Michael Ciamarra: Critical challenge for Alabama requires long-range planning

  Oftentimes, our state legislators and the governor appear to tackle the urgent, politically expedient and routine issues, without a focus on the long-term. State and federal lawmakers respond to what I like to call the "tyranny of the urgent," which frequently is in response to successful special interests’ lobbying efforts. It is much rarer when a legislative action is accompanied with "long-term strategy" or takes into consideration the future impact of a particular societal trend.

  A good example of neglecting long-term thinking would be the unfunded liabilities of the Alabama Retirement System which few lawmakers are willing to openly discuss. Instead, the legislature raised pensions by 18 percent over the last 10 years, adding an additional $3 billion to the state's, i.e. taxpayers' obligations.