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Opinion
July 4, 2001

   We need the founding fathers' courage and determination to revise Alabama's constitution. This is the day we celebrate America's birthday - our 225th this year. It's also the day when newspaper editorials rightly and properly urge citizens to reflect on their freedom and remember those who have made it possible for us to celebrate the Fourth of July in any legal way we see fit.

   The founding fathers would, no doubt, have been pleased to learn that their unprecedented experiment in democracy has lasted two centuries and a quarter and counting. But they also would have been the first to note that the struggle for good government never ends; that we are, as they were, continually involved in trying to ensure it.

   We in Alabama today need the commitment to reform that the nation's founders shouldered in 1776. We have a chance to support justice; to ensure that the people, not just the powerful, prevail; to right old wrongs; to stand together for a bold, brighter future.

   In many ways, Alabama's antiquated constitution has held this state under its thumb as much as Great Britain held the colonists. That document has produced a tax system that is a model of unfairness and a
political system in which power can effectively be wielded only by a privileged few.

   Luckily, summoning the spirit of America's founders, a growing number of Alabamians are exhibiting the kind of courage and perseverance that their forefathers showed.

   Today's Alabamians are demanding a constitution that works and reflects the world of today and the realities of tomorrow. They want to revise it so that it more accurately reflects the needs of the people.

   Yes, this day in which we celebrate the birth of the United States of America - it is also the day to pledge to hold fast to the legacy of our nation's founders and continue the fight to bring the Alabama constitution of 1901 to its long overdue termination.

How to get involved
   Citizens interested in constitutional reform may contact the Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform, P.O. Box 34, Montgomery 36101. The group's Web e-mail address is accr@constitutionalreform.org.

   Here are local and Montgomery phone numbers for Huntsville and Madison County legislators, followed by their e-mail addresses:
Senate District 2: Tom Butler, 256-837-8374, 334-242-7854, Senbutler@aol.com
Senate District 4: Zeb Little, 256-734-0456, 334-242-7855, zeblittle@earthlink.net
Senate District 7: Jeff Enfinger, 256-533-1155, 334-242-7885
Senate District 8: Lowell Barron, 256-623-2298, 334-242-7858
House District 4: Angelo Mancuso, 256-351-9019, 334-242-7709
House District 6: Sue Schmitz, 256-852-2383, 334-242-7704, schmitz@traveller.com
House District 10: Jim Haney, 256-883-6062, 334-242-7691, JHaney816@aol.com
House District 19: Laura Hall, 256-859-2234, 334-242-7688, ALVHall@aol.com
House District 20: Howard Sanderford, 256-533-1989, 334-242-4368, hsl@aol.com
House District 21: Patrick Jones, 256-858-9771, 334-242-7733
House District 22: Albert Hall, 256-776-3618, 334-242-7727 E-mail for the Madison County legislative
delegation is Madcoleg@juno.com.

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