Writer Defends Atlanta's Planning History and Blasts Backwards Georgia

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by masonbauknight

I agree that Atlanta is the exceptional city and leads the way to what in Georgia is "progressive"." And yes, Georgia's second-tier cities are lagging in specific ways compared to counterparts like Columbia and Charleston, which are larger, have more business dynamism, growth, and more successful in attracting new firms (foreign and domestic) -- all that free-market stuff, including getting a Whole Foods five years before Georgia's 2nd-tier cities do.

My point was that Athens and Savannah are progressive poles in Georgia, not just Atlanta by itself. And campus life is also a factor: Georgia's flagship campuses (UGA, Tech, private Emory) were and still more progressive and lefty-liberal places than any of the ones in S.C., where the campus life has always been far more conservative, more conventional and comformist, and late catching up in academics. Whether it's USC, Clemson, or College of Charleston, they are still today not as open and progressive as those three in Georgia. While North Carolina has its UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke, South Carolina has none of the above. It always had a more socially conservative campus life, and the state is more "neo-Confederate" in some ways than either Georgia or North Carolina. To me, that's part and parcel of comparatively "backward," I'm afraid. And South Carolina remains a more conservative state on the whole. Remember the little S.C. girl who found a fossil and wanted to make it the South Carolina state fossil? A S.C. fundamentalist group wanted to amend the proclamation with a creationist message. True, the amendment failed, but I sincerely doubt it ever would have come forward in Georgia at all in 2014. The powers that be in Georgia would have squelched it from the get-go. In S.C. or Alabama it would have had more than a fighting chance. The political culture and social attitudes are more progressive in Georgia.

No argument from me on the higher ed front, but I think you may be stretching it a bit as it regards overall politics. Let's not forget Rep. Broun who represents progressive Athens and his well-publicized comments about evolution as well as Gov. Perdue hosting a prayer service for rain in response to the severe drought in GA a few years back, as was mentioned earlier. And to SC's credit, it does have a female minority as governor and a Black U.S. senator (and while he was appointed, he will get almost certainly elected in November). Overall, GA isn't much less neo-Confederate than SC in its politics, if at all.

[Columbuskidd92]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

If that's the case, then why isn't Columbus the most diverse and progressive city in GA? Why aren't Norfolk and VA Beach the most progressive and diverse cities in VA? Why isn't Fayetteville the most progressive and diverse city in NC? Why isn't San Diego the most progressive and diverse city in CA?

Columbus is the most diverse city in Georgia and it's certainly progressive. But tell me something,out the top 5 cities in Georgia,Atlanta is the most segregated. Why is that?

[Mutiny77]

Originally Posted by Columbuskidd92

Columbus is the most diverse city in Georgia and it's certainly progressive. But tell me something,out the top 5 cities in Georgia,Atlanta is the most segregated. Why is that?

Columbus is the most diverse city in GA? Atlanta is the most segregated? The burden of proof is on you so let's see the stats to back up your claims. But I already know you'll avoid producing them so let the shuffling begin.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by aries4118

A writer (and city planner) defends Atlanta's planning history and blasts backwards Georgia. Take a look:


Writer Defends ATL's Planning History, Blasts Backwards GA - Letters To The Editor - Curbed Atlanta

To get back to the topic, I wish the writer had stopped with the county issue (too many, too small) and left it with that. This is THE issue regarding Atlanta's ills regarding planning on the regional level. No need to bring up the left/right political blame game.

[masonbauknight]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Let's not forget Rep. Broun who represents progressive Athens and his well-publicized comments about evolution as well as Gov. Perdue hosting a prayer service for rain in response to the severe drought in GA a few years back.

Broun was a dolt, but to be fair he hasn't spearheaded any movement to declare a biblical fossil. As for the Atlanta prayer service for rain: OK, OK -- you have a point. My relatives in Savannah and I laughed ourselves sick when they showed that on the nightly news. The reporter asked a woman attending the service what she thought of Perdue's vociferous critics, and she drawled, "It don't matter!" We howled.

[JoeTarheel]

Originally Posted by Mutiny77

Columbus is the most diverse city in GA? Atlanta is the most segregated? The burden of proof is on you so let's see the stats to back up your claims. But I already know you'll avoid producing them so let the shuffling begin.

Columbus is actually pretty diverse due to Fort Benning, but it isn't as diverse as Atlanta.

Atlanta: 55% white, 32% black, 10% Hispanic, 6% Asian, etc...14% of Atlanta is foreign-born
Columbus: 55% white, 40% black, 4% Hispanic, 1% Asian, etc.

[toll_booth]

Originally Posted by residinghere2007

Just wanted to say, found it interesting that no one said anything about Caleb Longstreet's diatribe on black people holding MARTA back.

It was both racist and funny.

Post #53.

[GeorgiaLakeSearch]

Originally Posted by AnsleyPark

Exactly. I grew up in rural south Georgia and still have family there. Just because they have no frigging street car and lack density doesn't mean they are hillbillies and uneducated. Some of the most sophisticated folks I know live in rural areas. For folks to poke fun at them with such a broad cloth is simply unintellectual and ignorant.

I wonder if they know where their food comes from? Not everything can be grown in an urban organic garden.

[Caleb Longstreet]

Originally Posted by toll_booth

Post #53.

"Laugh it up funny boy. It wasn't racist. It's true. And it's coming from people INSIDE MARTA, some of which, happen to be black. Surprise surprise surprise....