Thinking Right

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

The bureaucracy will take that penny and shut down some road in the middle of rush hour, causing We The People to sit idling for hours, so that they can fiddle with the lane markers or some other silly thing.

Why not save our money and just teach the dullards how to drive?

For instance, the merge to 75N at 285W, it is two lanes, speed limit 55 MPH, but yet these dimwits approach it at 25 MPH, or even at a complete stop, anytime of the day and night, and cause back ups that stretch for miles up 285.

How much would a big flashing sign that said 55 MPH or maybe even Maintain The Speed Limit cost?

Pennies?

But the DOT just ignores the real problem areas and instead gives us the most beautiful shoulders of the road in the freaking world, I guess so we have something to admire as we sit parked on the expressways.

By jbmlaw

April 1, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. So we are to have a tax, then decide how to spend it.

‘It’s a pun!’ the King added in an offended tone, and everybody laughed, ‘Let the jury consider their verdict,’ the King said, for about the twentieth time that day.

‘No, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence first - verdict afterwards.’

‘Stuff and nonsense!’ said Alice loudly. ‘The idea of having the sentence first!’

‘Hold your tongue!’ said the Queen, turning purple.

‘I won’t!’ said Alice.

‘Off with her head!’ the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved.

‘Who cares for you?’ said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) ‘You’re nothing but a pack of cards!’

At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the trees upon her face.

‘Wake up, Alice dear!’ said her sister; ‘Why, what a long sleep you’ve had!’

‘Oh, I’ve had such a curious dream!’ said Alice…

By Curious Observer

April 1, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Why is it that Wooten and other Republicans insist upon local control as a general principle, yet argue that distribution of the proceeds of a local tax and decisions about priorities be made by the state? I assume the principle applies in every case except in those for which they want a pet project. In those cases, they want the state to make the decisions.

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this

The truth is that there’s no solution to traffic. If we start there, then we realize that nothing has changed in two hundred years. Metropolitan areas in 1850 weren’t scattered like now, but it still took an hour to go anywhere cause you walked or rode a horse.

The time we spend traveling hasn’t changed. We simply go further, but, because we are insecure, we have painted the landscape with the same scenery so it doesn’t matter if we go one mile, or a thousand, we still see the exact same strip malls, restaurants and gas stations.

Now we want to do the same thing to china, europe, australia, and the moon.

Let’s not. Traffic solution: Cant you people just sit there?

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

These are the actions of the Republicans that we elected. Now it is our turn to take action. Vote against the Georgia Incumbent Republicans. Write your state elected officials and hope that they recognize you as one of their constituency. Aren’t these idiots given district maps or something so they know. Maybe I’ll tell you more about my experiences later. Anyway, they have sure given me all the reasons I need not to vote for any of them. Absolute idiots. Maroons.

By Redneck Convert

April 1, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

Well, I don’t want no one from another county telling me I have to pay a tax. And I danged sure don’t want my tax money going to fix traffic in Atlanta. I want it used up here in north Forsyth County to put a extra lane on GA 400 and maybe put in a driveway from there to my trailer park.

Tax, tax, tax. That’s all the politicans can think of. I don’t care how long it takes this Richardson or Wooten to get from Atlanta to Cobb County. If they want a shorter drive time they should just move. I didn’t tell them to move to Cobb County and it ain’t my job to make things easy for them. And next we’ll be hearing from the nut cases that want us to put in a train that stops at their front door and whisks them right where they want to go. And the ones that want us to put in bike paths to everywhere. It just don’t stop.

Well, I see this AJC Management is on here today so I’ll be signing off the rest of the day before he starts putting in squiggly marks and books. I thought we was rid of him after the weekend, but no, he’s got to get on here whining about why people don’t round ramps at 100 mph so he can get where he’s going faster. One like him just about rammed into my beer truck yesterday a.m. People like that don’t know you can’t put the pedal to the metal in a sharp curve in a beer truck. This ain’t the blasted Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Have a good day everybody.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this

{{{{By Redneck Convert April 1, 2008 8:49 AM Well, I see this AJC Management is on here today so I’ll be signing off the rest of the day before he starts putting in squiggly marks and books. I thought we was rid of him after the weekend, but no, he’s got to get on here whining about why people don’t round ramps at 100 mph so he can get where he’s going faster. One like him just about rammed into my beer truck yesterday a.m. People like that don’t know you can’t put the pedal to the metal in a sharp curve in a beer truck. This ain’t the blasted Atlanta Motor Speedway.}}}}

RC: That curve I talked about at 8:03 was engineered so that cars could safely travel at 55 MPH.

I guess the engineers didn’t calculate the speed that your brain travels at.

25 in a 55.

Duh.

By AH

April 1, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

So if we are going to be voting on every aspect of government then what do we need the politicians for? I really wish these government bodies would do there job if they feel there is a need to raise taxes then do it don’t try and fob those hard chooses off to the general public which wouldn’t be able to understand these complicated issues. We elect people to handle these types of issues and yet then want to turn it around and have us deal with them?

By ron

April 1, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this

For every dollar spent another penny will be extracted by government and spent in some fashion as yet unknown.Seems like a pretty good deal to me.They may buy a bus.They may fix a seaport,but they probably will add extra lanes to the incoming traffic.This would be an appropriate government solution.

By Redneck Convert

April 1, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

I guess the engineers didn’t calculate the speed that your brain travels at.

Well, I got enough brain to know what would happen if my beer truck overturned on account of going too fast. This bunch of drunks on this blog would be down on all fours on the pavement, lapping up the beer while it run in rivers and blocking traffic for miles. They start talking about Miller Time at 2 p.m. on Friday. So there.

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

The problem with another penny is that it adds up to very near 50% taxes on our income when you add in everything. Gas tax. Car tax. Property tax. Sales Tax. Federal. Social Security. Fica. State. Local. and now this penny may be the straw that the camel used to snort cocaine.

Well I wont stand for it. Give No quarter to the Penny tax. No quarter for the penny tax.

No quarter 4 the penny tax!!

By Will

April 1, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten:

Next time you talk to them, please ask the republican radio and television entertainers why they are more than willing to continue to support the noble effort for freedom and democracy in Iraq even if it costs more than one trillion American dollars and the lives of thousands of American patriots but do not seem to think any gesture relating to the Chinese Olympics regarding freedom for Tibet is worthwhile.

Also (although I understand you are less likely to run into these folks), how about asking the United States Speaker of the House why she thinks the US should support some sort of effort to bring attention to the enslavement of the citizens of Tibet but does not support efforts to bring attention to the enslavement of Iragi citizens.

If I didn’t know any better I would think the republican radio and television entertainers and the democrat Speaker of the House are just playing partisan politics, even if it results in the loss of precious human life.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Where has this guy Richardson had his head stuck all these years. He is just now realizing that Atlanta has traffic — lots of traffic. Or, did he just now realize that he is going to need something to brag about come election time. The only thing these Georgia Incumbents should be bragging about is not running for office again. They can brag that they cannot do any more damage then. I look forward to seeing these elected officials reaping what they sow. Are they even smart enough to make the connection?

By ron

April 1, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Wasn’t Newton’s first law of gravity,”Never overturn a beer truck”?

By Ford Prefect

April 1, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this

Bypasses are devices that allow some people to dash from point A to point B very fast while other people dash from point B to point A very fast. People living at point C, being a point directly in between, are often given to wonder what’s so great about point A that so many people from point B are so keen to get there and what’s so great about point B that so many people from point A are so keen to get there. They often wish that people would just once and for all work out where the hell they wanted to be.

By Road Scholar

April 1, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

Since the present gasoline tax is not indexed to inflation, since vehicles have become more energy efficient (and there are more of them!), and since construction costs have increased since the last gas tax increase (40% in the past 2 years),more revenue is required to even keep up with today’s poor level of service, let alone “cure” congestion. This would include transit and rail solutions.

