One of the primary components of the GOP’s jobs package this session is HB 159/160.
This constitutional amendment allows voters to give the Governor and the Alabama Development Office the authority to offer incentives like those used on the Mercedes project to recruit new industry to Alabama and prevent existing industry from leaving the state. It was passed by the House in mid-February and although the process has been slow, it will likely pass the Senate in the near future after a few tweaks to the retention portion of the bill.
Of course, as with almost every other pro-economic development piece of legislation, the Alabama Education Association has fought it every step of the way.
However, this past week, the HB 159/160 opposition took their efforts to a pathetic new low by making elementary children fight their PR battle for them. Numerous legislators have received letters from children that include sentences asking the legislators to not let the government take money away from their schools (a frequently used mischaracterization of the bill) and bemoaning the thought that they can’t trust the government to take care of them (since relying on the government is a winning strategy in life).
[editors note: at the request of the girl's parent, I replaced actual quotes from the letter with a summary of what the letters said. The mother's email to me said this in part: "You DO NOT have my permission to quote her! Remove her quotes from your web site immediately! How dare you!" ...of course, I'm continuing to protect the girl's identity and the parent's identity (in spite of 3 emails from the mother and countless emails from others) because the point is not WHO it was, but what they're doing by using this poor girl to further their political agenda and scaring her to death with the idea that the legislature is out to get her and her teachers.]
The following letter was sent to Sen. Jabo Waggoner and Rep. Jack Williams by a 9-year-old little girl this past week. I’ve blurred her name to protect her identity.
[Editor's note: I removed the letter at the request of the child's mother who sent me this email:
"This is a letter written by my child. You DO NOT have permission to post it on your web site. I want it removed from your web site immediately!"
I blurred the girls name to protect her identity and won't reveal the identity of the parents either because the point is not to embarrass anyone in particular (how can you embarres someone when they're anonymous?), it was to point out the fact that children are being used to push the left's political agenda.]
Cliff, I’m curious to know whether it was Jabo or Jack who gave permission for you to photograph a constituent letter from a child so you could use it in a blog post.
Thanks for the question… Neither.
Also, I didn’t take that picture.
For a 9-year-old, her writing skills aren’t bad. However, you can tell that most of this was inspired language from someone else, either a teacher or parent (I’m leaning towards the parents). The easiest way for her to be a kid is to not make her write letters to legislators. With that said, perhaps there is a deeper, more subtle message we’re getting from this 9-year-old. Perhaps her parents aren’t performing their parental roles well, which is why she’s asking the government to take of her so she doesn’t have to “worry about grown-up things.” This sounds to me like a cry for help from an impressionable and innocent child looking for someone to take care of her since her parents are consumed with telling her about how awful her government is. Anyone else get that feeling or am I alone on this one?
Yes Will you are alone, a very sad and lonely person who has not a clue how democracy works!
Dear Billy,
How astute you are! I am indeed a very lonely person, but I’m not exactly sure what you mean about how democracy works. Would you be so kind and enlighten me? I would greatly appreciate an education on democracy, guvment, and sich.
Will: I apologize for that comment. I have a very sarcastic sense of humor and it was mean of me to say something like that. To be honest, I don’t really believe that democracy works for average people anymore so it would be silly of me to try to explain it to you. Have a good day!
Sad to admit it, but I wasn’t all that shocked when I saw it this morning. Disgusted? You bet. Shocked? No… Because the AEA and their legions will do anything and everything to try and influence public opinion and the legislature.
Shame on them!
Yes it is so sad. AEA will do anything, such as TELLING THE TRUTH, to get their message out. Disgraceful!
Vestavia Hills’ Superintendent Jamie Blair
blairjr@vestavia.k12.al.us
hey cliff, tweet that out. this is unacceptable for a state employee forcing children to do such things. inexcusable and it needs to be trumpeted
It’s shocking isn’t it? Children . . . IN AMERICA . . . being taught to exercise their freedom of speech. What is this country coming to? I wish we could be a little more like North Korea don’t you?