freeThinkBham

I’m just kind of going to put this out there: I’m not sure how much of this Langford trial and sentencing is actual justice and how much is typical lynch-mob mentality Southern politics making an example out of someone.

Fact: all politicians are wooed by business people and accept gifts and meals. In Alabama, I think the per-day limit of how much can be spent on a politician is $250. That’s not a limit at all. That’s a shit-ton of money. It seems like, if we wanted to, we could we could create this media frenzy about every politician in the world. All we’d have to do is find a connection between something being given to the politician and some sort of contract or whatever going to the giver. Of course it’s wrong to accept gifts in return for political favors, but that’s how the world works. I pretend like I’m your friend ’cause I buy you clothes or take you to the strip club, and because you, the politician, think that we’re friends, you come to me when the city/county/whatever needs some work done.

The fact that in recent years the only people being called-out on this are a black mayor and a Democrat governor in Alabama kind-of seems a little suspicious to me. Remember how up-in-arms everyone was about Siegelman? Yeah… ooops.

Now, I’m glad Langford isn’t mayor because he just wasn’t a good leader and he wasn’t very smart. But I don’t necessarily believe that he deserves 15 years in the bing, unless, of course, we’re bringing every politician to justice (update: apparently AL Republican Gov. Guy Hunt was convicted for a corruption charge but only got 5 years probation). All I’m asking is that if you’re screaming “off with his head” about one crooked politician, make sure you’re doing it across the board. Otherwise you might be the pawn in someone’s political game with a hidden agenda.

What do you think?

admin Politics don siegelman, larry langford

As progressives, readers of freeThinkBirmingham are probably sympathetic to teachers' unions and may be suspicious of the charter school movement.

However, what recently happened to Alabama public education should rile all Alabama citizens, regardless of political affiliation.

Recently, a law was introduced that would legalize charter schools in Alabama.

Due to the stipulations of President Obama's "Race to the Top" education funding plan, legalizing charter schools helps a state qualify for part of the $180 million available to states.

This was truly a no-brainer, more choices, more funding, win-win.

Nearly everyone who cares about education in Alabama came out in favor of the law.

For it: Birmingham News, The Alabama Policy Institute, Gov. Bob Riley, Alabama Possible, Caroline Novack of the A+ Partnership, Former Congressman Jack Edwards in the Mobile Press-Register (Hat tip for the last two to the Left in Alabama blog).

There was really just one organization that didn't like the law: the almighty Alabama
Education Association.

So how did the AEA get its way over all these concerned citizens? They bought the Alabama House Education Appropriations Committee.

Montgomery Advisor:

Last week the House Education Appropriations Committee voted 13-2 to indefinitely postpone a bill that would allow state and local school systems to start charter schools. On Wednesday, the Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee voted 13-4 to kill a Senate version of the legislation. The two committee votes effectively kill any chance of charter schools being used soon in Alabama.

Turns out that for eight of the 13 committee members for which I could find information, the AEA was one of the top-five biggest campaign contributors. The AEA paid tens of thousands of dollars for those "no" votes.

Progressives talk so much about the importance of democracy. What happened to the Alabama charter school law is not democracy. It is a clear example of special interest groups buying votes and usurping the authority of and thwarting the efforts of the citizens.

Here you can find each of their names. To get each one's e-mail address and phone number, just click on the name. I haven't been able to find who voted yes and no, so you might just begin by asking how they voted. Or, if someone is able to find this info, please share it in the comments.

Whether it's the AEA or the NRA, special interests shouldn't be able to buy votes like this. Let's stand up to special interests and let our elected officials know that we're paying just as much attention to the issues as the special interest groups are, and we outnumber them.

—————————

Cathy Reisenwitz is a concerned Birmingham-area resident who blogs at http://anarcho-capitalism-blog.com/.

akbrim Politics AEA, legislation

Hey everyone, my name is Andrew, and Progressive Wining is my little sideshow for all you fellow FreeThinkers.

In our Big Red state of Alabama, I’ve heard progressives referred to as “wine-sipping elitists” more than a few times, but all too often people who want to learn more about wine have no clue where to begin their studies, that’s where I come in.

Wine is food, wine is fun, and more often than not, wine is simple. Most people have paired a great Cabernet with an awesome steak plenty of times, but what about pairing a tasty Riesling with a takeout bag full of spicy Rojo, Taj India, or in a pinch at 3AM, Taco Bell. The possibilities are endless!

