Thinking Right

By Mid-South Philosopher

May 20, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim,

Your column/blog topic is most appropriate this morning inasmuch as state school leaders are suffering apoplexy as a result of the dismal eighth grade math scores on the CRCT.

The notion that school tax revenues should be used to benefit developers (under the guise of benefiting the community) is another of the corporatist lies being perpetrated on the American people. Development or redevelopment projects are designed to benefit the developers through the generation of profits. Any benefit to the community is corollary in nature and not the primary reason for the project.

Now, back to the dismal performances of eighth graders on the math portion of the CRCT and the equally dismal performance of sixth and seventh graders on the social studies portion of their CRCTs.

The reason for the math debacle is simple. The new state math curriculum is a cluster disaster. (There is another word that could follow “cluster”, but the newspaper can’t print it!) Many good math teachers don’t really understand the new curriculum. Many math textbook series in use in the state are not correlated with it.

Even more distressing is that it attempts to teach concepts to children at an age when the child’s brain is not physiologically developed to process the information (Now I know that your and my grandchildren were working calculus problems in pre-school, but not every child is that smart!)

With respect to the performance on the social studies portion of the sixth and seventh grade CRCTs, the reason for lack of success is simple. Teachers, in the early grades have been indoctrinated to make sure the students are ready to pass the math and reading/language arts portions of the tests. This brainwashing has been enhanced by the illogical and asinine No Child Left Behind (No Teacher Left with One) Act. Consequently, teachers have not been as diligent in teaching social studies (or science, for that matter) in the earlier grades. And certainly if anything has to suffer or be left out, it has to be social studies! After all look at the wonderful, intelligent, and effective political leaders that are running our state and nation!

I like Kathy Cox. I think she is a good teacher and a capable administrator. I think her goal to “lead the nation in improving student achievement” is admirable and achievable. Unfortunately, the state politicians have given her a stool with only one leg and it is not centered under the seat. She is going to have to get at least two more legs under the seat of that stool or it will never hold!

By Curious Observer

May 20, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

Ah, another evening, another uninvited visit from rednecks seeking work and driving pickup trucks with Bush/Cheney 04 stickers on their rear windows. In contravention of city anti-solicitation ordinances, they seek to trim my trees, clean my gutters, and mow my yard.

Say, rednecks, how are those family values coming? Sure, you’re out of work and your home is about to be repossessed, but at least the gays aren’t marrying. The pantry is bare, and you can’t afford a visit to the doctor, but at least those welfare bums aren’t using the tax money you aren’t able to pay any more. The gas gauge needle is parked on the E and you can’t afford a fill-up, but at least we’re fighting those towel-heads over there, and we’re almost to the point of outlawing abortion.

Well, you voted for your own economic suicide, and I’m not about to interfere with it. And you’ll do it again when you line up to vote for Bush III, explaining to others that it’s his “experience” that got your vote and that it has nothing to do with the fact that Obama is black.

And since you’re too stupid to understand the nature of a TAD, you’ll vote for the amendment too. Why not hand tax money intended for schools over to developers? It’s private enterprise and not government socialism, right?

BTW, the cops will be patrolling the neighborhood a little more closely after my call, so I would advise you to avoid it.

By Road Scholar

May 20, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

At least this time, I have to agree with you. Why use school taxes to support more development, which brings in more people, who need more schools for their children, which then takes more money to build/remodel the needed space in the schools?

Why can’t the local government float bonds, and/or propose a revenue stream to fund the work or pay the bonds? Atlantic Station used this method, I beleive, for some of its funding i.e. increased tax revenue from the development are paying for the bonds.

By TW

May 20, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

McSame ‘08 BECAUSE BUSH CAN’T RUN AGAIN

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. We can all empathize with the poor pitiful developer who has to use his own money to fund his projects. Surely it is entirely appropriate that we compel taxpayers to fund, not just the current government schools, but also additional forms of corporate welfare as may be selected by our overlords. Thank goodness the leftists provided us the Kelo case, to free up our overlords in their efforts to confiscate property for private developers. Now if only the rich property owner, here defined as anyone who owns real estate, will only open their wallets (under compulsion of the government guns) to transfer their wealth to private developers, the job will be complete. Thanks Jim Wooten for publicizing this opportunity for charity.

Much wisdom all over the web this morning. You all saw Taranto’s string of hilarious Obama quotes and stories yesterday, and the funny Joe Lieberman line (who knew he could make a funny?), so I’ll not repeat them now (we’ll save them for the appropriate time.) Wanted to be sure you all saw this recent quote by my candidate: “Conservatism is alive and well in America; don’t let anyone tell you differently. And by conservatism, I don’t mean the warmed-over “raise your hand if you believe …” kind of conservatism we see blooming every election cycle. No, I’m speaking of the conservatism grounded in principles based upon enduring truths: an understanding of the importance of human nature in the affairs of individuals and nations. Respect for the lessons of history, the importance of faith and tradition. The understanding that while man is prone to err, he is capable of great things when not subjugated by a too-powerful government.” Fred Thompson.

Great article on faux-diversity at Harvard and similar leftist-“patriot” breeding grounds: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121124154671105467.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

By Copyleft

May 20, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

How unintentionally perfect a slogan, Mr. Wooten! “If you’re ignorant… vote Republican.”

A good reminder for us REAL Americans to watch out for the dangerous fools who still serve the far right.

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Spakovsky writes about his lynching at the hands of intolerant national socialists: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121124225725805517.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

Dr. Sowell has another collection of his amusing and thoughtful random thoughts today: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2008/05/20/random_thoughts. The best of the bunch: “If Barack Obama had given a speech on bowling, it might well have been brilliant and inspiring. But instead he actually tried bowling and threw a gutter ball. The contrast between talking and doing could not have been better illustrated.”

By Copyleft

May 20, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

Thank you, JBM, for demonstrating the depth and thoroughness of Sowell’s analysis.

I now know that I WON’T be voting for Obama, based solely on his bowling skills. Because a president who’s a bad bowler would obviously be a disaster for this great nation! (rolling eyes)

The fascists really are getting desperate in the face of the unstoppable Obama juggernaut. (snicker)

By Sam Elliott

May 20, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: It’s What’s for Dinner

By Redneck Convert

May 20, 2008 8:31 AM | Link to this

Well, I see they fired the four cops over giving some of Those People some love taps up in Philadelphia. Some people are just against Law and Order. Like libruls and Those People. Leastwise, down here they are going to let us put the needle to two more criminals.

Anyway, I don’t see what Wooten is making a fuss about today. Why not turn some tax money over to Private Innerprize to build some houses and such? All the schools will do with it is turn out more pointy-heads and libruls. Besides, it will put lots of good rednecks to work.

I’d like to get my hands on this Curious Observer. Its pretty clear he don’t like rednecks and Fambly Values. I would like to follow him in my beer truck and make his car a hood ornamint. People like him is what is wrong with this country.

Have a good day everybody and top of the morning to TFTT. His return means we don’t need to deal with stuff like issues. We can just call names and settle things.

By Speech Writer

May 20, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

FDR’s documentary on PBS lately reveals that these conservative arguments have been around forever. Congress rebelled against FDR quickly and he was a very embattled prez. Anti-FDR Speeches were made using words like “individual responsibility to take care of one’s own business”, and socialized fascism, communism, etc.

The depression was viewed by conservatives as the natural cycle which would recover naturally. FDR thought that we should try something, because if we dont try, then we dont do, and if we dont do, then what are we on this earth for?

Well, that clinched it for americans. Then there was the matter of FDR’s first lady, Seabiscuit. Her strength down the stretch inspired americans and we got through the crisis.

But the point is that capitalism doesn’t really work without war. That’s why we’re all doomed in the long run. War is an engine, and a rube goldberg machine which once set in motion cannot be stopped, and thats where Bush put us by invading Iraq. The doomsday clock is set at one second before midnight, (Greenwich Village People Time).

The bombshell that’s classified for 50 years: Cheney knew that if we captured and destroyed Al Queda in Afghanistan in 2002, that there could be no Iraq War, so he let OBL get away. The Saudis played a big part in that. Defense Contracting is very lucrative, you know, and the engine of our economy.

Not saying it’s wrong, just saying it’s so.

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Dear Copyleft @ 8:22, Dr. Sowell’s wisdom is not meant for idiots. (eyes rolling.)

By Helen Caldicott

May 20, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: Because Bowling Badly Beats Building Bombs!

By ron

May 20, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Good morning,Not only do you vote no on these bills,you get the authors of the bills out of office ,if possible.This is where a good newspaper is worth it’s weight in gold.Get the straight information out to the voters.Not the conservative view or the liberal view,but the straight information.Think the AJC is capable of this,Jim?

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Dear Speechwriter @ 8:37, you are correct to observe that mindless conspiracy theories have always kept leftists afloat. Has anyone ever wondered why the deepest part of the great depression was in 1937, five years after President Hoover was removed from office, but four years after the New Deal began government’s domination of business? Perhaps you are partially right, only a war could rescue the economy from the New Deal. In truth, government is to the economy what a pimple is to the complexion: if you just quit picking at it, it will heal. The war preoccupied the democrats, such that they quit piling more government regulation onto the economy, and the economy finally found its level, although surely lower than it would have been without government “help.” (By the way, do you remember the cause of the great depression? Smoot-Hawley, an uneconomic congressional restraint on freedom of trade, that sparked retaliation all over the world. The great depression was initially nothing more than the collapse of free trade. Fortunately Barack was just kidding when he said NAFTA should be re-examined.)

By Speech Writer

May 20, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Seperated at birth: Cheney and Rove?

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Dear Helen @ 8:51, thanks, you remind us that the wisdom of appeasement is now offered us again by Obama, in the great traditions of Chamberlain and Carter.

By Billy Boy

May 20, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

“ON THE MONEY” with regard to TADs - but if theres no money to educate the kids = they wouldn’t realize how undereducated they are = SO WHATS THE PROBLEM? LETS BUILD ANOTHER ATLANTIC STATION

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Well I worked for FDR—-not because he was President, but because he was an acronym. FDR slept through 1937, while the Depression returned to its previous depths. Subverting the Constitution really took it out of the old guy.