The intent of the regional tax bill is to give counties, which presently have the ability to have residents vote on county/city initiatives, to band together to address regional solutions. Typically, the list of projects to be completed over a set period (usually 7 years) would be set by state, regional and local planners (yes there are people who do a good job of proposing projects of need), and the list would be apart of the vote. No vague or “out of the blue” projects would be permitted as apart of the expediture of these tax dollars. The projects would be required to be completed during the tax duration.

Where has Richardson been? Just because he cannot get to his son’s baseball game is his realization that this is a growing problem over the past years?

We need true leadership from our elected officials who are not afraid of being re-elected due to “no Government” mentality. All persons benefit. The same lack of leadership permeates the Federal government program.

Instead of a check, why not begin a public works program that would provide better paying jobs, a future carrer, new technology investments, sales of materials, etc. This approach would cause expendatures throughout the communty while providing investment in the economy. Didn’t they do this during the depression and other market downturns to provide people new skills, jobs, and revenue to pay there bills and buy homes they could afford?

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this

Sadr in Basra made a salient point about the perenial US occupation: We are needed and we must stay.

Sadr in Basra is a reminder of the history of the Middle East’s reaction to the west: the trade routes can never be fully secured, and we must give Sadr a taste of any action, or it’s war.

Sadr in Basra is why Bush Sr. knew better than to topple Saddam. He had the Shia in check, brother.

Not one word from the Kurds. Does that make anyone nervous? Oh, what’s dead ahead in Iraq. You dont want to know.

We are trapped. We can never leave. Accept it. Live it. Believe it with all your heart.

Obama 08: He knows we’re trapped too, but what does that have to do with the price of tea in china….D’OH!

By Bubba Li Cious

April 1, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

They start talking about Miller Time at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Red I’m kinda slow but I jest mite resemble that statement. I mite has to wait til Friday after 2 jest to be sure.

I heerd that curly dude has been waitin a hole heck of a lot longer than that and still aint figgered it out. Give him time. Somes jest slower then others.

By catlady

April 1, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

The penny, therefore, is likely to become the funding source for “alternatives,” whether or not they provide actual congestion relief. Suddenly everything on some interest group’s wish list has a funding source.

Actually, I think we will see that the penny will take the place of funding already provided by the state: that it will not be “extra” money for long. Sort of like the way the HOPE scholarship did not add funding to the mix for students; after it was implemented other state funds (targeting poor students—what a surprise) completely dried up! No more SSIG (or whatever it was called, that went to poor students with matching funds from the feds).

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

There is a solution to traffic, of course there is. I happen to know exactly what to do to cut the hour and a half drive time from the capitol to the cobb county ballpark down to one hour… I offer my professional consulting services to the assembly, and in less than two months, traffic congestion will be history. Contact me via Jim Wooten at AJC.COM.

By TheSnark

April 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Once they opt in, a tax referendum will be held. So a referendum in Cobb County could be rejected overwhelmingly by local voters, but if approved with sufficient margins in other counties, it would be applied —- 10 years, 50 years to Cobb residents as well.

Let’s assume that this is in reference to a regional transportation tax for the entire metro area. In that case, how many residents of Cobb County travel frequently to other counties? How often are their cars clogging up roads in neighboring counties as they go to work or to entertainment? The same goes for residents in other counties traveling through Cobb.

Local control is great in many ways, but I can’t understand why so many people in this region do not understand that a huge problem is the constant petty power struggles between the hundreds of local governments (municipal and county).

The entire metro area functions as a single economic unit and the constant infighting between its components weaken it greatly. What this region truly needs is a regional government, elected by the people, with authority to (gasp) overrule some local decisions if necessary.

Roads/Public Transport: there’s GRTA, ARC, and the multitude of inefficent transit agencies (MARTA, GCT, CCT, etc) — Wouldn’t it be nice if someone out there actually had the authority to extend the MARTA rail into Gwinnett or Clayton? Or heaven help us, clear the way for the Northern Arc or a new freeway elsewhere? The NIMBYism must stop!

Water: the region simply needs a single water authority, or at least some sort of regional sewer system to process water and send it back to the right watershed.

Enough ranting for now :)

By Disgusted

April 1, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Didn’t they do this during the depression and other market downturns to provide people new skills, jobs, and revenue to pay there bills and buy homes they could afford?

It was one of Franklin Roosevelt’s first actions when he took office. The Civilian Conservation Corps gave thousands of jobs to youths 18 to 25, with the requirement that 90% of their wages be sent home to help their struggling families. In turn, we got the beginnings of many of our parks and other infrastructure.

The Tennessee Valley Authority was yet another initiative that put thousands of unemployed people to work. Most of the South enjoyed electricity for the first time as a result of this government initiative. Of course, there were undesirable side effects—we got jbmlaw from it—but the TVA demonstrated that government-sponsored work could boost an economy and provide critical infrastructure.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

You know if we don’t all band together in regions and work out our traffic needs, we could end up with a whole lot of stuff like streets suddenly ending at the county line and such. Can you just imagine the chaos. It would probably resemble the collective thought process of our elected officials as we approach another election. Of course, the astrologers love this time in an election cycle. The elected ones put down their money for a glimpse into the minds of others and into the future. The astrologer’s recording consistently blurts out “I hear so many voices. Yours is asking what can I do to get re-elected to this gravy job. Please deposit another ten dollar.”

By Matt

April 1, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

So here’s my question.

If this sales tax gets added, doesn’t that mean we’ll get more of the DOT’s/Legislature’s crap. Just to clarify, doesn’t that mean now that there are additional funds helping the Atlanta Region, the funds originally meant for reducing congestion are going to be moved outside of the region.

Maybe this is my libertarian streak, but it seems to me that if this law passes, nothing will change. These goofballs at the legislature are simply going to stop allotting extra money for Atlanta, because Atlanta has enough in its “Congestion Fund.” So, to me, this law will only allow more worthless projects in South Georgia. If you don’t think that there are worthless projects down there, trust me. I’m designing a widening for a road that in twenty years will only increase in traffic by 1500 cars. Its current cost estimate is roughly 75 million dollars. What a great usage of taxpayers dollars.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

{{{{By Redneck Convert April 1, 2008 9:07 AM Well, I got enough brain to know what would happen if my beer truck overturned on account of going too fast. This bunch of drunks on this blog would be down on all fours on the pavement, lapping up the beer while it run in rivers and blocking traffic for miles. They start talking about Miller Time at 2 p.m. on Friday. So there.}}}}

RC: If the big as-s sign on the side of the road says 55 MPH then you could dive your motorhome through there at 55 MPH in the rain with highball martinis sitting on the kitchen table and they wont spill.

Try it some time.

Do you not understand physics?

Above all, why not get your as-s out of everybody else’s way?? The majority of drivers are not slow and stupid, why must you dimwits lead the parade?

And if anyone else doubts the utter incompetence of the DOT, please explain the folly of having one exit lane onto I20 west from 285W when nearly every freaking car on 285W is headed onto I20 west? When the cars back up for ten miles all the way around to Paces Ferry on 285 does this not mean we have a problem Houston?

Why not 3 exit lanes?

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

You cant solve traffic with more roads. The solution is in the approach to the problem It takes an expert to frame the problem: me.

Just hire me: problem framed. Solution obvious.

By Matt

April 1, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

AJC Management: Actually, they’re working on a project now to expand that interchange. Unfortunately, like most major infrastructure projects, in order to get funding these projects take years to get approval and be designed. This is even before construction begins.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Matt,

You don’t have to convince me or most others on this blog. I have traveled a LOT of Georgia’s roads and seen firsthand the waste. Those road projects are what most legislators refer to as “bringing home the bacon”. They think that’s what they need to do to get elected. Maybe they are right. Maybe there are that many voters in Georgia with 5th grade educations. Maybe that’s exactly how our elected officials want things to stay.

