Alabama

Big $$$ for Administrative Services: There's Something Wrong With This Picture

October 10, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Republicans love to talk about belt-tightening, cutting fat, making government smaller, leaner, more like the "free" market and so on.  However, while the Republicans running Alabama's state government have been busy cutting state budgets and laying off employees, their zeal for austerity has limits ... and paying private companies MORE for "administrative services" is fine and dandy.

While the state continues to trim its budget, the money it pays for companies to administer services has risen dramatically. During the recently concluded fiscal year, Alabama paid a private company $617,983.71, more than some state departments received in the 2011 budget, to run several state boards.

...

State spending on administrative services increased from $19.6 million in fiscal year 2008 to $28 million in FY 2011, a nearly 43 percent increase at a time when falling state revenue has led to cutbacks and layoffs at many agencies.

Occupy Wall Street: "Panic of the Plutocrats" Shows Just How Rigged the System Is - Against the 99%

October 10, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Paul Krugman's column in today's New York Times is a must-read. The Panic of the Plutocrats is growing. Perhaps they sense that their gravy train may soon be derailed.

The G.O.P. presidential candidates have weighed in, with Mitt Romney accusing the protesters of waging “class warfare,” while Herman Cain calls them “anti-American.” My favorite, however, is Senator Rand Paul, who for some reason worries that the protesters will start seizing iPads, because they believe rich people don’t deserve to have them. 
[...]
The way to understand all of this is to realize that it’s part of a broader syndrome, in which wealthy Americans who benefit hugely from a system rigged in their favor react with hysteria to anyone who points out just how rigged the system is.

Etowah County Detention Center, another black eye coming to Alabama

October 9, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Just a heads up - another black eye is headed Alabama's way.  It seems that Alabama's only ICE detention center is excess prison space ICE rent's from Etowah County, Alabama.  From an article titled:
Immigrant Detainees Languish in Notorious Etowah County Detention Center.

Here's how it starts:

The Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, houses immigration detainees along with county inmates. The facility, which on any given day houses over 300 immigrants, is notorious for poor conditions. It is hours away from any immigration court or international airport , despite only housing people who have final orders of removal from the United States. Many of the detainees have been held here for months, if not years.

Sunday Gardening Open Thread: Got Tomatoes?

October 9, 2011 by Left in Alabama

It's October and summertime gardens are finally beginning to wind down -- but it's not too late to plant some cool season crops like turnips and mustard greens.  However, until we actually have a frost, warm season favorites like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant will continue producing, especially given the nice warm days we've had this month. 

Right-wingers don't seem to understand that concept since they declared tomato season over in an attempt to spin away the bad smell of Alabama produce rotting in the field. 

The is from State House Speaker Mike Hubbard's (R) communications director , declaring . 

Occupy Birmingham Meeting TODAY 1 pm

October 9, 2011 by Left in Alabama

Today’s (Sunday, 09 October 2011) meeting is on schedule for 1:00pm at Brother Bryan Park.  We have been collaborating about establishing a date for the beginning of the occupation.  Chances are likely that it will begin on the 15th of this month, although this is unconfirmed.  Bear in mind that the Occupy Wall Street front planned months in advance.

The mayor of Birmingham has expressed his support, noting that the occupation movements have done a wonderful job keeping the demonstrations non-violent and that the city’s law enforcement resources are better spent elsewhere.