More Corruption in Mississippi

Image via WikipediaIn addition to being a bastion of Christian extremism and a frequently hostile place for atheists to live, what else is Mississippi known for around the rest of the country? Racism, of course, but this seems to be mostly based on our history rather than current differences from other regions. How about corruption? I've always associated Mississippi with the political cronyism no evident in everything from no-bid contracts to good-ole-boy networks of power. Sadly, it appears that we have another current example of this in the form of our state's board of higher education.

Tom Meredith, Commissioner of Higher Education, is on paid leave while alleged misconduct is investigated. And what is Meredith suspected of doing? According to the Associated Press,

Mississippi State University workers and equipment allegedly were used for landscaping at Meredith's home near Jackson, the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson reported Saturday.

That certainly does not sound good, nor does the suspicion that Mississippi State University Interim President Vance Watson may have been involved. Every state has its problems to be sure, but it seems like ours just keep conforming to the stereotypes of our state. That makes is hard to change how we are perceived.

Tags: Christian extremism, atheists, Mississippi, racism, corruption, cronyism, higher education, Tom Meredith, Mississippi State University, Jackson, Vance Watson