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

AJC Management, a man with an imaginary intellect, is expending all his cheeto-fueled energy by arguing with a fictional character about his fictional driving habits in his fictional vehicle. And he is getting angrier by the minute.

Typical wingnut chimp, easy prey for the likes of RushHannityBoortz who make money by stimulating these windup toys disguised as citizens. And people around the world wonder how dumbf^ck Bush was elected twice.

By Kevster

April 1, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Why not build another highway on top of the ones we have? For instance, “Upper-75” would go north, and “Lower-75” would go south. It doubles our lanes, without taking land.

I’m sure the state could manage that feat.

And I agree with “jbmlaw” above…a lot of drivers suck in Atlanta. No one respects “slower traffic keep right” and no one recognizes the FLOW OF TRAFFIC (you may be going the legal 55MPH, but you become a hazardous driver when everyone else is going 65MPH).

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

The expressways are adequate for the metropolis. The exits, the on ramps, all just fine and dandy. No, the problem exists not in the infrastructure at all.

I hold the key to saving billions in atlanta. I know exactly what to do to solve congestion forever, and it’s so peculiar how the solution occurred to me. I was driving south down east street….no, wait, yes it was north down west street, no, that’s not right either, but that’s how the solution came to me: directional vectors in a coagulated liquid through a tube would automatically separate the variants on a mean-time logarithm-derived matrix of random interference eddies….well, why give it away?

Hire me, Atlanta. Just hire me.

By Kevster

April 1, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

Why not build another highway on top of the ones we have? For instance, *Upper-75 would go north, and Lower-75 would go south. It doubles our lanes, without taking land.

I’m sure the state could manage that feat.

And I agree with jbmlaw above…a lot of drivers suck in Atlanta. No one respects slower traffic keep right and no one recognizes the FLOW OF TRAFFIC (you may be going the legal 55MPH, but you become a hazardous driver when everyone else is going 65MPH).

By catlady

April 1, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

The penny, therefore, is likely to become the funding source for “alternatives,” whether or not they provide actual congestion relief. Suddenly everything on some interest group’s wish list has a funding source.

Actually, I think we will see that the penny will take the place of funding already provided by the state: that it will not be “extra” money for long. Sort of like the way the HOPE scholarship did not add funding to the mix for students; after it was implemented other state funds (targeting poor students—what a surprise) completely dried up! No more SSIG (or whatever it was called, that went to poor students with matching funds from the feds).

By catlady

April 1, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

The penny, therefore, is likely to become the funding source for “alternatives,” whether or not they provide actual congestion relief. Suddenly everything on some interest group’s wish list has a funding source.

Actually, I think we will see that the penny will take the place of funding already provided by the state: that it will not be “extra” money for long. Sort of like the way the HOPE scholarship did not add funding to the mix for students; after it was implemented other state funds (targeting poor students—what a surprise) completely dried up! No more SSIG (or whatever it was called, that went to poor students with matching funds from the feds).

By Coincidently Oxbow

April 1, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Why not build another highway on top of the ones we have? It wouldn’t cost nothing and we’d have double the roads in the same space, and we could do it all over the summer!!

I solved it. No backs, no vice versas, no changies. Mother may I. Simon Says.

Simpleton.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

Well, I am not a traffic engineer, a tax expert,a Cobb County resident or a beer truck driver and I certainly do NOT know RedNeck (thank goodness)! But anyway….

I don’t want one penny added to any taxes I pay.

I thought we had DOT engineers to figure out traffic solutions. Right, Gina?

State troopers should not be the chauffeurs for any state official except the governor.

FDR’s solution will not work now. Mexicans on the corner are the only ones who will do manual labor for low wages and then send most of the money home. We do not have a depression (except the depression liberals have over their nominees!)

Beer tastes terrible. Water and iced tea (sweetened) are better.

Jim Wooten gives us pennies and politicians for April Fool’s Day, an apt subject I must say.

By Captain Freedom

April 1, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

THE Captain was at first most unimpressed with Kevsters idea @10:01 for double-decking the highways. But once he cleverly re-phrased his notion @10:03, complete with BOLD LETTERS, well then, THE Captain could hardly fail to recognize the brilliance lurking in his post.

Plus, he is brave enough to risk the ridicule that logically follows agreement with jbmlaw.

Captain Kudo to Kevster. Well played, stout yeoman.

By Freddy

April 1, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

Why not build another highway system on stilts and we could like drive on it and a giant could like do stuff. I thought of it! I get the credit.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 10:22 AM | Link to this

{{{{By TAFKAH April 1, 2008 9:58 AM AJC Management….And he is getting angrier by the minute.}}}}

That^^ little bit of wisdom was followed shortly there after by this jewel:

{{{{Typical wingnut chimp, easy prey for the likes of RushHannityBoortz who make money by stimulating these windup toys disguised as citizens. And people around the world wonder how dumbf^ck Bush was elected twice.}}}}

O.K. so who do we think is the angry one?

And to tell you the truth, listening to sullen dimwits like TAFKAH spew their mindless rage, just knowing that they are stewing in their own bitterness and animosity, makes me, well, rather…..happy.

By Bored

April 1, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this

I’m bored. There’s no people coming through here. I can’t even sit on my porch and watch cars go by. So boring. I think I’ll watch a movie. Let’s see. Field of Dreams. If you build it, they will come. Now there’s an idea. Maybe that’s why they built I-16. I just need to move. Maybe over to the I-75 - I-285 - I-20 West area. I could watch folks like curly turn all red while he’s trying to get up to 55 MPH behind that beer truck. Now that’s entertainment. I’ll just take my camcorder and I’ll have some fun reality TV in no time. Hey curly. Smile.

By Shar

April 1, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

I live intown precisely because I don’t want to spend those hours in traffic. Nonetheless, I pay gasoline taxes that pave roads in lots of places I don’t want to go, because transportation is a regional issue. My choice to minimize my driving is personal, but my access to goods and services originating elsewhere (as well as my occasional need to get to some OTP soccer field) requires a corporate approach to infrastructure. Therefore, no county which stands to benefit from the extra expenditure (although I share Matt’s cynicism that the extra ‘committed’ taxes will simply allow uncommitted funds to shift elsewhere) gets to play France, luxuriating in NATO protections while refusing to contribute. If everyone benefits, everyone pays, even folks like me who do not personally add to the congestion.

By chance, I saw “Top Gear” last night, a funny British car show, and it featured a 19 mile race across metropolitan London during rush hour between various forms of transportation. The guy who rode a bike won, followed in order by the guy in the speedboat, the guy who took public transportation and, dead last, the guy who drove. Of course, the order was inverted for who was the most comfortable and least rumpled during the trip. Since bicycling is not a viable option for most Atlantans and we don’t have a convenient navigable river, investing in public transportation that effectively gets people where they want to go would seem to be a good option for decreasing congestion without the delays Matt mentions. Whether the Atlanta to Lovejoy line would be a part of that remains to be seen.

At all events, I’d much rather pay taxes for that than to provide Glenn Richardson with a chauffeur and a short work day. Is there anything at all that guy has done this session that is not offensive?

By Road Scholar

April 1, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

No, the new regional tax dollars (if approved by the voters in this region) would have to be used in Atlanta. It would not replace the existing funding; it would augment it.

The other bill in the legislature is to provide a statewide one penny sales tax increase dedicated to transportation. This is not the best solution since it would be required to be spent under the present Congressional District balancing… each congressinal district would share an equal percentage of 70% of the revenue.

Atlanta creates at least 60% or more of the tax revenue in the state, but “exports” monies to the rural areas. See the GRIP system, the 4 laning of certain state routes in rural Georgia to alledgedly enhance their economy and create jobs. Some of these roads have estimated 20 year average daily traffic of 10,000 veh/day. The interstates in Atlanta have in excess of 250,000 veh/day (downtown connector is over 325,000 veh/day). Is this cost efficient to expend so much in rural Georgia? What jobs/ new plants have been created beyond the immediate short term jobs during construction?

