HealthCare Crisis addressed by Democrats

I am separating my thoughts today into two posts with regards to the Over the Mountain Democrats forum titled "Crisis in American Healthcare: Is Universal Coverage the Solution?" The forum was held last night at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and was attended by about 400 interested people, including many from the School of Public Health and fellow blogger Kathy who writes about the event on Birmingham Blues.

Questions about disparities in healthcare, why so many are uninsured or underinsured, why we pay more than twice as much as any other country for healthcare in spite of low rankings among industrialized countries when it comes to quality of healthcare and whether healthcare is a right or a privilege, were addressed (sort of).

Panelists were Dr. Wally Retan, state coordinator of Health Care for Everyone – Alabama and whose son is Chris Retan, executive director of Alethia House, Mr. Terry Kellogg, executive vice president of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Dr. Max Michael, dean of UAB School of Public Health and former medical director of Cooper Green Hospital, and congressman Artur Davis of the 7th congressional district in Alabama.

The one thing we all knew going into the forum was that healthcare in America is a complex issue that is not going to be resolved by a 4 person panel in Alabama. But what this panel did was offer hope in that 4 people with very differing opinions sat and talked and took questions without calling each other names or losing their tempers and those who make the policy decisions over the next few months and years that change our system will have to do so in the same manner.

In four snapshots, here is what the panelists offered.

Dr. Retan gave the keynote address, but his pitch is for universal coverage, no exceptions, no exclusions, but at the expense of doing away with the private insurance companies. He spoke highly of the German model for healthcare.

Mr. Kellogg, wanting to hold on to his company of course, wants to reduce costs by having physicians stop performing expensive procedures such as all types of spinal fusion for which there is no evidence that the procedures work or that they improve the quality of life for those who receive them. In addition, he is all for doing away with pre-existing condition exclusions if his competitors are required to do the same (because his premiums would have to go up so the others should too).

Dr. Michael would like to reduce costs by removing simple monitoring and treatment such as for high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol from the healthcare system and allowing people to monitor and treat themselves. Of course, this would only work if his big picture was accepted, and this would be rather than using $120 billion to insure everyone, use the money to improve education and job training so that people would have a better understanding of their personal health and why and how to maintain it, and this also would improve the socio-economic status of many so that they would be in a position to have employer provided insurance or buy insurance.

Artur Davis would like to see Barack Obama elected.

To be fair, Davis did offer some good points, but they were lost after his insult of the audience’s intelligence and slamming of the LGBT community, and this is what will be addressed on another post.

The most uplifting part of the evening was when the question was posed asking how many believed providing healthcare was a moral issue. Almost every hand in the room went up. It is a moral issue, and what is immoral is that how much money one has determines whether you get treated when you are sick. One thing Davis said was that in our country, when you are accused of a crime, innocent or guilty, you are assured of getting legal representation. There is some degree of morality in assuring that everyone is represented. Where is the morality that assures that everyone in America who gets sick is able to see a doctor and get first class treatment? And I don’t want W’s answer that everyone can go to the emergency room. That is not a solution.

Another point he brought up (as a result of appearing on right wing radio talk shows and hearing complaints that “illegals” are being treated in our emergency rooms) is that medical professionals take an oath, and to refuse treatment to anyone would be in violation of that oath and could lead to forfeiture of their license.

So the forum did not solve the problems of healthcare, but it did give those in attendance a chance to hear differing views, all of which seek solutions and all of which, to some degree, will be a part of the solution.

Let’s just hope the democrat who is elected president will also have a congress she or he can work with to find ways to address the growing crisis, or we may find all of us without the type of healthcare are accustomed to.

Comic relief was provided by Barry Ragsdale, the moderator, and by two ladies sitting next to me, who, when Barry recognized the help provided by the Young Democrats from Hoover and Mountain Brook High Schools whispered "Both of them!" in repsonse.

Clinton Seeking Youth Vote, Women's Support

This post should be forwarded to young voters, and female voters and, well, all voters. Hillary Clinton is making inroads with the so called youth vote and recently had an online event where she addressed questions submmitted by facebook users. Here is a five or six minute youtube video where the candidate addresses questions posed to her.

Clinton addresses the following subjects here: genocide in Darfur, making college more affordable, creating green collar jobs, combating the upcoming recession and why she is the best candidate to bring change.



"She closes with "I want to reclaim the future for America, and that's really about you more than it is about me. And I'm going to do everything I can to make that happen."

