About Us
Mission Statement
Rules of Conduct
 
Name:
Pswd:
Remember Me
Register
 

As Georgia goes, run the other way.
Author: Raine    Date: 03/30/2009 12:44:55

The Georgia State legislature is wrapping up its spring session, and once again, showed its true agenda. It's not the people of this state, although they would have people believe it to be quite the other way around. There are a fair amount of people in this state that are Democrats, and there are even a few moderate Republicans, but, sadly it seems that mostly, it is a state of people that go to the voting booth and vote against their own best interests. It is not my intention to cast a broad brush of all the people here, nor is it my intention to be a typical "Damn Yankee", but this needs to be said. The politicians in this state are not looking out for the people they are supposed to represent.

Take Senate Bill 31, for example. Passing quickly thru the House and Senate, it raises utility rates for all residents, and excludes big business. This bill was not passed to cover the rising costs of energy, but rather to fund 2 yet to be built nuclear power plants , expected to come online in 2016. Big business won't be paying for it, we will.

Another bill, Senate Bill 130, allows the return of PayDay lending in Georgia. Long known as a predatory practice, it was banned here years ago. Well it is back -- and the fees and penalties on these types of loans often end up more than 100% of the actual loan itself. The payday Lending Lobby is strong here in Georgia -- very strong.

In light of the current housing crisis, one would think that the state would be moving to fix the laws regarding foreclosure here, right? Wrong. Nothing has been done to amend the foreclosure laws here in the state, and it is one of the fastest in the country. A family can literally be on the street in a month and have their home sold on the courthouse steps in 37 days. Georgia is expecting to see over 10,000 homes foreclosed on in April alone. This means that April will see 10,000 more houses empty, leaving local municipalities to make sure areas with empty homes don't become crime zones. It would have made sense to change those laws to help more people stay in their homes especially during this crisis. The state could have taken steps to prevent this, but chose instead to placate business.

The sad part about both of these situations is that it leaves a greater burden on local governments. It makes for a greater strain and it helps no one... no one except the business that lobbied for these (and many other) laws and the representatives that reap the sweet benefits of pushing the legislation thru.

I find it ironic that people who vote Republican here are the same people who believe that if you work hard enough you can achieve anything, and believe that government should stay out of their lives when government here in Georgia is doing the exact opposite. They are passing laws -- or not passing laws as is the case with foreclosure -- that are making it harder for everyday people already teetering on the edge to succeed and get by.

It is all so very like the GOP. Acting and saying they are fighting for the little person and doing quite the opposite when asked to pass a vote. Georgia is the only state in the union that actually gained Republican voters in the last election, and sadly for all of us, they are reaping what they sow. You can't even blame this on the Dems; there are so few of them in the state house.

I hope that as Georgia goes, the rest of the nation goes the other way. I don't want the state to fail, I want it to start working for its people, instead of working against them. Is that too much to ask from your representatives? Maybe so. No state is perfect, but as long as I live here, this is my state and my home. and if that makes me a Damn Yankee, so be it.

:peace: and

Raine


 

74 comments (Latest Comment: 03/31/2009 02:51:01 by livingonli)
   Perma Link

Share This!

Furl it!
Spurl
NewsVine
Reddit
Technorati

Add a Comment

Please login to add a comment...


Comments:

Order comments Newest to Oldest  Refresh Comments

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 12:57:26
Comment by Scoopster on 03/30/2009 13:03:29
Morning all! :bana... no, no I don't feel like that one today. More like



End of the month time, which means tons of boring work and rushing to get clients ads renewed. Also end of the quarter financially, and this quarter has really sucked. Business is down big time, though not as bad as other companies in the tourism or interweb industries.



And then I look at Facebook this morning and a couple of my old hacker buddies are talking about a rise in the tax on tobacco products, including a 40 cent hike on hand-rolled cigars. One of them stupidly blames Obama for raising taxes.. when he had nothing to do with it being included in the SCHIP bill!

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 13:10:43
Ah, Raine. You're already a damn yankee. Scoop, too.



http://aclu.brooklynsba.org/auction/yankees%20logo.jpg






Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 13:14:22
GOOD NEWS!!! Thanks to the good activists of Georgia, The stem cell bill will not be making it out of the House!

Comment by BobR on 03/30/2009 13:16:47
One other disgusting thing about GA politics. Every year, the lobbyists host a barbecue for all the new legislators so they can get to know each other. Nobody seems to think there's anything wrong with this. :o

Comment by Scoopster on 03/30/2009 13:20:40
Oh yer gonna start that again Tri, and I haven't even made up my mind if I'm gonna root for 'em this year yet.

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 13:21:24


Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 13:24:16
:spit: must be baseball season!

Comment by BobR on 03/30/2009 13:25:43
I'll pretend to root for the Braves along with VJ...

Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/30/2009 13:43:56
Quote by BobR:

One other disgusting thing about GA politics. Every year, the lobbyists host a barbecue for all the new legislators so they can get to know each other. Nobody seems to think there's anything wrong with this. :o




Good morning, bloggers!! Excellent post, Raine!



