Comments on: ALABAMA: NO REFORM, THANKS

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Yup. The problem is far more than one of marketing--there is an issue of entrenched political culture.

By: Kristopher

Kristopher — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I'm hearing a lot of "it was just too big". I think there was a marketing issue in that the magnitude of the problem was not fully defined before the package was presented. Citizens never grasped how great and different the problems were than what the Governor expected during the campaign.

I think that's the only marketing issue that may have helped, but it certainly wouldn't have changed the outcome.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Trust me, Kristopher, after living here for 5 years, the other side would've said it was "too big" no matter what--especially so long as there were property tax increases involved. Clearly the vast majority of voters in this state don't believe that the state government needs the revenue. It is part of a long-standing trend.

It really is a foundational debate between those who see agriculture and 19th-century structures as the best way to govern the state and the economy and those who don't. While I think that the long-term outlook may be optimistic, the short-term (and maybe medium-term) is still in the hands of the 19th Century-ites.

By: Kristopher

Kristopher — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I think the Governor did not do an effective job of framing the debate in the way you outlined. You are correct the short term outlook is very bleak. My question is whether there is any future for real reform in this state.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Kris,

I dunno. I first moved to Alabama in 1980. Politicians have been talking about the need for reform, including scrapping the obsolescent constitution, since then at least. Progress: Zero.

By: Kristopher

Kristopher — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

James,

You're looking at the same history I am. I don't hold out much hope. This vote was my first personal experience with the length and depth of people's cynicism in this state. As a former cynic myself, I can sympathize, but among Alabamians it reaches a ridiculous level.

By: Chris Lawrence

Chris Lawrence — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

I've met David at a conference (actually he was on a panel with me at the 2001 Western); nice guy (complete non-sequitor, I know).

Of course, you could always see the modified Arkansas/Nevada gambit: the Supreme Court declaring the whole tax system unconstitutional. Since they've already painted a giant target on themselves with the RepubliCons by not standing up for Moore, it's not like they're hurting their chances for reelection. And at least they are elected, which gives them more legitimacy in the matter than say SCOTUS would have.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Except that, in this case, the tax system is ENSHRINED IN THE CONSTITUTION. Indeed, that's why there was a referendum--they had to change the Constitution to effect the tax restructuring. The Alabama Constitutition is thicker than most metro phone books. It's friggin' huge, because it's been amended hundreds of time since 1901.

By: Chris Lawrence

Chris Lawrence — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Heh, that wouldn't (and didn't) stop the Nevada Supreme Court from applying what some would describe as "novel" reasoning to the problem.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Always a possibility, I guess. It strikes me as unlikely in the case of Alabama, however.

By: The World Around You

The World Around You — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

Amendment 1 Defeated, Where Do We Go from Here?
I am deeply saddened by the almost 1 million of my fellow Alabamians that voted against Amendment 1 today. I honestly don't know where we go from here. Going into this vote, I was prepared to move forward in good faith on some of the provisions contain...

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