It is actually not the case in Haiti or any of the islands for that matter because there is no stability in that region. A pillar of capitalism is stability. The players have to know that the rules are not going to change mid game. So I point to Monaco, a region with little to effectively no taxation; one of the wealthiest areas of the world. Because everyone evaluates their finances on the margin. Wealth travels where it is not exploited – eg- NCR moving to Atlanta. (which is a move by the way that will create effective and efficient growth) Not some pedestrian bridge on the south side.

UGA, as you will notice on the Atlanta Business Chronicle site just signed a media deal worth north of $90 mm dollars. They don’t need help because they have created a program that has fans and thus the demand is there. They can grow because it is natural.

The State would actually last alot longer on a simple payout basis if Peachcare and Medicaid was not around. All that aside, I am agnostic to the programs. But we need to run a state government that is fiscally responsible. So that means when we run out of money, much like a household, we don’t go run to the government or the citizen for help. We simply say we can’t do it.

Your whole philosophy is predicated on the fact that we need to find money to fund all of the random (often unnecessary programs). We will never agree because you will always want big brother government to be in your life handing you things and being your sugar daddy. I view them as a redneck cousin at a family reunion, I say Hi and I think, “Man, I am glad I don’t live in Washington DC.”

Yes, the state government wants to wastefully spend that money in the rural and suburban regions that they come from. Give me a break. And how long would the State of Georgia last without those intrusion in the way of federal highway money, or federal dollars for the dredging for deep harbor access in Savannah, or federal assistance of Georgia’s public schools (including UGA and GATech) that make the help to make the state attractive to outside investment, or federal subsidization of Medicaid in Georgia and Peachcare? All this anti-Federalism following the election of Obama sounds great in theory, but it’s hot air and folks like AF and state right’s governors like Rick Perry, Mark Sanford, and Sarah Palin know it. Those states, much like Georgia, would be in bigtime trouble without any federal assistance.

If you put that infastructure spending to work on reducing taxes for all we will attract both workers and businesses- that increases the tax base and ultimately the state and city will reap a broader tax base reward. All keeping Obama (more broadly Federal Democrats and Republicans) out of our state. Once they are in the party they dictate what type of punch is served and who gets to dance.

Our growth rate is estimated at 7.5 million by 2025. There wont be any stimlus handouts then. We need impact studies and funds today to build a first rate metrorail system. Marta will be a joke compared to what we’ll need.

In 1996 homegrown leaders brought the Olympics, infastructure and MARTA (esp.) was grown. We saw growth because there was actual demand. In 1999, we saw developments like Atlantic Station come to the surface and begin building because there was actual demand for that environment, a continuation of the idea born out of Colony Square in the 1970′s. And now we see the Mid Town Alliance. And most recently, the State government attracted a Fortune 500 company with vast job creation not only for their employees, but also for the grocery stores, home builders and car dealerships that are hurting in the community. All of these entities coming from homegrown leadership with minimal federal government intrusion.

Why would we ever need the federal government’s help? We can do it here, I don’t think the state government is against Atlanta, I think they are against wasteful spending on a city that they do not live in. Ultimately, things will be built as the tax base expands through a growth in those paying taxes. We do that through job creation. Jobs are created by lowering corporate taxes to attract businesses here and by encouraging small businesses that already operate here.

– I live in Atlanta and I ride public transit.