Here is the youtube link link that you can send to your friends, or you can just forward Bessemer Opinions to them.

And Hillary still appeals to women, regardless of their age, and this column by Madeleine M. Kunin shows why Clinton's appeal among women was so much greater in New Hampshire than in Iowa.

Kunin is the former governor of Vermont, and she suspects that in states that have a good history of electing women to statewide office or sending them to Congress in Washington, that Clinton will do better than in states that do not have record of electing women. Iowa is one such state, one of only two (Mississippi is the other) that has never elected a woman to Congress or the governor's seat. New Hampshire has elected a woman governor three times and has the nation's second highest percentage of women in it's legislature (Kunin's state, Vermont, ranks first).

I think that since women's roles in politics (and elsewhere) are still repressed in much of the south, including Alabama, that Clinton will have a fight on her hands attracting huge numbers of women voters, but it is a fight that is winnable. South Carolina may tell us a lot about this, but Florida (if you consider it a southern state) has five women in Congress and their state legislature is 23.1% women. The women in Florida may give Hillary their support.

If I had the time I would research each state regarding these parameters and come up with an prediction, but there are too many other variables influencing this race.

So forward this to your female friends as well.

And for all voters, here is a good piece by Robert Farmer, Democratic bigwig. He was previously supporting Barack Obama, but has switched to Hillary Clinton's camp. This was printed in the Washington Post after the Iowa Caucus, on the day of the New Hampshire primary, before we knew Hillary had won. Farmer has considered electability in his decision and his editorial is worth reading.

Notes on Religion

The Birmingham News at the end of last year had an article on the religion page about what a pivotal year 2007 was. Too bad I can’t find a link, but the article mentioned the deaths of James Kennedy, Jerry Falwell and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner as a “passing of the guard among religious conservatives".

The article also mentioned The Christian Coalition sitting out the 2008 presidential race, the president of the National Association of Evangelicals stating that he’d rather conduct a funeral (or wedding) than meet with presidential candidates and Pat Robertson’s coziness with Rudy Giuliani as indications that things are changing.

But are they really? Here’s a few thoughts on recent stories in the news.

Baptists

Kentucky Southern Baptist Seminary president Albert Mohler Jr. is being considered to head the denomination. Remember this is the guy who wants to carry the Ex-gay movement into the womb, suggesting that changing the sexual orientation of fetuses would be acceptable. What next, Albert? Examining fetuses and changing their race, gender and handedness to produce only straight white right-handed males? After all, their view of denomination domination includes treating women as second class citizens too.

I hope Baptists find a more compassionate, peace loving and tolerant person to lead them. But that would mean following the teachings of Jesus. That would require a paradigm shift for the Baptists and I don’t think they will go that route.

Methodists

North Alabama Conference Bishop William Willimon led a revival of sorts among Methodists urging a return to the roots laid down by John Wesley. Pretty good suggestions. “Wesleyans believe that our relationship with God is totally dependent on God,” Willimon said. “Wesleyans believe you are here because of God. God is an active force…We believe everybody is being loved and attracted by God even if they don’t know it.”

“He (Wesley) believed in religion of the heart, but he believed that the test of the heart is religion of the hands, not only how we believe in Christ, but how we follow Christ.”

My roots are in Methodism also, and I can’t argue with Bishop Willimon. Whether one is a Methodist or other denomination or no denomination or whoever, this statement, “the test of the heart is religion of the hands” is worth consideration.

Mormons

The Mormons are trying to play catch up as they change the words of their sacred text so match what science has shown us: that Native Americans are not direct ancestors of a lost tribe of Israel.

Previous editions of The Book of Mormon stated “After thousands of years all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are the ancestors of the American Indians.”

Then came DNA, evidence of which contradicted their scripture. So now the scripture says the Lamanites “are among the ancestors.”

So the Mormons are conceding that science is accurate? Then when will they accept the science regarding sexual orientation and stop excommunicating members who are gay?

I’m not holding my breath, but we did buy one of these.

Episcopals

Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefforts Schori is in town to preside over the consecration of Rev. John McKee Sloan as suffragan or assistant bishop for the diocese of Alabama.

Here is what Jefforts Schori says about the war. “My understanding of Jesus’ ministry is that he told us not to go to war, and that he is at heart a peacemaker. We understand our mission as a church to be reconciliation. There may be times when it is appropriate to go to war. I’m not convinced of that, but we live in a world that is not perfect.”

