689:
756:
70:
Mississippi's poor reputation is such a common trope in
American culture that when Mississippi does rank well in something, the phrase "Thank God for Mississippi" may get brought up just to discuss how it does not apply in the given circumstance. The saying comes from Mississippi's poor ranking as
62:
commonly ranks at or near the bottom of such rankings, residents of other states also ranking near the bottom may say, "Thank God for
Mississippi", since the presence of that state in 50th place spares them of being ranked last. The phrase is in use even among state government
125:
The growing notoriety of the phrase has led some
Mississippians themselves to despise the saying, not because it is false, but because it rings true and puts their state in a bad light. The phrase has also been used as an attempt to rally Mississippians towards making change.
623:
1008:
135:
1161:
122:, and has seen usage across the nation with regard to rankings both serious and trivial, and the underlying logic has been extrapolated to other states and even countries.
1196:
1201:
32:
601:
378:
1034:
993:
615:
651:
1191:
707:
290:
331:
48:
873:
1104:
497:
1134:
194:
268:
44:
1157:
904:
219:
822:
452:
568:
1186:
926:
693:
659:
546:
523:
591:
382:
979:
847:
429:
245:
140:
799:
664:
28:
956:
92:
777:
637:
1081:
87:
as states in 1959, and its use, while found throughout the entire country, is especially common in
881:
765:
Alabamans have a saying: 'Thank God for
Mississippi, or we'd be the poorest state in the nation.'
1009:"Louisiana ranked worst state as pollution, poverty, violence among factors in U.S. News report"
730:
404:
1112:
1181:
52:
475:"Is 'Thank God For Mississippi Or Arkansas' Finally Behind Us? On West Kentucky Journal"
474:
316:
1175:
223:
112:
91:, which shares significant cultural and historical ties with its neighbor and former
291:"After 148 years, Mississippi finally ratifies 13th Amendment, which banned slavery"
31:, that is generally used when discussing rankings of U.S. states. Examples include
356:
195:"America's worst state for business: Mississippi is cheap, but its workforce weak"
688:
Data mostly refers to IMF staff estimates for the year 2014, made in April 2015.
1035:"Tennessee ranked among the unhealthiest states in America, according to Forbes"
957:"The (might as well be official) Texas state motto: 'Thank God for Mississippi'"
59:
708:"The Big Apple: 'Thank God for Mississippi' ('Thank Heaven for Mississippi')"
108:
104:
119:
596:
332:"Study finds Mississippi is nation's worst state in which to live, again"
100:
96:
64:
269:"Arkansas: Battle for the Statehouse, Governor Election - AARP Bulletin"
88:
36:
84:
80:
71:
compared to the other 49 U.S. states, not from a global perspective.
40:
1059:
590:
Sabato, Larry J.; Kondik, Kyle; Skelley, Geoffrey (June 25, 2014).
246:"TGFM: La. second unhealthiest state - The Independent Media Group"
67:
and journalists, though occasionally with a slight modification.
24:
1158:"OPINION: Erase 'Thank God for Mississippi' from Knowledge (XXG)"
616:"Which states are the best (and worst) at vaccinating their kids"
927:"Now in Mississippi: Four S's, Four I's, And a Dollop of P.R"
498:"Joe Wilson does other politically challenged states a favor"
79:
The saying has been attributed since before the induction of
95:
co-constituent
Mississippi. Its use is also noted in nearby
524:"Thank god for Mississippi (County). - Free Online Library"
994:"Tomlinson: To avoid Death Star law, better win elections"
381:. Governor.arkansas.gov. January 11, 2011. Archived from
663:(Press release). June 5, 2012. p. 7. Archived from
823:"Alabama ranks #45 in education, according to a study"
430:"Alabama and Mississippi all alone in food-tax policy"
220:"Adult Obesity Rates - The State of Childhood Obesity"
357:"'Thank God for Mississippi' - Church World Service"
1135:"How the UK compares to other Europeans on poverty"
800:"Thank God for Mississippi | This Bird's View"
136:
List of states and territories of the United States
905:"West Virginia Legislator Hatches Plan to Secede"
878:Arkansas' Independent Colleges & Universities
652:"WidespreadEconomic Growth Across States In 2011"
1060:"Arkansas 4th Most Pro-Life State in the Nation"
802:. Thisbirdsview.wordpress.com. February 17, 2011
547:"Thank God for Mississippi | Arkansas Blog"
99:and other frequently low-ranking states such as
27:used in the United States, particularly in the
453:"Good news for Alabama business | al.com"
569:"Congo: Africa's 'Thank God for Mississippi'"
8:
690:World Economic Outlook Database-April 2015
496:Stiglitz, Joseph E. (September 12, 2009).
