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Constitutional reform rally
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By Beth Anderson October 30, 2002 Local students got a lesson in history and politics Tuesday during a constitutional reform rally at Central Alabama Community College. Sponsored by Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, the rally featured guest speakers Dr. Wayne Flynt, a history professor from Auburn University and Tallapoosa County Commissioner T.C. Coley. Flynt gave an account of the origins of Alabama’s 1901 constitution and its impact on the state’s current problems. Flynt said the purpose of the 1901 document was to take voting rights away from blacks and poor white men, reserving the power for a wealthy few. Because the document’s drafters stripped local power, Flynt said, the constitution has suffered thousands of amendments – adding to its bulk and complexity. “That is the most archaic and the most inefficient constitution in the U.S.,” Flynt said. “Our constitution is now larger than Moby Dick. We have only ourselves to blame.” Local control was the focal point for Coley, who said county commissions are limited when it comes to serving residents because the constitution forces them to first seek the support from the Legislature. “People from other parts of the state are voting on local issues,” Coley said. “I firmly believe that home rule is a critical component of constitutional reform.” The passage of Amendment One was also on the agenda for reform proponents. Appearing on the Nov. 5 ballot, if approved, Amendment One will require a majority vote from the people before any new constitution is ratified. “Amendment One is a safety net,” said CACC Advancement Officer Michael Lovett. “I think that transcends everything. It just makes sense.” At the end of the rally, the crowd was encouraged to sign the ACCR’s yellow school bus, Reform One, which will be parked at the capital Nov. 4. Return to: Constitutional Reform ~ In the News Return to: Editorial Index |
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Citizens for Constitutional Reform Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 34 Montgomery, Alabama 36101-0034 E-mail: accr@constitutionalreform.org |
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