Past Time for Answers

Hurricane season is in full swing and it is on the minds of many citizens in South Mississippi and along the Gulf Coast just exactly what the plan of action is in the unfortunate happenstance a tropical storm or hurricane does enter the Gulf of Mexico and should it make landfall while there is oil on the surface of the Gulf.  The potential for oil to be pushed ashore by storm surge or even to be rained down is extremely worrisome. With the now impending threat of Tropical Storm Bonnie, our worries will be tested and our worst fears could come to life. 

Having experienced the fury of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the subsequent difficulty of many in South Mississippi and Louisiana in handling their insurance claims, this scenario must be at the forefront of the minds of FEMA, state emergency managers, BP, the state Insurance Commissioners, NFIP administrators and of course, the insurance industry. 

Informing the public now of the plan should such a worst case scenario occur along with providing some assurance that their investments are safe, insured, and protected should be acted upon immediately.  If oil is blown onto vehicles and homes inland or storm surge pushes oil ashore and onto private property, who is the responsible party and who should that property owner contact?  What agency will coordinate the response?  Is there a mechanism in place to support such claims?  These and many other questions must find a listening, concerned ear.  It is past time for answers; hurricane season started June 1^st, it's now mid-July.  Any delays and confusion regarding insurance, recovery, and local, state, and federal assistance and coordination will further exacerbate the damages.

The Obama administration has already added insult to injury during the oil spill by imposing an offshore drilling moratorium.  The federal government has use the oil spill as a political football and has allowed this unfortunate accidental disaster in the Gulf to shape our nation's future energy policy in terms of off shore drilling and thus essentially taken food off the tables of so many along the Gulf Coast causing an additional tragedy while harming our country's ability to ever achieve true energy independence.

The Gulf Coast should not have to deal with another slap in the face.  We have shown our resilience and fortitude time and time again, especially over the last five years.  Now is the time to respond to our concerns and worries along the Gulf Coast, not after another disaster.  The White House and Gulf Coast state leaders should step up and lead now.  Thankfully at this time Tropical Storm Bonnie is not projected to reach hurricane strength but I would encourage a concerted effort of informing the public now at this opportunity of what the plan and coverage avenues are should oil come ashore as a result of tropical activity.  Ease all of our minds on the Gulf Coast; we deserve it.

Frank Corder

Pascagoula City Councilman

Local Gulf Gusher Perspective

The 2010 hurricane season is in full swing and summer storms are already popping up almost daily.  Fishing, shrimping, and tourist seasons are underway and all are desperately needed to buoy the Coastal economy during this ongoing national recession.  Local and state government budgets continue to see shortfalls in tax collections resulting in the loss of constituent services.  Here in Mississippi, qualifying for state elections is less than seven months away meaning announced candidates and those considering a run for the legislature or one of the eight statewide offices are surveying the political landscape and posturing themselves in the minds of potential voters.  In November, Mississippi and other Gulf Coast states are holding Congressional elections amidst a flurry of political activity from the White House and liberals trying to hold on to their power base and from conservative movements such as the TEA Party and other like minded Constitutional activists who want to change the direction of our country.  Blend all of these together and add a squeeze of lime and this is the worst possible time for the gusher in the Gulf. 

Much has already been said about the ongoing Gulf oil spill from politicians and media pundits and I'm sure there is still much more to come, but the local perspective continues to be lost in the discussion.  We here on the Gulf Coast are not focusing on placing blame; we're looking for results.  We did not blame Bush for bringing us Katrina; we are not blaming Obama for the oil spill.  However, how an Administration responds after the initial disaster affects how we along the Coast recover, rebuild, and sustain in the perceivable future from such disasters.  The mere mention that a powerful hurricane would be a good thing to help disperse the oil in the Gulf effectively squashed any possibility that Obama could be trusted with our Gulf Coast.  What a slap in the face for all who have struggled and rebuilt from Katrina.  No matter how the White House spins the Administration's talking points or how many times Robert Gibbs, Janet Napolitano, Ken Salazar or President Obama mention "Day 1" the truth is politics has been allowed to rue the day.  That's not change the Gulf Coast should believe in.  Furthermore, character is not made in a disaster, it is revealed.  Obama would do well to keep his thoughts in check and not allow his mouth to overload his Presidential behind.  We on the Coast don't want to hear clichés on whose posterior the President wants to kick; we want to know he and his Administration are looking out for our collective posteriors and are acting with our best interest at heart.

The last thing the President should do is add insult to injury in the wake of this disaster.  An extended moratorium on offshore drilling in the Gulf region is not good for the Gulf Coast or America.  It hurts families, businesses, and our nation as a whole.  Many of our citizens on the Coast work on oil rigs in the Gulf and local businesses support, repair, and construct these rigs.  To allow this unfortunate accidental disaster to shape our nation's future energy policy in terms of offshore drilling and thus essentially taking the food off the tables of so many in our city, county and state would be an additional tragedy.  Further, since when do we as Americans propagate a defeatist attitude.  We are the country of innovation and invention.  We should learn from this disaster, yes, but it should not be used as a political football to promote a liberal energy policy that ultimately makes us more dependent on foreign oil.  America should continue its offshore drilling, open up more areas for exploration and invent new technologies to supply energy all at the same time.  We do not need to end one to have the other.  We are Americans; we can do both, and we should if we are to ever end our dependency on foreign oil.

What the Gulf Coast needs now is a plan, not more politics.  With the start of hurricane season just over a week ago, it is on the minds of many citizens in South Mississippi on what the plan of action is in the unfortunate happenstance a tropical storm or hurricane does enter the Gulf of Mexico and should it make landfall while there is oil in the Gulf.  This is an answer we need now.  The potential for oil to be pushed ashore by storm surge or even to be rained down is extremely worrisome.  Having experienced the fury of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the subsequent difficulty of many in South Mississippi in handling their insurance claims, this scenario must be at the forefront of the minds of state and federal officials, FEMA, BP, state Insurance Commissioners and the insurance industry as a whole, namely State Farm, Nationwide, Allstate and the like.  Informing the public now of the plan, should such a scenario occur, along with providing the general public some assurance that their investments are safe, insured, and protected should be acted upon immediately.  Any delays and confusion regarding insurance and local, state, and federal assistance will further exacerbate the damages.

Many around the country join us on the Gulf Coast in our frustration over how this disaster has been handled by the responsible party, BP.  Please know that we appreciate your thoughts and prayers; however boycotting your local gas station is not the answer nor does it adequately show your ire.  For the most part, boycotting BP gas stations only hurts your local businessman which ultimately hurts your local economy.  Don't buy into the hype of such consumer protests or allow yourself to be a political punching bag; show your indignation by joining the residents on the Gulf Coast in holding BP accountable for the mitigation and recovery efforts that could potentially last for years to come. 

In addition, do not allow this disaster to change your conservative philosophy of government and business.  BP should make reparations for what it has caused through this accident, rather it was through neglect or sheer poor luck.  They should pay for the loss of income to local fishermen, suppliers, and the like affected by this gusher in the Gulf but they should not be required to pay for losses resulting from the offshore drilling moratorium imposed on the oil industry by Obama and Company.  BP didn't cause the moratorium, the government did.  It is easy to disguise liberal, socialistic attacks on businesses in humanitarian, environmental clothing.  Don't buy in to the propaganda my fellow Americans; hold fast to your beliefs and remain engaged while keeping a cool head.

If you really want to help us along the Coast, come visit us on the Gulf this summer.  Explore the Pascagoula River - the longest free flowing waterway in the lower 48 states, wet a hook in the Mississippi Sound, visit an art museum or take in some local history, dine on Coastal cuisine, catch a movie or do some shopping in one of our many unique local Coast stores.  Spend your summer with us and invest in our future as you share in our frustration.

Frank Corder

Pascagoula City Councilman

The New Era of Principle

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Alpha Beta Gamma Business Honor Society Initiation Keynote Speech

April 1, 2010

It's indeed an honor for me to share this time with you all and to be able to speak to you this evening.  Ben Franklin once said, "He that speaks much is much mistaken," so tonight I'll do my best to be engaging yet relatively brief.

          I won't try and deduce your thoughts and beliefs; I've found that assumptions often lead to a number of ills.  I will, however, share my thoughts in the hopes that perhaps through this discourse you may begin to formulate your own circle of beliefs, which we'll talk more about shortly.  My ultimate goal is nothing more than to make you think, and if I have done that, then my time with you this evening will have been productive.

Our nation is growing increasingly divided and I'm not sure if that's all bad.for the future of business and government in America that is.  It does, however, challenge our personal sense of community. 

The American people on the left and the right, liberals and conservatives are digging in their heels on a variety of issues, many of which directly relate to the long standing belief in the American dream, you know the idea that through hard work every American can have a better, richer, and fuller life.  Also at issue is the idea of American exceptionalism - the belief that the United States holds a special place among the nation's of the world because of how from such diverse immigrant backgrounds we have been able to find a common bond in standing up for the inalienable rights of all mankind, those of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Such long accepted ideas are now the catalyst for much debate amongst the American public. 

In the early 19^th century, Alexis de Tocqueville, a Frenchman (yes, a Frenchman) wrote a major work entitled Democracy in America where he said,

"The position of the Americans is therefore quite exceptional, and it may be believed that no democratic people will ever be placed in a similar one. 

Their strictly Puritanical origin, their exclusively commercial habits, even the country they inhabit, which seems to divert their minds from the pursuit of science, literature, and the arts, the proximity of Europe, which allows them to neglect these pursuits without relapsing into barbarism, a thousand special causes, of which I have only been able to point out the most important, have singularly concurred to fix the mind of the American upon purely practical objects.  

His passions, his wants, his education, and everything about him seem to unite in drawing the native of the United States earthward; his religion alone bids him turn, from time to time, a transient and distracted glance to heaven.  

Let us cease, then, to view all democratic nations under the example of the American people."

When was the last time you heard someone, anyone from another country speak in such awe of our America.  Heck, when was the last time you heard an American speak with such reverence.  I challenge you to listen objectively to the mainstream media.  Pick any TV or radio station.  See if you, too, sense the ever-widening rift between everyday America, where you and I live, and the perceived America propagated by the 24/7 media pundits and yes, Hollywood.

Yet, the great divide of our day is not as much about partisan politics as you might think; it is more about a system of basic American belief.  If the divide was purely about politics, then bipartisanship would at times win the day.  You see, in politics, everyone wants to win and no one wants to be hung out to dry by themselves if they can help it. Many a vote has changed out of fear of standing alone.  Believe me, I have seen it first hand at City Hall.

For these reasons and more, I believe this divide goes much deeper than the usual scapegoat of politics.  I am of the belief that America is rapidly exiting an era of compromise and entering an era of principle, not unlike the era which spurred the comments by Tocqueville.  In this new era of principle, it will be up to us as individuals to search for truth diligently and to actively engage our communities, not necessarily to win their vote or approval, but to once again promote and instill the basic foundations of our uniquely American experience.  It was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."  America matters.

I have learned in my brief, yet thankfully full years that there is a circle of beliefs, or philosophies, we each must cultivate within ourselves if we're going to be well rounded, engaged people in the society and time in which we live.  Picture with me a circle with three points spaced equidistantly around the sphere.  The three points represent one's philosophy of business, one's philosophy of government, and one's philosophy of community.  As we put these philosophies into practice, they move around the circle and interact with the others.  Each of these three philosophies in some measure influences the other two, often to a vast degree.

Take my circle of beliefs for example.  My philosophy of business is rooted in the system of capitalism.  And what is capitalism?  The basic principle of capitalism is founded in the 17^th and 18^th century ideas that saw man as free moral agents with a free will to make decisions and ultimately control their own success or failure.  Capitalism, by definition, is an economic system based on the private ownership (not government) of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized by a free competitive market and motivation by profit.  Capitalism encourages a person, a business owner to decide what type of business they operate, how they manage that business, and who their business will cater to.  

I believe that free markets ultimately help to keep a people free.  It is the uninhibited ingenuity of the entrepreneur, the capitalist that has been the backbone of our American society, from the mom and pop shops to the national chains, and has allowed our country to grow and expand more than any nation in the history of the world.  As Calvin Coolidge once said, "The chief business of the American people is business."

With such a philosophy of business, it is fairly easy to discern my philosophy of government.  In my mind, a government primarily exists to protect us from each other and from outside threats, not to protect us from ourselves.  To paraphrase Thomas Paine, government, even in its best state, is a necessary evil and in its worst, an intolerable one.  Government, then, must be limited in its reach to ensure that it does not infringe on the rights of its citizens. 

Government's role is to provide equal opportunity for all to succeed, not mandate that we all succeed equally.  You see, government isn't meant to be the savior of its people, to ensure its people never face struggles or hardships.  The inalienable rights of man must include the right to fail.  Without failure, there is no opportunity for success.  Even as hard as failing may be, there is something liberating about standing on your own two feet without a crutch.  Failing makes you appreciate and respect success, but not expect it or feel you are entitled to succeed to the same extent as your neighbor - it's up to you.  Thomas Jefferson said, "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have." 

I also believe that you and I know what to do with our money better than the government, which is why my philosophy of government calls for limited, low taxation on all levels, from city halls to state capitols to Congress.  I do not espouse the belief that just because someone earns more than me that they should be taxed more than me; I don't buy into such a Robin Hood mentality.  The problem is, you eventually run out of other people's money.  Robin Hood was a great children's story, but it makes for terrible economic and government policy.  Why should anyone, regardless of their earnings, be penalized for working hard and succeeding in America?  When the government requires less, every American has more.  There are more jobs, more free market competition, and more charitable giving, which is where my philosophy of community comes in.

My philosophy of community is centered in my personal belief in the Creator God who I believe instills in each of us the yearning to support and care for our fellow man.  I believe it is the responsibility of the local community through neighbor helping neighbor, communities of faith, charitable organizations, and the like to take up the reigns where government should leave off.  Local people know far better what the needs are of those in their community.  You see, the idea here is that we all can do more for the people in need in our local communities when we recognize the value of giving and engage passionately in service, rather than being forced by a government that will impose the redistribution of wealth and forced taxation for similar means.  Are you more willing to fully invest yourself into a project or work if you are told or commanded to or if you offer your hand willingly and freely? 

