What are the stakes in the state gubernatorial election? (Jackson: universities, casino)

[Mouldy Old Schmo]

They seem minimal to me. I saw ads by Tate Reeves about our new license plates with the motto "In God We Trust". This makes the liberals in California and Washington angry. But will it improve the quality of life in the state? Will it lead to more jobs? And less corruption?

[Listener2307]

I'm with you. Not much.
'Druther have a Republican. But actually, the less that is 'accomplished', the better off we will all be. So if a Democrat sits in The Mansion and Republicans control the legislature, maybe that's a good thing.

[JacksonPanther]

Is the State better off now than it was 4 and 8 years ago?

[sammyreynolds1977]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

Is the State better off now than it was 4 and 8 years ago?

nope

[viverlibre]

I've been thinking about this for several months. Here are some of the big issues we need to work on:

1. Bring in low skill, but good jobs (more manufacturing).
2. Shore up PERS.
3. Give teachers and all state employees a raise.
4. Fix state bridges and roads in rural parts of the state - if gas taxes have to be raised by a cent or two, so be it.
5. Shore up the MHP (it's a shell of what it was 20 years ago), there is virtually no highway safety enforcement in most of the state, plus our DL stations are in bad shape.
6. Facilitate online sports gambling.
7. Get rid of the state flag.
8. Don't pass laws that are viewed as aimed at infringing on homosexuals (we don't have enough outward gays coming to Mississippi to worry about this).
9. Pass legislation allowing medical marijuana
10. Study allowing the cultivation of medical marijuana in the delta.
11. Cut education costs by getting rid of junior college athletics
12. Combine universities and end the duplication of narrow programs (combine MSU and the W, etc.). MSU, UM and JSU all have engineering programs, is this needed?
13. Don't pass any more abortion laws, we don't have enough abortions in MS to worry about this.
14. Do whatever it takes to get a casino in Jackson (hopefully in conjunction with a "two lakes" project).
15. Aggressively pursue federal funding for our military installations. Many of the buildings on Camp Shelby are in bad shape and continue to expand the 172nd Air Wing and our sites in Gulfport. A lot of good, full-time jobs are produced by these sites and we can do more.

Tater tot is going to be elected, and since his campaign commercials are mostly aimed at fighting "Liberal Hollywood" (which does not affect us in any way), I'm assuming we will get more of the same - grow smaller rather than larger, cut expenses rather than grow revenue. Privately, I've heard people say Tate is very bright (Deputy Fill is not), so let's hope he surprises us.

I realize most of this will not be considered, but at least do the top 5.

By the way, I'm a conservative/libertarian.

[sammyreynolds1977]

I would hedge a bet on Tater. Most Republicans in this state don't like him. Last poll I saw shows Reeves down but it's still July.

[Mississippi Alabama Line]

Originally Posted by viverlibre

I've been thinking about this for several months. Here are some of the big issues we need to work on:

1. Bring in low skill, but good jobs (more manufacturing).
2. Shore up PERS.
3. Give teachers and all state employees a raise.
4. Fix state bridges and roads in rural parts of the state - if gas taxes have to be raised by a cent or two, so be it.
5. Shore up the MHP (it's a shell of what it was 20 years ago), there is virtually no highway safety enforcement in most of the state, plus our DL stations are in bad shape.
6. Facilitate online sports gambling.
7. Get rid of the state flag.
8. Don't pass laws that are viewed as aimed at infringing on homosexuals (we don't have enough outward gays coming to Mississippi to worry about this).
9. Pass legislation allowing medical marijuana
10. Study allowing the cultivation of medical marijuana in the delta.
11. Cut education costs by getting rid of junior college athletics
12. Combine universities and end the duplication of narrow programs (combine MSU and the W, etc.). MSU, UM and JSU all have engineering programs, is this needed?
13. Don't pass any more abortion laws, we don't have enough abortions in MS to worry about this.
14. Do whatever it takes to get a casino in Jackson (hopefully in conjunction with a "two lakes" project).
15. Aggressively pursue federal funding for our military installations. Many of the buildings on Camp Shelby are in bad shape and continue to expand the 172nd Air Wing and our sites in Gulfport. A lot of good, full-time jobs are produced by these sites and we can do more.

Tater tot is going to be elected, and since his campaign commercials are mostly aimed at fighting "Liberal Hollywood" (which does not affect us in any way), I'm assuming we will get more of the same - grow smaller rather than larger, cut expenses rather than grow revenue. Privately, I've heard people say Tate is very bright (Deputy Fill is not), so let's hope he surprises us.

I realize most of this will not be considered, but at least do the top 5.

By the way, I'm a conservative/libertarian.

Pretty good list.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by JacksonPanther

Is the State better off now than it was 4 and 8 years ago?

Originally Posted by sammyreynolds1977

nope

Mississippi GDP hit a 10 year high in 2018.
https://msbusiness.com/2019/05/state...-high-in-2018/

[sammyreynolds1977]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Mississippi GDP hit a 10 year high in 2018.
https://msbusiness.com/2019/05/state...-high-in-2018/

we're last or near the bottom in every statistical category. Nice try.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by sammyreynolds1977

we're last or near the bottom in every statistical category. Nice try.

The question was, "Is the State better off now than it was 4 and 8 years ago?"
It is. Clearly. In fact, Mississippi GDP has never been as high as it is now. So you gave the wrong answer.