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All Rights Reserved.</div>By using this website, you accept the terms of our <div class="privacy"><a href="https://www.ajc.com/visitor-agreement/">Terms of Use</a>, <a href="https://www.ajc.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a>, <a href="https://www.ajc.com/california-privacy-notice/">CCPA</a>, and understand your options regarding <a href="https://www.ajc.com/privacy-policy/#ad-choices">Ad Choices</a>.</div><div class="learn-more"><a href="https://jobs.coxenterprises.com/?prefilters=none&CloudSearchLocation=none&CloudSearchValue=none/">Learn about Careers at Cox Enterprises.</a></div></div></div></div></div></div></nav></header></div><main class="c-homepageContent"><div class="c-sectionHome b-sectionHome-padding b-sectionHomeMaxWidth with-rightRail"><div class="c-contentElements"><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0fbIROTWO7T2Mk"><div class="c-page-title redesign2024"><h1 class="c-title-content" value="Opinion"><span>Opinion</span></h1></div></div><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0f0hORpJDaz2fR"><div class="c-ttd-2024 seven-item"><div class="column-content"><div class="column-1"><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/carolyn-bourdeaux-trump-musk-have-opened-the-door-to-chaos/LE7IMS6UEFF2ZKQDTSY6Z4NSY4/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AJTCZTITM7SRHGASWVG5KTMHTY.jpg?auth=cffb9268e6cfca38e23bd588e7a11d421bad8d9195c973d49d564242a9a55b0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="President Donald Trump (right) and Elon Musk (left) spoke with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Musk was accompanied by his son. (Alex Brandon/AP)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Alex Brandon/AP</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/carolyn-bourdeaux-trump-musk-have-opened-the-door-to-chaos/LE7IMS6UEFF2ZKQDTSY6Z4NSY4/"><h3>Trump, Musk have opened the door to chaos</h3></a><p class="description">Everyone - regardless of party - should treat this as the dangerous moment that it truly is</p></div></div></div><div class="column-2"><div class="row"><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/opinion-closing-georgias-health-care-coverage-gap-is-good-economic-policy/4UKKSMSRNBBNPHJVDDL5TD7X5A/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg?auth=bd036020f48e16f420e3b0b1390b243b6277db7e8de7859aa7af9071e88b5244&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="Gov. Brian Kemp talks about his signature health insurance initiative for Georgia's low-income residents, Georgia Pathways to Coverage, a limited Medicaid expansion for those who work or perform certain activities. (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: TNS</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-closing-georgias-health-care-coverage-gap-is-good-economic-policy/4UKKSMSRNBBNPHJVDDL5TD7X5A/"><h3>Closing Georgia’s health care coverage gap is good economic policy</h3></a><p class="description">Many Republicans support Medicaid expansion because it’s the fiscally right thing to do.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/is-trumps-aim-to-break-glass-or-solve-problems/QFQNCWLCSFGGBGNO5MBJD6QCEU/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg?auth=5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: AP</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/is-trumps-aim-to-break-glass-or-solve-problems/QFQNCWLCSFGGBGNO5MBJD6QCEU/"><h3>Is Trump’s aim to break glass or solve problems?</h3></a><p class="description">The federal government needs some glass broken. But if glass is broken without solving problems, activity gets mistaken for progress</p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-cities-are-struggling-with-climate-change/7N2QRQLECVCZHEW6PNVHADYSEQ/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg?auth=652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="A car drives through a flooded street on Aug. 5 Savannah. (Katelyn Myrick/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Katelyn Myrick</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-cities-are-struggling-with-climate-change/7N2QRQLECVCZHEW6PNVHADYSEQ/"><h3>Georgia cities are struggling with climate change</h3></a><p class="description">Public participation and community engagement are essential to successful climate action.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/columnists/rhone-in-villa-rica-restrictions-on-public-comment-threaten-free-speech/VB3AV3QIKZDGTBYD62SY5MXZFU/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg?auth=4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="Villa Rica police removed an individual from a city council meeting in December, sparking a change to public comment policy at city council meetings. ACLU Georgia has asked the Council to reverse the policy and its treatment of public speakers, both of which unconstitutionally infringe on people's rights to speak freely on matters of public concern. (Villa Rica Police Department via The New York Times)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/columnists/rhone-in-villa-rica-restrictions-on-public-comment-threaten-free-speech/VB3AV3QIKZDGTBYD62SY5MXZFU/"><h3>RHONE: In Villa Rica, restrictions on public comment threaten free speech</h3></a><p class="description">Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings.</p></div></div></div><div class="row"><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/opinion-rev-william-finch-was-a-pioneer-for-equity-in-atlanta-schools/SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BTA7YXE47VDHLPYGQBCGF53PTE.JPG?auth=d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="Students navigate the hallways during the first day of class at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Atlanta on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AJC)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-rev-william-finch-was-a-pioneer-for-equity-in-atlanta-schools/SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI/"><h3>Rev. William Finch was a pioneer for equity in Atlanta schools</h3></a><p class="description">His insistence that the Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease hide-description "><a href="/opinion/opinion-three-ways-trump-could-help-rural-americans/EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=330&height=330&smart=true" alt="Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Thomasville, Ala., closed in September after fewer than five years in operation. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline/TNS)" width="330" height="330" class=" square-image " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1;max-width:20.625rem;max-height:20.625rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: TNS</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-three-ways-trump-could-help-rural-americans/EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU/"><h3>Three ways Trump could help rural Americans</h3></a><p class="description">Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="MP02 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 "></div><div class="RP01 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 tablet-only"></div><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0fOAa9GJDaz2Tf"><div class="c-featPfgDescription b-margin-bottom-d30-m20" data-sectiontitle="Feat Pkg Simple Descr"><div class="card-wrapper three-story without-photo"><div class="c-story-tease "><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/columnists/rhone-in-villa-rica-restrictions-on-public-comment-threaten-free-speech/VB3AV3QIKZDGTBYD62SY5MXZFU/"><h3>RHONE: In Villa Rica, restrictions on public comment threaten free speech</h3></a><p class="description">Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-rev-william-finch-was-a-pioneer-for-equity-in-atlanta-schools/SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI/"><h3>Rev. William Finch was a pioneer for equity in Atlanta schools</h3></a><p class="description">His insistence that the Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-three-ways-trump-could-help-rural-americans/EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU/"><h3>Three ways Trump could help rural Americans</h3></a><p class="description">Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics.</p></div></div></div></div></div><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0fmG96Xjysy4HW"><div class="c-featPfgDescription b-margin-bottom-d30-m20" data-sectiontitle="Featured"><p class="title">Featured</p><div class="card-wrapper three-story with-photo"><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-fewer-firearms-caught-at-airport-checkpoints-thats-good-right/EH4FGEIXUVDALPF7DEYTM3SK54/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2KJEMOYBCPH3WJRGWASHJSEZKY.jpg?auth=ccc691c3640794efccc48e7d1ef22183e90f2b2cf9bedad9ea61806f563363f7&width=750&height=500&smart=true" alt="Passengers head through the security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on July 1, 2022. (Steve Schaefer/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)" width="750" height="500" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:46.875rem;max-height:31.25rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: TNS</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-fewer-firearms-caught-at-airport-checkpoints-thats-good-right/EH4FGEIXUVDALPF7DEYTM3SK54/"><h3>Fewer firearms caught at airport checkpoints. That’s good, right? </h3></a><p class="description">We might never get to zero, but the there are things the TSA can do.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-victims-of-sex-trafficking-would-lose-again-under-tort-reform/JAP6VGLERNDI5D6BHO4LBIUK7M/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HBNC2FEKVSEYEQWA3NFE3M2N5I.jpg?auth=98bc878f2892565c096adebbbd10150e2246cc32de8fe069d6a29f9801b324ad&width=750&height=500&smart=true" alt="Police cars as officers investigate a sex trafficking and ecstasy operation in South Fulton." width="750" height="500" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:46.875rem;max-height:31.25rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: AJC File</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-victims-of-sex-trafficking-would-lose-again-under-tort-reform/JAP6VGLERNDI5D6BHO4LBIUK7M/"><h3>Victims of sex trafficking would lose again under ‘tort reform’</h3></a><p class="description">Where government resources are inadequate, civil suits bring change.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-dei-hit-list-is-a-hit-on-history/LMJUIWMI7FCGNKX5HS4AG7UP6Y/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HFYL5NUKAGM6IGRQNH7QZSOR54.jpg?auth=c733ab9ef1d9c36131b6e7fea0f76ebfecf85deeaf622a9043218f3791f12117&width=750&height=500&smart=true" alt="The original pilots of the 99th pursuit squadron from the book “A-Train: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman” by Lt. Col. Chuck Dryden. File" width="750" height="500" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:46.875rem;max-height:31.25rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-dei-hit-list-is-a-hit-on-history/LMJUIWMI7FCGNKX5HS4AG7UP6Y/"><h3>RHONE: The DEI hit list is an assault on history</h3></a><p class="description">Scrubbing history is just one way federal agencies and contractors have responded to the executive order banning federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="c-rightRail "><div class="RP01 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 desktop-only"></div><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0f4tdY08BAJ2be"><div class="c-newsletter"><div class="newsletter-image"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/wYZ30bWbIkhN1HN12HuhioAI6T4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-sandbox-sandbox-ajc/public/RFZJX7NFA5AYFC4BOJBJMVMYEU.png" alt="Newsletter Sign Up Logo"/></div><div class="newsletter-content"><p class="headline">AM ATL</p><p class="subtitle">Know what's up before you fill your cup. 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you know all about the accomplishments of the people who helped shape America?