In the future, I hope to tell you about ways that we can support small wineries, organic farmers, and avoid the big wine conglomerates, but for now, I’m going to start with helping you delve into the local wine scene.

Read more…

akbrim Living Alabama, Birmingham, Wine

Hello, all. I would just like to take this time to suggest that you consider adding something to this blog. FreeThinkBham isn’t just about my opinions; it’s about revealing the oft-hidden desire for progressive social and political change in Birmingham to other residents who might not be in the know.

That’s the beauty of blogs: an individual’s specialty or wealth of knowledge can become something of public record. If someone knows a lot about a certain topic, that knowledge should be compiled, condensed, and put into the “blogosphere” so others can benefit by easily learning something about Birmingham that may have taken the writer years to discover… or even a lifetime. This is what being a “community” is all about. You should take what you know, share it, and learn from others.

Birmingham, especially, needs to hear from the few forward-thinking young minds that exist in this town. Where else are we going to learn about the more liberal topics in this city that matter to us? Certainly not from the Birmingham News. That was my vision for FreeThinkBham: to become an easy spot for someone to find out what’s happening in the under-belly of an otherwise very conservative part of the country. But I need help. I work full time and can’t update the site as much as I’d like. And mostly, I just don’t know everything that’s going on in this town! That’s where you come in. Are you starting a responsible business? Do you know about an upcoming function or event for social change? Are you just mad about some of the business-as-usual in Birmingham? Let me know about it! I can post something from an email or I can set you up with a guest account, and you can just start updating all you want!

I’ll give you a list of topics that FreeThinkBham is big on. If any of these strike you as a topic in your field of expertise or even just experience, please consider contributing to this blog. Topics: politics, living green, social empowerment (women’s health, LGBT, racism, economics), gardening, spirituality, health, art, education, drug law reform, DIY, vegetarianism/veganism, pets, biking, food, and probably much more that I’m forgetting.

I really hope you’ll take this into consideration, people. Birmingham needs to hear from you! We have to let this town know that there are people here who don’t fit the usual mold, and blogging is one of the most effective ways to do that!

admin General anarchist, Birmingham, communist, democrat, liberal, progressive, socialist

Yes, I know… nobody likes that word… “hipster.” But I’m trying to create a guide for people like me and it’s a word that I would find myself wanting to Google if I was new to a town or about to move there. That is why I’m creating this guide. I want people new to the Birmingham area or having to move here (god bless you) to have an easy way of finding out where to hang, drink, meet people, whatever. And let’s face it: “hipster” culture–or whatever name you want to give our slightly alternative lifestyle–isn’t something that’s just on the forefront of Birmingham; you have to dig a little to find it, and trust me: you don’t want to waste your time doing that. I’m hoping that this guide will make it a little easier for people like me to integrate into the Birmingham area. Let’s get started…

Read more…

admin Living alcohol, apartments, bars, Birmingham, booze, Bottletree Cafe, food, groceries, hair stylist, hipster, music, shopping, tattoos, vegan, vegetarian

These are, indeed, demoralizing times. The richest are getting richer. Everyone we know is getting laid off. Homelessness is skyrocketing; putting decent people out onto freezing streets. Nothing is happening with the wars, the poor, the education system, the food system, the political system. There’s absolutely no way progressives around the country can be feeling energized right now. Here in Birmingham, progressives have had even more shame to deal with as our local leaders steal from us and collude with big business and banks and do absolutely nothing to better our city.

What we need is a shot of encouragement. Even the smallest of achievements or victories could breathe new spirit into us and the movement for social change. We just need something to get us kick-started again like the months before the last Presidential election.

This small accomplishment for the progressives of Birmingham is to get Patrick Cooper elected as mayor.

The runoff election is only a few days away on Tuesday, January 19th. We need to be doing everything we can to get this man elected if we want to feel the empowerment of taking a step in the right direction. I encourage you to get in touch with your progressive friends and neighbors. Figure out what you can do to accomplish this goal. Print out a flyer to hang in your building or pass out in your neighborhood about why Cooper should be elected. Arrange a carpool to the polls. Text/Email all of your Birmingham friends a message about the January 19th election and tell them to forward it on. Even the slightest amount of effort could be rewarded handsomely if we manage to get such a forward-thinking, level-headed man into the Birmingham mayor’s office.

