ALABAMA AS ITS OWN INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

Like many other States of this once-voluntary union, Alabama has all that is necessary to be a separate, independent republic. Our State’s population is 4.8 million (2010 US Census), which puts it equal to or larger than Norway, New Zealand, Croatia, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia, and Iceland, among others. In total area (roughly 50,000 square miles) it is equal to or larger than Slovakia, Estonia, Denmark, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Israel, and Taiwan. It is a land of great diversity, from its resource-rich mountains in the north, to its luxuriant Black Belt farmlands, to its beautiful Gulf Coast. Alabama’s enormous natural resources range from timber and other forest products to the ingredients for steel production—coal, iron ore, and limestone.

Raw Materials and Agriculture

For example, in 2007 the State of Alabama ranked 16th among all the States in the production of industrial minerals ($1.34 billion in value). Specifically, Alabama produced 50 million short tons of Limestone and 20 million short tons of coal (2007 and 2009, respectively). Though Alabama now imports most of its high-grade iron ore for steel productions, the State Geological Survey in 2007 estimates that there is a 4.2 billion ton reserve of red iron ore in the central and east central part of the State that could be mined if necessary.

Indeed, Alabama could be largely self-sufficient as an independent republic by using and selling to others the produce, both natural and man made, of our great State. Sadly though, we currently are not in a position to do this because of our political status as a mere subset of an empire that is sinking beneath the waves before our very eyes.

Alabama is historically portrayed largely as an agricultural economy. Let’s look, then, at this situation as it currently stands. About 80% of Alabama agricultural production comes from livestock, with the other 20% from a large variety of crops. Livestock production is dominated by broilers (young chickens used for cooking) at 60%; cattle production is next at about 12%. The remaining 28% is made up of hog, chicken egg, and aquaculture (catfish and crawfish) production). Crop production in Alabama is led by greenhouse and nursery produce, and though cotton production is down significantly from earlier decades, it is still an important crop. Alabama produced 4% of America’s total cotton crop in 2004, mainly in the fertile Tennessee Valley.

Why is it that Alabama needs to purchase polluted seafood and catfish from China and other Asian countries when we can easily raise or procure it locally? Chicken, beef, lamb, goats, and other animals could be raised, processed and sold locally. Raw milk, cheese, and other dairy products as well as eggs could once again come from Alabama’s own farms, not from far away questionable sources.

Trade and Industry

The deep water Port of Mobile is the ninth largest in the country in tonnage. In 2008, the port had a trade volume of 67.6 million tons.

Alabama is home to more than 350 aerospace companies doing work in space and defense, aviation, and maintenance, refurbishment and overhaul (MRO). These companies have created more than 73,000 direct jobs for Alabamians with an annual payroll of more than $3 billion.

Alabama has over 300 automotive related companies –a 286% increase since 1991, including an extensive supplier network, giving the state a true automotive cluster and a leading position in the Southeastern automotive corridor. Companies such as Mercedes, Honda, and Hyundai have already found that Alabama is the ideal setting for automotive manufacturing and have set up shop in the state. Others have also chosen Alabama to build their engines, including Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Inc. in Huntsville, and International Diesel, which produces advanced technology diesel engines in Huntsville.

Chemicals are the second-largest export in Alabama, totaling $2 billion in 2010. More than 9,500 Alabamians are employed in the chemical industry, including major companies such as DuPont, BASF, Occidental, Evonik and Olin.

In mid-2010, steel production began at Thyssen Krupp’s 3,500-acre site near Mobile. When fully operational, the $4.65 billion complex will process carbon and stainless steel for the North American market and employ 2,700 people.

If left to ourselves, there is no doubt that Alabama would lift many onerous government restrictions, the effect of which has been to destroy small farms and local economies. Furthermore, textile mills—which once dotted the rural and small town landscape of Alabama– could once again produce fabric from cotton and other plants grown in Alabama. Manufacturing facilities, coal mines, and steel mills–once the pride of Birmingham–could once again be producing products to supply our own citizens, to provide for our own industrial and infrastructure needs, and to sell abroad.

Conclusion

Alabamians are a proud and hard-working people. Our education system, from elementary and secondary to higher education, though still lacking in some areas, would doubtless improve without onerous federal regulations that stifle local control and initiative.

As the United States government continues its slide into bankruptcy because of its commitment to bail out the banking elite, the State of Alabama, if independent, could introduce a financial/monetary system based on a bi-metallic standard (gold and silver) that would stabilized and then grow our economy.

Self government would mean Alabamians would once again be allowed to openly honor their religion and Southern heritage. Teachers could once again lead prayer in schools. The Ten Commandments would be legal in a court room; abortion would no longer be government funded. Our borders could be protected and immigration laws enforced. Laws could be passed prohibiting the sale of real estate and businesses to non citizens. Land already under foreign ownership could be repatriated. Alabamians able to work would be expected to work and no longer be on government welfare, thereby eliminating the need for foreign labor.

The Alabama State Guard could be repatriated and used only for the defense of Alabama’s borders. Alabama’s young men could then actually serve their own people and country instead of serving the interests of the US political and financial elites. The news media, TV & radio stations, and newspapers would once again be under local control and influence.

Alabamians could also have more control over their health and medical care, greatly bringing down the cost. The drug /welfare/government program rackets would be eliminated.

Alabama could harness its abundant energy resources by taking local control over its hydro-electric and nuclear facilities, as well as its established oil and natural gas production. Incentives and assistance could be provided for bio-diesel, ethanol, solar, and natural gas and electric vehicle production. Entrepreneurs with new inventions and designs could be promoted and no longer suppressed by the inept federal patent system.

Why should Alabama be an independent republic? Simply because we can best serve our own interests by running our own affairs and cooperating in whatever ways may be necessary with our Southern neighbors. Rule from distant Washington, DC, has proven ineffective at best and disastrous at worst. It is time we Alabamians ruled ourselves. We have everything we need . . . if we can merely muster the will.