Constitutional Amendments on Alabama Ballot

Thanks OP. (4.00 / 2)

I'm glad you were able to get the diary to work!

There's more info available about Alabama amdendments at Ballotpedia.org. 

Looks like the Rainy Day fund is getting the most attention.  Logical, since it's the only statewide amendment. 

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 07:27:34 AM CDT

Thank you (4.00 / 3)

Your instructions on the diary were excellent. Thanks

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:14:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I second that thanks (4.00 / 3)

My computer is in the shop, and I work days and haven't had a chance to research these. Thanks for that summary.

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by: Lindy @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:42:33 AM CDT

Thanks for the info! (4.00 / 3)

I've been wondering about these.

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by: hgalloway @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:36:05 AM CDT

A ^ 5 to OP….. (0.00 / 0)

Way to go! I never tried to learn how to post a diary on here. Maybe someone will volunteer to tutor me on how to do that. It’s difficult enough just to post a comment here compared to other blogs.

I’d also like to know if there is some way to subscribe to a diary on this blog so I’ll be sent a notification by email whenever other comments have been posted, as is the case on many of the blogs I read daily.

I’ve heard it said that the best form of government is that which is closest to the people that it governs and I think that’s true. Voters, along with their neighbors, can have fare more influence (control, if you wish) over their county or municipal commission than they can have over the Alabama legislature where they can vote for only 2 out of the 140 members. Former US HOR Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill said that all politics is local, but that can’t be true in Alabama when our constitution requires that even local issues must be handled by our state legislature. That’s why I posted what I did @ http://www.leftinalabama.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2860

 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...."      Hosea 4:6

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by: driq @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:13:57 AM CDT

Here you go - all credit to countrycat (0.00 / 0)

Here's the basic steps for a diary:

1.  In the right sidebar, there's a list of links at the top of the page.  Click on "New Diary."

2.  You'll see a text box for the diary title, one for tags (optional), a big text box for the diary introduction ("Main Text"), and below it, a big text box for the rest of the diary ("Extended Text").

The title and top big "Main" text box are the parts that appear on the front page.  Readers don't see the rest of the diary until they click on the "there's more" link.

If you're diary is short, you don't even have to put anything else in the bottom text box.  But if it's long, with lots of images, videos, etc.  please break it into two parts!  Otherwise, readers get carpal tunnel syndrome scrolling on the home page.

3.  Once you have your diary finished, click on the "Preview" button at the bottom, right corner of the text box (like you do when you make a comment).  If it looks ok, click the "Save" button and you're posted!

Oh, and if you're halfway finished and have to take a break, you can save it for later by choosing the "Draft" radio button in the "Type" section that's below the "Extended Text" box. Just do "preview" and "save," then you can go back and edit the diary later.  Note: it will stay a draft until you change the type to "Public."

Of course, I use Firefox with Windows XP.  We've avoided Vista so far.  But maybe this will help!

 

In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile. --- Hunter S. Thompson

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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:34:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Actually you posted one back in August, driq. (0.00 / 0)

Not complicated at all.  Go to menu at top right of ""Home" page and click on "New Diary".  Piece of cake.

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:35:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

CORRECTION (0.00 / 0)

My typo "fare more" in my comment above should read "far more".

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...."      Hosea 4:6

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by: driq @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:16:56 AM CDT

Thanks O.P. I voted absentee yesterday and voted yes on #1 (4.00 / 1)

I ignored the others, since I know nothing about the needs of those counties. 

When you feel ambitious, you can give us a good explanation of what it would take to get a workable constitution.

A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead  

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by: piggieheart @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:28:52 AM CDT

Thank you. (4.00 / 1)

My major is HR, not law. I tried to read the amendments and could not make heads or tails of them. This will certainly help me out when I vote on Nov. the 4th. Thank you for the post.

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by: JudsonCrow @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:33:45 AM CDT

Me too. Thanks! Sometimes I can't resist the silliness (0.00 / 0)

of me in HSV voting against a bond issue downstate, if only to stress the absurdity of our state constitution.

Having those amendment issues explained is a good step toward helping me avoid acting on that particular character flaw.  We're all in this together.