Keep in mind the majority of the GRIP system (remember their are no corridors in Atlanta-the OP was originally a part of the system-now dead)is being paid for using bonds. The yearly debt service on these 20 year bonds is over $400 million (out of a $2 billion budget), which commits future revenue to be spent on past construction.The arguement is that they’ll cost less now, and that you can ride on them as they are paid for. What is the cost benefit ratio of these corridors versus those in Atlanta?

Also keep in mind we need to grow all of Georgia, but we must have the revenue to do so. Truck traffic is expected to double in the state over the next 10 years. The life cycle of most of our Interstate system has been surpassed; this includes several rural locations through out the state. The pavement is wearing out. (20 year design life). GDOT used to overlay 10% of the state routes /year, but the % is more like 3-4% today. The roads are wearing out, let alone needing new capacity.

Funding for transit and rail is whoafully low also. We need leadership from the ellected officials to keep Georgia, and esp Atlanta competitive. Atlanta is to add 2 million more people in the next 20 years. For the Redneck Convert, can you understand “get er’ done!”

The Legislature needs to get out of the way and explain the needs, options beyond “No New Taxes”, and realize that these are user fees. Eduaction of the issues is needed. If you don’t use the roads or transportation facilities, you do not pay! this includes buying food, clothes, furnitire, appliances… A truck does at least 40,000 times the damage to the pavement that a car does. We need to adequately maintain and enhance the system.

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Bored, the way it’s been raining, your Field of Dreams are Fields of wetdreams, so go ahead, and make fun of traffic, and that’s just great because why should an important man like you care if the Speaker gets to see his son play baseball, which is like the most important part of being a parent. So inhale, and enjoy your traffic smog and jam a blog with nonsense. Now we’ll never solve the problem. This is Y U simply cant have a blog: trolls always ruin it 4 everyone else. always, there’s never been an unruined blog ever.

‘muff spread

By Glenn

April 1, 2008 10:36 AM | Link to this

Democrats promised that if we paid for MARTA it would end the traffic problems in Atlanta, yea right. Now the Republicans want us to believe that another tax will do the same, yea right. Answer, tax the people clogging the roads around Atlanta, is this to simple?

Why doesn’t the state of Georgia move the state capital to Macon? That would get rid of a lot of traffic problems in Atlanta. This central location would make the capital more accesable to most of the state.

By Bored

April 1, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

Shar has hit on THE solution. A navigable river or rivers through Atlanta. Multi-purpose rivers. They could be used for transportation, drinking water, sewage disposal, disposal of all sorts of things. There could be gates to allow for elevation change and traffic re-routing. The possibilities are endless. Sonny would be proud of this one. I’m sure his preyers are with us even in his absence.

By Devastator

April 1, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

WASHINGTON — Sen. Barack Obama has won the overall delegate race in Texas thanks to a strong showing in Democratic county conventions this past weekend.

Obama picked up seven of nine outstanding delegates, giving him a total of 99 Texas delegates to the party’s national convention this summer. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won the other two, giving her a total of 94 Texas delegates, according to an analysis of returns by The Associated Press.

Texas Democrats held both a presidential primary and caucus. Clinton narrowly won the popular vote in the state’s primary March 4, earning her 65 national convention delegates to Obama’s 61.

Precinct caucuses began immediately after polls closed primary night and quickly devolved into chaos in many parts of the state because of an unprecedented turnout of more than 1 million Democrats. The state party was never able to provide complete results from the caucuses, which is why the AP withheld nine delegates.

The precinct caucuses elected delegates to about 280 county and state senate district conventions on Saturday. The AP awarded the remaining delegates based on results from Saturday’s conventions, showing Obama with about 58 percent of vote, compared to 42 percent for Clinton.

Obama won 38 delegates through the caucus/convention system, and Clinton won 29.

The final delegate allocation will be decided at the party’s state convention June 6-7, and the numbers could change if either campaign is unable to maintain the level of support they had over the weekend.

Obama leads the overall race for the Democratic nomination with 1,631 delegates, including separately chosen party and elected officials known as superdelegates. Clinton has 1,501, according to the latest AP tally.

By TW

April 1, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Good answer, Glenn…and the Braves to Aplharetta

By Bored

April 1, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

Cathy Baker please tell me you are not so stupid as to not understand sarcasm. Were you being sarcastic with your remark? How is it you have learned so much about me from my few words? Tell me oh great astrologer. I would share some of my experiences in traffic with you but you obviously would not understand. My daughter does though. She gets to see me every day. I take her to school, I pick her up from school. I take her to events, on shopping trips…Yessirree. Those are some of the important things about being a parent. You maroon.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this

I like you idea Glenn. Why stop there. Move the state capitol and its contents to Alabama and get rid of at least 50% of Georgia’s 5th graders at once.

By Matt

April 1, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Road Scholar,

I do agree with most of your points, and in fact, I’m working on one of the GRIP projects as we speak. Your right on the fact that the money will be spent in the region and will be used to augment the funds dedicated for the region. Please note that I like the idea, but I think there are some kinks that need to be worked out, and I know some of those in charge aren’t thrilled about this regional tax. I can’t speak for them, so I’m not sure as to why they don’t like it.

With that being said, my issue is the way that the legislature uses money is not open/truthful. Unless there are provisions within this key piece of legislature that specifically state that this money cannot be accounted in with the state money allotted to the region, it will just be another piece of political shuffle.

This goes back to the GA 400 issues, it was my understanding that to pay for the Northern Arc, the DOT/Legislature (not sure which) was going to borrow against the excess money generated by the Toll Booth. This is not acceptible. My fear is that 10 years from now, when things start to get under control, the Legislature is going to change the way the do their accounting to include this regional sales tax as part of the congressional district distribution of funds (we have to balance the amount of money spent in all congressional districts over a 5 year period).

Oh, I’m not a DOT employee, so I may be mistaken on the details.

By Curious Observer

April 1, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

Why not build another highway on top of the ones we have? For instance, Upper-75 would go north, and Lower-75 would go south. It doubles our lanes, without taking land.

Yes, let’s put another gang of stumpbroke rednecks to work on decking I-75. They would no doubt do another splendid job, just as they did on the poorly marked exit ramp that killed a few Bluffton OH ball players.

And then we could be entertained weekly by reports of wrecks by more stumpbroke rednecks who got on the southbound I-75 to go north. The entertainment would be supplemented by occasional reports of the collapse of segments of the decking because some contractor didn’t bother to use enough sand in the concrete mix so as to shave some pennies.

Our state transportation people could come out to explain that the heavy usage was never anticipated in the design of the decking and that there had been a “minor engineering mistake” in the project.

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

I didn’t mean nuthin, bored, honest. I was just tryin’ to make friends and get people to like me. I thought you were supposed to use Putz-logic and write the bootie-opposite of what you mean in order to fit in with everyone, that’s all. You got me all wrong. Translated, what I said to you was, “Down low, bro, love the fro.”

You mischtuken mein hare-bitten stammer-blitzen, dumkaupf!

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

per AJC mgmt..stewing in their own bitterness and animosity

Wrong again, windup boy. I’m a very well-adjusted hedonist/atheist who watches guys like you bathe in their own excrement with detached amusement. Bunch of sad-sack whiny white guys who can’t understand where THEIR power went all of a sudden, full of cut-and-paste railing against the liberals and the rest of the uppity evil people who refuse to respect your pasty a$s just because you think you deserve it. I’m not bitter or stewing, I’m just calling it the way it is, and laughing at your tiny dicked impotence.

I’m not angry at you, wingnut. But I do enjoy seeing you and your ilk whine like little children over your spilt milk. That’s why I come here, to watch the little b!tch fits you throw.

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this

We should build double decker rivers and canals!! It….could….work!!!

We dont have to build anything. The solution to traffic congestion can be legislated. I know how that bill should read. Hire me, Ga, Assembly.

