Alabama’s state legislature sits on a piece of property affectionately known as “Goat Hill.” The name has stuck despite attempts to change it; the land was pasturage owned by a real estate speculator who lobbied to move the state capital there. That story says a lot about how a state that began with the most democratic constitution in the country wound up with a racist 1901 constitution and a regressive tax structure.
Back in the days of Jim Crow, the “Big Mules” — an alliance of industrial and agricultural interests — frankly owned the state government of Alabama. They were responsible for many of the worst habits and practices of government, many of which still afflict Alabama. Worse, they’re still around and screwing up the future. From my local daily:
Anita L. Archie, who chairs the Environmental Management Commission, said she does not believe she should resign from the commission now that she is being paid to represent the interests of the 5,000 businesses and industries that are BCA (Business Council of Alabama) members.
As the editors put it:
Frankly, it’s hard to think of many issues that come before the commission that she could discuss or vote on without at least raising the possibility of a conflict.
I’d go further and say this is a prime example of how lobbyists have managed to gain full ownership of our state agencies. Archie should be required to resign her seat on the Environmental Management Commission altogether, but no one will make her. The Big Mules saw to that: we have the loosest disclosure and ethics rules in America, and wonder why we never make any progress.
