Leader Call Opinion

Economic Chaos Ahead

2012-02-09T07:00:00-06:00

Let’s think about the kind of mess that we’re in. Federal 2010 Medicare and Medicaid expenditures totaled $800 billion. The projected annual growth of both programs is about 7 percent. Social Security expenditures are more than $700 billion a year. According to the 2009 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports, by 2030, 49 percent of federal revenues will go for Social Security and Medicare payments. The unfunded liability of both programs is already $106 trillion.

Dead Mice Tell No Tales

2012-02-09T07:00:00-06:00

“What’s that smell?” Sue asked from the front hall. “Is that a dead mouse?”
Sometimes I cannot help myself. “Is it?” I said. “I just thought you were cooking dinner.” Some people cannot take a joke. My shoulder still hurts.

Health Care Trust Fund headed to a zero balance

2012-02-08T07:00:00-06:00

A new Republican governor and new Republican legislative leadership now face the same task that has confounded their Democratic colleagues when they had the reins of state government – finding a way to pay for Mississippi’s massive Medicaid program.

Running as a businessman could be Romney’s curse

2012-02-08T07:00:00-06:00

Mitt Romney has based nearly his entire presidential campaign on his experience as a businessman. “I spent my career in the private sector,” Romney told Fox News in late November. “I think that’s what the country needs right now.”

Reducing state teen pregnancy

2012-02-07T07:00:00-06:00

In his State of the State address, Gov. Phil Bryant set out as a policy for his administration to tackle the issue of teen pregnancy — a formidable goal.

Sexes’ Differences Good for Valentine’s Day

2012-02-07T07:00:00-06:00

Get this: men and women are different.
Italian researchers made this “groundbreaking” discovery in a recent study.

School Choice for All Children

2012-02-07T07:00:00-06:00

Cynthia Jackson is imprisoned by her zip code.
She lives in Canton, works as an anesthesia technician, and is a single mother to Will, a 5th grader in Canton public schools.

Medicaid reform is truly an urgent need

2012-02-04T21:57:40-06:00

Medicaid and Medicare are very different programs.

Numbers strongly suggest Mississippi’s true legislative priorities

2012-02-04T21:57:26-06:00

As the new Republican majority controlling state government claimed victory by passing the Children’s Protection Act with ease in the House, it’s clear that even more fundamental – and more politically difficult – challenges loom down the public policy road.

Going Paperless — Priceless!

2012-02-02T07:00:00-06:00

For months, a large retailer emailed me twice a day, begging me to switch from paper billing to online billing. If only I would go paperless, my hair would grow back rich and thick, my sciatica would go away, my plantar fasciitis would heal itself, my cats would stop shedding, and my chance of heavenly reward would rise. OK, fine. I’ll sign up, just please stop sending me your stupid emails.