In our opinion
March 27, 2003
Years of watching Alabama and Alabama politicians
avoid reforming the system that has created so many of our problems
does not make one an optimist. Time and again voices have been raised.
Time and again they have been ignored. This time, however, there seems
to be reason for hope.
First of all, two critical roadblocks to reform have
been identified and are being forced into the spotlight. In the last
few years our antiquated constitution has been assessed from almost
every angle and in almost every instance found wanting.
The Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform (ACCR)
recently met in Birmingham to press the case for change. Although
representatives from Northeast Alabama were absent, this was not because
of a lack of interest.
Still, our region needs to double its efforts to get
the word out, for as Thomas Corts, ACCR chairman put it, "If
we squander this opportunity we have only ourselves to blame."
The other roadblock to reform, our unfair and insufficient
system of collecting revenue, is directly linked to our constitution.
Embedded in its articles and amendments are provisions that force
the state to rely on regressive taxes to fund, or should we say underfund,
essential services.
Today, the business community has joined the fight for
tax reform. Bill O’Connor, former chairman of the Business Council
of Alabama and now the head of the Campaign for Alabama has raised
some $3 million to underwrite a movement to change the tax code in
ways that would spread the burden more fairly and give the state the
resources necessary to provide the services that people need and deserve.
If these movements are successful, Alabama will be a
better place for all its citizens. There is reason for optimism —
cautious optimism.
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