Category: <span>Commentary</span>

On that date in 1215, the Magna Carta was signed, beginning a gradual process of defined individual rights and limiting the power and authority of the British crown. The Declaration of Independence which outlined the colonists’ desire for freedom from the edicts of King George, is a direct descendant of the Magna Carta.

With the passage of the Connect Alabama Act, the Alabama Legislature has effectively made the single most important investment in positioning Alabama to succeed in the 21st century. The Act will assist in expanding affordable, high-speed broadband internet access across the state to the benefit of all Alabamians.

Now, more than ever, we must commit to ensuring that students are reading on grade level by the end of third grade. A critical part of that support is ensuring students move on to fourth grade when ready with the skills they need. Senate Bill 94 would fail students by removing an important last resort measure that ensures a child is better prepared for the rigors of classwork.  

With such a barrage of bills, both passed and pending, it’s easy to be confused, especially by various versions of legislation dealing with seemingly related topics.

Everyone has a Bud story, or perhaps a dozen, and I can’t think of a better way to convey how meaningful his legacy is than by telling my own.

Despite the dangers, the trucking industry remains resilient during this pandemic at every stage. During the early weeks of the outbreak, America’s 3.6 million truck drivers ensured stores were stocked, hospitals were supplied, and first responders were equipped. While some Americans have taken steps to show their appreciation for truck drivers, most do not realize how essential the industry is to their daily lives until a crisis hits. 

One emerging theme in the Legislature this year is lawmakers pushing proposals which would alter, undo or turn upside down the state policies and procedures that have irritated them over the last year or so.

So much of what has occurred these last few years in our politics can be attributed to cognitive dissonance, the psychological theory that explains why we often choose self-delusion over beliefs that conflict with our own.

Things are tough, no doubt, which is why I’m ready to burn down 2020 before I start celebrating 2021. Some Native Americans burn sage as part of a ritual to cleanse a space, so let’s fire one up and use it to light the fuse on the past year. 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Gaynell and the entire Dixon family. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten.

Unlike many political leaders who espouse high minded principles, she pursued hers with what some considered reckless abandon.  Thatcher took significant steps to push back the suffocating hand of state control and return the economy to a true free market. Government intervention was replaced with individual responsibility and human action.