I don't know, though, what it will take to get a new constitution.  It's well beyond its initial race politics rationale by now. 

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by: Terra Mystica @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 22:15:55 PM CDT

I had the same flaw (4.00 / 1)

For a long time I voted against all amendments as a form of silent protest against our Constitution. Then it dawned on me that that was really unfair to the local areas affected. After all it isn't Russell County's fault that the constitution is silly and they have no other way to address serious local problems.

I now take the view that these things do not get on the ballot unless the majority of local leaders support them so I generally vote yes.

Race was an element in the 1901 thought processes as seen in the racist language and provisions still present in the Alabama Constitution. Equally and perhaps more important was the desire to preserve the wealth and power of a chosen few. Unfortunately that has not changed and it is what will make getting a new constitution so difficult  

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke

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by: Old Prosecutor @ Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 23:09:16 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yes, wealth preservation too. Maybe not unrelated though. (0.00 / 0)

Or maybe explicitly related.  Especially then.

Still, you are so right.  Again thanks. 

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by: Terra Mystica @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 00:21:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Back before it was unfashionable to be an informed voter (0.00 / 0)

On Election Day 1980, the media reported that it took President Carter something like 30 minutes to vote.  When asked why, he stated that there were about 20 referenda on the ballot, and that his Presidential duties had prevented him from keeping up with them in the Georgia papers.  But, he felt it was his civic duty to read each one and cast a vote on it.

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by: PubliusIX @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 01:42:17 AM CDT

Thanks for this (4.00 / 1)

I think it is important that people have an understanding of the amendments when they enter the voting booth. It would be nice if we didn't have this added complication in Alabama but it is the reality for now.

This state has the longest active constitution in the world and it is an embarrassment because of this ridiculous requirement for amendments that effect only local municipalities as well as the racist agenda of the drafters of our current constitution. This agenda is a matter of record and fact which can be viewed in it's entirety at the official website of the Alabama Legislature: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/history/constitutions/1901/proceedings/1901_proceedings_vol1/1901.html

The racially charged part of the proceedings really begins on day two: http://www.legislature.state.al.us/misc/history/constitutions/1901/proceedings/1901_proceedings_vol1/day2.html

We need constitutional reform in this state.

On the amendments, I only vote for amendments that will effect me or my area. I live in Madison so I will be voting on amendments 1 and 3. I intend to vote yes on both. I particularly think that amendment 3 is necessary as this should have been taken care of when the annexation occurred. Right now some residents in that annexed area are benefiting from Madison tax payers.

This is my first post here. I have been a silent observer for some time. This topic is one that compels me to join the conversation. Thanks for the great site. 

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by: mwoodj @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 05:10:06 AM CDT

Welcome! (0.00 / 0)

Feel free to jump in more often!

I completely agree with you about the Constitution.  It's a joke.

Hopefully, after the election, we can focus more on that issue and other state and local issues.  After we all get a week or so of sleep!

 

I'm not short.  I'm fun size!!

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by: countrycat @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 08:41:28 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

FOR EVERYONE'S ATTENTION!!!!! (4.00 / 1)

First, briefly, thanks to countrycat and normboyd40 for their help. I don’t recall posting a diary before, but I’m rather senile, you know. That’s something all of you can look forward to some day.

Not to be speaking for Old Prosecutor, but what it will take to get a workable constitution is to have a constitutional convention, according to our current constitution. The legislature won’t likely pass legislation to create a convention any time soon. Initiative and Referendum (I&R) is the way to get that and other sorely needed reform and accountability legislation put on a ballot for voters to accept or reject, but first we have to become the 25th I&R state. Why do you think I’ve devoted a few years of my life and a website to helping that become a reality? But I and a few hundred other Alabamians can’t get it done. It will take many thousands. See my http://www.doctoriq.com/youcan.htm and join the battle and get all of your Alabama friends and acquaintances to do likewise if you truly care about this issue. To study and see how I&R would work in Alabama according to the constitutional amendment bill that has been introduced in each of the past few sessions of the legislature by Representative Mike Ball go to this page on my website: http://www.doctoriq.com/bama's%20I&R%20bill.htm

 

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...."      Hosea 4:6

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by: driq @ Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:44:24 AM CDT