“We pray for the troops constantly, even as we pray for peace and reconciliation in Iraq.”

She has a daughter who is a first lieutenant in the Air Force who was recently deployed to the United Arab Emirates, so I am sure she has given lots of thought to this war and war in general.

Give credit to the Episcopals for promoting peace.

Ron Paul and Iran, and Time to Rise Up against Eagle Forum

Now we learn that the "voice" stating "I am coming to you. You will explode after a few minutes." may not have come from the Iranian speedboats that approached U. S. Navy vessels at all. This is according to a spokesperson for the Navy. Was the whole incident fabricated or was it just poorly put together by our leaders in the pentagon? We will probably never know.

This we do know, however. Ron Paul is right. The current administration and all the other Republican candidates are itching to start a war with Iran. Last night Ron Paul won the text voting after the debate...again, or at least he was winning with 32% when I turned the TV off. "Make fun, buddy", is what Paul says after Smitten Romney pokes a jab at him after his answer on Iran last night.

Too bad the media refuses to treat Paul with respect, since the media controls who the serious candidates are rather than the people (this is true with both parties...just ask John Edwards and Bill Richardson).

Locally, another Republican has been found guilty, as former Jefferson County Commisssioner Gary White learns it's not a wise thing to take envelopes stuffed with cash from persons seeking sewer contracts. Of course White is not the first to fall, and corruption in Jefferson County knows no party lines, but it goes to show that the County Commission was (and still is) a corrupt joke.

And their latest antic of providing $15,000 to Eagle Forum to help their "Education Foundation" takes the cake. According Eunie Smith, their Vice President, Eagle Forum will delve into issues like "Pre-K: Does it Live Up to Its Promises" (meaning they are against it), and my favorite, "Consequences of Accepting the Myth of Global Warming." The letter in the Birmingham News from Smith today recommends registering early, as space is limited. The Forum is February 22 and 23 at the Birmingham Marriott, and is FREE. I hope progressives and liberals scoop up tickets and flood the place. Visit their web site (google it, I refuse to put a link) for information.

Remember, Eagle Forum is headed by a far right wingnut that declared the responsibility for the Virginia Tech shootings lies with the English Department rather than with Seung-Hui Cho, who actually pulled the trigger while pointing his gun at 32 different people. Here she shows her ignorance about evolution and would be wise to read my post on the subject and follow the links there to Nova's show. Need I point out more of the kind of trash Eagle Forum puts out?

Of course I realize that Bessemer Opinions is just a "pathetic blog" (quote from Dale) and Eagle Forum is a big neo-con (wouldn't it be nice if they would actually) think tank, and their right wing voice is much bigger than my progressive voice, but you gotta start somewhere.

The Next President Has Been Named

From Dale Jones, Editor of The Western Star:

"Hillary is out. Despite their efforts, mainstream media cannot carry this election for her, and Hillary Clinton will soon ride off into the proverbial sunset."

Far from it, Dale. Senator Clinton may or may not be the eventual nominee, but it is far from over. And even if she does not prevail, she will not be riding off into the sunset.

Dale often writes about the "moral, ethical, Christian stance" that he takes on the issues, and in this column he claims "how overwhelmingly people support" his stand on the issues.

Let's not discuss here the irony of those claims when his editorial policies (plagiarism, twisting or ignoring truths, flat out lies) are considered. (Tell me, how can a plagiarist make a claim of ethics?)

Instead, let's consider his assumption that only Republicans hold moral, ethical and Christian values, and just wait and see how many voters in Bessemer vote in the Democratic Primary compared to the number who vote in the Republican Primary. That in itself won't tell us which party holds the key to those values, but it will tell us that not everyone in Bessemer ascribes to the ethical and moral edicts put forth by his philosophy. In other words, "The World According To Dale" is a myth. And not all Democrats are heathens, in spite of TWATD.

Dale states that 60% of those who participated in the Republican caucus in Iowa are "evangelical Christians". That is no surprise, and similar or higher numbers might be found if they did a similar poll in Alabama. I don't know what percent of Democrats in Iowa are evangelicals, but I bet it's a pretty high number.

Examine the numbers a little more. Of the 60% of GOP voters (114,000) who are evangelicals (68,400), less than a majority, 46% or 31,464, voted for Huckabee, who Dale Jones has already crowned as president: ("When all is said and done, just as in years past, the American people will speak, and good, honest, moral, conservative values will prevail and Mr. Huckabee will be our next president.")

