With all the superlative letters last Sunday regarding U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, one would think he is a saint. In my opinion, he is anything but.

Thompson maintains his position as representative of our district only because the federal government gerrymandered district lines to his benefit. He doesn’t represent me. He represents those who prefer government handouts to work, those who manipulate one government program or another to gain access to taxpayer dollars for their own benefit, and those who just don’t know any better. He has made himself rich by using his position for his own gain.

In truth, Thompson is responsible in large part for the persistent poverty that plagues our district. Like his fellow Democrats, he doesn’t care about the problems working people face. He cares about his power and his money. And he knows that as long as he keeps the handouts flowing to his constituents and guides legislation that will benefit his special friends, his re-election is assured.

Thompson is a part of a government that is totally corrupt. The debasement of morals, the assaults on free speech, the marxist/fascist takeovers of corporations, the unpopular efforts to reform our health care system and force job-killing environmental regulations upon us, the attacks on Christianity, the attempts to pass legislation to restrict gun rights, the propagandizing of our educational system … Thompson is a part of all of these.

For the betterment of our district, Thompson should be voted out of office and replaced with a representative who will seek a return to constitutional law. The fact that he is returned to office after each election is nothing in which any of us — especially those on the take — need take pride.

Malcolm Allred

Vicksburg