By Planner

April 1, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

A regional one cent sales tax in the Atlanta area would generate somewhere between $15-20 billion in extra revenue between now and 2030 (on top of the $67 billion already available in federal, state and local funds). Just to maintain freeway traffic congestion at current levels and prevent it from getting worse would require an additional investment in the neighborhood of $60 billion. In other words, it would take a 3% or 4% sales tax, with every bit of the revenue dedicated to our freeways, for things to simply not get any worse than they are today.

Jim, rant all you want about “white elephant” projects, but congestion is here to stay. Continuing to think that we can “solve” congestion if we could only focus our resources on the right kind of projects is delusional. Our best option is to encourage travel change behavior by making better land use decisions and providing mobility options.

The Lovejoy commuter rail line will not eliminate congestion on I-75 South, as critics of options often like to point out. They’re correct, but they miss the point entirely. No amount of extra asphalt will ever completely satisfy travel demand along the corridor. Commuter rail simply provides an alternative to those desperate enough to avoid congestion that they are able to wean themselves from their autos. But the tired argument that it won’t provide some significant degree of congestion relief rings hollow. Here’s a factoid that you’ll never hear the critics mention: the track improvements necessary to make passenger rail viable will provide a second high-quality route for Norfolk Southern’s mainline freight rail services between Atlanta and Macon. Providing a second rail corridor between the two cities raises the possibility that hundreds of truck trips on I-75 each day could ultimately be diverted to rail. Can anybody legitimately argue that this wouldn’t constitute “actual relief from traffic congestion misery”?

By AmVet

April 1, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

What a hoot!

The answer to Atlanta’s horrific traffic problems is merely to speed up!

How brilliant! How simple!

At the risk of alienating my many decent southern friends, with that type of “conservative” “intellect”, it is truly a good thing that the south lost the war of northern aggression.

Otherwise, there is little doubt that Dixie would be a third world country by now…

By ron

April 1, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

A $6 per vehicle congestion fee is being voted on in the near future for parts of Manhatten.Congestion fees are a way of life in London.There the big cars pay considerably more than the small cars.Are congestion fees in the future for the most congested parts of Atlanta?Something to ponder.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

AmVet@11:59 the depressed despoiler of all good things….

The South will never be a third world country unless the invasion of current and past carpetbaggers continues. These scalawags continue their hate for this lovely place while crowding the roads to get here.

Most are liberals in retreat from their own suffocated society of frozen fanaticism of Lahey, Dean, Murtha,Durban, and the warmer Reid, Pelosi, & Boxer. They also retreat from the countries efforts at protection and freedom.

Southerners love this country and will fight for it. Real Southerners that is, not the sqawkers who recently moved here bringing their cantankerous contempt with them.

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this

Southerners love this country and will fight for it. Real Southerners that is,

Tell it to chickenhawk Saxby Chambliss.

Lest Dusty forget the historical facts…REAL southerners fought to tear this country in two. That is your Dixie legacy, Dusty. Treason and rebellion.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

{{{{By TAFKAH April 1, 2008 11:19 AM I’m not angry at you, wingnut. But I do enjoy seeing you and your ilk whine like little children over your spilt milk. That’s why I come here, to watch the little b!tch fits you throw.}}}}

That little bit of wisdom followed shortly after by this “little b!tch fit:”

{{{{Wrong again, windup boy. I’m a very well-adjusted hedonist/atheist who watches guys like you bathe in their own excrement with detached amusement. Bunch of sad-sack whiny white guys who can’t understand where THEIR power went all of a sudden, full of cut-and-paste railing against the liberals and the rest of the uppity evil people who refuse to respect your pasty a$s just because you think you deserve it. I’m not bitter or stewing, I’m just calling it the way it is, and laughing at your tiny dicked impotence.}}}}

Ridiculous, isn’t it?