It seems we now have a culture that fears the spirit of the American people so the inclination is to mandate and regulate morality and caring through government programs.  But living in fear is easier than understanding.  We foster goodwill and public sympathy not by force, but through freedom.  In general, the more people have, the more they are willing to give.  That's why it is paramount that we require less of government and instill in our citizens a positive, active, and caring philosophy of community.  An individual that freely invests their all into understanding and caring for their fellow man can do more for society than any government mandated program ever will.

So that's my personal circle of beliefs.  Each of my philosophies, whether business, government, or community, is influenced by the other two.  Together they produce the guiding principles upon which I live my life, which brings us back to the first part of our discussion.  I said at the outset that our nation is growing increasingly divided and I'm not sure if that's all bad, that is, for the future of business and government in America.  I also said that such division does, however, challenge our personal sense of community.

I am of the belief that the division we are seeing today within the minds of the American people will have one of two effects: either our nation will spiral down the slippery slope toward European style socialism with the further nationalization of private business (such as the banks, auto dealers, health providers, and student lenders), increased government intrusion in individual freedoms (from sin taxes to dictating what you buy and at what cost to restrictions on food, medicine, cars, etc.), and an ever growing national deficit, or the sleeping giant that is the American people will awaken and will rise up to once again instill the principles upon which our nation was founded - limited government, free market economics, limited taxation, community involvement - all leading to a resurgence of the American spirit, with a hope in the American dream and a belief in the exceptionalism of the American nation.  Whatever the path, it is up to each of us to maintain civility and rapport as we continue to refine this uniquely American experiment.

So as we leave an era of compromise and enter this new era of principle, I encourage you to actively cultivate your philosophies of business, government, and community now so you will be prepared to meet the challenges of tomorrow head on by choosing principles over pragmatism or power.  As the next generation of business leaders here in South Mississippi and America, you must consider your own circle of beliefs and put them into practice; don't wait until you're out of school or in the workforce or have a family of your own.  Search diligently for the truth now and invest yourself in our collective future.

Let me leave you with one final word.  To quote Ronald Reagan,

"I'm convinced that today the majority of Americans want what those first Americans wanted:  A better life for themselves and their children; a minimum of government authority.  Very simply, they want to be left alone in peace and safety to take care of the family by earning an honest dollar and putting away some savings.  This may not sound too exciting, but there is something magnificent about it.  On the farm, on the street corner, in the factory and in the kitchen, millions of us ask nothing more, but certainly nothing less than to live our own lives according to our values - at peace with ourselves, our neighbors and the world."

You future business leaders are the tip of the spear in this new era of principle.  What you do in your profession, your innovation, your ingenuity, your spirit will buoy our nation into the future.  Don't go quietly into the night; set the pace so others will follow.

Thank for you for the opportunity to share in your special evening and for your attention.

Given by Frank Corder, Pascagoula City Councilman

Questioning Health Care Legislation

Above is a letter I have penned regarding the passing of the health care legislation in Congress and have forwarded it to Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood with copies sent to Governor Haley Barbour, Lt. Governor Phil Bryant and House Speaker Billy McCoy. (a printable pdf version can be accessed by clicking the link just above this blog post)

I would call on other concerned local elected officials and citizens from around Mississippi to implore Attorney General Hood and the state legislature to challenge the constitutionality of this flawed health care legislation.  I commend the states of Virginia and Idaho for their stance on this legislation and hope other states, especially my state of Mississippi, will join in the fight.

As I wrote in a recent blog, principled government - the kind of government that enriches individual liberty and freedom, upholds and defends the Constitution, and promotes the interest of the sum, not the part while maintaining as limited a role as possible - starts in the City Halls all around this country.  We must demand better, more principled government from our city hall to our state capitol to Washington D.C.  We can make a difference and rightful restoration can be made of our American foundations.  Make your voice heard.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

Grading Taylor:

Mississippi 4^th District Democrat Rep. Gene Taylor In Review

                Since 1989, Gene Taylor (D-Bay St. Louis) has held the 4th Congressional District seat here in Southeast Mississippi.  Taylor, a former city councilman and state senator, is well versed in what it takes to win in this district, which by the way is one of, if not the most conservative Republican districts in the nation (no Democrat Presidential candidate has carried the 4th since 1956).  His voting record is a mixed bag; he has walked the tight rope between party and populist for many years and thus far has mastered it with only the occasional wobble which has quickly balanced.  He proclaims to be pro-life and pro-gun (anything else in Mississippi and he would have been out a long time ago), yet he has supported his party and its leaders inconspicuously (voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker) knowing that if he carried too much of the party's water he would be on the proverbial hot seat come election time.  He knows how to appear as if he is fighting for his constituents while not making too many waves in Washington D.C.  His tenure and party connections landed him an important seat on the Armed Services Committee and the Shipbuilding Caucus, making him increasingly valuable to his 4th District constituents.  But could 2010 be a perfect storm that even Taylor can't weather?

                Now that the qualifying date for Mississippi's 4^th Congressional District has come and gone, Taylor has drawn four challengers: Republicans State Rep. Steven Palazzo and Joe Tegerdine, Libertarian Tim Hampton, and Reformer Anna Jewel Revies.  While the two third-tier party candidates are realistically a stretch, the two Republicans, Palazzo and Tegerdine, perhaps have the best chance in years to take down the long-term representative.

I thought I would take a few minutes (with some help from various sources I've listed below) and give Democrat Rep. Gene Taylor his election review.  Take a few minutes and see what grade you would give Rep. Taylor based on his record:

·          Gov Track (www.govtrack.us) reports:

-          Gene Taylor missed 276 (2%) of 12,694 votes since Jan 23, 1990.

-          Taylor is a follower according to our statistical analysis of bills in this legislative session.  Taylor tends to cosponsor the bills of other members of Congress who do not cosponsor Taylor's own bills.

-          Gene Taylor has sponsored 34 bills since Jan 3, 1989, of which 20 haven't made it out of committee and 6 were successfully enacted, at least 5 of which were to name Post Office locations around the district.  Taylor has co-sponsored 1,215 bills during the same time period.

·          Open Secrets (www.opensecrets.org) reports:

-          During the 2009-2010 period to date, Taylor raised $238,949, spent $213,612, and has $225,779 cash on hand.

-          Taylor's top donors during the 2009-2010 election cycle were FedEx Corp. and General Dynamics (each with $6,000). Other donors of note include John Larson for Congress of Connecticut ($4,000), Operating Engineers Union ($5,000), National Rifle Association ($1,000), and NFL Vikings ($4,800).   The organizations themselves did not donate, rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates.

-          Taylor receives most of his contributions from the following industries: sea transport ($22,750), transportation unions ($15,500), defense aerospace ($15,000), air transport ($12,500), lawyers and law firms ($12,000), defense electronics ($12,000), and building trade unions ($7,500).

-          During the 2009-2010 cycle to date, 61% of Taylor's contributions have come from In-State sources, with the majority from the Hattiesburg metro area.  The 2007-2008 cycle garnered 62% from In-State sources with the Hattiesburg constituency making up the majority of contributions as well. 

·         Project Vote Smart (www.votesmart.org) reports:

-          Project Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States founded in 1992 by 40 national leaders, including Barry Goldwater, John McCain, former U.S. Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.  The group administers the Political Courage Test.  The Political Courage Test is a key component of Project Vote Smart's Voter Self-Defense system.  Major leaders of the media, major parties and Project Vote Smart repetitiously ask candidates one central question: "Are you willing to tell citizens your positions on the issues you will most likely face on their behalf?"  The Political Courage Test is administered to all candidates for presidential, congressional, gubernatorial, and state legislative offices.  Taylor repeatedly refused to answer the 2008 Political Courage Test.

-          Taylor did complete the 1996 National Political Awareness Test.  Here's a few of his responses on a variety of issues (many of the questions had multiple choice answers):

Abortion:

Abortions should be legal only when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape or when the life of the woman is endangered.

Affirmative Action:

The federal government should not provide any affirmative action programs.

Balanced Budget Amendment:

Do you support amending the US Constitution to require an annual balanced federal budget?  Yes.

Prayer in School:

Do you support amending the United States Constitution to allow voluntary prayer and/or moment of silence in public schools?  Yes.

Immigration:

Further limit the number of immigrants allowed into the country, Establish English as the official and recognized language of the United States, Restrict the eligibility of legal immigrants for certain social programs (i.e. AFDC, HUD housing, food stamps, etc.), and Children of illegal immigrants, born in the United States, should not automatically receive US citizenship.

Term Limits:  

No answer

Legislative Priorities:

Balance the budget Eliminate or reduce national debt.

                Hopefully this brief review stirs your curiosity as you begin to assess this 4^th Congressional District race.  There are numerous other points and resources that could be cited on Taylor but for the sake of space and time I will not attempt to delve further; I would, however, encourage you to do your homework on this race.  Grade Taylor's body of work and see if you believe we can do better in the 4^th District in 2010.

                Gene Taylor is not a bad guy; heck, he's not all that bad of a Congressman if you judge his body of work through a narrowed lens.  America and the future of our great nation are about something bigger than narrow, spin driven, seat ensuring issues that sound good on the campaign trail but are often forgotten in D.C.  We need a Congressman that will stand up and fight for Mississippi.  We need a Congressman who will stand on the principles of the Constitution, for the freedoms we hold dear, to speak against the ills of the day and actively support a different direction than what is being proposed by those now in leadership (leadership supported and encouraged by Taylor himself).  It would seem that we need a change in the 4th District, but I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

Principled Government Starts at City Hall

                A few months ago, I met a gentleman at the National League of Cities conference in San Antonio named John McAlister.  John is a fellow City Council member from Gahanna, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus.  As we waited for a boat tour of the downtown San Antonio Riverwalk, John and I discussed politics in our hometowns, a common discussion at such conferences.  Soon our discussion turned to national politics and the challenges facing our country.  I learned of John's steadfast commitment to the oath of office he took as a City Councilman to uphold and defend the Constitution, an oath that City Council members and Boards of Aldermen take all across this country.  John is a strong believer that we can regain limited federal government by holding local politicians accountable for their votes.  I found his zeal for such thoughts refreshing and reassuring.

                One of many truths that can be gleaned from John McAlister can be found on his website, www.localpoliticians.net.  There he wrote, "If you check the background of your local member of the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate you will find that most of these people started out in politics as a city council representative, county commissioner, etc.  Many went on to their state legislatures.  What if we were only sending people to higher office who had proved their worthiness of upholding the Constitution at the local level?  Might we then start to get state legislatures and a U.S. Congress made up of people who honor freedom and the founding principles of limited government and a government that secures our rights rather than tramples on them?"  How profound.

                Principled government - the kind of government that enriches individual liberty and freedom, upholds and defends the Constitution, and promotes the interest of the sum, not the part while maintaining as limited a role as possible - starts in the City Halls all around this country.  It is in the local communities, not the state capitols or Washington D.C. that a fundamental change can begin to reverse the course of the "nanny state" and rightful restoration can be made of our American foundations.  The continual overreaching of government can be combated best and most effectively by city officials who stand on solid principles and act at times against their own inclinations, with an eye on the Constitution and an ear listening to the voice of the people. 

                There are times, I will admit, when the will of the people is in direct contrast to the Constitution and to the principles of good Republic government.  Many, even some traditional conservatives, will accept more government intrusion into their personal lives and support laws that chip away at our Constitutional foundations for what could be seen as a humanitarian or medical cause or even for a slight bit of comfort all the while consigning the founding principles of our Republic to a mere afterthought.  Former President Ronald Reagan once said, "One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine.  It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project."  In recent days, we have seen such relegation of principles in cities around Mississippi, big government ideals disguised within seemingly worthwhile causes.  While there are numerous examples, one now up for debate in my city comes to mind - a smoking ban. 

Proponents of a smoking ban believe restaurants, bars, and other such establishments to be "public" places, which allow local governments to regulate such activity.  They use phrases such as, "Your right to smoke ends when my right to breath begins," and "If I want to eat in that restaurant I should be able to do so without breathing in smoke."  They point to the medical community's research that secondhand smoke is harmful.  They say that smokers cost society by way of increased likelihood for the need for medical treatment which in part falls on the general taxpayers.  Proponents also say that all such establishments should be mandated to comply with a smoking ban to level the playing field for all who do business in the area. 

I trust by now you can recognize the inherent flaws in the smoking ban proponents' arguments in terms of principled government.  In case you missed it, allow me to elaborate.  (To qualify my statements to follow, I do not smoke.  Actually, I personally do not care to be around smoke nor would I condone the use of cigarettes.  With that said, I will now continue.)

Restaurants, bars, and other such establishments are not "public" places as defined in government terms; they are privately owned businesses.  "Public" places are areas that are owned by the city, county, or state, such as parks, ball fields, and government buildings.  Private businesses can refuse service should they choose; public areas are accessible by all taxpayers. 

America was built on capitalism, free enterprise, and an entrepreneurial spirit.  Capitalism by definition is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized by a free competitive market and motivation by profit.  Capitalism has been the backbone of our society and has allowed our country to grow and expand more than any nation in the history of the world.  Allowing a person to decide what type of business they operate and how they manage that business has been what has made this country great.  A business owner's right to choose who their business will cater to and what services and goods they supply to the public is capitalism at its best.  So for me, as an elected official, to hamper in any manner a private business person's right to run their business as they see fit is a detriment to capitalism and our economic system.   That is what a smoking ban on private, commercial businesses does; it takes the business owner's right to choose who their business will cater to and disregards capitalism.  A smoking ban is over regulation, big government, and infringement on freedom at its core.

 Additionally, I personally find it disconcerting that business owners who support a smoking ban and that would be impacted by such an ordinance would essentially turn over the direction of their companies to a local governing body.   If a business owner wants to ban smoking in their establishment, then by all means post a no smoking sign and lead by example.  The truth is, however, that those who will not act on their own merit fear the loss of revenue it will cause if they act alone.  In their train of thought, if all such businesses are required to comply with a smoking ban, they stand to lose less customers and revenue because all of the like businesses in the area will be under the same mandate; there will not be an alternate choice for the consumer.  While I follow their thinking, I find it in stark contrast with my ideals of principled government.

