Rant on the Ten Commandments

For the first 23 years of my life, I was an Alabama citizen. Three days ago, I formally became a citizen of the state of Tennessee, but proud of my Alabama heritage.

Today, I’m ashamed to say I’m from the state. Furthermore, I’m worried about what I left behind me when I moved away.

I think there is a valid argument in what Roy Moore says. We invoke God, the Christian God and yes, my God, in a lot of what we do on a day to day basis. My money and the coins in my wallet bear, “In God We Trust.”

One of the strongest foundations for modern English and American law that has been overlooked in this fight is the Magna Carta. “Having regard to God and for the salvation of our soul, and those of all our ancestors and heirs, and unto the honor of God and the advancement of his holy Church and for the rectifying of our realm,” the writers of this historic document provided a foundation that inspired U.S. historical documents.

But, this is not the reason why I’m writing this. There’s plenty of people that can debate that. What I want to discuss is the real victim in this mess – the state of Alabama.
The big issue prior to the Ten Commandments defiance going on right now is the issue of whether or not to vote in a historic tax increase by Gov. Bob Riley.

This tax increase would raise sales tax revenue by $203.4 million by implementing a statewide sales tax of 4 percent. Taxes on tobacco products will double.

One of the biggest benefits for state employees - having insurance provided by the state - will now be reversed. Those employees will eventually pay 12.5 percent of their insurance costs, 26 percent for those who have families. However, state employees will not get raises in order to cover those costs.

There will be higher property taxes and other miscellanious taxes that wind up in 19 items totaling up to $1.2 billion to be voted in November.

But, that’s in November. The state doesn’t have this money yet. If it is voted down, Alabama faces sinking into a projected $675 million black hole.

And Moore isn’t helping his state one bit.

When U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson gave his ruling on the Commandments monument, he also imposed a hefty $5,000 fine per day that the monument wasn’t removed. This wouldn’t be paid out of the pocket of Judge Roy Moore.

According to Riley, this is what will happen if the state keeps sinking further into its financial fiasco.

“Seniors would be booted from nursing homes and denied prescription drugs, because those are the only two parts of the Medicaid budget he (Riley) has discretion to cut.

The state would go without state troopers on roads not only at night, but possibly during the day as well.

Classroom budgets could be cut, as well as money needed to settle long-standing federal lawsuits against the departments of Human Services and Mental Health and Mental Retardation.

The state's prison system likely would face a federal takeover.” - material quoted from the Aug. 13, 2003 “Huntsville Times.”

Moore ran in 2000 as the “Ten Commandments” judge. But, when he was elected, he was placed in charge of overseeing the state judicial system. While he is fighting his personal war, there are cases from the overburdened legal system that needs hearing.

By waging his personal war, he could easily cost the state that elected him into office thousands of dollars that it simply does not have.

I voted for Roy Moore in 2000 thinking he would be a good judge. I didn’t vote him to spend my Alabama tax dollars like this.