It’s a thick book, proponents of a new state constitution say. And they’re right. It’s a mighty thick book – the longest constitution in the country plus 801 amendments to it.But it’s more than the thickness of it that should worry Alabamians. The thickness is simply the symptom. It is what is contained within that is what ails this state.
The Alabama Constitution, written in 1901, is as self-serving now as it was then. It was created in a time when white, rich landowners ruled and in far too many instances, they still do.
That’s why we continue to advocate for a convention of this state’s citizens to rewrite Alabama’s Constitution every time a bill comes up in the Legislature to do just that.
It needs to be brought in line with the image of a progressive, New South state rather than an antiquated, status quo document that holds Alabama back.
With the power centralized in Montgomery, rather than given to the local governments and citizens who know the issues best, Alabama will continue to flounder.
The bill itself is indicative of the problems. State law mandates that lawmakers have to determine whether voters in Alabama have the right to vote on whether to call for a constitutional convention before voters can ever cast a ballot.
And that’s not right. The people of this state have every right to have their say, and we urge – no, we demand – that the Legislature give them what they are owed.