As for the medical studies, yes, smoking is not healthy and secondhand smoke can be and often is harmful.  And yes, often times, poor choices by the few adversely cost the sum.  I would agree with those statements and concerns.  But please don't miss the greatness of our country here.  You and I have the choice to be a patron of any business we choose.  And those businesses will succeed or fail based on if you and I support them.  That is our freedom, our privilege in a society based on free enterprise.  Your patronage of a business will determine that business's health.  And if enough of us do not buy from a business it will inevitably die.  That is capitalism.  So if a business owner chooses to cater to smokers and provides such an atmosphere, it is that business owner's choice; he or she will succeed or fail based on that choice.  It is not up to me as a local elected official to mandate to a private business owner what he or she can and cannot do with their private business in terms of offering smoking within their establishment.  After all, the last time I checked, cigarettes and cigars were still legal products for sale and purchase in the United States.  Capitalism allows for success if the market will sustain it and failure if it cannot.  Why over regulate businesses if the market will ultimately decide their fate?  That's the greatness of free enterprise. 

This, of course, is just one example of where city leaders who are grounded in good, principled government can demonstrate their intent to uphold their oath of office and further the restoration of our founding ideals of government.  I can think of other examples as well, some even in our state government: "sin taxes," pseudoephedrine ban, etc.

As difficult as it may be to accept for some, the Constitution and principled government should never play second fiddle to personal comforts, charitable or humane endeavors, or yes, even religious viewpoints.  Indeed, faith and values influence our decisions and should play a profound role in our lives.  The founders of our country, however, never intended to allow government to legislate morality or mandate how an individual lives his or her life.  The point of government should be to foster an environment where everyone can prosper and achieve, while holding fast to their individual eccentricities that indeed make them autonomous and unique.  It is the proper role of government to provide equal opportunity for all to succeed, not mandate that we all succeed equally.  Thus it is both the challenge and the responsibility of local elected officials to uphold the principles of their oath while effectively guiding those they represent in the understanding of such fundamental basics of Republic governance. 

                To be a city official and to promote principled government is not an easy task.  City officials are not insulated from their constituents as are state and federal leaders.  City Hall is just around the corner, not hundreds of miles away.  Local politics is prevalent in the grocery stores, schools, churches, and corner drug store.  While state and federal leaders may encounter professional lobbyists and well funded special interest groups in their daily political world, city officials must hear from their friends, family, coworkers, pastors, and small business leaders every single day.  It is easy for a city leader to be torn between sound government principles and what may make their next day at work, the weekly trip to the store, or next Sunday morning a little easier to endure.  But expedience only breeds future governmental ills.  The sooner those serving in cities around the nation recognize their own strategic importance in the political struggles of the day, the sooner America will return to principled government.

                To quote Reagan once again, "I'm convinced that today the majority of Americans want what those first Americans wanted: A better life for themselves and their children; a minimum of government authority.  Very simply, they want to be left alone in peace and safety to take care of the family by earning an honest dollar and putting away some savings.  This may not sound too exciting, but there is something magnificent about it.  On the farm, on the street corner, in the factory and in the kitchen, millions of us ask nothing more, but certainly nothing less than to live our own lives according to our values - at peace with ourselves, our neighbors and the world."

America can experience a governmental awakening, but it will not start in the state capitols or Washington D.C.; it will start in the City Halls and family kitchens throughout this great country.  City leaders must be steadfast to uphold their oaths and choose daily to actively stand firm in principled government, and if they do, we will surely see a true American reformation.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

Could Taylor Face a Democrat Challenger?

                Fourth Congressional District Democrat Incumbent Gene Taylor could be facing a challenge from within his own party.  That's the word out of a local Democrat party member with knowledge of the race. 

Speaking this morning on my radio show, "On the Edge" on WPMP 1580 AM (www.wpmpradio.com), the Jackson County Democrat member did confirm that there were some within the Mississippi Gulf Coast Democrat ranks that are actively seeking a challenger to the 20-year incumbent Congressman.

                At issue for the local Democrats is Taylor's vocal challenge of the President and other Congressional Democrat leaders on the usual party issues, namely health care reform.  Taylor, who is a long-time member of the Blue Dogs and touts himself as a conservative Democrat, has effectively rode the political party fence by opposing abortion, gun control, and other  conservative mantles while often times voting for and alongside the liberal House leadership.  Such stances have allowed Taylor to defray criticism at home while remaining relevant in D.C. 

                The shear notion that Taylor could face a challenger from within his own party adds to the already rising tide sweeping through the national political scene of those fed up with business as usual in Washington.  Such feeling was never more prevalent than with the win by Scott Brown in the recent Massachusetts Senate race.  Many believe Brown's win to be a precursor of things to come during the 2010 Congressional elections.  It seems that now, more than ever, people on both sides of the aisle want to know where their elected representatives stand on the issues of the day and don't want to wander on a consistent basis where their allegiance lies. 

                Taylor has already drawn two Republican challengers to date - State Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-District 116) and Petal Businessman Joe Tegerdine.  There are rumors within the Jackson County Republican Party, as was also revealed on "On the Edge" this morning by a local Republican party member, that State Senator Michael Watson (R-District 51) was exploring a run for the 4^th Congressional seat as well.  Watson, in a January 31 story by the Clarion Ledger, said that he is "not currently planning on" challenging Taylor for the seat. 

The qualifying deadline is March 1^st.  In politics, that's a long time for the landscape to change.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

4^th Congressional District Race Heats Up:

Palazzo Throws His Hat in the Ring

                State Representative Steven Palazzo (R-District 116) announced this morning while on the Paul Gallo Show on Supertalk MS that he will throw his hat in the ring to challenge 4^th Congressional District Democrat Congressman Gene Taylor.  Palazzo must first face Joe Tegerdine in the Republican primary.  Tegerdine has already qualified to run for the seat and has been working to form a grassroots organization while visiting locations throughout the district.

                According to his state representative website, Palazzo is a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and has lived there his entire life with the exception of temporary work assignments and tours of duty in the US and overseas.  He is committed and dedicated to helping the MS Gulf Coast recover and meet the challenges ahead.  Palazzo touts his experience as a small business owner, CPA, and employee that has provided him with a keen insight and understanding of what it means to hold yourself and others accountable for their actions.  He understands the need for a balanced industry to sustain economic and job development.  Education is important to Palazzo as he sees it as the key to our future and creating a competitive workforce.  As a US Marine veteran of the Persian Gulf War and current Mississippi National Guardsman he understands the importance of promises made and promises kept to our active military, reserves, and retirees.  

                Palazzo made headlines recently when he requested Mississippi's Attorney General prepare for action against the federal government in case the pending health care legislation is passed in its current form.  In one interview, Palazzo stated, "The vast majority of American people oppose a government takeover of healthcare.  We are all seeing firsthand the bold corruption and calamitous nature of our federal government unfold in front of our eyes.  This is truly sickening to watch."

                The Jackson Free Press did a story on Palazzo recently as their Person of the Day.  The December 31, 2009 article spoke to the aforementioned letter to Attorney General Hood and other points.  Here's an excerpt:

"Mississippi legislators take an oath of office to never vote for any measure in exchange for a promise or vote for another measure or person," Palazzo wrote in his letter. "The blatant federal deal brokering to BUY votes is immoral and unethical."

Not content to merely castigate Congress' deal making, Palazzo also alleged that health-care reform would actually violate the Constitution.

"Furthermore, it is unconstitutional to pass such an unfunded mandate onto the states," he wrote. "Simply put, I along with a majority of Mississippians, see this as a violation of equal protection of the law, an affront to our sovereignty, and a breach of the U.S. Constitution."

Palazzo has carried the banner for right-wing national politics before, notably on a resolution from the 2009 legislative session recognizing Worker's Memorial Day, a commemoration supported by labor unions of Americans who have died on the job. The house bill, sponsored by Rep. Jim Evans, D-Jackson, sparked thirty minutes of bloviating on both sides, after Palazzo insisted on attaching an amendment that offered a veiled criticism of the proposed, union-supported Employee Free Choice Act a favorite bogeyman of conservative political commentators.

                It says something about the politics and character of Palazzo when the Jackson Free Press makes an issue of him.  The first part of the article starts with "While he represents Biloxi in the Mississippi Legislature, Rep. Steven Palazzo often seems to be acting on a national stage."  Could even they see potential?

Palazzo does bring conservative credibility to his Congressional run and will be able to actively compete with the Gulf Coast voting base.  He will also be a viable fundraiser, a must to effectively brand his name and message in the minds and hearts of the 4^th District electorate.  Palazzo brings to the table name recognition and a proven record of public service, both of which are weighty campaign needs especially taking on such an incumbent as Democrat Gene Taylor.  Additionally, Palazzo will be able to speak to the needs of the people of Mississippi and the hardships facing the state due in large part to the current Presidential administration as well Democrat controlled Congress.

I expect a gentlemanly race between Tegerdine and Palazzo.  Either way, we've seen what twenty years has given us in the 4th District.  I truly desire our nation to be more than it is today; America desperately needs the next generation of leaders to begin to take hold now, not tomorrow.  I encourage you all to consider the 2010 Congressional race and help America be more.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

Voter ID Ballot Referendum Moving Forward

                Mississippi's Voter ID petition drive is moving forward and has acquired the numbers needed to continue the process to place the initiative on the state wide ballot. 

                The petition drive had to capture 90,000 signatures divided between the five old congressional districts.  According to sources close to the effort, over 22,000 signatures have been compiled in the First, Second, and Third Congressional Districts.  The Fourth District has just over 20,000 signatures and the old Fifth District has over 21,000.  In Circuit Clerk offices across the state there are several hundred more signatures awaiting certification and the certified totals in all districts are expected to rise.  The hope is to have each district exceed 22,000 signatures at the end of the effort and given the totals thus far it looks promising.  Plans are to deliver the petitions to the Secretary of State's office February 11^th.

                Many around the state have invested much of their time and effort to compile these signatures from walking streets and knocking on doors to businesses that have actively promoted and publicized the effort.  This has truly been a grassroots initiative to change the face of Mississippi's voting future.   

Showing an ID in order to prevent voter fraud just makes sense in the world in which we live.  Many around the state have united to demand accurate and honest elections by ensuring that each and every vote is cast in the proper manner.  Through the groundbreaking work of so many, there will be no more of the ploys and countless excuses to prevent Voter ID in Mississippi.  There will be no more of the good ole boy politics, no more of the "vote early and vote often" mentality that abounds throughout our state.  This one initiative will ensure that when you go to the polls and cast your ballot, your vote will count.  After all, you vote to make a difference and to be heard.  You vote because it's a right of our Republic.  You vote so that the will of the people can be accomplished.  So why not help protect this most sacred of all Republic rights and support the need for Voter ID.  Thanks to so many, we may all finally have that chance.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

Party Matters

                For some time now, many across Mississippi and around the nation have questioned whether there is a need for political party designations in local municipal and county races.  As a matter of fact, there is a bill in the Mississippi House of Representatives submitted by Rep. Becky Currie (R-District 92) that would create the "Non-partisan County Elections Act."  House Bill 304 would make county offices (such as Supervisor, Sheriff, Chancery Clerk, Tax Assessor, etc.) in Mississippi non-partisan and would prohibit a candidate from campaigning or qualifying for such an office based on part affiliation. 

                Taking party politics out of local decision making would seem to have merit.  In theory and in a utopian society such a notion would be ideal.  Often, it can be argued, local issues can be negatively impacted by the politics of party on both sides of the spectrum and can cloud the better judgment of some in local elected office.  But in the day and time in which we live, the truth is, party does matter, perhaps even more so now locally than ever.   Allow me to explain.       

As a local elected official, I take my position as a City Councilman seriously.  I am on the front lines of the political landscape day in and day out, in the grocery store, the doctor's office, at football games, and walking down the street.  Not a day goes by that no less than a few dozen of my constituents call, email, come by, or stop and talk local, state, or national politics.  I cherish every minute of the interaction with each of them.  I love being able to help resolve issues within the city or just listen to their thoughts on the condition of our city, state, and nation. 

No other political office is quite like a local elected official in that they have the opportunity to live and work with the people they represent every day and then go handle the city's or county's business just down the street amongst friends and family.  State Representatives, Congressmen and Senators, Governors and Presidents are shielded from doing business amidst the masses.  These offices have a cushion of location, if you will.  Yes, such close contacts locally can offer their own challenges but the positives definitely outweigh the negatives because local elected officials get to see how their decisions make a difference each and every day.  Local elected officials aren't allowed to lose their foundation and that's a healthy position for those in governing bodies to be in. 

All of this and more is why political party affiliation matters at the local level of government.  Who a candidate or local official aligns him or herself with is telling of how they will handle the business of the people in local government from taxation to land use to economic development to fiscal budgeting to law enforcement to a host of other locally sensitive issues.  Party affiliation can also point to one's character and patterns of beliefs in terms of humanity, freedom, liberty, and spirituality.

A local elected official's party of choice speaks volumes.  The voting public is, for the most part, cognizant of what Democrats and Republicans stand for (not so much for Independents or even third party candidates).  The voting public generally knows the difference between liberal and conservative policies.  They know what party's ideals of government best align with their own and they want to be able to trust that those ideals are carried out.  I would argue that such is true even more so in the local communities where they have chosen to live, work, worship, and play.  

It was Thomas Jefferson that said, "That government is best which is closest to the people."  Local elected officials should continue to declare their party affiliation so the public knows by what standard they live their lives and to what ideals they will lead their communities.  Party matters.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

Analysis of Taylor's Town Hall

Mississippi's 4^th Congressional District

                In Mississippi's 4^th Congressional District, Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Bay St. Louis) held a town hall meeting in Ocean Springs January 11, 2010.  Taylor, currently running for reelection, represents the most conservative district in Mississippi, yet has held the Congressional seat as a Democrat for 20 years. 

                After opening the meeting with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, Taylor praised Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding for their agreement to build the new DDG-51 while Bath Iron Works will build the 1000s.  The Congressman then highlighted his support for increasing the depth of the shipping channels and for restoring the barrier islands.  After making these two points, Taylor took questions from the audience.

                Looking around the room, it was obvious that campaign season was in full swing.  "Joe Tegerdine for Congress" t-shirts were sprinkled in the crowd and various media outlets hung on Taylor's every word.  Citizens were looking for answers, asking direct, often poignant questions, and at times even expressed their reluctance for Taylor's recent actions and continued liberal party support.

