Towns and counties south and north of Vicksburg and Warren County have two things in common. One is that they all have unemployment rates that are at least twice as high as the unusually high rate of joblessness being experienced here. Another is that all — or almost all — raised their tax rates for the coming year.

The question that looms is why their voters put up with this. The town aldermen in Port Gibson are the most egregious, showing what amounts to extreme arrogance by, among other things, shutting Mayor Fred Reeves out of budget discussions. Deep in debt, “managers” there increased tax rates 4 mills, raised their own pay and affirmatively refused to even consider something as simple as giving up their city-provided cell phones. Claiborne County increased tax rates more than 9 mills, including 2 mills for schools.

Economic development leaders here have been pushing for more regional undertakings to benefit all job-seekers in west central Mississippi and northeast Louisiana. It’s on hold now, but it was an alliance of Pontotoc, Union and Lee counties, and the towns in those counties, large and small, that created the megasite where construction was begun on a $1.3 billion Toyota plant.

This part of the state would benefit greatly from such regional cohesion. But as long as voters keep empowering those whose vision is limited to their own wallets, well, it’s unlikely to happen.