Alabama currently offers driver's license tests in 12 languages, including Russian, Arabic and Farsi. Tim James, a Republican candidate for governor of the state, thinks that is a bad policy. "This is Alabama — we speak English," he says in a new campaign commerical. "We're only giving that test in English, if I'm governor." The spot has caught the attention of the national media. What a "pitch-perfect example of small-government foolishness," sighs Tim Fernholz at the American Prospect. Hasn't James considered the "basic public-safety issue" that if non-English speakers can't take the test, they'll drive illegally? But what's so wrong with asking people to learn English, says Don Surber at the Charleston Daily Mail. Or is that "just another item on the long list of American traditions that liberals oppose?" Watch James' "This is Alabama" ad here:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?The Explainer The future is flooded
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issuesIn the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
-
6 star-spangled presidential libraries to visitThe Week Recommends These institutions provide insight into American leaders
