What if the flag does not change?

[ronpolk]

If the elected officials won’t change the flag, does it make you think about leaving the state? For me personally, it might. I’m not from here. I came to Mississippi because I loved MSU. I stayed after because my wife is from MS. I’m 33 and have 2 young kids. If our elected officials won’t even put the future of the state first over an antagonist old relic, why should I believe there will be a good future here for my children.

I’m not saying I would pack up and leave just because if this but it would certainly make me listen the next time my company tries to get me to move for a job.

 

[catvet]

The flag is going to change. Probably this year, even though I thought it would be next with the citizens voting. The idea floating around is using the State seal. That's what we will get. No Stennis flag. No Magnolia flag. Just an unrecognizable symbol on a nondescript background. But the flag change is a done deal.

 

[ArcherSPS]

Better than the dumb **** we have now.

 

[ronpolk]

I wish I were as confident as you. After seeing that the idiot Chris McDaniel is leading a charge against changing the flag, I’m way less optimistic.

 

[catvet]

I wish I were as confident as you. After seeing that the idiot Chris McDaniel is leading a charge against changing the flag, I’m way less optimistic.

He is on the wrong side of everything

 

[AFDawg]

I don't understand why people would want to use the state seal when there's a perfectly viable and reasonably attractive option available. Sheer cussedness? Not wanting to let "progressives" win?

 

[EngDawg]

I’m probably about to leave the State anyway. The flag has nothing to do with it directly, but it is a symptom of the same problem. There are just more numerous opportunities elsewhere.

 

[RocketDawg]

It seems like the desire to change the flag is almost unanimous on this board (maybe those for it just don't say anything), but you've got to realize that the vast majority of posters here have degrees from MSU and therefore are much more highly educated than the average state resident. It's quite possible that, if put to a vote, it still wouldn't pass.

 

[ronpolk]

It seems like the desire to change the flag is almost unanimous on this board (maybe those for it just don't say anything), but you've got to realize that the vast majority of posters here have degrees from MSU and therefore are much more highly educated than the average state resident. It's quite possible that, if put to a vote, it still wouldn't pass.

I think letting this get to a vote of the general public is the worst thing that could possibly happen. I have very little confidence that a vote of the people would result in a change. Way too many rednecks in this state that want to persevere their “heritage”.

 

[o_Native Son]

It seems like the desire to change the flag is almost unanimous on this board (maybe those for it just don't say anything), but you've got to realize that the vast majority of posters here have degrees from MSU and therefore are much more highly educated than the average state resident. It's quite possible that, if put to a vote, it still wouldn't pass.

THIS ^^^

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

This is spot on. This can't be dealt with via statewide referendum for a very simple reason. The result, if it is to KEEP, simply can't be respected and honored. The flag MUST change. The loss of moral standing and the economic catastrophe that would come is untenable. There is no choice to be made. It's out of the state's hands. The flag must be changed. You can't give the people a choice if there is no choice. For a while when this issue ignited, I thought that it couldn't go to a referendum for fear that the flag would be kept for another 10+ years. But in thinking more about it, I don't think it would make it another 2 years beyond a KEEP vote. The storm that would hit the state is simply too great. The politics of letting the people vote KEEP and then quickly undoing it would be a disaster in and of itself. The flag must change. And the state government leadership must be the ones to do it and do it now.

I think letting this get to a vote of the general public is the worst thing that could possibly happen. I have very little confidence that a vote of the people would result in a change. Way too many rednecks in this state that want to persevere their “heritage”.

 

[G-Dawg]

Worse than the actual vote and possibility that it might fail is the run-up to the actual election itself. You will see people come out of the woodwork and it'll get chippy on both sides. NOT the sort of attention we really need.

 

[msudawg12]

If the flag doesnt change this time, I expect riots similar to some of the bad ones around the country

 

[was21]

Putting it to a vote of the people is simply an indication of a lack of courage and leadership on the part of the state government. All the more reason for young people and others to leave the state.

 

[Len2003]

We don't need a referendum on the flag. Citizens aren't always right. That's why we have a representative democracy and not a direct democracy.

