Sound Off: Jan. 8, 2025
Trader Joe’s?
There was an article in the Clarion Ledger about Trader Joe’s expanding plans and speculation that maybe Mississippi would get a store. I feel certain with our laws preventing grocery stores from selling wine, this state would never be considered. So backward
Burn bans
Of course, any conservationist concerned enough to write a Sound Off about air pollution knows the difference between wildfire and controlled burns, and how the latter prevents the former while also enhancing the forest floor for wildlife. In an attempt to keep the piece concise, I did not separate agricultural burning from woods-clearing burning, but, it is that which constitutes most of the unnecessary burning in Mississippi. Assuming a plot of land needs to be cleared for “progress,“ all forms of debris management require fuel expenditure, but, natural rot does not involve mechanized handling, as do mulching and shredding. And, when the market is right, those removed trees can be sold for a profit.
The way it is
Whether any of us like either individual, we need to know what evidence of criminal acts by the president-elect Jack Smith found. Some will deny the evidence and demonize the special counsel, but honest people deserve to know and wish to be aware of the extent of the perpetrator’s high crimes.
It’s real
The Trump effect is a real thing. President Biden is cursing the press, Justin Trudeau has resigned, Volodymyr Zelenskyy is now a MAGA fan and Mexico is preparing for mass deportations. Things are looking up, people.
Big mistake
In a nutshell, the failure of the Democratic party is because it forgot all about the working class.
Insurance nonsense
I’ve been expecting to see outraged Sound Offs about receiving dramatic increases in wind insurance premiums covered by the Mississippi Windstorm Underwriting Association but haven’t seen any. We live behind the railroad tracks in Waveland and have never made an insurance claim. Our premiums with high deductibles on a fairly modest home increased the last 3 years from $7,700 to $8,000 to $9,500 this year. Are others who don’t live on the water and don’t have a claims history also being hit by huge premium increases?
Law and order
Donald Trump’s idea of restoring law and order is to let all the Jan. 6 convicted criminals out of jail. I guess some of us just have a different idea of what justice is.
Say what?
I read an opinion article that stated Donald Trump was not a fan of Free Speech. How can that be since he used his platform to speak whenever he could. His election was based on rallies and press conferences. And much of what he said was not true.
There are laws
We do have common sense laws regarding automobiles. A driver has to take a driver test before getting a drivers license. A driver has to register and purchase a tag and purchase insurance on their vehicle. Laws are on the books about the use of seatbelts, baby carseats, headlights, etc. If we had similar laws for gun ownership, a lot of shootings could be stopped.
Can’t have it both ways
If the “lawlessness” writer is looking forward to Donald Trump being tougher on crime, then explain his eagerness to pardon the Jan. 6 criminals who invaded and vandalized the Capitol, violently attacked law enforcement and called for the death of Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi. He wants to reward their loyalty, which is obviously more important to him than putting “more teeth” in the laws that rightfully punished their criminal behavior. You can’t have it both ways.
Dong Phuong
It seems like everyone is going crazy online over these Dong Phuong king cakes. Are they really that good?
Jan. 6
You know, if the weather had been as bad as it was yesterday four years ago, we could have avoided a lot of nonsense.
Send your Sound Offs to soundoff@sunherald.com.