Breaking News -- Time Flies When You Live in Alabama?

by: mooncat

Thu May 14, 2009 at 10:57:47 AM CDT

From the Department of Misleading Headlines:

Census finds Alabamians growing older faster

The number of Alabamians aged 45 to 64 increased by 200,200, or 20 percent, from 2000 to 2008, according to a Birmingham News analysis of U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today.

I don't believe for a moment we're actually growing old faster than folks elsewhere -- otherwise I'd be busy packing up to move out of state ASAP.  Here's the new census information and the 2000 data for comparison.

Total Alabamians 65 and over for 2008 is 641,667.  Total 65 and over for 2000 is 579,798.  That's an increase of 61,869 or 10.67% -- not "200,200" and "20%" as the news story stated -- and the state population as a whole grew 4.8% so the true numbers are much less alarming.  This is not rocket science folks, it's just straight math.  This looks like the aging of baby boomers and the effect of better health care -- or so we hope.

Update:  Oops.  Apples and oranges comparison there.  That's what happens when I blog while distracted.  The age 45 to 64 numbers quoted by the News are OK -- compare them to 200,225 and 19.7% by my math.  To atone for my earlier error, I'll leave you with population changes for a couple of other age groups to meditate upon.

Age 18 and over:  3,540,023 in 2008 compared to 3,323,678 in 2000 for an increase of 216,345 or 6.5%.

Age 15 to 44:  1,878,306 in 2008 compared to 1,919,972 in 2000 for a drop of 41,666 or -2.17%.  This is a key demographic representing the heart of the workforce in another 10 years.  The fact that growth in this age group is actually negative does not bode well for the state's future economic health.

One bit of census data that is discouraging is the change in the under 25 age group.  It grew from 1,563,034 in 2000 to 1,572,695 in 2008, an increase of only 0.6% -- this while the entire state population grew 4.8%.  Our young people are not finding jobs and homes in Alabama and that is a potential problem.

DLC vs. Netroots: Old vs. New in the Democratic Party

by: mooncat

Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 23:02:25 PM CDT

Note: Crossposted Frontpaged at DailyKos.  I only posted it at Kos because Julie thought it was good.  Thanks, Julie! 

There will be an interesting debate this Sunday on Meet the Press (8 am on NBC and 9 pm on MSNBC.)  Harold Ford, Jr. Chairman of the DLC will debate Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos.  Sort of the old Democratic philosophy vs. the new Democratic philosophy, with Tim Russert moderating.

The strategy of the Democratic Leadership Council, or DLC, has been to win by appealing to conservative and moderate voters, accepting assuming that we are a conservative nation (and state) and there will never be enough progressive and liberal voters to win elections.  Essentially, candidates who espouse the DLC method don't make much effort to appeal to the Democratic base and instead work hard to reach moderate and conservative voters.  Their website says " we believe in a Third Way that rejects the old left-right debate and affirms America's basic bargain: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and community of all."

The netroots philosophy may not be laid out quite so clearly anywhere, but based on what I read, it boils down to "Be true to your beliefs and be a Democrat."  That's not very fancy, but it sounds like a comfortable way to campaign.  No need to remember to say different things to different groups -- just be yourself.

Click "There's more" for more information, discussion and facts.