County View

By Jeff Poor

With all this love circulating around Mobile for European investment into our local economy, I have committed myself to a diet of French pastries, Serrano ham and two or three Red Bull Energy Drinks to wash it all down. My hope is this peculiar mixture of European provisions will generate the same enthusiastic spirit that has captivated so many of our local leaders.

Since Lagniappe could not afford to send me along with Commissioner Stephen Nodine, Mayor Sam Jones and Gov. Bob Riley two weeks ago, recreating the type of fire in my belly they have for EADS has proven difficult. However, if our local politicians can get the young ladies tanning at the beaches here to do as the European ladies do at their beaches, I will be fully committed to whatever EADS throws our way.

Nodine returns and EADS skepticism

Nodine made it back in time for last week’s bi-weekly commission meeting at Government Plaza and for the most part had to play catch-up as the meeting went along. But, all reports indicate the trip went well with a visit to the famous Farnborough air show and a tour of the production facilities at EADS CASA and Airbus.

Without trying to rain on anyone’s victory lap, it would not be fair if we didn’t at least mention some of the struggles surrounding the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. There is some opposition nationally to large federal contracts with a European company by U.S. archrival Boeing and all the political clout it carries. Also, there are many reports the A380 production has suffered several setbacks due to the lack of qualified engineers, which could impact our shots at the air tanker work.

If EADS continues to suffer financially due to this oversight, the company will likely seek assistance from European governments. Many Airbus critics frown upon this because they feel it gives Airbus an unfair advantaged over Boeing.

“If this were a high-tech aircraft that was being produced by Airbus in France, that would be one thing,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions responding to these concerns in an interview last month. “But it is a commercial, off-the-shelf aircraft that is being assembled in the United States, in fact going to be assembled in Mobile.”

I have my fingers crossed. Who would have ever thought the once-failed military and aeronautical endeavor known as Brookley Field would be the impetus of Mobile’s economic growth? It will take some time for the surrounding neighborhoods to reap the rewards of this venture.

Limited self-governance and the fight that won’t die

Despite losing the run-off for the House District 102 seat to Chad Fincher, Dr. Ben George has continued his quest against the home-rule ordinance passed by 57 percent of voters residing in unincorporated Mobile County in June, on the basis it included unclear and ambiguous language.

George lashed out at Commissioners Nodine, Chastang and Dean at last week’s meeting, accusing the all-Republican trio of not having Republican ideals when they set forth to get this ordinance passed, citing that the best government is the least government.

He announced he would be taking his case to Mobile County Circuit Court to have the provision thrown out so it could be voted on again in the November election.

There are problems with this on several levels. George claimed in the county commission meeting there were already four laws on the books to remedy the junkyard problem. There may in fact already be laws on the books that could be interpreted to resolve the junkyard problem, but there isn’t anything on the books expressly stating how these laws are enforced. That’s why there are still these unsanitary junkyards in unincorporated Mobile County.

The phobia surrounding this home-rule ordinance is curious to me. The same ones who preach about so-called Republican ideals of less government will also talk about what a great job President George Bush has done fighting terrorism by using other liberty impugning laws the Patriot Act and NSA wiretapping, or more locally, what a great job Mayor Sam Jones has done by setting up road blocks around Mobile under the guise of cracking down on the trafficking of illegal fire arms. This is not to suggest these are necessarily bad things our government is doing, however if you’re going to preach about this libertarian utopia you envision Mobile County being, you really should reevaluate the political ideology you adhere to.

Republican ideals aren’t necessarily less government, but more efficient government. Conservative ideals and Republican ideals also aren’t necessarily the same thing and there are countless instances of this. We don’t have three Libertarians sitting on county commission. Government is acting in this situation in ways it feels will better the life of all the citizens of rural Mobile County by promoting property values and growth. The best interest of the citizens, as determined by a vote that in my opinion wasn’t difficult to understand, is not to protect liberties that have been abused by concealing the marijuana patches or the crystal methamphetamine laboratories hidden behind the eight feet of weeds and rusted out automobiles off of some dirt road tucked away in the western corners of Mobile County.

George and other opponents of the Alabama Limited Self-Governance Act have had ample opportunity to campaign against this referendum in the months leading up to the election. The language of this referendum was the same on our ballot as it was in other counties where it passed. If you’re really truly concerned about less government, you won’t bog down the local judicial branch of government with this frivolous lawsuit.

Contact Jeff Poor at jeffreypoor@yahoo.com.

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