432:. Archive.decaturdaily.com. April 30, 2007
1082:"What Is the State Motto of New Mexico?"
950:
948:
604:from the original on September 12, 2015.
1197:Political metaphors referring to people
172:
152:
1137:. Liberal Conspiracy. January 17, 2013
359:. Hunger.cwsglobal.org. April 26, 2012
1202:Society of the Southern United States
731:"Mississippi Is For . . . Education?"
526:. Thefreelibrary.com. August 23, 2004
477:. Westkyjournal.com. October 10, 2012
267:Povich, Elaine S. (October 7, 2010).
183:. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1949. Print.
181:Southern Politics in State and Nation
118:The saying has become something of a
55:or government in the 50 U.S. states.
7:
848:"DFW Airport: Bad Luck or Just Bad?"
729:Zengerle, Jason (December 2, 2008).
222:. September 16, 2022. Archived from
780:. Capstone Report. October 15, 2007
626:from the original on March 7, 2016.
451:Budd McLaughlin (August 29, 2009).
33:rankings of educational achievement
1164:from the original on May 17, 2023.
1103:Tungate, Susan (August 17, 2012).
1062:. Family Council. January 25, 2011
159:Attributed to multiple references:
14:
706:Popik, Barry (October 11, 2008).
955:Cluth, Jack (January 11, 2009).
880:. March 13, 2012. Archived from
571:. Radar Online. October 27, 2008
330:Kulo, Warren (August 16, 2022).
1192:American political catchphrases
1156:Ulmer, Sarah (March 10, 2018).
978:Katz, Marc (November 2, 2009).
903:Tim Murphy (February 1, 2011).
545:Brantley, Max (April 7, 2011).
757:"In Alabama: A County of Hope"
592:"'Thank God for Mississippi!'"
379:"Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe"
248:. Theind.com. December 8, 2010
1:
193:Cohn, Scott (July 13, 2022).
696:. Accessed on 14 April 2015.
1105:"Thank God for Mississippi"
980:"Thank God for Mississippi"
874:"Letter from the President"
778:"Thank God for Mississippi"
694:International Monetary Fund
660:Bureau of Economic Analysis
638:"Thank God for Mississippi"
51:, or other criteria of the
1218:
35:, business opportunities,
317:"Overview of Mississippi"
21:Thank God for Mississippi
141:Education in Mississippi
58:Since the U.S. state of
761:Washington Evening Star
16:Southern American adage
405:"Fiscal Input Report"
226:on September 16, 2022
93:Mississippi Territory
959:. What Would Jack Do
1187:Mississippi society
620:The Washington Post
385:on January 21, 2011
297:. February 18, 2013
933:. December 3, 2006
931:Washingtonpost.com
755:Brooks, Thomas R.
821:Sanders, Nicole.
1209:
1166:
1165:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1142:
1131:
1125:
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1122:
1120:
1111:. Archived from
1100:
1094:
1093:
1091:
1089:
1078:
1072:
1071:
1069:
1067:
1056:
1050:
1049:
1047:
1045:
1033:Patton, Alicia.
1030:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1019:
1013:Shreveport Times
1004:
998:
997:
990:
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983:
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968:
966:
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952:
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942:
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938:
923:
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916:
914:
912:
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893:
891:
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884:on June 23, 2013
870:
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854:. August 3, 2015
844:
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746:
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743:
741:
726:
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719:
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710:. Barrypopik.com
703:
697:
686:
680:
679:
677:
675:
670:on June 16, 2012
669:
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1169:
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1118:
1116:
1115:on May 10, 2013
1102:
1101:
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1080:
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1063:
1058:
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1053:
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1032:
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1017:
1015:
1007:Hilburn, Greg.
1006:
1005:
1001:
996:. May 22, 2023.
992:
991:
987:
977:
976:
972:
962:
960:
954:
953:
946:
936:
934:
925:
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902:
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867:
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831:
829:
820:
819:
815:
805:
803:
798:
797:
793:
783:
781:
776:
775:
771:
763:. p. 152.