To make it clear, more evangelicals who voted Republican voted against Huckabee (54%) in Iowa than voted for him. And Iowa does not have a great history of picking winners. It's hard to believe anyone would make a bold prediction after just one state has spoken.

I wonder what Dale thinks now that Hillary beat Obama in New Hampshire? I can't wait to read next weeks column.

Answers and Go New Hampshire, Go Hillary

New Hampshire.

Three things.

1. All the media outlets have emphasized that the voters in New Hampshire take their vote very seriously. Rather than just voting “against” her or him for unknown reasons, many of which are based on ill-conceived notions or prejudices, they evaluate each candidate on the issues and what that candidate says to them. In this case, Hillary Clinton definitely prevails, because she addressed the issues, including the economy, which is very important to New Hampshire voters. Obama did not address the economy over the last few days. In addition, “Hope” is not a plan, and when all you are offering is empty hope, voters do not know that you have any plans. Hillary has plans.

2. In New Hampshire, you can not vote twice, like in Iowa. People whose candidates were not faring well did not get to recast their vote for another candidate

3. The people in New Hampshire realize it is OK to be human. Hillary Clinton’s emotions, both during the debate and Monday showed her to be human. Your eyes can fill with tears and you can still be strong.

What a victory for Hillary Clinton. New Hampshire is good to the Clintons. And again, like in Iowa, what a night for the democratic party. While the number voting in the Republican Primary decreased , the number voting in the Democratic primary grew.

And I can not wait, if John McCain becomes the Republican nominee (not that I think he could sustain his momentum), Hillary’s end the war message would smother his hawk message.

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I can not believe that the Jefferson County Commission is giving money to The Eagle Forum to host a forum. And they will discuss issues like gobal warming. This is like paying the contrarians to spread their lies and seems just a little too partisan to me. Is it even legal? Shouldn't be. Somebody should raise a big stink about this.

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That being said, here are answers to the Alabama Quiz posted yesterday.

1. Here's the answer from the State Archives , which is where most of the answers and pictures come from, unless otherwise noted or linked. In 1817, when William Wyatt Bibb was appointed Governor of the brand new Alabama territory, Bibb realized he needed an official seal for his commissions and other state papers. With permission of President James Monroe and a law adopted by Congress, the territorial governor was authorized to select a design for a seal. Governor Bibb believed the best seal would be a map of the territory showing its rivers. It also showed the territories (now states) surrounding it.
By 1819, when Alabama became a state, the territorial seal was designated by the first legislature as the state seal. The state seal remained unchanged for 50 years, until the Reconstruction period when a Republican-dominated legislature had a new seal made. It consisted of an eagle perched upon the shield of the United States seal. In the beak of the eagle was a banner reading "Here We Rest". Around the new emblem were the words "Alabama Great Seal". This seal was used for 71 years to authenticate official documents and letterhead.
In 1939, a bill was introduced by the legislature to restore the original seal as the Great Seal of Alabama. When the bill came up it was approved unanimously by the Senate and the House. Governor Frank M. Dixon approved the new law and the Secretary of State had a new Great Seal created. Act no. 20.

2. The Crimson Cross of St. Andrew and a white field were adopted in 1895. The act did not stipulate as to the shape of the flag, so now you see both square and rectangular flags.


3. The state bird is the Yellowhammer.

The common flicker is the State Bird of Alabama. Alabama has been known as the "Yellowhammer State" since the Civil War. The yellowhammer nickname was applied to the Confederate soldiers from Alabama when a company of young cavalry soldiers from Huntsville, under the command of Rev. D.C. Kelly, arrived at Hopkinsville, KY, where Gen. Forrest's troops were stationed. The officers and men of the Huntsville company wore fine, new uniforms, whereas the soldiers who had long been on the battlefields were dressed in faded, worn uniforms. On the sleeves, collars and coattails of the new calvary troop were bits of brilliant yellow cloth. As the company rode past Company A , Will Arnett cried out in greeting "Yellowhammer, Yellowhammer, flicker, flicker!" The greeting brought a roar of laughter from the men and from that moment the Huntsville soldiers were spoken of as the "yellowhammer company." The term quickly spread throughout the Confederate Army and all Alabama troops were referred to unofficially as the "Yellowhammers."