                Taylor is no stranger to walking the line between party loyalist and populist pleasing conservative.  It would seem, however, that those in attendance and even more throughout the 4^th District, are not as willfully drinking the Taylor Kool-Aid this go around as in years past.  I could sense an undercurrent starting to swell seeking to right the 4^th District's left leaning ship.  Taylor seems to sense it too, given his temperament with some members of the audience.

                Having held town hall meetings of my own and now hold public hearings on a regular basis as a Councilman, I expect to be cut off, interrupted, and even challenged at times.  And when those times come, as a public servant hired by the people, it is imperative those situations be handled with care.  There is a right and a wrong way to ask someone to not interrupt or blurt out a comment, to wait their turn.  After all, as a public servant you are there for the people you represent; they're not there for you.  The people are your bosses.  They put you in office.  Perhaps spending 20 years in D.C. and not directly involved in the day-to-day lives of those he serves has allowed Taylor to forget these truths and exactly for whom he works. 

                Taylor repeatedly commented that it was his town hall meeting, not those in attendance.  Of course, that didn't go over too well with more than a few, with some shouting out that he worked for them, it was their meeting.  Taylor commented that his name was on the invitation and announcement; it was his meeting.  He even addressed one gentleman by saying if you interrupt again, you'll be asked to leave and that you can hold your own town hall meeting when you wish.  One lady, a local access television host, who had had her hand raised since the beginning of the question and answer period, finally got tired of waiting and addressed the Congressman by name asking to be heard, but Taylor cut her off, saying not to interrupt and that by interrupting your question would not be taken.  Hers never was, yet her hand remained raised throughout the remainder of the meeting.

                Questions ranged from insurance concerns to health care to the overreaching of the federal government.  Here are a few interesting comments from Taylor as he answered the crowd.  I have paraphrased the comments while attempting to quote them as close as possible:

·         In response to his voting for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker:  I voted for me.  I voted for the Democrat slate (in essence saying his vote for Pelosi gave him the best chance to be in the leadership).

·         Concerning the comments made by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano in the wake of the failed Christmas terror attack:  I'm no fan of hers, and she's no fan of mine.I would hope she would be replaced.

·         On his opinion of President Obama's appointments thus far:  I can count on one hand the appointments this President has made that I like (Secretary of Defense Gates, Secretary of the Navy Mabus, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shinseki were a few).

·         Relating to big government spending:  I'm a co-author of Rep. Ron Paul's audit the fed bill.

·         In response to Congress getting pay raises:  There will be no raise for Congress this year.

·         Regarding the recent comments by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada):  I did not call for Trent Lott's head.I'm not the thought police.

·         Concerning what's been said by media pundits:  The guys on talk radio don't really have a lot to do all day.

·         On what good he believed President Obama's election will bring:  A good thing about Obama being elected was that the barrier was broke (meaning that a black man reached the highest office).

While I was unfortunately unable to quote the Congressman word for word, there were at least three video cameras in the audience that I'm sure would confirm my assessment of these answers as well as point to Taylor's aforementioned lack of patience with the audience.

On a personal note, it seems that Taylor or at least his staffers have read my previous writings concerning the Congressman and the 4^th Congressional District.  Now fully aware of this fact, allow me to reiterate what I have said previously, which can be read in full by clicking here and here:  

"A few years ago this 4th District seat didn't seem all that important.  Having one or two Democrat Congressmen wasn't a big deal most thought.  They have tenure, clout among their peers.  But now, with the make up of Congress, the Speaker of the House, the Senate in full control and the White House locked up, this Southeast Mississippi seat needs to symbolize and portray how we in this area truly believe to our core.Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but know not what we may be."  We've seen what 20 years has given us in the 4th District.  I truly desire our nation to be more than it is today; America desperately needs the next generation of leaders to begin to take hold now, not tomorrow.  I encourage you all to consider the 2010 Congressional race and help America be more."

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

Double Standard and One Citizenship

                Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) made news this weekend over comments from a yet-to-be-released book, "Game Change."  The book revealed that Reid described in private then-Sen. Barack Obama as "light skinned" and "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one."  Reid has since apologized to Obama and the President has accepted the apology. 

                While the acknowledgement of the remarks is a start, I do find it interesting that such double standard lies within the D.C. Beltway.  In 2002, Obama wasn't so quick to forgive now former Senator Trent Lott, our Mississippi Senator.  Obama is quoted as saying, "It seems to be that we can forgive a 100-year-old senator for some of the indiscretion of his youth, but, what is more difficult to forgive is the current president of the U.S. Senate (Lott) suggesting we had been better off if we had followed a segregationist path in this country after all of the battles and fights for civil rights and all the work that we still have to do."  Obama went on to say, "The Republican Party itself has to drive out Trent Lott.  If they have to stand for something, they have to stand up and say this is not the person we want representing our party."

Liberals are content to accept an apology from their own but not from their opponents.  Lott apologized, more than once, but no forgiveness came and it ultimately cost him his position.  While I holdfast that Republicans should continue to take the high road, some consistency in thought and reaction would be nice from the left and the media. 

I believe this incident points to a much larger, ongoing problem.  I wrote of it in a recent blog entitled "One Citizenship."  For those who have not read it, I invite you to read on. 

"One Citizenship"

Since the beginning of our great nation, one singular issue has remained at the center of every political, social, and religious debate.  One issue has divided this land of opportunity into brother against brother, father against son, denomination against denomination, poor against rich.  It has started riots, fires, funerals, and wars.  Jobs have been lost and industries have been built; buses have been made into memorials and crosses into ash all because of one issue. 
          Racial or ethnic equality is the driving force behind so many of our ills today, and yet the debate still rages because we as citizens allow it to persist and linger.  Some even propagate its existence to stir animosity and resentment, to garner political favor, and to justify and satisfy their own personal prejudices.  These vultures strive to divide; they fight against unity.
          I ask you - what good is going undone while we allow such prideful foolery to inhabit our own minds and the minds of those around us?  What could our country be if this issue wasn't diluting our communities and ruining relationships?
          We must move past labels and reclaim our national identity, not as individuals, but as one citizenship in this Republic.  Such unity can only begin in the depths of each soul, which will require exploration into ones deepest sense of self.  Allow me to elaborate.
          My ancestry nor my ethnic background makes me who I am.  I live in this present condition, at this time in history, and am tasked with serving my fellow man and my God right here, right now.  My eye is fixed on the future, not the past, for I cannot change those who came before me; I may only learn and gain wisdom from studying where they erred, determining to not falter where they faltered, and at times celebrating their achievements.
          Running through my veins is blood that was created by the Almighty right here in America, not Europe or Asia or Africa.  In ages past, whoever courted my kin to these shores of freedom and by whatever trials befell them on their journey is of no true consequence to me now.  While it is indeed enlightening to learn those lessons, dwelling on such things would only serve to divide me from my neighbor.  I live today and strive to live on for tomorrow, not for myself, but for my Lord, my family and my community.
          I cannot thank my Creator enough for placing me in such a liberating place.  Thanks be to God that I was born an American.  I am not white or black, Anglo-Saxon or African-American, Hispanic or Vietnamese, Baptist or Catholic, Jew or Hindu.  I am simply an American, and that is enough.  Such is the essence of our hope and existence as one citizenship in this Republic.
          Those who seek to label and wander in the midst of confusion and lore seek only to stir emotions for their own causes.  We are people, not pawns.  I do not condone nor do I support many past actions in my own beloved country, actions that at times have divided families, neighbors, and countrymen.  But my hope is not in the past; my hope is not in the present; my hope is in the future and in the Republic I strive for each day in my own minute way and would die to protect should that be required of me.
          When we as Americans begin to see this common thread weaving each of us together and we lay down our pride and our labels of prejudice and division, this country will flourish beyond any of our imaginations.  If America is ever going to overcome and reach its destined potential, we must openly and without shame or malice address this wound and nurture it to health.  The scars may linger, but it is our choice not to prick those sensitive areas as it mends.
          I ask you today to join me in promoting one citizenship in this Republic.  Our preferences, philosophies, and ideologies may differ in the church house, school house, or White House, but our one citizenship should always guide us in overcoming any self serving motives, striving together as fellow Americans within a spirit of unity, humility, and respect for our countrymen.
          Join with me; be one citizenship in this Republic.  Discard the labels and antiquated mentality. Proclaim yourself as an American, no more, no less, and be proud of it.

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman

The Race is On

Taylor, Tegerdine, and the 4^th Congressional District

                2010 is here and with it comes Congressional elections.  Much has been made of the potential for Republicans to make in-roads around the country in Democrat held seats given the partisan, liberal tenor currently in Washington D.C.  Here in Southeast Mississippi, Gene Taylor (D-Bay St. Louis) has held the 4th District Congressional seat since 1989.  Taylor, a former City Councilman and Mississippi State Senator, is well versed in what it takes to win in this district, which by the way is one of, if not the most conservative Republican districts in the nation (no Democrat Presidential candidate has carried the 4th since 1956). Political newcomer Joe Tegerdine hopes to unseat the incumbent Taylor and change that (D) to a (R) for South Mississippi.

For those who have yet to hear of Joe Tegerdine, you will soon as he has now filed his paperwork to run for the 4^th District seat.  He is an energetic man, someone I have come to enjoy speaking with on my radio show.  He is grounded in the Constitution and has cast a broad vision of fiscal responsibility, new House leadership, strong national defense, and limited government.  Here is a quick biography of the 4^th Congressional District Republican candidate adapted from his website (www.joetegerdine.com).

Tegerdine was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in the Northwest.  He was raised by a single mother for most of his childhood and learned early on to work hard and hold true to the things he was taught.  Shortly after graduating from high school, Tegerdine served as a missionary in Taiwan.  After spending almost two years overseas, he headed home to the United States and attended college at Brigham Young University, earning a B.A. in Communications.  While in college he met and married his wife and in 2002, they moved to Tallahassee, Florida where he earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Florida State University College of Law.  Tegerdine is currently employed as Senior Director of Business Development for WNC Satcom Group.  He relocated to Hattiesburg, Mississippi in the spring of 2007 and settled in Petal where he currently lives with his wife and four children. 

Given the previous elections in the 4^th Congressional District since Taylor has held the seat, Tegerdine has an uphill challenge indeed.  Taylor has won the last four elections by taking between 64-75% of the vote.  His voting record in the House of Representatives is a mixed bag, however; he has walked the tight rope between party and populist for many years and thus far has mastered it with only the occasional wobble which he quickly balances.  He is seemingly pro-life and pro-gun (anything else in this part of Mississippi and he would have been out a long time ago), yet he has supported his party and its leaders inconspicuously (voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker) knowing that if he carried too much of the party's water he would be on the proverbial hot seat come election time at home.  He knows how to appear as if he is fighting for his constituents while not making too many waves in Washington D.C.  His tenure and party connections landed him an important seat on the Armed Services Committee and the Shipbuilding Caucus, making him increasingly valuable to his 4th District constituents.  Taylor's good ole boy persona coupled with his staff's superb PR work in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina make him a force that only the perfect storm or perhaps some truly informed, inspired, involved, and fed up voters could take down.

I believe that we in the 4th District can and should do better than Gene Taylor (hey, that almost rhymed...perhaps there's a campaign slogan in there for Tegerdine).  Taylor is deeply entrenched and knows how to work the system, both locally, through ensuring that the proper spin is applied when needed, and nationally, by being content to sit on the sidelines and following the party line as necessary.  Gene Taylor is not a bad guy; heck, he's not all that bad of a Congressman if you judge his body of work through a narrow lens and confine it to babies, bullets, and budgets.  America and the future of our great nation are about something bigger than such narrow, spin driven, seat ensuring issues.  Yes, those things do matter greatly to me as a conservative and should matter to us all but when our nation's debt is increasing at such a rapid pace, private business is being taken over by government, our Constitution is threatened daily, healthcare is on its way to being rationed in every sense of the word, and on and on I could go we don't need a pacifist Congressman representing our area here in Southeast Mississippi.  We need a Congressman that will stand up and fight for the Constitution, for the freedoms we hold dear, to speak against the ills of the day and actively support a different direction than what is being proposed by those now in leadership - a leadership supported and encouraged by Taylor himself.  We need a change in the 4th District and soon.

The real question, and the most disturbing part of this discussion to me, is this:  How does Gene Taylor, a Democrat, keep getting elected in one of the most conservative Republican district in the nation?  For the sake of time and space, I'll cut to the chase - Republicans put him there.  There's no other answer.  If you live in the 4th District I challenge you to ask your Republican friends that actually vote who they voted for in the last Congressional election.  Check the campaign finance reports for Taylor, as well, and you'll find normally Republican donors sprinkled in among the typical Democrat patrons.
          So how does Tegerdine reverse this trend in 2010?  How can he topple this Goliath?  The only way is for conservative Republicans to break out of their self-induced habit and vote Republican.  Tegerdine must appeal to the true conservatives, creating a sense of urgency that now is the time for a change.  He must work to unite a strong conservative base and educate them on the realities at hand.  Twenty years is long enough for Mr. Taylor's trip to Washington.  

A few years ago this 4th District seat didn't seem all that important.  Having one or two Democrat Congressmen wasn't a big deal most thought.  They have tenure, clout among their peers.  But now, with the make up of Congress, the Speaker of the House, the Senate in full control and the White House locked up, this Southeast Mississippi seat needs to symbolize and portray how we in this area truly believe to our core.  Tegerdine must portray that in all he does over the coming months if he is to get within a stone's throw of Taylor. 

As a side note, another Republican challenger, John McCay (which ran against Taylor in 2008 and lost by a margin of 75%-25%), told me recently he was planning to make another run for the seat as well.  I'm not aware at this time if he has filed to run.  McCay will have the same challenges as Tegerdine should he run and win the party nomination. 

Truth is both Tegerdine and McCay are relative unknowns in the Mississippi political scene meaning that they must brand their name, ideals, and message in voters' minds quickly to have any chance at Taylor.  Republicans will have to get on board with their party's candidate, not only here in the 4^th District, but in the State Republican Party as well.  Southeast Mississippi and the nation deserve better than Gene Taylor and his Democrat friends.  I believe we can do better...but unless people wake up, get in the fight, and get engaged in the 4^th Congressional District, history tells us we won't. 

