I hope you will carefully read each of the three stories on Page One of today’s Clarksdale Press Register.
Please soak up every drop of ink, because there is a lot of good data and information in those stories.
In this business we look for numbers and a good quote, to a large part because we want to be neutral in our reporting. The logic is numbers are what they are and a quote - well consider the source.
So let’s take a look at what’s going on around town.
Pay raises
Do you want more money? Have you ever wished your job paid more?
I’m the same way.
But what I’m paid as Editor and Publisher of your Clarksdale Press Register is based on what I am worth to this company. What I can produce or what I do is a key factor in determining my worth to my bosses.
Let me encourage you take the politics, racial issues and personal attitudes out of the city’s decision to give themselves raises.
What are or what will taxpayers get for these dollars?
There was a day and age when people ran for public office with a focus on what they could do for their community. Many school boards didn’t even pay anything other than expenses.
It’s not that way now. We have become a nation where everyone is trying to find a way to feed at the government trough.
Retirement is another form of compensation. With most folks living longer, people retire from a real job and then take on a job in government for health insurance and to bolster their retirement.
I think what has bothered people the most is how and when these raises came about and how and when it became public.
Playing the role
The story at the bottom of Page One has what appears to be a very knowledgeable lady explaining to our school board and superintendent what their role is in running a school district.
Trustees are not supposed to be down in the weeds running a school district. Superintendents are not supposed to be at the beck and call of select parents or select school board trustees.
There is a process that both superintendent and trustee should follow in conducting school business.
It takes a majority on any elected or appointed board in Clarksdale or Coahoma County to make anything happen. One person banging the gong or gumming up the works on a board can sabotage the whole process.
We also have a story on the Right Side of Page One about new policy and procedure with our Carnegie Library Board.
But it looks like things are beginning to settle down at the library and we can only hope that will lead to a healthier and stronger library for this community.
Hate and money
Money and hate will make a good man do foolish things.
I have said in this space before that if being a county supervisor, city commissioner or mayor is the best paying job you have ever held, maybe you don’t need to be elected.
We need people in government - especially the leaders of local government - who have a vision and plan and then have the social skills and political tools to execute those plans.
We need leaders who can get things done!
And in that process these leaders will step on a few toes.
Let me encourage you not to hate the person in political office. Let me encourage you to look a little deeper at their motivation and goal. Let me also encourage you to look at yourself and why you are so mad and fired up about their latest decision.
Look at the political cartoon at the top of this page. I have to believe Senator Hyde-Smith and Congressman Bennie Thompson have very different views on a lot of things. But they have apparently found common ground on The Pumps.
Let’s stay focused, let’s listen to what others say and let’s work together for Clarksdale and not our own personal ambitions.
Because the future of this town and community is at stake.
Floyd Ingram is Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. A lot is going on around here right now. Call him at 662-627-2201 if you want to be part of it.
