By Glynn Wilson –

MOBILE, Ala. — Winding my way back to my native state from the nation’s capital last week, I encountered the welcome sign on the state line with some trepidation, even dread.

“Welcome to Sweet Home, Alabama. Governor Kay Ivey.”

I almost turned around and drove somewhere else. At least in George Wallace’s day, the sign said: “Welcome to Alabama the Beautiful.”

I know I’m supposed to kiss ass to make people in Alabama like me. But I can’t help myself. I’m bound by constitutional oath to tell the truth.

There was a time when I liked the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not anymore. It’s been ruined by the politicized commercialism.

With the surprise election of Senator Doug Jones last year over religious nut and teen sexual predator Roy Moore, I thought just maybe my home state had a chance to get past the loss in the Civil War and move on.

But then I saw the proposed changes to the state constitution that will be on the ballot November 6, and I just had to cringe one more time.

Amendment 1

The first amendment on the ballot, Amendment 1, would literally authorize the display of the Ten Commandments on public property, including public schools. George Wallace would be proud, and Roy Moore prouder still.

Hugo Black is turning over in his grave.

Of course the federal courts will most likely just strike it down again as unconstitutional if it garners enough votes to pass. That is unless President Donald J. Trump’s latest appointment to the United States Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, is assigned the task of writing the majority opinion and finds a way to say it’s legal.

I would like to say the national traditional press and mainstream media might write or broadcast something to help the situation, but that’s not happening.

In their continuing effort to try to understand the “Trump voter” and try to get them to pay for a subscription, The New York Times sent a correspondent down here last month to do a puff piece on the tea party.

Alabama Revisits Ten Commandments, Hoping for Help From Kavanaugh

Maybe that’s the point for the Republicans in control of the Alabama Legislature. To put something out there and see if Trump can make it stick.

Amendment 2

That’s also the point for Amendment 2, which would outlaw all abortions.

Advocates acknowledge that the purpose is to prepare for the day when the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade is overturned by a conservative majority on the court.

Amendment 3 would just give more power to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees, so I’m sure it will pass with flying colors. I’ve got some news for Alabama fans. Nick Saban is not on the board, and this has nothing to do with winning football games every Saturday by 50 points.

Amendment 4 would give the Alabama Legislature more power to prevent special elections like the one that led to a Democrat, Doug Jones, from sneaking into the U.S. Senate ever again.

Unless the Democrats can somehow turn out and outnumber the 1 million Baptists and Alabama fans who vote in Alabama, this will probably pass too.

Even Alabama’s favorite columnist with the Birmingham News and Al dot com says vote no on all the amendments.

Alabama amendments: Life, liberty, and the pursuit of unintended consequences

Is anyone listening anymore? Or do they just rely on conservative talk radio and Fox News for everything?

There’s not much in the way of political advertising on television around here this year, which should make viewers happy since people don’t like political advertising interrupting their football games.

But there are two public service announcements running non-stop, one from the right-wing radio jocks Rick and Bubba, and another from blues artist and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks, urging people to obtain a photo ID and vote. The TV ads are being paid for with taxpayer money through Republican Secretary of State John Merrill.

I guess this is the kind of spending the people of Alabama like. They don’t trust the legislature with their money for many things, certainly not schools or hospitals. Black and brown people might have to use those things. We can’t have that now can we.

Dog help the great state of Alabama and wake the people up to what’s really going on and get them to turn out and vote. I will be voting a straight Democratic Party ticket in Mobile and NO on all the amendments.

The majority will still be chanting “Build the wall” and “Lock her up.”

They may as well be saying, “Let’s remain last in everything (except football) for another four years.”

One other quick fact about what’s being shown on television in Alabama that I’m not anyone else has noticed. None of the NBC affiliate stations, owned by the conservative Sinclair Broadcasting, even run the show “Meet the Press” on Sundays anymore around here. The “enemy of the people” indeed, according to Herr Trump,

Someone posted this on Facebook, so to help people who are really interested understand it, we repost it here. I doubt it will help, but here it is.

ALABAMA BALLOT MEASURES IN PLAIN ENGLISH for 11/6/18

AMENDMENT 1: Ten Commandments Amendment
Amendment 1 would authorize the display of the Ten Commandments on public property, including public schools.

Right now, Alabama’s state constitution has no language relating to the display of the Ten Commandments. Amendment 1 would do two things.

First, it would amend the state constitution to allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed on public property, like a public school, as long as that display meets constitutional requirements, like being displayed alongside other historical or educational items. The amendment makes clear that no taxpayer funds can be used to defend this legality of this amendment in court.

