From You
Proposal
originally published April 9, 2008
Dear Flagpole: Is it just me, or could the state of Georgia save itself a lot of trouble by not trying to cram a year’s worth of (mostly) important business into a 40-working-day legislative session? I know plenty of states do it the way we do, but plenty of states don’t. The point is, yet again this year we found ourselves with some big, big issues still hanging in the balance while the people at the Gold Dome burned the midnight oil and worked out God-only-knows what kind of last-minute compromises and backroom deals. It just seems like we could save ourselves from a lot of craziness by relaxing the schedule a little bit.
I know, I know - no man’s life, liberty or property is safe when the legislature is in session, so a longer session would only make our continued existence as citizens of the state more precarious. But come on! Can’t we lighten the intensity a little bit, spread out the pain to at least a few more weeks of the year?
The other big argument against this idea, of course, is that all the legislators from South Georgia probably don’t want to spend any more time than they have to driving back and forth to Atlanta. Who can blame them? Anyway, what’s stopping us from moving the state capitol back to a more geographically sensible locale in the middle of the state? We could move it back to Milledgeville, easily. An added bonus would be that there just might be a few less Atlanta developers lurking in the hallways of the legislature that way - right? Then again, Milledgeville would put the action next-door to Lake Oconee, and those Linger Longer guys would be running the place before we knew it. Oh, hell, I give up.
On Crises
originally published April 9, 2008
I’m really appreciative of Pete’s historical perspective on Jimmy Carter’s thermostat advice and on the South during the Depression (and before!) [Pub Notes, Mar. 19], but damn, it’s just all so depressing. I mean, really: the boll weevil, climate change, energy supply, North Georgia’s drought, a teetering economy - pick a problem, nobody’s ready to take action that’ll do something about it until the full-on crisis hits. So sure, we’re capable of responding, it’s just a matter of when. Maybe it’s just human nature, or the nature of group-think - or should I say non-think? Ugh.
RE: NBAF Response
originally published April 9, 2008
I’m not sure everyone is aware of the timing of the “new information… recently released by the Department of Homeland Security” referred to in Dr. Lee’s and Terry Hastings’ pouty letters to the editor on Mar. 26. In describing how they decided on their own initiative “act responsibly” and request on Aug. 14, 2007 for a downward revision of the projected NBAF economic impact numbers, they neglected to mention that the lower job numbers (on which the reduced economic projection was based) had been provided to them by DHS in February or March 2006.
Regardless of what or who motivated their belated decision to “act responsibly” in August or September 2007, Dr. Lee and Ms. Hastings knowingly acted irresponsibly for 18 months by touting the exaggerated economic impact figures while being fully aware that they were misleading the community. Now even the reduced economic impact figures are likely to require further downward revision because of the potential, perhaps substantial, added costs to Athens or the state for the “central utilities node” and/or other incentives, the exact details of which are presently being kept secret by UGA and DHS.
I do agree with Dr. Lee and Ms. Hastings on one thing: it is time to set the record straight. It is also past time for them to “act responsibly” by being forthcoming in their communications regarding NBAF.
Can Obama Dunk?
originally published April 9, 2008
After his bowling fiasco (been there, done that, looks easy, isn’t) this is a serious question. We know that he plays a lot of basketball. He was reported by ex-Rep. Harold Ford from Tennessee to be between 6’2“ and 6’3”.
But can he dunk the basketball?
The reason that I think that this is such an important question is this: I don’t think it’s possible for the first presidential candidate who can dunk the ball to lose the nomination or the general election. It’s just too cool.
This would be like Clint Eastwood, but without the baggage of actually killing people. Obama wouldn’t have to resort to military activity to stare down other world leaders. They can’t dunk. The dunk would be a powerful weapon in the battle of diplomacy and winning popular appeal abroad.
I can see a day when any presidential candidate would be required to dunk, or putt very well, sinking some long ones, or in some way show athletic expertise. It’s refreshing and encouraging, and by God, it just says something about you as a person.
As an Obama supporter, I hope Barack can at least hit some threes while campaigning in Philly.
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