economic development, fatherlessness, manufacturing, school choice, and whether all those ribbon cuttings are actually helping the places that need it most.
Anthony, an Indianola native, argues the Delta's greatest asset isn't its farmland, casinos, or catfish. It's its people.
The two also tackle redistricting, partisan politics, and the increasingly rare art of Democrats and Republicans having a conversation without trying to set each other on fire.
Agree with them or not, it's a thoughtful discussion about one of Mississippi's toughest questions: How do we help more people climb the ladder of opportunity?
Have at it.
6 comments:
The problem lies in the ingrained racial conflict that permeates every area of Delta life. It doesn't matter what a person's race is that holds office or positions of leadership - what matters is that they should act competently and in the best interests of their town, county, or the Delta as a whole. That's no longer happening and it hasn't happened for a long time now. The movers, shakers, and playmakers that once made the Delta a good place to live (quality of life) and do business (economic development) have been replaced by people who see those things as a threat to them. So they opt for the status quo of blight and decline.
Sounds like the people in charge are scared of losing the power. It’s all about them and not about the voters. The voters are conditioned to stay in poverty, otherwise they would vote differently.
Kids need to be taught that it’s okay to move. Teach them a trade from an early age and let them get the hell out. Go to areas of the country that have population and money. It’ll take a generation, but if the delta were empty short of farms and rec land things would look a lot different.
The people are the problem not an asset
These Empower Podcasts are HILARIOUS.
No. Jackson isn’t “coming back”.
No. The delta is t “coming back”.
Same goes for Natchez, Vicksburg, or most other locations.
In addition, liberal-think will eventually creep into any successful Mississippi town or city and destroy it as well.
These people are delusional.
So it is safe to say that Mississippi isn’t coming back. But what would it be coming back from? It never happened anyway!
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