Archive for Politics

My Trashy City

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[tag]I live in Atlanta – and am tired of living in a city that looks and feels like crap.  I have never before lived in a place where there is so much litter.[/tag]  In fact, the litter drives me practically insane.  Stuff is thrown out of cars on exits, there is litter on my walks with my dogs, there is trash quite frankly EVERYWHERE.  And I am tired of it.  But I am not sure what to do.  I pick up litter all the time on my walks.

I also think that trash leads to broken windows and then to crime.  You know, the “broken window theory.”   We are seeing more trash, more graffiti, and more crime.  No if, ands, or buts.  It is here and we all must do something.  Certainly, our leaders are doing nothing about the trash.  They have cut funds from the state level to the city level.    citytrash.jpg
This photo was taken directly across the street from our illustrious City Hall East – I mean, seriously?  No one picks up trash anymore, no one cuts grass along our highways, no one thinks this smaller problem can lead to much much bigger problems.  But it does and it is.  I find that some of the highest levels of crime are happening in the trashiest parts of our city.  My blogging friend, Ben, of [tag]Terminal Station[/tag], has created a pretty amazing post about the rise of crime in our city.  Check it out.

Anyway, pick up trash when you can.  Get your neighborhood organizations to start “trash days.”  Let’s try to do the little things to help our City along.  God knows, it needs it – or the whole city will end up looking like Memorial Drive.

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I am Just Ranting…

I am not sure what to say about the fact that now [tag]law abiding gun carriers can bring a gun into restaurants that serve alcohol and public parks in Georgia[/tag].  I must say, I think this is a bad idea and can’t believe many good outcomes can from this new law.  First, those with a concealed weapons permit aren’t supposed to drink in a restaurant while carrying the loaded weapon.  I have no idea how many waiters and waitresses are going to ask each and every individual who comes in to a bar/restaurant if he or she is carrying a weapon.  I could be wrong, but I can’t imagine that becoming a standard question:  “Can I see your I.D., oh and do you have a loaded weapon in your pocket?”

I know guns are not supposed to be the problem- the people who illegally (or legally) carry guns and do “bad” things with them are supposed to be the problem.  But I disagree.  We are such a violent country and guns are so easy to get a hold of.   People with guns feel powerful- as they should- they could blow someone’s head off.  Ugh- just really depresses me and makes me a bit fearful now to go to a bar where I know there may indeed be a person sitting beside me with a loaded weapon…like the guy in this picture. 

Congratulations Georgia Lawmakers!

Something has actually been passed and signed into law during this legislative year. I know it is hard to believe and you will be surprised to know it is a major law- one that will affect health care, poverty, and education…Yes, I am talking about the law just passed to [tag]ban retailers from selling “pot candy!”[/tag] How advantageous this will be for our mighty State – horray! Congratulations to the Legislative Assembly for making Georgia a better place to live.

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