Is Mississippi really that bad? (Oxford: tax, live, centers)

[Muhnay]

I got the shield not because of Cameras, but to keep punks from stealing the stickers on the plate... TX used to do the plate stickers a long time back but due to many people stealing them they went with the windows sticker instead. Hope Mississippi goes with that option.. One thing I loved in Gulfport was the Turn It Down or Pay Up laws they had. Really helped with the boomer cars in my area.

On the topic of front plates, I dont see why not, since Mississippi only requires the back plate.. In TX though you cant because you have to have both front and back plates... I read the other day that TX is about to go with the CHIP UNICODE plates so a cop car can scan the plate from anywhere near the car and get your info.

Thanks.. I hope to be back in Mississippi someday.. I really MISS it.

On Racism, I saw some there.. mostly with the Hispanic crowd, and I had a school Princeable lean over a desk and whisper that her school was mostly black, and that we should consider private schooling. But I was the only white family in the area I lived in.. off 34th street above the CB base there REYNOSA street. And I had only one problem there and it was resolved rather quickly and without any blows or racial tension. I found I was accepted and made to feel welcome not only at work but in my neighborhood. I will agree the Jr. High and High School educaion was sub par compared to where we are now, but the Elementry is Way above the standards. I noticed that everyone seemed to goto church out that way.. and I had multiple offers, but once they learned I was Pagan they no longer asked and respected my choice. I also noticed a higher level of Gays in Mississippi than here in EL Paso, maybe because of the Casinos, or maybe because they are more openly accepted. El Paso is a big Catholic city and well that maybe why its more hidden here. Ah but all of that was what made the Gulf Coast of Mississippi so enchanting and unique.

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by Muhnay

On the topic of front plates, I dont see why not, since Mississippi only requires the back plate.. In TX though you cant because you have to have both front and back plates... I read the other day that TX is about to go with the CHIP UNICODE plates so a cop car can scan the plate from anywhere near the car and get your info.

Thanks.. I hope to be back in Mississippi someday.. I really MISS it.

Interesting, i'll be sure to get a nice custom real tree plate once I move there.

What do you miss about MISS? That is fitting isn't it?

[Highpointer]

Originally Posted by CouleeGuy

Mississippi is a great state. I lived there in the early 90’s.

One of the reasons why Mississippi is not a great state is that it has the nation's highest teen birth rate, according to this article on Yahoo! News. The article also states lowest teen birth rates continue to be in New England. According to David Landry, a researcher at the Guttmacher Institute, "It's more costly for youth in the Northeast to have a teen birth than for youth in the South, in terms of opportunities they'll miss."

Therefore, it appears to me, based on this metric, it is better to live in the Northeast than in the South, because Northeastern teenagers have more opportunities and are more likely to delay pregnancy and childbirth until they are in a better physical and financial situation to do so.

[CouleeGuy]

I saw the same reports today. I will always think Miss is a great state but, indeed it is concerning.

[katefrisco]

I just had to jump to the Mississippi forum. I just have to tell you Mississippians that the nicest people that I have come across in NYC...who are living there now..are originally from Mississippi.
Of course I may be somewhat biased as my great-great grandfather settled in Grenada from Northern Italy...so I am proud of my Mississippi roots.

[GreenGene]

Originally Posted by Highpointer

One of the reasons why Mississippi is not a great state is that it has the nation's highest teen birth rate, according to this article on Yahoo! News. The article also states lowest teen birth rates continue to be in New England. According to David Landry, a researcher at the Guttmacher Institute, "It's more costly for youth in the Northeast to have a teen birth than for youth in the South, in terms of opportunities they'll miss."

I suspect that high teen birth rate might be related to this:

Mississippi schools are not required to teach sexuality education or sexually transmitted disease (STD)/HIV education. If schools choose to teach either or both forms of education, they must stress abstinence-until-marriage, including “the likely negative psychological and physical effects of not abstaining” and “that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage, and fidelity within marriage, is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases and related health problems.”

Unfortunately, according to a new study:

Teenagers who pledge to remain virgins until marriage are just as likely to have premarital sex as those who do not promise abstinence and are significantly less likely to use condoms and other forms of birth control when they do, according to a study released today.

"Taking a pledge doesn't seem to make any difference at all in any sexual behavior," said Janet E. Rosenbaum of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, whose report appears in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics. "But it does seem to make a difference in condom use and other forms of birth control that is quite striking."

It's a difficult choice for many parents. They don't want their children to engage in pre-marital sex, but they certainly don't want teen pregnancies or worse to happen, either.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by Scotslass

Interesting, i'll be sure to get a nice custom real tree plate once I move there.

What do you miss about MISS? That is fitting isn't it?

I miss, the water, the people, the casinos, the food, But I mostly miss the awesome thunderstorms and the rain, the green onramps and highways. I also miss the job I had at State Farm, the only job I have ever had I looked forward to each day. The People there were the best ever. I also miss the Pork Chop PO'BOYS from the BP gas station on Pops Ferry across from the office I worked in. I miss ZAXBYS.. and ship island. Boats races, and the non-stop entertainment that came there. Heck I even miss the mall there and the cool sand sculptures they would have on display. I felt at home and relaxed while there. I will return someday soon.

The sign as you enter the state reads.. MISSISSIPPI - ITS LIKE COMING HOME. And I have not seen a state line sign that speaks more truth than that.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by GreenGene

I suspect that high teen birth rate might be related to this:

Unfortunately, according to a new study:

It's partly due to the demographics of the state. I could go on but I'm sure my post would get deleted.

[Tama]

I had no idea about that sex ed policy. How unfortunate. Perhaps another generation will be able to make changes.

It is my humble opinion that teens and young adults need to internalize any value in order to adhere to it when making their decisions about sexuality.And they do make the decision and that is what these folks who promote a single way to present it don't seem to get. The kids don't internalize the value and act like they do with any other rule they don't like. Some will adhere and others will disobey.

At the same time if a teen is exposed to sex ed and birth control and open discussions--if that teen has internalized the parents values he or she will not likely be swayed by broader knowledge--unless he or she would have been swayed anyway and then better to be prepared!

[grasshopper_60619]

I have been reading and hearing many bad reports about Jackson and parts of Mississippi, and I know that things will be better in the state soon. I was worried that the people of Mississippi would not accept me because I am a native of Chicago, IL and they would be opposed to changes in the state from outsiders. Now, I know that they accept outsiders and new improvements in the state. Nevertheless, I like to see that Jackson and the rest of Mississippi have more and be improved in the future.


I have been enjoying some parts of Jackson,Mississippi through the World Wide Web such as the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and parts of the Jackson Zoo. However, I want Jackson and the rest of Mississippi enjoy and learn more items beside local stuff. I wonder would the state of Mississippi accepts a natural history museum that have plants and animals from around the world. I enjoyed the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science website, but I want the state to have natural history and other science museums that display exhibits from around the world. The MMNS needs to have more perament exhibits, including dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals fossils. Also, I want the Jackson Zoo to be improved and have more species from around the world. I have read some bad reviews of the zoo, and it seems that the place needs help.

On another subject, it seems that the Jackson-Hinds public library system has many out-dated books on various subjects, while the surrounding areas have more recent books. I wondered why that is? Nevertheless, I hope that the Jackson-Hinds system receive more recent and up-to-date books in the future.


I hope that things will be improved in Jackson and the rest of the state of Mississippi. Have fun and faith in God.


M. Reed
Chicago, IL