Form a new state (Atlanta, Washington: how much, schools, living)

[Aubie16]

Your dream is dumb.

[Atlwarrior]

Actually the State of Georgia inaction will continue to drive growth inside the perimeter and the power shift will occur organically from the inside out with Midtown Atlanta and Buckhead leading the way. Money will outlast politics all day. The city of Atlanta and Fulton should focus on government efficiency by eliminating dead jobs, continuing improvement of Hartsfield, education, fixing potholes, light timing. Just wait when foreign investment really start pouring into new projects in Midtown and Downtown. We have Qatar and Turkish Airlines starting flights here and that will bring in foreign money who will want to invest in Atlanta.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by Aubie16

Your dream is dumb.

"A man without a dream is dumb"

You probably thinks someone who is getting beaten by their spouse is dumb for wanting to leave

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by wasel

It looks like there are more "blue" counties outside metro Atlanta. You wanna leave those behind?

Georgia Election Results 2014: Senate Map by County, Live Midterm Voting Updates - POLITICO

Georgia Election Results 2012 - Map, County Results, Live Updates - POLITICO.com

Im just worried about Atlanta. Its just when the Falcons season is over each year and everyone says "wait until next year" and the same things happen again and again the following seasons. Smh

[atltechdude]

Regardless of the merits or not, it's completely unworkable and would be a waste of time to even try.

[arjay57]

The ATL has an excellent and mutually supportive relationship with state government.

We can't get in a snit just because a particular MARTA tax didn't pass. We simply go back to the drawing board and come up with a better approach that puts at least part of the burden of funding mass transit on the businesses that profit from it.

Some legislators are already on board with that. Based on their vocal support for public transit, one would assume business leaders are, too. It's an approach that is just and fair.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by fieldm

"A man without a dream is dumb"

You probably thinks someone who is getting beaten by their spouse is dumb for wanting to leave

Leaving an abusing spouse is a workable plan that can easily succeed. Forming a new state out of Atlanta is not.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by arjay57

The ATL has an excellent and mutually supportive relationship with state government.

We can't get in a snit just because a particular MARTA tax didn't pass. We simply go back to the drawing board and come up with a better approach that puts at least part of the burden of funding mass transit on the businesses that profit from it.

Some legislators are already on board with that. Based on their vocal support for public transit, one would assume business leaders are, too. It's an approach that is just and fair.

Yes and with the demographics of Georgia changing as they are, the state government is going to get more progressive and supportive of urban development in the future, not less.

[primaltech]

As much as many of us (on both sides of state politics) might like such a split, it could never happen, unless the Dems in DC held a huge supermajority in both the house and senate, along with the white house. Because the new state would be a blue state (with 2 senators) and the Republicans would never allow that.

So, we're stuck with each other. Eventually the majority/power balance will start to tilt the other way in this state, and we'll end up first where NC is now, then where VA is. A sort of a purple state with 2 strong parties battling. But no one really knows when it will happen.

[bryantm3]

I get your frustration, but there is no possibility this is going to happen. In the next ten years, demographics of the growing metro will eventually cause the left-leaning metro to have majority control over state politics. I think you're right, though, that Georgia has failed Atlanta and that state boundaries are irrelevant to today's development patterns in the US. It would be a really great thing if the cities in our region like Birmingham, Chattanooga, Greenville, Charlotte and Macon could create some kind of interstate authority that could raise money for transit projects and work as a regional authority to resolve issues between states and municipalities, and to help the region work for each other rather than against each other.