A nice chilly day for a long walk. Trooper Dunn had me yet again, and things ran smoothly. Not as fast as I was, but still pluggin along. A pic of Trooper Dunn
and Beau taken north of Canton. March 14 has me hitting Grenada and passing through. Not sure on distance, but I will clear the city limits. I’m sorry for the missing data from the map. The GPS got wet apparently and needed to dry. Unknown how long it will work for me.
Ive been asked when I will complete my ‘walk’. I WILL be finished on March 20! Saturday can’t get here soon enough!
Since leaving Jackson, many of my friends and acquaintances at the Capitol have inquired about my intentions after the walk. To everyone contacting me regarding political affiliation or aspirations…… We need someone (even if its a one term home run hitter) to take the reins on the issue of being 50th out of 50 in the nation concerning our law enforcement pay. Folks, the ‘walk’ is simply phase 1. I realize that re-election is coming. How many times have the people on the ballots made some kind of reference to being ”Pro-Law Enforcement……”! I’m all for someone having law enforcement issues to discuss in efforts to get elected, but when you want to ride the backs of Law Enforcement to gain favor with the voter’s, remember to keep your promise and FIGHT for better pay and benefits. Phase 2 will require a great deal more coordination than one person walking and talking, but we sure can shake up the way things have been conducted over the past 25 years+. Phase 2 is something every Christian in this state can sink their teeth into. Sometimes, fingers need to be pointed and toes may get stepped on. Please pray for our leaders. Pray they make sound judgments and stop stalling. I was fortunate enough to speak to several people in Jackson and they had some great information (statistics/names) regarding how and why a Veto will be met if certain industries are mentioned. I’m not choosing your side, but I will stand in front and shout encouragement when its warranted, and tell our citizens how much courage it took to stand in front of your peers and vote for something you know is ‘right’.
Topics covered while in Jackson were, but not limited to…
1) Casino’s – We allowed these ‘organizations’ into our state. They bring in countless millions, and I feel it’s time for them to step up to the plate and do the right thing. Without law enforcement on duty in that particular town-based casino, how long would it remain open when the element that commits heinous crimes finds out? Governor Barbour, I beg you to create a 5% tax on these casino’s for every $dollar$ earned, or perhaps $.10 tax for every $100 earned profit. Anything applied to a newly created system for higher pay will help! LAW ENFORCEMENT STIPEND!
2) Alcohol – If a person enters a liquor store and purchases a bottle of their favorite beverage for (sake of easy math)… $10 and returns 1 month later, and the bottle is now $10.10, will he/she leave the store without making the purchase? I doubt very seriously the store will lose the sale. The Clarion Ledger provided a great article this past week (ON THE DAY I MET WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL). What is fair to the consumer? What is right for our state when more and more communities think adding beer sales to their small town will help? We should place a $.03 to $.05 tax on every mixed drink and beer sold in restaurants, casino’s, and Clubs. A 7% tax on every can/bottle/keg of beer, and perhaps a 10% tax on liquor sales, where would that put us in the rankings with the rest of the nation? We need a LAW ENFORCEMENT STIPEND!
Mississippians drank more liquor, cheaper brands in 2009
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100309/NEWS/3090345/1001/RSS01
Mississippians may be drinking as much as they ever have, but they aren’t drinking the good stuff.
Despite a downtrodden economy and jobless rates in double digits, Mississippians continued to reach for the wine and spirits in 2009.
While they drank more liquor last year, people turned to cheaper brands, according to a report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, a national trade association for the alcoholic beverage industry. The study also revealed consumers drank more at home and less in bars and restaurants in an effort to ease the strain on the family budget………….. (link provides the rest of the article for you)
My next topic is tobacco, but I’ll save that for another day. I’m waiting for some statics on the amount of sales we generate, how much the states cost/tax/resale and profit is. Tobacco hurts us physically, so ‘lets go walking Mississippi’.
Mississippi needs a ’stipend’ for our law enforcement. The state needs to provide matching pay for agencies without a stable tax-base. This can be accomplished! This must be accomplished.
GOD Bless our leaders and all First Responder’s in Mississippi
ONCE AGAIN, TROOPER DUNN TOOK CARE OF ME. THANKS A MILLION! LOTS OF THICK CLOUDS AND THE SUN WAS OUT MOST OF THE DAY.
