Blissful Ignorance vs Mistakes of Omission

by Kelley Williams Published May 22, 2026 “The biggest mistakes are mistakes of omission, not commission. It’s the things you knew enough to do — they were within your circle of competence — and you were sucking your thumb. Those are the ones that hurt.” — Warren Buffett, University of Georgia, 2001

Hoist on Your Own Petard

by Kelley Williams Published May 11, 2026 Hoist on your own petard — an unpleasant surprise. A bomb that goes off in your hand. A screen pass that turns into a pick six. A developer's fantasy that puts Entergy in a bind of its own making.

Brain Drain or Brain Gain? Why Mississippi’s Young Leaders Are Staying

by The BPF Editorial Board Published May 7, 2026 What if Mississippi isn’t a place you have to leave to succeed? In this episode of Bigger Pie Forum, a new generation of leaders shares why they chose to return home—and how they’re thinking about jobs, innovation, affordability, and long-term impact.

The Fog of Peace Making

by Ashby Foote Published May 4, 2026 Two plus months into the war with Iran and the fog of war is becoming the fog of peacemaking. What was a shoot-out has become a stand-off. The key terrain feature remains the Strait of Hormuz. It is the key to this conflict in much the same way that Vicksburg was to the Civil War.

Off the Grid Puts Someone on the Hook

by Kelley Williams Published April 21, 2026 Mississippi has now seen the data center problem from three vantage points. From one end, Amazon cut a sweetheart deal — SB 2001 — that handed it access to Entergy’s grid while keeping the contracts secret from the ratepayers who will subsidize it.

 BPF researches and shares educational information encouraging Mississippi’s Economic Freedom while discouraging Crony Capitalism to increase Mississippi’s Economic Growth. BPF focuses on Constitutional Foundations, Education, Energy, Environment, Health Care, Federal Government & Agencies, Mississippi State Government & Agencies and Regulatory Abuses & Reforms.

Laurel MS 1
Multimedia

BPF Podcasts

Celebrating Laurel Mississippi

Bigger Pie Forum

Legislative Session
Project

MS Legislative Session

Policy helping Mississippi's economy grow.

Bigger Pie Forum

MS River Flooding
Project

Mississippi River Flooding

Time to change the flood control plan – before it’s too late.

Bigger Pie Forum

PERS
Project

PERS

PERS needs sensible change to ensure its long-term viability

Bigger Pie Forum

MS Grid Stability
Research Topic

Mississippi's Electric Grid Stability

Unreliable and unpredictable sources of electricity (renewables) cause grid instability (blackouts) and higher electricity rates.

Bigger Pie Forum

Recent Commentary

 A Tale of Two Years and Two Worlds

Charles Dickens put it well 165 years ago, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” This is an apt metaphor for the stock market and the world in 2023 and perhaps for 2024 as well. Last year saw seven magnificent technology stocks promising glorious productivity gains from Artificial Intelligence (AI) lead the S&P 500 to dramatic double-digit returns

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And Another One Bites the Dust

Enviva has been in the news lately. Mongabay News reported a company whistleblower (they’re everywhere) says the company’s green claims are fraudulent. The claims also defy common sense. But so do solar plants that supply electricity 25% of the time when it’s needed 24-7-365. Hey, you’re not supposed to ask if green energy makes common sense or economic sense. Just pretend it does.

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A Conversation with Mark Mills on the Future of Energy

We delve deep into the complex world of energy with expert Mark Mills of the Manhattan Institute as he debunks myths and shines a light on the future.  From the realities of electric vehicles to the impact of green energy on the mining industry, we cover it all.

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Academic Fraud Busters

Who you gonna call when a Harvard Business School tenured professor lies about her research? Research about why people lie and cheat. Fraud Busters, that’s who. A recent Wall Street Journal article profiled three academic fraud busters. They’re busy.

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BPF Book Review: Reframe Your Brain by Scott Adams

Reframing how one looks at the world and life itself can be a great way to get out of an old rut and find a new groove and Reframe Your Brain presents a systematic approach to incorporate reframing into your everyday life.

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A Local Perspective: Soaring Pension Costs Puts Pressure on Budgets

When the PERS Board voted to increase taxpayer funding by raising the “employer contribution rate” five percentage points at a cost of $265 million, most attention was given to state-supported entities (think: agencies, K-12 public schools, community colleges, and public universities). Yet the total funding required by this rate hike is $345 million, with some $80 million in new financial obligations placed squarely on the shoulders of Mississippi’s cities and counties.  Unless something changes, the new rate (and higher costs) become effective July 1, 2024.

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Mississippi River Flooding Charts

Publications

Charts indicating the frequency for flooding in pre- and post-1973 at various points along the Mississippi River.