Conservative Government Destroys Atlanta Like Gen. Sherman Never Could (H2O)

[jpak]

http://www.alternet.org/water/89018/

Most our media have been far too busy following the news of what kind of fist bumps terrorists favor, and Luke Russert's exceptional poise under pressure, to notice -- well, much of anything. Least of all, the Biblically proportioned drought in one of our nation's fastest growing regions, which is only getting worse, and more civilizationally consequential, by the day.

Atlanta magazine could no longer ignore it. The cover of their "The Water Issue," which I picked up on a recent swing thorugh Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, is graced by a water glass that's one-quarter full -- scratch that, three-quarters empty. The entire magazine is a fascinating document, a potsherd for future archeologists seeking answers to the kind of neuroses that allowed a civilization let itself be run according to an ideology -- conservatism -- so singularly unfit to govern a complex, modern society. Amidst all the schmancy department store and Cartier watch ads, the columns on "Scent marketing" ("among Advertising Age's top ten trends to watch in 2007") and enticements to purchase property at marquee destinations like The Inn At Palmetto Bluff ("50 beautifully appointed waterfront cottages, full-service spa, inspired Lowcountry, cuisine, exlusive Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course...") -- the landscaping ad featuring the gushing backyard waterfall alongside the furnished stone gazebo was an especially decadent touch, directly across fro a full page ad for "Brookhaven Retreat, treating both addiction and mental health challenges" -- these 176 pages document a narcissistic metropolis on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but not quite able to admit it.

In a letter to subscribers, the editor describes what it was like growing up in the Third World, as a child of missionaries: "In one of the places we stayed, water was piped in only one hour a day -- we had to run around with buckets and pots to catch every drop. in another, water that collected in rooftop tanks would turn scalding int he midday tropical heat. No matter where we traveled, flush toilets were a rarity." That's what she's been thinking of, walking into all the Atlanta bathrooms with "empty buckets near the tub": Atlantans, you see, have begun flushing their toilets with recycled bath water.

The fashion shoot, lithesome models swaddled in this summer's "bright colors and bold lines," is apocalyptically staged in an empty swimming pool. Equally apocalyptic is the comic-book style feature about Atlanta ca. 2050 as a civilization straight out of Soylent Green ("Inevitably, water thieves find a way to get around the system, but penalties are draconian. The water corps has the legal authority to SHOOT TO KILL"). The accompanying features on what happened and why are exemplary -- save for the absence of one concept Atlanta (which on page 26 endorses, tongue only half in cheek, libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr) can't quite bring itself to utter: conservatism.

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[Stevepol]

1. The thesis of the article is that "conservatism" is what has doomed GA

but that's only because Diebold has changed the political landscape. Roy Barnes easily won his election in 02 but was denied the governorship by Diebold. Max Cleland won in his election as well I feel sure but was denied his seat in Congress by Diebold.

I doubt that GA is in reality the fire-breathing red state it's portrayed to be. The problem is that criminals (electronic voting machine vendors) have assumed the responsibility of counting the state's votes in total secrecy without verification. You're telling me that Roy Barnes had an 11-point lead in pre-election polls 4 days before the election and lost by 5% points? The result of illegal elections is perfectly predictable. The same thing can be said at the national level. The only difference is that it's not just Diebold at the national level. You can add ES&S, Sequoia, Hart Intercivic, etc. etc. etc. etc.

And of course there are all kinds of other scams and dirty tricks that twist and maniplate the actual results as well.