For those waiting for another transportaion referendum... (Atlanta: rent, movies)

[arjay57]

Here's a guy who claims losing the TSPLOST is going to hurt us in getting federal transportation funds. How does he know?

What’s Next for Transportation in Atlanta

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

You seem to be implying that the job creators are making huge profits but not hiring.

Why on earth would they do that?!

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by arjay57

You seem to be implying that the job creators are making huge profits but not hiring.

Why on earth would they do that?!

I'm not "implying" anything. I'm citing evidence to correct your notion of burdensome taxes and stifling regulation.

To answer your question, though: the real "job creators" are the ones we in business like to call "customers," and they aren't buying because a) they don't have a job b) their incomes are stagnant c) they're paying down debt d) what they liked to think of as their "net worth" turned into an underwater mortgage when the housing bubble popped.

I'll make a wager with you. Once consumers are able and willing to spend money again, American businesses will find something productive (and profitable) to do with the piles of cash they're sitting on.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

I'm not "implying" anything. I'm citing evidence to correct your notion of burdensome taxes and stifling regulation.

Well, I am constantly hearing on the radio and TV that the job creators are being taxed and regulated into oblivion because Obama is out to punish success.

How could they say that if it wasn't true?

[Cameron H]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Well, I am constantly hearing on the radio and TV that the job creators are being taxed and regulated into oblivion because Obama is out to punish success.

How could they say that if it wasn't true?

Oh, stop it.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

Oh, stop it.

What? What?

[alco89]

Originally Posted by gapowermike

Why in the world should we rehash this by shrinking the size of the Metro region? In case you didn't notice it failed in ALL of the Metro counties. Any combination of counties will result in another failure.

Trust is necessary and nonexistent where government is concerned. The government has proven untrustworthy at nearly all levels.

Originally Posted by gapowermike

It failed in Fulton County.

You two are totally missing the point. It failed (closely) for the same reason it failed in other counties: because of projects forcing people to say "this isn't going to help ME." Narrow the area down to counties or cities of like visions of transportation improvements, i.e. the city of Atlanta (maybe even all of Fulton) and Dekalb, then it would likely pass.

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by alco89

You two are totally missing the point. It failed (closely) for the same reason it failed in other counties: because of projects forcing people to say "this isn't going to help ME." Narrow the area down to counties or cities of like visions of transportation improvements, i.e. the city of Atlanta (maybe even all of Fulton) and Dekalb, then it would likely pass.

Exactly. Cobb has a penny SPLOST for transportation and we've gotten a ton done in just the 5 years that I've been living here. If counties want to partner for projects that cross county lines, great. What I think people do not want, is to pay the tax and get nothing substantial back that helps their daily experience or the congestion that really impacts them.

Barrett Pkwy being widened or Stilesboro Rd being widened has a direct and daily impact on my life and on the congestion that I experience, in a way none of the projects on the TSPLOST could have or would have done. Plus, the time horizon for completion is a year or two, not ten or twenty

[neil0311]

Originally Posted by Cameron H

My immediate team is distributed between Atlanta, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and Philly. No one is looking over anyone's shoulder, even when we're in the office.

Exactly. That type of adult work environment is foreign to many apparently. I haven't worked in the same location as my manager for almost 10 years, and my team is a virtual team that spans locations.

It's very obvious when people aren't doing their jobs, and the key is you have to get rid of the dead wood. As long as people know the rewards are steep for top performers and those who slack get dumped overboard, then you have no problems.

I guess it's tough for some to understand companies that reward individual success and personal performance. Those same people assume that everyone is looking for a way to slack off and find the loophole, rather than do their best and make as much money as they can in the process. It's a microcosm for the division in our society today.

[DelosEr]

Tell all that to the CEO who is fired and takes 100 million.

And while there are people who are virtual, the vast majority of people work in physical locales. Many people don't like virtual work btw and wouldn't want that arrangement.