</div></div></div></div><div class="c-homeList false "><a href="/sponsor/gilead/for-black-communities-impacted-by-hiv-art-can-be-a-powerful-tool-for-driving-prevention-and-treatment/M3TMGJ7J7BHDXHO5ODTDLB7CBE/" class="homeList-image"><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AB6UIT7OOVFKLBTGCGM3QM4WIU.JPG?auth=697981cc8af4da5bfa72936c34b7ce08cb210d93eab71007d9159522e13d454e&width=1000&height=560&smart=true" alt="RCT-Branded Content Tease-Gilead Sciences" width="1000" height="560" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.7857142857142858;max-width:62.5rem;max-height:35rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" 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href="https://www.ajc.com/classifieds/photo-tour-jeezy-buckhead-penthouse/sjPU1hcyc8xSWTlrJk9PKI/" target="_self"><div class="mostReadRanking-2024">5</div><div></div><div class="mostReadHeadline-2024">Photo tour: Jeezy's Buckhead penthouse</div></a></div></div></div><div id="div-id-HS02" class="c-HS02 has-wallpaper"><div class="HS02 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 "></div></div></div></div><div class="c-sectionHome b-sectionHome-padding b-sectionHomeMaxWidth full-width"><div class="c-contentElements"><div data-fusion-lazy-id="f0f1sr3qLDaz2fP"><div class="c-more-list b-margin-bottom-d30-m20"><div class="c-list"><section class="section"><div class="content"><div class="list-items"><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-dissolving-the-department-of-education-would-harm-vulnerable-students/LTZP56B5WZDYDBVSUE5FITL2NE/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITATZUGRA3USPN4FLHY25IV6XA.jpg?auth=4e3abda962c0c8752bc8bdc5c08bb1cbc86ef7dc5b0900c8f89a89218a026aae&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: AP</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-dissolving-the-department-of-education-would-harm-vulnerable-students/LTZP56B5WZDYDBVSUE5FITL2NE/"><h3>Dissolving the Department of Education would harm vulnerable students</h3></a><p class="description">Funds tied to federal educational laws would be redirected to states without federal oversight to ensure compliance.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-trumps-misguided-cia-overhaul-puts-national-security-at-risk/P3H2ZLVGGVEMZNH7N4N4O5GWMM/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LJ2UYSP4QMB2ZS6E2CCR6VYQF4.jpg?auth=a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: AP</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-trumps-misguided-cia-overhaul-puts-national-security-at-risk/P3H2ZLVGGVEMZNH7N4N4O5GWMM/"><h3>Trump’s misguided CIA overhaul puts national security at risk</h3></a><p class="description">Gutting an institution of its talent and experience weakens its ability to function when it matters most.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-as-trump-and-musk-run-wild-in-washington-congress-is-conspicuously-absent/DJG7NQ6EQVFCXMF3Q25VDLDMXI/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JQZA2HKREIHDX76DXF2TWKNX3Q.jpg?auth=62519d778a893ded81ca286913c7ab8983575d7da0910cd7aff8839f512c5771&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="Flowers outside the United States Agency for International Development office in Washington on Feb. 3. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: AP</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-as-trump-and-musk-run-wild-in-washington-congress-is-conspicuously-absent/DJG7NQ6EQVFCXMF3Q25VDLDMXI/"><h3>As Trump and Musk run wild in Washington, Congress is conspicuously absent</h3></a><p class="description">What are Democrats and constitutionally minded Republicans doing as Trump and Musk ransack our federal agencies?</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-my-fever-dream-and-waking-to-a-new-america/6BNLQKKS2VCAFI2VNAUMSZQISM/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YH2LPHLGCVCU5PX3FWRM62XW44.jpg?auth=277d77c5b5e96d2599d464d8d5d17287db7e965d123622321362d453ebe1cdec&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="(Anupong Thongchan/Dreamstime/TNS)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: TNS</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">AJC CONTRIBUTOR</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-my-fever-dream-and-waking-to-a-new-america/6BNLQKKS2VCAFI2VNAUMSZQISM/"><h3>My fever dream and waking to a new America</h3></a><p class="description">When you sleep for days, the whole country can change.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/columnists/opinion-lost-songs-from-alvin-aileys-revelations-reborn-in-new-tribute/NDIMIGVPURB45DDXJY4S3PZ26E/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MVHZQUAU2ZCDNJZZH5DGP6VANA.jpg?auth=4f42d04c2db78fb6f8d8d649593eac8a56f4f3063dd6e158c86ba64636425eff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="Sacred Songs Choreographer:Matthew Rushing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Credit Photo: ©Paul Kolnik" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Photo by ©Paul Kolnik</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/columnists/opinion-lost-songs-from-alvin-aileys-revelations-reborn-in-new-tribute/NDIMIGVPURB45DDXJY4S3PZ26E/"><h3>RHONE: Lost songs from Alvin Ailey’s ‘Revelations’ reborn in new tribute</h3></a><p class="description">Growing up in Albany, DuBois A’Keen developed a complicated relationship with his hometown and couldn't wait to flee to the big city.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-trumps-executive-orders-tilt-toward-tyranny/2UXA65A2AZBBPJWZZ4P2GCO4UY/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/SUTBCKEEGK3MLT2W4R4IJ5MT4Y.jpg?auth=d9881a801e0ce695f34673c5eab24234835a21e4285c577b0c73b39828462a76&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="Eddie Reynoso of San Diego, California, attaches an American flag his chair on Oct. 7, 2019, while waiting in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court building for the chance to attend arguments in Bostock v. Clayton County. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Chip Somodevilla</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-trumps-executive-orders-tilt-toward-tyranny/2UXA65A2AZBBPJWZZ4P2GCO4UY/"><h3>The great overreach: Trump’s executive orders tilt toward tyranny</h3></a><p class="description">The administration is rushing the electorate with orders that essentially say, “This is the law because I say so.” That’s not the case.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-leads-on-addressing-the-illegal-immigration-crisis/VBDR7M2DWBCIZNCE6ZLSN3GLV4/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZZOBYLSVC7BTKYZ7D4GEC36C7I.jpg?auth=6cd8ea07f9df88337f873874bb8e09dc01de166b8ac7275cd2037319ce35051a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, and President Donald Trump embrace ahead of the Jan. 29 signing of the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (Nathan Posner for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Nathan Posner for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-leads-on-addressing-the-illegal-immigration-crisis/VBDR7M2DWBCIZNCE6ZLSN3GLV4/"><h3>Georgia leads on addressing the illegal immigration crisis</h3></a><p class="description">Thanks to Trump, states finally have a federal partner serious about protecting our border and enforcing our laws.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-needs-dreamers/VM7QKEZO2RE5HDUARVZMMIDJ3E/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XEK67IRUMUG2IBFV3TQBNRFVOU.jpg?auth=438dc2e1297a6aae2a8a9ecce050fd5b59cc2d04cda39d8663760c0447e52790&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="A wide variety of cuisines available at a strip mall on Doraville. (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-georgia-needs-dreamers/VM7QKEZO2RE5HDUARVZMMIDJ3E/"><h3>Georgia needs Dreamers</h3></a><p class="description">These young people help our communities in many ways. We must protect them.</p></div></div><div class="MP10 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 "></div><div class="RP10 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 tablet-smallDesktop-only"></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-kelly-loeffler-can-export-georgias-franchising-success-everywhere/4IKBROTXSFF63IGSQPX3RKEJKA/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4YIWF3PCDNB2VAMWGFU7OEOAEU.jpg?auth=435a500dca991450c8dc721423e029b3e5a3fabcceadb403d94f68a5c3f1136f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="The first Chick-fil-A elevated drive-thru in McDonough." width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: Chick-fil-A</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-kelly-loeffler-can-export-georgias-franchising-success-everywhere/4IKBROTXSFF63IGSQPX3RKEJKA/"><h3>Kelly Loeffler can export Georgia’s franchising success everywhere</h3></a><p class="description">But first, the government should reinstate a list that helped entrepreneurs find financing.</p></div></div><div class="c-story-tease "><a href="/opinion/opinion-fueling-the-future-by-filling-the-plate/77IEWL5PXBH2RNSDA34Z7GLNHU/" class="story-image "><div class="c-image-component image-landscape"><div class="image-component-image "><div class="enlargeImage-wrapper"><div class="lazyload-wrapper"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OQB2BE6Y5RRGB5FTFVQTHP24AM.jpg?auth=b4b822dc4ca9515003bc8551f4d49c12047291ac0c9e6800a79db8e5f15062a4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true" alt="Approximately one-third of parents who pay full or reduced price for school lunch report financial hardship and inability to routinely feed their children at school as a result of school lunch costs. (Dreamstime/TNS)" width="1260" height="840" class=" " style="display:none" fetchpriority="auto"/><div class="c-placeholder" style="display:flex;aspect-ratio:1.5;max-width:78.75rem;max-height:52.5rem;object-fit:cover;background:#f8f8f8;justify-content:center;align-items:center"><img alt="Placeholder Image" src="/pf/resources/logos/AJC/placeholder.svg?d=2002" style="width:20%;box-shadow:none"/></div></div><p class="photo-credit-text">Credit: TNS</p></div></div></div></a><div class="story-info"><div class="c-headline-label">OPINION</div><a class="headline " href="/opinion/opinion-fueling-the-future-by-filling-the-plate/77IEWL5PXBH2RNSDA34Z7GLNHU/"><h3>Georgia can combat childhood food insecurity</h3></a><p class="description">Fueling the future by filling the plate.</p></div></div></div><span class="separator-line"></span><button class="btn-loadMore redesign b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 default">Load More </button></div><div class="right-rail"><div class="RP10 arc_ad b-margin-bottom-d30-m20 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And if there is one thing that underpins our entire economy, our freedom, our way of life, it is the sanctity of contracts and the respect for democratically determined laws."},{"_id":"AMGCQQ7EGNE33J75BUNI4FLUUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump and Musk are misunderstanding something very important about what government actually is. Government itself is the rules of the game. It is the rules that enforce contracts; it is the rules that keep us from harming one another; it is the rules about how we make the rules and enforce them and settle conflicts. And it is at heart, faith-based."},{"_id":"XRKJRB7FC5ER3PQ6GKIE4UQGCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We have faith that when Congress passes a law, everyone recognizes that this is something binding; we have faith that the executive will faithfully execute the law that Congress passes, and we have faith that the U.S. Supreme Court will fairly resolve conflicts between law and the U.S. Constitution, and the President will abide by the law as determined by the Supreme Court."},{"_id":"2B3OI3ZIFZHQLKGX7DVLK26D3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Now Donald Trump, aided and abetted by Elon<i> </i>Musk, are systematically and at scale, acting as though laws no longer apply and by extension, Congress no longer matters."},{"_id":"ETW5B4VZHJDOLMF7J3IWNDH5UU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"What happens when Congress passes a law but it no longer has any force of law because the executive doesn’t recognize it? It breaks the faith in our institutions, and this has repercussions well beyond arbitrarily shutting down a couple of agencies or illegally cutting programs."},{"_id":"AG3ETBR4AJBERETE7CAPV5KWKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Because if Congress and the laws it passes doesn’t matter anymore, what then is the law that we are operating under?"},{"_id":"5DBL7WYAGVEK5LLOWP4WFMIWNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If the law is whatever Trump and Musk say it is – then there is in fact no “law” at all, and the faith that underpins every aspect of our lives, our economy, and our national security starts to crumble."},{"_id":"2YWZD65EBFAEBKIVGEFQ3VQHF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Let me just spin out some possibilities:"},{"_id":"FDQQ6CYMTVDTXLLRHKTC3QXGW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This country is $36 trillion in debt. The interest we are paying on this debt now is greater than what we spend on our national defense and on Medicare. We depend on people in this country and around the world to buy U.S. Treasury bonds to keep financing our government. And we can do this cheaply because everyone has<i> </i>faith<i> t</i>hat the United States of America will honor its commitments and follow the rule of law."