Frank Corder

Pascagoula City Councilman

The Tax Masquerade

                Most of you have heard the term "nanny state."  Wikipedia defines "nanny state" as a term that refers to state protectionism, economic interventionism, or regulatory policies (of economic, social or other nature), and the perception that these policies are becoming institutionalized as common practice.  Its usage varies by political context, but in general it is used in reference to policies where the state is characterized as being excessive in its desire to protect (as a nanny would protect a child), govern or control particular aspects of society.  The term can refer to public health interventions and consumer protectionism that removes or controls otherwise free choices, as well as national economic and social policies (regulation and intervention) that affect large and state-favored businesses.  Politically conservative groups (those that support free market principles and capitalism) object to excessive state action to protect people from the consequences of their actions by restricting citizen options and with good reason - it's unconstitutional and goes against the essence of the Founders' spirit.

                The story below taken from WLOX, an ABC affiliate in Biloxi, is a perfect example of how we as a society have dumbed down our individual freedoms and reliance on the Constitution and are now allowing our state and federal government to act as a nanny who dictates what we eat, where we go, what products we use, what cars we buy, which doctor we see, and on and on.  As you read the story, keep in mind the explanation above and see if you can see the nanny's hand at work.  I have italicized and underlined a few interesting parts of the story for your ease of understanding:

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) - If your list of must-have drinks include soda, it could cost you close to 50 cents more under a proposed soda tax bill.  The tax would also apply to pre-sweetened drinks like certain juices, teas, and energy drinks.

As the bill is written now, only wholesalers of sodas and sugary drinks would be taxed.  But, the bill's creator, Representative John Mayo, of Clarksdale, Mississippi, says he's aware that most or all of the cost could be handed down to consumers.  The idea of the tax is stirring up mixed reactions among South Mississippians.

.Representative John Mayo, of Clarksdale, the man behind the bill, says the Stennis Institute is currently conducting a study on the tax and estimates it could raise anywhere from $110 and $147 Million.

Mayo says the push behind the bill is two-fold.  The representative says he hopes to encourage Mississippians to make smarter, healthier choices and to pay for programs teaching people how to make healthier food choices and live healthier lives.

The representative would like to see the money go to the Department of Health, Department of Education and the Mississippi Development Authority.  Mayo says the hope is to get Mississippi thinking more in terms of preventative care as opposed to being in reactionary mode.

"I hope it passes this year.  It's focusing attention on what are healthy choices and what are not; it's a start."  He goes on to say, "If you choose to be fat by making unhealthy choices, why should those of us who choose to be healthy pay for your obesity."

Did you hear the nanny's voice in this story?  In case you didn't notice, it was prevalent throughout.  Perhaps you even found yourself asking these questions as you read the story: why only certain businesses, why only certain drinks, why does the state need to be so involved in my life, why should the state have a say in what I eat and drink, why is the government involved in the health care industry, and many more. 

For decades now, our state and federal governments have eased into the role of nanny as they have taxed some businesses and products more than others to encourage the average consumer to use or not use said products as is deemed politically expedient for the whims of the day.  The problem with such selective government endorsements is that all of the products are legal and hold equal standing under the law.  Such "sin" taxes masquerade as concern, but is essentially legal product discrimination authorized by the government.  

So why do we allow certain industries to be taxed more than others?  Why is it acceptable to tax alcohol more than milk?  Why is it fine to tax cigarettes more than chewing gum?  Why should we tax sodas more than Grandma's fried chicken or Momma's chocolate pie?  Heck, why don't we tax the dinner-on-the-grounds at the churches or the family holiday feast?

In 1961, Ronald Reagan made a recording aimed at speaking against socialized medicine.  He said, ".back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for President on the Socialist Party ticket, said the American people would never vote for socialism.  But he said under the name of liberalism the American people will adopt every fragment of the socialist program.  One of the traditional methods of imposing statism or socialism on a people has been by way of medicine.  It's very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project.  Most people are a little reluctant to oppose anything that suggests medical care for people who possibly can't afford it." 

I would add that most people are just as reluctant to oppose efforts to curtail the use of socially questionable products, i.e. cigarettes, alcohol, and now sodas and sugary foods, even when you raise taxes.  It has become easy to disguise public health care and obesity concerns with the unconstitutional singling out of legal products and businesses while imposing big government taxation, essentially creating the nanny state.  And once the nanny state becomes the norm, our American way of life as defined by the Constitution erodes and soon we will no longer recognize our American existence, that of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - freedom of individual choice.

It's time we unmask the debates of our day and see the realities at hand.  Selectively taxing legal products under the guise of public health is a slippery slope that could result in the loss of much more than just a few cents here or there.  We must be diligent to assess these and other issues as we continue to perfect our Republic.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

Testing the Waters

          Bath time with the kids is always an adventure, from earplugs to tangled hair to the inevitable wet floor. My son can't wait to jump in the tub and splash around. My daughter, however, has always been more cautious, carefully sticking her toes in first to test the temperature of the water. She doesn't want it to be too hot or too cold; she wants it to be just right (Goldilocks and the three bears come to mind, but I digress). 
          It seems the Obama administration is doing just that - they are testing the waters to see just how deep they can wade in while promoting the ideals of socialism (and let's be perfectly honest, they are following the playbook nicely) before they dive in completely. If they go too quick, the chances for re-election and marble effigies dwindle. If they go too slow, the Democrats may miss their opportunity while they still hold the keys to both Houses of Congress and the White House (2010 is shaping up to be fun). The Democrats and this administration are surgically working through their long standing belief that increased government control will dictate fairness and equality and to them, create progress and success. They want to see just how far the American people are willing to be pushed without creating an insurmountable backlash while continuing to craft and implement their plans.
          The administration started immediately upon swearing in (perhaps even before given the Democrat controlled Congress and a lame duck President under fire) with the call to pass the Stimulus Plan. We all heard the passionate pleas. This was out of national need, we were told, while they rattled their sabers and promoted political doom and gloom scare tactics. The result was $787 billion of spending (which we can't back in the treasury) and a national debt that grows larger day after day.
          Then came the auto industry collapse and in came Obama riding in on his white horse to save the day. The bailouts were injected, the industry was demonized, and Obama came out of the deal as POTUS and CEO of our new government automaker.  
          Next, the administration and Congress have sought to increase regulations and taxation on energy providers in an already tight economy and under challenging times as these same companies are being asked to do more with less. Cap and trade is a not so subtle attempt to align us with the liberal energy policies of Europe and Asia. Call it Global Warming 101. You think your power bill is high now, just wait my friends; you ain't seen nothing yet (pardon the slang).
          The great debate of our day has followed - healthcare. It has taken center stage this summer. The administration tossed it out there and has steadily back tracked as citizens have in mass loudly opposed much of the reforms. Yet a bill still looms for a possible late fall or early winter vote. Word out of the White House is that they will present a bill if Congress can't agree on one. The old adage says that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and this administration will take every step, every inch it seems that we'll give them. They'll use emotion, passion, promises, politics, and altered facts and figures all to sell their reforms so that we as citizens will buy into them. Truman once said, "If you can't convince them, confuse them.". The administration is ascribing to this philosophy well. Increased national debt, higher taxes, a single payer "trigger option" system, and the eventual collapse of the entire medical insurance industry and perhaps many private medical practices will be the result of this current proposal.
          Now comes a nationwide back-to-school address from the President to all of our school children. On the surface this sounds like a great lesson in civics and an opportunity to take part in history. But when the administration put out lesson plans encouraging teachers to follow with their classes, complete with questions asking how each child could help the President, instead of the country, eyebrows were raised. Reagan and Bush Sr. both offered classroom videos and both were met with equal resistance from the opposition party. But now, it's the conservatives questioning the anointed one's school room address, not for what Obama will say (a stay in school message is always welcome), but for what he and his administration propagate and imply through their promotional materials and the suspect timing of the address (on the heels of declining approval ratings, heated public forums, new Congressional session, etc.).
          In each of these cases, the boundaries of our Republic are being pushed. They are inching us toward bigger government at grave costs, possibly even the beginnings of socialism. Big government is not the answer. Hard work, individual responsibility, care and compassion for your fellow man, and a sense of pride in your city, state, and nation can guide us back to our Republic's foundation. Government should provide the opportunity for all to succeed, not ensure our success through mandated reforms that increasingly regulate individual lives, the private sector, and play Robin Hood with our tax dollars. Yet, most of us sit idly by hoping for the best with no real commitment to resist and no true care to understand the facts.
          Don't be fooled by the pretty packages. Now is not the time for the faint of heart. We must not let down our guard. The administration is indeed testing the water. Unfortunately, in many places across our land, the water is warming to such ideals. How will they find it near you?

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

One Citizenship

           Since the beginning of our great nation, one singular issue has remained at the center of every political, social, and religious debate. One issue has divided this land of opportunity into brother against brother, father against son, denomination against denomination, poor against rich. It has started riots, fires, funerals, and wars. Jobs have been lost and industries have been built; buses have been made into memorials and crosses into ash all because of one issue. 
          Racial or ethnic equality is the driving force behind so many of our ills today, and yet the debate still rages because we as citizens allow it to persist and linger. Some even propagate it's existence to stir animosity and resentment, to garner political favor, and to justify and satisfy their own personal prejudices. These vultures strive to divide; they fight against unity.
          I ask you-what good is going undone while we allow such prideful foolery to inhabit our own minds and the minds of those around us? What could our country be if this issue wasn't diluting our communities and ruining relationships?
          We must move past labels and reclaim our national identity, not as individuals, but as one citizenship in this Republic. Such unity can only begin in the depths of each soul, which will require exploration into ones deepest sense of self. Allow me to elaborate.
          My ancestry nor my ethnic background make me who I am. I live in this present condition, at this time in history, and am tasked with serving my fellow man and my God right here, right now. My eye is fixed on the future, not the past, for I cannot change those who came before me; I may only learn and gain wisdom from studying where they erred, determining to not falter where they faltered, and at times celebrating their achievements.
          Running through my veins is blood that was created by the Almighty right here in America, not Europe or Asia or Africa. In ages past, whoever courted my kin to these shores of freedom and by whatever trials befell them on their journey is of no true consequence to me now. While it is indeed enlightening to learn those lessons, dwelling on such things would only serve to divide me from my neighbor. I live today and strive to live on for tomorrow, not for myself, but for my Lord, my family and my community.
          I cannot thank my Creator enough for placing me in such a liberating place. Thanks be to God that I was born an American. I am not white or black, Anglo-Saxon or African-American, Hispanic or Vietnamese, Baptist or Catholic, Jew or Hindu. I am simply an American, and that is enough. Such is the essence of our hope and existence as one citizenship in this Republic.
          Those who seek to label and wander in the midst of confusion and lore seek only to stir emotions for their own causes. We are people, not pawns. I do not condone nor do I support many past actions in my own beloved country, actions that at times have divided families, neighbors, and countrymen. But my hope is not in the past; my hope is not in the present; my hope is in the future and in the Republic I strive for each day in my own minute way and would die to protect should that be required of me.
          When we as Americans begin to see this common thread weaving each of us together and we lay down our pride and our labels of prejudice and division, this country will flourish beyond any of our imaginations. If America is ever going to overcome and reach its destined potential, we must openly and without shame or malice address this wound and nurture it to health. The scars may linger, but it is our choice not to prick those sensitive areas as it mends.
          I ask you today to join me in promoting one citizenship in this Republic. Our preferences, philosophies, and ideologies may differ in the church house, school house, or White House, but our one citizenship should always guide us in overcoming any self serving motives, striving together as fellow Americans within a spirit of unity, humility, and respect for our countrymen.
          Join with me; be one citizenship in this Republic. Discard the labels and antiquated mentality. Proclaim yourself as an American, no more, no less, and be proud of it.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman-Ward 4

Question with Boldness

          I awoke today with my mind settled on a story I have often told but for the life of me I cannot remember where and when I first read or heard it. I thought I'd share it with you despite the unintended lack of appropriate reference. (If the original story teller is reading this, please forgive my elaboration)

          As the 1960's (you know, the hippie-era) came to an end, those old rock-n-roll refugees of San Francisco began moving down the coast to Santa Cruz. They got married and had children, though usually not in that order, and soon set up a nice place to call home and raise a family. Now, these once hippie parents never named their children what we would consider normal names, like Bob, Jack, Melissa, or Janice. No, they gave their children lovely names, meaningful names, like Sea Foam, Moonbeam, and Snow Princess. Soon, the people in the area grew accustomed to having their little Billy and Suzy play ball with little Spring Fever and Time Warp. And eventually, many children with names like Precious Promise and Earth Love all ended up in the public schools.

It is during that time that one kindergarten teacher first met Fruit Stand (yes, that's right - Fruit Stand).

          On the first day of school, a little boy stepped off his bus wearing a name tag hung around his neck displaying his name - Fruit Stand. The kindergarten teacher thought the boy's name was odd, but no odder really than the other children's now coming through the school.

          Throughout that first day, the teacher tried her best not to make the boy feel self-conscious about his name. She tried to use his name as much as possible to help make it second nature for her and his classmates.

          "Would you like to play with the blocks, Fruit Stand?" she asked. "Fruit Stand, how about a snack?"

          By the afternoon recess, his name didn't seem much odder than Jill or Sun Ray or Fairy Queen.

          At the final bell of the day, the teacher led the children out to the bus loading area. "Fruit Stand, do you know which bus is yours?" the teacher asked. The little boy didn't answer, which wasn't particularly strange since he hadn't answered her all day. The teacher understood that lots of children were just shy on their first day of school.

          As the teacher searched for the bus Fruit Stand should be on, she remembered that she had asked each parent to write the name of the child's bus stop on the back of the name tag hanging around their neck. Just as she was putting the little boy on the bus and said, "Goodbye. See you tomorrow, Fruit Stand," she turned the tag over. There, neatly printed, was the word "Anthony."

          Within that simple story you can see how preconceived notions can cause significant problems. I believe we as Americans often fall into this trap. We assume and hope for the best without getting involved. We all want to believe and trust our government and her leaders; that is our natural instinct. But the truth is we must fight against such blind allegiance. We need to be engaged in our government and ready to stand up for what we believe. It's time we ask questions and demand answers, or as Thomas Jefferson once said, "Question with boldness."

          It is time we as Americans turn over those name tags and check out the facts. We must be more active, more willing to get in the fight at every level of government from our cities to our state to our nation. It's time we put our money, our time, and our elbow grease where our mouth is. We have taken our government's word for granted for far too long (on both sides of the aisle - Democrat and Republican) and we are now paying dearly.