4. “Alabama” is the official state song. Here are the words to the first and seventh verse:

1 Alabama, Alabama, We will aye be true to thee, From thy Southern shore where groweth, By the sea thine orange tree. To thy Northern vale where floweth Deep and blue thy Tennessee. Alabama, Alabama We will aye be true to thee!

7 Little, little, can I give thee, Alabama, mother mine; But that little--hand, brain, spirit, All I have and am are thine. Take, O take the gift and giver. Take and serve thyself with me, Alabama, Alabama, I will aye be true to thee.

Listen to our state song being sung. Does this take you back to grade school? Who all had Ms. Brown for their music teacher?

5. “We Dare Maintain Our Rights” comes from found on our state coat of arms. "Audemus jura nostra defendere"

Well and good, if only we all had equal rights. That day is a comin’.

6. The Southern Longleaf Pine is the official state tree. Great pine cones. When I was little, daddy planted a long leaf pine in the front yard. I could jump over it. For years. But suddenly it grew taller and faster than me, and it was a mistake to try to jump over it. I won’t elaborate.

7. Red Hills Salamander is the (cutest) official state amphibian. Click here for details and a picture of this endangered amphibian, which lives only in a few counties in south Alabama. I took a field trip in college to the Red Hills to scout for these critters during a herpetology class taught by Dr. Mount.

Click here for a picture and the story of the Red Hills Salamander.

8. Blackberry is the official state fruit. Yall don’t need pictures of blackberries, I am sure. But those of you who have tasted my pecan cobbler (from Miss Julia May) and those who love my peach cobbler, bring me a bunch of fresh blackberries this summer and let me make this for you.
Blackberry Cobbler.

4 cups fresh blackberries

1 cup sugar

1 Tbsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp lemon juice

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter melted

1 egg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spread blackberries in ungreased favorite cobbler dish. Mix sugar, except for I teaspoon, with cornstarch and lemon juice. Drizzle cornstarch mixture over blackberries and stir gently. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in separate bowl. Stir in milk, butter and egg. Spread batter evenly over blackberries and seal edges. Sprinkle with remaining sugar Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown . Let stand about 10 minutes before serving.

This is best served with a dollop of vanilla ice cream melting around it.

9. Conecuh Ridge Alabama Firewhiskey is the official state spirit. I could have used a shot of this when I lost this whole post and had to start over yesterday. And I think it would go well with the blackberry cobbler.

Travel Girl must have liked it. Scroll down to "Wednesday, May 10, 2006" to see what she said about Alabama, but her whole journal is pretty good reading.

10. Black Bear is the official state mammal. Yeah, I see a lot of these in Alabama.

11. Peach is the official state tree fruit. One recipe is all you get per post, but when the fresh peaches come in, I will provide. Mmmmm.

12. Fighting Tarpon is the official state saltwater fish. Travel girl mentioned this along with the Firewhiskey, so I guess they go together good also.

13. Camellia is the official state flower. You have already seen my favorite, and the Camellia show at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens is coming up, I will let you know when.

And you know, when I was entering grade school, the Goldenrod was the state flower. Then the powers that be named this non-native shrub as the Alabama state flower. Go figure.

14. Hematite (red iron ore) is the official state mineral. Vulcan sits atop Red Mountain, named after this ore. Read the story of Vulcan at the Vulcan link.

But here’s something you don’t know. My great Aunt Rose Openshaw Johns Cannon (reputed to be the most beautiful girl in Birmingham) was at one time married to Col. Llewelyn Johns. Before she became his widow, he paid the freight to have Vulcan shipped back from St. Louis to Birmingham after the World’s Fair. That is my Vulcan connection.

15. Marble is the official state rock. This sculpture of the Head of Christ by Giuseppe Moretti who also sculpted Vulcan, is carved from Alabama marble. Many of you have seen this sculpture, either in Montgomery or here in Birmingham when it was part of the Vulcan exhibit.

16. Racking Horse is the official state horse. The Racking Horse Celebration in Priceville is a big deal. Racking Horses

17. Largemouth Bass is the official state freshwater fish. There is some question about fees paid as part of the bond issue that is bringing Bass Pro Shop to Leeds. Gee, Bessemer is not the only city that has questionable bond dealings.

18. Wild Turkey is the official state game bird. I really thought Wild Turkey was the state spirit.

19. Square Dance is the official state American Folk Dance. There used to be several Gay Square Dance Clubs in the state, like the Rocket City Rainbow Squares in Huntsville and a similar club in Birmingham. Are they still around?

