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I just got home from a “cook-out fundraiser” for the Homeless, had a shower and sat down in my recliner with an orange juice (long/ hot day) in the comfort in my house. The Homeless hunkered down for the night in their same place exposed to whatever elements (extreme heat, rain, wind and/or cold) the weather presented.
There are approximately 1.5 million homeless in the U.S. and about 125 in the Tupelo area Yes, a large number are homeless due to their chosen lifestyles, many with addictions. Do we, as a society, just ignore them or do we do what the Bible says and help the poor? We do the latter. There are many folks, local churches and food/clothing pantries that are currently helping those that are less fortunate than us. If you have any concerns as to what you should do, read Proverbs 21:13 and 28:27.
There is another group of Homeless – those who want “off the street” and to return to society becoming a productive citizen again. Some of this group are homeless due to abnormal circumstances – lost job, lost house, etc. Others have made a mistake, paid the price and now want to become normal citizens again.
Helping Hands Helping Homeless, Inc. is a newly formed group with the primary goal of taking “selected (rules, regulations and requirements) Homeless” off the street, into a job, into their own place and HHHH, Inc. doing this again (”Revolving Doors Ministry”). Obviously, this goal requires money. We ask our friends, neighbors, and local churches to “pitch in” and help since this is a “shared community interest”!!
Do you realize how many HHHH, Inc. could help with a $1 per day (the price of coffee or soda)? Help us “make a difference” in the lives of our fellow Americans.
Helping Hands Helping Homeless, Inc. is Incorporated and “Registered Charity” in Mississippi. All that are involved with us are volunteers. HHHH, Inc. has an “open group” on Facebook!!
Max Munn, Chair
Helping Hands Helping Homeless, Inc.
Tupelo
PERS examinationisn’t necessary
Gov. Haley Barbour recently announced the formation of a study committee to review, study and make changes in the Public Employees Retirement System.
Thanks to God and good people of Lee County, I have been honored and privileged to serve in the Mississippi House of Representatives for 28 years. In all these years, the House and Senate have judiciously guarded the integrity and viability of PERS. Very seldom have we ever passed any bill that affected the system if it wasn’t requested and/or approved by the board and management of the system.
PERS is basically sound today and sustainable for future generations. If there is any problem, it is that contributions from present state employees are not keeping pace with the numbers of beneficiaries now receiving benefits from the system. That problem is and will be dealt with in future legislative sessions as it should be. There is no reason to panic or even feel threatened if you are a present recipient of the system or a current enrollee.
The corpus of the trust stands today at $22 billion, making our system among the top 10 public systems in America. So why fuss now?
1. The systems funds are, thankfully, constitutionally protected.
2. The Legislature, at least the House, it not about to unduly bother the system.
3. We will listen as we always have to the board and management before we make changes. There are enough studies in the basement of the Capitol to drown seven mules. This one will join that group.
State employees should continue to do their good work and the Legislature will protect the system they are aspiring to benefit from in future years. Retirees’ monthly checks will keep coming. The 13th check is sound and all are to be commended for years of state service on behalf of fellow citizens. PERS is sound and safe, and I can assure you the House always protects the integrity of the system.
Gov. Barbour should know scare tactics at the end of an otherwise fair two term administration are disingenuous. Thanks, but no thanks.
Rep. Steve Holland, District 16
Chairman, Public Health & Human Services Committee
Plantersville
Insanity revealedin repeated failure
There is a great deal of talk about our government and the role it plays in the lives of our citizens. One side proclaims stedfastly that government isn't the solution to the problems plaguing our country today, but rather that too much government is the problem.
The other side says that more government is the solution to the ills of our country. Believing that the issue is inequality, they want to take from those who produce, and give it to those who do not. They have a grandious idea that the world can be a better place if we will only listen to, and adopt their ideas on the utopian social plan.
I have but one thought on the idea of a government controlled utopia: can anyone give me an example, past or present, of a successful society such as they suggest? Just one.
I believe it was Einstein who said insanity was doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different outcome. Can anyone say Russia, Cuba, North Korea, China, pre-war Germany, Venezuela ...?
Roger C. Carpenter
Vardaman