          Do you believe in the government running healthcare? Do you believe in $9 trillion in national debt? Do you believe in an entitlement state? Do you believe it is right to tax one person more to pay for another? Do you believe in cap and trade? Do you believe you spend your way out of debt? And on and on and on I could go.

          As a local elected official who sits in City Council meetings regularly, I'm always amazed at the lack of involvement by citizens even at the local government level. On average, most City Council meetings are only attended by a handful of citizens, and most of those are attending for a specific personal purpose (i.e. variance, special request, etc.), not just because they want to learn and be engaged in the City's business. Don't get me wrong, I get those phone calls about drainage problems and potholes, but where's the concern over the local budget? Where's the concern about cleanliness and upkeep? Why do we only care about such problems when they effect us? Why are people reactive to government and not proactive? If people asked questions and were involved in the process, the outcome they complain about could be avoided. But such involvement takes effort and commitment, and in our day and time both are severely lacking. And now we are where we are as a nation and we wonder why.

          All politics is local and that's where government works the best, closest to the people. So what are you waiting for? Will you get in the fight? Ask questions, be engaged, and give of yourself for the betterment of your city, state, and nation.

          President Obama once said, "...change never begins from the top down. It begins from the bottom up." It seems he and many more have forgotten this truth. I still believe in the people, not the government. I ask you to join with me, to get on the bus and remind our government that it is the people, you and I, who matter and it's high time they remembered that, even if your name is Fruit Stand.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

Obama Channels Truman

          I must admit, I do like reading President Harry Truman's biography and the interviews he gave. While there are many political policies and governing philosophies where I would differ from the former President, Truman was a straight-forward man of humble beginnings who found himself consistently in the right place (politically speaking) at the right time, rising from local elected office to be the leader of the free world, all in a matter of a few short years. 
        While there is much to learn from Truman (good and bad in the public policy realm), it seems that our current President has come across an aspect of Truman's liberal wisdom that would be best forgotten. Truman once said, "I learned that a great leader is a man who has the ability to get other people to do what they don't want to do and like it." President Obama is attempting to master this philosophy in much of the policies he is currently championing, especially healthcare reform, or what may be termed as Obamacare. 
        Obama has often said that he admires Lincoln. Heck, his buddies in the mainstream media seem to paint him as Lincoln reincarnated. But if you read about Truman and listen to his own words, the ideals of the liberal movement that began then are embedded deep within today's great debates and Obama is the proud standard-bearer with an eye to leaving his mark (and name and image) on history. 
        Listen to these quotes from Truman and see if you too sense Obama's attempt to channel the spirit of Truman:
                    "If you can't convince them, confuse them."
                    "I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell."
                    "Carry the battle to them. Don't let them bring it to you. Put them on the defensive and don't ever apologize for anything."
        And my personal favorite of them all (especially given that the Democrat leadership in Congress and especially President Obama has mastered this point) - "Always be sincere, even if you don't mean it."
        Obama is no Lincoln; such a reference is a slap in the face to all conservative, common sense Americans. Instead, Obama has decided to channel the founders of the social reforms that have begun to bankrupt our beloved country and now he is putting their philosophies into practice. Wake up, my fellow Americans. Don't be duped by the soft music, the cheering crowds, the eloquent words, and the nicely wrapped package. 
        The change we were promised has come, and it has been for the worse. Washington is more divided, more partisan, and less representative of real, down-home America than ever before. The slope is increasingly slippery. We must unite and take back our country before it's too late. We must choose principles over power and party. 
        We would all do well to remember the words of another former President, Thomas Jefferson. "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." Jefferson can be heard again saying, "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have." May we all recall these words often and continue to remind President Obama and his pawns of such wisdom each time they revert back to the days of Truman.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman

 We Can Do Better...but We Won't
4th District Taylor's to Lose 

          2010 is just around the corner and that means federal House of Representative seats are coming up for grabs.  Soon, we will be hearing and seeing alot of talk and debate from the potential candidates.  Just today, I saw where State Senator Alan Nunnelee (R-Tupelo) has entered the fray to challenge 1st District Congressman Travis Childers (D-Booneville).  Reading this news made me ponder my area, the 4th District.  I know of a gentleman from Petal, an attorney by the name of Joe Tegerdine, who has decided to throw his name in the ring, but I must admit (and believe me, it is hard for me to say and I don't want to believe it but...) the 4th District is Gene Taylor's to lose once again, just as it's been now for 20 years.  Mr. Tegerdine may be nice enough and he may be an astute campaigner; I personally haven't had the chance to meet him just yet.  Reality is, however, no matter who you are as a challenger to Taylor, the underlying issues and assumptions must be addressed and brought to light.
          Since 1989, Gene Taylor (Democrat-Bay St. Louis) has held the 4th District Congressional seat here in Southeast Mississippi.  Taylor, a former city councilman and state senator, is well versed in what it takes to win in this district, which by the way is one of, if not the most conservative Republican districts in the nation (no Democrat Presidential candidate has carried the 4th since 1956). His voting record is a mixed bag; he has walked the tight rope between party and populist for many years and thus far has mastered it with only the occasional wobble which he quickly balances.  He is seemingly pro-life and pro-gun (anything else in Mississippi and he would have been out a long time ago), yet he has supported his party and its leaders inconspicuously (voting for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker) knowing that if he carried too much of the party's water he would be on the proverbial hot seat come election time.  He knows how to appear as if he is fighting for his constituents while not making too many waves in Washington D.C.  His tenure and party connections landed him an important seat on the Armed Services Committee and the Shipbuilding Caucus, making him increasingly valuable to his 4th District constituents.  Taylor's good ole boy persona coupled with his staff's superb PR work after Katrina (i.e. lost his home, fought his insurance company, offered insurance changes, etc.) make him a force that only the perfect storm or perhaps some truly informed, inspired, and involved voters could take down. 
          I believe that we in the 4th District can and should do better than Gene Taylor (hey, that almost rhymed...perhaps there's a campaign slogan in there somewhere).  Taylor is deeply entrenched and knows how to work the system, both locally, through ensuring that the proper spin is applied when needed, and nationally, by being content to sit on the sidelines and following the party line as necessary.  Gene Taylor is not a bad guy; heck, he's not all that bad of a Congressman if you judge his body of work through a narrow lens and confine it to babies, bullets, and budgets.  America and the future of our great nation is about something bigger than such narrow, spin driven, seat ensuring issues.  Yes, those things do matter to me and should matter to us all but when our nation's debt is increasing at such a rapid pace, private business is being taken over by government, healthcare is on its way to being rationed in every sense of the word, and on and on I could go we don't need a pacifist Congressman representing our area here in Southeast Mississippi.  We need a Congressman that will stand up and fight for the Constitution, for the freedoms we hold dear, to speak against the ills of the day and actively support a different direction than what is being proposed by those now in leadership (leadership supported and encouraged by Taylor himself).  We need a change in the 4th District and soon.
          It is important for a person who is in political office to clearly outline their party affiliation and to be able to outline why they align themselves with that party.  Taylor (whether out of savvy or confusion) chose to be a Democrat.  He is quick to add the "conservative" tag to his label.  Surprisingly enough (as if you couldn't tell by now) I am a Republican.  I am proud to carry the mantle of Lincoln and Reagan.  I say this because who one chooses to associate with says much about that person's character and beliefs.  Now don't get me wrong, there are many in both parties, Democrats and Republicans, that break from their party at times (Taylor and his Blue Dog buddies would speak to this point well, if nothing more than to attempt to veil their allegiance), but I tell you when it comes down to the core issues and to the heart of a matter, those same people will choose to side with their party 99% of the time (again, think of the Pelosi vote).  Don't be fooled by the tag lines added to sway your votes on election day or in election years.  I've yet to meet a Conservative Democrat - that's an oxymoron in my book.
           The real question, and the most disturbing part of this discussion to me, is this:  How does Gene Taylor, a Democrat, keep getting elected in the most conservative Republican district in the nation?  For the sake of time and space, I'll cut to the chase - Republicans put him there.  There's no other answer.  If you live in the 4th District I challenge you to ask your Republican friends that actually vote who they voted for last time for Congress.  I would be amazed if you could find more than 3 out of 10 that say someone other than Gene Taylor (if they do, I would almost bet they are fibbing given that Taylor hasn't taken less than 75% of the vote except once since 1998). 
          So how do we reverse this trend?  How can we in the 4th District topple this Goliath?  The only way is for conservative Republicans to break out of their self-induced habit and vote Republican.  We true conservatives must unite together and take back this country one seat at a time, locally, statewide, and nationally.  Twenty years is long enough for Mr. Taylor's trip to Washington.  A few years ago this 4th District seat didn't seem all that important.  Now, with the make up of Congress, the Speaker, the Senate in full control and the White House locked up, this Southeast Mississippi seat should symbolize and portray how we in this area truly believe to our core.  The 4th District seat should be a sign to the rest of the nation that we are fed up with government intrusion, rising debt, unreconciled domestic and foreign affairs, and needless taxation.  The truth is, Southeast Mississippi and the nation deserves better than Gene Taylor and his Democrat friends.  I believe we can do better...but unless people wake up, get in the fight, and get engaged history tells me we won't.
          Shakespeare once said, "We know what we are, but know not what we may be."  We've seen what 20 years has given us in the 4th District.  I truly desire our nation to be more than it is today; America desperately needs the next generation of leaders to begin to take hold now, not tomorrow.  I encourage you all to consider the 2010 Congressional race and help America be more.  We can and must do better!    

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Low Ball Hurler:
President Pitches Policies Like He Pitches Baseballs

Before you read on, watch the video of President Obama's First Pitch at the MLB All Star Game by clicking this link:
http://www.videosurf.com/video/president-obama-throws-out-first-pitch-70924959

          If you happened to watch the Major League Baseball All Star game the other night, then you probably caught President Obama once again on your TV screen.  No, he wasn't talking taking more taxes from the wealthy or nationalizing healthcare.  He wasn't taking over another company, booting a CEO, or naming another czar.  He wasn't speaking about the economy so the Dow didn't bottom out (is it just me or does it seem as if everytime President Obama talks about the economy the stock market takes a nose dive).  As other presidents before him, Obama was at the All Star game to simply throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Easy enough, right?  One would think.
          Decked in his shiny white tennis shoes and fresh Chicago White Sox jacket, President Obama made his way to the pitcher's mound.  He waved and smiled to the adoring baseball fans.  Behind homeplate to catch the President's pitch was Albert Pujols.  After more waving and smiling, President Obama semi winds up and throws his pitch.  It's an arching curve that's short and low, making Pujols have to extend over the plate to catch the pitch to cover for the President's poor attempt.  After all, the media darling President Obama is had to have his pitch caught.  Oh the horror if it hit the dirt.  How would that have looked? 
          As I sat and watched that scene I couldn't help but draw the correlation between the President's poor baseball pitching and his even poorer pitching of recent domestic policies for our great nation.  Many see him as untouchable, as off limits to critique or question.  The liberal thought is that his sheer charisma and persona should be enough to delude the general masses into following him, so when he throws a bad pitch or two no one will care.  Truth is, in baseball and in politics, every pitch counts.  President Obama is a low ball hurler who's struggling to even reach the plate but because of who he is (be it his perceived historical significance due to his race, the fact that he is following Bush, or other glaring factors) and the vast media bias, the plate is covered and his every pitch is being caught.

Economy

          When it comes to the economy, Vice President Biden recently admitted that the administration underestimated the severity of the situation.  Biden said, "We misread how bad the economy was..."  That's a low ball estimate in my mind by President Obama and his administration.  Yet, because the Democrats were out of power for six years and they had a ton of pent up pet projects they were eager to ramrod through, the President and the Democratic leaders in Congress pushed through the $787 billion "stimulus" bill which has yet to produce even a glimmer of the hope and change advertised. 
          Let's be honest, Mr. President.  Jobs are not being added as promised, infrastructure funding projects are slow and almost not even worth the trouble to jump through all of the bureaucratic hoops, the national debt continues to increase daily, locally sales tax is in the pot and more businesses are closing leaving vacant buildings all around our city, the credit market is in shambles, we as taxpayers now hold controlling interest in a private company (I'm still waiting to see what my personal share of that company is so I can sell my stock now - I could use the extra gallon of gas), and on and on I could go.  The President threw a low pitch on such a dire economy and didn't even come close to the plate, oh but the media has covered him well; they caught the pitch and continue to spin the White House advertisement as the President makes his daily TV appearances.  Smile and wave and it will all be ok seems to be the new mantra.
          What we need in this country is not another "stimulus" bill as is being discussed even now; heck, we didn't need nor can we afford the first one.  What we need in this country is lower taxes on the individual so they keep more of what they make.  We need lower taxes on businesses so they can afford to invest in their employees, expand their product and service lines, create more jobs, and provide healthcare.  We need to only spend what we take in and no more.  We need to get government out of propping up businesses and let the market regulate itself.  Enough is enough.  No more low ball pitches.   

Healthcare

          It is beyond my comprehension as to why we would as a country want to go from having the best possible healthcare system in the world (yes, there are flaws, but it's still the best) and make it second rate almost instantly, right out of the box?  Nationalizing healthcare puts every citizen's well being under the government's purview.  The government will control your health.  The government will decide which doctors you see, when you see them, how often you see them, and so on.  The government will also in essence tell doctors how and when to treat patients.  Your every healthcare concern will be managed and controlled by bureaucrats and politicians.  In addition to all of this, such a plan will cost upwards of an estimated $1 trillion over a decade and still leave 15 million plus uninsured.
          Jefferson once wisely expounded, "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny."  Involving the government in the intricate parts of people's lives is the last thing I want to see happen.  Government needs no role in deciding doctors, hospitals, insurance and the like for citizens.  But yet, that is exactly what will happen when the current Congress and Presidential administration have their way with healthcare.  Yet another low ball pitch from President Obama that misses the plate and still, the other members of his Party and the media cover the obvious deficiencies of such a notion.  The answer again lies in empowering the private sector to create wealth and opportunity.  The government only subsidizes wealth.  I only wish the words of Jefferson would be recalled, for the bodies of so many will soon be wrecked by the political agenda of a few.

