FEATURE STORY

One step forward, two steps back

By Doreen Muzzi
DBJ Editor

Why is it whenever Mississippi finally seems to be making strides in improving its national image, someone steps forward and makes a comment or publicly expresses an ill-conceived idea that wipes out all of the hard-won progress?
The state has without a doubt gained widespread respect in recent years as being business friendly and at making real efforts in improving the quality of life for its citizens. But it’s amazing how quickly we can be pulled back into the role of laughing stock due to the foolish actions of a very few.
This time, the culprits are state Rep. John Read of Gautier, along with his fellow duly elected state legislators Rep. Ted Mayhall, R-Southhaven and Rep. Bobby Shows, D-Ellisville. In case you haven’t heard by now, Read and his cohorts proposed a bill during the current session of the state legislature that would ban restaurants from serving obese people.
With headlines from coast to coast proclaiming, “Mississippi to ban fat people from eating in restaurants,” we all were portrayed – and not for the first time – as uneducated and clueless as to the ways of the world outside our own state’s borders.
Specifically, the bill would make it illegal for restaurants with seating for five or more customers to serve obese patrons. The proposed penalty would be the revocation of a restaurant’s health permit.
National print and broadcast news outlets have had a field day with the proposal, with Read appearing on at least one network morning show in a feeble attempt to explain his misguided legislation.
On CBS News’ “The Early Show,” Read seemed almost embarrassed, saying that he was trying to “get the dialogue started.” He added that he wasn’t trying to be offensive. “It was for our state – I didn’t think it would get national attention,” an admission that is incredibly naïve for one in the public arena.
No one is denying that obesity is a major problem in Mississippi – the first state where more than 30 percent of adults are considered obese, according to a 2007 study by the Trust for America’s Health, a research group that focuses on disease prevention. Our state also has one of the highest death rates from cardiovascular disease, of which obesity is a risk factor.
But it’s doubtful that making it illegal to serve food to those who are obese will truly combat the state’s weight problem. At best, such a piece of legislation smacks of being unconstitutional, and at worst, it’s an unfortunate publicity stunt.
This past year, Mississippi made progress in addressing its obesity problem with a state law that requires at least 150 minutes of physical activity instruction and 45 minutes of health education instruction each week for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Until then, gym class had been optional. That’s a step forward, but Read’s bill represents two steps back.
The legislator even admitted that his bill could never be enforced. Which begs the question, if he knew the law couldn’t be enforced, why waste his time and our taxes making such a preposterous proposal? Why isn’t he working on legislation that might actually make a difference – legislation that better addresses the issues of healthcare, poverty and education?
Did he set out to embarrass our state? Probably not, but that’s what happened.
The folks at the Mississippi Development Authority along with many others in the state spend countless numbers of hours each year enticing businesses to locate here. How many of those hours were erased during each minute of Rep. Read’s nationally televised interview?
At least this time, Deltans can breathe easy knowing it wasn’t one of our own legislators who stepped awkwardly into the national spotlight. DBJ



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