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

Dear PoFo @ 8:37, you actually have an inadvertent piece of truth and wisdom, much deeper than your post reflects. “But the point is that capitalism doesn’t really work without war.” That is undoubtedly algebraically true, although I never realized it until your post.

(1) Capitalism undoubtedly requires freedom, in order to function. That is why the socialist economies all over the world have always foundered at levels lower than free economies.

(2) The world always has those who would steal our freedom for their nefarious reasons – to seize wealth, to control our behavior. One is always free to surrender freedom and accept the constraints of the overlords, or one fights for freedom. The enslavers will not simply walk away.

Thus the formula: Capitalism requires preservation of freedom, and preservation of freedom requires war, therefore capitalism requires war.

By liberal bellyaching

May 20, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

Sic ‘em McCain. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24712127/ Obama needs to be challenged for his comments unlike the stupid sheep in this nation licking his feet. By the way, if anyone can remember when the USSR ever said they’d “Wipe the US off the map” as Obambi proclaims in response to Bush comments on Iran, speak now or forever be a stupid democrat Obambi sheeple. Finally, not Obambi, not the UN, and not one single eco-nazi in this nation is EVER going to tell me what to drive and what to keep MY thermostat on. Here’s a big middle finger to all you liberal fascist nazis.

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Will these awful me-first Republicans EVER learn?

Buh Bye to the only GOP Congressman that was serving from New York City.

A New York congressman who admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock with a woman who bailed him out of jail on a drunk driving charge this month announced Monday that he will not run for re-election.

“This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family,” Rep. Vito Fossella, a six-term Republican, said in a written statement.

Fossella, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, is the 30th Republican to announce they would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

And yet another real stand up family values (read intolerant, close minded and corrupt) Republican conservative!

While championing family values, Fossella shuns his sister - an open lesbian - and refuses to go to family events if she and her partner attend.

And his use of campaign funds for luxurious entertainment indicates that he learned very well under Rudy.

But the 30th GOP member to “not seek re-election”? (Love that euphemism!)

Thirty???

If that is not the quintessential definition of cutting and running, I don’t know what is.

Republican Bloodbath, Part Deux. Coming to an election near you this November.

By Taxpayer

May 20, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

There are simply too many people that are trying to make a living by “developing” land. If these people had stayed in school and learned their math, science, and social studies, then perhaps they would have also developed into something more substantial than a “developer” or one of its many dependents. Just look around. Land developers, architects, carpenters, roofers, plumbers, electricians, landscape designers, building supply stores, home improvement stores, employees in these related businesses, appraisers, real estate agents, attorneys, etc. It seems like if “we” are not building or re-building something, then “we” are lost or stagnant. If “land development” is meant to be such a significant part of our existence, you would think that “we” could at least model it after automobiles or computers, for example — designed obsolescence. Design structures such that people either want or need them replaced every ten years or less. Structure our society such that people are compelled to re-locate every five to ten years. Design homes that fit within a 10-year depreciation schedule. I know it’s a tad much to swallow but it can be done. Now, if we can just get a few people educated enough to tackle problems such as food supplies, energy, waste disposal and reclamation, health care, etc. I don’t think these items would fit in the designed obsolescence model. They may actually require a long-term strategy.

By Peter

May 20, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

WOW folks read this….. No wonder we have these made up WARS.

“Thus the formula: Capitalism requires preservation of freedom, and preservation of freedom requires war, therefore capitalism requires war.”

Wow I guess that is why Switzerland remains a very strong economy, and retains one of the highest earning per person, compared to the rest of the world.

Yes your argument makes zero sense.

But hey Abortion is not right, yet you tout killing folks that are already born.

Here we have more “Family Values” from the Wrongs !

By Empty Headed Parrot

May 20, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Appeasement! Appeasement! Appeasement! Heard it on Boortz. Heard it on O’Reilley. Heard it on Hannity. Heard it on Rush. Appeasement! Appeasement! Appeasement! One more time: Appeasement! Print it on a sticker: Appeasement! Sling it round at a party: Appeasement!

Now give the cracker a craker.

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this

Will these awful me-first Republicans EVER learn?

Buh Bye to the only GOP Congressman that was serving from New York City.

A New York congressman who admitted to fathering a child out of wedlock with a woman who bailed him out of jail on a drunk driving charge this month announced Monday that he will not run for re-election.

“This choice was an extremely difficult one, balanced between my dedication to service to our great nation and the need to concentrate on healing the wounds that I have caused to my wife and family,” Rep. Vito Fossella, a six-term Republican, said in a written statement.

Fossella, who represents Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, is the 30th Republican to announce they would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives.

And yet another real stand up family values (read intolerant, close minded and corrupt) Republican conservative!

While championing family values, Fossella shuns his sister - an open lesbian - and refuses to go to family events if she and her partner attend.

And his use of campaign funds for luxurious entertainment indicates that he learned very well under Rudy.

But the 30th GOP member to “not seek re-election”? (Love that euphemism!)

Thirty???

If that is not the quintessential definition of cutting and running, I don’t know what is.

Republican Bloodbath, Part Deux. Coming to an election near you this November.

By Hubert

May 20, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this

Here is another fine example of liberalism in public schools screwing around with our kids and continuing to dumb them down and turn them into dumb masses of Democrat voter blocs. Some regions are looking at making the lowest grade a 50, not a zero. This is supposed to help students who are faultering. First they screwed around with the grading system so as not to hurt the dummies’ feelings, and now this. Yeah, let’s throw hundreds of millions more dollars at government education and just change some numbers and letters - that will fix education. Want more of this kind of thinking and stupidity in our nation? You think Republicans are screwing up this nation and your private lives? You haven’t seen anything yet. Vote Democrat and Barak Obama 2008!

By Hon. Richard M. Daley

May 20, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: For All the Things He’s Not

By Just Nasty and Mean

May 20, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Somebody help me. I just cannot see how taxpayer money collected and intended for schools and education can be diverted to a private development intended for profit and be called good for taxpayers. If the development is not viable on its own, what make us think taxpayer funding will make it viable?

How will this be profitable for ANYONE OTHER than the developer?

It is a scam on the taxpayer—pure and simple.

This is just another tactic public officials want to use to leverage taxpayer money to collect campaign contributions.

By Parrots in Action

May 20, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

Here’s the appeasement video. Watch the howler go on and on to Chris Matthews even though he clearly has no flipping idea what he’s talking about.

Parrots: Don’t let this stop you from your sworn duty to squawk the same nonsense over and over.

By liberal bellyaching

May 20, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Will these awful me-first Republicans EVER learn? - AmVet

I’m not sure what that comment meant, but I think I have a clue coming from a lib:

“Me first” means wanting to keep more of my hard earned money via tax relief.

“Me first” means that I believe that what I earn is mine (minus basic income taxes) and not the government’s to be taken away and redistributed to slackers.

“Me first” means that I believe I have a right to own what I want to and what to keep my thermostat on.

“Me first” means that I do not need a liberal beloved socialist government to take care of me from cradle to grave and make everyday decisions for me inbetween those times.

You bet I’m “Me first”, just as our Founding Fathers believed in. Too bad you quasi-socialist liberals have lost your ways.

By Larry the Cable Guy

May 20, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: Because He’s Never Had One of Them Reptile Dixfunkshuns

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

If you “fiscal conservatives” REALLY want to save a few bucks, how about looking elsewhere, maybe even at the people and organizations who have profited greatly at the expense of the guys who make it possible?

This week, the Senate is expected to take up the 21st Century GI Bill, offered by Senators Jim Webb and Chuck Hagel, after the measure passed the House last week.

Many of us have challenged Senator John McCain to back the Webb-Hagel bill. As you may or may not know, Senator McCain has his own watered-down measure that only gives a fraction of the costs of college to veterans. As our veterans say in a TV ad, “We didn’t give a fraction in Iraq, we gave 100 percent.”

Ditto in Texas, where veterans have challenge Senator John Cornyn to back the Webb-Hagel bill. Senator Cornyn is one of the few Senators representing a large veterans population who has not signed onto the Webb-Hagel Bill.

SUPPORT THE TROOPS. NOT BUSH’S WAR.

By zeke

May 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

NO TAD’s! The constant lies of our elected officials to raise taxes for no good purposes! These “officials” should be prosecuted for fraud! They constantly use false or misleading information, or, schedule votes to be isolated from the main election dates in order that few will vote, and, stack the results in favor of their agendas! This should be prohibited by law! And, taxes in whatever form, including tolls should legally be used only for the reasons they are collected! A previous example is the tolls on 400 that were supposed to expire, but, were and still are collected to finance work on other projects! ILLEGAL! Just remember voters, A TAX ONCE ENACTED AND COLLECTED WILL ONLY GO UP, IT WILL NOT EVER GO AWAY!!!

By Kruschev's Father

May 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Wrong, JBMLAW, corporations, foreign owned, direct our foreign policy through stooge puppets like cheney and bush to start wars so that the sales charts look good to investors.

War is nothing more than corporate welfare.

War. What is it good for? Corporate bottom lines.

There is no earthly reason for US troops to be in Iraq. None. There is a religiously-cloaked financial reason, however, and Bush correctly called it a Crusade, but only a fool would have listened to his God urging him to invade, and only a greedy lunatic would want this war.

Jbm, your logic is circular and self aggrandizing, sir. Your conclusion is in your premise: The price of freedom is death (assumes perpetual war), therefore Capitalism requires war (already assumed). It’s self agrandizing because it assumes that your perpetual war is always just, and Iraq proves that it’s not always just.

Do you see it? Do you see why you’re wrong. As Prez, I would rather sit down and negotiate with Iran than bomb it. The corporations who make the bombs will lobby hard for me to go through some inventory of bombs for them. They’ll do what it takes to direct my foreign policy to cause an increase in sales of bombs.

it’s that simple

Here’s the correct logic. Peaceful capitalism has a natural cycle of bust and boom. War mitigates that cycle and always causes boom. (and kaboom). Therefore capitalism necessarily causes war (for investors).

Capitalism is a cant miss during war.

By Copyleft

May 20, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

By the way, does anyone know what Glenn was raving about yesterday with his “NAME OBAMA” spamming?