},{"_id":"IH47MPM6XJCZDB3NUASMCSCJGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But if the executive can break the law with impunity, then how does a business, or a contractor, or someone who, say, buys government treasuries and finances the massive debt of this country, determine whether a contract with the United States government will be honored on time and in full?"},{"_id":"FNE75XRC7NGGLHMD6JSAPB6SIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Even<i> </i>if our creditors are merely uneasy about whether we will honor our commitments and start asking for higher rates of return to justify the increased risk, we could quickly be caught in a catastrophic debt spiral where payments on interest squeeze out every other priority: national defense, Medicare, Social Security, care for our veterans, infrastructure. We are dangerously vulnerable."},{"_id":"DEZ4I4T45RA7DPSS7MWVMAUS7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If the law established by Congress is not really the law, then what are the rules for the military? If the law established by Congress is not really the law, why should any of us pay our taxes?"},{"_id":"64CRXUDUDNBXDKBSP25T6JMM7Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"These scenarios are not some abstraction. They are in fact what happens in countries all around the world where a government itself is perceived as illegitimate and corrupt and there is no firm rule of law."},{"_id":"ECZGNDGIMBFDHCVSB2OICNNVRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The idea that Trump and Musk are taking extreme action to “balance the budget” is risible. Trump is demanding that Congress pass $5 trillion to $10 trillion in debt financed tax cuts. Musk’s “efficiencies” are not even coming close to covering this, much less actually closing our gaping deficit hole. Almost every state in this nation passes a budget that is balanced and passed on time, sometimes under extraordinary fiscal stress. And they don’t need to burn their laws and institutions to the ground to do it."},{"_id":"ELE6UHD4IRBKVK4MRIUYPUE56I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In this moment, all leaders, regardless of party, should treat this as the dangerous moment that it truly is. There should be no budget negotiations - or negotiations of any kind about any subject - there should be no government business done whatsoever until Trump, Musk and their followers put back what they have broken and establish that they will abide by the Constitution of the United States of America."},{"_id":"P74M6TMHRZC4VKDSIJNFYI55LU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We are all depending on it."},{"_id":"ECQYM2KB2VGU7NHTZGICIAUIV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739464296169},"type":"text","content":""}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Everyone - regardless of party - should treat this as the dangerous moment that it truly is"},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"cffb9268e6cfca38e23bd588e7a11d421bad8d9195c973d49d564242a9a55b0b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Alex Brandon/AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Alex Brandon","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump","width":5230,"caption":"President Donald Trump (right) and Elon Musk (left) spoke with reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Musk was accompanied by his son. 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She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","_id":"cbourdeaux","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Bourdeaux","image":"","role":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. 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(Alex Brandon/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AJTCZTITM7SRHGASWVG5KTMHTY.jpg","height":3491,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AJTCZTITM7SRHGASWVG5KTMHTY.jpg?auth=cffb9268e6cfca38e23bd588e7a11d421bad8d9195c973d49d564242a9a55b0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"RZ3OAVHWR5CEVBBLJWOD6A763Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282353},"type":"text","content":"Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp outlined his health care policy priorities for 2025 in his <a href=\"https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDxlyldjlOKL\">recent remarks</a> at the Georgia State Capitol and in his <a href=\"https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2025-01-16/governor-brian-p-kemps-2025-state-state-address?emci=941e71d7-05d8-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&emdi=f04624dd-12d8-ef11-88d0-0022482a9d92&ceid=14167752\">State of the State address</a>."},{"_id":"OII3P37IIJG7TCIBK37FLM2WN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282354},"type":"text","content":"It was encouraging to see the governor commit to improving health care access and quality for Georgians across the state — goals that I deeply share as a fellow Republican. His proposal to enhance the <a href=\"https://pathways.georgia.gov/\">Georgia Pathways to Coverage</a> program by qualifying parents and legal guardians of young children ages 0-6 for health care coverage would support growing families and ensure that more hardworking parents can access care that will keep them healthy."},{"_id":"2JYAZNMS7RFHXBV47LYCLKT2YU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282355},"type":"text","content":"Expanding Pathways eligibility to new populations, as the governor has proposed, and as the Comprehensive Healthcare Coverage Commission (CHCC) recommended in its <a href=\"https://dch.georgia.gov/comprehensive-health-coverage-commission\">first-year report </a>published in December, is a continued step in the right direction. But, even if these positive changes were enacted, hundreds of thousands of hardworking Georgians — farmers, veterans, part-time, hourly and gig workers, adults who are not yet Medicare eligible, and other caregivers — would still be left in the health care coverage gap."},{"_id":"WZDZYINYOVG7PLV4QU5QYZW7NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282356},"type":"text","content":"As a Republican, I was disappointed to hear the governor say that extending coverage to the approximately 300,000 Georgians in the coverage gap through full Medicaid expansion to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) is not a fiscally responsible choice. Though we share many of the same values and objectives, on this point I have to respectfully disagree with the governor. And I know I’m not the only Republican who sees Medicaid expansion as a policy in line with conservative principles because <a href=\"https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-expansion-is-a-red-and-blue-state-issue/\" target=\"_blank\">21 red states</a> have already expanded. Full Medicaid expansion would cost the state <a href=\"https://gbpi.org/money-matters-comparing-the-costs-of-full-medicaid-expansion-to-the-pathways-to-coverage-program/\">significantly less per enrollee</a> than Pathways, and is a clear win-win for Georgia’s health and economy. In fact, for the first time in Georgia, a bipartisan group of state senators <a href=\"https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/01/29/handful-of-rural-georgia-republicans-join-with-dems-to-give-full-medicaid-expansion-another-go/\">introduced legislation</a> last month to close the coverage gap, citing the economic and health benefits to rural Georgians as a key reason for their action."},{"_id":"RNFFH73PNNDYHITE35LKKCXLDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282357},"type":"text","content":"It’s important to understand what our different insurance programs are doing and where Georgia could be doing better, as some of the numbers might be confusing. The Pathways program was originally estimated to cover roughly <a href=\"https://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Waivers/1115/downloads/ga/ga-pathways-to-coverage-ca.pdf\">30,000 Georgians</a> at the end of its first year in July of 2024. Today around, <a href=\"https://www.georgiapathways.org/data-tracker\" target=\"_blank\">6,500 hardworking Georgians</a> are enrolled, and the new estimate is that about 30,000 people will be enrolled by 2030. This is far fewer Georgians than would be covered under Medicaid eligibility to 138% FPL. Georgia Access, our state’s private insurance marketplace, is currently enrolling a record-breaking 1.5 million people, a huge achievement worth acknowledging. But, it is an apples-to-oranges comparison to include that full enrollment number when comparing these programs to the benefits of Medicaid expansion to 138% of FPL, as many people on Access earn more than the eligibility threshold for traditional Medicaid and Pathways."},{"_id":"NT3WASPWKJEJRMNINPDFE64H5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282358},"type":"text","content":"Full Medicaid expansion would also be a more efficient way to increase access to health care coverage than the current Pathways program. Pathways has high administrative and consulting costs, and full Medicaid expansion would actually cost the state <a href=\"https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2024/few-georgians-are-enrolled-states-medicaid-work-requirement-program#:~:text=An%20analysis%20of%20the%20first,American%20Rescue%20Plan%20Act's%20incentives\">significantly less per person</a> than if Pathways hits its full enrollment goal, which the program is far from doing. Medicaid expansion to 138% of FPL would also maximize our federal dollars, instead of having federal income taxes paid by Georgians subsidize health care in the 40 other states who have already expanded Medicaid. In 2023 alone, <a href=\"https://www.healthinsurance.org/medicaid/georgia/\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia forfeited $3.6 billion</a> in federal money by failing to close the coverage gap. Right now we are leaving federal money on the table, and expanding eligibility to 138% of FPL as 40 other states have already done would allow us to keep our federal tax dollars in Georgia where they belong, benefiting our citizens and our state’s economy."},{"_id":"2Y2TQCZQWJCRZB3HA5PXJXGM4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282359},"type":"text","content":"Why should Georgia continue to pay full freight for a program that isn’t achieving what’s needed, when we could fully leverage and maximize our federal tax dollars, cover more Georgians, and stop subsidizing health care programs in other states?"},{"_id":"C3WS6LAT4FC2ZAGRXABAAZTOJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282360},"type":"text","content":"Additionally, expanding eligibility to 138% of the FPL would spur job creation and increase incomes for hardworking Georgians across the state. A 2024 statewide and county-level <a href=\"https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Georgia-Medicaid-Expansion-Economic-Impact-Report-REMI-March-2024-.pdf\">economic impact study</a> projects more than 150,000 new jobs would be added in Georgia during the first three years of expansion, and that closing the coverage gap <a href=\"https://georgiahealthinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Georgia-Medicaid-Expansion-Economic-Impact-Report-REMI-March-2024-.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">would </a>increase personal income in the state by <a href=\"https://bridgega.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GeorgiaHealthInitiative-IssueBrief-032524.pdf\">$10.8 billion</a> in those first three years. Many of those new jobs would specifically be located in rural areas across the state, bolstering our rural economy."},{"_id":"CZOEJNCOUJENRMQ2A332TFJJW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282361},"type":"text","content":"I agree with Gov. Kemp that Georgia should take a conservative approach to managing our state’s budget, and I encourage him to look to other states who have fully expanded Medicaid as evidence for why closing the coverage gap supports that objective. States that have expanded Medicaid have actually seen a <a href=\"https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/may/impact-medicaid-expansion-states-budgets\">reduction</a> in state spending on their traditional Medicaid programs. State budgets have also saved on mental health care and in other areas as a result of expansion."},{"_id":"ZADFK3KHYJAANJ2SA2K32RMCL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282362},"type":"text","content":"Ultimately, the data clearly indicate that expanding Medicaid eligibility to 138% of FPL is a fiscally responsible policy. For the economy of our state and the health of our workforce, it’s time to close the coverage gap."