Secondly, it would add 3 statements about religious rights to Alabama’s constitution: Every person shall be at liberty to worship God according to their own conscience. No one shall be compelled to attend or contribute, against their will, to the erection or support of any place of religious worship, or to pay tithes, taxes, or other rates for the support of any minister of the gospel. No one’s civil and political rights, privileges, and capacities shall be diminished or enlarged on account of their religious beliefs.

This Amendment throws up a big red flag on the separation of church and state principle established in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. You know, the one that says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

That’s why even a Republican candidate for governor said “we can’t defend it” in Court.

WHO SUPPORTS IT?

The Ten Commandments Amendment PAC

WHO OPPOSES IT?

Alabama ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State

IF YOU VOTE YES

You support amending the Alabama constitution to allow the display of the Ten Commandments on public property, including schools.

IF YOU VOTE NO

You do not support amending the Alabama constitution to allow the display of the Ten Commandments on public property, including schools.

AMENDMENT 2: State Abortion Policy Amendment

Amendment 2 would establish the rights of unborn life and deny any constitutional right to an abortion.

Under current law, the state constitution does not include any language about abortion. Amendment 2 would make it state policy to “recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.” It would state that nothing in the state constitution will provide a right to an abortion or require funding of abortions.

The Amendment is sponsored by Alabama Rep. Matt Fridy, who said its purpose is to ensure that nothing in Alabama’s constitution could be used to support a woman’s right to choose in the event that Roe v. Wade is overturned.
Although Roe v. Wade prohibited banning abortion prior to fetus viability, the Supreme Court held that states can regulate and/or prohibit abortions once a fetus reaches the point of viability. Alabama bans abortions starting 20 weeks after fertilization.

Basically, this is an attempt by a Republican to eradicate a woman’s constitutionally-protected right to choose in Alabama. Cool.

WHO SUPPORTS IT?

Two Republicans from Alabama.

WHO OPPOSES IT?

Planned Parenthood, Democratic members of the Alabama legislature, Our Revolution, and basically anyone who supports the right to choose.

IF YOU VOTE YES

You support limiting a woman’s right to choose in Alabama.

IF YOU VOTE NO

You do not want to limit a woman’s right to choose in Alabama.

AMENDMENT 3: Board of Trustees Membership for University of Alabama Amendment

Amendment 3 would change the membership of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama.

Under current law, the University of Alabama Board of Trustees is composed of 16 people: three members from the congressional district in which the Tuscaloosa campus is located, two members from each of the other six congressional districts in the state, the Governor, and the State Superintendent of Education. If the number of congressional districts in Alabama increased or decreased in the future, the number of trustees would also increase or decrease. Additionally, other than the Governor and the State Superintendent of Education, current law requires a trustee to retire from the board following his or her 70th birthday.

This amendment would amend the state constitution to make the following changes to the membership of the board of trustees of the University of Alabama: Remove the Superintendent of Education from the board; freeze the congressional districts from which they pull 5 members of the Board of Trustees as the districts that existed on January 1, 2018; and, remove the constitutional provision establishing an age limit of 70 for members of the board.

WHO SUPPORTS IT?

The bill putting this on the ballot was introduced by three Republicans, but passed unanimously in the State House and Senate.

WHO OPPOSES IT?

As of now, no one has expressed opposition.

IF YOU VOTE YES

Pretty straightforward, a yes vote means you want to remove the superintendent from the board, keep districts where they are right now, and get rid of age limits.

IF YOU VOTE NO

You want to keep the superintendent on the board, make sure the board reflects the districts as they’re drawn at the time, and keep the age limit to 70.

AMENDMENT 4: Legislative Vacancies Amendment
Amendment 4 would change the way state legislative vacancies are filled.

Amendment 4 addresses special elections for open seats in the state legislature, not the U.S. Congress. Here’s what it says:

Right now, the governor is required to schedule a special election whenever a state legislative vacancy occurs. This Amendment would set a new rule: Any seat that becomes vacant just months before the final session of the legislature’s four year term (aka before October 1st of the last year of the legislative session) should remain vacant until the next general election. For example, if someone gets elected on the last day of session, they wouldn’t have to be sworn in and on the payroll for one day.

The Amendment was introduced by Republican State Sen. Rusty (fun!) Glover and received unanimous support in the state Senate and majority support in the state House.

WHO SUPPORTS IT?

Rusty, because it “saves money and is better government.”

WHO OPPOSES IT?

No one has officially come out against the amendment.

IF YOU VOTE YES

You want the legislature to hold filling seats that occur late in the fall of the last year in the legislative session until the next legislative session.

IF YOU VOTE NO

You want the legislature to fill open seats as soon as they are able.