100 White Men?

An anonymous writer brings it home...

To clarify a point for readers---and Sis from Seattle: The newspaper did not label the lawmakers as "black." This is the label of their own choosing. Not all segregation begins and ends with the white man.

Imagine a headline that read "White Lawmakers Convene." Or Hispanic Lawmakers or Asian Lawmakers, etc. How would that make sense?

100 Black Men. Miss Black America. BTV. As long as black Americans want to be considered ONLY black as a priority over their status as Americans, then they will always seem to be struggling for acceptance. My ancestry is Scotch-Irish. Yet I do not label myself as such, nor do I feel the need to make the constant reference to my "homeland."

I am an American.

This writer drives the point home! How long would a group named "100 White Men" survive in the Mississippi Delta?

Question... can white females join "100 Black Men", and if not, how would they refuse them? "I'm sorry Ma'am, but we only allow black men in our club"? Any employer who made such a statement to a job applicant would spend the rest of his/her natural life in court.

So, why is it that the only color we are allowed to "discriminate" is black? Sociologists maintain that the "pendulum of life" has to swing just as far to the left as it does to the right in order to maintain balance. I don't disagree with this theory, but I think in 2006, the Delta should be getting pretty darn near close to plumb!

Forthright

Color-Blind

As my Sunday ritual dictates, I arose to seek fresh coffee and the local Sunday newspaper. The only difference being that today, I had to share my DDT (and coffee of course) with my sister who was visiting me from Seattle, WA.

Being a gentleman, I offered my sister the front page of the Delta Democrat Times, (hoping that it would not offer some horrid tale of child abduction or a "Conoco caper"). She silently perused the front page for a few minutes and then quietly asked, "What are black lawmakers?" She paused and went on to read me the headline, "Mississippi hosts conference of black lawmakers".

Being from the Delta, the headline didn't seem unusual or ambiguous to me... at least until I tried to answer her question. Before I could utter a reply, my sister sharply inquired, "Should I assume that black lawmakers are those who make black laws?" I had to smile a bit at this, knowing where this conversation was probably going.

All I could get out was "Well, no...", before she folded the paper, removed her eyeglasses, glanced up at me and proclaimed, "It appears that Mississippi has made little progress over the past 100 years. Why is it that everything has to be labeled 'black' in the south?" A bit dumbfounded at first, I quickly realized where Sis was going with this debate... the problem was, I couldn't answer her question.

Several hours later, after my sister had departed for the airport, I had time to reflect on the essence of our conversation. It dawned on me that she was actually appalled at the term "black" lawmakers!

I picked up the DDT and stared at the headline and a question came to me. How would replacing the word "black" in this headline with any other adjective (such as white, Hispanic, gay/lesbian, Catholic, agnostic or HIV+) affect its newsworthiness? Better yet, why not leave out all racial, ethnic and cultural descriptors and simply boast that Mississippi will host national lawmakers?

Why? Because we are still a very segregated society for all of our strides toward equality. I think that my sister's indignity was that we still use labels, such as "black" to differentiate each other. Are the political issues of health care and housing restricted to "black" Americans? Are the plagues of poverty and inflation exclusive to the "black" population in our country?

Here's the real issue. By distinguishing "black" lawmakers, we imply that they are in some way "different". Isn't that what we implied in the 1950's with the designations of "White" and "Colored" restrooms, water fountains, schools, building entrances and restaurants?

At this moment, my sister's indignity hit me square in the face. As long as we label groups by their racial, cultural or spiritual beliefs, we are asserting some inequality... otherwise there would be no reason to differentiate. So why, in 2006, do we still see black and white?

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, I got to see one of my favorite classic movies, "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". In it, the gifted actor Sidney Poitier angrily addresses his father over personal views stating, "that the difference between you and me Dad, is that you see yourself as a black man; I see myself as a man".

Before the movie's end, even Spencer Tracey, a die-hard liberal of the printed word, nods to himself in acceptance of true racial equality in our society, and quietly mutters, "I'll be a son-of-a-bitch!"

Well, Sis... I guess I will be too!

Forthright

Just a Dog Catcher...

Almost every job that you apply for these days involves some type of criminal background check. Health care leads the industry by actually fingerprinting all applicants. In our high-tech world in which a person's actual identity can be stolen, I think knowing if you are hiring a convicted felon is relevant information... particularly if you working for state or local government.

