By David G. Bronner

Retirement Systems of Alabama

If we were to ask Alabamians to suggest the best ways to improve our state, we might never get started due to the high number of suggestions. Individuals, just like organizations, are interested primarily in what directly affects them. A new road or bridge might dramatically transform a local area without any meaningful impact on the county, much less the state.

Years ago, leaders from the Alabama Black Belt kept asking me to identify "the one thing" they could do to seriously change its future. My answer today is the same as then: Finish 1-85 from Montgomery to Mississippi -- an expensive, long-term solution, but one that needs doing. In the meantime, a whole new emphasis on the business of outdoor recreation -- especially hunting and fishing -- started about two years ago and, hopefully, will meaningfully help that area soon.

Alabama cannot remain a place that only has exceptional potential. We must move beyond potential, just as we have done in the last 15 years in recruiting top-quality jobs to the state. Clearly, our first big opportunity came with Mercedes, which created our auto industry. This year's announcement about Airbus will skyrocket our aerospace industry to a level beyond imagination.

Today, let us try to identify five opportunities to continue to move Alabama ahead.

First, Constitutional reform. It is a must! Thanks to public support and some outstanding legislators, this is being done, article by article, as the 1901 Constitution does nothing but hold us back.

The big challenge will be addressing tax reform. As I have consistently stated since teaching at the University of Alabama, we have the worst and most inadequate, unfair tax system in America, bar none. It must be changed if we want a better Alabama for ourselves and our children. Keep in mind my statement of years ago: "Low taxes are great, but having the lowest in America and expecting to compete is just dumb."

Second, expanding tourism. RSA's interest in tourism goes back 20 years with the creation of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, followed by the creation of eight first-class hotels. As a result, the tourism industry has grown from a $1.8 billion yearly business in Alabama to a $10.3 billion yearly business, employing tens of thousands of Alabamians.

This business has primarily grown due to the $50 million spent each year via advertising given to us by CNHI (newspaper ads in over 100 newspapers) and Raycom (television ads on 46 stations from coast to coast), which are two of RSA's major investments. In addition, tourism has been assisted by our other investments that run ads on 100 billboards across America and ads before movies in a dozen high-end movie theaters in very large cities.

Expanding tourism brings in big dollars to our economy, and those great folks do not need the same services our population relies on, like education.

Third, better funding of education. The reason you are reading this article is because someone cared enough about you -- a parent or a teacher -- to provide you with an education. Our lack of reasonable funding of education, K-12 and higher education, will only hold us back.

Alabama's future prosperity as individuals and as a state depends directly on education. We do not ask our university football teams to compete with absolute minimum funding, nor should we ask our future generations to do so in this competitive world. Tuition at our universities cannot continue to increase to a level that prohibits our children from attending our universities. We know K-12 education can be outstanding in Alabama when communities like Auburn, Hoover, and Mountain Brook demand and fund excellence.

Fourth, greater local rule. One of the more obvious reasons Alabama is near the bottom in numerous areas is a lack of home rule. Our 1901 Constitution made it difficult, if not nearly impossible, to get anything accomplished unless it went through Montgomery. Asking state legislators to deal with purely local issues from weeds to keg beer is rather absurd.

We should empower our local officials to be able to do their job in a manner that meets the needs of local citizens.

Fifth, stop kidding ourselves. Put bluntly by Charles Barkley, "There are a lot of fat people in Alabama." Rising healthcare costs of state insurance programs, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, are directly caused by this serious obesity problem. Decades ago, I wrote about this issue and you would be surprised at how resentful people became at its mere mention. I believe most individuals want to lead a healthy life and must be encouraged to do so.

These are five "doables" that would greatly benefit all the citizens of Alabama. We need to encourage our local and state leaders to look at these issues as well as many others that will make Alabama a more prosperous state for our children and grandchildren.