I must leave the anger, wounded feelings and misery of the abortion debate to another pen; my conscience is anxious to provoke thought on another score and leave the murky waters of the pro-life argument behind. Instead, I want to question the words and labels we use to define ourselves politically in Alabama.
There is a long history in our state of conservative ideology, but very little discussion of what liberal-minded citizens in this state believe or where they fall along political lines. The pro-life circus demonstrations generated an interesting and off-topic question concerning republican and democratic ideology – what does an Alabama Democrat look like? I must ask this question, because there is little space for Democrats in the vocabulary which surrounds the culture in Alabama, although there are certainly liberals few and far between.
The Alabama Democratic Party was virtually wiped out in the wave of Tea Party elections in 2010 after 136 years of dominance. Additionally, they left slightly disgraced after the scandals of Don Siegleman shook the party and garnered nationwide attention.
However, Democrats in Alabama were never closely aligned with the values or stances espoused by the national party. During the reconstruction era, they were shameless racists militantly opposed to ceding power to the poor and black people. In the wave of civil rights, they were staunch segregationists, and in the 21st century most of Alabama’s democrats are pro-life, pro-guns without restrictions, and opposed to most social welfare programs under the auspices of fiscal responsibility and individual independence. Most of this ideology, though not invalid, is Republican.
It is high time for Democrats in Alabama to really structure a party which represents a reasonable opposition to Alabama Republicans. Alabama is ruled by friends-and-neighbors politics. Our citizens are more likely to vote on whether or not our elected officials have “family values” than the quality of their management. We care more about whether or not our officials “believe in evolution” as opposed to their stance towards scientific education and progress. These endless social debates are counter-intuitive to success for any party and only serve as distractions to real issues of governance.
The Alabama Democratic Party must question why we live in a state that touts fiscal responsibility, but is heavily in debt and constantly in proration or borrowing from the Education Trust Fund. They must question why poor Alabamians staunchly oppose increases in property tax, but suffer under the highest sales taxes in the nation. They must question why we praise home rule, but restrict local control from Montgomery. They must question why there is such attention paid to who is president, but turnout for local and gubernatorial elections are abysmal.
The Alabama Democratic Party must fight to end the hysteria and fear of national dialogue and distrust of government constantly churned out by our governor. We must question whether or not it was wise for Gov. Bentley to refuse to set up a health care exchange and cost Alabamians without health insurance thousands in federal fines. Alabama Democrats must ask why HB 56 is a national embarrassment but praised by our governor. They must question why public education is viewed as privilege and failure in this state, but required to educate our predominantly poor and agrarian populace.
There is no longer any place in state politics for divisive old-school Democrats like Joe Reed. They impede the progress of establishing a reasonable opposition party that is not crippled by conflicting interests and debt. Democrats in our state, as well as the national party, must learn to put individual preferences and agendas aside. Alabama Democrats must embrace those more conservative liberals not entirely aligned with the national agenda in Washington. They must solidify a power base, as well as an understanding of what a Democrat in Alabama will represent. They must turn the political dialogue away from fear and hysteria to information and governance.
Many of the national debates are not applicable on the state level. It is time for Alabama Democrats to look for and foster new leadership which turns the trend away from Dixie-crats and leaves room for Joe Hubbard and Mike Kennedy. The Republican party has Del Marsh and Brian Taylor and has successfully meshed new and old ideology. Democrats must decide which is more important, their own power interests or leaving their constituents with a complete lack of faith in their ability to work together internally and govern the state.
John Speer is a graduate student in secondary education. His column runs weekly on Wednesdays.
