What a loaded statement! This could go so many ways! But the context is based upon a news release last a few weeks ago. Two different stories ran that independently mean little but when taken in context show a type of leadership schizophrenia we have in our state at times.
The first news cast was based upon a ruling regarding Alabama’s immigration law. Parts of the law were struck down as unconstitutional and parts were upheld. What the federal courts had to say was that the state was overstepping its bounds as it related to dealing with immigration which has a federal jurisdiction. And certain parts were upheld giving the state some jurisdiction in how it manages immigration and migrant workers. However, because certain parts of the law were upheld, the governor and congress saw this as a win as well and issued a sweeping statement about the state being able to govern without interference from the federal government.
Later on in the newscast, there was another court case coming to fruition. In this past year’s Alabama legislative session, the state passed a law mandating when public school systems would start in the fall and when to finish in the spring. Historically, this has been a decision for local schools and municipalities. The state postulated that it was mainly to capitalize on Alabama’s tourism season with the intent to have classes start closer to Labor Day and end before Memorial weekend.
The problem: How can we demand the federal government allow us state rights and then turn around and strip it from the local municipalities? This has been a foundational problem in our state. Much of it stems from our state constitution written in 1901 that is antiquated, outdated, and unfortunately premised with racism and classism. The intent of our 1901 constitution was to intentionally centralize all power into Montgomery so that at the time, blacks and low income whites could not have power and influence. And we have carried that tradition ever since. Someone in Geneva County has to vote on whether or not Lee County can raise sales tax. Many people do not even vote on the amendments because we do not WANT anymore amendments in our jam packed document regardless of what the amendment is about.
With a Republican based congress and governor one would think the principles of home rule, smaller government, and individual rights would finally take precedence. But that does not seem to be a priority. We continue to fear others and perpetuate these huge problems instead of doing the right thing, re-writing our Constitution. So, for what it is worth-let’s not point our fingers at the Federal Government and demand them to “let us rule” when we at the state level are not willing to allow counties and municipalities the same freedom. We need a new constitution. For more information see Alabama Arise, Alabama Poverty Project, and the ACCR. www.constitutionalreform.org.
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