Obama already has a name: Barack. His parents gave it to him. WTF???

By Peter

May 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

Hey Folks the Bill Jim is writing about today……. does anyone know who has sponsored this bill?

Jim writes about the Ga. State President had pushed the idea, but NOT who is sponsoring the bill in question.

I would really be interested as to what individual would be heading the sponsorship of the bill.

Does anyone have that answer?

By Daedalus

May 20, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

The proposed fix for TADs is to allow school property tax revenue increases to be used to fund infrastructure development.

One tenet of conservative philosophy is that taxes are bad and growth is good. Sure. However growth without infrastructure development is worse than taxes.

Why are conservatives afraid of letting communities decide for themselves what to do with increased school tax revenues? (Or whether you can buy a bottle of wine on Sunday?)

Property values in the exurbs are dropping, foreclosed homes in gwinnett, clayton, douglas, etc are increasing every day. With gas at $4.00 a gallon, and with the Ga. legislature and Sonny Perdue absolutely incapable of offering transportation solutions — all they want is more roads, which they cannot afford to build — seems like investing in close-in areas with transit access and short distances to jobs and shopping makes sense.

Besides, with Georgia test scores plummeting (thank you, Kathy Cox, maybe put evolution back in the curriculum?) — why give the extra money to schools? Aren’t they just educating the children of illegal immigrants in the suburbs anyway? Meanwhile all the good American kids go to nice Christian schools where everyone looks alike and thinks alike — the perfect world, for conservatives.

By the way, enjoy your car, since we in Georgia are never going to adapt to another form of transportation.

By Tom

May 20, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

jbmlaw @ 8:54—LOVE those canned revisionist histories of yours. They’re almost as hilarious as your name-checking of philosophers. Always great for a laugh in the AM. Keep up the solid work!

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Good spin bellyacher.

No.

GREAT spin!

You would not know about such things as what I am about to share with you, of course, but my son came home recently on leave. And he spoke about service before self and a code of honor. (It is wonderful to vicariously relive my service to the republic through him again.)

These are not just words or concepts lost on misguided and selfish and self-serving non-contributors.

They are, and always have been, a way of life for some of us.

So go ahead and be a good modern Republican and cheat on your wife and lie to your children.

And good luck in November with all of that empty juvenile rhetoric about commies behind every bush and income redistribution.

You are desperately going to need it, Mr. Me and my wallet/lifestyle first, ideology second, nation last.

By Willie "Shakey" Speier

May 20, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: Because There Are More Things He’s Not Than Are Dreamt of in Your Philosophy

By JM

May 20, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten,

Do you remember the condition of the land where Atlantic Station now stands, before the establishment of the Atlantic Station TAD? It was an industrial wasteland, the very definition of inner city blight.

Would Atlantic Station have happened anyway, as you suggest, without the TAD incentives? Doubtful. Developers, in search of the greatest return on investment dollars, most likely would have spent those dollars in areas with lower up-front pre-construction costs, e.g. on undeveloped tracts of land on the outskirts of suburbia with no need environmental remediation.

Simply put, the TAD dollars provided developers the incentive they needed to revitalize a blighted area of the city, rather than increase suburban sprawl. I challenge anyone to argue that Atlanta isn’t better for it.

As for your point about diverting money from schools, what you and other naysayers conveniently and consistently fail to emphasize is this: only the increase in property tax revenues as a result of development within TAD districts is used to pay off the TAD bonds. The school systems continue to receive 100% of the tax base that they have been receiving all along. The schools don’t lose a SINGLE PENNY from tax revenues. In fact, once the TAD bonds are paid off, the school systems will see a dramatic increase in funds from property taxes.

The school systems know this. They’re not stupid. They know that brownfields and blight don’t generate much tax revenue. They would rather see the blight replaced by thriving neighborhoods and successful businesses, which will generate more tax dollars for schools in the long run.

Think about it: a larger revenue stream in the long run, without sacrificing a single penny of revenue in the short term. THAT is why school systems in the Atlanta area have agreed recently to approve TADs in recent years.

The TAD is one of the most effective tools that a government has at its desposal to focus re-development where it is needed most, when it is needed most. Elimination of blight and decay benefits EVERYONE.

THAT is why citizens should vote YES on the constitutional amendment that would facilitate the establishment of TADs.

By Taxpayer

May 20, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

War, Hmph, Good Gawd Man, What is it Good For. Absolutely, 1)helping to offset increases in population resulting from improvements in health, medicine, etc., 2)providing distractions for the masses in order to keep their minds off such issues as job losses and inflation (roller derby and wrestling can only do so much), 3)if I told you, then I’d have to you know…lock you up in GITMO, or worse.

By ghost rider

May 20, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

The DOUBLE TALK express is at it again…FIVE of McCain’s campaign advisors have had to resign due to the LITTLE fact it was found they worked as lobbyists, including some with ties to foreign governments. You can read all the sordid details here. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24718740/

By saywhat?

May 20, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this

*By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Dear Copyleft @ 8:22, Dr. Sowell’s wisdom is not meant for idiots. (eyes rolling.)*

And yet the irony is, only idiots read him.

By Lorne Michaels

May 20, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

Barack Obama: Because It’s Not Pat!

By Dennis

May 20, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

By jbmlaw May 20, 2008 8:54 AM

“Has anyone ever wondered why the deepest part of the great depression was in 1937, five years after President Hoover was removed from office, but four years after the New Deal began government’s domination of business?”

Great joke! Have a great day!

You don’t have to be a blind conservataive not to see it, just an ignorant one to deny it.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Peter,

I have had the same question in response to several of Jim’s columns. (For example the person he quoted in the lede of his puff piece on education “legacy legislation” was in all likelihood the salaried sponsor of the Jones bill.) When I try to learn these legislative relationships (sponsor <-> author <-> lobbyists in support & opposition), I can’t get anything. These facts are not “reportable” in Georgia, as they are in DC. So you have to be a reporter just to find out who’s sponsoring a bill! You’ve got to have friendlies in the legislative staff, for example. This is the kind of old boy dirt that Georgians ought to sweep away once and for all, chiefly around a ballot package aimed at housebreaking the developers who evidently even own the gawddamn President of the State University. This is a beautiful state, justifiably proud of both its places and its place in history. The people who lease bulldozers by the fleet are not your friends.

By Taxpayer

May 20, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this

First of all, the court made the correct call — schools get tax money that was collected for schools. If schools are getting an excess, the correct approach is to reduce the millage and return the money to its rightful owners. Finally, if using tax money to fund a developer’s efforts is the best use of said tax money, then let the developers and the elected ones present their case to the taxpayers for approval. Be open and up front. Tell the taxpayers about the risks and rewards and who makes what off of it. Stand up and be a “man” about it. There’s just no need to be a sneaky, conniving, little wussy about it — unless you’ve got something to hide. Cowards like to hide. Cowards like to wait until your back is turned. What are the people that are pushing this issue? Who are they? Do they have a law firm and a lobbyist speaking on their behalf? Cowards.

By Disgusted

May 20, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

Has anyone ever wondered why the deepest part of the great depression was in 1937, five years after President Hoover was removed from office, but four years after the New Deal began government’s domination of business?

Nice sophistry, jbmlaw.

What you neglect to mention is that it was Republicans who passed the Smoot-Hawley bill and a Republican president who signed it into law—Hoover.

And it was not effectively repealed until nearly the end of World War II.

The economic recovery was well underway even before the outbreak of that war.

In your zeal to deprive FDR of any credit for his brilliance in putting people to work and detaching the dollar from the gold standard, you seem to be suffering from historical amnesia.

By Copyleft

May 20, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

JBM’s still hoping to dethrone FDR and retroactively declare Reagan the “greatest president of the 20th century.”

But I guess that helps distract from the performance of the WORST president of ANY century, and his few remaining months in office.

By cmesmle

May 20, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

For the record, anyone who even attempts to compare Switzerland to the United States in any fashion, especially for the sake of comparing how an appeasement nation does it without war, is an idiot. The Swiss are nothing but a state to the US in comparison. In any event, regarding the “peace” that the Swiss have delved in over the years, they raised their hands pretty high when Hitler rolled through. Only a lib can be that blatantly devoid of reality - and stupid. Don’t let the delusional wacko appeasement leftists like that clown who made that comment run this nation. We didn’t get this far in 230 years by laying down our shovels, laying down our arms, and sitting on our as-ses collecting government re-income distribution checks made for equal political fanfare to prevent complaints of one person having more than someone else.

By Tom

May 20, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

Oh, please, please, please, “cmesmle” please tell us all about what happened in Switzerland “when Hitler rolled through.” And once you’re done telling us, then I guess you’d better tell the folks in Switzerland as well. They don’t have a very clear memory of that particular event, since it never happpened.

Keep trying, cmesmle.

By VOTE NO

May 20, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

VOTE NO - Wooten is correct on this. Why put money meant for schools into the developer’s pocket? If the project can’t be justified on the basis of all the local government giveaways like development authority tax breaks and other money from the public, why in the world would we put more money in at the expense of the schools. And at the expense of all taxpayers who have to pay more in taxes for the remaining schools.

LOCAL LOCAL LOCAL - this is not. It’s developer - developer -develeoper.

By ghost rider

May 20, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

By cmesmle

May 20, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

Are you serious??? “Hitler rolled through Switzerland”. Germany did not attack Switzerland! I suggest for your enlightment you read this…

http://history-switzerland.geschichte-schweiz.ch/switzerland-second-world-war-ii.html

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Well..we DID have a good discussion about capitalism and freedom and war. Most of us realize that school funds should not be spent to encourage developers.

So back to a fine C/F/War discussion and here come the anti-war fighters against the preservation of freedom, freedom of the United States of America as right NOW.

Did anyone hear a reference to “freedom from terrorism or “preservation of freedom”?? No, indeed. Not these guys. Knock the war. Knock the Republicans. Knock the President. Knock the USA. And Obama carries their banner. What has afflicted these “Americans”?

By Thor

May 20, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

For those on the right and the left:

I hope most of you don’t reproduce…

I hope most of you truly don’t vote.

You guys are part of the problem, not the solution.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this

JM,

While I appreciate the macro- and theoretical analyses in this string, it appears that you’re the first to meet Jim’s column on its own terms: There’s a ballot initiative coming up; what should we do?