I know it’s hard to think about helping out an entire city when you are currently feeling so depressed and ineffective on a personal level. But the only way to fight this feeling is to give yourself some purpose and focus your energy on achieving even a small victory, if not for Birmingham, at least just for yourself. Electing Patrick Cooper as mayor is the way to regain some progressive momentum in a town that is dying both physically and spiritually. Will you answer this call, Birmingham? I hope you do!

admin Politics Birmingham, mayoral election, Patrick Cooper, Run-off election

ATTENTION DOWNTOWNERS

We have a rare opportunity to move the City of Birmingham in a new direction by voting PATRICK COOPER as Mayor on Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

Only 200 downtown residents voted in December!

We DRASTICALLY need to increase this number if we want POSITIVE and PROGRESSIVE CHANGE

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

VOTE and MAKE SURE YOUR FRIENDS VOTE on

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

If you are not registered to vote, we can assist you! Contact Leigh at 585-7990 and we can deliver the voter registration form to you in person or by email and pick it up for processing. Or you can register in person at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 716 R Arrington Jr. Blvd N, Ste A-410.

To vote in this election you MUST REGISTER by January 8th, 2010.

If you will be busy or out of town on Election Day, you can cast an Absentee ballot at Birmingham City Hall, 710 North 20th Street – 3rd Floor during business hours anytime before January 14, 2010.

RENTERS – PLEASE REGISTER – WE NEED YOUR VOTE

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

admin Politics

I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with mayoral hopeful Patrick Cooper Wednesday morning over some coffee. Urban Standard provided a relaxed environment for Cooper to take a break from his hectic schedule and discuss the previous election and the upcoming runoff. In light of the low voter turnout in the Downtown area for the Dec. 8th election, I hoped to find and flesh out some new material that could energize the downtown base; encouraging the informed but–apparently–uninspired citizenry from the area to actually show up for Cooper’s runoff against William Bell.

Read more…

admin Business, Entertainment, Politics Birmingham Entertainment District, Birmingham Mayoral Runoff, Patrick Cooper, Railroad Park

Hopefully, everyone without recycling pickup is taking their cans, glass, paper, and plastics to the AEC Recycling Center Downtown. If you do, then you also know that the center only accepts #1 and #2 plastics. Well now you can start saving those #5 plastics also!

Whole Foods has a #5 plastics recycling drop-box. Just save them in a separate small container or bag and take it to Whole Foods the next time you go. It’s right inside the building if you come in the main entrance and head to the right. Happy recycling!

admin Business, Green AEC, recycling, Whole Foods

I’ve decided to compile a few places where Birminghamians(?) can do their Holiday shopping this year without sending all their money straight to irresponsible gigantic corporations. This list is for people in Birmingham who want to try to avoid the superficiality of the Galleria and Summit and get a gift with a little more soul while putting money back into the local economy.

1. Bottletree’s Holiday Craft Bazaar – this is by far the best thing you can support this Holiday season. Hand-made gifts by local artists and artisans, selling them altogether in one of the finest local establishments for music and vegetarian food. This event only happens for 2 days so dont miss it! Sat, Dec. 5th, 11-5 and Sun, Dec. 6th, 12-6.

2. Pepper Place Farmer’s Market General Store and Holiday Market – Although the general store is not usually open on Saturday, on Dec. 5th from 10am to 3pm, Pepper Place will host artists and farmers there for a special Holiday Market. You’ll be able to pick local winter veggies and all sorts of crafts. If you happen to miss the Holiday Market, the General Store is open Tues-Fri 10-4 and offers all sorts of local jarred veggies, jellies, relishes and other potential gifts made in Alabama.

3. Whole Foods Market – While Whole Foods is a big company, they support local and regional farmers and coffee roasters. On top of offering environmentally-responsible food and drink for your Holiday dinners, they also have a wide variety of items that would make great gifts. They have shirts dyed with Alabama clay, local candles and soaps and tons of items that you can be sure didn’t come from a sweat shop!

4. Nomad Supply – This is a great locally-owned shop that sells handmade clothes, hand-blown glass, jewelry, art work, soaps, oils, incense, drums, organic fair trade coffee, stickers, patches, gauged ear jewelry and other random stuff. While you’re there, you can also enjoy the free coffee, tea and wifi! Also check out Golden Temple Health Foods’ boutique in 5 Pts for a lot of similar type gifts.

5. Space One-Eleven’s DIY Holiday Gift-making Workshop – Why buy gifts when you can make them yourself? On Dec 15th, make up to 6 handmade gifts with the help of local artists for only $20. Food, wine, and fun included! RSVP for the event from the site.

I’ll add more places soon but I wanted to get this up quickly to highlight the events going on this weekend! Happy shopping! Leave comments with any more suggestions for local, responsible gift ideas!

admin Business, Green