Olive Branch, Mississippi Mayor Ken Adams has issued a statement explaining his decision not to lower the American flag to half-staff for Dolly Parton. In the statement, he says Parton was a great person who brought happiness to millions, but that he believes lowering the flag should be reserved for military heroes, fallen first responders, presidents, and events with a tremendous impact on the country. He also cites Mississippi's Home Rule doctrine, arguing that local governments have the ability to use their own judgment on these decisions rather than simply following state or federal leaders.
People keep bringing up the book thing, which is awesome, but she also pretty much replaced all government aide to Appalachia when the government essentially abandoned and cut off every social program. She helped people pay rent, put food on the table, afford school for their kids, and made sure those schools had funding.
Dolly has legitimately cared for and done more for the common people than any politician ever even pretends to have done, simply because it was the right thing to and she was able to do it.
Dolly changed a lot of lives for the better. She did the one thing that every other rich person is incapable of, she cared about other people enough to do something about it.
Also, she turned down a place in the rock and roll hall of fame because she, objectively and inarguably one of the greatest and most influential song writers of all time, thought others deserved it far more than her. That’s just rad.
