George Anderson is a Quack.

This recap at Live Apartment Fire prompts me to provide some proper context of expletives: Let me get this right: The state of Georgia is funneling unknown millions of tax and bond dollars to church groups, every two-bit local council in the metro area bends over to real estate developers as a general practice, the General Assembly effectively drives a hooker season every winter, and Go Fish not only exists, but is still funded in the face of decreasing revenues, and this George Anderson person is running around with "explicit emails" made on "state taxpayer time"? You have got to be fucking kidding me. Fuck that noise.

posted at: 19:11 | permanent link to this entry

My Overly-Simplistic Guide to the 2008 Ballot (Part 2 of several)

Amendment: Suspension of property tax for Forest lands 1. Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that the General Assembly by general law shall encourage the preservation, conservation, and protection of the state´s forests through the special assessment and taxation of certain forest lands and assistance grants to local government? My vote: Grumble, bitch, moan, complain, yes. The only benefit from this amendment is that maybe, trees will live a little longer than normal, and I suppose that's worth the price of the leeching of our state treasury by the plantations. I still think that eventually, these type initiatives will lead to the introduction of gambling in the state of Georgia, it's just a matter of placing straws in the milkshake glass before it's filled. Amendment: Repurposing of Special Purpose taxes. 2. Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs? My vote: Hell, no, I'm not going to legitimize embezzlement of funds gathered for a specific purpose. Double Hell No, when that embezzlement drives capital poisoning. Amendment: Corporate Cities 3. Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the creation and comprehensive regulation of infrastructure development districts for the provision of infrastructure as authorized by local governments? My vote: No. More with the capital poisoning, just the "rural" version. Double No, when I consider the prostitution of local councils that already occurs in this state, Triple No when I consider that most real estate "development" these days is really just urban decay in a can.

posted at: 18:44 | permanent link to this entry

My Overly-Simplistic Guide to the 2008 Ballot (part 1 of several)

Time to shoot from the hip, and display my tendency to vote 'no' on such things. First, the local stuff. Fulton Elderly 50% homestead exemption 1. Shall the Act be approved which provides a homestead exemption from Fulton County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of 50 percent of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 65 years of age or older and whose household income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level? My vote: No. 50 percent of an arbitrarily assessed value will be 80-100 percent of whatever Fulton County wants to collect. I think this is a red herring. Atlanta Homestead exemption to 40k 2. Shall the Act be approved which provides a new increased homestead exemption from City of Atlanta ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $40,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that city who are 65 years of age or over whose income does not exceed $40,000.00? My vote: No. Beyond my aversion to smoke-and-mirrors, I really can't consider any decrease in taxes for Atlanta at this time. Base homestead exemption to $30k 3. Shall the act be approved which increases the homestead exemption from Fulton County ad valorem taxes for county purposes from $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 after a three-year phase-in period? 4. Shall the Act be approved which increases the homestead exemption from City of Atlanta independent school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes from $15,000.00 to $30,000.000 after a three-year phase-in period? 5. Shall the Act be approved which increases the homestead exemption from City of Atlanta ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes from $15,000.00 to $30,000.00 after a three-year phase-in period? My votes: No, Yes, and No, respectively. In general, I don't think there should be an exemption at all, actually, particularly given the near-bankrupt status of the City. However, if we're looking at playing shell games with "education" funds, we should be looking at taxing less. [I know, government doesn't speak that language, but we can. Hence, a big fat 'Yes' for item 4, in lieu of a rate reduction]. $275M Library Bond Issue 6. Shall Fulton County issue general obligation bonds in the principal amount of $275,375,000.00 to implement the Library Facility Master Plan for improvements to library facilities, including the cost of acquisition, design, construction, and equipping of new library facilities and renovation and expansion of existing library facilities owned by Fulton County? My vote: I grew up, in part, in libraries. But $275 million? For Fulton County? You're kidding, right? After the Plantation Movement, I don't consider Fulton County to exist as a cohesive entity. So, my vote is No.

posted at: 18:12 | permanent link to this entry

Today's topic for discussion is:

YEUNGLING IS NOW AVAILABLE IN GEORGIA.

posted at: 00:25 | permanent link to this entry

Congratulations, Phillies!

Hats off to the Fightins'. They stuck with Pat Burrell, stuck with Charlie Manuel, didn't try to "fix" Ryan Howard's strikeout problem, and figured out how to make Brad Lidge not suck. The result: A much-awaited claiming of a World Series trophy for the National League.

posted at: 00:25 | permanent link to this entry