When John
Arthur Eaves announced his withdrawal from the governor's race, he said
that he was creating the Mississippi Policy Institute.
Please be assured that he is NOT associated with the REAL Mississippi
Policy Institute, which we launched in February.
According to an Eaves staff member who was nice enough to call me to apologize
for the confusion, the name they intended to use is the Mississippi Policy
Forum, but somehow that didn't make it into his written or spoken statement.
Although some people in Mississippi might be tempted to sue for such negligence
-- and the corresponding emotional trauma this confusion could cause,
and, of course, the potential loss of income to our organization -- we
believe in forgiveness and making allowances for human frailty, so we
will not be filing suit in this situation.
I do commend Mr. Eaves for the stated reasons for his decision. He said
his children's grades and behavior have declined since he began his campaign,
and he is withdrawing from the race to give priority to his family over
his political career. Would that the sitting and previous governors would
have chosen that priority.
I will use this opportunity to let you know that the Policy Institute
is alive and well. Today, our first publication was mailed, so if you
are not on our mailing list, please respond to this message with your
address, and we will send you a copy. It is titled, "Seven Principles
of Sound Public Policy," and it is the text of the message delivered
at our annual banquet in February. It is being mailed to all candidates
for legislative and statewide office as well as our regular mailing list.
Also, I encourage you to go to our new website, www.mspolicy.org. We are
adding to it regularly, but there is already some useful information about
issues and about our plans for MPI. On our homepage, click on "About
MPI" to learn more.
I also encourage you to help us financially. We are funded by tax-deductible
contributions from individuals, businesses, and foundations. We neither
ask for nor accept "government" money. You can contribute securely
on-line (click on "Donate online" from our web page), or you
can mail a contribution to the address below.
Forest Thigpen, President
Mississippi Family Council/Mississippi Policy Institute