I am a bit peeved at Mayor Hudson's recent defense of the city employee whose criminal past was exposed. She actually defended the city's policy of not screening applicant's criminal histories, stating that, "everyone deserves a second chance." Okay, I can agree with that, but what about the hundreds of law abiding citizens who are seeking jobs in Greenville that haven't had the first chance, let alone served time?

I think that the mayor's "head in the sand" approach to this issue is dangerous. Any employer who requires drug screens and criminal histories knows that there is a large population of undesirables in our fair city. For our city leaders to ignore this fact puts us all at great risk.

I once asked the leader of one of the biggest employers in Greenville why his organization did not conduct random drugs screens on employees. His response was that he would probably lose a third of his current staff. Duhhhh?

Should convicted criminals be given a "second chance"? Sure, right after all non-criminals have been eliminated as viable candidates for those jobs. I think you went a little too far left on this one, Heather.

Forthright

The "Color" of Money

"Local Reflector" writes:

The water issue doesn't necessarily involve those who've lived in Greenville and understand what the tint is all about - prehistoric sediment. The issue is about recruiting all those businesses and industry and getting some jobs in the area.

Every recruiting effort conducted by industrial recruiters or companies interviewing for out-of-town employees isn't concluded without checking out the place. If, in the hotel, the water is obviously brown, these short term visitors don't have the luxury of a full explanation of the water; they chalk it up as dirty water and return home to tell everyone.

Yes, it seems trivial on some levels but I dealt with the same problem with my out-of-town guests. In this day and age, clear water is an expectation so I cannot understand how some can feel they're losing a cultural contribution by ridding the municipal water supply of a brown tint. By the way, very few other cities would accept such regardless of explanations or excuses.

Good Job Greenville Leaders!

I have to agree with LR on this one. Most people interpret "brown" as dirty and I am sure the majority of visitors to Greenville are not reassured by the "rotting leaves" fable, however prehistoric.

Clearing the water would do a great deal to make Greenville more marketable to industry as well as to instill a bit of pride in those of us who choose to remain in the Delta. I say "Go for it, Greenville!" We have nothing to lose but the stains of our past.

Forthright

In Favor of Local Flavor

Anonymous writes:

I told one of my (grown) children yesterday that the city was looking into removing the color from our water. His response was, "I hope it will still taste as good." My family would rather drink Greenville water than any beverage on this earth.

Actually, I know of an ex-Greenvillian who requests family and friends to bring gallon jugs of our brown water when visiting. He claims that it makes the best iced tea in the world.

Perhaps we could capitalize on our murky water. NYC tap water is actually bottled and sold in stores for $3.50 per bottle. In Rome, you can purchase "holy water" for $12.00 per ounce. Surely, we could get a couple of bucks for "Blues Water".

Forthright

Mystique of the Delta

Could clear water be the key to Greenville's economic future? According to some, it could have a significant impact. Imagine drawing a glass of tap water and being able to see through the glass, or sitting in a bathtub and being able to see your legs!

As native Deltan's, we have become acustomed to our ice water resembling weak tea, but some visitors are simply appalled by our "local color". One of the first questions visitors ask me is, "What is wrong with the water?" I politely explain that our brown water is the result of "prehistoric biological sediments that have seeped into our wellspring feeders".... at least that's the rhetoric that I was raised on. Most simply shake their head and express their relief that we don't simply pump it directly out of the river.

In my travels, I find that Greenville is almost world renowned for two very memorable experiences. One is a eating a steak at Doe's Eat Place and the other... bathing in brown water! The latter is certainly not a drawing card, but quite memorable none the less.

So, is our water safe? We are told that it is, but who among us does not use water filers and/or bottled water... just to be sure. The Delta is well known for its filtering of all things obscure... its water included.

Perhaps the mystique and uniqueness of the Delta lies in its murky water. Cleansing ourselves of our "prehistoric sediments" may be a major step toward our economic progress as a community and may even land us squarely in the middle of the 21st century!

Forthright

Halloween Present

Ahhh, it's Halloween eve. As a child, I remember the excitement that this evening brought. Everyone in the neighborhood would carve jack-o-lanterns and decorate their doors and yards. Some houses would have fortune tellers or witches who could cast "spells". Parents and children would get really creative with costumes... none of the tacky store-bought stuff would do. It was a time of fun with a hint of the macabre. It was magic.

This evening, I came home to the same neighborhood in which I have lived for 25 years. It looked particularly dark and uninviting. Porch lights which are usually on... were now off. The street seemed particularly deserted this night. No one seemed to be home. It appeared that the magic of Halloween has disappeared.