 

[$altyDawg]

^^^^Absolute Truth

 

[jb1020]

Support to change the flag seems unanimous just about every where you look

It seems like the desire to change the flag is almost unanimous on this board (maybe those for it just don't say anything), but you've got to realize that the vast majority of posters here have degrees from MSU and therefore are much more highly educated than the average state resident. It's quite possible that, if put to a vote, it still wouldn't pass.

And I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but until voters in this state are willing to think outside the box they grew up in and maybe not keep voting these good ol boys and girls into office not much will change for MS. Tate gets your (not you in particular) vote because he's not the "liberal democrat" and he "wont raise your taxes."

Meanwhile our infrastructure falls apart because we can't raise gas taxes in 30 years, medicaid needs proper funding, public schools need a complete overhaul, prisons here are a complete **** show...but hey, at least we're not voting for these liberal democrats, right???

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

We don't need a referendum on the flag. Citizens aren't always right. That's why we have a representative democracy and not a direct democracy.

Correct. If this is how they want to start doing things, then I think we should have a referendum on the state income tax. I'm pretty sure I know how that vote would turn out, but somehow I don't think they would be willing to let the citizens make that decision.

 

[8dog]

Thats why citizens dont vote on income taxes or legislator pay or school funding, etc.

 

[Dawgtruc]

The flag is going to change. Probably this year, even though I thought it would be next with the citizens voting. The idea floating around is using the State seal. That's what we will get. No Stennis flag. No Magnolia flag. Just an unrecognizable symbol on a nondescript background. But the flag change is a done deal.

I'm not as confident. They are several votes short of a 2/3 majority in legislature last I heard. Backwoods hicks are running our state government.

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

And I'm not sure how to put this delicately, but until voters in this state are willing to think outside the box they grew up in and maybe not keep voting these good ol boys and girls into office not much will change for MS. Tate gets your (not you in particular) vote because he's not the "liberal democrat" and he "wont raise your taxes."

Meanwhile our infrastructure falls apart because we can't raise gas taxes in 30 years, medicaid needs proper funding, public schools need a complete overhaul, prisons here are a complete **** show...but hey, at least we're not voting for these liberal democrats, right???

This whole fiasco has made me decide to start voting democrat at the state level (as long as they aren't just crazy far left). They couldn't be any worse than the state Republicans, and it seems clear to me that we have got to shake things up and try something different if we ever want to improve as a state.

 

[Drebin]

It seems like the desire to change the flag is almost unanimous on this board (maybe those for it just don't say anything), but you've got to realize that the vast majority of posters here have degrees from MSU and therefore are much more highly educated than the average state resident. It's quite possible that, if put to a vote, it still wouldn't pass.

I would bet if put to a vote that it wouldn't pass. And that would be a big, big problem.

That's why these politicians have no testicular fortitude.

 

[ckDOG]

Yep. The adults have to make the right decision.

I think letting this get to a vote of the general public is the worst thing that could possibly happen. I have very little confidence that a vote of the people would result in a change. Way too many rednecks in this state that want to persevere their “heritage”.

I'll steal a not perfect analogy Gary Parrish made the other day, but it makes sense.

It's like a family of 4 or 5 voting on where to go to dinner. The kids are just going to send you to Chuck E. Cheese - every damn time. Sometimes Mom or Dad just has to put their foot down and make a decision that's best for the family.

We aren't a pure democracy by design. Sometimes the majority is just flat out wrong and cooler elected heads have to prevail. I think the legislature is finally accepting this as their obligation. At least I hope so.

 

[jb1020]

I hope more people like you open their eyes

This whole fiasco has made me decide to start voting democrat at the state level (as long as they aren't just crazy far left). They couldn't be any worse than the state Republicans, and it seems clear to me that we have got to shake things up and try something different if we ever want to improve as a state.

I'll admit it, I used to be the guy that always voted Republican no matter what. That changed when I had kids 10 years ago. There are so many important issues you start considering once you're raising your own kids. Not that I vote Dem every time, but its increasing.

The health and well being of the state of MS and the people in it are more important than *** wipes like Tate Reeves. We're not going forward with these people running the state, plain and simple.