},{"_id":"HWS5NL5CWZE4HCRYWD2RH24HZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738861282363},"type":"text","content":"<i>Natalie Crawford, a Republican, is a former two-term Habersham County Commissioner and executive director of </i><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/georgia1st.org/__;!!JZyed81S!lP7M6cbsCcqCtOnL4Y5ZqU-4sPdcAZNEmB0VQxjFWLtUkAxtmT7NiuYXP2N9DpCYuHn92lTw8eidVuOuOCo5$\"><i>Georgia First</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bridgega.org/__;!!JZyed81S!lP7M6cbsCcqCtOnL4Y5ZqU-4sPdcAZNEmB0VQxjFWLtUkAxtmT7NiuYXP2N9DpCYuHn92lTw8eidVm614nqG$\"><i>BRIDGE Georgia</i></a><i>.</i>"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"8bd1b2c5bde1d058a158781530ba2f82bc155704e15c37f03b17e3ae91d5f5aa"},"caption":"","source":{"system":"photo 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Crawford.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"HGSJ3REOPBH7RMEMIZ3OLOOIQE"},"created_date":"2025-02-06T17:20:52Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-06T17:20:52Z","height":960,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YTQKS6NIQBDJPL47SRVHKFCNYE.jpg?auth=8bd1b2c5bde1d058a158781530ba2f82bc155704e15c37f03b17e3ae91d5f5aa&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YTQKS6NIQBDJPL47SRVHKFCNYE.jpg?auth=8bd1b2c5bde1d058a158781530ba2f82bc155704e15c37f03b17e3ae91d5f5aa&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Many Republicans support Medicaid expansion because it’s the fiscally right thing to do."},"description":{"basic":"Many Republicans support Medicaid expansion because it’s the fiscally right thing to 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Brian Kemp talks about his signature health insurance initiative for Georgia's low-income residents, Georgia Pathways to Coverage, a limited Medicaid expansion for those who work or perform certain activities. (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg","height":2090,"resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg?auth=bd036020f48e16f420e3b0b1390b243b6277db7e8de7859aa7af9071e88b5244&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg?auth=bd036020f48e16f420e3b0b1390b243b6277db7e8de7859aa7af9071e88b5244&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-closing-georgias-health-care-coverage-gap-is-good-economic-policy/4UKKSMSRNBBNPHJVDDL5TD7X5A/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-13T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Natalie Crawford","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Closing Georgia’s health care coverage gap is good economic policy"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-13T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-13T19:00:31.046Z","_id":"4UKKSMSRNBBNPHJVDDL5TD7X5A","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"bd036020f48e16f420e3b0b1390b243b6277db7e8de7859aa7af9071e88b5244"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-GA-LAWMAKERS-CAREGIVERS-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Gov. Brian Kemp talks about his signature health insurance initiative for Georgia's low-income residents, Georgia Pathways to Coverage, a limited Medicaid expansion for those who work or perform certain activities. (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg","height":2090,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DZ3PSC6ZMRN4WMT5DHSNFCDQ4.jpg?auth=bd036020f48e16f420e3b0b1390b243b6277db7e8de7859aa7af9071e88b5244&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UZRKKP22UJDLZPXBOFTDLN2AMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069543},"type":"text","content":"Nothing grabs the attention of a room quicker than the chaotic sound of glass breaking. Regardless of rhyme or reason, when glass breaks, people listen. It’s a lesson the Trump Administration has applied to the political conversation early and often during its first three weeks in office."},{"_id":"5QZKWLJSE5BMJNPSYGHSTM3D4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069544},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musk-give-update-reform-effort-amid-questions-about-his-power-2025-02-03/\">Shutting down federal agencies</a>, <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/trump-administration-plans-layoffs-deferred-resignation-offer/index.html\">mass firing government employees</a> and <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/us/politics/trump-gaza-strip-netanyahu.html\">freestyling Middle East policy</a> has served as music to the ears of his supporters, while instilling panic in others. But much like a fragmented pile of glass, a jarring headline doesn’t clean up the problem."},{"_id":"ACEFC6ERLZG3VOG6JKUDWRZPMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069545},"type":"text","content":"Take the recent tragic plane accident in Washington D.C. and its aftermath. Trump shattered a lot of glass in the middle of the Potomac River when he inexplicably <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/trump-plane-crash-dei-press-conference-biden-faa-washington-dc-rcna190020\">blamed the horrific air collision</a> between an American Airlines jet and a military helicopter solely on the previous administration’s DEI hiring practices. His lack of human decency and complete disregard for the facts were shallow, even for him, not to mention tinged in racism. His actions garnered attention but solved no problems as it relates to either uncovering facts about the crash or correcting the overswinging pendulum of DEI."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"handout","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8"},"source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"T4RB6LHAOBHYTGPYW7WVPZ4RIU","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Geoff Duncan","type":"author","byline":"Geoff Duncan"}]},"subtitle":"Geoff Duncan","width":205,"_id":"KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/W4zUPTmEzIxDXLV_F1BkXCXlJyo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Geoff Duncan.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"PKCY4K2LKFBTJH56CB3NLYSPKU"},"created_date":"2024-07-15T17:59:33Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-15T18:14:33Z","alignment":"right","height":154,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg?auth=aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg?auth=aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"_id":"BE4GX66NCFG4PBMAXGWY223SUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069546},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Last week, Trump intentionally broke another large piece of glass standing next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/politics/how-trump-decided-gaza-strip-take-over/index.html\">stumbled</a> into the unvetted idea of developing an American owned vacation destination called the “Middle Eastern Riviera” in Gaza. What the what? Even his closest staffers ran out of their seemingly endless supply of magic pixie dust trying to explain the merits of what he just said."},{"_id":"KVB5ATM6ZBHVVGBPO2NM7T6AXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069547},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The loudest sounds of broken glass in the ballroom are now coming from newly deputized change agent, Elon Musk. For starters, if DOGE is going to be successful at effectively cutting government waste and spending, it’s going to have to break a lot of glass so we can start paying down our $36 trillion bar tab. Reducing our national debt is a national imperative and should garner bipartisan support."},{"_id":"PQXIEE3F4ZG5RM4UG7KZIUJZWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069548},"type":"text","content":"Here’s the problem: Elon has come out of the gates like a clumsy waiter who can’t seem to safely make it from the bar to the table without flipping over the drink tray. You must look no further than the <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/02/10/here-are-all-the-major-lawsuits-against-trump-and-musk-judge-keeps-federal-buyout-plan-on-hold-for-now/\">mounting number of federal court cases</a> challenging the legality of DOGE’s brazen efforts on multiple fronts. Several of the court cases have already been temporarily halted by judges, including U.S. District Judge Paul Engel where he <a href=\"https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/02/08/politics/elon-musk-doge-treasury-payment-system\">cited</a> the risk of “irreparable harm” in response to DOGE’s work deep in the bowels of the Treasury Department."},{"_id":"PSKQ7ZVRDBGMPGBFCWSHSD4JVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069549},"type":"text","content":"Without some mature minded self-restraint, not only will Musk fall short of his goal, but he has a high likelihood of being included in the next batch of fired government employees."},{"_id":"DNX2CVOX45HFFG7B54LJW6QJFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069550},"type":"text","content":"We must ask ourselves, did America hire Donald Trump to break glass or solve problems? If intellectual honesty is still the mother’s milk of good decision making, then the answer to the question is both."},{"_id":"YV7RZRLVU5E3LLIGIOWWGXFC4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069551},"type":"text","content":"Make no mistake: the federal government needs some glass broken, especially as it pertains to immigration, spending, healthcare inflation and yes, efficiency. Families and small businesses know that spending and spending with no end in sight is a recipe for disaster, and why should the federal government be any different. If given a small dose of truth serum, both political persuasions would agree with this reality. But breaking glass without solving problems just recreates the classic conundrum of mistaking activity for progress. “We the People” must start requiring Trump and his handpicked cast of characters to solve problems and not make Americans walk barefooted through miles of broken glass."},{"_id":"OWIJIOBK5BEAZNPIV6DACWST64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069552},"type":"text","content":"If we lean into the intellectually honest side of our brains, it becomes easier to see the unproductive and outright ridiculousness of some of these early actions. Using the threat of massive <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/us/politics/trump-tariffs-global-economic-order.html\">regional tariffs</a> to fix our countries’ fiscal problems without increasing inflation is in its most substantive form, a shiny object. So is dispatching Elon Musk and his garage band on a scavenger hunt to gain access to our countries’ financial nuclear codes for what is starting the feel like a weekend hack-a-thon. Additionally, blaming 67 tragic deaths on DEI and proposing to build beach front condos in Gaza is nothing short of stupid."},{"_id":"IBXNMIR4WBFHHEQF3WAQSGO7VA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739318069553},"type":"text","content":"This administration is not my cup of tea, but I do love America and want us to succeed for all the right reasons. I’m hopeful they start doing a better job balancing the amount of glass they break versus the problems they solve."},{"_id":"HNJYQMHLNJBNPLKJ42IHAHZXRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739367000797},"type":"text","content":"<i>An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He also is a contributor to CNN.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"The federal government needs some glass broken. But if glass is broken without solving problems, activity gets mistaken for progress"},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Alex Brandon","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump","width":4831,"caption":"President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg","height":3225,"resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg?auth=5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg?auth=5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/is-trumps-aim-to-break-glass-or-solve-problems/QFQNCWLCSFGGBGNO5MBJD6QCEU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-12T13:32:35.519Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Geoff Duncan","description":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","_id":"gduncan","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Duncan","image":"","role":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, government. \n","firstName":"Geoff","books":[{"publisher":"Forefront Books","title":"GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party","url":"https://www.amazon.com/GOP-2-0-Election-Americas-Conservative/dp/1637630131"}],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"_id":"gduncan","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T18:40:55.146Z","byline":"Geoff Duncan","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Is Trump’s aim to break glass or solve problems?"