This column does not in any way mock or condescend to those who firmly believe that their faith, whatever that faith may be, means that their soul shall live for eternity with their God. In many ways, a lot of us are jealous that our path is different, that perhaps we wish we had that type of faith that we could meld into the core of our lives and be better people. It doesn’t matter whether or not that many people claiming to be of faith use it to the opposite end.

But that faith, even when beautiful and elegant, is no way to run public policy. To the extent God intervenes here on Earth, it is not to rush people to death. As we recall what we were taught, Jesus healed, he didn’t tell them how much better they have it on the other side and help them in their progress.

Mississippi has now passed New York, the state hit upside the head with a disease that it knew nothing about, New York City, crunched together on subways, in taxis, even in grocery stores and elevators. Versus, Mississippi, a state far more wide open, where people enjoy living “in the sticks,” has now passed New York in deaths as a percentage of the population, second only to New Jersey and closing fast.

Yes, poverty has a lot to do with it. The poor will go to work, even when sick, hiding symptoms, getting themselves sicker, and making other people sick. Poverty is one of the most reliable forces suppressing life expectancy. It impacts many other aspects of life, too. But it is also about leadership and here is Mississippi’s governor when asked why his state is doing so poorly when it comes to death per percentage of the population. According to the Daily Memphian:

“I’m often asked by some of my friends on the other side of the aisle about COVID … and why does it seem like folks in Mississippi and maybe in the Mid-South are a little less scared, shall we say. 

“When you believe in eternal life — when you believe that living on this earth is but a blip on the screen, then you don’t have to be so scared of things. Now, God also tells us to take necessary precautions.”

Reeves acknowledges that God says take necessary precautions, but refuses to put into place a mask mandate, again – against undeniable proof that COVID is ravaging his state worse than any other. One wonders what will happen when he has a talk with that same God and why he allowed so many children to grow up not knowing their parents? Maybe those kids weren’t as convinced as Reeves that mom or dad would be as good a parent in the afterlife as here on earth. Maybe Reeves doesn’t know what the fck he’s talking about and that his people are as afraid as anyone, just less educated about the truth… which isn’t featured on Fox.

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