Editorials

Alabamians desiring a better state government are like the proverbial Dickens character so starved for nutrition that he begs for more from a pot of unfulfilling gruel.

Too many state residents — it's sad to report — are used to having our bowls filled with this awful concoction, consisting of undemocratic foundations mixed with arrogance and incompetence.

The 2008 legislative session is like recent ones. Too little money. Too much focus on the unimportant. Too little leadership.

A starving and impoverished Oliver Twist asked his workhouse masters, "Please, sir, I want some more."

Alabamians, desiring an accountable, competent, well-funded and adequate state government, do much the same.

Can we fix the state Constitution in order to add good and responsive government to the recipe?

No, comes the response from Goat Hill, take what you are given and be thankful for it.

Can you, please sir, not waste one-third of the session bickering over the trivial as you did in 2008, 2007 and 2005?

No, comes the answer from the Goat Hill leaders and their wealthy and influential contributors who love the do-nothing status quo.

Alabamians are stuck. Statehouse leaders won't allow the process of constitutional reform to break up the logjam of ineffective government. At the same time, our current system of inactivity slips deeper into a murky swamp.

Of this sorry state, we say: Please, no more.