What Georgia thinks about:
Winning Amazon - how far should the state go?
Introducing the Politically Georgia panel: We invited Georgians to weigh in on big questions facing the state. It’s not a scientific sample, but we did our best to get a cross section of folks – they come from across the state and across the political spectrum. Our group of about 50 includes teachers, tech industry workers, retirees, stay-at-home moms and one farmer. Each week we will send a question to the group and compile the responses here. If you have a question you want the group to answer or want to add your voice, drop us a note at Rachel.Taylor@ajc.com
For our first question we asked the panel:
Georgia is one of many states competing to win Amazon’s second headquarters, with its promise of a $5 billion investment and 50,000 high-paying jobs. Should the state give big tax breaks –foregoing property or income taxes for years, as well as other incentives, to lure companies to Georgia? How far should it go to win their business?
Here is what they said:

Candice Crigler
"Offering corporate tax abatements to lure highly profitable companies, like ..."
Candice Crigler

• Candice Crigler, a student studying global affairs who lives in Dunwoody

James Holt
"The best incentive for business to move into an area ..."
James Holt

• James Holt, a warehouse worker who lives in Norcross

Nicholas White
"In general I am of the opinion that corporations, and ..."
Nicholas White

• Nicholas White, works in the pharmaceutical industry and lives in Moultrie

Patricia Fritz
"Hart County, Georgia ( and many other Georgia counties), offer ..."
Patricia Fritz

• Patricia Fritz, retired and lives in Hartwell

Michelle Zupan
"In today's business culture, it is expected that cities and ..."
Michelle Zupan

• Michelle Zupan, works for a non-profit and lives in Augusta

Ted Ward
"The prospect of Amazon's HQ2 is a bit of a ..."
Ted Ward

• Ted Ward, an education coordinator who lives in Decatur

Lou Davis
"I have mixed feelings about offering special incentives to entice ..."
Lou Davis

• Lou Davis, works in international business and is a part-time instructor at Lanier Technical College, teaching GED to inmates at both the Dawson and Lumpkin county jails

Marcus Copeland
"My immediate thoughts when I hear this go to Georgia's ..."
Marcus Copeland

• Marcus Copeland, works in banking and lives in McDonough

Mike Garey
"I don’t think Georgia should give any breaks to big ..."
Mike Garey

• Mike Garey, works in technology and lives in Marietta

James Radford
"I have no problem with large tax incentives to major ..."
James Radford

• James Radford, civil rights lawyer who lives in Decatur

Michael Simpson
"I would hope the Georgia wins the competition to have ..."
Michael Simpson

• Michael Simpson, former Navy with bachelor's degree in fine arts and lives in Augusta

LouAnna Lear
"I think giving incentives to businesses to move to our ..."
LouAnna Lear

• LouAnna Lear, a nanny and mother of three who lives in Roswell

Tommy Burkhalter
"I 100 percent support Georgia pursuing tax incentives to lure ..."
Tommy Burkhalter

• Tommy Burkhalter, a web designer who lives in Senoia

Luanne West
"I say, yes, Georgia should be competitive in wooing these ..."
Luanne West

• Luanne West, a retired special education teacher who lives in Canton

Richard Kraft
"I think if Amazon is willing to guarantee 50,000 jobs, ..."
Richard Kraft

• Richard Kraft, retired from the real estate industry and lives in Peachtree Corners

Jay Brower
"Whenever a tax abatement is proposed for a developer or ..."
Jay Brower

• Jay Brower, industrial engineer who lives in Atlanta

Greg Bieger
"As Atlanta and Cobb compete to win Amazon's business, there ..."
Greg Bieger

• Greg Bieger, works in the tech industry and lives in Marietta

Jacqueline Elsner
"I researched (sources published 2015, 2016 & 2017) the effects ..."
Jacqueline Elsner

• Jacqueline Elsner, retired librarian and co-chair of a Georgia congressional District 10 Indivisible group: Indivisible Georgia District 10 who lives in Athens

Karen Lupton
"I question the true economic value of increasing corporate benefits ..."
Karen Lupton

• Karen Lupton, works at A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab and lives in Chamblee

Mary Patrick
"Companies that profit from big tax breaks seem to be ..."
Mary Patrick

• Mary Patrick, a certified public accountant who lives in Jasper County

Joshua Morris
"I don't like the idea of bribing any corporation with ..."
Joshua Morris

• Joshua Morris, HVAC/plumbing design engineer for a small firm in Gwinnett who lives in Gainesville