Perhaps my neighborhood, like myself, have grown older. Perhaps the "treat" of opening your front door to tiny goblins and fairies screaming "trick or treat" has given way to the "trick" of teenagers disguised as gang members shoving Kroger bags in your face as they silently admire your home. Perhaps, Halloween as we knew it, is dead.

As a child, Halloween was one of the most exciting times of the year for parents and children alike. The season had changed, children were back to school and it was a time when being scared was "fun". I look back to this time with fond memories... as I sit in my dark house, porch lights off... hoping to be spared being visited by the spirits of "Halloween present".

Forthright

"Sub"terfuge?

An anonymous writer asks:

"What is going on at Lenny's Sub Shop? A friend at work told me that she heard that federal agents came in and shut the store down. Any scoop on this or is it just more of greenvilles rumor mill."

I have not heard such a rumor; however, I did read in the DDT that the Lenny's shop in Greenville was closing, while the one in Cleveland would remain open. The story seems a bit far-fetched to me... not that another business in Greenville is closing, but that Federal Agents were involved. I would suspect that this is a "creative" story, born of idle minds. I welcome comments from readers who are perhaps more "in the know".

Forthright

L.R. on Throwing "Bones"

The billboard campaign is solely designed to stick a thumb in Cleveland's eye and not to promote Greenville as the superior location for a new federal building. After all, it's Greenville which must tell itself that "it believes in Greenville." Cleveland couldn't care less.

This issue, to me, reflects other concerns than a federal building because I see it as a test for the Greenville community leaders who profess to have the contacts and means to influence higher elected officials. It also reflects Washington County's influence on the greater political sphere.

The maverick political attitude (refusing the state flag, for instance) and the "My highway or the highway" notions regarding political dissent and challenge will be sorely tested. Alliances with Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick will be tested as an outreach for a better Greenville or outreach for a better political career for personal gain.

Where's Congressman Thompson? Will he enter a fight within the boundaries of his own 2nd Congressional District? It's easy to pick fights on national issues; now a local issue starts festering.The state representatives are there to a degree but they're confined to regional influence. Give them credit for their attempts at influence.At the day's end, consider the Good Ole Boy factor in making this federal building issues such a nasty exercise in the "We're a better choice" debate.

Washington County voters have selected - with about 70% support - to try to elect the team that isn't in power given prior election trends.Governor Barbour offered an economic trojan horse in Textron upon his election; it was a one-sided deal and a tease for people needing permanent employment. Throwing those kinds of "bones" doesn't help and reveals that if you don't help the powerful, they'll not help you in substantive ways. It's the way of the political world.

Given the track record, there's no reason to expect the backroom assistance at this point from the leadership despite public lip service.Public pressure is the best medicine and it shouldn't abate until someone stirs.By the way, John Clark wrote a good piece in Sunday's DDT on the "blame game."

I know there's a sentiment that the paper, somehow, gave Cleveland leaders a great idea by writing that Cleveland might be another option for a federal building, but his opinion makes sense. He's been in Greenville three years (he writes), and I'm seeing the customary track of the good-intentioned journalist play out to course.

The first year, one believes he/she can make a difference. "Year Two" is spent defending or refusing the gut feeling that something's not quite right with leaders' thoughts. "Year Three" - you determine that it's time to begin saying things you should've said after "Year One," when you knew better but couldn't believe what you were learning.

Oh Mr. Clark - your subscribers will bloom if you follow the course of dosing the bitter pills with the sweet elixer of community news coverage.

Chamber's Action Defended

An anonymous writer fires back at "chamber member"

Chamber Member:

The Chamber of Commerce is trying to SAVE the locally owned businesses. Or what's left of them. I am aghast that our friends in Cleveland would stoop to such a low tactic, but I am not so lily-livered that I am ready to hand them the keys to MY city.

I will boycott the retailers in Cleveland, their restaurants, their University with the performing arts venue....and I recommend that you do the same. Greenville has everything that I want or need.

Wow! This "courthouse" issue seems more heated than any of late. It is refreshing to know that there are still some staunch supporters of Greenville and that they are willing to speak up; however, I am not sure that boycotting retailers or universities is the solution.

I prefer to view the Delta as family of cities and small communities that share a unique culture as well as difficult economic challenges. The Delta has lost many major industries (jobs) over the past decade, so what makes this issue different?

I see it as a sense of betrayal... by a family member!