Playing Catch

          Now is not the time in our nation's history for the President and the Congress to be playing catch with such delicate issues.  The old adage advises that ultimate power corrupts ultimately.  With the super-majority now reached in the Senate (thanks to the resolution of the Franken-Coleman saga), the House well in hand, and the White House under lock and key, the country is at the whim and pleasure of the Democrats.  There was a time, not all that long ago, such a statement wouldn't have frightened me so, but that time is long since past.  The President has proved to be a low ball hurler who can't reach the plate.  The Democrat contolled Congressional leadership is carrying the President's mantle for the most part and ensuring he doesn't skip a pitch in the dirt.  And of course, the media is playing their part like the Shakespearean actors they are. 
          Every pitch counts in politics and baseball.  Now is the time for all concerned citizens to stand up and get in the fight.  We must demand real hope and change for the betterment and sustainability of our country.  No more low ball, short pitches.  No more covering for the President.  We can take back our country and set her aright once again; it just takes stability through commitment and passion.  Be committed.  Be passionate.  Be the difference. 

As always - Think Pascagoula First,

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Listening to Jefferson

            Summer for many is a time to unwind, vacation, and hit the beach, especially here along the Gulf Coast - surf, sand, and a big glass of ice tea.  The party starts Memorial Day weekend, kicks into high gear around the 4^th of July, and dwindles off around Labor Day.  Fun in the sun is the name of the game.

            For me, summer brings reflection.  Oh, believe me, I could use a vacation as much as anyone, but ever since I was a young boy, this time of year has filled my spirit with a certain sense of poignancy and reverence.  I read and engross myself into the writings of the American giants - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Truman, Reagan.  I watch documentaries and period epics surrounding these figures and the events of their day.  Summer beckons my inner patriot and calls me to action.  It ignites a fire within me to hearken back to the founding fathers and listen once again to their wisdom.  I am moved by their sacrifice and astounded by their foresight and vision. 

            One such American giant is Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States and arguably one of, if not the most influential of the founding fathers.  His handiwork in drafting the Declaration of Independence is still marveled by scholars today.  Each of us learned the basic ideal of Jefferson in school.  We know of Jefferson in theory.  But if you study Jefferson and read his writings, if you delve deeper into his reasoning I trust you will find a great deal to your interest, much of which is extremely applicable to our day in practice, not simply in theory.  I challenge you to listen to Jefferson in the quotes below and as I offer some relevance for today.  It is surprising how prophetic words written over 200 years ago can be.

            "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases." - Thomas Jefferson

I have said many times that it is not the government's responsibility to ensure people succeed, but that every person has an equal opportunity for success through hard work, personal commitment and individual responsibility.  When government at any level, whether locally or nationally, seeks to usurp the individual responsibility of its citizens and replace it with a centralized, equitable program or body of work, then government has indeed grown past the point of its original intent.  Equality for all through government mandate and oversight was not the rallying cry of our founders nor should it be today.  Opportunity for all through individual responsibility should be shouted and supported.

            "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny." - Thomas Jefferson

            Today, this very debate is raging in our national Capitol. I believe this quote speaks well to the issue of nationalized healthcare.  Involving the government in the intricate parts of people's lives is the last thing I want to see happen.  Government needs no role in deciding doctors, hospitals, insurance and the like for citizens.  But yet, that is exactly what will happen when the current Congress and Presidential administration have their way with healthcare.  I only wish they would heed the words of Jefferson, for the bodies of so many will soon be wrecked by the political agenda of a few.   

"That government is best which is closest to the people." - Thomas Jefferson

            I love this quote, especially as a local elected official on the City Council.  Day in and day out I see where the federal government is growing by leaps and bounds, which essentially makes local City boards nothing more than rubber-stamping bodies that must enforce and take the heat for what those in D.C. and even in Jackson decide.  Admittedly, I get very frustrated with the bureaucratic red-tape and the ever moving targets we as a local Council have to overcome to simply help our city and our people.  This has never been more evident than after Hurricane Katrina.  Those in D.C. and even in Jackson for the most part are insulated from such constant local struggles; they often times miss the boat and put politics before people.  I emphatically agree with Jefferson that the best government is the government nearest the people.

            "That government which governs best, governs least." - Thomas Jefferson

            Oh, how I wish the current Mississippi House of Representatives, the national Congress (both houses) and the President would truly let this fact sink in.  You want to see America succeed, then get the government out of our way.  Cities would rebound, jobs would return, homes would rebuild, and a new sense of individual responsibility would rule the day.  It's time we cut the lifeline a bit.  As long as the government continues to interfere and encourages citizens to rely so heavily on its purse strings, America will not be the strong, healthy nation we all want it to be.  Ronald Reagan, another American giant, was exactly right when he said, "Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them." 

            Those are only a few quotes of so many more as I listened to Jefferson.  As with anyone other than myself (and even then I am often conflicted), I do not agree with every ideal or thought put forth by the third President, however, I stand in awe at his immense knowledge and foresight of the issues our republic would be faced with even in his day.  Reading Jefferson and others like him brings me great comfort proving I am not alone in how I feel both about my country and about my convictions.  I trust these words will help to strengthen and enliven you this summer as you reflect on our Independence and those who have given so much for the freedoms we enjoy.  May we never forget the principles on which we were founded and on which we have built the greatest nation ever to inhabit this planet. 

            Shhhh..can you hear it?  Jefferson and the other American giants are speaking to us today.  Are you listening?

            May God Bless Pascagoula, Mississippi, America, and You.

As always, Think Pascagoula First,

Frank Corder,

Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Splinters in the Rear

        Thursday, May 7th, was the annual National Day of Prayer for 2009.  Millions of people of all faiths and backgrounds came out to courthouses, city halls, state capitols, and even within the halls of Congress to be a part of this national event.  From the birth of our nation to this very day, men and women of this great land have relied on the simple act of prayer to sustain them through the tribulations and sorrows of life and to sing the praises and thanks for the blessings God has poured out on our country. 
        Since the days of George Washington and the Continental Congress in 1775, America has recognized the power and importance of prayer.  President Lincoln called for a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" in 1863.  President Truman, backed by a joint resolution from Congress, declared a national day of prayer in 1952 and every sitting American President since then has signed a proclamation recognizing this day.  Along with such Presidential Proclamations, it has become a tradition for the White House to host a National Day of Prayer event, highlighting the importance of the day that much more.  But not this year and not this President. 
        Yes, President Obama issued the Presidential Proclamation (which is required by law), but no other recognition of this national day of prayer was practiced by his administration.  I wonder if he had not been legally bound to sign the proclamation, would President Obama have done so.  When asked about the President's obvious absence of ceremony, his press secretary chose to offer only that the President prays in private.  OK, that is great to know and I truly do hope that is in fact the case.  However, like other issues to date, he missed the boat on this one.  The national day of prayer isn't about the President or any one person; at its core, the national day of prayer is paying homage to the freedom of all people in this great land to have and express their faith without fear of persecution and even in public when appropriate. Instead of understanding this ideal, President Obama turned what was a positive, non-partisan, non-denominational day of historical significance into a political hot potato thrown directly at the conservative minded demographic within our country. 
        As an elected official myself, all be it on a much smaller scale than the President, I have to ask this question - why choose this fight?  Is the President that partisan, that liberal-minded to shoot such a shot across the bow over such a historically all-inclusive day?  In politics and in life, making unneccesary waves is fruitless and can cause much trouble.  The President has said on many, many (and may I add many) occasions that he wants the country to come together under a common bond to forge a new way forward for the betterment of all Americans.  At a recent National Prayer Breakfast back in February, President Obama stated that that event was "one of the rare occasions that still brings much of the world together in a moment of peace and goodwill."  Later in his remarks he quoted St. Augustine by saying, "Pray as though everything depended on God, then work as though everything depended on you."  He then added, "So let us pray together...but then let us also work together in all the days and months ahead, for it is only through common struggles and common effort as brothers and sisters that we fulfill our highest purpose as beloved children of God."  The President then asked for those in attendance to pray for he and his family and for the nation.
        Obviously, the act of prayer isn't offensive or derided by President Obama otherwise why would he ask others to pray for him.  It would seem obvious to me that a national call to pray for this country when we are facing such dire straits would be more than appropriate, no matter one's beliefs, backgrounds, or opinions.  In fact, there has been 134 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting, and thanksgiving by a sitting United States President.  Prayer in itself is a healthy expression of what is felt deep within one's soul.  Offering a prayer among others shows a unity in purpose and a reliance on something other than oneself.  So again, why pick this battle?
        To be fair to the President and his administration, while he didn't participate in a National Day of Prayer event, his legal team is engaged in a fight to protect the very existence of the annual observance.  The administration, Republican lawmakers, and the American Center for Law and Justice recently asked a Wisconsin federal court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation that argues that "mandated prayer proclamations by the president exhorting each citizen to pray constitutes an unabashed endorsement of religion" which violates the First Amendment of the Constitution.  The President's administration legal team contends that the national day of prayer proclamation does not promote religion.  They also state that the practice is a tradition dating back to the founding of our country. 
        While I am certainly glad to see some common sense being used by the White House on this matter in this lawsuit, I have to wonder why President Obama is straddling the proverbial fence on this issue.  If he sits there much longer he's sure to gain a few splinters in his rearend.  The media darling he is cannot always make everyone happy, so he needs to stop trying now.  If he is a praying President, then he needs to be who he is and not be ashamed of it.  He should stand on his foundations and not be shaken to the core.  Listening to the liberal left wing agents too long can make anyone's head ache.  I know the President is under alot of pressure to carry the liberal torch.  I pray for President Obama every day.  I only hope and pray he can climb off that fence, pick out the splitters, and be his own man instead of catering to the pressures within his party. 
        I want to conclude this thought with a couple of quotes from noteworthy figures in America's history:

               "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther King Jr.

               "It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible." - George Washington

               "Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." - John Adams

               "[Americans] must seek Divine guidance in the policies of their government and the promulgation of their laws." - Ronald Reagan

        I invite you all to join me in prayer for our President and the other elected and appointed leaders serving our country from the White House to city hall whatever your personal beliefs may be.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Wake Me Up When It's Over

          One of my favorite short stories of all time is the classic tale of "Rip Van Winkle" penned by Washington Irving.  Irving's symbolic, underlying themes and allusions within the story relating to the change that the people during revolutionary period of America were experiencing is quite striking and thought provoking.  While I could delve into immense detail pondering the symbolism of the day hidden in the words of this classic, I will constrain myself for the sake of space and your potential waning of interest.  However, a brief reminder of the basic plot is in order and relevant to my ramblings to follow, so I would beg your patience.
          As Irving tells it, Rip Van Winkle was a man of modest means, always ready to help his neighbor, but ever neglect in helping himself and his family.  His lackluster zeal at providing for his household caused an obvious rift between he and his wife, allowing his wife to come across as an ever present nag.  To escape his self-induced plight, he would frequent the local hotspots sharing his woes until his wife would find him.  She would drag him back home, all the while giving him a tongue lashing only a fed-up, overworked, and under appreciated mother of two young children could deliver.
          Trying to rid himself of his wife's persistent nagging, Rip and his trusty canine companion wonder into the hills outside of their village to do what he does best - absolutely nothing.  He settles in under a shade tree and drifts off to sleep.  After what seems to him as a dream involving bowling and carousing with some sailors, Rip awakens to find himself significantly older and the world around him quite different than when he dozed off.  It turns out that Rip's cat nap wasn't that at all; he awakens twenty years in the future.  Looking for answers, he makes his way into the village below.  No one initially recognizes the aged man he has become, until an old friend recognizes his distinctive frame.  Rip discovers that his daughter and son are still in the village; the son mirroring his father's relaxed, unproductive lifestyle while the daughter has secured an estimable place in their society.  Rip learns as well that his henpecked days are over since his wife had died while he slumbered.  He takes residence with his daughter and spends the remainder of his days sitting on the porch of a local inn telling his story and being revered as a witness to history.
          Today, Irvings's character of Rip Van Winkle has taken on a meaning of it's own.  By definition, to be referred to as a Rip Van Winkle is to be a person who sleeps so much that the world passes them by or to be oblivious to social and political changes around them.  While I would always encourage citizens to be engaged in communities, whether locally, statewide, or even nationally, and to not simply take an afternoon nap under the closest shade tree while the world passes you by (and government grows ever bigger), I have to admit that what I'm hearing out of Washington D.C. these days makes one feel a bit like Rip being henpecked by his wife.  Perhaps, just perhaps, ole Rip wasn't too far off in catching some shut eye. 
          Unless you have been under a rock over the past few weeks or catching a long overdue extended power nap, you have heard plenty of speculation about the Economic Stimulus Package as proposed and championed by the President and being debated by Congress.  The drive-by liberal media has, of course, taken up the mantle from the President and is doing all they possibly can to diminish any critical review of this package which by all indications could very well total over $1 trillion (yes, trillion with a "T").  So to give you a realistic overview of what is actually contained in the current draft proposal of this spending bill (you'll soon see why it's not a stimulus package), I thought I would share some insight into what actually comprises this liberal, porked up legislation.
          As it is currently being proposed, $544 billion will be new spending.  We've all been told this spending should create jobs, help those Americans who are most in need, and stimulate spending by the consumers to help enliven the economy.  For the sake of time and so as to not insult your intelligence, I am listing a few of the many areas included in the bill for your self deliberation.  I invite you to ask yourself this - "How does this create jobs and stimulate the economy?"  Are you ready?  Go...
          *  $20 billion for food stamps (granted this is a needed, short term program, but the key words are "short term")
          *  $4 billion for community activist programs such as the esteemed ACORN (of course, I jest at the esteemed portion given their recently well publicized woes concerning election registration irregularities)
          *  $600 million for automobiles for government agencies (really? Didn't Congress just bail out the auto industry for pete's sake)
          *  $650 million for coupons for the digital TV conversion (yes, you read that right)
          *  $400 million for global warming research (as the old commercial says, "Calgon, take me away."  Again, really?)
          *  $335 million for STD prevention (Wow! I don't even know what to say about) that.
          *  $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (I'm all for art and music education and support, but come on)
          The reality is that only 12% of the spending plan could be considered a growth stimulus; this from the Wall Street Journal.  This means that only approximately $65 billion of the $544 billion could result in some sort of job creation and economy stimulate.  What's more amazing is that a vast majority of these measures will not even be realized for an estimated two to four years from now.  
          One of the few portions of the bill that makes sense from an economic stimulus perspective is the proposed $300 billion in tax cuts which includes homeowner tax credits, child tax credits, college incentives, small business incentives and the like.  Giving a stimulus to the people who pay the taxes, who can in turn pay down their debt, make future purchases, and secure their family's livelihood is the only tried and true method of affecting sudden and lasting positive economic impact nationwide.  Additionally, what Congress should consider is a significant reduction in the capital gains tax, possibly even suspending it for a period of time, and reduce the corporate tax rate. 
          I could continue to bore you with facts, figures, and details of this liberal spending plan, the effects of which will most likely be felt as far down as my grandchildren should I be blessed to have such fortune, but I will refrain at the risk of losing your attention.  I would, however, be remiss if I did not pass this one final statistic on to you, my fellow Mississippians.  Our great state stands to gain somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 billion, portions of which will be distributed between healthcare, education, infrastructure, and unemployment programs.  In addition, there are 552 projects that cities, counties, and state agencies from throughout Mississippi have submitted.  At a conference I attended last week in Jackson it was revealed that none of these 552 projects are slated for funding to date if the stimulus bill passes due to the fact that the federal government doesn't want to distribute earmarked funds; they will review the projects and fund as possible at a later date.  This strikes me as hilarious since there are so many earmarks already in the federal bill (some which are listed above).
          I am afraid that we are heading down the proverbial slippery slope fellow citizens.  - Government buy-in on banks and other potential businesses, steadily nationalizing these private ventures (once the government is involved, they don't leave very easily).  - Printing more money that is not backed as it should be.  - Backing away from our "buy American" principles to keep our trade partners happy.  - Throwing money at our economic and education problems while not expecting local, state, and national leaders to tighten their belts, trim their budgets, and live within their means.  - Working outside of the normal state Legislature and federal Congressional budget processes to handle this stimulus plan when a vast majority of the items listed in the bill are not vital nor will they stimulate jobs and consumer confidence.  And on and on I could go.
          I must be dreaming.  Someone please wake me up when this nightmare is over.  Government is growing quickly.  The hand ups are becoming hand outs.  Free market principles and the way of capitalism is being replaced by nationalization.  Soon government will be henpecking you and I, nagging us everywhere we turn.  Mr. Van Winkle doesn't look so crazy now does he, easing his mind under that shade tree?  The only problem is, I'm afraid to take a nap, because when I wake up I may not recognize what I see either in our great country.

