CHAMBER IS RIGHT
In politics the extremists are easily spotted. Usually they are the folks who resort to finger pointing and name calling. Fear is what drives them to this behavior. Fear that they will lose what they have or that they will not get what they want. Another tell tale sign of an extremist is the other tactic you use in your article on the 18th of February [Pub Notes], something I call the "for us or against everybody" ploy. You see, this tactic is also driven by fear, and designed to spread that same irrational fear. Either you support my extreme policy, or you hate the world and everybody in it. This attitude is exemplified in the far right's recent campaign against gay marriage. If you support two people's right to equal protection under the law, then you hate families, children, and condemn marriage as an institution. If you do not support 75 ft. stream buffers, and instead support a more moderate approach, say the standards that State of Georgia feels are appropriate, then you want children to drink fouled water. If you support non-partisan elections, then you want "Boss Hog" to win the election. I don't buy it Mr. McCommons, and I would bet the rest of the moderates in this county feel the same way.
I would also challenge your assertion that this government (especially under Ms. Davison) is open, or that it works well for the majority of our citizens. What exactly is open about agenda items appearing at the last minute, and special called sessions that adopt controversial policy? A citizen's committee populated by folks on one side of an issue, is hardly a way to gauge popular opinion, but this is evidently what passes for open government. When a committee is formed with some who offer anything other than the goals of this government, suddenly a "temporary measure" drags out for an amount of time that renders the debate futile. No Mr. McCommons, this is not open government, this is the type of government that keeps the decisions in the "closed-doors, good-old-boy clique," only now it is the closed-door, suede-denim clique. What results from this type of policy? We are beginning to witness the fruits of recent policy: Lawsuits. Rental registration is a great example. Here is an instance when the "crowd that whines about the government" showed up en masse to protest illegal legislation. Our responsive, open government reacted with all their progressive will. They did what they had planned to do from the beginning, no matter how illegal, or how much it was going to cost the taxpayers in legal fees. Many of this same crowd showed up to protest moratoriums, down zonings, SPLOST fund mismanagement and harassment of the Hospital Authority, but to no avail. All of these policies should and do offend progressive business people, and our concerns have been largely ignored.
I would remind you that when you have your finger pointed at someone, there are three pointing back at you. Do you really believe that the Chamber of Commerce now represents a "vociferous minority opinion that is not shared by the larger community?" The Chamber has over 1000 members, most of whom represent the interests of many others in their respective businesses. These people, for the most part, are moderate in their political leanings. The fact that the Chamber finds it necessary to take a stand on some very basic business issues should be a wake-up call to those who are offended by government waste, and non responsiveness. What type of group is the Grow Green Coalition? They seem to have the ear of the mayor and commission. Who do they represent? Are we to believe that simply because a special interest group has environmental concerns that to disagree with the policy they support is to be for pollution and filth? That is what your publication regularly portends, and what you assert in your letter. I would describe The Grow Green Coalition, and BikeAthens for that matter, as a "political interest group representing a vociferous minority opinion that is not shared by the larger community." Yet, these groups have the ear of government on a wide range of issues. What is so surprising about the Chamber, who directly represents about 20 percent of the population through the employment and families of member firms, being offended by the government taking major cues from a group that directly represents maybe five percent at best?
There was nothing vague, or muddled about Larry McKinney's message in the February issue of the Chamber newsletter. If the issues he put forth are seen as an indictment of local government, then let those who see it that way take heed. The local progressive business community will no longer sit idly by while the government squanders its collective resources to suit the short-sighted views of the few. Mr. McKinney's message is not the message of an extremist. His statement is devoid of the types of attitudes yours is riddled with. Mr. McKinney makes specific observations that have had a direct impact on our community. There are no "for us or against everybody" assertions in his statement. No finger pointing, or name calling. If we don't reverse the current trends, we are not going to see our community's problems addressed in meaningful ways. The only thing surely bad for Athens is to completely ignore the needs of the people Mr. McKinney represents.
Sean A. Hogan
Athens

REALLY, PETE
Really, Pete, you should restrain yourself from saying things like, "The Georgia primary doesn't count, anyway. Every white person outside Athens-Clarke County will vote for Bush."
As a white Georgian who doesn't live in ACC and who would sooner die than vote for Bush, I'm just a little offended. And as someone who has never missed voting in an election and who takes every opportunity to encourage others to vote, too, I am dismayed by your other irresponsible, ill-considered comment. Why announce you're planning to vote for Howard Dean, then undermine that endorsement by remarking that the vote won't count?
Perhaps the Flagpole's editor needs an editor.
Deborah Zimmerman
Atlanta

BAFFLED CHRISTIAN
Pete, please be assured that this Christian is as baffled as you are at the response of some Christians to the possibility of gay marriage [City Dope, Feb. 25]. If I'm ever blessed enough to be married, I hope that the sanctity of my marriage will be secure in my and my husband's love, respect and trust in each other and God, not threatened by any attempt of secular society to become more inclusive and compassionate.
Nor do I take any issue with anyone else's religious belief that marriage should be only between a man and woman, only with "some" conservative Christians' insistence on their right to impose that belief on an entire secular nation.
These represent only one vocal faction of Christianity.
So what I ask of Flagpole is that in the future, you be more careful of lumping all Christians into a stereotype of homogenous fundamentalist belief on such topics as marriage and the Ten Commandments. As a Christian, I support every person's ability to pursue God, love and happiness in any sincere way that doesn't constrict another's ability to do the same.
Emily Paige Ballou
Athens