During a legislative roundtable during the Mississippi Press Association’s convention in Biloxi last week, a few legislators, from either side of the political aisle, expressed their growing frustration with the way Mississippi works.

The frustration was with the political system, bent on grandstanding rather than actual progress. Their frustration was with continued focus on superficial tax cuts and corporate giveaways instead of development of the state’s education system or fixing the state’s health programs.

The frustration came from political showmanship and party-driven agendas instead of focusing on what is most important to the citizens of Mississippi.

One insider and legislative observer, frustrated with the myopic vision of the Legislature said Mississippi remains “the fattest, poorest, dumbest state in the nation” yet the Legislature focuses on continued tax cuts and abatements to international corporations.

Another quote that simplified the condition of legislative focus in Mississippi was “we wouldn’t be having these problems if we just kept up with Arkansas.”

The recent track record by the Mississippi Legislature is amazingly poor and the current special session will do little to improve that fact.

There are many who longed for the time when a Republican supermajority in Jackson would bring about ethical changes, fiscal restraint and provide a business-friendly environment to build Mississippi’s economy.

Unfortunately, it appears absolute power does in fact corrupt.

It is a fact that we cannot have a state that is business-friendly without having an educational system that is attractive to business. We cannot bring about fiscal restraint when we continue to provide tax cuts that do nothing more than make a nice headline.

The fractures that are starting to be seen — and now heard — from some of the rank and file in the GOP are a clear indication that the direction GOP leaders are taking the state is a path a growing number do not want to go.

What we are seeing is not a Democratic or Republican problem, but rather a leadership problem.

Mississippi needs true leaders, not ones who are bent on making a name for themselves, but rather those looking to make Mississippi’s name much better.

We might be a few years away from the our next foray into state elections, but it’s never to early to begin hoping and searching for true leaders for Mississippi.