Black belt, red light, and green (money, not environment)

In Alabama, it is long-settled that we are prostitutes.  

And to make matters worse, we may lower our prices.

For a few decades an industry has sprung up in Alabama.  Disposal of deadly, hazardous, toxic waste that other states do not want to store in their homelands.

In Alabama, we have decided we will do anything, if the price is right. 

And so we are number one. Or we were.  Younger, cheaper competition presents a challenge to Emelle, 2700 acres of fertile Alabama black belt soil dedicated to the storage of material so toxic that nobody else would allow it on their soil, close to their children, or near their water sources.

The thing about the prostitution.  For the John, it's just a short visit, followed by a speedy return to a safe, clean home.   For the whore, it is a deadly, demeaning way of life  from which it is almost impossible to escape, and often ends in death.

A bill came out of committee in the Alabama House of Representatives today that would reduce by more than half the state and local fees charged to dump deadly, toxic, hazardous waste in the State of Alabama, to encourage more business from traveling, out of state clients. (For a real newspaper report, click here.)

I thought about using a rape metaphor. You know, something like," our beautiful land is being raped . . ."

But it is clear we are giving our consent, taking the money.

But first the money is collected by an out of state corporation. Then they let us have a little bit for our trouble.  

And now we're left to just haggling over the price.

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