Spring Break
CQ ranks Miss. 'least livable'
Kyle Wrather
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: News
"Haley Barbour has had a lot to do with generating good jobs in the [Golden Triangle] area," he said. "He has been changing our image."
State Rep. Billy Nicholson (D-Little Rock) said bringing industries to the state is one way Mississippi is working to improve its image.
"We have a number of minimum wage jobs, but we're trying to bring more high-tech jobs for the working people of Mississippi," Nicholson said. "What we're seeing in the automotive industry is higher paying jobs where Nissan and Toyota are paying more than what we've been used to with industries like textiles."
Education is another factor Mississippi leaders hope will improve the state's image, Nicholson said.
"We're putting a lot of emphasis on education. We're working to lower dropout rates and keeping children in school and that will lead to better jobs in the future," he said.
Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government, said rankings like the livability statistics perpetuate stereotypes about Mississippi.
"Mississippians don't always understand what the rest of the world thinks about them," Wiseman said. "The more exposure we get, parts of that stereotype are dispelled, but it's almost like you have to do it one outsider at a time."
Increasing the level of education for all ages beginning at pre-kindergarten is key to improving the state as a whole, he said.
"We're not maximizing the education level for all of our people," Wiseman said. "We will never be free from the pressure of funding education, and we've got to simply admit it, step up to the plate and do it."
Senior business information systems major Ben Rollins said poor statistics may lead businesses and educated citizens elsewhere.
The state should focus on retaining businesses it has, he said.
"I think [bringing new jobs] will help, but they also need to concentrate on not losing the business we have," he said. "I think they need to stabilize what they have, as well as bringing it in."
State Rep. Billy Nicholson (D-Little Rock) said bringing industries to the state is one way Mississippi is working to improve its image.
"We have a number of minimum wage jobs, but we're trying to bring more high-tech jobs for the working people of Mississippi," Nicholson said. "What we're seeing in the automotive industry is higher paying jobs where Nissan and Toyota are paying more than what we've been used to with industries like textiles."
Education is another factor Mississippi leaders hope will improve the state's image, Nicholson said.
"We're putting a lot of emphasis on education. We're working to lower dropout rates and keeping children in school and that will lead to better jobs in the future," he said.
Marty Wiseman, director of the Stennis Institute of Government, said rankings like the livability statistics perpetuate stereotypes about Mississippi.
"Mississippians don't always understand what the rest of the world thinks about them," Wiseman said. "The more exposure we get, parts of that stereotype are dispelled, but it's almost like you have to do it one outsider at a time."
Increasing the level of education for all ages beginning at pre-kindergarten is key to improving the state as a whole, he said.
"We're not maximizing the education level for all of our people," Wiseman said. "We will never be free from the pressure of funding education, and we've got to simply admit it, step up to the plate and do it."
Senior business information systems major Ben Rollins said poor statistics may lead businesses and educated citizens elsewhere.
The state should focus on retaining businesses it has, he said.
"I think [bringing new jobs] will help, but they also need to concentrate on not losing the business we have," he said. "I think they need to stabilize what they have, as well as bringing it in."
Be the first to comment on this story