Tsunamis of red ink in a red state and it probably didn't have to be that way!

Well, the AXE's variation on the Cromwellian theorem (By the bowels of the Lord Jesus Christ, I beseech thee to consider that thou may be wrong) probably doesn't apply, but it's interesting to see how much the symbiosis of capitalism and right wing Christian conservatism tends to screw over right-thinking Christian conservatives. The AXE has spent a reasonable amount of his life in the south, and a number of visits to Alabama have caused me to be kind of fond of some of the people and some of the places. Although I hate the climate, and find the stereotypical things infuriatingly funny but mainly infuriating still...lots of the people are really nice and mean well. Watching Jeff Sessions rotate on the head of a pin over Sotomayor reminded me of the problems the Germans faced over de-nazification. Certainly, Senator Sessions came out in favor of the wisdom of any white judge over anybody of color back in the days when his sheet was pure polyester, along with his suits. Still, once you get to know them and they get to know you a bit, you can have a lot of friends in Alabama.

If anybody is left. Here in Culifoorneeah, the budget is making a lot of people crazy. But, in Jefferson County, Alabama things are beyond crazy...and, short of discovering gold in the city parks, are getting worse. "... last week, the director of the Jefferson County public nursing home was told that the county could no longer afford to bury indigent patients...Across town at the juvenile detention center, the man in charge was trying to figure out how to feed the 28 children in his custody when the entire cafeteria staff is let go. The tax collector warned local school districts to expect a six-month delay to get their share of property taxes. In family court, administrators plan to delay child support, custody and child abuse cases, leaving some children in the hands of the state indefinitely..." Life is about to become cold, short and brutish in Birmingham, a city that back in the days when we made stuff in this country was compared favorably to and referred to as "The Pittsburgh of the South."

The racism and hubris of the past is a factor, but really, the government has been in the hands of far-right, Christian Conservatives for decades. The Karl Rove Justice Department that probably framed a moderate, successful conservative Democratic Governor and tossed him in a maximum security federal pen and then into solitary for his own protection for 7 years hard time without  any of the consideration normally shown to white collar to do hard time for crimes that are pretty arcane was really part of the same corrupt, lizard people mind-set that has resulted in the Birmingham debacle...money, power, lies and screwing those below you.

Now, Seigelman is an ironic target for a couple of reasons. Unlike the stereotypical Southern Baptist governor, he's Catholic. His wife is Jewish, the first state First Lady to not be a Christian. He held all four of top Alabama elected posts. He went to 'Bama, where he was a frat man and head of the Student Government Association. He was undoubtedly a frat man -- shades of Greg Marmalade. However, his law school was Georgetown and he was a Rhodes Scholar. He also was an engine for economic growth, doubling the size of Mercedes in Birmingham, bringing Hyundai into the state and on and on and on. Shit, the guy looks like a moderate Republican...and they did this to him. Meanwhile, in Birmingham...

“Outside of the city of Detroit,” said Robert A. Kurrter, a managing director with Moody’s Investors Service, “it’s fair to say we haven’t seen any place in America with the severity of problems that they’re experiencing in Jefferson County.” Moody’s rates Jefferson County’s credit lower than any other municipality in the country...In July, the county asked Gov. Bob Riley, a Republican, to declare a state of emergency. Mr. Riley declined, delicately explaining that his authority extended to tornadoes but not to tsunamis of red ink. Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham, could be compared to a person who has lost his job, watched his retirement investments evaporate and is stuck with a house that is worth less than what he owes the bank...Adrilisa Steele, 34, a juvenile probation officer, said, “We are probably going to be standing in line for services like everyone else.”Ms. Steele meant lines for unemployment insurance and food stamps, but at the courthouse, the lines for car tags or driver’s licenses were already very long."  

Comments

[blessy m singson]

i like the music video....yep

[jackb29]

My older brother retired from the Army in 1981, and as often happens, retired to the state his wife is from, Alabama. He taught JROTC for 23 years. Now retired, and he has often pointed out how the state is run by, for and of the corporations and wealthy. You cant get anything done locally, because a lot of normally local issues have to be passed as a STATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMMENDMENT.

WHAT A GREAT WAY TO BLOCK ANYTHING PROGRESSIVE... Which was done to a bill to make state taxiation fair a few years ago.. You see, Much of Alabama is owned by timber companies, and they have an EXTREMELY LOW TAX RATE.. Many middle class people actually pay more state tax on their salaries, etc, than the forest companies pay on thousands of acres of land... 'Course, the righties went nuts about increasing any taxes, thus cutting the throats of the poor and middle class. Again.

Also, since Birmingham city government has a "Negro" mayor, of course, Brirmingham's problems are all because of "THEM". Yes, there's no racism in Alabama!!!

[Crusader AXE]

Your brother is older than I am, and retired when I was still a Staff Sergeant -- and, he has caught on to something that soldiers generally miss. Most soldiers would probably deny that reality -- in Alabama, I guess it pays to be real if you're not real stupid.

As for local districts not being able to do anything unless there's a state constitutional amendment, what a reactionay's wet-dream that must be.

[Mobile Marketing]

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