BobR, the barbecue is a sign of an even larger problem -- lobbyists and legislators seeing themselves as allies. Too often, it seems that the loudest voice with the most dollars win over our legislators. I guess we have to add ribs into that mix.



Comment by starling310 on 03/30/2009 13:48:09
Damn Yankees. . . and their new fangled stadium. . . and their pretty boy shortst---

huh? Oh.... Never mind.



Hey y'all!

I have been cast as "Bitsy" in Sordid Lives! Hilarious show. . . Bitsy is a small part, but she does a lot of singing. Oof. It's a challenge but I'm up for it. I am even going to push myself to learn the songs on the guitar. Wish me luck!



Raine since you're paying for the power plants, you will be monetarily rewarded when they make profits, right?

Comment by BobR on 03/30/2009 13:52:21
Quote by starling310:

Damn Yankees. . . and their new fangled stadium. . . and their pretty boy shortst---

huh? Oh.... Never mind.



Hey y'all!

I have been cast as "Bitsy" in Sordid Lives! Hilarious show. . . Bitsy is a small part, but she does a lot of singing. Oof. It's a challenge but I'm up for it. I am even going to push myself to learn the songs on the guitar. Wish me luck!



Raine since you're paying for the power plants, you will be monetarily rewarded when they make profits, right?


congrats! :clap:



Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 14:00:03
Shut up Michelle Bachman!!!

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 14:01:48
Quote by starling310:

Damn Yankees. . . and their new fangled stadium. . . and their pretty boy shortst---

huh? Oh.... Never mind.



Hey y'all!

I have been cast as "Bitsy" in Sordid Lives! Hilarious show. . . Bitsy is a small part, but she does a lot of singing. Oof. It's a challenge but I'm up for it. I am even going to push myself to learn the songs on the guitar. Wish me luck!



Raine since you're paying for the power plants, you will be monetarily rewarded when they make profits, right?
good for you



Why YES I am MORE than sure I will see the dividends... not.







Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 14:03:21
Quote by Will in Phoenix:

Good morning, bloggers!! Excellent post, Raine!



BobR, the barbecue is a sign of an even larger problem -- lobbyists and legislators seeing themselves as allies. Too often, it seems that the loudest voice with the most dollars win over our legislators. I guess we have to add ribs into that mix.

That is excatly the problem... these legislators are afraid of passing laws that will actually help people becuas eof the stranglehold business has on them.







Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 14:08:58
Morning :hug:

Comment by velveeta jones on 03/30/2009 14:18:12
Morning all!



Did someone mention baseball!



:drool:



Oh, congrats Star! WoHOOO.

Comment by m-hadley on 03/30/2009 14:20:58
Yay Raine,

Although I feel for ya there in Georgia, there ain't nothing like a bunch of redneck republican Okie lawmakers to misrepresent the people of a state - although in some cases, unfortunately, I believe that these right-wing nutjobs DO represent the ignoramuses of Okie-ville just right. Sally Kern is a case in point. BTB, it's good to be back :P

Cheers,

mfaye :hug:

Comment by m-hadley on 03/30/2009 14:23:54
Congrats Roomie :D

You are and have always been a in my book (now, perhaps that rest of the world will realize it). Happee Mondee everybodee :hug:

Cheers,

mfaye



:peace:

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 14:25:26
Welcome back Ms. Faye! :hug:

Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 14:27:26
:clap: break a leg Star! :D

Comment by velveeta jones on 03/30/2009 14:29:09
Good to have you back Faye.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/30/2009 14:37:54
:perk: Baseball? Go Orioles! An enterprise in futility! :rofl:

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 14:42:51
Quiet day.....for me, I mean. :looks idly at silent cellphone:





Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/30/2009 14:46:30
Quote by TriSec:

Quiet day.....for me, I mean. :looks idly at silent cellphone:









My day looks like it will be pretty quiet as well. Normally, if I do have to work as a sub, I get a call by now. So, I guess after Steph it will be housework and sending out some resumes. (Hopefully, I will sub a few days this week.)

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 14:49:33
Well, with young Javi's indoctrination first communion coming up, we've got a handy little "First Holy Communion Catalog" from the church...



I was idly leafing through it and ran across the list of patron saints.



St. George is the patron saint of Boy Scouts.



Joan of Arc is the patron sant of both soldiers and virgins. (historically, these two are mutually exclusive, I might add.)



St. Barbara is a curious combination, saint for Builders, Sudden Death, and Architects. (I'm also unclear on this concept...do I pray to this saint if I want someone to die suddenly?)



Ste Peter, too...Foot Trouble, Butchers, and Ship Builders. (what, I have foot trouble so I pray for the butcher to cut it off?)



Poor Saint Dennis is the patron saint of headaches. Bet he's not too popular among the angels.



Oh, and do patron saints have a patron saint?





Anyway, I digress.







Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 14:53:13


Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 14:54:13
Oh goodie -- a crazy ObamaBirther!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/30/2009 14:54:52
If this caller is the example of the best that the GOP has to offer among their members, then perhaps that party will soon be joining the Whigs and the dodo in oblivion.

Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 14:55:14
Why is there a patron saint of Headaches? Shouldn't there be a patron saint of asprin instead?

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:00:14
*sigh* I am so tired of these people, I truly am.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/30/2009 15:05:42
Quote by Raine:

*sigh* I am so tired of these people, I truly am.




I agree, but it is also a sign of another problem.



When I moved to Phoenix, I knew that there were only a few places that I could hope to pick up progressive talk besides my native Chicago. I tried to find the St. Louis station, but could not find it. It was not till I approached Albuquerque, New Mexico that I heard progressive talk - starting with Momma and the Mooks, followed by Ed Schultz. Then I had to wait till I got in range of 1480 KPHX.



So, when the AM airwaves are dominated by a few hosts with similar talking points, callers who believe the party line are not too surprising.



Comment by starling310 on 03/30/2009 15:15:31
Quote by wickedpam:

Why is there a patron saint of Headaches? Shouldn't there be a patron saint of asprin instead?




a patron saint of always having what you need in the medicine cabinet mini bar?



Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:16:31
Comment by Will in Chicago on 03/30/2009 15:22:22
My money is on Howard the Duck!!!



http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/howardtheduck9.jpg






Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 15:23:14
Quote by starling310:

Quote by wickedpam:

Why is there a patron saint of Headaches? Shouldn't there be a patron saint of asprin instead?




a patron saint of always having what you need in the medicine cabinet mini bar?







:lol:



a patron saint of clearing the road when your in a hurry

Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 15:24:01
Liberal Confession: Kung Fu Fighting is on my iPod

Comment by livingonli on 03/30/2009 15:25:20
Good morning everyone.



At least I am off today.

Comment by Mondobubba on 03/30/2009 15:26:02
Quote by TriSec:

Well, with young Javi's indoctrination first communion coming up, we've got a handy little "First Holy Communion Catalog" from the church...



I was idly leafing through it and ran across the list of patron saints.



St. George is the patron saint of Boy Scouts.



Joan of Arc is the patron sant of both soldiers and virgins. (historically, these two are mutually exclusive, I might add.)



St. Barbara is a curious combination, saint for Builders, Sudden Death, and Architects. (I'm also unclear on this concept...do I pray to this saint if I want someone to die suddenly?)



Ste Peter, too...Foot Trouble, Butchers, and Ship Builders. (what, I have foot trouble so I pray for the butcher to cut it off?)



Poor Saint Dennis is the patron saint of headaches. Bet he's not too popular among the angels.



Oh, and do patron saints have a patron saint?





Anyway, I digress.









Hey wait a minute! According to Catholic.org, St Teresa of Avila is the patron saint of headache suffers. Umm damn that isn't the same as the patron saint of headaches. Who wants to talk about choirs of angels instead?

Comment by Scoopster on 03/30/2009 15:26:41
Howard The Duck RULES! And they just recently released it on DVD too!



http://blog.spout.com/wp-content/uploads/jeffrey-jones-howard-the-duck.jpg




IMO tied with Ferris Bueller's Day Off as Jeff Jones' best perfomance ever.

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 15:27:12
Hey folks, just picked up another interview. Wednesday afternoon...



Would be a big pay cut, though. I'd have to categorize it as a "survival job", although the company is growing and hiring like mad....could be some opportunity there. (scribbles notes)



Comment by starling310 on 03/30/2009 15:28:29
Quote by TriSec:

Hey folks, just picked up another interview. Wednesday afternoon...



Would be a big pay cut, though. I'd have to categorize it as a "survival job", although the company is growing and hiring like mad....could be some opportunity there. (scribbles notes)





Comment by livingonli on 03/30/2009 15:30:41
Congrats on the gig. HI there mfaye. Good to see ya on das blog.



Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:31:27
Great news Tri!

Comment by wickedpam on 03/30/2009 15:32:17
Quote by TriSec:

Hey folks, just picked up another interview. Wednesday afternoon...



Would be a big pay cut, though. I'd have to categorize it as a "survival job", although the company is growing and hiring like mad....could be some opportunity there. (scribbles notes)







If you got on with them there's nothing to stop you from still looking for a job with more pay - or theres a chance you can move up the ladder there



good luck! :hug:

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:36:48
ok sanchez... come on baby...

Comment by livingonli on 03/30/2009 15:36:52
The Mike Malloy site is supposed to relaunch today.

Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:37:10
{wawa}

Comment by TriSec on 03/30/2009 15:37:29
Oh, I know these things.



MetLife also went very well on Friday, I'm waiting to hear if I passed all their screenings, though.





Comment by Raine on 03/30/2009 15:37:52
Quote by livingonli:

The Mike Malloy site is supposed to relaunch today.


hering rumours also that Randi may be coming back to the air in April...