Greenwood Commonwealth. December 12, 2023.
Editorial: Mixed Reviews For Auditor’s Ideas
Last week, we made a quick endorsement to a proposal by State Auditor Shad White to strengthen Mississippi’s Open Meetings Act by rendering null and void any decision made in an illegal secret meeting.
That proposal was one of four that White is asking the state’s lawmakers to adopt when they convene next month.
A couple of his other recommendations deserve some comment as well. One we endorse, one we don’t.
The former is his call for a Whistleblower Reward Act. This would be modeled on federal laws to provide a financial incentive to those who come forward with information that leads to the recovery of misspent or stolen public funds. If the information is true and money is recovered, the whistleblower would receive a cut of it. How large a cut White didn’t specify but presumably large enough to justify the risk.
Mississippi’s laws already are supposed to protect a whistleblower’s identity, but a potential reward would provide a greater incentive to come forward. It’s worth a try.
It bears noting, however, that White’s proposal would only apply to civilians. Federal law makes government employees also eligible for whistleblower rewards, but the federal law is tricky in that government employees who learn about corruption or misspending don’t generally qualify for a reward if they obtained their information in the course of their job. White apparently wanted to avoid trying to deal with that distinction, but by doing so, he also would limit how often the whistleblower rewards would come into play. Those most likely to know when someone in a position of public trust is stealing are those who work for or with the thieves.
We are less enthusiastic, however, about White’s call for a study committee to change how the state funds universities. This proposal comes out of a controversial position he took earlier this year when he argued that the state’s taxpayers should not be supporting courses at public universities that he considers worthless. He gave a few examples: anthropology, sociology, women’s studies, African American studies and German language and literature. White suggested that those types of degrees should be defunded.
Not surprisingly, that recommendation — one of his occasional side trips into areas that have little to do with his day job — drew a heated reaction from those who have majored in these fields and those who teach in them. The critics said rightly that the courses a university offers should be left to the higher education professionals who run the schools and the College Board that oversees them.
Besides, rather than government meddling in academics, as White seems to advocate, the free market should fix the problem, if there is one. If students don’t find fulfillment, whether personally or financially, from a major, they will eventually stop choosing it, and it will die a natural death. Universities won’t keep funding programs with low enrollment.
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Vicksburg Post. December 6, 2023.
Editorial: Stay smart and safe this holiday season
Who needs the Grinch when we have plenty of scammers to try and steal Christmas?
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch warned this week of another scam targeted at Mississippians during the holiday season. This latest scam involves text messages sent from bad actors urging victims to click on a link to locate a missing or delayed delivery. Like most phishing scams, the link then seeks to obtain personal and financial information which can be used for stealing your identity online.
And while this scam might be a new twist, its intent is an old one. Sadly, the holidays are a peak time for would-be thieves and con men (and women) to prey on unsuspecting people.
During the holiday season, especially at Christmas, theft-related crimes tend to increase. According to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), robbery and larceny increase by approximately 20% every December.
Here are some of the most common holiday crimes and how you can prevent them:
• Package theft: Unfortunately, porch pirates are all too common during the holidays. Make sure your packages are delivered to a secure location, like your workplace or a neighbor’s house. You can also track your packages online, so you know when they’ve been delivered. Security cameras installed on your porch can also help serve as a deterrent or can aid in catching package thieves.
• Home burglaries: With homes decorated for the holidays and people traveling more frequently, burglaries increase during this time of year. Keep your home security system armed when you’re away, and make sure your valuables are out of sight.
• Car break-ins: Don’t leave gifts or other valuables in your car where they can be seen. This is especially important if you’re traveling for the holidays. Keep your belongings with you, or hide them in the trunk before you reach your destination.
• Credit card fraud: Be careful when shopping online or using your credit card at holiday parties. Be sure to use a secure website, and never give your credit card information to anyone you don’t know.
• Identity theft: Be cautious when giving out personal information, like your Social Security number or date of birth. Also, be aware of phishing scams that will try to get you to provide personal information. Don’t click on links or open attachments from people you don’t know, and be sure to use a secure password for all your online accounts to prevent hacking.
In a season focused on celebrating love and generosity, no one wants to think about the dangers of property or identity theft, but they are real and present.
So, take a few moments to protect yourself and stay smart this holiday season.
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