How to tax the stupid
Hot Dog! We might get a lottery! Fine by us. We knew a man who once said that the world would be infinitely better if only ignorance were painful. Well, a lottery could help that right along. We can look at how the other states have done it so to learn how to do it correctly without reinventing the wheel. If it is set up correctly and will provide money to help our schools then we say go ahead and establish the lottery. Of course, we’d much rather put our money in the stock market which is certainly a well established form of legalized gambling (can anyone say cattle futures?). DBJ

Delta Turnaround
Right out of the gate, the Barbour administration announced in mid January that Textron Fastening Systems would be locating a part of their manufacturing concern to Greenville creating over 500 new jobs. Then, on February 25, Barbour announced that the French corporation, Faurecia, will open a factory in Cleveland that will eventually create over 250 jobs. Are these two announcements evidence that the Delta’s economy is turning around? We at the DBJ sure hope so and we salute the Barbour administration for their economic development efforts not only in the State, but in particularly here in the Mississippi Delta. Keep up the good work! DBJ

Voter ID
We at the DBJ thank those in Jackson who have played a role in voter identification legislation. The argument currently being made by some that Voter ID is another form of a poll tax, holds no water with the DBJ. Voter ID is not a form of intimidation, it is the right thing to do in order to ensure that fair elections are held across all parts of this great State. To purchase a firearm, to purchase liquor, to obtain a driver’s license, to cash a check, to do many other things on a daily basis in Mississippi, you must show a proper ID. In many parts of the Delta during the past three elections, voting irregularities have come to the point of being ridiculous. To not have Voter ID is a sure bet that those politicians who are crooked will remain in office as long as they choose. Let’s vote these individuals out of office for the betterment of our State. Voter ID will be a great help in that initiative. DBJ