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In our opinion April 7, 2003 Good citizens interested in finding solutions to Barbour County's county school dilemma and county government financing should plan to attend the constitution reform forum Friday morning. Dr. Wayne Flynt, the distinguished Auburn University history professor, will address the need for reform during the forum that begins at 7:45 AM at the James. S. Clark Center in the restored depot. The forum is co-sponsored by The Eufaula Tribune and the Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. We are fortunate to have Dr. Flynt speak on the 1901 Constitution and give a historical perspective to this fundamentally flawed document. The co-author of "Alabama: the History of a Deep South State," is imminently qualified to speak on the subject. He is straightforward and is not bashful in discussing problems that continue to plague our beloved Alabama. It will be well worth our local leaders and good citizens all's time to hear the native of Mississippi who grew up in Dothan and Anniston. They can hear this authority speak plainly about what's wrong with the state constitution that is hampering Barbour County so painfully. Because the constitution does not allow home rule, Barbour countians would not vote on the proposed bill that would tax soft drinks and bottled water five cents per bottle. The Legislature would also decide on a proposed one-cent countywide sales tax increase. Local voters would vote on a proposed six-mill property tax, provided it survives the legislative process in Montgomery. The Tribune and the Chamber are sponsoring this forum to provide local citizens with more facts and information about constitutional reform. The forum is free to Chamber members and their guests. Dr. Flynt will not hesitate to discuss his enlightened view of how the frequently amended constitution holds Alabama back and impedes progress in our state that has enviable natural resources and dedicated, hard-working people. The history scholar is no respecter of politics when it comes to placing the blame. It will be refreshing to hear this knowledgeable, plainspoken professor speak on the controversial 1901 Alabama Constitution that is "widely viewed as the source of many, if not most, of the state's historic difficulties and inequities." Chief among these are "the poor funding of our state school system, an unfair tax system, favoring special business interests, legislated racism and unchecked urban sprawl." The Tribune believes like the editor of "A Century of Controversy," Bailey Thomson, that "after 100 years of overburdening amendments and confusing addendums, the constitution urgently needs rewriting." This is Barbour countains' opportunity to hear the most authoritative Alabama constitutional authority speak and to ask him pointed questions. We welcome Dr. Wayne Flynt to Eufaula, and we thank him for his role in doing something constructive about our ill-designed constitution. Return to: Editorial Index |
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| Alabama Citizens for
Constitutional Reform Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 34 Montgomery, Alabama 36101-0034 E-mail: accr@constitutionalreform.org |
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