Atlanta Forward readers responded to recent columns on leadership during the winter storms and the case for a commuter rail network in metro Atlanta. Here are some select comments, edited for space and clarity:
Farouk: I'll keep it brief with two observations: When the National Weather Service and the Weather Channel et al issue a winter storm warning, take it seriously, stay home and keep your kids at home. If you venture out in the foolish belief that by some miracle you'll be spared, then you deserve whatever you get. Gov. Deal demonstrated that he is incapable of governing under fire. I have almost always voted for Republicans, but I would never vote for him again.
Chip: Well, here we go again … a liberal institution, the AJC, exploiting an unfortunate event of life (yes, people, bad weather just happens, so grow up and deal with it). Why? To sell the insulting idea that we all need Bigger and Bigger Government to "take care of" us. Why? Note the incessant comments blasting individual counties and the new cities in the metro area. The very idea of all us hicks, hayseeds, bitter clingers, and other politically incorrect non-liberals controlling our lives and communities drives urban liberals crazy. Michelle Obama, speaking in San Francisco, urged liberal supporters to campaign for the administration's goals by leaving "this bastion" (of civilization, San Francisco) and going out "into the wilderness" (the rest of America, usually described with a sneer as "flyover country"). She spoke volumes about Big Liberalism's total, utter contempt for normal America. And now, we see the same in this AJC editorial … utter contempt and hatred for any and all who dare live outside the "bastion" of Atlanta.
Matt P: I like how, "We need effective leaders and emergency management plans," in the eyes of the far right is read as some kind of urban vs. rural Michelle Obama San Fransisco plot. What are you talking about — power and money? As far as I know, an effective response would not have taken any more power, or cost any more money, than the response we got. Have you considered decaf?
Gerald: The anti-rail people are amazing. The reality is that highways cost money, too. (As Field Searcy wrote on Feb. 11) "To satisfy a cost-versus-benefit analysis and provide the density necessary to justify these kinds of investments would require a fundamental reorientation of residential housing and zoning encouraging or coercing citizens to move closer to mass transit arteries. What would happen to existing residential property values to accomplish this goal?"
The same is true with highways. Highway construction always drives development, which renders any traffic congestion benefits associated with highways moot within a few years of their construction — and in a few more years, the traffic is actually worse. Meanwhile, the areas that did not get shiny new highways see development, businesses, upper-middle-class residents, etc., leave that area, and blight takes its place. It happens every time.
You folks who want “independence over interdependence” should start by keeping your residents in your own jurisdictions.