I agree with you and Jim that the answer’s NO, but mine are different from your reasons or his. You both think that this initiative aims to raid school moneys to pay for development; I don’t. Your point that it’s all about the increment, and not the tax principal, is valid, but that revenue substream is used only for surety, not for debt service necessarily.

All three of us oppose the ballot measure because we applauded the Court’s decision in Woodenham. But you go farther: you’re opposed to TADs per se. I’m not. They are neutral tools, and can do a lot of good, especially in redevelopment.

To me the issue is the abuse of TADs, not the abuse of school revenues. The former abuse was taken so far that it broke the law; and, specifically, violated the Georgia Constitution. The backers ought to be ashamed to let this issue continue to see daylight, but instead they’re determined to push a high-profile ballot initiative over it!

Georgia really must learn to bring its developers to heel. And the State University prez ought to be sent to run the medical school on Grenada.

By JM

May 20, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

For more information about TADs in the City of Atlanta — how they’re established, who benefits, why they’re created — please follow this link.

PS - I’m not a developer or a city employee. I’m just an informed Atlanta resident and taxpayer who has witnessed first-hand the “before” and the “after” of TADs like Atlantic Station. I’m eager to see similar successes in other blighted areas of the city.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

And jbm,

Whaddya make of this funky construction: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs?”

Is that vagabroad enough for you, or am I just being arbitricious?

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

Gee, Woodenhead, as ah recalls, Ga 400 Toll money was semi-illegally diverted to benefit a private developer at Atlantic Station, now a crime invested cess pool, imho. Didn’t that dirty stinking crook Roy the scum bag B-e-arnes steal Toll money to help out his pals at Atlantic Station, imho? Course, that theft was small potatoes next to the hundred million he stole from Medicaid for to benefit his fellow stinking crooked lawyer buddies out of state, imho. Why is that scum bag still walking the streets as a free man, and not hanging from a lamp post outside the Capital along with each and every one of his pals, imho? Don’t ya just hate our criminal justice system when a crook like that is still practicing what passes fer the law, while honest and straighforward murders and rapist are rotting in prison? Justice will only be served when the FAT CAT crooks like Roy are serving long prison sentenses with the more honest but stupid rapists and murders imho…Ah would luv ta see old Roy as a cell mate with Bubba the rapist….

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Hey Know it all Glenn, Chief Lackey to Woodenhead: Not one school in Georgia was rated in the Top 100: From The WashingAss Post:

PAST YEARS RANK SCHOOL LOCATION STATE INDEX SUBS. LUNCH E&E 106 Walton Marietta Ga. 3.516 1 47.9 190 Lakeside Atlanta Ga. 2.844 33 44.2 197 Davidson Fine Arts Magnet Augusta Ga. 2.795 20 55.7 213 Campbell * Smyrna Ga. 2.727 49.7 17.6 230 Chamblee Charter Chamblee Ga. 2.636 29 — 272 Centennial Roswell Ga. 2.52 17 43.9 301 Riverwood Atlanta Ga. 2.446 25 43 325 Milton Alpharetta Ga. 2.372 80 50.4 330 Berkmar Lilburn Ga. 2.356 63 24.4 343 Columbus Columbus Ga. 2.332 22 45.8 347 Northview Duluth Ga. 2.318 3.89 51.1 364 South Forsyth Cumming Ga. 2.279 7 25.9 407 North Gwinnett Suwanee Ga. 2.185 14 64.9 427 Lassiter Marietta Ga. 2.136 3.9 39.7 437 Norcross * Norcross Ga. 2.117 48 26 477 Union Grove McDonough Ga. 2.038 14.5 23.3 495 DeKalb School of the Arts DeKalb Ga. 2.02 21 44.9 529 Roswell Roswell Ga. 1.967 21 38.7 530 Chattahoochee Alpharetta Ga. 1.966 7 50.7 555 Marietta ** Marietta Ga. 1.927 55 30 597 Duluth Duluth Ga. 1.861 33.5 34.3 600 Druid Hills Atlanta Ga. 1.858 38 28 649 Brookwood Snellville Ga. 1.76 12 38.2 718 Central Gwinnett Lawrenceville Ga. 1.677 54 25 841 Wheeler Marietta Ga. 1.526 31 27.6 848 Harrison Keenesaw Ga. 1.517 3.77 — 879 La Grange La Grange Ga. 1.475 50 18.2 901 Parkview Lilburn Ga. 1.458 19 27.3 941 Avondale Avondale Estates Ga. 1.423 78.4 0.6 951 Osborne Marietta Ga. 1.411 71 10.8 981 Starr’s Mill Fayetteville Ga. 1.376 5 34.5 1007 Peachtree Ridge Suwanee Ga. 1.35 22 28.3 1055 Clarke Central Athens Ga. 1.293 58 17 1063 Pope Marietta Ga. 1.286 1% 37.8 1073 Sprayberry Marietta Ga. 1.279 23 25.1 1105 McIntosh Peachtree City Ga. 1.249 7 34.1 1129 Alpharetta Alpharetta Ga. 1.228 8.56 44.8 1138 Carlton J. Kell Marietta Ga. 1.222 16.9 24.7 1141 Lakeside Atlanta Ga. 1.219 15 33.6 1154 Sequoyah Canton Ga. 1.204 10 22.4 1177 Grayson Loganville Ga. 1.179 21 n/a 1190 Dacula Dacula Ga. 1.162 27 15.7 1221 Glynn Academy Brunswick Ga. 1.137 n/a 19.4 1268 Tucker Tucker Ga. 1.094 48 19.86 1270 Eagle’s Landing McDonough Ga. 1.091 29 19.8 1324 Collins Hill Suwanee Ga. 1.035 24.2 23.6 1340 Sandy Creek Tyrone Ga. 1.021 22 20.4 1343 Dunwoody Dunwoody Ga. 1.017 28.03 29.9 « PREV | NEXT »

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Lackey Glenn: Here be the top 100: Hey, As Woodenhead’s chief lackey, shouldn’t YOU be doing this research? Ain’t the WashingAss Post your sister newspaper in COX Enterpises (or is that Dick Enterprises? ya know, as in dinky)? Showing 1 to 100 of 1358 Schools from 2008

YEARS RANK SCHOOL LOCATION STATE INDEX SUBS. LUNCH E&E 1 BASIS Charter Tucson Ariz. 17.167 n/a 92 2 Talented and Gifted Dallas Texas 15.953 31 79.1 3 Suncoast Community * Riviera Beach Fla. 10.387 15 85 4 Science/Engineering Magnet Dallas Texas 10.245 50.9 101 5 Stanton College Prep * Jacksonville Fla. 9.893 6 100 6 Preuss UCSD La Jolla Calif. 9.692 85 100 7 Academic Magnet North Charleston S.C. 7.314 7.3 101 8 Paxon School for Advanced Studies * Jacksonville Fla. 7.182 12 71 9 Oxford Academy Cypress Calif. 6.784 16.8 100 10 International School Bellevue Wash. 6.717 3 98.1 11 City Honors * Buffalo N.Y. 6.7 28 70.3 12 International Academy * Bloomfield Hills Mich. 6.271 <1 100 13 Pacific Collegiate Santa Cruz Calif. 6.125 n/a 100 14 Northside College Prep Chicago Ill. 6.052 33 87.3 15 Highland Park Dallas Texas 6.035 0 65.1 16 H-B Woodlawn Arlington Va. 5.636 17 93.6 17 Eastern Sierra Academy Bridgeport Calif. 5.6 36 60 18 North Hills Prep * Irving Texas 5.563 9 67.6 19 Coral Reef * Miami Fla. 5.514 37.3 82.5 20 Jericho Jericho N.Y. 5.477 0.7 77.3 21 The Early College at Guilford Greensboro N.C. 5.467 4.3 91.1 22 Center for Advanced Technologies St. Petersburg Fla. 5.448 11 27.9 23 Martin Luther King Academic Magnet Nashville Tenn. 5.371 13 79.3 24 Hume-Fogg Academic Nashville Tenn. 5.332 9.2 80.3 25 MATCH Charter Boston Mass. 5.25 71 50 26 Communications Arts San Antonio Texas 5.245 13 56.8 27 Raleigh Charter Raleigh N.C. 5.238 0 95.8 28 Troy * Fullerton Calif. 5.207 7 58 29 Eastside * Gainesville Fla. 5.135 44 78 30 McNair Academic Jersey City N.J. 5.132 44 72.3 31 Newport Bellevue Wash. 5.114 9 68.7 32 Richard Montgomery * Rockville Md. 5.061 15 61.3 33 Dreyfoos School of the Arts West Palm Beach Fla. 5.061 7 70.7 34 Hillsborough * Tampa Fla. 4.907 54 38.6 35 Benjamin Franklin New Orleans La. 4.855 47 100 36 Little Rock Central Little Rock Ark. 4.774 33.64 33.8 37 Pine View School for the Gifted Osprey Fla. 4.738 5.4 100 38 Myers Park * Charlotte N.C. 4.731 23 57 39 Design & Architecture Sr High Miami Fla. 4.717 38 100 40 Peak to Peak Charter Lafayette Colo. 4.696 5 53.8 41 Classen School of Advanced Studies * Oklahoma City Okla. 4.659 32.8 50 42 Pensacola * Pensacola Fla. 4.627 60 30.75 43 Sturgis Charter Public * Hyannis Mass. 4.625 10.1 92 44 South Texas High School for Health Professions Mercedes Texas 4.551 55.1 54.4 45 Interlake * Bellevue Wash. 4.544 31 48.1 46 Science Academy of South Texas Mercedes Texas 4.543 43 62.7 47 South Side * Rockville Centre N.Y. 4.513 11 71 48 Clarke County * Berryville Va. 4.4 13 82 49 Great Neck South Great Neck N.Y. 4.388 9 80.7 50 Los Angeles Center for Enriched Studies Los Angeles Calif. 4.359 41.1 55.9 51 Moreno Valley Angel Fire N.M. 4.333 20.5 30 52 Westlake Austin Texas 4.331 3 69 53 Diamond Hill-Jarvis Fort Worth Texas 4.317 84.5 28.1 54 Lowell San Francisco Calif. 4.299 34.9 82.4 55 Langley McLean Va. 4.28 1 67.4 56 Walnut Hills Cincinnati Ohio 4.227 16 78.5 57 Atlantic Community * Delray Beach Fla. 4.217 31 30.5 58 George Mason * Falls Church Va. 4.176 7 66 59 Wootton Rockville Md. 4.133 4 71.5 60 Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor N.Y. 4.13 20 101 61 MAST Academy Miami Fla. 4.121 30 58.2 62 Bellevue Bellevue Wash. 4.112 11 72.6 63 Bethesda-Chevy Chase * Bethesda Md. 4.054 9 66.8 64 Washington-Lee * Arlington Va. 4.051 36 43.8 65 Booker T. Washington * Tulsa Okla. 4.04 34.2 37.2 66 Wheatley Old Westbury N.Y. 4.025 <1 68.3 67 John Miller-Great Neck North Great Neck N.Y. 4.024 8 60.8 68 Walt Whitman Bethesda Md. 4.023 2 73.5 69 Rickards * Tallahassee Fla. 4.004 42 23 70 Plant Tampa Fla. 3.993 10 44.3 71 San Diego High School for International Studies * San Diego Calif. 3.989 56 66.3 72 Enloe * Raleigh N.C. 3.979 38.7 60.2 73 Woodson Fairfax Va. 3.907 6 59.5 74 Yorktown Arlington Va. 3.896 15 66.3 75 Walter Johnson Bethesda Md. 3.893 6 59.1 76 Bell Multicultural Washington D.C. 3.888 81 11 77 Westwood * Austin Texas 3.864 8.2 59.1 78 Lincoln Tallahassee Fla. 3.833 10 37.5 79 Pittsford Sutherland Pittsford N.Y. 3.833 3.6 66.8 80 Yonkers * Yonkers N.Y. 3.816 67.7 83.5 81 Gunn Palo Alto Calif. 3.813 6.1 74.7 82 Grimsley * Greensboro N.C. 3.808 31.9 53.6 83 Dobbs Ferry * Dobbs Ferry N.Y. 3.798 9 33 84 Corbett Corbett Ore. 3.795 22 64.4 85 Rye Rye N.Y. 3.784 2.3 90.3 86 Lincoln Park * Chicago Ill. 3.782 48 66 87 Wyoming Wyoming Ohio 3.763 5 79.5 88 Paschal Fort Worth Texas 3.705 31 32.5 89 Nease * St. Augustine Fla. 3.69 2 46 90 Edgemont Scarsdale N.Y. 3.689 0 77.3 91 Edina Edina Minn. 3.685 8 32.5 92 Spruce Creek * Port Orange Fla. 3.683 13 24.9 93 Lake Braddock Burke Va. 3.681 11 54.4 94 Colleyville Heritage Colleyville Texas 3.675 7.6 33.7 95 LBJ Austin Texas 3.667 45 50 96 Winston Churchill Potomac Md. 3.658 3 72.7 97 McLean McLean Va. 3.646 6 69.2 98 Charter School of Wilmington Wilmington Dela. 3.642 2 69.6 99 Signature * Evansville Ind. 3.627 8 82.4 100 Bellaire ** Bellaire Texas 3.608 28 57.9

