Mixed response to James' ad

I would say yes I agree. This isn't a big issue with me but the ad itself has done what it was designed to do it has set James' campaign apart. Lots of people are talking about the ad and its getting some negative press outside Alabama. Always a plus when appealing to the Alabama electorate.

It's simply a political stunt. It is unworkable because of the Federal funding we will lose. I thought his father was one of the worst govenors in my lifetime. I don't think he could've found the Shoals area on a map.

Educators were locked in a public auditorium during one of James's father's terms. So, as far as law is concerned, what else is new? There are a lot worse problems facing AL.

personally, i hate travelling somewhere that doesnt have things written out in the countries native language AND in english.

wasnt fob james the governor that made guy hunt look good in comparison?

quote:

Originally posted by tcf531:
personally, i hate travelling somewhere that doesnt have things written out in the countries native language AND in english.

wasnt fob james the governor that made guy hunt look good in comparison?

Fob James made big bucks by inventing some dumbbell weights that were cheap to make. They consisted of formed concrete disks encased in plastic. His inspiration for this device was the anatomy of his own head.

I agree English needs to be the primary language.

The other thing I agree with him on is the Sex Offenders having to check in face to face every 90 days.

I'm not sure who I will vote for yet, but on the sex offender issue alone -- we've got to keep this perps under control -- our kids safety has to be our top priority.

This is a very hard one for me, and I think it is a political stunt, which is the only reason I voted 'disagree'.

I agree with the fact that, if someone wants to live here, they need to learn the english language. And blend in with our society. However, as we welcome businesses such as Mercedes and Honda, we need to remember that they bring with them short term employees and their families that may not be completely fluent in English (know just enough to get by) but still need to know the rules of the road and get their license for the time they are here.

When I lived in Japan, it was short term and I didnt expect anyone over there to go out of their way for me in regards to my inability to speak Japanese. I learned a little, but I also needed the ability to drive, and I learned their rules of the road and took the test in English. There is a reason why road signs are universally understood and easy to identify without knowing English.....

Jeepin'

If he wanted to impress me, he should have said 'all Alabama state govt aid program applications will only be offered in English....'

Jeepin'

It is possible to know how to speak English but be weak at reading it. It can take years to master both. And it's not like other countries don't offer similar to expats as well.

It isn't just illegals taking it as well, it's likely is a fair amount of Germans, Japanese and Koreans due to the auto plants in the state. The Korean population should be of note considering that Georgia has the fastest growing Korean population in the US due to Hyundai/Kia and several other companies that have located there. It is possible that the population could expand into Alabama over time



And for what it's worth, it wouldn't save money as the test is electronic. and the foreign language tests only account for 2% of the tests taken. http://blog.al.com/sweethome/2...s_of_tv_ad_from.html

If giving the drivers test in a foreign language enables more who are going to be on the road anyway to get a drivers license and insurance, then I'm for it. Having been hit by an illegal immigrant, I understand how much easier it would have been if they could have had the opportunity to buy insurance.

quote:

Originally posted by Carol None:
If giving the drivers test in a foreign language enables more who are going to be on the road anyway to get a drivers license and insurance, then I'm for it. Having been hit by an illegal immigrant, I understand how much easier it would have been if they could have had the opportunity to buy insurance.

Not to get off on a tangent, but I believe the problem is not them not having the ability. The test is now given in Spanish, so why would someone who wanted to get their license and insurance not do it? Because they are not here legally, so they probably cant provide the documentation they need to get their license / insurance. They dont have a reason to get a license / insurance (the illegals you are talking about). Heck, we cant keep them out of our country, why would they think we could keep them off of our roads? How much luck did you have collecting from the guy (if you sued)? Probably not much, and if you did get a judgement, chances are he would say 'Im not a citizen' and run off to Mexico, just to cross back over and go somewhere else in the country. After all, you cant squeeze blood from a turnip.

So, truth be told, if you want to prevent others from going through what you did you have two choices: send them home or grant them citizenship. The way I look at it, if you grant them citizenship, you are just rewarding their illegally coming here. So why on earth would they ever follow any of the other laws we have (like our joke of a mandatory insurance law)? I guess that leaves only one option:

SEND THEM HOME!

Jeepin'

It is as trite as his new one with the odd beginning, "We have three kids, how 'bout you?" then suddenly going off on a tangent minus the wife now about how often sex offenders ought to check in to the state.


Does he have a platform, or is being a "bidnessman" (that is Southern English for Daddy and his friends gave me some money to play with so I would get out of the house) enough?

He's not really pushing my buttons right now, nor do I think he ever will.

I agree!!
And giving the test only in english will not cause the loss of federal dollars, at least 9 other states only give the test in english and they have not lost any federal money or foreign business. At least James has fresh ideas, instead of our do nothing polititions in office now.

ein beer bitter!

quote:

Originally posted by SgtBillCo:
I agree!!
And giving the test only in english will not cause the loss of federal dollars, at least 9 other states only give the test in english and they have not lost any federal money or foreign business. At least James has fresh ideas, instead of our do nothing polititions in office now.

Hardly a fresh idea. How do you know these states didn't lose foreign business.

Bradley Byrnes says he will do the same thing. He is also going to work on straightening out some of the bad teachers and the AEA.
I don't have kids of my own in school but my sister does and some of those teachers need to be fired.
I don't think they can do away with the drivers exam in other languages. Looks like a discrimination lawsuit would take care of that.
I think I'm gone vote for Byrne.

I think the English language thing is akin to putting a band-aid on a severed limb.

If they wanted to actually do something, they would ENFORCE the current laws we have on the books and punish businesses for hiring illegal aliens.

It's not like we ahve to go looking. Locally, that chicken plant in R'ville is very well known to hire illegals.

quote:

Originally posted by SgtBillCo:
I agree!!
And giving the test only in english will not cause the loss of federal dollars, at least 9 other states only give the test in english and they have not lost any federal money or foreign business. At least James has fresh ideas, instead of our do nothing polititions in office now.

Actually, those 9 are trying to pass it, and it's in various areas of their judicial system, but Alabama is the only one that I can find on record that actually passed a law on the subject in 1990. However, the state was sued over the law twice (one is still pending) and lost every appeal up the the supreme court, which basically ruled that it's the Governor's right, but state's funding can be pulled if it's determined to be a Title VI violation. Fighting for the law in court probably cost more than keeping the program up to date over the years.

Again, other countries offer driving exams in English, or even will give a license without an exam so the belief that it's a 'liberal loophole to get illegals in' is off base. And for that matter, what about Alabama citizens who are illiterate? Will there be considerations made for them, and if so that throws away the idea that English only is a safety issue.

quote:

Originally posted by Sofa King:
Locally, that chicken plant in R'ville is very well known to hire illegals.

That's true, & the local law enforcement is very aware of it but you won't see them doing anything about it.