Political and environmental chicanery in the state of Alabama

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

A good friend of mine wrote this piece for one of the city papers of Birmingham, Alabama. He has a reputation for being a gadfly to local and state politicians. He has an exceptionally keen mind, and a long history of doggedly doing his research before publishing.

I, personally, have a history of argument with him. I really love talking with the guy, but I’m definitely left-leaning on the environmental side, and he’s always been just a bit to the right, arguing not for big business, but for jobs and economic growth.

From long personal and professional experience, I know extremely well that Alabama is a cesspool of business/government cronyism and corruption. Always has been. I remember the scandals with Emelle, the chemical plants on the Mobile Delta, and the non-enforcement policy of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) itself. ADEM should have been taken over by the EPA 30 years ago.

Alabama is a small, rural state, but it is one that has mind-boggling biodiversity and natural resources. Its economic future is, and has always been, tied to the preservation of these resources, not their rampant plunder.

http://www.bwcitypaper.com/Articles-i-2011-06-09-242015.113121-Spinning-a-We

2

Just from your initial description, I knew exactly who you were talking about. He writes excellent stuff for B&W, far and away above anything I can find even here in San Diego, a much larger city. When I lived in Tuscaloosa, I was quite involved with the Hurricane Creekkeeper in fundraising and cleanups, and learned more than I ever wanted to know about ALDOT and Alabama Power.

You are spot on the money when you say ADEM should have been taken over by the EPA years ago. I’ve lost count of the number of lies I’ve heard out of them.

[QUOTE=ogre]
Alabama is a small, rural state, but it is one that has mind-boggling biodiversity and natural resources.
[/quote]

For those playing at home, Alabama is the only state with all the resources necessary for make steel, and boasts the greatest freshwater biodiversity of any state in the US.

3

As a next-door neighbor for 50 years, I get the feeling that the Alabama Legislature just isn’t concerned about certain things.

They don’t even have a department of Dam Safety. When Mississippi has a better handle on things than you do, it’s pretty sad.