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

Aw Glen, cut out the histrionics. Could you present something in simple language yourself? Don’t worry about Jim. He gets his point across. Forget the ribbons and frills, the moxie and the minutia. Just say it.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Glenn be too stupid to git to the point, dirt ball, so ah’s will say its fer him: STFU Dusty, and Drop Dead…

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

George Washington,11:50 11:55

Why don’t you get your OWN blog? If I wanted one foot of liberal sleaze and two feet of statistics, I would know to go to YOUR blog. Which would be NEVER.

I get after Glen for being foggy. But… if I had to make choices for the firing squad, YOU would be FIRST and Glen would not be on the list.

By jm

May 20, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

I wonder why the government just doesn’t roll back property taxes. If they have so much left over after meeting education needs (must say with straight face) that they can fund development, it tells me that the rates are too high.

Then again, if I can risk someone else’s money, rather than my own …

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Don’t flip out again, PoFo.

You want it short&funny? Fine.

Jim is lying when he says that the ballot measure would “give tax revenues to developers for up to 30 years that is [sic] now allocated to support public education”. That’s not what it would do. And the reason it’s a lie, and not an inaccuracy, is that he published the exact same inaccuracy in February, and was politely corrected by persons of diverse expertise, and still he pushes a BS line.

If you truly are intent on finding the bottom line down there at the bottom of your barrel, here it is: the Big Developers and their lackeys are asking voters to give them a Get Out of Jail Free card, so they can continue to break the law.

If a development can’t be done, like Atlantic Station, on the up-and-up, then it probably shouldn’t be done.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Cut the crap, please, and give us your read on what those school stats mean. Take them as your text. You’re a masterful writer and editor from a line of educators; your exegesis is as valuable as anyone’s. What is it, please?

By Jan

May 20, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

The main sponsor of SR 996 was Senator Dan Weber. The main proponent in the House was Representative Jim Martin. I suspect “JM” posting on this board may be none other than Jim Martin.

The Supreme Court decision confirmed that virtually every TAD in this State is unlawful. Scary that these elected officials, having been caught with their hands in the cookey jar, want to codify this diversion of funds from schools to private interests.

If a school system taxes so much that it has a “surplus” (ie., more money than is actually needed to operate the school system), the proper course is to refund the “surplus” to the taxpayers, not divert the “surplus” to private interests.

In the summer of 2006, the Atlanta School System actually had to raise the millage rate in order to have sufficient funds to operate the system, because of all the funds being diverted to TADs.

TADs may sound wonderful in times of escalating real estate values, but things will not be so rosy during periods of declining values are we are experiencing now. I think you can definitely start connecting the dots between Atlanta’s $140 million budget shortfall and the City’s over reliance on TADs over the last 10 years.

By Parrots in Action

May 20, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this

But… if I had to make choices for the firing squad, YOU would be FIRST and Glen would not be on the list.

DUSTY’S idea of freedom and democracy for which American soldiers give their lives: shoot people you don’t like. Shoot people who disagree with you. Shoot people.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Dusty, was I being fuzzy again?

I try not to be, on matters of school finance.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

oh oh, teacher has called on me….my read, my read….ok, Georgia schools, teachers, and students be STUPID, STUPID, STUPID…but that’s ok as long as they work on their lower body strenth, the bette ta pull mah plows…Even the dumbed down ga criteria test shows 40% of 8th graders are too stupid in math to be promoted to 9th grade, and 30% of 7th graders kan’t read good enough fer 8th grade….course, Ga politicians depends on people being dumb like…take k-e-athy cox, the fat former classroom teacher who rode to office based on her name being confuses with the half decent secretary of state, Cathy Cox…She says “don’t ya’ll worry none bout this here test what half the stupids failed, we’ll fix that on next year’s test by making it even easier.” She just reeks of the p** poor ga education establishment…Oh Yeah, Glenn, nice cover bashing your boss ta cover fer you lackeyness…to bad it don’t work none too good….OIL IS OVER 129, RUNNING TOWARD 130..GOLD IS UP 12, SILVER UP 0.46…AH’M MAKING MONEY…HEH HEH HEH.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this

DON’T WORRY Parrots in Action, ITS ONLY A FLESH WOUND….

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

I’m with Jan.

And Gen. Washington,

Your analysis works for me. (Except that for the first time in decades I’m nobody’s lackey!) The literacy figures are quite a bit worse than that, though, and would cause the average person to lose her lunch.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Ya wanna talk school finance do ya—well here be a basic fact of life that will become oh so very obvious to even the Georgia Edumacation Dummies: The BIG centralized schools of ~2,000 stupids that were oh so economic in the days of dirt cheap diesel and gasoline fuel are dying dinosaurs with oil being priced at 130 plus bucks a barrel….The cost of transporting the stupids to and from the school destroys all other economic savings…so the mega school buildings dotting the landscape for which we have paid 5 to 20 million bucks each are white elephants that will be abandoned due to necessity…as we go back to small neighborhood schools within walking distance of residential neighborhoods….

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Gee Private Glenn, could the p** poor readin skills somehow be correlated with the nose diving newspaper circulation numbers…..

By JM

May 20, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Jan,

Hehe, no, I am not Jim Martin. Are you “Jan” from the Brady Bunch?

I’m just an ordinary resident of Atlanta with a 40+ hour work week and a bad commute.

One of the highlights about my commute, though, is being able to look out my window and see Atlantic Station and think just how nice it looks in comparison to the toxic industrial waste land that used to be there in its place.

If the City can use TADs to redevelop other blighted, neglected areas, then so be it.

If voters have to change the state constitution to allow our city to keep using TADs as a tool for redevelopment, then so be it.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

PARROT’s not really that concerned, just pining for the Fjords, is all.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

JM must be a real estate lawyer just a salivating thinkin’ of all the legal fees it kin collect gittin that TAD money inta the pockets of the crooked developers…gimme a Brown Field any day over a crime infested cess pool…..unless that crime infested cesspool has ten thoudand lawyer trapped in the swamp, slowing drowning and starving….hmmm, ah just made mahself a supporter of tads….

By ron

May 20, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Consolidation of schools for whatever reason,was never a good idea.Too many people can remain anonymous in large organisations.Like poor teachers.,and poor administrators,and apparently,poor students.Back to the neighborhood schools and the small country schools.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

JM,

I misunderstood you, thinking that you were on the other side of this. I continue to believe that the the proposed amendment attempts very sloppily to create a non-germane and fundamentally unconstitutional nexus between the State’s educational purposes and its interest in perpetual growth. It’s cheating.

Pres. Washington,

Yes, of course the literacy stats are related to the circulation figures. But I don’t see Cox or the AJC carrying a banner or anything, either. That’s why I got fed up with Jim about five months ago when he kept mocking the GA public school system as though it were a fact of Nature.