Frank Corder,
Pascagoula City Councilman - Ward 4

Yes, We Can...and Should Quickly

If there is anyone out there as frustrated with government in all aspects as I; who wonders where the principles and policies that have strengthened our beloved country for over 230 years have gone; who questions why we as a people allow those in leadership to take us down the slippery slope away from freedom and liberty in our dealings, I'm sorry to tell you that from what I've seen so far of our new President and leadership team in Washington D.C. you're frustration, wonder, and questioning has just begun.

All I have heard for going on two years now is "change is coming to America," "change we can believe in," and "yes, we can," as if these words are battle cries of a revolution to shake up a corrupt system, to throw out the money changers, and set up a new hierarchy of government that will be led by some form of just men without flaw or blemish, and if questioned or criticized you, my friend, are the intolerant one, the one held in contempt, despite the truth and logic you may bring to the table.  Questioning the anointed new Commander in Chief is off limits by it seems everyone in the drive-by media, civic groups, conservatives and liberals alike, and yes, even around the family dinner table.  Everyone is so on edge and hands off of this "change" that tolerance and logic is being pushed to the limit and taking a back seat to common sense.  Healthy, constructive criticism, minus malice over race, gender, religion, etc., of our elected leaders is only justified and in due course in a free republic.  It wasn't so long ago that this "change" was referred to by none other than in-party challenger Senator Clinton as a Xerox copy of the past in one of the numerous debates.  But now, the mass hysteria is sickening.  When did it become wrong to disagree openly with political policy and by all means, why has so many seemingly intelligent people taken a long walk off a short pier as it pertains to our core foundations we have held sacred for so long?

            Please excuse me if my frustration is showing through more than is perhaps politically correct but if you know anything about me as a person, I do not think about political correctness first; my first thought, my primary concern is for people.  I am a populist who holds fast to the interest and concerns of those around me, the ordinary people, the average Joes, while understanding that it is self-reliance and hard work that set our course in this country, not some government program conceived in a smoke-filled room with an eye to whose pocket can be best lined or whose interest can best be served. 

Government's role should be to offer every citizen the equal opportunity to succeed on their own merit and in a safe and free environment, not to ensure that they do so.  Government should encourage and promote wealth and prosperity; not mandate it and allow businesses and individuals to live off of the system through subsidies and handouts.  Former President Ronald Reagan once said, "Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them."  Only the private sector creates wealth; government only takes wealth and redistributes it. 

Individual responsibility is key to government's success.  Without individual commitment to the core principles of hard work, self-reliance, individual responsibility and the like, our government will soon crumble beneath a load of burdensome handouts to those who want it all for nothing.  It is perfectly acceptable to tell people that they can't have their cake and eat it too.  Not everyone is going to have and succeed as much as the next person, nor was that the intention of the Founding Fathers.  Opportunity for all to succeed was the rallying cry, not equality of success.

I hope you will join with me as Americans, young and old, male and female of every race and creed, and emphatically proclaim that yes, we can change our country and our future.  But we must realize that change doesn't start in Washington D.C. or at the White House; change starts here in our city then spreads to our county and our state and then to our great nation.  We must take hold of our strategic importance within our society.  Each of us plays an intricate part of moving our economy and government forward as we press through these dark days.  Your steadfast commitment to the core beliefs set forth by our nation's founders and reiterated time and time again by visionary leaders such as Lincoln and Reagan is vital where you live, day in and day out, if we are to maintain our nation's greatness.

We face many challenges that we must be willing to meet head on while keeping our eyes firmly fixed on the horizon. 

Yes, we can be compassionate and sympathetic to those still in dire straits, trying to recover from Hurricane Katrina, but we must also be prudent with an eye to the future.  Varying zoning and coding requirements too much will only lead to future blighted areas like the ones we are now working to clean. 

Yes, we can build new community and recreational areas for our families to enjoy but perhaps now isn't the time to overextend our already tight budgets.  Being fiscally sound in such a deep economic recession only makes sense.  It is time we start to make the tough decisions.

Yes, we can keep the tax burden low on our citizens across the board by tightening our proverbial belts, reigning in unnecessary spending and outsourcing of services, and by actively pursuing and encouraging all business opportunities to come into our area.  When you understand that where you choose to spend your money matters, and then when those in elected office finally recognize that those precious tax dollars do not come from a bottomless pit, then government will be on the right fiscal road. 

Yes, we can provide the best education for our children and for the workforce in our area, but it must come through communication, understanding, proper management and oversight, and community support.  Education is not just about funding; throwing money at a system that lacks so much is ludicrous.  It is time for an education reformation in our state.  A well-rounded education should not only teach the core curriculum of the day, consistently preparing for test after test, but provide crucial social interaction, the arts, physical activity, career-oriented training, and much more.  Focusing on getting children into college when a vast majority will not enter or will enter and dropout is not productive.  We must begin training our children for the workforce sooner so they can be productive citizens and add to the stability of our state and nation.  Giving children and parents choices for education is a smart answer to failing system.

Yes, we can reduce the cost of health care and insurance premiums and enlarge the span of coverage but that involves us all taking an interest in our own personal health and well being as well as working to provide those opportunities for ourselves.  Preventive care is a major step in the right direction.  Universal healthcare, however, is not the answer.  Socialized medicine managed through another government program is another level of bureaucracy that will only add to the frustration and problems of the system.  Real change in the system begins with a change in individual lifestyles and in lowering the risk factors for businesses to buy into lower cost coverage for their employees thus expanding the health insurance availability to working class Americans.

Yes, we can solve this economic crisis.  The strength of our nation has always relied on the initiative and innovation of the individual.  That's why the best government is that which governs least.  When we each are willing to learn, work hard, take responsibility for our own actions, and stop looking to the government for all of the answers then we will see the economy turn around.  No stimulus package or bailout will ever be able to do what you and I can when we determine ourselves to take hold of our strategic importance in the life of our city, county, state, and nation. 

Yes, we can take back our government even now, and we should quickly before we lose even more ground.  The storm is coming and it is mighty.  Don't buy into the buzz or lose your self in the moment.  We must hold firm to the principles that have served to keep our country strong and our liberty and freedom safe.

Thomas Jefferson once wisely stated, "A wise and frugal government, which shall leave men free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor and bread it has earned - this is the sum of good government."  Or as Reagan so eloquently put it, "Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives."

Now that's change I can believe in. 

Frank Corder,
            Pascagoula Councilman - Ward 4

     Government Should Enrich Freedom

     As an elected official here in Pascagoula, one of my responsibilities is to enact ordinances, laws if you will, that enhance and enrich our way of life, while penalizing those who choose to act outside of the perimeters set forth. This is a heavy task and one that should not be taken lightly. Much thought and deliberation must be given to ensure that what is legislated is proper and fair for the whole. But more importantly, laws should only be passed that enrich our freedom as citizens of this great city, state, and nation.

     Laws that enrich our freedom apply to us all, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, heredity, place of work, place of worship, etc. There is no room for discrimination or polarization, only equality and progress. Laws that prohibit murder and rape enrich every one of us, giving each the right to live without fear of death or bodily harm. No argument can be made supporting these activities. History has proven that banning murder and rape is fundamental to the safety and security of our society. Such bans only serve to enhance life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for every single person, thus the laws prohibiting these activities enrich the freedom of the whole. The essence of a good law should be then that it serves the interest of the whole, not a portion or segment of society.

     If you flip the coin, laws that infringe on our freedoms have just the opposite effect by appealing to certain segments of our society, in essence pandering to the person or group that shouts the loudest and longest. It has become an all too common occurrence that such laws infringing on our freedom are being legislated both locally and nationally. Needless legislation is running rampant. The founders of our country never intended to allow its government to legislate morality or mandate how an individual lives his or her life. The point of government should be to create an environment that everyone can prosper and achieve in, while holding fast to their individual eccentricities that indeed make them autonomous and unique.

     Many of you will, I am sure, disagree with me or think me profoundly neurotic, but for the sake of an example I will offer my opinion up for critique. One such needless law which infringes on my personal freedom is the seat belt law. I know most of you are thinking "seat belts save lives," and while that is true and a recorded, proven fact, why do I, an adult who is responsible for my actions, need to be told to wear my seat belt? Do I not have the right to operate a motor vehicle that has passed its inspection, is street-legal, and meets all of the necessary safety and operating requirements and not wear a seat belt? Will wearing a seat belt save anyone besides me? Is my life not my own or does the government own me? Why does the government feel the need to protect me from me? Yes, I see the need to buckle up infants and children; they are not yet at a place where they are responsible for themselves. But I, as an adult of legal age and understanding, am. That is just one of the laws that really get me going in terms of personal freedom.

     Nowhere is this infringement of freedom more evident than in the business community. It has long been my belief that governments who value freedom and free enterprise do not tell businesses how to operate. Yes, government should have a hand in outlining proper business practices to ensure no illicit activity is being perpetrated on the general public. But only when a business acts in a manner contrary to the laws of the land should the government intervene. And unfortunately, the inherent flaw of that statement rest on the fact that there are simply too many laws; business is over regulated and vastly over burdened by those in our country who support the big government mentality. The imposition that is placed on the business owner both locally and nationally is ridiculous. When it becomes more profitable and easier to hire workers and purchase goods from outside our own borders, the extent of over regulation is evident. And make no mistake about it, every imposition placed on business is felt, both in our wallets and in the steady decline in our freedom.

     Allow me to provide an example of over regulation and infringement on capitalism. I know this will spark another debate as did the previous example, but please indulge me and continue to read as I elaborate. It has become trendy for cities and towns all across our country to ban smoking in commercial buildings, in an effort to create a clean and safe environment. Now, before I continue, please note that I am a non-smoker so my views of which I am about to express cannot be simply extinguished as defending my habit. With that said, I for one cannot and will not support a smoking ban on private, commercial businesses. That may shock some of you reading this, but please allow me to explain my reasoning.

     America is built on capitalism, free enterprise. My handy-dandy Encarta defines capitalism as an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods, characterized by a free competitive market and motivation by profit. Capitalism has been the backbone of our society and has allowed our country to grow and expand more than any nation in the history of the world. Allowing a person to decide what type of business and how they run that business has been what has made this country great. A business owner's right to choose who their business will cater to and what services and goods they supply to the public is capitalism at its best.

     So for me, as an elected official to hamper in any manner a private business person's right to run their business as they see fit is a detriment to capitalism and our economic system. That is what a smoking ban on private, commercial businesses does; it takes the business owner's right to choose who their business will cater to and disregards capitalism. A smoking ban is over regulation and infringement at its core.

     Some will say, "Smoking kills. It causes cancer. Even second hand smoke has been proven harmful to your health. I should be able to dine or shop in a smoke-free environment at that business." I hear your concerns. I have had similar thoughts before as well. Yes, smoking is not healthy and second hand smoke can be and often is harmful. But please don't miss the greatness of our country here. You and I have the choice to be a patron of any business. And those businesses will succeed or fail based on if you and I support them. That is our freedom, our privilege in a society based on free enterprise. Your patronage of a business will determine that business's health. And if enough of us do not buy from a business it will inevitably die. That is capitalism.

     Likewise, if a business owner chooses to cater to smokers and provides such an atmosphere, it is that business owner's choice and he or she will succeed or fail based on that choice. It is not up to me as an elected official to mandate to a private business owner what he or she can and cannot do with their private business in terms of offering smoking within their establishment. Capitalism allows for success if the market will sustain it and failure if cannot. Why over regulate businesses if the market will ultimately decide their fate? That's the greatness of free enterprise.

     If a law does not enrich our freedom, then I for one cannot and will not support its passage. Infringement on our freedom is the mentality of big government and it has begun to disguise itself as being healthy or safe or practical. True freedom should leave the door wide open to us as citizens of our city, state, and nation. True freedom should encourage capitalism and support free enterprise and not burden down business owners. True freedom does not listen to the segments of society, but does the business of the whole for the betterment of the whole. True freedom creates an environment that allows you and me to succeed and fail out of our own making. That is what makes Pascagoula great and that is what makes our state and country great as well.

Frank Corder

Pascagoula City Councilman Ward 4