Mississippi’s resolutions for the new year

*First appeared in the Jan. 5 edition of the Laurel Chronicle

It’s hard to believe it was 14 years ago when we were faced with a Y2K technological cataclysm. Looking back, it seems kind of funny, doesn’t it? One decade we’re worried our computers can’t handle a rollover to “00”; the next decade, we’re worried our government is spying on us through this same technology. My how times have changed.

Yet one thing doesn’t ever seem to change: Our desire to start each new year anew, replete with resolutions on how we’re going to live life to the fullest, eat better and exercise, and spend more time with loved ones.

It got me to wondering what kind of resolutions our beloved state might have if it were, you know, the resolutin’ type.

Resolution Number One: Finally kick the habit (that is, our addiction to federal funds).

Regardless of what type of federal assistance we’re talking – from housing funds to Medicaid, to unemployment and welfare, Mississippi relies on a hefty chunk of federal funds to operate its federal-state programs. As one of the poorest states in the union, I doubt we’ll make good on this resolution anytime soon.

Resolution Number Two: Read more.

It seems our state recognizes the connection between kickin’ the federal funds addiction and higher literacy rates. More quality education tends to generate more wealth, which in turn would reduce our reliance on the federal gub’ment.

Fortunately, steps are being taken to increase the state’s literacy rates. Charter schools, nontraditional public schools that must meet certain performance marks or shut their doors, will begin operating within the next year. The new “third-grade reading gate” legislation will require intensive assessments of third graders to ensure reading comprehension levels are up to snuff. After all, it’s said the third grade is when students stop learning to read and begin reading to learn.

Resolution Number Three: Eat better, exercise more, and finally lose weight.

Said differently, Mississippi has an interest in its citizens being healthier (and skinnier), which could be achieved by all of us eating better and exercising more. But that’s the thing – we don’t talk about wellness as much as we talk about healthcare. There is a difference. Instead of focusing on “cure,” we fight over “care.” For sure, healthcare (both quality and availability) is a critical public policy issue, especially as it relates to strapped government budgets. But I wonder how we’ve sent a man to the moon yet remain stumped in our efforts to find a cure for the common cold. Is this simply my misunderstanding of science and technology, or indicative of a larger focus on healthcare instead of prevention?

(By the way, kudos to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other members of the Miss. Legislature for leading the way on getting more active. Their involvement in the Fit 4 Change exercise program demonstrates a commitment to health beyond a new year resolution.)

Resolution Number Four: Spend more time with friends and family.

You’re thinking, “how does a state spend more time with friends and family?” Easy. It keeps its citizens at home by providing opportunities for personal growth and development. Far too many of Mississippi’s young people are leaving our state. We raise them; we educate them; and then we export them to other states where they work, pay taxes, and raise their families.

Not only does this “brain drain” harm our economic growth, it also jeopardizes our state’s long-term ability to survive. We need talented young people to invest here, to live here, and to raise their little ones here. Thankfully, efforts are underway to turnaround this trend, such as our state’s focus on attracting better paying jobs as well as groups like the Mississippi Brain Drain Commission.

This imaginary list could go on and on, but you get the idea. It’s funny how these statewide resolutions aren’t so different than most of our personal resolutions. Perhaps Mississippi, or any state for that matter, really is just the sum of its parts (or, specifically, its people).

Happy New Year, y’all.