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Seriously, about that border war: If we’re to raise troops, we’ll need stronger editorial support
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After the singing of “This Land Is My Land” was done, the paired resolutions — passed by the Legislature on Wednesday — that demand the Tennessee-Georgia border be moved one mile north landed with dull thuds outside Atlanta.
This paragraph appeared in an Albany Herald editorial:
It would certainly be a convenient quick fix for the Atlanta region, which is suffering from a drought that hasn’t ended despite some welcome rain this winter. For the average Atlantan, it certainly beats the starch out of concepts such as conservation, sending growth to other parts of Georgia and living within your means.
And the Athens Banner-Herald was even harsher, especially toward David Shafer, author of the Senate resolution:
As one man’s quixotic quest, the effort to get Georgia’s northern border moved one mile farther north was an entertaining diversion from the more routine motifs of pettifoggery and pandering that dominate the annual sessions of the Georgia legislature .
It’s possible that the Shafer-led bid for access to the Tennessee River isn’t, as he suggests it could be, a long-term solution to Georgia’s water problems. At best, given the likelihood of lengthy legislative and legal wrangling, the boundary initiative might be a long, long, long-term solution to those problems.
Yet, Wednesday’s vote gives Shafer and every other state senator the opportunity to go home at the end of the legislative session and start campaigning for re-election at least partly on the claim that they’re doing something to address Georgia’s drought-related issues.
The truth, however, is that Senate Resolution 822 isn’t likely to do anything at all about those issues.



DEL.ICIO.US
Comments
By Tom
February 21, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Tell me — exactly what conservation measures has the Albany area undertaken? Similarly, what about Alabama and Florida? The real message of the Albany editorial (and of the Alabama and Florida groups that have an Atlanta burr under their saddle)is envy and greed. They can’t compete with Atlanta on their own merits so they’ll use any specious argument. While it’s easy to scoff at this legislative effort, if there was a mistake, it needs to be rectified, probably by the U.S. Supreme Court. So, here’s the message to the Athens and Albany fishwraps — MYOB.
By JohnM
February 21, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
There is a reason the Albany area is actually shrinking and not growing, and I suspect the editors of The Herald know the reasons why but remain bitter. This “border war” in now way reflects the population of Metro Atlanta. It reflects instead on the Rupublican boobs that run things now, nothing more, nothing less. Gov. Barnes had a plan in place to address this issue, but Sonny-Bubba & his redneck cronnies derailed the entire plan.
By JohnM
February 21, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
There is a reason the Albany area is actually shrinking and not growing, and I suspect the editors of The Herald know the reasons why but remain bitter. This “border war” in no way reflects the population of Metro Atlanta. It reflects instead on the Rupublican boobs that run things now, nothing more, nothing less. Gov. Barnes had a plan in place to address this issue, but Sonny-Bubba & his redneck cronnies derailed the entire plan.
By Atlliberal
February 21, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this
When I first moved to Georgia 14 years ago, I thought it was strange that the legislature was only in session 3 months of the year. Then I started reading about some of the crackpot bills they would come up with in their short amount of time, and I am truly grateful that they don’t have more time for this insanity.
So if I understand the state’s polition, praying for rain didn’t work so we are going to take land from our neighbors to get at their water. I wonder why Republicans don’t think Government is good at anything?
By Lee
February 21, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
If we have a war with Tennessee, I’m dodging the draft to go hide out with my parents down in Florida. Do all of our politicians ride the short bus or just most of them?
By Churchill
February 22, 2008 1:05 AM | Link to this
Albany has been run by the libs for decades. The downtown redev. is not going well. My guess is poor planing, and mismanagement. Lust like everything else in this town. It is time for Albany and Dougherty to consolidate. Typical case of too many Chiefs, and not enough Indians. I do not see it getting better anytime soon.
By aletheia kallos
February 22, 2008 7:48 AM | Link to this
excuse me i mean well & would simply love to help all you thirsty warriors to a drink so you may perhaps think more clearly about all this
so please listen carefully
the nickajack reservoir of the tennessee river actually already flows more than a mile into georgia within the nickajack cavern & can already now simply be tapped at a depth of less than 90 feet within the present boundaries of the state of georgia & without any need for war or other difficulties
indeed this whole affair is actually hilarious & totally unnecessary
documentation on request
thanx for your care & attention
peace