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-12T13:32:35.519Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-12T15:28:23.449Z","_id":"QFQNCWLCSFGGBGNO5MBJD6QCEU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Alex Brandon","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump","width":4831,"caption":"President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg","height":3225,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JCDHKF7ICQMO6YOKWC4QO4ZTEU.jpg?auth=5f7a2fb8efb9a5a62d203a6829d6f70743acc5c30cbd0f2f4fd0117bd5a248eb&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"U4FIUJL72FE5NCRBHI5EDDQEAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738618257694},"type":"text","content":"Climate change is no longer a distant threat or a term created to explain extreme weather events. Instead, it is a present reality affecting cities across Georgia. From rising temperatures to unusual weather events to more frequent and severe weather events, the impacts are being felt by communities statewide. In some cases, communities face mass devastation and costs to rebuild. "},{"_id":"527PYYIASRHWZMSJJJ5TSFL4XY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"Cities such as Atlanta, Savannah and Brunswick are on the front lines, grappling with the consequences of a warming planet. Global warming is primarily caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that can be attributed to human pollution from things such as burning fossil fuel, deforestation, pollution from agriculture and industrial processes. The Earth’s atmosphere traps heat from the sun, but greenhouse gases cause more heat to be trapped, leading to the “greenhouse effect.” This gradually warms the planet, affecting weather patterns, melting ice caps and affecting ecosystems."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"00f60c0b74c3330e99d8e3c96ab6be204bea8ef7c7a8717a9728205fc94fac7f"},"caption":"Erica Bibbey, Citizens Climate Lobby","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Erica Bibbey","width":3072,"_id":"QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/iTYaBgpgusXJQWvr45jGwuMh4dk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/iTYaBgpgusXJQWvr45jGwuMh4dk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/iTYaBgpgusXJQWvr45jGwuMh4dk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/0yYeFx9xi6j3ORjVV-HJBH5wAKM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Erica Bibbey.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RVSZHQ7CQNEJTNRDJRA2SKVE2Q"},"created_date":"2025-02-03T22:10:47Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T22:10:47Z","height":4096,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg?auth=00f60c0b74c3330e99d8e3c96ab6be204bea8ef7c7a8717a9728205fc94fac7f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QFA5UEC3WRHYRJ55IFQXFT4DCU.jpg?auth=00f60c0b74c3330e99d8e3c96ab6be204bea8ef7c7a8717a9728205fc94fac7f&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"_id":"URIYPMMJ6BDTBDULTFQ7OUBSMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738618257695},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Whether it is referred to as climate change, global warming, weather extremes or environmental challenges, the climate is changing — including more severe and frequent storms with extreme and abrupt temperature changes. In Georgia, many cities and communities have been affected by some form of weather-related extreme. “Hotlanta,” for instance, has seen a <a href=\"https://33n.atlantaregional.com/data-diversions/extreme-heat-and-energy-inventory-of-issues#:~:text=Increase%20in%20Extreme%20Heat%20Days,80.44%25%20increase%20in%20heatwave%20duration.\" target=\"_blank\">significant increase</a> in <a href=\"https://climatecheck.com/georgia/atlanta\" target=\"_blank\">extreme heat days</a>. The city’s “heat wave season” has lengthened by <a href=\"https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-heat-waves\" target=\"_blank\">more than 80 days</a> <a href=\"https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/07/29/metro-atlanta-heat-waves-are-becoming-longer-and-more-frequent\" target=\"_blank\">since 1961</a>, posing serious health risks, especially to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. In 2024, resilience hubs were constructed to provide shelter from weather extremes for many in the greater Atlanta area and neighboring communities. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration <a href=\"https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure/rulemaking\" target=\"_blank\">proposed a rule</a> aimed at preventing heat-related illnesses and injuries among workers, and some states have adopted their own heat protection standards. Temperatures reaching 100 degrees for several days create many challenges and increased risks. The rising temperatures also exacerbate air quality issues, leading to higher levels of ground-level ozone and particulate matter."},{"_id":"3556LHSSDNB2NIUU2RJ6RPX4PY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738618257696},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Savannah and Brunswick face their own unique challenges. <a href=\"https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/environment/2023/05/20/study-ranks-savannah-3rd-for-highest-rate-of-sea-level-rise/70219492007/\" target=\"_blank\">Coastal flooding</a> is becoming more frequent and severe because of <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/04/10/sea-level-rise-southern-us/\" target=\"_blank\">rising sea levels</a>. These cities are also at risk from more intense tropical storms and hurricanes, which can cause extensive damage to infrastructure and homes. The economic impact is significant, with increased costs for disaster response, recovery and insurance. "},{"_id":"W4LZ6TIT45ACDGFUYW2CMAKEM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Despite these challenges, there is hope. Collaboration and innovative solutions can help Georgia’s cities adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. One promising approach is the concept of “<a href=\"https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/hubs/northeast/topic/agrivoltaics-coming-soon-farm-near-you#:~:text=Agrivoltaics%20is%20the%20use%20of,use%20solar%2C%20low%20impact%20solar.\" target=\"_blank\">agrivoltaics</a>,” which combines solar energy production with agriculture. This method not only generates renewable energy but also supports sustainable farming practices, improving soil health and reducing the need for chemical herbicides. Another key strategy is enhancing green infrastructure. Cities can invest in more parks, green roofs and urban forests to help absorb excess rainwater, reduce urban heat islands and improve air quality. These measures not only address climate change but also enhance the quality of life for residents."},{"_id":"TCEMM3ULP5ABLCNLULGW5YIMQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738618257697},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Public participation and community engagement are essential to successful climate action. By involving local communities in planning and decision-making processes, cities can ensure that solutions are tailored to the specific needs and priorities of residents. This approach also fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility among community members, leading to more sustainable and long-lasting outcomes."},{"_id":"B23372OGSRHMXNA6ESD7EO7WUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Collaboration between different sectors is also essential. Governments, businesses, nonprofits and academic institutions can work together to develop and implement innovative solutions. For example, the <a href=\"https://woods.stanford.edu/research/funding-opportunities/environmental-venture-projects\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Venture Projects</a> and <a href=\"https://woods.stanford.edu/research/funding-opportunities/realizing-environmental-innovation-program\" target=\"_blank\">Realizing Environmental Innovation Program</a> at Stanford University support interdisciplinary research and collaboration to address environmental challenges. Similar initiatives in Georgia could bring together experts from various fields to tackle climate change and its effects."},{"_id":"RS5G5EW7AJBD3PSG3XAEKCSAPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though the challenges posed by climate change are significant, they are not insurmountable. By embracing collaboration, innovation and community engagement, Georgia’s cities can build resilience and create a more sustainable future. The time to act is 2025, as the potential for positive change is substantial."},{"_id":"4BF5NOG2DNB3DPU3NWKLG2XMLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738618257698},"type":"text","content":"<i>Erica Bibbey of Marietta is a member of Citizens Climate Lobby.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Public participation and community engagement are essential to successful climate action. "},"description":{"basic":"Public participation and community engagement are essential to successful climate action."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Katelyn Myrick","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Weather storm prep","width":6467,"caption":"A car drives through a flooded street on Aug. 5 Savannah. (Katelyn Myrick/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg","height":4311,"resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg?auth=652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg?auth=652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-georgia-cities-are-struggling-with-climate-change/7N2QRQLECVCZHEW6PNVHADYSEQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-12T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Erica Bibbey","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Georgia cities are struggling with climate change"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-12T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-12T11:00:16.707Z","_id":"7N2QRQLECVCZHEW6PNVHADYSEQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Katelyn Myrick","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Weather storm prep","width":6467,"caption":"A car drives through a flooded street on Aug. 5 Savannah. (Katelyn Myrick/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg","height":4311,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S65CRNAMJQNSVWDMAQWZHGU4NU.jpg?auth=652af5822b911d81dd05f08f1764aa3fba360fff08dc42e9d587fc0ecbf9d5d7&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"PAKE7A2DTZDOHDGLLXEEWLMRZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019804},"type":"text","content":"Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings."},{"_id":"NJIT3NGHPRERZNNQMUNCHFOU6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019805},"type":"text","content":"Following several lengthy meetings late last year, during which residents expressed concerns about road construction — specifically, the city’s intent to seize property using eminent domain and allegations of impropriety between the city and the construction companies — city officials responded by changing the rules on public comment."},{"_id":"RNKICUQ6KRBEPPX7RPFGCQXDLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019806},"type":"text","content":"Under the new rules, anyone who wants to speak at a city council meeting in Villa Rica must publicly state their name and home address."},{"_id":"AXJX54E5XBCZFHR6RORWIRNJWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019807},"type":"text","content":"City officials have also prohibited “personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks,” according to the policy, which was passed Dec. 10 and went into effect in January."},{"_id":"MLOSFZYUAZGTPJ4EWWYKIRZKTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":45,"comment":"ACLU"}],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019808},"type":"text","content":"On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia issued a letter to Villa Rica city council members urging them to reverse the new policy."},{"_id":"CVEQKN6EANB7PG34E6ERM57PSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019809},"type":"text","content":"In their letter, the ACLU cites numerous legal precedents in which similar policies and practices have been ruled unconstitutional. But it doesn’t take a legal expert to see where this move by city officials goes sideways."},{"_id":"VUSPNYLPRRAKRJX7NUQXALSCVE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"5XSCMLYBAVEJDPNWDTLMT34CRU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Judge OKs Georgia railroad’s use of eminent domain in controversial case","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/landowners-to-appeal-after-judge-rules-railroad-can-force-property-sales/Q2BK545SH5DYZPEPDVZIQBGOBA/"},{"_id":"5KLRLHMBTVFRDOE5GFOQF7KT3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019810},"type":"text","content":"Villa Rica council members have already indicated a bent toward retaliation. One council member threatened some public commenters with a lawsuit when the speakers made allegations of impropriety."