Yeah, TAFKAH, we can all tell how “happy” you are.

~~~~~

Sticking to the subject of traffic, what of the multitude of landscaping trucks and trailers, slap full of illegal immigrants, unleashed upon the Metro Area every spring, belching “heat trapping gases” behind them as they make their to the homes of those too weak and lazy to cut their own grass? (Preclude the elderly and infirm, I am not some liberal fascist, sending them off to war or other silly pinko talking points.)

Is this what you libs call environmentally friendly?

Could we not do without the additional vehicular traffic?

By carbon addict

April 1, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

By AmVet April 1, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this What a hoot! The answer to Atlanta’s horrific traffic problems is merely to speed up! How brilliant! How simple!

It works for many of Europe’s expressways, especially Germany’s Autobahns. Have you driven over there? Speeding up also includes adding lanes, especially entrance and exit lanes. Who is the government DOT genius who designed the Georgia 400 and I-285 exchanges? One lane for every entrance and exit point? Please. In all reality, perhaps one the bigger issues to address is why so many MARTA buses and trains are empty on the north side. Does anyone want to address that or are we just going to trade juvenile insults all day?

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

Thanks for re-printing my truths about your ilk, mgmt. It makes me even happier when a Hannity rentboy like you takes such notice. Bend over again, you seem to enjoy it.

Hmmm…now just who might be able to afford armies of underpaid Latino landscapers? Might it be the greedbots of the North ATL burbs with their oversized yards surrounding their poorly built McMansions? Check the voting trends in the areas where these landscape companies do most of their biz, dumbcluck.

Damn, boy, if you had any less intelligence you’d forget how to eat your cheetos. Then again, seeing that you used the term ‘liberal fascist’, you probably passed that point already.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

TAFKAH@12:54

When did you move South?

Saxy Chambliss is no chickenhawk. In fact he supports the country and the military. If he did not support a political rival, did you expect him to run against himself? Foolish libs.

Yep, Southerners who are 159 years old did fight for their states rights. Most of them had no slaves, but small farms. Slavery was common worldwide then but that is not to excuse it. The fact that it still exists in this world should be of more concern to you than something in the distant past.

Don’t forget. The roads to the South are open both ways. If you are here and don’t like it, aur revoir, mon ami. Just a bit of Southern convenience we keep available to “guests”.

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 1:34 PM | Link to this

I dont think Tafkah is ever going to be the same after Dusty creamed him like that. Lighten up, Dusty.

I can solve the traffic congestion problem for metro atlanta. I have the solution that worked in Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Houston.

I’ve been doing this for a long time peoples. Hire me. Drive free.

By AmVet

April 1, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this

ca, I have driven on both the autobahn and the autostrada.

And if you think you can accelerate to freedom or pave your way out of this quagmire, good luck.

The uniquely southern way of avoiding ANY planning and using even the most minor forms of restraint is primarily why this sprawling nightmare exists.

Add in “conservative” cretins in the suburbs who didn’t want you know who to come out to their lily-white neighborhoods and mass transit here is basically a joke.

Throw in some Mexican ladder vans, some Asian women who can’t see above the steering wheel and thousands of soccer moms driving ROVs (roll over vehicles) who can barely drive a sedan much less one of those behemoths, while gabbing on the phone and you have the perfect recipe for gridlock.

So face it, Atlanta. You are screwed and so shall ever be…

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this

Born and raised, Duster, with family going back six generations that we can track.

But at least we can be honest about where we came from. The Confederacy seceded from the Union and waged war. It’s called rebellion and treason. State rights is a figleaf.

I’m also willing to admit that most of the peasant Rebs were sold a line of BS by the aristocracy, and largely did not realize that they were fighting in a war that was inherently contrary to their own economic and social interest. It’s a tragedy of epic scale, and to know the history of the War of Southern Secession is to weep for the ways in which humankind proves it has not progressed far beyond the apes, if at all.

Less forgivable are the subsequent generations of inbred knuckle dragger flaggers like yourself who spout all that “Fergit Hell” nonsense and try to cover your shame with state rights and heritage noise.

And Chambliss flat out dodged the draft. Another fact you may not like, but it mocks you all the same.

By George Washington

April 1, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

I have noted a number of myths suggesting Hillary should stay in the race. Here are ten enduring, kudzu-like myths, with the debunking they sorely need.

Myth: This race is tied.

No, actually, it’s not. Obama has the lead in number of states won, in pledged delegates and in overall delegates. Nothing will happen in the remaining primaries to substantially change that. As to the one thing Hillary does lead in, superdelegates, her quickly shrinking margin is among DNC personnel only. When you look at the elected superdelegates, Congressman, Senators and Governors (i.e. people who actually work with both Obama and Clinton) Obama leads there, too.

Myth: Okay, the popular vote is tied.

There are people who claim that because of the 3% separation, that Obama’s lead in the popular vote is a “statistical tie.” This is a myth because, when you can actually count things, there’s no need of statistics and no such thing as a margin of error. The popular vote is not an estimate based on a sampling, like a poll. Like the general election, there are winners and losers and, so far, Obama is the winner.

Myth: Fine, but what if we count electoral votes? Now Hillary is ahead!

Not so much. The proportions of electoral votes to population versus delegates to population are pretty comparable. So if you allocated electors proportionally in the same manner that you allocate delegates, Obama is still ahead. If you allocate them on a winner-take-all basis, then that would be the same as allocating the delegates on a winner-take-all basis, so why bring electors into it?

Myth: But if we did do it like the Electoral College, that proves Hillary is more electable than Obama, because of states like California.

This is perhaps the saddest little myth of all. It’s ridiculous to suggest that Obama will lose New York and California to McCain because Clinton won them in the primaries. No, come November, those states will join with Obama’s Illinois to provide 40% of the electors necessary for him to win.

Myth: Very well, then, Mr. Smarty-Math. But if we counted Michigan and Florida, then Hillary would be winning!

Nooo, she wouldn’t. The margin would depend on how you allocate the delegates, but Obama would still be ahead. And he’d still be about 100,000 ahead in the popular vote, too, despite not even being on the ballot in Michigan. However, it would enhance Hillary’s chances of catching up in the remaining races.

Myth: Ah HA! So Dean is keeping them out just to help Obama! And Obama is keeping them out.

That’s two myths, but I’ll treat it like one. The only people who can come up with a solution to this problem are the states themselves, to be presented to the Rules and Regulations Committee of the DNC for ratification. It was Rules and Regs, not Howard Dean, who ruled that Florida and Michigan were breaking the rules when they presented their original primary plans. If the two states cannot come up with a plan to reselect delegates, they can try to seat whatever delegates were chosen in the discounted primaries by appealing to the Democratic Convention’s Credentialing Committee, which includes many members from Rules and Bylaws.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

{{{{By TAFKAH April 1, 2008 1:25 PM Hmmm…now just who might be able to afford armies of underpaid Latino landscapers? Might it be the greedbots of the North ATL burbs with their oversized yards surrounding their poorly built McMansions?}}}}

Oh yeah, Northside in Atl is just brimming with wingnuts.

You can tell from all their Obambi bumper stickers.

Klown.

By George Washington

April 1, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Myth: If they don’t get seated until the convention but a nominee is selected before these poor people get counted then these states are disenfranchised.

There are two ways to debunk this myth: semantically and practically. The first is based on the word “disenfranchised:” these people have not been deprived of their right to vote. Through the actions of their states, their votes don’t impact the outcome. Now, you may say that that is specious semantics (Myth: I do say that!) but practically speaking, this is the usual effect of the nominating process, anyway. All of the Republican primaries since McCain clinched the nomination have been meaningless, but those voters are not disenfranchised.

Florida and Michigan tried to become more relevant in the process by breaking the rules. They risked becoming irrelevant instead.

Myth: Well, I say they are disenfranchised, and Hillary Clinton is their champion.

Only when it suits her. Last fall, when the decision was first made to flush 100% of Michigan and Florida delegates, Clinton firmly ratified it. That was because the typical punishment of only 50% representation also kept the candidates from raising money in those states. Figuring that she would wrap up the nomination handily anyway, the clear front-runner agreed with all the other candidates - including Obama - to completely “disenfranchise” those two states.

Myth: Well, never mind 2007. She’s doing more now to bring them in.

Not really. Recent stories in the St. Petersburg Times political blog said that 1) the Obama camp has reached out to the Florida Democratic party about a compromise and that 2) the Clinton camp will discuss nothing else but re-votes, which are legally, practically and politically dead.

Myth: Whatever! Hillary can still win! I know she can! She and her 37% positive rating will sweep through the remaining primaries and Michigan and Florida, winning 70% of everything and superdelegates will flock to her banner and Barack Obama will personally nominate her at the Convention and John McCain will give up and George Bush will even quit early so she can take over and… and… and… can I have a glass of water?

Yes, and you should lie down, too.

By deegee

April 1, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Are we supposed to believe that Glenn Richardson was being chauffered to a ball game by a state trooper, presumably in a car with flashing lights, and they resisted the temptation to turn on the flashing blues knowing full well that they would miss the first pitch of a ball game? I don’t believe that for a minute. I think Richardson’s whine and moan about traffic was either another inside joke that only Wooten didn’t get or a Hillary style war story designed to manipulate gullible people.

By KR

April 1, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

After all of Jim’s ranting, I came away with one thought, which Dusty hit on as well. Why does Glenn Richardson, part-time legislator, deserve to have a State Trooper chauffeured, government-owned vehicle?

