Tucker Dorsey: Dear Santa, here’s what Alabama really needs this Christmas
Dear Santa, I know this is a busy time of year for you, but I wanted to let you know that I have been good this year. I’ve been nice (most of the time) and completed all of my chores on time. This year for Christmas, I don’t want much, but Alabama sure could use a couple of things. Alabama families don’t really want much from our state government, but one thing we need Alabama to deliver is a good education. Education lowers crime and creates better economic opportunities for everyone, which in turn, strengthens families, strengthening Alabama. Good education means a high graduation rate of young adults that are educated rather than trained. We want graduates who can think for themselves, graduates who are disciplined and punctual, are able to read and write comprehensively, are understanding of basic science, are knowledgeable in world, US, and Alabama history, and are able perform competently in mathematics that is taught logically. Santa, would you please bring back old math? Santa, more than a few elected officials in Alabama could use some new perspective. Alabamians would much rather the legislature spend its energy on substance over symbolism. I know, I know, election time is just around the corner, but if they focus on making common sense laws and financial decisions for Alabama rather than focusing on their push cards and press time, we will all have a Merry Christmas. Who borrows $120 million for two years of Medicaid operation and pays it back over 18 years? That’s like getting a second mortgage to pay next months power bill. No one likes moral hypocrisy either, and new perspective might help some of those that don’t quite see the light. I guess while I’m asking, the contention and posturing has gotten to be a little much, too. Santa, would you please send us logical, honest public servants working to solve the problems facing our state and nation? Alabamians want to work. We need our state to be an environment for thriving business opportunities and jobs. Building and creating things grow real wealth for Alabama. We need help from Washington reducing unnecessary bureaucratic regulations. We need to improve our transportation infrastructure and encourage a massive increase in broadband capacity and capabilities for Alabama. We need to provide simple tax codes to facilitate growth for existing business and encourage new businesses to locate to Alabama. Santa, would you please bring quality jobs? I hope I haven’t asked for too much, but the chimney is clean, and I will have your favorite chocolate chip cookies on the coffee table. Thanks and Merry Christmas, Santa, Tucker ••• Tucker Dorsey is the Chairman of the Baldwin County Commission.
Baldwin County officials refuse to lower flags for Orlando shooting victims
The aftermath of the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in Orlando last week has seen touching acts of solidarity across the nation. But not so in Baldwin County. Officials there refused to respond to entreaties to lower official flags in the county to half-staff, according to news reports. Commissioner Tucker Dorsey explained the move thusly, speaking to reporters Thursday: “I am of the opinion, by reading the flag code of the United States, that while my heart certainly goes out to the victims and their families…it doesn’t meet the test of the reason for the flag to be lowered to half-staff.” The move comes despite a federal order from President Barack Obama and a state corollary from Gov. Robert Bentley that all state and federal flags are to be lowered until noon Thursday. The Baldwin County Commission’s chairman refused, saying discretion over the status of flags lies with him — and he decided against it. Dorsey also declined to lower the flags following the terror attacks on Paris and San Bernardino in recent months. The commission’s chairman explained on his Facebook page: Lowering the flags to half-staff after [a] mass shooting or terrorist event is not a valid circumstance or memorial as specified in the U.S. flag code. I realize that the President and Governor may make the order, but I believe and interpret their order inconsistent with the adopted flag code. Dorsey continued that he thought lowering the flag was tantamount to the state “holding its head down” and vowed he wanted all Americans to “stand tall, courageously, and fight back against the forces of evil, and let’s fight like we intend to win.” At press time, it was unclear whether state or federal officials had taken any interest in reprimanding the Baldwin Commission.