754:
753:
749:
739:
737:
728:
727:
723:
713:
711:
705:
704:
700:
687:
683:
673:
671:
667:
654:
650:
649:
645:
640:. July 1, 2022.
636:
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631:
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609:
589:
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584:
574:
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567:
566:
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77:
53:quality of life
49:life expectancy
39:rates, overall
17:
12:
11:
5:
1215:
1213:
1205:
1204:
1199:
1194:
1189:
1184:
1174:
1173:
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1095:
1084:. Wisegeek.com
1073:
1051:
1025:
999:
985:
970:
944:
918:
907:. Mother Jones
895:
865:
839:
813:
791:
769:
747:
721:
698:
681:
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629:
607:
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549:. Arktimes.com
537:
515:
502:Slate Magazine
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852:Texas Monthly
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455:. Blog.al.com
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447:
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410:. Nmlegis.gov
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341:September 16,
337:
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225:
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113:West Virginia
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1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1129:
1117:. Retrieved
1113:the original
1108:
1098:
1086:. Retrieved
1076:
1064:. Retrieved
1054:
1042:. Retrieved
1038:
1028:
1016:. Retrieved
1012:
1002:
988:
973:
961:. Retrieved
935:. Retrieved
930:
921:
909:. Retrieved
898:
886:. Retrieved
882:the original
877:
868:
858:November 29,
856:. Retrieved
851:
842:
830:. Retrieved
826:
816:
804:. Retrieved
794:
782:. Retrieved
772:
764:
760:
750:
738:. Retrieved
735:New Republic
734:
724:
712:. Retrieved
701:
684:
674:December 27,
672:. Retrieved
665:the original
658:
646:
632:
619:
610:
595:
585:
573:. Retrieved
563:
551:. Retrieved
540:
528:. Retrieved
518:
506:. Retrieved
501:
491:
479:. Retrieved
469:
457:. Retrieved
446:
434:. Retrieved
424:
412:. Retrieved
399:
387:. Retrieved
383:the original
373:
361:. Retrieved
351:
339:. Retrieved
335:
325:
311:
299:. Retrieved
294:
285:
273:. Retrieved
262:
250:. Retrieved
240:
228:. Retrieved
224:the original
214:
202:. Retrieved
198:
188:
180:
175:
155:
124:
117:
78:
69:
57:
45:poverty rate
20:
18:
1109:SantaFe.com
1044:November 5,
1018:November 5,
832:November 5,
827:WRBL News 3
504:. Slate.com
179:Key, V. O.
60:Mississippi
1176:Categories
271:. Aarp.org
167:References
109:Louisiana
105:Tennessee
65:officials
1162:Archived
1039:WKRN.COM
624:Archived
602:Archived
597:Politico
336:gulflive
130:See also
101:Kentucky
97:Arkansas
23:" is an
1141:May 13,
1119:May 13,
1088:May 13,
1066:May 13,
963:May 13,
937:May 13,
911:May 13,
888:May 13,
806:May 13,
784:May 13,
740:May 13,
714:May 13,
575:May 13,
553:May 13,
530:May 13,
508:May 13,
481:May 13,
459:May 13,
436:May 13,
414:May 13,
389:May 13,
363:May 13,
275:May 13,
252:May 13,
89:Alabama
75:History
37:obesity
1182:Adages
120:cliché
111:, and
85:Hawaii
81:Alaska
43:, the
41:health
668:(PDF)
655:(PDF)
408:(PDF)
147:Notes
29:South
25:adage
1143:2013
1121:2013
1090:2013
1068:2013
1046:2023
1020:2023
965:2013
939:2013
913:2013
890:2013
860:2023
834:2023
808:2013
786:2013
742:2013
716:2013
676:2012
577:2013
555:2013
532:2013
510:2013
483:2013
461:2013
438:2013
416:2013
391:2013
365:2013
343:2022
303:2022
277:2013
254:2013
232:2022
206:2022
199:CNBC
83:and
1178::
1160:.
1107:.
1037:.
1011:.
947:^
929:.
876:.
850:.
825:.
759:.
733:.
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293:.
197:.
115:.
107:,
103:,
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1145:.
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1092:.
1070:.
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1022:.
982:.
967:.
941:.
915:.
892:.
862:.
836:.
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678:.
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557:.
534:.
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463:.
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234:.
208:.
19:"
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