Want to save money, cut taxes and get more State Troopers patrolling the highways? Start there.

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this

Read slowly f^chtard. I wrote North ATL burbs. If you see a flurry of Obama signs in Cobb and Gwinnett, let me know.

Could you possibly have less brain power?

I have to hand it you, though. You are probably the easiest windup toy on this forum.

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

Running out of annoying troll tricks wooten bloggers? Blog-simple is no way to go through the internet.

By getalife

April 1, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Ah, poor little gop got stuck in traffic.

Yeah, when I was there last month it was worse.

Just think about all that wasted gas money and how the oil companies love your traffic jams. Take that lost tax revenue and make them pay for infrastructure. They made 123 billion in profits but the government gives them tax breaks and subsidizes with the cheney energy plan.

You get what you vote for Jim.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

“Happy” boy: We are talking about 75N from the Capital up to Cobb County, aren’t we?

You do know where the Capital is at, don’t you?

Drooler.

By George Washington

April 1, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Talk about the mis use of state cars and employees: The state insurance commissioner has been known to use his blue lights on his state provided car to aid his commute and in running around like a chicken with its head up its assets! How about we take away all the state cars from state employees, legislators, and agency big shots….I’m pretty sure Al Cutie and the other so called terrorists ain’t gonna go after any of these clowns, and what the heck is they did, we don’t need them anyway, they are just a burden on the rest of us…

By George Washington

April 1, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

gitadyke: just wait until the oil companies stop investing in new oil fields…All your green paper together will not buy one additional gallon of gasoline….Oil produced by Exxon outside the usa does not have to be sold in the usa, EXXON is free to sell its foreign production anywhere in the world, in any currency they want…impose windfall oil profits taxes on Exxon, and watch how fast our oil imports plunge…and the proceeds remain off shore and there for untaxable…Windfall profit taxes worked in the 70’s because the majors domestic oil companies still pumped most of their oil from the good old usa, but not anymore…of 20 million barrels we consume daily in america, only about 5 million are domestically produced, the rest is imported….We cannot tax Cananda or Mexico…If big new taxes on oil companies are imposed here in america, I will vote my shares to divert our foreign oil production to China, India, and Europe…

By Cathy Baker

April 1, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

Sen Craig thinks Traffic is about the low spark of high heeled boys.

By Frankly

April 1, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

So face it, Atlanta. You are screwed and so shall ever be… 1:35pm post

It would probably also help if transplants would stop moving down there and cluttering up the roads with their salt-laden SUVs and winter beaters and giving greedy suburban sprawl developers reason to build even more McMansions. But, unlike say Detroit MI and Newark NJ, Atlanta GA actually has jobs and relatively low taxes like a lot of the South & South Midwest. The North Midwest like Michigan and the Northeast have lost to the South and South Midwest on foreign automotive assembly plants.

But back to Atlanta’s woes, I’m sure people who live in and around Atlanta would rather have a traffic problem and growth problem than ghost towns and unemployment lines. Either that, or they haven’t visited some other areas around this nation. It’s better to be on the inside looking out than on the outside looking in.

By Bosch

April 1, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Road traffic relief? Simple. Get the cars off the road. Instead of spending billions to accomodate more cars, use it for better public transportation.

Oh, and Dusty was right earlier - why in the world should Glenn Richardson have a state patrol chauffeur?

By deegee

April 1, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Even if I believe that the GREAT Glenn Richardson sat in traffic for 90 minutes for a 15 mile commute to Cobb County, I would have to ask what happened that day to tie up traffic. Barring some major interstate FUBAR, I can typically leave downtown Atlanta at 3:45 and travel 40 miles outside of the city and be at my destination in about an hour.

“How much money is it costing us in lost productivity?” Richardson asked. “What is it costing us right now to sit still in traffic?”

The answer, zero. That’s the sum total of what the GREAT Glenn Richardson produces for the state of Georgia.

By Bosch

April 1, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

I think driving should become as inconvenient as possible, then people will start to get it — we need public transportation - real public transportation. MARTA isn’t real public transportation.

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

AJC mgmt

You use the typical wingnut ploy of re-writing what someone says to match the snappy answer you’ve been wanting to use for weeks now. You could try responding to what I wrote instead of what you wish I would write, but that would take more wattage than your feeble little brain can muster.

I’ve engaged you because you seemed up to the challenge. Sadly, no. Now, I’m through with you, windup doll, because you offer no challenge, only the buzz of an impotent mosquito.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

Wow. I just got back in from the great weather and checked out the stock market. Several indices up over 3%. Too bad it’s April Fool’s Day.

Every day is April Fool’s Day when you start hearing what our elected idiots are doing. They could help congestion and everything else that ails us by just staying home.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

TAFKAHY@1:41

So, you post that you were born and raised in the South. When were you brainwashed? Some liberal university get to you?

Contrary to your statements, there were and never have been any peasants in the South. But rich or poor, almost every able-bodied Southern male went to fight for what they believed in. Women kept the home fires burning. They all wanted the right to make decisions about their property and their state. Maybe your ancestors did NOT (cut’n’runners even then), but that would be no surprise.

A state flag design is of little importance to me. The red, white and blue of America is what I support, just like almost everybody here. You will find a great number of Southerners fighting in the US military right now. They fight for what they think is right.

You need to put forth your facts about Chambliss. If this is like your other accusations, there’s not a word of truth in it.

If you think the South is the land of the apes as you suggested, then you should feel right at home here. Go eat your bananas and hush. The rest of us are eating grits.

By getalife

April 1, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

PHILADELPHIA - Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton walked somberly into a press conference Tuesday and stood before microphones. Reporters tensed, sensing something big might be afoot.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This has been a very hard fought race,” she said. “We clearly need to do something so that our party and our people can make the right decision. So, I have a proposal.”

The tension grew. Reporters shifted in their seats. Was she dropping out of the race? Offering to join rival Barack Obama as his running mate?

“Today, I am challenging Senator Obama to a bowl-off,” Clinton said, provoking relieved laughs from the assembled scribes.

Clinton carried on, making reference to Obama’s disastrous outing at a Pennsylvania bowling alley Saturday.

“A bowling night. Right here in Pennsylvania. The winner take all,” she went on. “I’ll even spot him two frames.”

“It is time for his campaign to get out of the gutter and allow all the pins to be counted. I’m prepared to play this game all the way to the tenth frame. When this game is over, the American people will know that when that phone rings at 3 a.m., they’ll have a president ready to bowl on day one.”

“Let’s strike a deal and go bowling for delegates. We don’t have a moment to spare, because it’s already April Fool’s Day. Happy April Fool’s Day.”

By Glenn

April 1, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this

Jim: The Sunday after the Governor held his perspired Tuesday prayer service, a reader wrote in saying that “prayer is nice, but planning is better.”

As for Governor Perdue’s perfectly Democratic response (More!) to the problem of congestion: Pennies are nice, but planning is better.

I’m still waiting for the risen Sonny to suit up and act like a Republican.

By cep

April 1, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this

We already pay 8% in Atlanta - 4% State, 3% Fulton, and 1% city/sewer tax. Now, you want us to vote ourselves up to 9% so that politicians can get to a ballgame on time in Cobb county? Here’s an idea: don’t live in Cobb county. Live intown and dont’ drive so far. That will take care of the gas gripes too.

By TAFKAH

April 1, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Unsurprisingly, Dusty’s grasp of history is as feeble as her understanding of current events. Perhaps the former feeds the latter?

The myth of the noble Confederate Army is as empty as the myth of antebellum Dixie…a pleasing fairy tale, and nothing more.

Go read up on the Civil War, Dusty. Read about something other than the gallant heroism of Stonewall Jackson and the gentlemanly beard of Robt E Lee and learn instead about the resistance to conscription and the protests by the wives left behind to starve. Read about the subsistence farmers and poor whites who had to compete with the “free” labor of slavery, with the concurrent depression of wages. Read about how conscription officers were murdered on the byways by people who refused to fight (yet another) rich man’s war. Read about how the officers, aristocrats all, were well-clothed and fed, while the conscripts walked barefoot and ate rancid bacon. Read about the mutinies and executions for desertion when foot soldiers dared try to take leave to visit starving families, while the officers were free to resign and/or visit their homes as they wished.

Ah, never mind. You can’t handle the truth. Go eat your grits.

By rundeeemcee

April 1, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Well! I guess we don’t have to guess which side Newsweek is on with regards to Clinton vs. Obama. Ouch Senator Clinton!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/129976

By Mike77

April 1, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

• “Here’s an idea: don’t live in Cobb county. Live intown and dont’ drive so far. That will take care of the gas gripes too.” -

cep, tell that to those tens of thousands who live inside the perimeter and ‘in town’ who have to commute OTP to the north side like the Perimeter and Alpharetta. Check out the reverse commute up and down 400 some time these days; it’s a mirror of the other side at both times, and wasn’t like that even seven years ago. Maybe if the city of Atlanta courted more companies to move in town? Alpharetta corporate growth is absolutely insane. Wild turkeys have been seen hanging around some office complexes because there is no place else for them to go; no joke!

