Lobbyists Among Us?

Do you ever read the political contribution lists? If you do, you may be left scratching your head as to why the Acme Widget Company gave six billion dollars to both Republican John Doe and Democrat Joe Roe. The why is that no matter who's elected, when Acme needs a favor it can approach the office holder and remind him/her of the contribution. 

The Alabama Education Association was long called the most powerful lobby in the state and may still be. How about the second? That title may be up for grabs, but certainly the Alabama Farm Bureau is one of the leading contenders. Not sure of what the Alabama Farm Bureau is? Perhaps you of a younger generation know it as ALFA. 

Farm Bureau is a national organization with tentacles in each state. Most states, as in about 45 or more, use "Farm Bureau" in the title. Why did Alabama's chapter change its name? Because as we all know, a new name wipes away bankruptcy or corruption. No, wait, it doesn't. 

Why are we addressing this now? Yesterday we linked (a procedure many readers don't understand) an article on ALFA and related animal abuse/neglect. We then promptly received some negative comments. The vehemence of these comments, particularly one, gobsmacked us. 

To most of us, ALFA is simply an insurance company, but apparently to some it's a legislative machine that must be defended. Hmmm, should we never mention that we use Cotton States? No, when someone calls you a Democratic snowflake for questioning ALFA, it's a marked indication that the organization doesn't have the best intentions for all the state's citizens. It's also an indication of just how many in other fields are on its payroll.

Alabama Farm Bureau - Making Drummond Coal look good for three generations.