Your micro-school model is very interesting, and something I’ve researched in depth. As you know, it presses a terrible problem with land acquisition and cost, though. Still, the advantages are legion.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

ron & Geo. Washington:

Right. We now have a 45-year research base showing the superior performance of small schools. (Not smaller, and not schools-within-schools; but truly small organizations.) Student outcomes, up. Student satisfaction, up. Teacher satisfaction and retention, up.

And the economies are surprisingly deep. Depending on the state, a distributed model can roughly break even vs. the 1955 “Comprehensive High School” (plus feeder schools) model that we still use. That’s fascinating that high-priced gas might be the deal-breaker.

In Pennsylvania it was the cost of the comprehensive plants themselves. To comply with the courts’ equalization orders to maintain a certain band of fiscal fairness and equity, that state would have had to spend huge sums on the sort of state-of-the-art high school that we now see being built here. (To run the costing, just think mini junior colleges.) In the trade those physical plants are called “Taj Mahal schools”, and the new telecom stuff merely gold-plates them further. To achieve anything like an economy of scale they have to cram thousands of pupils into the places, drawing the children from necessarily larger attendance areas. (GW’s gasoline argument.) The larger, more anonymous organizations lose the human factors that produce better results, and the cycle begins again.

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this

Jan@ 12:20

You sound so sensible. Thanks for giving us reliable information in your own words. Love that line “give surplus school funds back to taxpayers”. Yes indeed.

Parrot @12:20

Dear “Stick’n’th’mud”, do you really really think there are firing squads available for the disposal of far left liberals? Fortunately (for libs), they are no more. It was just a passing thought. In fact,I thought it much better than the usual vulgarisms that come from Parrots and the Cut-n-Run crowd of back alley bloggers.

By getalife

May 20, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Senator Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor.

I wish him luck in his upcoming battle.

God bless him.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Yes indeed, get. Evidently they’re going to have to load him up with steroidal anti-inflammatories as a first measure, so if he seems more than usually bloated, no mockee the fattee.

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Oh good, back to the little Red School House and the little house on the prairie.

Sounds good for small towns and counties with small populations. But in cities of greater populations such as Metro Atlanta, can’t see how that would work.

Ah, Ann of Green Gables was fun fiction, but will it work NOW? Tell me how to bring back the good ol’ days of little red school houses, little white churches with steeples, and Mom and Dad raising the kiddies mostly on their own dime. It seems to be only a dream of the past. Nice, but long gone.

By Peter

May 20, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this

Gosh Dusty is today your day off, or are you wasting more taxpayers money here today, as you work for the CDC ?

By dirty harry

May 20, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Glenn, you are a true humanatarian!

For you I wish an eternal case of hemorrhoids.. that endlessly causes you immense pain and discomfit.

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

So true it bears repeating as often as necessary:

Dusty, the erudite Mr. Gilbert, is sadly correct. To paraphrase - you do not have the first f&cking clue about what you write. Not one.

I won’t repeat you insinuations and lies about age, health, political persuasion, etc. about John McCain.

You sad and simple fool, I have said repeatedly I plan on voting FOR McCain! And that I would never (excepting in the most unforeseen dire circumstances) vote for Obama OR Clinton. Are you really this freaking dense or is it just a pathetic act with you?

It is standard fare issued from Democrats. They are still fuming that Gore and Kerry lost.

You hopeless dipsh!t! I voted AGAINST both Gore AND Kerry! I quit the Democratic party more than a decade ago and only vote for them because your beloved GOP is a hijacked, total train wreck.

Now the hate is headed for McCain, the only weapon you have to fight for Obama.

You witless moron, read the above to try and understand just how utterly stupid you truly are. You despise liberals. All liberals. And you are so delusional, you often see and call people, like the aforementioned Glenn, a liberal, THOUGH CLEARLY HE ISN’T.

Your inability to understand even the most simple political concepts is beyond compare on these blogs. Add in the fact that you are derided on every AJC blog you have ever posted at and it would seem you would be more concerned about your problems rather than everybody else’s.

You are one sad individual who daily expresses your discontent with being an American.

But this where you really shine little Ms. Goebbels. If you are a model American we are all hopelessly f&cked. You would have made a PERFECT Nazi.

So your “contributions” to this blog are to just make sh!t up about anybody and everybody and hope no one notices the fabulous fabrications and utter nonsense you vomit here continuously.

You are the worst of the worst of the worst. Uninformed, willfully blind and an inveterate LIAR.

So good luck with your constant unprovoked personal attacks on all kinds people each and every day, fascist Dustbomb.

Like it or not, you are going the way of the Dodo and Karl Rove…

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Absolutely, Dusty, you’re about the danger of indulging nostalgia (the longing for a past that never was) at the expense of children. But we’re talking best practices here, and highest and best uses of the People’s huge education investment. It’s the mid-century model that is the object of tragically consequential nostalgia, I’m afraid.

That’s the Georgia Supreme Court’s ruling in Woodenham was all about: a breach of trust with taxpayers who implicitly agree to fund “educational purposes” in the touching hope that children will flower and find their one best way.

But as Gen. Washington’s figures show, it’s not like the school systems are making any particularly good use of their fiduciary trust as it is, so why not use that werewithal to build more strip malls with apartments overhead?

By RCH

May 20, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Ted Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor. Kindly note that note one negative comment has been said by the “hate filled” Right here or elsewhere I’m aware of, unlike, say, liberal hate comments over “scarface” McCain and Tony Snow’s cancer. But, we already know who the adults are and who the little wicked, hate-filled children are, don’t we.

One thing that makes a lib a good lib is cloaking words of “good for the whole” and “good for the nation” when referring to income redistribution and private property rights (that includes your hard earned money). Socialist liberalism does not want you or corporations to own anything ultimately. Communists were/are very good at this propoganda hidden behind causes too. JBMlaw was spot on this morning, and it’s great to see the reactionaries on the left wet their pretty pink panties getting upset at the truth about capitalism and what it takes to maintain it as well as freedom. We wouldn’t expect those government loving neocommunist liberal dumocrats to understand things like that now, would we.

Now carry on with the hate and blatant ignorance, you no-job loser liberal leeching goons.

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

Dear Peter@2:13

Since you seem vitally interested in my business, I will satisfy your curiosity.

Today is not my day off. I am not wasting taxpayer’s money. I do not work for CDC.

No, you cannot see my driver’s license. But I do have one. Anything else?

Speaking of business, I hope your barber shop can keep going. Good luck!!

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Absolutely, Dusty, you’re about the danger of indulging nostalgia (the longing for a past that never was) at the expense of children. But we’re talking best practices here, and highest and best uses of the People’s huge education investment. It’s the mid-century model that is the object of tragically consequential nostalgia, I’m afraid.

That’s the Georgia Supreme Court’s ruling in Woodenham was all about: a breach of trust with taxpayers who implicitly agree to fund “educational purposes” in the touching hope that children will flower and find their one best way.

But as Gen. Washington’s figures show, it’s not like the school systems are making any particularly good use of their fiduciary trust as it is, so why not use that werewithal to build more strip malls with apartments overhead?

By Barry Berlin

May 20, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Speaking of mis-information…your article displayed either a profound misunderstanding of TAD financing, or was deliberately manipulative in phrasing and fact. Either way, you’ve done your readers a true disservice, and have perpetuated a highly naive view of this complex financial vehicle.

First, and most important, TAD proceeds, at least for the Beltline, aren’t targeted for developers. The TAD funds would serve to buy up the rail right-of-way, and also to build the trails and rails that will constitute the Beltline loop. The TAD bonds would be repaid with property taxes paid by nearby property owners - including developers and others. Because the adjoining property would likely appreciate, those taxes would be higher than heretofor - so property owners would pay higher taxes, and without subsidy. The incremental tax brought about by the amenity-induced appreciation would be used to retire the TAD bonds.

Further, schools and the like would not forfeit their appreciation, as you indicate. Instead, these properties would likely appreciate also, given the community’s fondness for the aforementioned amenity (Beltline).

True, schools would forfeit their incremental tax revenues above a baseline “pre-TAD, pre-Beltline” amount…but the school districts in the Beltline region already approved this measure, thinking that the benefits outweighed the costs. The benefits to the school disticts are already emerging - a stronger mix of households, more parental involvement, etc. Your comment that someone else will be paying for this education could not be more incorrect - local property owners would still pay existing property tax levies to the government, and not to subsidize developers.

If you aren’t a fan of the Beltline, fine - express this explicitly. You may not feel that greater diversity, density, and interconnectedness would be beneficial, and you are entitled to that view. Just try to be careful about misinforming your readers with regard to this complex funding mechanism, and thus risk being marginalized in any serious debate.

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this

Dear Tom @ 10:02, I have to publish what so many government-school “educated” people do not know. Think of it as my mission here.

Dear Say @ 10:35, most leftists cannot read economics, just washes over them. That is why I alert bright people about the good Dr. Sowell’s publishings.

Dear Dennis @ 10:44, those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it. That is also why I remind people that every 35 years a great appeaser arises, to save mankind: Chamberlain in 1938 to save us from national socialists, Carter in 1976 to save us from communists. Maybe some great appeaser will appear in time for this election, to save us from Middle East Islamists?

Dear Disgusted @ 11:02, your indignation is misplaced, and probably reflects the limitations of your education in economic history. While it is undoubtedly true that idiot isolationist Republicans pushed Smoot-Hawley, I think it is fair to affirm that Republicans now (mostly) appreciate the benefits of free trade and some even appreciate the benefits of free immigration. On the other hand, democrats are pretty stupid, and are unlikely ever to grasp the lessons of Smoot-Hawley, and the adverse ripple effects that always arise from any government actions. Also you correctly cite that the recovery began in earnest after WW2, but evidently you overlooked that portion of my essay that explained the capacity of the economy to find growth after stability at any level. Your negligence is forgiven. Instability is the element of government-arbitrariness that wrecks the economy; if you quit picking at it, the sore will heal. I credit FDR only with delaying the recovery that was underway when he took office. On the other hand, Bill Clinton’s “genius” is that he did nothing for eight years (other than NAFTA, which facilitated growth by removing government restraints.)

Dear Copyleft @ 11:08, as a mere scrivener, I have no illusions about dethroning anyone. But I also have no reservations about proclaiming an empty suit “an empty suit.”

