Issue Position: Elected officials not taking job serious enough

Issue Position

I can remember this particular time when my platoon sergeant had to jump down the platoons throat because we were having far too many incidents where soldiers were missing morning formation. He called us into the building and explained the importance of making formation. Or, at least let a ranking person in the platoon know why you were late and/or the reason you did not make formation for morning PT (physical training).

He said to us (soldiers) that he had to put the army before his family. I said to myself, "Sergeant is clearly crazy because there is no way I am putting the army before my family." But I had to think about this, when Uncle Sam comes a calling, we as soldiers will have to go. When it was time to be deployed, we would have to kiss our families goodbye and tell them we will see them when we get back.

I say all of this to say that our legislators and elected officials are not taking their job seriously enough. I understand that many legislators have other careers. Some are doctors, lawyers, businessman, etc. However, when an elected official has taken the oath to represent tens of thousands of people, the people are the number one priority. Also, I think that state legislators should attend more town how meetings with then mayors and aldermans to address the needs of the citizen in a more personal manner.

The legislative body here in Mississippi is only three months long. It is next to impossible to take care of all the issues that need to be taking care of in three months. I think in order to start seeing results from our state lawmakers, the legislature needs to stay in session at least six months. Think about it, a typical school year for high school students is nine months. It will be impossible to get everything that needs to be done if school were to be cut to a three month school year.

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