We can understand when industries relocate to Mexico or the mid-west for well established economic and business reasons, but to lose an icon of federal notoriety to a "family member" 40 miles away... well, it just hurts. It also scares us a bit to know that we (Deltans) have begun competing internally over scarce jobs and public facilities.

Let us not forget that in the early 1900's, the founding fathers of Greenville turned down the offer to have a "Teacher's College" built here for fear of an influx of radical and liberal thinkers who might disrupt our southern way of living. Cleveland seized upon that opportunity and I believe that the entire "Delta" has prospered as a result.

Unfortunately, the ultimate decision to keep or relocate the Federal Building is not one that we Deltans will make. It will be made by politicians whose daily lives will remain untouched by their final decision.

And at the end of the day, we shall all still live, eat and shop in the Delta.

Forthright

Chamber Member Speaks Up

I personally do not want any part of my Chamber Membership dues going to pay for a billboard in CLEVELAND!!

Some Advice for the Chamber: Promote the locally owned businesses that we have now!

Billboard Fuels the Fire!

An anonymous writer comments...

Whats with the "I believe in Greenville" billboard in Cleveland? Is this more of that stupid courthouse issue? Who cares where a federal building is? Why dont we work on improving our city and our streets instead of fighting over stupid buildings. The politicians are going to put it where they want to anyway and nobody else matters.

I did hear on the local news that such a billboard would be posted in Cleveland. And yes, I do believe that its impetus is the Federal Courthouse issue; however, I am less sure of its strategic outcome.

It appears to me that this billboard is more antagonistic than competitive. The federal building's location is hardly the issue. It's the jobs that follow the building that are at the heart of this debate. This billboard is little more than "gang graffiti" intended to raise the ire of the challenger... and it has obviously done that! We all await the final outcome.

Forthright

More on "Haley-Care"...

Forty-three Mississippi hospitals, in conjunction with the Mississippi Hospital Association, today filed a lawsuit in Hinds County Chancery Court against the Office of The Governor and the Division of Medicaid, requesting injunctive relief and asking the court to declare unconstitutional a tax on hospital gross revenues levied by Governor Haley Barbour.

A fundamental principle of the Mississippi Constitution is that only the legislative branch of government can levy taxes. Barbour’s levying of the tax oversteps the constitutional authority of the executive branch. The lawsuit was filed after over four months of lengthy negotiations regarding the many alternatives the state has to fund the program.

The tax, if allowed to go forward, will impose an extreme burden on many Mississippi hospitals. In some instances, the tax will be greater than the total annual operating margin of the hospitals. The Governor’s tax plan allows Medicaid to levy up to a 1% tax on the gross revenue of our state’s hospitals. This represents more than $90 million in additional costs imposed on hospitals. The additional tax burden will require many hospitals to lay off employees and cut valuable services.

"This lawsuit was necessary not only to protect the constitutional rights of Mississippi hospitals, but also to protect the financial integrity of our state’s health care system,” said Sam W. Cameron, President/CEO of the Mississippi Hospital Association.

If you think health care costs are soaring now, just let this legislation pass! This will close the doors on many smaller rural hospitals that are barely surviving now. Hospitals don't get rich serving Medicaid and indigent patients in the Mississippi Delta.

Both public and private hospitals donate hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in "free care" to patients that have no payor source. That debt goes right to their bottom line. So Haley's solution to cover the ever-growing Medicaid debt is to simply tax our hospitals to death... literally.

As stated above, the Governor is not granted the power to levy taxes under our state constitution. It is a sad state of affairs when our own health care facilities have to bring suit against the Governor of our state to prevent his wanton misuse of power.

The solution to this problem is not to throw good money after bad, but to seek legitimate reform of the gross waste and corruption that exists in our current Medicaid system. If you feel strongly about this issue, please let your senators and representatives know that "Haley-Care" is not the answer!

Forthright

Rude Deltans

An Anonymous observer writes...

Why are people so rude in Greenville? It is like it hurts them to smile at you when they wait on you. I am from the coast and I can see why our state has a bad rep. It seems like everyone is mad in this town. I don't understand why.

Not everyone is Greenville is rude; however, "customer service" is a concept that is not widely embraced in the Delta.

Minimum wage workers have the entitlement mentality... i.e., I can make just as much not working as I can on this job... and I don't have to smile! Please don't judge Greenville by its service workers. Greenville does have a rich heritage of southern charm... you just won't find it behind the counter of McDonalds.

Forthright

Conspiracy Exposed?

An anonymous writer suspects collusion...