20. Pecans are the official state nut. Again, only one recipe per blog, but Chef Julia May’s Pecan Cobbler is a favorite around here around Christmas.

21. Basilosaurus cetoides is the official state fossil. Believe it or not, this is a whale, and an entire fossilized skeleton was found on a plantation in south western Alabama in 1834. And always remember this, from our state archives site: "Fossil remains of the Basilosaurus cetoides may not be removed from the state without prior written approval of the governor".

22. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is the official state mascot.


Did you know that the females also come in a dark or black form? The tiger stripes are still visible and here are some great pictures, be sure to look at the "golden form" picture link.

And don’t confuse them with the smaller but also black pipevine and spicebush swallowtails that we see around here.

23. The monarch butterfly is the official state butterfly. Monarchs migrate, and again, when I was little there was a tree at the “top of Vestaven Way” behind our house where these butterflies would congregate by the hundreds or thousands on their way to Mexico. Pretty neat, huh. Now, tell me how the butterflies with their tiny insect brains find their way.

Also notice this monarch butterfly is on a goldenrod, the former state flower. The monarch wouldn't be caught dead feeding from a camellia. And hey, Mr. Monarch, this might remind you that your title could be stripped at any time for the younger, more hip butterfly.

24. The Alabama Redbellied Turtle is the official state reptile. This picture was taken by my professor, Dr. Mount. 25. The Star Blue Quartz is the state gemstone.
26. Scaphella junonia johnstoneae is the state shell.


27. The Demopolis Christmas on the River Tournament is the official state barbecue championship. Read about it

28. Stockton Fall Horseshoe Tournament is the official state horseshoe tournament. I don't believe this tournment still takes place. If anyone knows differently let me know. Really, all you need is a few guys and girls and some horseshoes and posts and this tourney could be revived!

29. Alabama Theater for the Performing Arts is the official State Historic Theater. If anyone missed this question I am embarassed for you. Oh, on the website, you will notice Gordon Lightfoot is coming in February.

30. The Pine Burr Quilt is the official state quilt.
Here are instructions for how to make the quilt. Let me know if you make one. I will buy it from you. Look at the picture on the instructions to see the full quilt. Beautiful.

An Alabama Quiz and Birmingham on "The Edge"

Gary left link in a comment yesterday to this site. Talk about the future of transportation! Thanks, Gary. I don't see any problems with a system like this, other than the transition from the current system. That is addressed on the web site, however.

And Kathy at Birmingham Blues had an interesting link to an article in The Edge about Birmingham and its progress in the gay community by Cody Lyon. Here is a quote:

"There is a large, visible, albeit loosely organized gay community in Alabama’s largest city. There are 24-hour gay bars, social, religious and political organizations, annual events, even entire neighborhoods that gays have transformed into friendly enclaves.

In fact, according to the 2000 United State Census, the city of Birmingham was home to a higher per capita concentration of same-sex couples than cities of comparable or larger sizes like Memphis, Charlotte and even more liberal northern cities like Columbus, Ohio."

The article is a couple of pages long and worth reading if you are interested in Birmingham's progress. Progress is progress, so you should all be interested.

Cody is from Wilsonville, Alabama and now lives in New York as a writer and such.

OK here is a quiz from the Hartselle Enquirer. Test your knowledge of Alabama. Answers on tomorrow. I scored a lowly 12 out of 30.

1. When was Alabama's great seal adopted?
2. What does Alabama's flag look like?
3. What is our state bird?
4. What is our state song?
5. What is our state motto?
6. What is our state tree?
7. What is our state amphibian?
8. What is our state fruit?
9. What is our state spirit (liquor)?
10. What is our state mammal?
11. What is our state tree fruit?
12. What is our state saltwater fish?
13. What is our state flower?
14. What is our state mineral?
15. What is our state rock?
16. What is our state horse?
17. What is our state saltwater fish?
18. What is our state game bird?
19. What is our official American Folk Dance?
20. What is our state nut? (Clue, it is not Roy Moore)
21. What is our state fossil?
22. What is our official mascot?
23. What is our official state butterfly?
24. What is our state reptile?
25. What is our state gemstone?
26. What is our state shell?
27. What is our official State Barbecue Championship?
28. What is our official Horseshoe Tournament?
29. What is our official State Historic Theater?
30. What is our offical State Quilt?