The AP would prefer you not realize this is economically driven based mostly on failed and often corrupt Liberal policies that have devastated so many of our inner cities. The way they characterize it, if you don't buy into Democrat run big government, obviously you must be a racist circa 1860. How else to explain the headline?
White Atlanta Suburbs Push for Secession
You have to read down for this below:
Residents of north Fulton represent 29 percent of the county's population of 915,000 but pay 42 percent of its property taxes, according to a local taxpayers group. A split would lead to the loss of $193 million in property taxes alone for Fulton County.
About 25 miles to the south in downtown Atlanta, the Rev. J. Allen Milner said he is afraid the tax revenue loss would have a devastating effect on those who need government help the most.
"If you take that money out of their coffers, human services will suffer greatly," said Milner, a black man who runs a homeless mission and is pastor of the Chapel of Christian Love Church.
The excerpt above from down in the story would be too informative, let's just call it, there go those southern whites seceding again. Why I bet they'll even want a rebel flag. If you look at some demographics, Northern Atlanta isn't 100% white, some areas are as much as 50% white. And 33% of Metro Atlanta is also white. Also here and here.
The former Milton County is now mostly white and Republican and one of the most affluent areas in the nation. Atlanta and its southern suburbs are mostly black, are controlled by Democrats and have neighborhoods with some of the highest poverty rates in America. (Buckhead, a fashionable Atlanta neighborhood of clubs, restaurants and mansions, would remain in Fulton County.)
But this can't be about failed government, so it has to be about race. Pathetic.
Shades of Nagin(D).
Gotta keep the city Chocolate... almost.
Posted by: DANEgerus | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 04:38 PM
This would be the same area that stubbornly refuses to allow MARTA to come anywhere near it.
I'm sure they're worried about all the white people who use public transportation.
Posted by: scarshapedstar | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 07:03 PM
Let them be their own county. 29% of the population that pays 42% of the taxes? Ahh, the penalty for making something of yourself.
I think I'd rather fight a Civil War battle than the political battle these people face, though. (Have them do one of the re-enactment battles - no live ammo. :)
Posted by: Phoenix | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Phoenix, they've got it easy on taxes. Remember that nationally, the bottom 50% pays only 3.46%.
Posted by: Patrick | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 08:27 PM
Patrick,
I know. My tax bill is so huge it makes me gasp. I thought of it when I was writing the comment, but I still feel these people should be allowed their own county.
At the same time, I had a bad moment reading what the minister said - the one who is helping the poor. I never want to stop that kind of help, but I also adhere to the philosophy Bill Cosby preaches these days. If we keep giving to people who are loathe to help themselves, we just continue the cycle of dependence. I have mixed emotions about it, obviously, but in the long run, I have to say I am all for forcing someone to pull themselves up. There is no other country on the planet that helps those who help themselves like ours.
Hmmm... Did I mistake your comment?
Posted by: Phoenix | Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at 08:33 PM