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

I hope no one expected more from the Gold Domers. If they offer anelection year tax cut, then they’ll be taking back that and more somewhere else. Bunch of 5th graders. I’d like to see our Gold Domers go on the TV show “Are You Smarter Than Anybody”. They couldn’t even beat each other. Mentally, that is.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Well, I never. Wrong, wrong, wrong, lib. Now off with you to ride the hershey highway with the British twinks you love so well.

By Just Nasty and Mean

April 1, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Anybody with 1/2 a brain can figure out where this is going.

The state politicians will take the money that now goes for road building and find other places to spend it that builds their power base.

If any of the regions want money for a particular project, the state politicians now have a build in response: Tax your region and build it yourself.

Even a blind pig finds an acorn occasionally.

By AJC Management

April 1, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

{{{{By TAFKAH April 1, 2008 4:20 PM I’ve engaged you because you seemed up to the challenge. Sadly, no. Now, I’m through with you, windup doll, because you offer no challenge, only the buzz of an impotent mosquito.}}}}

“Happy” boy: Am I being mean to you, poor thing?

I have no idea what I rewrote, pray tell, could anyone else help me out here?

All I did was point out your idiocy of claiming that Cobb County was the only place in Atl that employed landscaping crews.

I am not in the habit of letting such ridiculous statements slide.

By Dusty

April 1, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

TAFKAHY@4:59

I studied history from facts not some hate-filled propaganda manual bent on incriminating Southerners. I also heard the stories handed down from veterans like my long ago g-g-grandfather. He, in partiuclar, slept ouside for two years as did most of the military then. Fortunately, for my g-g-grandfather, the outdoors sleeping cured his TB which was the killer disease in those days.

But,you oh ignorant one, are so full of brainwashed baloney you sound like an al-Queda recording. Did you get tips from them? Are you writing some obnoxious “novel” to spread your personal dissatisfaction with everything American, in particular Southern?

You are one unhappy individual who wouldn’t be happy ANYWHERE. Most Southerners are too polite to tell you. I guess I lost my manners concerning you, but I am very honest.

By BadOleBoys

April 1, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

I think the Society of the Gold Domers should have their own special hats to wear while in session. A little gold colored dome would look so cute and it would block out some of those extraterrestrial communications some of them must be receiving. Now who told you this was good legislation? Maybe Sunny has a little transceiver wired up to play pranks on some of his Republican colleagues.

By Road Scholar

April 1, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this

First, I am amaazed that the same old bloggers cannot find another story to blog on concerning subjects other than transportation. Get a life and another site.

Matt, I realize that all are not thrilled with a regional tax. The alternative being discussed is a statewide sales tax dedicated to Transportation. The 40 urban counties are outnumbered by the 119 rural counties, so where do you think that money is going to be spent? It may also be susceptible to Congressional Balancing, regardless of where the revenue is collected. What is your choice? Do nothing?

As for the toll on SR 400 inside the perimeter, legislation was prepared (I do not know if it passed) that would extend the toll (is to be paid off by 2010) so that it could fund projects on SR 400 beyond the present 4 miles IP. Projects such as the south end at I85 tieing to I 85 to the north, the SR 400 I 285 interchange reconstruction, and widening SR 400 with possible HOV lanes OP, or even a MARTA line extension across the river was discussed. This was halted when the SRTA bought land at 17th Street, using money beyond the SR 400 corridor.

As for double decking I 285 or other Interstates, how will they build and maintain it while traffic continues under the heavy construction? Is safety a concern? This has been considered and discounted as unreal under todays construction technology. HOV lanes (2 in each direction) could be constructed on pedestal piers in the median, but “wishbone “ramps will need to be constructed to get vehicles out of the elevated HOV level. These could not be widened in the future to address demand unless traffic was limited to higher occupancy rates.

As for the present design of SR 400 and I 285, remeber that this was designed about 45 years ago. The design life of a project is 20 years, and , with Atlanta’s remarkable growth, the interchange has become more congested. Also with lanes on I 285 coming in east and west, and high demand on SR 400 itself, the mainline of SR 400 is over capacity. The ramp alignments where designed to acceptible standards back in the 70’s, whereas today’s design standards are more stringent- based on physics, driver expectancy (right hand exits) and new safety criteria.

Back in the late 90’s an attempt was made to define the public’s perceptions of issues related on I 285 from Riverside to Chamblee Dunwoody Road, and along SR 400 from the GPC to Abernathy. 90% of the public wanted improvements and identified issues shared with the design team. To make a long story short, the concept development was stopped due to politics! Fancy that! The first attempt to address the issues was rebuffed because people thought that it was too big. No opportunity was given to reduce the design, or address concerns. The public stopped the project! We drive in the same design we did in the 1970’s.

While I respect the public’s opinion, most persons cannot imagine what the needs will be in the next 20-25 years for any service. These people, including the politicians, still live in a world resistant to change and vision.

By jbmlaw

April 2, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

I hope we are going to talk about my newest hero today, Marvin Arrington.

By jm

April 2, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

jbmlaw@8:26 have you read this?

By CandlestickMaker

April 2, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

I thought I was your hero, you fickle fink.

By richie rich

April 2, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Check out the liberal weenies at PMSN Auto: they list about 75 of the best used car values, yet post only a picture of that butt ugly Toyota Prius. Is that supposed to subconsciously make us all want a weenie little Prius just because the weenie libs at PMSN want us all to drive one? The weenies can go save the planet in their death boxes, which, by the way, cost just as much in their afterlife as other cars to recycle, not to mention that they actually require more energy to manufacture than non-hybrids. PMSN is a riot, and I’ll drive and buy whatever I want, thank you. If it costs me $150 a week in gas commuting in a GMC Yukon in ridiculous ATL traffic, it is really nobody else’s business but mine. Besides, MARTA doesn’t go to every corner of metro and suburban ATL.

By Wake up, Jim

April 2, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

This is yesterday’s blog. It’s 8:43 in the a.m. on April 2. Get your butt in gear and post some fresh meat. Now, soldier.

By jbmlaw

April 2, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this

Dear jm @ 8:34, I have not heard this. Is this legit, or is this perhaps an April’s Fool item? Nearly unbelieveable, even if I don’t like her.

Dear PoFo @ 8:35, you are, and I intended to compliment you on your double decker canal proposal from yesterday. Many funny posts.

By Butcher

April 2, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

You cant build a double decker. It would cost millions of dollars and thousands of lives. No, the only solution is a legislative solution, which I happen to have in my pocket. I deduced the congestion solution with a serendipitous discovery when I was illegally using my Wet Willy lawn sprinkler one night at 3 am during the latest watering ban. I know exactly how to solve our problem with traffic. Up to you. Make the correct choice here, Atlanta.

By jm

April 2, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

jbmlaw@8:53 - a good friend of mine pointed it out to me (he does intel work) so I have to believe it is legit. Maybe her and Alberto Gonzales should go into practice together.

By Rob

April 2, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

Commuter rail is a “white elephant” but Mr. Wooten thinks that addressing Atlanta’s traffic conjestion should be a top priority. I’d be curious to hear how Mr. Wooten would propose addressing the city’s traffic woes. It is easy to shoot down every idea offered and never propose anything constructive. Is he for the Beltine? We know he doesn’t like commuter rail. What about expanding MARTA so that it goes somewhere other than north to south and east to west. Does he favor conjestion charges for vehicles entering the city? There are a lot of ways to deal with conjestion, but sticking your head in the sand isn’t one of them.

By BadOleBoys

April 2, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

Well, if I had written today’s words about a bailout for homeowners, I wouldn’t want anyone commenting on it either.

By BadOleBoys

April 2, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Hey, whatever happened to the talk about boring underground. Are they afraid of what the might find or what they might hit or what?

By Paul

April 2, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this

Metro Atlanta needs to change the way they approach road design, and how they develop in general. Some of the most basic principles go ignored here. Like the shortest distance between any two points is a straight line (road). Through streets are a good thing. This city has very few. Think about this for a second. How many different roads take you from the northern metro to the southern metro, and do not come to a “T” junction (where you have no choice but to turn right or left)? Answer: Other than freeways, there are none!!!!! This model is all over metro Atlanta. Think about your commute. Pick any stoplight that you go through. What would happen to your commute if that intersection were closed. How easy would it be for you to “go over a block” and go around it? More than likey you can’t. You would have to turn around. Reverse direction for a mile or more, and take an alternate route that can add 10’s of miles to your drive. Think about your subdivision. Or glorified driveways as I like to call them. Usually only one way in and out. Not very smart when it comes to traffic.

Mass transit is not the solution the problem. Nor should it be the responsibility of those who drive to fund transportation for those don’t. I drive GA400 every day. It’s a parking lot even south of the Marta station. Why? Because more people just plain want to drive. Period. It only makes sense that a gas tax fund the infrastructure that gas powered vehicles use. Not to fund mass transit.

By raymond strickland

April 6, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

the best way to help traffic congestion in Atlanta is to decrease the number of vechicles going through. To do this extend I-185 up to the Chattanoga area and extend I-22 that is under construction between Mephis and Birmingham to Columbus, Albany, Tifton, Waycross, and Brunswick. This would remove many vechicles from the Atlanta area helping with congestion and air quality. It would also help an area that needs help with its economy.