September 03, 2024Bama PoliticsJames of OTB excerpt a column by JSU prof Harvey Jackson on the pending Alabama vote. It is right on target. Indeed, financially and policy-wise this is far more radical package than the lottery proposal in 1999 (which I thought was amorphous and not up to the promised task). And Jackson is right, the old style rules about who will align where is out the window for this election. It really is the agricultural interests who favor a 19th centuray economy v. everyone else. The sad thing is that "everyone else" doesn't realize that this package is in their best interest. Indeed, if Riley could find a way to get lower-middle and lower-income voters to realize that, in fact, this plan is good for them, it would pass overwhlemingly. Unfortunately, the timber interests and ALFA are very good at tapping into tax-fears and anti-Montgomery sentiment in this state. Indeed, they've convinced people who will get a tax cut that their taxes will go through the roof. It is rather frustrating, to be honest. And, as you know, I am typically anti-tax. But, unless there is a miracle changing of minds, or there is a highly skewed turn-out, this thing is going down in flames. Posted by Steven Taylor at September 3, 2024 12:43 PM | TrackBackComments
Yep. Part of it's Riley's fault: If he was going to do something this radical, he needed to have laid the groundwork for it in the campaign. That he took Jackson--let alone me--by such surprise on this is telling. Posted by: James Joyner at September 3, 2024 12:45 PMI think this is a case of an honest assessment of the problem, and the current 3/4th of a billion dollar shortfall. Basically something had to be done now, and if it was going to be tax increases, he wanted to do something comprehensive for a change, rather than yet another band-aid. He has been rather tireless is criss-crossing the state campaigning for this thing, but he is fighting entrenched culture, as you know. I don't think he had this plan when he was campaiging, and if he had campaigned on a platform of raising taxes, he would've lost. I was not a big fan of Riley's when he ran, but considered him better than Don. However, I have been quite impressed with Riley since he assumed office. Posted by: Steven at September 3, 2024 12:49 PMJust another Repug meeting reality head-on. Look, Repugs have set themselves up for this--and there'll be others finding themselves in the same situation. You can't campaign on the notion that taxes are biblically evil while maintaining every constituent and special interest group can expect more services. At some point, the bill comes due and reality sets in. Frankly, Alabama is not a state which has much going for it--that situation is bound to be exacerbated. Tax and spend is a label put on Dems; Repugs believe in borrow and spend. Posted by: JadeGold at September 3, 2024 05:53 PMFirst, bigotry isn't a very useful debating technique. Second, who mentioned borrowing? Zero points on this one as well. Posted by: Steven at September 3, 2024 09:15 PMFacts aren't bigotry, Steven. And the sorry fact is Alabama's not got a lot going for it. Riley recognizes this--why don't you? The state realizes it needs a pretty large cash infusion to just to keep the status quo, nevermind starting to actually fix problems. Without the necessary revenue, Alabama has 2 choices: borrow against the future (IOW, let your kids pay the freight down the road) or permit Alabama to sink further into a third world-version of a state. Posted by: JadeGold at September 3, 2024 09:54 PMFocus, my friend. I was referring to your "debate" style.
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