"And how about our neighbors in Cleveland going to our neighbors in Indianola and asking them to gang up on Greenville? What mean-spirited sumbitch came up with that plan? As of today, I am personally boycotting all Cleveland restaurants and retail establishments until this federal building matter is resolved. My money stays in Greenville."

"Local Reflector" challenges this theory...

The courthouse issue is interesting, as is Forthright's comments on socialized Mississippi medical care. I think the blog can handle two lines of thought.

To Anonymous: Would you consider a guest commentary on the issue which builds upon the comments you've posted above? I see nothing wrong with the political maneuvering of Bolivar County to prove it's "hungry" for a new federal courthouse. The building is up for grabs, so why shouldn't there be competition?

If Greenville sits back and "fights" instead of showing why the federal courthouse should remain there, then it deserves its fate. One strategy is proactive, the other is reactive. Proactive strategies lay out the reasons why a federal courthouse is necessary for the Port House - whatever those reasons may be.

And, don't give me the whole angle that it should stay because it's historically been here. That's not a good reason. Reactive strategies suggest whining by local politicians but no real movement or even clout to influence the decision-makers on higher political levels. It's simple, isn't it?Greenville leaders possess an uncanny ability to cry that nothing's "their fault" - that somehow or some way, their victims of phantom recessions and "bad luck." Better yet, unflattering news breaks and they scatter to get away from addressing the issue...

A. Look at the Burn Center closure

B. Look at repeated complaints on street repair

C. Look at brown water

Hinging your political fortunes on one, lower-level, U.S. Representative can open a county or city to be ignored when events happen beyond one person's control.

Greenville's influence problem is showing. Do they still have that lobbyist on a retainer? Also, "law and order" hasn't been the rule, but the exception, in the Port City in a good number of years.

But, Cleveland....at least it appears it's trying.

NOTE: I'm not trying to provoke anger, but the conversation is interesting because I'd like to know why Greenville is superior to Cleveland for a federal courthouse and vice versa.

Forthright: Okay, anonymous... the ball's in your court!

"Haley-Care"

It is certainly not news that Mississippi's Medicaid program is in trouble. Actually, officials predict a $360 million shortfall in state funding for this program alone. The cost of Medicaid has grown dramatically over the past 5 years, as jobs are lost and more families find themselves without basic medical coverage.

So what is the solution to the state's woes? Should we dip into the scared "tobacco trust fund"? The money would be at least be used for health care and it is a safe bet the many of the health problems treated with Medicaid dollars are directly or indirectly linked to tobacco use.

What happened to the gaming panacea that was promised? The only roads that have been improved seem to lead to casinos, and as for education, unless you live in Tunica County, you probably haven't seen any impact.

So, how will we deal with this growing Medicaid debt? The state of Mississippi has come up with a novel solution. It is essentially a Robin Hood approach which promotes taxing the successful health care providers and giving it to the unsuccessful providers... a simple redistribution of wealth proposal, with a hint of socialism.

Mississippi Hospital Association opposes "taxing the rich to pay for the poor" since all hospitals, both public and private would be impacted. However, our Governor, Mr. Barbour, has proposed an alternate plan which would simply tax the private hospitals (these are the one's who currently pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in local property taxes, sales tax, state and federal taxes, etc.) and give it to the publicly owned facilities (like DRMC, which pays NO property taxes, NO sales tax and NO state and federal tax).

Wow, Haley! What a great idea. Let's penalize those hospitals which are fiscally sound, run efficiently, and make a profit for their investors, and funnel their tax dollars into our failing county owned hospitals! That way we can level the quality of care for all Mississippi residents and make sure that "Medicaid" is the standard of care for everyone!

And we wonder why businesses and industry do not want to relocate to Mississippi? If socialized health care is what we aspire to, then let's just do it. At least everyone knows what they have (or don't have) and can then work together toward improving it.

Ray Humphrys, wading through red ink up to his knees, obviously supports the Governor's plan, under which he (DRMC) would profit. I shall not elaborate further on that unholy alliance.

Suffice to say, that Haley Barbour's political grandstanding to get re-elected falls short of representing Mississippi's best interests for health care.

Forthright

Git 'er Dun?

An anonymous contributor asks...

WHY was Washington Avenue destroyed MONTHS AGO, with no further progress made since? Nor any word of such progress published in the local news outlets?

WTF??? Is someone deliberately trying to destroy Greenville? It's been my experience that local leaders have always stepped forward when times were tough. We have plenty of those here. Of the nationally-known variety.

