As it turns out, we just thought we understood how much we needed better broadband accessibility in Alabama. Rural farmers, hospitals, and schools have been telling us for years that the inequality of our broadband infrastructure created tw ...
Philosopher Kings on the Supreme Court Usurp Congress and the People. Again.
According to ancient Greek philosopher Plato, it is the great thinkers, or philosophers, who are best suited to govern society. Dubbed “philosopher kings” they use wisdom, Plato says, to determine how society should operate. Ours is not a country gov ...
Has the Magic City Become the Tragic City?
Leadership matters. The tone and tenor of a policy are often the reflection of the leader who presided over the period in which that policy took effect. And leadership matters the most, becomes most visible, and is looked to by others more often when ...
Cameras (AKA the Government) On Every Corner – A Crisco Sorta Slope
I remember the collective groan that went up from motorists when "red light cameras" became a thing. Suddenly, it didn't matter if the police were around to see you push your luck with a changing traffic light. Big Brother always would. The heighte ...
The Need for Education Reform Didn’t Die with the Defeat of Amendment One
When voters defeat a proposed state amendment, it is often thought that the matter is put to rest. That is often the case, but when Alabama’s voters went to the polls in March and shot down a proposal to replace the elected state board of education i ...
The RESTORE Alabama Agenda
Read the full RESTORE Plan here. The 2020 Regular Session of the Alabama State Legislature is behind us. Did anyone notice? It was a Session marked more by what didn’t happen than by what did. One minute the lobbyists were being paid well to try a ...
Debt and Shiny New Buildings Will Not Improve Education in Alabama
In the waning days of the abbreviated 2020 Regular Session, the Alabama State Legislature approved a $1.25 billion school bond issuance. The money would be used for capital improvement projects, i.e. construction, at K-12 public schools, colleges, an ...
Balancing Rights and Love of Neighbor
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has announced that our state is moving into an initial phase of economic recovery, known as "Safer at Home." It relaxes restrictions on many businesses while keeping others, like restaurants, heavily limited for now. The hop ...
Having Freedom is not Irresponsible
When Georgia’s governor announced that the state would allow some non-essential businesses to reopen, everyone had an opinion. What I heard and read most often, however, was how his lifting of restrictions was, “reckless” and “irresponsible.” I see ...
Accountability Act Schools Continue to Serve Students with Excellence in Coronavirus Crisis
As the coronavirus pandemic impacts the world, our news feeds are full of tragedy and sacrifice. These stories of financial hardship, sickness and death dominate the news cycle. This is not, however, the full story. Across the state, the privat ...