Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially if you are a lawmaker

The state of Mississippi is in dire straits financially. Legislators cry
and whine, telling citizens that they have no idea where they will get the
funding needed to save Medicaid and education. The deficits are
staggering, budgets are stretched, and there is no money to be found to
help the unfortunate with medical care and medications or to provide
education for students and a decent living salary for their teachers.

There is no money to be found anywhere.or is there? Apparently if you are
a "celebrity" and a pretty one like Faith Hill, maybe there is some money
after all.

Country music star Faith Hill, a native of Star, Mississippi, appeared
before the Mississippi legislature recently to make an appeal for funding,
if only partial, for the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center in
Meridian.

According the WLBT TV, Hill "stopped by to encourage state funding for the
center. Lawmakers say it will be tough to fund the tourist attraction,
which is expected to cost $87 million. Supporters of the center are asking
the state for a third of the funding".

Unbelievable! They can't find money to fund Medicaid and fund the
education of children, but a singer, albeit a talented one, shows up and
legislators get goo-goo-eyed and star struck and all of a sudden, maybe
the money can be found.

Some leaders in Jackson were quoted as saying the center would be great
for the state, and it was great that Hill came all the way to Jackson to
speak on behalf of it. Oh yeah, I am really impressed! Those terribly
expensive trips to Mississippi from Nashville, when you are a
multi-millionaire are killers.

Here is the truth, if one representative or senator gives approval for
even one dollar of Mississippi taxpayer money to fund another frivolous
endeavor involving entertainment, then they should all be voted out of
office. To spend one penny on "arts and entertainment" when many needy
Mississippians will have difficulty getting adequate healthcare and
medication, or when students are not given what they need to get a quality
education or their teachers can't get a decent living wage is a slap in
the face of every taxpayer in the Magnolia State.

We have got to come to our senses and take this thing seriously. Having
Faith Hill speak to the Mississippi legislature about funding is like
asking me to speak about nuclear fusion, and I know nothing about nuclear
fusion. If the celebs want another arts center, why don't chip and build
it themselves, maybe then I will be impressed.