Ambassador Retzer? Sons of Senator Dyer? Chairman Reed? Mr. Cox? Mr. Alexander? Mr. Hafter? BILLY PERCY????? Many others......you have the influence to affect changes in your hometown. PLEASE HELP US NOW.

I am here for the duration. I have no choice. The above-mentioned gentlemen differ in religion and political party affiliation, yet they all call Greenville HOME. DO SOMETHING.QUICK.

"Ambassador"... "Senator"... "Chairman"... but, not "Mayor". I am afraid we have seen a major power shift in the last two decades. I liken it to selling tickets for the Titanic 100 years after it sunk.

Forthright

Blues Quarter or Courthouse?

According to today's editorial in the DDT, it has been 18 months since the announcement of the "Blues Quarter" project and we still don't know much more today, than we did then. We do know that several downtown property owners are adamantly opposed to the eminent domain issue. We also know that several other Delta towns are rapidly competing to "cash in" on the Blues.

I hardly think that the straightening of Washington Avenue is going to have any significant impact of the worth of downtown properties. It seems a rather large waste of taxpayers dollars, albeit, not the first for Greenville.

With the old Stein Mart gone, we have cleared the way for one of two building projects to begin. The Blues Quarter project indicates that this lot will be the hub of the new entertainment district. On the other hand, this same site is reportedly the location of the proposed new Federal Building.

Now, I believe in diversity of interests, but I fail to see the logic behind building a Federal Courthouse in the heart of an entertainment district. Someone needs to choose. Obviously, there is no shortage of property for sale in Greenville, so lack of availability should not be a problem.

I would like to hear from someone in the "know" about both the viability and potential for conflict that these two projects pose. Surely someone knows what is going on in our city hall... and is willing to share with the rest of us.

Forthright

"Stealing" the Courthouse?

Our friend, "Local Reflector" responds:

You can't possibly believe that Cleveland was given the idea of "stealing" the federal courthouse by reading the Delta Democrat Times.

I do believe it's conceivable that the newspaper followed on rumors - or not such rumors - and something came of it. If the DDT has influenced such a momentous change of venue for the federal courthouse, they deserve credit which cannot be measured. These things take too much time to organize. Because Greenville leaders didn't know what was at play - that's just par for the course and reflects more on Washington County's relationship with state/federal leaders than anything.The federal courthouse is NOT the final nail in Greenville's coffin if it leaves, no more than Textron's departure was the "final" nail.

I can't imagine there's a ton of economic "boom" in the federal courthouse's job creating possibilities. There is a ton of "prestige factor" that stands to relocate into Cleveland should it actually move.When an existing casino pulls up anchor and sails away, get worried. That's would be over a million in tax revenue floating away. Monopolized gaming ownership makes this, somewhat, a possibility however unlikely it may be.

Greenville's lost its annual cultural offerings this past year. The medical market is "correcting" after a half-decade of an arms race to see which hospital "wins." So, there are other agenda items which probably stand higher in scope than the Federal Courthouse.

For debate's sake, that's my opinion. There's the disclaimer.The paper was ahead of this issue in media reporting terms. But, the idea that Cleveland would recruit the Federal courthouse is an idea, that I'd bet a million dollars, beat any newspaper headline by at least months.


Forthright: Okay, Stealing might be a rather harsh word. Recruiting seems more appropriate. Anyone who has visited Cleveland lately can certainly see that there are vast differences between Cleveland and Greenville.

Cleveland has a downtown area that is flourishing with quaint shops and restaurants. Residential real estate is difficult to find on the current market and businesses are actually moving into Cleveland. Their public schools are quite good and Cleveland's health care facilities are thriving.

Sure, they have DSU, Baxters and several other prosperous industries, but why do you think these businesses chose Cleveland over Greenville? It has to do with "quality" of life and the community's vision. As a community, Cleveland looks forward in anticipation and growth. Greenville simply looks back with remorse.

Traitors Amoug Us?

I am so over Ray Humphries.

Speak to me about the possible loss of our FRICKIN' FEDERAL BUILDING and the final nail in the coffin for Greenville. And tell me this: did the newspaper or did they not stir up this kettle of bull? It seems to the casual observer that the Suits in Bolivar County didn't get the big idea until the DDT handed it to them in their "newspaper."

And for that matter, I don't recall a challenge to that fact being printed in the DDT, yet Reily felt the need to address the implied finger-pointing. Hmmmmm.

Et tu, Brute?