},{"_id":"2EZXGPDJPVBB5OWU6SZ4TPAIKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019811},"type":"text","content":"No state law controls how public comment is conducted in cities and counties across the state, but we shouldn’t condone policies that support intimidation tactics."},{"_id":"3MELZQ2KWVABNPRTZGWFNX5XUE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019812},"type":"text","content":"A <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/listening-part-the-job-but-officials-can-limit-how-public-comments/5vYoQRnJBrLH4m0hkUtsfK/\" target=\"_blank\">2018 survey by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a> found that policies from 60 cities and counties were inconsistent, with some jurisdictions allowing people to speak whenever they want and however long they want, while other jurisdictions have strict time limits and topics that can be discussed."},{"_id":"6SNLFRZIYJE4VIZZEBHUCMIJS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":230,"comment":"3"}],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019813},"type":"text","content":"There is a need for any city council or county commission to balance the amount of time devoted to public input with the time dedicated to conducting business. Most jurisdictions limit the amount of time for public comment — three minutes per speaker is a popular range — but limiting the time per speaker doesn’t necessarily keep things civil or productive."},{"_id":"B42EMNYW75EHJMMFABLSU4UJ4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019814},"type":"text","content":"In August 2024, after College Park residents voiced frustrations about transparency and inefficiencies in the City Council, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/college-park-council-meeting-turns-to-shouting-match/IS2HXY46G5EKVD2NTH4Q6U6UO4/\" target=\"_blank\">a two-hour meeting turned into a shouting match</a>. City business was crammed into the final 15 minutes, during which officials appeared to rush through voting on certain agenda items."},{"_id":"YCGCPOBAUZCCRHEMNJGMA3NPJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019815},"type":"text","content":"Some jurisdictions have more unconventional rules for public speaking."},{"_id":"JJX3RQJ6HNC4ZHMFRMGAQTPH24","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"JROBA53WSNFEZLE3FT6A5CDLZI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: The DEI hit list is an assault on history","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-dei-hit-list-is-a-hit-on-history/LMJUIWMI7FCGNKX5HS4AG7UP6Y/"},{"_id":"FCZHO523DBGLXLVVUU56GSX5MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019816},"type":"text","content":"In Cobb County, council members approved a plan last year to split public comment in two periods, with half near the beginning of the meeting and half near the end. They previously prohibited anyone speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting from using audio and visual media since technical difficulties made it hard to consistently rely on those tools. "},{"_id":"4QRPTQOJO5FJJPSQ5HA5DD7ZWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019817},"type":"text","content":"But let’s get back to Villa Rica."},{"_id":"HIZK3YDRNBE4HMZ2PPFQNMC34Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019818},"type":"text","content":"Many jurisdictions set time limits for public comment, require advance sign-ups or enforce standards to manage vulgar or disruptive comments, but requiring speakers to reveal their home addresses in a roomful of observers seems like a backhanded way of making sure no one says anything remotely controversial or challenging."},{"_id":"XUIQXYDNSNGF3P7EOE6XNBNTOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019819},"type":"text","content":"Villa Rica city council members have prohibited any speech that is deemed “personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks,” but those are vague terms that leave too much room for interpretation. Speakers are likely to be confused about what they can and cannot say in their comments."},{"_id":"AAQGZ7Z2K5GIRNPXSLF46EMPXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019820},"type":"text","content":"Would speakers no longer be able to direct their comments to a particular council member because that would make it too personal? If someone makes an unflattering statement, would a council member have the power to call it slanderous and shut it down without proving it to be false?"},{"_id":"57VZ5OFAF5GGJNIL64JYUQDFRU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MSZBQ6VSVBG4DGCMPNIJVJJYJY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: Stop the encampment sweeps and make the plans public","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/rhone-stop-the-encampment-sweeps-and-make-the-plans-public/US55SCKNDZGLNFRVRBWA3RCJQQ/"},{"_id":"KMK33STITNDQTOE377DLFABNZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019821},"type":"text","content":"Speakers should be able to express themselves during public comment periods without fear that those comments will fall under some hazy definition of prohibited speech. And they should not have to state their home address and fear retaliation from elected leaders or fellow residents who don’t agree with their viewpoints."},{"_id":"PHM7NHCWHZCV3CE3GPBLFIMHFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019822},"type":"text","content":"“Speech on matters of public concern is ‘at the heart of the First Amendment’s protection’ and ‘should be uninhibited, robust and wide-open,’” ACLU of Georgia attorneys wrote in the letter to the Villa Rica officials."},{"_id":"3BPUWK2HURBKVLD6Z27VJSXV2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019823},"type":"text","content":"If Villa Rica council members want to encourage a more respectful exchange between residents and city officials, they should act with integrity instead of resorting to intimidation."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019824},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"local government"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c"},"subtitle":"City of Villa Rica","width":3300,"caption":"Villa Rica police removed an individual from a city council meeting in December, sparking a change to public comment policy at city council meetings. ACLU Georgia has asked the Council to reverse the policy and its treatment of public speakers, both of which unconstitutionally infringe on people's rights to speak freely on matters of public concern. (Villa Rica Police Department via The New York Times)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"6fa12dc0-f99c-4219-910f-a0a911a4d4c7"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg","height":2472,"resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg?auth=4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg?auth=4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/columnists/rhone-in-villa-rica-restrictions-on-public-comment-threaten-free-speech/VB3AV3QIKZDGTBYD62SY5MXZFU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-12T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/98f2f50c-d4da-49ae-9bde-27e4311ab5ad.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"nedra.rhone@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"nedra.rhone@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc"}],"name":"Nedra Rhone","description":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","_id":"nedra-rhone","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Rhone","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/98f2f50c-d4da-49ae-9bde-27e4311ab5ad.png","role":"Lifestyle Columnist","education":[{"name":"University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor's degree in Economics"},{"name":"Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism"}],"longBio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta. She has written about style, entertainment, personal finance and the environment for the AJC. Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","expertise":"2,7,16","author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Nedra","twitter":"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5465","custom_ajc_website":"ajc","_id":"nedra-rhone","last_updated_date":"2024-08-01T19:40:05.320Z","byline":"Nedra Rhone","email":"nedra.rhone@ajc.com","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"RHONE: In Villa Rica, restrictions on public comment threaten free speech"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-12T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-12T15:40:33.913Z","_id":"VB3AV3QIKZDGTBYD62SY5MXZFU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c"},"subtitle":"City of Villa Rica","width":3300,"caption":"Villa Rica police removed an individual from a city council meeting in December, sparking a change to public comment policy at city council meetings. ACLU Georgia has asked the Council to reverse the policy and its treatment of public speakers, both of which unconstitutionally infringe on people's rights to speak freely on matters of public concern. (Villa Rica Police Department via The New York Times)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"6fa12dc0-f99c-4219-910f-a0a911a4d4c7"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg","height":2472,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg?auth=4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"CG6D2NA4HZHQPHSQXTQQCPKRWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"History has a way of revealing leaders who, against insurmountable odds, stand firm in their belief in a brighter, more equitable future. One such leader was the Rev. William Finch, a trailblazer whose legacy continues to inspire Atlanta’s commitment to educational equity today. As chair of the Atlanta Board of Education, I find it deeply meaningful to reflect on Finch’s contributions to our city and its education system during a transformative period in American history."},{"_id":"QHPQ74VZDNBULMWTOADAXDYWO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.atlantaparent.com/black-history-is-all-around-atlanta/\" target=\"_blank\">Born enslaved</a> in Wilkes County, Georgia, in 1832, Finch rose from the shackles of bondage to become a community leader, an entrepreneur and <a href=\"https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/the-color-line-the-problem-of-the-centuries/a-city-enslaved/\" target=\"_blank\">one of the first African Americans to serve on the Atlanta Board of Aldermen</a>, now known as the Atlanta City Council. His journey from slavery to civic leadership is a testament to his resilience, intellect and unwavering commitment to justice."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c"},"caption":"Erika Y. Mitchell, APS Board of Education chair","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"GFDJQK3LDFEI7CLUH4SYV2MQXM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Erika Y. Mitchell","width":1049,"_id":"NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/l7mCdVpOKT9iu68IXRJe00rRFBw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Erika Mitchell.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4XTWMOAPVNAXHIXEXD3I32VHPQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T16:26:39Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:31:55Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg?auth=e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg?auth=e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"_id":"F2ROM4YS7ZHUTOPSL3FDISNW2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s ascent to public office came during the Reconstruction Era, a time when African American men were granted the right to vote for the first time. Elected in 1870 by the predominantly African American residents of the Old Fourth Ward, Finch found himself in the midst of critical discussions about the <a href=\"https://apstoday.us/2014/05/18/william-finch-elementary-honors-their-namesake-with-the-finch-family-during-a-special-ceremony/\" target=\"_blank\">establishment of Atlanta’s first public school system</a>. Recognizing the transformative power of education, he used his position to advocate for a school system that served all children — not just the wealthy or white, but also the poor and African American."},{"_id":"YFO5ECWVKBGTXHI3LBMIXL6INI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This advocacy was groundbreaking in a city and era in which systemic barriers sought to exclude marginalized communities from accessing quality education. Finch’s insistence that the new school system benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today."