September 23, 2003
Somehow I'm not impressed
Yeah, so I was sick and I didn't have time to put anything here because I was working on my senior paper proposal and other papers and things. But its ok because I'm not so bad now.
The biggest travesty in the world right now, as far as I'm concerned is in Alabama. Gov. Riley's proposal to reform the medieval (read: tax the poor and spend on the rich) tax system there was defeated last Tuesday (I think it was Tuesday) by a large margin. This is ridiculous, because it was mostly defeated by a collusion of (a) rich, white Protestants who wanted to keep their wealth and couldn't care less about the inconvenient parts of the Bible and (b) powerful, black interest groups who were so revolted by the white, Protestant governor that they couldn't care less about his attempt to help the impoverished people of Alabama. Which group is more pathetic? My money is on group A, because these are the same people who care so passionately about displaying publically the Ten Commandments ("God is here," a man said, his voice seeming to tremble. "God is in this state."), but they can't be bothered with what God himself calls "true religion." Disgusting. This is what happens, apparently, when a Christian in Alabama's government becomes motivated to do more than just paying lip service (read: posting copies of the Ten Commandments while ignoring the poor) to his faith.
At least we Christians have the secular press to remind us of our hypocrisy (a quick search of Marvin "Tellin' the Truth to the Prodigal Press" Olasky's World "Right behind Newsweek, US News, and Time in terms of readership [and quality, but we won't tell you that]" Magazine's website turned up exactly zero mentions of this).
Posted by eatingbark at September 23, 2003 3:24 PMHuh. Frankly, I consider Alabama a travesty regardless of it's tax structure...
But in all seriousness, that truly sucks. Do you have any links to relevant reading?
Posted by: ryan at September 23, 2003 4:05 PMUm, any other links, that is?
Posted by: ryan at September 23, 2003 4:06 PMHere's some stuff:
Paul Gessing at NRO opposes it
Vote No Sept. 9 website
A good news story on it is at the Washington Post
More "taxes are always evil" commentary from the Washington Times (not surprising, eh)
The Governor's Website's search page
and finally, an article from Time Magazine
That should be a better survey, particularly of the arguments on the other side.
Generally, though, it seems to be a pretty ignored news story, which is much of the travesty, if you ask me. I am, of course, referring to a comparison between the excessive, inane bombardment of opinions about the Alabama courthouse/Judge Moore/Ten Commandments thing and the lack of opinions on this thing. But this is where I think groups A and B are so wrong, in failing to make this far more substantive issue an issue.
As I side note, I'm working on Shirky's article. There should be a lengthy reply here within the week.
Posted by: rob at September 23, 2003 5:00 PMA few great things from Alabama:
1. My father-in-law
2. Alabama Football
3. Alabama Football
4. Alabama Football
As April's Dad put it, "when you've got nothing, and you're dirt poor, you take what you've got and put everything into it, hence, Alabama football."
Posted by: JosiahQ at September 23, 2003 6:52 PMSo what's your SIP gonna be on?
Posted by: Jeannette at September 23, 2003 7:09 PMI suppose I can't argue with the fact that they do football well in Alabama. Can't say I enjoy it, either, though. As much as I respect college football in comparison to professional football, the only team I even begin to care for is Philly, and that is a minor care compared to my love for the world's sport.
My SIP is on the way that media technology biases communication, affecting the social construction of reality and social relationships (this has to do with epistemology, mostly). My primary source is Jacques Ellul, though there are lots of other important writers in the field (Postman, Innis, McLuhan, and Baudrillard immediately come to mind).
Posted by: rob at September 24, 2003 10:07 AMalabama is cool. roll tide !
Posted by: ryan at September 25, 2003 4:30 PM