Dear Glenn @ 11:40, I’ll vote “no.” Since I publish my aversion to taxes of any form on a nearly-daily basis here, I decided to give it a rest and publish only the sarcasm in my opening note today. As written now, the Constitution of Georgia seemingly precludes government from picking development “winners” and “losers.” Amendment would empower the gamblers among our overlords. I think they should gamble with their own money, and keep the public funds for limited purposes, i.e., constrict the government growth potential. After composing this brilliant note I saw that jm made a similar argument more efficiently than I, @ 12:08. And now I see you said the same thing @ 12:16. In the words of Emily Latella, “Nevermind.”

As to my opening sarcasm, some days I just want to be a jerk for the fun of it. Maybe seeing TFTT’s notes yesterday inspired me to take up the fight again, Captain Queeg notwithstanding. Maybe it was that solid, focused statement of principle by Fred Thompson. Maybe it was the approaching storm front.

Re your closing note @ 1:12, as an internet addict, I wonder about the need for brick and mortar. I have always enjoyed the “self-paced” studies I have done – did that to get my securities licenses, and we had some study materials in law school too, some unrelated professional education since then. I could imagine the (newly-promoted) Lieutenant as a child sitting on a computer working through different levels of such materials, although that would never have worked with his older brother (of course, brick and mortar did not work there, either.) I have never asked you, but I suspect you have some basis for an opinion: would online schooling work for all children? Any children? Would it work only for the gifted ones? Does your 1:43 answer, the “human” factor?

Dear Getalife @ 1:52, you had reported this Sunday, didn’t you? You clearly have a good source. While I have always been the first to mock the Senator for his human failings, I do not wish him ill or pain. Brain cancer is a tough one. I had an uncle who had the photon gun when it was experimental, and he lived around eight years thereafter. But I think he was the exception.

By ron

May 20, 2008 2:39 PM | Link to this

Dusty,The town where I grew up had a population of about 500 and there were two schools.Grades 1-8.Everyone went to a high school in the neighboring small city.That high school served the city and 6 towns.That system is still in place today despite many attempts at consolidation.You fight continuously with the state board of education to keep it that way.That’s how it;’s done.

By Doggy

May 20, 2008 2:43 PM | Link to this

Dusty’s derision notwithstanding, there is much to commend about a return to smaller schools while abandoning the education factories that look more like college campuses. And it goes well beyond the elimination of long bus rides and ridiculous expenditures on “counselors” and other administrative personnel.

Imagine a school in which every parent knows every teacher and every student. Believe me, in such a school it doesn’t take long for a student’s misbehavior to be reported to that student’s parents. And while such a school wouldn’t have “advanced placement” courses that are just glorified regular courses, every student has a decent chance of getting enough attention from teachers.

I was lucky enough to attend such a school in my youth. It had 212 students from 1st through 12th grade—and yes, it was a public school. My graduating class of 19 produced three PhDs, one ED, and five others who earned advanced degrees.

I believe we have done a severe disservice to our youth by turning schools into impersonal factories that essentially separate parents from the educational process and turn students into wanderers in an alien land. It’s hard enough for 18-year-olds to adjust to a mega-campus setting. I shudder to think what it must be like for 13-year-olds.

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

AmVet@2:18

Oh what expertise!! Namecalling to perfection, asterick (bad)words, the usual insinuations,and LIAR! LIAR! (House on fire!!) and U R Karl Rove and that German lady (so there!!)

I tell you what. AmVet could write a book alone on expletives. And to think, he once voted for Republicans! Well, we will get over that disgrace in time.

Now, relax, AmVet. The VA hospital is ready when you are. Don’t worry. Things will come out all right. And …don’t forget…be sweet!!

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this

Dirty Ball, big cities with mass transit are the one place BIG schools will still work….the kids ride marta to and from school, or walk shorter distances than out in the county, due to the greater density of the city. Of course, since the working man will be riding mass transit in far greater numbers, time shifting will be required….studies indicate that it is stupid to git the brats up at 6 am and in school by 7:30 - they need more sleep in those years. So school should start at 11 am rather than 8, and end at 7pm rather than 4.

By ghost rider

May 20, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

JBMLaw you write this: Dear Dennis @ 10:44, those who do not know history are condemned to repeat it. That is also why I remind people that every 35 years a great appeaser arises, to save mankind: Chamberlain in 1938 to save us from national socialists, Carter in 1976 to save us from communists. Maybe some great appeaser will appear in time for this election, to save us from Middle East Islamists?

You conveiently left out REAGAN and his appeasment to Iran…I guess you forget …. Uh, what was that called the Iran-Conta affair?

How many in that administration went to jail and, or were rescued from serving serious time because of technicalities…Talk about appeasement!

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Gee, history repeats its self, sort of, Teddy with a headache, just like Jack….Seeing as how Teddy has been in the Senate more than 40 years, he is MAJORLY responsible for the disaster is unfolding in this country….Federal budet deficit, debt, and incompetence — a Federal failure to provide secure sources of energy — the obscene military-industrial claptrap, endless foriegn wars, the loss of control of our foreign policy to the pro israel fanatics….not to mention the thieft of our social security and medicare money….Good riddance to Teddy and ALL of his Ilk…..May they all go slow and painful like…

By dirty harry

May 20, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

AmVet@2:18

DUSTY YOU WRITE…

Oh what expertise!! Namecalling to perfection, asterick (bad)words, the usual insinuations,and LIAR! LIAR! (House on fire!!) and U R Karl Rove and that German lady (so there!!)

German Lady? Do you have a clue about MRS JOSEPH GOEBBLES?

She poisoned all of her children rather then have them live under a regime other than Adolph Hitler!

Some LADY!

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

George Washington @2:48

Dear Cherry Pit, do you have any children? I mean those that you will claim?

If so, would someone place a call to DFACS immediately? Emergency!!

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

dirty harry @3:03

As usual, you make my day. Yes, Madame Goebbels did poison her children as they waited in Hitler’s underground bunker for German surrender. She probably thought she was saving her little ones from some terrible fate. For that alone, I will still say “lady”. That she was mistaken is tragedy.

Glenn,

Giving away school funds to others is not going to make the schools any better either. You make this a no-win situation.

By @@

May 20, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Jim: Your column made me reflect on a couple of friends who just welcomed the arrival of a baby three and a half months ago. They live in an area surrounded by the proposed beltway. All for gentrification of the area, they are. How will they feel when their baby starts school?

Very conservative is he. Their neighbor was a designer of the beltway.

Note to self….”Give ‘em a call.”

The obscurity of constitutional amendments really should be addressed. I confess; in my liberal days, if it sounded good I voted for it. Then I met my husband, the conservative. He has no tolerance for political BS. He was all too eager to show me wherein the evil lies.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

jbm,

I think that the ballot measure’s construction licenses anything. I believe that land development should be licensed, but not licentious. Georgia is too much like Florida in the latter regard, and will come to grief for it.

As for “online schooling”, yeah, it can work for any children—-even those (and IMHO, especially those) with profound disabilities. But what does “work” mean? This presumably isn’t the place to answer that question, but it can I think be answered in a responsible mannner favorable to telecommunications.

But telecom is not a replacement for anything; it’s something different, a separate force. So treating it as a metaphor for e.g. “schooling” or “teaching” or “textbooks” is never a winning proposition, except for the carney barkers (who are plentiful in the industry).

Tech is something you handle by keeping a handle on it. Like the advanced surgical technologies that may well prolong Ted Kennedy’s life. You don’t do it because it sounds good, or because you liked the rep’s presentation, or because some well-heeled Yankees are using it up North.

You’re operating on children, persons who must be treated with special care at the other end of the instrument. Otherwise they become the instruments, the tools.

Just as we all were schooled to take our places as units in vast and pristine systems. The kind of systems a presidential candidate would would kill to get his or her hands on.

By AmVet

May 20, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

Dusty, no “clarifications” about your NUMEROUS prevarications I re-posted?

No “explanations”? No “justifications”? Not even a whimpering excuse.

WHY NOT?

To anybody with a brain and a soul, it is clear why. There must be no less than twenty individuals here and a t Luckovich’s who would confirm that YOU LIE CONSTANTLY.

And you will never even try to deny it or defend your ridiculous c**-and-bull stories. Intentional misrepresentations and misstatements make up your entire rueful repertoire.

I’ll say it again, you would make a perfect Nazi.

And you are the very poster girl for what has always been so horrifically wrong with the pathetic lunatic fringe of the Republican Party.

GFY. Good for you.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Readin’, written’, rithmatic’ and a good hickory stick fer those who fail to complete assignments GIVES the taxpayer his money’s worth…..Dirty Ball, my children are long growed up, college educated eingineer’s from Ga Tech, and they could easliy beat the snot out of all your brats, simultaneous like, includin’ your fictitious long tall son, an image that sounds too much like one of you erotic nightmares of the phallic variety….

By Peter

May 20, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Gotta love this stuff….

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this

“Dear Peter@2:13

Since you seem vitally interested in my business, I will satisfy your curiosity.

Today is not my day off. I am not wasting taxpayer’s money. I do not work for CDC.”

I guess it really doesn’t matter who’s time you are wasting …. obviously since you are at WORK…. you show the “TRUE Family Values” by wasting your employers time.

Great job……I guess you are safe stealing from your employer, until he gets that software, that lets a employer track what an employee is doing with their time and computer!

By dirty harry

May 20, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

DUSTY; You are a total chucklehead.

Did you not get the symbolism? Your undying faithfulness to one of the most corrupt, incompetent administrations ever.

If I was one of your children (If you have any, which I doubt) I would make sure I drank and ate out only!

Madame Goebbeles, Indeed!

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Here is one of the DUMBest pieces of legislation I have ever seen: By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday allowing the Justice Department to sue OPEC members for limiting oil supplies and working together to set crude prices, but the White House threatened to veto the measure.

The bill would subject OPEC oil producers, including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Venezuela, to the same antitrust laws that U.S. companies must follow.

The measure passed in a 324-84 vote, a big enough margin to override a presidential veto.

The legislation also creates a Justice Department task force to aggressively investigate gasoline price gouging and energy market manipulation.