},{"_id":"HB4WWR7JR5C7HECIGRSKYPF73M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Even after losing his seat on the City Council because of redistricting efforts aimed at diluting Black political power, Finch remained steadfast in his commitment to education. He championed the hiring of Black teachers to serve in the schools designated for African American children. His efforts bore fruit in the 1877-1878 school year, when the first two African American teachers were hired at Storrs School, near what is now the historic Sweet Auburn District. Four years later, Houston Street School, also known as Gate City Colored School, became the first school with an all-African American teaching staff."},{"_id":"JN5B7TSNWVH5BEDIFALIXKG2AI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:18:44.868Z","replies":[],"pos":240,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s vision extended beyond his time in office. He understood that representation matters — not only in leadership but also in the classroom. By advocating for African American educators to teach African American students, Finch ensured these children had role models who reflected their identities and aspirations. This was a revolutionary idea in an era in which segregation and disenfranchisement sought to diminish the potential of Black communities."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"ad3086c69c26dfb216ecc78901b2ba5a7de4b607091711a08240b9ccc885bb71"},"vanity_credits":{},"caption":"The Rev. William Finch’s ascent to public office came during the Reconstruction Era, a time when African American men were granted the right to vote for the first time. (Courtesy)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"The Rev. William Finch","width":868,"_id":"ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","link":"","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Sw3D6oC0gA0u-T8m5L7Nq2Iwp-E=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Finch.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"N237DJE5BFEOPAVSSN53LSMO2E"},"created_date":"2025-02-05T15:32:55Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-05T15:32:55Z","alignment":"left","height":1450,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG?auth=ad3086c69c26dfb216ecc78901b2ba5a7de4b607091711a08240b9ccc885bb71&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG?auth=ad3086c69c26dfb216ecc78901b2ba5a7de4b607091711a08240b9ccc885bb71&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"_id":"ZANY7PUFEFA5PNNOVNOWTHSHE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:23:04.000Z","replies":[],"start":0,"end":5,"text":"the photo above was dropped in here multiple times and the text was aligned right. deleted duplicate pics and aligned body copy left","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Today, as we reflect on Finch’s legacy, his influence is evident in the mission of the Atlanta Board of Education. Our work to create a culture of equity, trust and collaboration is deeply rooted in the ideals he championed. From policies that prioritize equitable resource allocation to initiatives that address systemic disparities, we are building upon the foundation Finch laid more than 150 years ago."},{"_id":"C47DVRL7BJFRRAMLP7CSYBF6UY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:21:11.047Z","replies":[],"pos":0,"comment":"The Rev. William ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s story is not just one of historical significance; it is a call to action. His determination to create opportunities for all children, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, reminds us of the importance of perseverance and advocacy in the face of adversity. As we continue to advance educational equity in Atlanta, we honor his memory by striving to ensure that every child in our city has access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed."},{"_id":"GX5LOBET75ASHBE6EXQD6CEGMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch died in 1911 and rests in Historic Oakland Cemetery, but his legacy lives on in every classroom, every policy and every initiative that seeks to uplift Atlanta’s students. His work reminds us that progress is possible when we lead with courage and an unwavering commitment to justice. It is my hope that his story inspires us all to continue the fight for a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come."},{"_id":"TXOOD53KURFGHOBGBIO3F5JDY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<i>Erika Y. Mitchell is the chair of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His insistence that Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid groundwork for conversations about equity that we continue to build on today."},"description":{"basic":"His insistence that the Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Atlanta Public Schools First Day","width":4108,"caption":"Students navigate the hallways during the first day of class at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Atlanta on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. 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Mullen.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"HS5DPW3Y2FBV7HFROJHFFRGJ7I"},"created_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:41Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:41Z","alignment":"right","height":238,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg?auth=18019ddc7c7cbb5417c66d75e0f6d2ff0aa7886de1611a036513b939c4ca71a7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg?auth=18019ddc7c7cbb5417c66d75e0f6d2ff0aa7886de1611a036513b939c4ca71a7&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}},{"_id":"VGNEE5AELFEYZHWQAYVQY352DM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819455},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As experts in <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/randolph-hubach/\">rural health</a> and <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/cody-mullen/\">policy</a> at the <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/crmh/\">Center for Rural and Migrant Health</a> at Purdue University, we work with people across the United States to build resilient rural communities."},{"_id":"DLM46CDBCFEI3JVMRW6L2UTMI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819456},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Here are some ways we believe the Trump administration could work with Congress to boost these communities’ health and economies."},{"level":5,"_id":"LGGXXV6IGNCXHAPHFGHQK2TDNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819457},"alignment":"left","type":"header","content":"1. Rural health care access"},{"_id":"JAFNVBVRAZH7TOLJX72WNY46UM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819458},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One of the greatest challenges to rural health care is its vulnerability to shifts in policy and funding cuts because of rural areas’ high rates of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries."},{"_id":"5RZQCF3MCFCPJMZE7GDTE3JAAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819459},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"About 25% of rural residents rely on Medicaid, a federal program that <a href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/what-is-the-difference-between-medicare-medicaid/index.html\">provides health insurance for low-income residents</a>. A disproportionate share of Medicare beneficiaries — <a href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/\">people over 65</a> who receive federal health coverage — also live in rural areas. At the same time, the average <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/files/document/advancing-rural-health-equity-11-2022.pdf\">health of rural residents lags</a> the nation as a whole."},{"_id":"FRNQDL6RQBCAHLJH3MBJOHRDF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819460},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Funding from those federal programs affects rural hospitals, and rural hospitals are struggling."},{"_id":"OOXOLBZLIFCW5IWCUXH5WIHDCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819461},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Nearly half of rural hospitals <a href=\"https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf\">operate in the red</a> today, and more than <a href=\"https://www.chartis.com/sites/default/files/documents/chartis_rural_study_pressure_pushes_rural_safety_net_crisis_into_uncharted_territory_feb_15_2024_fnl.pdf\">170 rural hospitals have closed</a> since 2010. The low population density of rural areas can make it difficult for hospitals to cover operating costs when their patient volume is low. These hospital closures have left rural residents traveling an <a href=\"https://www.gao.gov/blog/why-health-care-harder-access-rural-america\">extra 20 miles on average</a> to receive inpatient health care services and an extra 40 miles for specialty care services."},{"_id":"PKQFVYBJ4FDTXFZVKQ63UIVGLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819462},"type":"text","content":"The government has created programs to try to help keep hospitals operating, but they all require funding that is at risk. For example:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"VT63XA4PS5DDTN2RH7I2AKVC3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"SMFRYFRIKFFZBGWWGAVTBTPH4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"The Low-volume Hospital Adjustment Act, first implemented in 2005, has helped numerous rural hospitals by <a href=\"https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/product/the-low-volume-hospital-adjustment-before-and-during-covid-19/\">boosting their Medicare payments</a> per patient, but it faces regular threats of funding cuts. It and several other programs to support Medicare-dependent hospitals are set to expire on March 31, 2025, when the next federal budget is due."},{"_id":"I44MUEV42FCNRB7VMILI42K7N4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-guidance-laws-regulations/hospitals/rural-emergency-hospitals\">rural emergency hospital model</a>, created in 2020, helps qualifying rural facilities to maintain access to essential emergency and outpatient hospital services, also by providing higher Medicare payments. Thus far, only <a href=\"https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/advocacy%20leave-behinds%202024/2-0-rural-emergency-hospital-one-pager.pdf\">30 rural hospitals have transitioned</a> to this model, in part because they would have to eliminate inpatient care services, which also limits outpatient surgery and other medical services that could require overnight care in the event of an emergency."}]},{"_id":"RMVVKOOGYVA2PNZAQAQLHZ5PUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819464},"type":"text","content":"Between 2011 and 2021, <a href=\"https://nrha-prod-eastus-be.azure.silvertech.net/NationalRuralHealth/media/Documents/Advocacy/Advocacy%20Leave-Behinds%202024/FY-2025-Approps-Table.pdf\">267 rural hospitals discontinued obstetric services</a>, representing 25% of the United States’ rural obstetrics units. In response, the federal government has implemented various initiatives to enhance access to care, such as the <a href=\"https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/grants/rural-hospitals\">Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/grants/rural-community/rmoms\">Rural Maternal and Obstetric Management Strategies Program</a>. However, these programs also require funding."},{"_id":"U5I44MZBGBCO3GCP6CC2MEB2NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819465},"type":"text","content":"Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth — the ability to meet with your doctor over video — wasn’t widely used. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2022.04.002\">It could be difficult</a> for doctors to ensure reimbursement, and the logistics of meeting federal requirements and privacy rules could be challenging."},{"_id":"BATBDYIOG5CZLOWON6IVFMXTIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819466},"type":"text","content":"The pandemic changed that. Improving technology allowed telehealth to quickly expand, reducing people’s contact with sick patients, and the government issued waivers for Medicare and Medicaid to pay for telehealth treatment. That <a href=\"https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-rural-areas/getting-started\">opened new opportunities</a> for rural patients to get health care and opportunities for <a href=\"https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-rural-areas/getting-started\">providers to reach more patients</a>."},{"_id":"F25EYAMAEZA6LG7KCLB5A3M5QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819467},"type":"text","content":"However, the Medicare and Medicaid waivers for most telehealth services were only temporary. Only payments for mental and behavioral health telehealth services continued, and those are set to expire with the federal budget in March 2025, unless they are renewed."