Sound Off: January 12, 2026
Sun Herald readers weigh in on local and national topics.
Not right
Regardless of your political or religious affiliation, how can you watch the videos of Renee Nicole Good and be OK with it?
America divided
I just finished reading the comments on the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. I can’t believe that people can look at the same video of the shooting and come away with totally opposite opinions about what they saw. Partisan politics is causing divisions in this country not seen since perhaps the Civil War, and it will be the death of us as a nation when we choose political party over right and wrong over truth and justice. I, for one, will never understand how unarmed people can be shot and killed by those sworn to protect and serve, and the killing be deemed justifiable. And for those of you who buy the narrative that she used her car as a weapon, the second and third shots were fired through the open window long after the officer was out of danger of the vehicle.
Obey
For years, I have heard Democrats saying that Ashli Babbitt would still be alive today if she just complied. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I’m not hearing Democrats mention that if Renee Good simply complied, she wouldn’t have been shot.
Think about it
Members of ICE are performing a difficult job in what is, in many instances, hostile territory. If you happen to come across an ICE agent, you would be well served to follow his or her instructions.
New leaders
Exxon Mobil’s CEO says Venezuelan oil is “uninvestable.” The Pope warns against a diplomacy fueled by force and a zeal for war. Meanwhile, President Trump wants to rule the Western Hemisphere and take Greenland — apparently by vibes, threats, or brute force. Faced with that lineup, I’ll take the oil executive who understands risk assessment and the Pope who still believes war is a moral failure. If elections were tomorrow, Exxon and the Vatican would get my vote — at least they’ve read the fine print and the Ten Commandments.
No profit left
Exxon is now echoing ConocoPhillips in saying they have reservations about re-entering Venezuela. In addition, President Trump wants a three-way split, Venezuela gets a percentage, America gets a percentage and the oil companies get a percentage. What businessman in his right mind wants to enter such an agreement? Not the super-rich oil companies, that’s for sure
ACA vote
Mississippi voters are akin to all other red states, a vast number of voters get their health insurance through the ACA, as a couple of my family members do. The House voted this week, with 17 GOP members voting with all Dems to extend ACA for 3 years, knowing the Senate will revise some, but will pass it. Mike Ezell voted no. I called his office in the early afternoon in D.C. and got an answering machine. A cheap voice mail answering machine for the public’s use. Patently reflective of how Rep. Ezell feels about his constituency, huh?
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