“This is Alabama. We speak English.”

The state of Alabama offers driver’s license tests in Japanese, Korean, German, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Russian, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese. And … not to forget: also in English.

This created a discussion: Tim James, a Republican candidate for Governor, says “that’s 12 languages too many”.

“This is Alabama. We speak English. If you want to live here, learn it. We’re only giving that test in English if I’m Governor.”


How this may impact the attraction of Alabama for foreign companies may be found out in the future. Regardless of his sentiments, foreign companies such as German owned Mercedes plant or the Thyssen-Krupp plant or Asian motor companies have created in Alabama a lot of jobs in the past years. According to the US Chamber of Commerce there are over 70,600 jobs – for persons from Alabama – created by foreign owned entities.

Question to Mr. James: does he want to get rid of the companies as well resulting in unemployment for over 70,000 persons?


Best regards
und viele Grüße aus Charlotte
Reinhard von Hennigs
www.bridgehouse.law