“This bill guarantees that oil prices will reflect supply and demand economic rules, instead of wildly speculative and perhaps illegal activities,” said Democratic Rep. Steve Kagen of Wisconsin, who sponsored the legislation.

The lawmaker said Americans “are at the mercy” of OPEC for how much they pay for gasoline, which this week hit a record average of $3.79 a gallon.

The White House opposes the bill, saying that targeting OPEC investment in the United States as a source for damage awards “would likely spur retaliatory action against American interests in those countries and lead to a reduction in oil available to U.S. refiners.”

The administration said less oil going to refineries would limit available gasoline supplies and raise fuel prices.

Foreign investment in U.S. oil infrastructure has declined in the last decade. But the state-owned oil companies of several OPEC nations are owners of U.S. refineries, and those investments could be affected if the legislation becomes law, said Arlington, Virginia-based FBR Capital Markets Corp.

The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to carryout a study on the effects of prior oil company mergers on energy prices.

The Senate would still have to approve the House measure.

The Senate previously approved similar legislation as part of a broad energy bill. However, the OPEC-suing provision was removed after White House opposition in order to get the underlying energy legislation signed into law.

THANK ALLAH THE CHIMP PROMISES TO VETO THIS, OTHERWISE THE GULF STATES WOULD PULL ALL THEIR MONEY OUT OF AMERICA, AND CUT OFF ALL OUR OIL SUPPLY FROM OPEC, AND RIGHTLY SO, WE CANNOT IMPOSE OUR LAWS ON OTHER COUNTRIES—-DID YOU IDIOTS LEARN NOTHING FROM KOREA, VIETNAM, IRAQ?

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

And CONGRATULATIONS to the Ensign and his parents on the occasion of his commission! Godspeed, Lieutenant!

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Dear Ghost @ 2:49, your logical skills fail you. Iran did not surrender the hostages on Reagan’s inauguration because he was an appeaser. Further Iran-Contra was disapproved by Reagan, although that was one of the rare errors on his part. Iran Contra was about raising money to defeat communists, despite the objections of the pinko democrats in Congress – no appeasers were employed at any stage. Your image is comic – nobody every accused Reagan of singing kumbaya with the bad guys. He even played hard ball with his own state department (appeasers, all) at Reykjavik. I suppose he appeased the air traffic controllers, gave them a lifetime vacation.

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

Dear Peter@3:32

If someone besides me owns this computer, I wish they would pay me for it.

Has the barber shop failed? You did not mention it. Watch those hairballs!!

dirty harry@3:32

Go wash up! AmVet was trying to call me a “Nazi”.(He’s not too original!) Throw it in the trash can along with your POOR try at symbolism. U flunked.

As to supporting a corrupt, incompetent administration, I have never supported or voted for the Clintons. Honest!!

Now….if you were my child, you would have to eat out. I don’t feed juvenile delinquents. My five achievers are thriving and well fed. Love ‘em!!

So long, harry. I must leave. Stay away from those other delinquents. You know….liberals!!

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

YEAH FAKE LAWYER, REAGAN WAS THE FIRST CANCER FACE, MCCLOWN IS THE SECOND. YOU PRO ISRAEL FANATICS ALWAYS A WEAK MINDED MAN IN THE WHITEHOUSE, THE EASIER TO CONTROL AND MANIPULATE.

By George Washington

May 20, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Me thinks Dusty is a TOTAL fake….everything she says and claims to be is a LIE.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Mr. Berlin,

Forgive me, but it’s academic anyway: the ballot measure as drafted is absurdly vague and overbroad, and will be tossed upon its first challenge. The Woodenham decision was immediately and nationally prominent because it constituted a landmark in nexus law, which is a matter larger than even the Georgia Constitution. This curve ball will receive similar national attention, for the worse.

If they haven’t already done so, the NEA soon will figure out that the Governor and Legislature are engaged in a multi-pronged effort to de-fund public schools. The developers may think they’re the only ones with money for an initiative campaign. If so, they’re mistaken.

By ghost rider

May 20, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

By jbmlaw

May 20, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

JBMLAW…I’m not even going to bother answering all the spin you threw out there….The bottom line is they were appeasers. And, how many of those do gooders went to Jail? A LOT!

Lying to congress…HUH?

By Dusty

May 20, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this

OH I missed George Washington’s bit about his children. I give you an HONEST report on mine.

Woohoo, George, my five children have already acquired seven degrees, one of which is a master’s in geochemistry from Georgia Tech. I’m not counting the near future one, a PhD in biochemistry at another university. Three of my four sons are over six feel tall with plenty of muscle. The fourth is just a little shorter which does not interfere with his work as a CPA.

I’m sure you will say it’s all a dream, but the diplomas are here. I’m also sure you are proud of your children just as I am proud of mine. Anyway, I am quite familiar with schools at all levels. My children never seem to tire of learning.

Now, I really have to leave. So long…

By JM

May 20, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Glenn,

You provide very good points. The GA Supreme Court deemed TADs unconstitutional in Woodham. In my view, it is extremely unfortunate that local government officials across the state failed to foresee (or chose to ignore the possibility of) this kind of ruling when they planned and implemented TADs in their communities.

(Frankly, it greatly surprises me that the issue of unconstitutionality did not arise long before Woodham (i.e., in the case of previous Georgia TADs, like Atlantic Station.)

Regardless, in light of the wide-ranging economic benefits that TADs have brought to cities and communities in states all across the country, I have to ask myself whether I would want to allow Georgia to reap the same kind of benefits. Without a doubt, my answer is a resounding yes.

But what about the notion of fairness? Is a city, in a sense, cheating its way to economic improvement if it establishies a TAD in a blighted area? I don’t think it is. Just as a state might use tax incentives to persuade large businesses to establish headquarters within its borders rather than within the borders of a neighboring state, so a city should be able to offer incentives for developers to develop a blighted area within its limits rather than develop an unbuilt tract of land located 60 miles away.

As Barry Berlin @ 2:33 explained above, local governments can provide this financial incentive through the TAD mechanism without increasing the tax burden on existing residents or decreasing tax revenues designated for schools.

Furthermore, if the recipients of the tax increment (i.e., the city and county governments and local school districts) are willing to forego portions of the increment for a limited period of time in order to stimulate positive redevelopment, (as they were in the Woodham case) then I truly see nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, if I believed in any way that the city and the school systems were being deprived of revenues, or reducing their revenues at the expense of taxpayers located outside the TAD then my view would change.

Back to the issue of constitutionality: Given that TADs are deemed constitutional in other states, I believe it is reasonable to provide Georgia voters the opportunity to decide whether their own constitution should be altered in such a way as to allow TADs.

The proven benefits of TADs in Atlanta and in other cities across the nation are too great to ignore. For illustration, see this article on Atlantic Station from the ATL Business Chronicle.

As I have stated before, if we need to alter Georgia’s constitution in order to continue seeing the same economic benefits that other states have seen, then so be it.

By Barry White

May 20, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this

Barack Obama: He’s a Rorshach for Your Love, Baby…O-oo-ooo Yeaaahh!

By Poppy

May 20, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

All y’all smell like chili pharts.

By Jefferson

May 20, 2008 5:43 PM | Link to this

The problem with your “logic” is that it will create more sprawl. If we do not heavily incentivize redevelopment, then developers will take the path of least resistence and keep building more and more further our in the suburbs. Redevelopment is good even if it is not in a “blighted area”. It is good for the public safety and welfare of all citizens of Georgia because it will take cars off the roads, create walkable mixed-use villages, and provide a better quality of life for the people in Georgia. Taxes will almost always increase in areas of redevelopment and schools will be the primary beneficiary. Your point is well taken about trust we place in our elected officials to use TADs responsibly, but we always need to monitor the people we elect into office. TADs are not bad, but the people who abuse TADs are bad. TADs are only one of a few good tools we have available to use to improve our sprawling environment, so let’s not give up on them. Vote YES for TADs and vote NO to the irresponsible elected officials who abuse our trust.

By joe

May 20, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

let’s all face facts - school money should go to schools. any other use is simply inappropriate.

moreover, given the performance of public school administrators, and the schools in general, one must conclude that sending a child to a public school in atlanta is in fact a form of child abuse.

regarding november, the correct vote is not “no,” it is “hell no!”

joe atlanta

By Barry White

May 20, 2008 6:00 PM | Link to this

JM,

Let me be clear. I oppose the ballot initiative because I consider it an abuse of TADs, a subversion of both the State and federal constitutions and an invitation to development mischief—-of which Georgia already has seen enough. I think it’s clear that the school systems already are spending school revenues without achieving a demonstrable educational purpose (other than custodianship), so I’m about the last person who’d be prudish about spending for other than educational purposes; that’s simply what school systems do.

But the Court in Woodenham didn’t rule TADs unconstitutional; rather, it ruled that using school finance instead to finance development efforts is a breach of the State Constitution’s “educational purpose” clause, which among other things requires a nexus between source of revenue and its use. That is, don’t tell me you’re taking my money for a milk run to the corner grocery, and then come back three hours later reeking of booze and cigarettes. I don’t want to hear that you went to the opera, either. High culture’s grand, and so is Atlantic Station, neither of them is milk.

And that’s where the U.S. Constitution comes into play, because the jurisprudence concerning an honest and open “nexus” in the use of tax increments has been ratcheting ever tighter on the TADs for the past five years or so, in a body of cases that seems destined for the U.S. Sup. Ct. I wouldn’t want Georgia to be the first state in the federal doghouse on this, and evidently the Georgia Supremes feel the same way.

Redevelopment zoning and financing has been steadily corrupted by developers since the late-1950s, and the abuses are hideous swaths of destruction through prime ag land, through meritorious architecture, through culture and morals and our political structures. For every Atlantic Station, a hundred outlet malls filled with design-build concrete tilt-ups with funny hats.

I’d really like to see folks throughout the Metro region getting together to talk about an omnibus package that can strengthen sound land use, while making the revenue end more transparent and forthright. I agree that TADs can continue to play a vital part. That’s why the Court left them alone. But they have to be kept from going to the highest bidder; they need stepped-up public input and public control.

Georgia grew up a long time ago. It’s time to clip the developers’ wings.

By Glenn

May 20, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

Oh yeah, baby (you too JM),

BARRY WHITE LIVES!

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