To the Editor:
The Attala County Board of Supervisors website states that they are responsible for “setting policies, goals, and objectives to direct the county’s growth and development.”
I attended the Attala County Board of Supervisors meeting on the 15th of November and suggested that the county match Kosciusko’s recent common sense move to legalize liquor sales and that those businesses be allowed to serve adult beverages until 2 a.m. They responded by completely shutting down any sensible debate to end prohibition. It became obvious that the only way to advance this issue is to replace those board members that are anti-growth and development via the next election in November 2019. I was so taken aback by their illogical position on the issue that my usual Spock-like logic was overcome by emotion and I inferred that I would work toward that goal in the coming months.
I did some cogitating and extrapolating and made an observation that the liquor issue is just a symptom of a much greater problem. Since the 1960 census, the population of the United States has grown by over 145 million people. In a very unscientific analysis, in those 57 years, if our state had an equal share of that growth, that is almost 51,000 people per year that should’ve been easily lured to Mississippi. That should’ve given each of our 80 counties an easy 637 people per year, times 57, for an additional 36,000 people in Attala County contributing to our local economy….and that is just the low-hanging fruit!
During that time span, Attala County’s population has hovered just under 20,000, which means that the body responsible for “setting policies, goals, and objectives to direct the county’s growth and development” has achieved very little! The decades of missed opportunities to experience actual growth and development in an area with such a low cost of living and doing business can only mean that this is zero sum growth by design!
’ve heard various “reasons” for this, one of which is “we don’t have a four-lane” to connect our area to major shipping routes. This may speak to ineffective representation in our state government, as this issue should’ve been addressed with a sense of urgency years ago! Another line I’ve heard more than once is that the powers that be want this area to be a “retirement community.” I wonder if they’ve ever heard of “the Villages” in Florida or been to the Phoenix area where retirees drive golf carts to the club house, the casino, the grocery store, the golf course, etc., etc. Retirees want amenities and don’t want to have to drive 60 miles to access them. When folks mention Attala in the same sentence as retirement community, what they actually mean is a place where we social security recipients can live out our days!
In 2016 over 4,200 people in Attala County voted for Donald Trump which represents 59.2% of the vote. Since that election America has seen an explosion of business and opportunity flooding back into our country….money gonna be flowing like water y’all! It’s obvious that with a 60-year track record of zero sum growth, the status quo needs to go! It is evident that “Swamp Draining” in our country goes all the way down to the county level! A change in leadership is imperative. During the run up to the next County Board of Supervisors election we have an opportunity to build a functioning County GOP organization that will have an agenda to achieve our share of real growth and development. This is a call to action to get in on the ground floor of a grassroots movement and help improve the lives of EVERYONE in our county. We will seek out and support candidates from all our districts to run with an “R” by their name. Your local GOP is totally inclusive and open to all our citizens. The only colors we see are red, white, and blue! When you see notices of our meetings, please come out and help plan fundraisers and events to grow this effort to bring some long-needed change to Attala County. Just as President Trump has given a voice to the forgotten people of America, you can help the forgotten people of Attala County speak out for change! Keep an eye out for meeting dates and times and with your help we can… get ready for this…Make Attala Great Again!
Dana Gwin
Vice Chairman
Attala County GOP
