5 best and 5 worst places to live in GA? (Atlanta, Columbus: high income, cost of)

[resolute]

Originally Posted by neil0311

Elitist?

So let me get this one...you have to be trained and pass tests to be licensed to drive a car, fly an airplane, cut hair, be a plumber, and a whole host of other mostly less dangerous things, but it's elitist to suggest that people who carry deadly weapons should be trained and licensed to do so?

"Deadly Weapon"

OK - I'll buy your argument -

So do you have any clue on how to institute a "training and licensing" program for everyone who chooses to carry a baseball bat in their car or out in public? Splendid idea! Oh yeah, and same thing for those monkey wrenches plumbers carry, and the scissors haircutters use.. we need better licensing, training and registration around THOSE deadly weapons too, because they can kill as effectively (or better) than a gun in many cases. Save the people from themselves by telling them where, how and when to do something - factors into elitism wouldn't you say?

[capucine]

I am considering a move to Macon Georgia in the near future, however, I am concerned about the school systems and the crime rate. Where are the best school systems and the safest areas.

Capucine

[Caleb Longstreet]

Originally Posted by resolute

"Deadly Weapon"

OK - I'll buy your argument -

So do you have any clue on how to institute a "training and licensing" program for everyone who chooses to carry a baseball bat in their car or out in public? Splendid idea! Oh yeah, and same thing for those monkey wrenches plumbers carry, and the scissors haircutters use.. we need better licensing, training and registration around THOSE deadly weapons too, because they can kill as effectively (or better) than a gun in many cases. Save the people from themselves by telling them where, how and when to do something - factors into elitism wouldn't you say?

It appears both are making points under certain circumstances. I believe that no one should be restricted to owning a firearm but considering the massive amount of responsibility, it might be prudent to make sure they know how to use it? It's not unreasonable and it shouldn't let the amount/volume of weapons you purchase be influenced provided you can show a modicum of operational expertise.

I know this is going to tick off every yahoo in a port-o-let right now but, it's appropriate. It's reasonable. It doesn't preclude you from buying them but the last thing I want is some yak pulling one out in a convenience store forgetting to drop the safety and letting "bingo and zippy" take target practice on us all while "dirty Harry/Hariette" remember the manual in real-time....

Just because laws were passed way back when doesn't mean they don't need tweaking once in awhile. Nostalgia can carry us all only so far. That's why we have ammendments. Adjust for the times.

One could make the same argument for voting? It's not unreasonable to make sure one has a basic understanding of the issues at large and not just because someone said they could way back when?

If you look at things a bit more rationally and take the yahoo, knee-jerk reaction out of things some changes might be a good thing. As it relates to firearms. You can acheive a sensible balance.

As it relates to voting, I'll do my part. I make sure I go down to the polls this year and cancel out some dem's vote if for no other reason than to prove it's that simple.

What a country. But look, it could be worse. We could all be living in Broward, Dade, or West Palm Beach Counties.....whew......

[suem5150]

5 Worst - Bad overcrowded schools with inferior teachers and trailers, traffic, cookie cutter houses, urban sprawl, strip malls and malls everywhere, lack of real towns, over development, corrupt government officials that are in cahoots with corrupt developers, lack of mass transportation, steamy hot summers, ice storms in winter, bible belt biogtry, too many northerns moving down there in droves....oh wait that's move that 5 isn't it?

good - houses are cheap but as the saying goes you get what you pay for! Do yourself a favor and DO NOT MOVE TO GO. I did and thank god I left that hideous place. I've been to CT - its charming - look around Clinton and Madison areas - you'll pay slightly above what a house goes for in GA but its well worth the cost - public education there tops any private education in GA.

[Bulldawgfan]

There are no bad places to live in Georgia. To suggest otherwise would be a negative representation of what this board is all about.

[georgialaw]

Originally Posted by Bulldawgfan

There are no bad places to live in Georgia. To suggest otherwise would be a negative representation of what this board is all about.

Depends on your definition of bad.

[JLA]

Originally Posted by georgialaw

depends on your definition of bad.

ok!

[2008nreview]

I am pretty much not a fan of the South at all. But if you, say, have a gun to your head, then move to Atlanta if you want to have any life at all. Crime, yes? But crime is everywhere in Georgia. At least in Atlanta I'm more concerned about a quick mugging on the street as opposed to the creepy, sketch, cracked-out hicks in my window in the middle of the night in Macon. I'll take my crime with a dash of class, thanks.

I promise you that there is nothing more frightening than driving on a stretch of road in the middle of the night, with nothing but trees on either side, no cell-phone service, and random people wondering down the street. There may be a road if you were to have an emergency. But it will house nothing but single-wides, unlit, with broken-down cars filling the "yard" and snarling dogs threatening to tear a limb off. Exaggerating? Ha. I've experienced it. ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR OIL.

