In case you did not know it the South is the poorest region of the country……but how are they so poor after all they have the same opportunities as the rest of the country, right?
I will try to explain this situation as best I can…..
Lastly we in Mississippi had our state elections and I wrote a letter to a magazine that covers the state with the hopes that it would make a difference but as usual it was ignored for it did not fit the paradigm that the publication pushes….
This is the letter I sent….
Open Letter To The Voters Of Mississippi
I tried to explain why Mississippi ranks at the bottom of the social ladder….to illustrate my point….WalletHub looked at all 50 states and the District of Columbia
Worst economies
- Ohio
- Maine
- Iowa
- Rhode Island
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- West Virginia (last in “Innovation Potential” category)
- Hawaii
- Mississippi
This is NOTHING new for the state of Mississippi.
I read an article that also tries to explain the poverty thing in the South…..
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022, Mississippi, West Virginia, Arkansas, Alabama, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Louisiana had the highest poverty rates in the U.S. at over 15% each.
However, understanding how these states became so poor requires an examination of their histories and the structural challenges they face. Let’s look at some factors contributing to these high poverty levels.
The economies of these states have historically been less diverse and relied heavily on single industries. For example, a Mississippi Department of Agriculture study stated, “Agriculture is Mississippi’s number one industry, employing approximately 17.4% of the state’s workforce either directly or indirectly. Agriculture in Mississippi is an 8.76 billion-dollar industry.”
When the agricultural sector is suffering due to declining commodity prices, international competition and other factors, these states acutely feel the impact. Industries in these states often also provide low-wage jobs, contributing to the persistent poverty.
Many of the poorest states are located in the South and have histories deeply intertwined with slavery and plantation economies. Post-Civil War, the South struggled to transition to an industrial economy, unlike the North which experienced rapid industrialization. Compared to the North, Southern states kept taxation and government spending at lower levels, which resulted in less development over time.
The economic model of the South remained heavily agrarian, dependent on low-wage labor and slow to adopt technological advancements.
Educational achievement in these states has historically lagged behind national averages. For example, Arkansas has one of the most undereducated populations in the nation when considering the percentage of adults with college degrees. Poorer states often invest less in education due to limited tax revenues, creating a cycle of underfunded schools, lower educational outcomes and a less skilled workforce.
The state of Arkansas explained that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened an already struggling school system, and students are now struggling to recover from earlier learning disruptions. Although non-profits like Forward Arkansas are committed to growing the state’s education system, just like other poorer states, the historical lack of investment continues to hamper economic growth and limits residents’ opportunities to break out of poverty.
Investment in infrastructure is another critical factor. Poorer states often have less developed infrastructure, which can deter business investment. Poor roads, limited public transportation and inadequate broadband access make it difficult for businesses to operate efficiently and for residents to access opportunities.
The poverty of the poorest states in the U.S. is not the result of a single factor but rather a blend of history, economic structures, social inequities, and political decisions. Addressing this complex issue requires comprehensive strategies that include investing in education, healthcare, and infrastructure; promoting economic diversification; and implementing policies that address racial and social inequities.
(Gabriel Vito)
If the South wants to change this downward spiral then they need to learn what real issues are and stop being goddamn stupid and fall for BS issues that nothing to do with their lives.
Sadly this will not happen any time soon….all I can say is “Stupidity Is The Deliberate Cultivation Of Ignorance”……and Mississippi is cultivating a butt-load of stupid.
And the South has ignorance is spades….and they are proud of it.
Be Smart!
Learn Stuff!
Turn The Page!
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
In Saner Thought 
Change your approach maybe. Seems to me every state has editorials from residents bitching about something. Here’s a boring story for you. When I was stationed in Iceland back in ’72 there was a bit of international kerfuffle regarding the Icelandics protecting their fishing rights from the Brit fisherman to the point that some Icelandic “coast guard” vessels (italics meaning, vessels a margin above fishing boats) trying to pester Brit fishing trawlers. The usual debates about fishing rights and sovereign waters. This did end up as a story with Walter and Huntley-Brinkley, et al, at the time. Being from Chicago we had the major national newspaper, the Chicago Tribune. As I sat in my room during off-duty boredom I got the idea… I bet I could get my opinion posted on the Trib’s “Vioce of the People” editorial section. To me all the elements made sense…. I was U.S. military, stationed smack in the middle of this “conflict” to afford some continuity to the subject at hand… and if I sign my opinion to include my rank it should give that “boy’s overseas” patriotic flavor (and it wasn’t the usual Vietnam story). So I sent them about 300 words… it was all basically being somewhat neutral.. not taking sides… and promoting a peaceful discussion to reach a win-win agreement for both parties. All in all, a pretty boring read since I wasn’t bitching about anything and actually talking “peace”. I signed using my rank with my name and “USAF”. I was honestly 99% sure the Trib would publish it.. and they did amazingly. At the time I thought I was hot shit getting an opinion posted in a major national newspaper. But then realized no one outside of family and friends were going to nominate me for a Pulitzer or a Nobel Prize.
Anyway, my point with all this… it’s all about marketing. Change your approach. Try something like this….
“Why Do We Live In Mississippi?”
(even I wonder that, but that’s besides the point. 🙂 But the idea is not to be sarcastic but rather to present your observational reasons.. the things that bring state pride.. notoriety.. history… but trying to show your fellow residents that they are more that what the rest of the country (like me) might think of your state. Then your last paragraph cite your hope for improvements in these areas (rather than wanting to kick GOP ass) and urging the vote to candidates who want sincere changes.
Just a thought.
With a state like Mississippi when the literacy rate is in the 80%s….you seriously think that would work in a deep deep red state….I should caudal them instead of pointing out where the lies has lead them. My father was stationed in Iceland in the late 60s. chuq
He was? Was He USAF? We certainly saw the same aircraft. Wait… was your dad career military?
USAF career….chuq
Then he was assigned to the 57th FIS likely. What was his job?
Liaison with the Navy chuq
Oh.. an officer? I was an E3 grunt and left an E4 NCO (in those days). He would have been in the bachelor officer quarters I would guess. Of course we had about 5 years separating our service there. Small world.
Nope he was an E8….very small world. Cool chuq
He was? Cool. We likely saw the same aircraft. Was her career military? Navy or USAF?
answered chuq
Was he USAF or Navy? Career military?
Were you ‘Someone”/ If not then USAF and career. chuq
I don’t think so
????
Odd also… I was at tech school at Keesler in 1971.. likely when you were in Southeast Asia. But me in your neighborhood. Seems I was close to you and the family. 🙂
In those days my father would be a EW instructor at Keesler. chuq
Ha. We likely passed each other. I followed him around the same duty stations. Cool.
More than likely…I think most of the USAF flowed through Keesler back in the day. chuq
Back then Keesler was big into electronics. If your dad’s EW was early warning then understandable he went to Iceland. I was tested for electronics at enlistment because I picked it up from my dad fixing TV’s and radio. But I washed out of Keesler because I sucked at math. Then they sent me OJT security cop to Orlando, and from there Iceland. Ah well.. old war stories.
He seldom talked about it but I think it was more electronic warfare…..chuq
I was surprised to see Hawaii so far down that list. Seems that the tourist economy is not ‘trickling down’ to the people.
Best wishes, Pete.
Like so many places only the wealthy get the grease. chuq