That's a lot of racism

The Alabama Constitution is so long and has so many racist provisions that legislators are struggling to track them all down so a proposed constitutional amendment by state Sen. Wendell Mitchell, D-Luverne, can eliminate them. As state Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, said, "It's kind of like making sausage right now."

Another problem: Lawmakers must be careful in drafting the amendment, which is almost identical to the Amendment 2 that voters narrowly rejected in November, or else their changes would funnel money out of poor Black Belt schools and pump it into richer suburban schools. Why? I have absolutely no idea, but it's another example of why the antiquated, convoluted state constitution needs to be rewritten.

For the anti-tax crowd who voted down Amendment 2 due to fears that it could create even the slightest chance of a tax increase -- thanks, Roy Moore! -- legislators have added language that says nothing in the amendment should be construed as calling for higher taxes. Now that there's really no excuse other than racism for anyone who votes "no," the amendment likely will pass.

Then again, I should never underestimate a certain former state chief justice's ability to scare the masses for political gain.