Opinion | It was a terrible session for the masses, if you care about that sort of thing

Do y’all even care anymore? 

On the heels of the 2025 Legislative Session — a session in which Alabama lawmakers passed some of the most unpopular bills in recent memory and failed to pass some of the most popular bills possibly ever — it’s a question that must be asked of Alabama voters at this point. 

Do you care what they’re doing? 

Because right now, dozens, if not hundreds, of Alabama small businesses are looking at closing up shop thanks to a very, very unpopular hemp restriction bill that was passed. The state is losing out on literally billions of dollars from the legislature’s failure once again to pass gambling. Tens of thousands of Alabama workers just got hit with a 5-percent tax increase thanks to the legislature allowing the overtime tax repeal to lapse and not be renewed. And lawmakers pulled another $80 million — making for a total for now of $180 million annually — from Alabama’s struggling public schools. 

All of these things are insanely unpopular with the masses. 

In fact, in my time covering the legislature, I can’t recall a session in which more unpopular legislative action has been taken. There may have been single pieces of legislation that were more unpopular, or single acts that drew more outrage, but collectively, I’d stack this session up against any of them. 

This is not a partisan issue, either. 

Check the stats, the polls and the opinion columns. This stuff was unpopular with everyone, regardless of political affiliation or beliefs. 

Because it all reeks of elitism and out-of-touch lawmakers who are serving themselves, their favorite special interest groups and their big-money donors. But mostly, it’s a clear sign of elected officials who have lost the thread of common interest among the masses. 

They’re out of touch. And they’re doing things that directly harm you. 

The OT tax repeal lapse is unequivocally the worst of the bunch. I mean, on what planet is it ever acceptable to take money out of the pockets of hard working Alabamians — money that’s literally only earned if a worker puts in extra work and goes the extra mile to benefit their families — and give it to wealthy Alabamians to send their kids to private schools? 

Look, I don’t care how you feel about “school choice” (I think it’s a scam to divert tax dollars to private businesses, most of which will be absolute frauds), surely we can agree that we shouldn’t be punishing working people in order to fund this initiative. Right? 

And no matter how you feel about hemp products, the handling of HB445 — a bill purported to “properly” tax and regulate the hemp industry — has been utterly atrocious and filled with idiotic beliefs built on misinformation and old wives’ tales about the alleged dangers of marijuana. It was so bad that when the people behind the bill went looking for examples of the potential harm of these products, they landed upon one kid who got sick for a little while. 

While that’s certainly awful, and I never want a child to be sickened if possible, I don’t know that I’m prepared to go the strict regulation route behind the wishes of a group of people who are selling alcohol and tobacco products — literally some of the most deadly and destructive products on Earth. And yet, those ABC stores exist. 

Thanks to HB445, a whole bunch of gas stations and vape shops won’t be doing so well. Dozens, if not hundreds, are likely to close because of the absurd, poorly thought out and dramatic overreach of this legislation. It will put out of business good people who have worked their asses off to open a small business, selling a legitimate, safe product that has been proven to help people with a variety of ailments. 

Can those products be used for recreational purposes? Yeah. And sometimes, they’re even abused or misused. But last I checked, this was still America, and willing adults are out here bragging by the millions about getting hammered on those products sold at the ABC stores. 

All of this is happening, you see, because the people you’ve elected are out of touch. For a variety of reasons. Some are enveloped in their own ambition. Some have adopted ridiculous culture issues and spend the entirety of their time ranting and raving about nonsense that affects maybe 100 of you. Others are just coasting along, happy to have that part-time gig that’s bringing in $60,000 per year, plus expenses. 

There are a handful of well-intentioned, caring, interested lawmakers who are trying to do the job well and represent their constituents well. They are being drowned by the dopes. 

And that’s your fault. 

We elect these goobers. Every single one of them. And we’re failing. 

There are many reasons for this, and I’m happy to discuss those reasons — from gerrymandering and culture wars to straight-ticket voting to oppressive voting laws that limit turnout — but the simple fact is we’re failing. Bigly. 

On Tuesday night in Cullman, a state representative — a guy who might turn out to be a decent lawmaker — was elected by less than 10 percent of the registered electorate. That’s a big problem. 

Because it has given these folks the idea that once they’re elected, there’s no one paying attention. They can appease a handful of people, make sure the donors are taken care of and then skate. They never have to listen to the masses because the masses ain’t voting. 

That’s a problem that can be fixed. It’s a problem that needs to be fixed before it ultimately turns your life upside down, as it’s done for thousands of your friends and neighbors lately. 

But you have to care enough to do it.