Basically, Central GA (Macon, Milledgeville, Eatonton, Gray, Warner Robins) may turn into the fiery pit that swallows us whole one day. There is no advancement in technology, education, liberation, or general moral. I've seen more crack houses, actual drug deals and underage drinking in 5 years here than in my 10 years in Atlanta.
There was a shooting at the mall a few months ago. A double homicide. Nice, right?

If you have to be in GA, or just want to for some reason, move to Atlanta or Metro Atlanta. Metro is a little more 7th Heaven-ish, if you are interested. I promise you, it is 1,000 times less scary and intimidating, and also 1,000 times more exciting than Central GA.

Go by crime reports, sure. But remember the law of numbers. And remember, when making that final decision, if you were to be an unfortunate victim of crime, would you rather . . .
a. be in a city where in any given moment 100s of people can possibly come to your aid
or b. be in a town where ANY store you may need to go to will maybe have one other person in the store with you at any given time


Small town America breeds crazies.


Much Love,

Milledgeville, GA

[Lola Getz]

OK, I'll admit I'm prejudiced because I was born in Atlanta and raised in both Decatur and Atlanta and I think they're both fine places. Atlanta if you want a bit of excitement, and there are some wonderful historic areas (like Little Five Points and Virginia-Highlands, for example) with houses that aren't all cookie cutter suburbs. Same for Decatur. Good nightlife, good restaurants, good shopping. Like I said, I'm prejudiced.

I think before you make the decision of where you want to live in Georgia, it's important to look at where you stand in terms of politics and religion. That to me is probably more important than whether you prefer a rural/small town setting to a large city. If you're a liberal or not a Christian, you're not going to like small town Georgia, whatever else it might have going for it. If you're an anti-gay conservative, you'd hate much of Atlanta (like Midtown, VA-Highlands, Morningside, Decatur and Little Five Points) and Savannah. Likewise if you have any racist tendencies (and note that when I say "you", I'm speaking generally, and not directing this at you specifically).

As far as crime goes, I lived in the Atlanta area all my life and never personally was a victim, nor was anyone else I knew in the city. However, my father, who lives just outside a tiny, tiny town in Oglethorpe County in NE Georgia, has been burglarized repeatedly. Stands to reason that's going to happen when your nearest neighbour isn't even within walking distance. There's also an ongoing problem with drunk drivers (because who's around to arrest them late at night) and crystal meth (because there's nothing else for people to do with their time when the sidewalks roll up at 8 p.m.). I'm not saying all small towns are like this, but it's naive and just plain wrong to think that all the crime in Georgia is in the urban areas.

My extended family has deep roots in the Athens area (I'm descended from General Elijah Clarke, who Clarke County was named after and my great-great-great-grandfather was the first doctor in Winterville, GA, which is very near to Athens in Clarke Co.) and like a lot of other posters here, I recommend it as a place to live. It's large enough to have plenty to do, but still retains a small town ambiance. It doesn't really matter which side of the political divide you're on there either, because you'll find kindred spirits whichever way you vote. It's a diverse enough area that you will find your religious needs met, or you can avoid religion altogether if you so choose. There's a thriving academic community around the university and the local elementary and high school systems are good. As far as housing goes, you can find everything from big ol' antebellum-type places to modern suburban housing, or you can buy property at a reasonable price and have your own home built the way you want it. Athens also has a fantastic music scene, if that appeals to you. And it will all cost less than many, many other parts of the USA. I really do think Athens has something to offer just about everybody.

The one big thing I haven't seen mentioned much in this thread that non-natives need to consider before moving to Georgia - wherever in the state you're thinking of - is the heat and humidity. It's hot. It's humid. This is all over the state, even in the northern part where they boast of having a change of seasons. What this means in reality in north Georgia is that the leaves change color in the autumn, but make no mistake about it, there's not one single place in Georgia where it doesn't get extremely hot in the summer - and summer in Georgia means from about March-September, at the very least, with the kind of humidity that makes clothing stick to your body and hairstyles wilt. When I was a kid growing up at a time when most people didn't have air conditioning, you were just used to it - now it seems like everybody stays indoors in the AC all the time and I think communities as a whole have suffered for it because people don't get outdoors and interact as neighbors like they used to. For people not used to the climate, it really can feel hot as hell.

[Liz317]

I have lived in Florida for five years searching for a county near Macon so I can be closer to my two grandchildren. Two years now I have driven to various counties and have not been overly impressed with the home value for the dollar compared to what I have....taxes are a big concern. We wish to be able to pay the taxes and stay in the home. We now have 5 acres and are in a very private area - 40 mintues drive to Cedar Key - one hour to Gainesville. I have not been to Fitzgerald but driven through Tifton many times on I-75, of course. What impresses you about Fitzgerald? I have never felt comfortable in the counties around Macon. Driving to the mall are some pretty undesirable looking neighborhoods. We have always lived in very rural farming areas but still have close access to a great library and good grocery shopping along with lots of farmers selling produce. Agricultural jobs would be a plus.