‘The South’s New Racial Politics’

By Jennifer J. Foster

If you live in east central Alabama and you’re looking for something interesting to do over the next couple of days, you might look into either of the two events Dr. Glen Browder has scheduled to discuss his new book, “The South’s New Racial Politics: Inside the Race Game of Southern History.“

Browder, a former U.S. congressman and Alabama secretary of state, is a professor of political science and American democracy at Jacksonville State University. You can check out his web sites here and here.

He writes of his new work, “I like to think you’ll find this concise new book original, unconventional, and provocative.“

Browder will host two book signings and discussions this week:

Tomorrow in Opelika at the Lewis Cooper Library, 200 S. 6th St., from noon until 1 p.m. Central time;

Thursday, Aug. 13, in Valley at the Bradshaw Public Library, 3419 20th Ave., from noon until 1 p.m. Eastern time.

(Please note the differences in the time zones.)

Tomorrow’s event is part of the Opelika library’s “Brown Bag Lunches” series. For more information, contact Marsha Sanson, via e-mail at msanson AT ci.opelika.al.us or by phone at 334-705-5380.

Thursday’s event is part of the Valley library’s “Lunch N Learn” series. For more information, contact John Tidwell, via e-mail at johntidwell AT chamberscountylibrary.org or by phone at 334-768-2161.

Check it out!

This week’s column

By Jennifer J. Foster

In case you missed it in this weekend’s print edition of the Opelika-Auburn News, my most recent column is now available online. Check it out:

Forgive the mobs; they’re just fed up

Proponents of President Obama’s health care reform plan are not doing themselves any favors by demonizing and dismissing the opposition that is popping up at town hall meetings across the country. It is insulting to think that millions of Americans mindlessly take direction from insurance companies—insurance companies that, in many cases, those Americans aren’t too fond of, themselves.

So what does that say about how they feel about this bill?

Speaking of the health care debate, I watched a bit of a town hall meeting U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) was holding this morning. She pointed out, among other things, that the working version of the bill does not require abortion coverage.

No, senator, you’re right; it doesn’t. But again, if Democratic leaders aren’t out to extend government health care coverage to abortion services, then why not include a provision that specifically precludes itunder a government option?

You know why. Because without such a provision, although the bill doesn’t spell it out now, the panel that will make the coverage decisions down the road ... well, they’ll have the option.

And that’s just one of the many problems with the bill.