},{"_id":"22A64QQ52VASFFATRH2KZLW4NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819468},"type":"text","content":"One <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7395209/#Abs1\">way to expand rural health care</a> would be to make those waivers permanent."},{"_id":"5BSF6OGT75DR3OIYV43NZW2RDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819469},"type":"text","content":"Increasing access to telehealth could also <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7861202/\">support people struggling with opioid</a> addiction and other substance use disorders, which have <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rural-health/php/public-health-strategy/public-health-considerations-for-drug-overdose-in-rural-america.html#:%7E:text=In%20rural%20areas%2C%20rates%20of,are%20higher%20in%20rural%20areas.\">been on the rise in rural areas</a>."},{"level":5,"_id":"6SUACPIYURAIBPOYGCHPHBNGSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819470},"type":"header","content":"2. Affordable housing is a rural problem too"},{"_id":"EZIETQLOIJFIHC6S7TLUF2OWPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819471},"type":"text","content":"Like their urban peers, rural communities face a shortage of affordable housing."},{"_id":"G5YRCSFT5VCPDIVJ5E5ZFGMQ44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819472},"type":"text","content":"Unemployment in rural areas today exceeds levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. Job growth and median incomes lag behind urban areas, and rural <a href=\"https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/persistent-poverty-areas-with-long-term-high-poverty.html\">poverty rates are higher</a>."},{"_id":"TWZOSKIWYBB4RDIA3PQFPP7WSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819473},"type":"text","content":"Rural housing prices have been exacerbated by <a href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=107875\">continued population growth</a> over the past four years, lower incomes compared with their urban peers, limited employment opportunities and few high-quality homes available for rent or sale. Rural communities often have aging homes with outdated or inadequate infrastructure, such as deteriorating sewer and water lines."},{"_id":"SMZVWNJJFJHE5GEN6YK57LRQ7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819474},"type":"text","content":"Rental homes in older towns can become run down. Community maintenance of pipes and other services also requires funding."},{"_id":"HWEYI2UMW5AITJHIJCIK7EWJZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819475},"type":"text","content":"One proposal to help people looking for affordable rural housing is the bipartisan <a href=\"https://www.ncsha.org/resource/neighborhood-homes-investment-act-faqs/\">Neighborhood Homes Investment Act</a>, which calls for creating a new federal tax credit to spur the development and renovation of family housing in distressed urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods."},{"_id":"AUWGK66HBFAHRANZ4DDHK3GUBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819476},"type":"text","content":"Similarly, the Section 502 Direct Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which subsidizes mortgages for low-income applicants to obtain safe housing, could be expanded with additional funding to enable more people to receive subsidized mortgages."},{"level":5,"_id":"5ZEKCCBW5JHHNGUR6SPQV7POAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819477},"type":"header","content":"3. Locally owned land benefits communities"},{"_id":"PQXYXCCV4BAOPHEOM4XC3722UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819478},"type":"text","content":"Seniors age 65 and older own 40% of the agricultural land in the United States, according to the <a href=\"https://farmland.org/transition2021/\">American Farmland Trust</a>. That means that more than 360 million acres of farmland could be transferred to new owners in the next few decades. If their heirs aren’t interested in farming, that land could be sold to large operations or real estate developers."},{"_id":"IMLJWPACXRG5NM4HIZJNLVC4EU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819479},"type":"text","content":"That affects rural communities because locally owned rural <a href=\"https://www.brookings.edu/articles/rural-small-businesses-need-local-solutions-to-survive/\">businesses tend to invest in their communities</a>, and they are more likely to make decisions that <a href=\"https://rural.stateinnovation.org/invest-in-rural-communities/support-small-business-and-rural-main-street/\">benefit the community’s well-being</a>."},{"_id":"VO7OJIANZZCPPD3MBLJ3ZN6P4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819480},"type":"text","content":"Congress can take some steps to help communities keep more farmland locally owned."},{"_id":"QSRC5LQADFA33OXMWLVLSISHS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819481},"type":"text","content":"The proposed <a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4018\">Farm Transitions Act</a>, for example, would establish a commission on farm transitions to study issues that affect locally owned farms and provide recommendations to help transition agricultural operations to the next generation of farmers and ranchers."},{"_id":"CZMNNXMSFZEQFPUNPPVZHPEGHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819482},"type":"text","content":"About 30% of farmers have been in business for fewer than 10 years, and many of them rent the land they farm. Programs such as <a href=\"https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs\">USDA’s farm loan programs</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-bfrdp\">Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program</a> help support local land purchases and could be improved to identify and eliminate barriers that communities face."},{"_id":"X4PISHRHJZEFDDWZPV6QBF56WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819483},"type":"text","content":"We believe that by addressing these issues, Congress and the new administration can help some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Efforts to build resilient and strong rural communities will benefit everyone."},{"_id":"SZMTNZ2MERFMFNRXFQMHY2XNVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819484},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://theconversation.com/profiles/randolph-hubach-2276174\"><i>Randolph Hubach</i></a><i> is a professor of public health at Purdue University. </i><a href=\"https://theconversation.com/profiles/cody-mullen-2298331\"><i>Cody Mullen</i></a><i> is a clinical professor of public health at Purdue University.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics."},"description":{"basic":"Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-RURAL-HOSPITAL-1-SH","width":3000,"caption":"Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Thomasville, Ala., closed in September after fewer than five years in operation. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"primary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"},"secondary":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-three-ways-trump-could-help-rural-americans/EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Randolph Hubach","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Cody Mullen","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Three ways Trump could help rural Americans"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:01.476Z","_id":"EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-RURAL-HOSPITAL-1-SH","width":3000,"caption":"Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Thomasville, Ala., closed in September after fewer than five years in operation. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=330&height=330&smart=true"}}}],"expires":1739740652061,"lastModified":1739740531761},"{\"daysBack\":30,\"excludeContentTypes\":\"\",\"excludeSections\":\"/opinion/mike-luckovich-blog\",\"excludeTags\":\"readers write,ajc-sports.ajc, luckovich\",\"from\":5,\"includeSections\":\"/opinion\",\"primarySize\":[[375,250]],\"size\":3}":{"data":[{"content_elements":[{"_id":"PAKE7A2DTZDOHDGLLXEEWLMRZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019804},"type":"text","content":"Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings."},{"_id":"NJIT3NGHPRERZNNQMUNCHFOU6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019805},"type":"text","content":"Following several lengthy meetings late last year, during which residents expressed concerns about road construction — specifically, the city’s intent to seize property using eminent domain and allegations of impropriety between the city and the construction companies — city officials responded by changing the rules on public comment."},{"_id":"RNKICUQ6KRBEPPX7RPFGCQXDLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019806},"type":"text","content":"Under the new rules, anyone who wants to speak at a city council meeting in Villa Rica must publicly state their name and home address."},{"_id":"AXJX54E5XBCZFHR6RORWIRNJWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019807},"type":"text","content":"City officials have also prohibited “personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks,” according to the policy, which was passed Dec. 10 and went into effect in January."},{"_id":"MLOSFZYUAZGTPJ4EWWYKIRZKTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":45,"comment":"ACLU"}],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019808},"type":"text","content":"On Monday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia issued a letter to Villa Rica city council members urging them to reverse the new policy."},{"_id":"CVEQKN6EANB7PG34E6ERM57PSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019809},"type":"text","content":"In their letter, the ACLU cites numerous legal precedents in which similar policies and practices have been ruled unconstitutional. But it doesn’t take a legal expert to see where this move by city officials goes sideways."},{"_id":"VUSPNYLPRRAKRJX7NUQXALSCVE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"5XSCMLYBAVEJDPNWDTLMT34CRU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Judge OKs Georgia railroad’s use of eminent domain in controversial case","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/landowners-to-appeal-after-judge-rules-railroad-can-force-property-sales/Q2BK545SH5DYZPEPDVZIQBGOBA/"},{"_id":"5KLRLHMBTVFRDOE5GFOQF7KT3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019810},"type":"text","content":"Villa Rica council members have already indicated a bent toward retaliation. One council member threatened some public commenters with a lawsuit when the speakers made allegations of impropriety."},{"_id":"2EZXGPDJPVBB5OWU6SZ4TPAIKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019811},"type":"text","content":"No state law controls how public comment is conducted in cities and counties across the state, but we shouldn’t condone policies that support intimidation tactics."},{"_id":"3MELZQ2KWVABNPRTZGWFNX5XUE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019812},"type":"text","content":"A <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/listening-part-the-job-but-officials-can-limit-how-public-comments/5vYoQRnJBrLH4m0hkUtsfK/\" target=\"_blank\">2018 survey by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a> found that policies from 60 cities and counties were inconsistent, with some jurisdictions allowing people to speak whenever they want and however long they want, while other jurisdictions have strict time limits and topics that can be discussed."},{"_id":"6SNLFRZIYJE4VIZZEBHUCMIJS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":230,"comment":"3"}],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019813},"type":"text","content":"There is a need for any city council or county commission to balance the amount of time devoted to public input with the time dedicated to conducting business. Most jurisdictions limit the amount of time for public comment — three minutes per speaker is a popular range — but limiting the time per speaker doesn’t necessarily keep things civil or productive."},{"_id":"B42EMNYW75EHJMMFABLSU4UJ4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019814},"type":"text","content":"In August 2024, after College Park residents voiced frustrations about transparency and inefficiencies in the City Council, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/college-park-council-meeting-turns-to-shouting-match/IS2HXY46G5EKVD2NTH4Q6U6UO4/\" target=\"_blank\">a two-hour meeting turned into a shouting match</a>. City business was crammed into the final 15 minutes, during which officials appeared to rush through voting on certain agenda items."},{"_id":"YCGCPOBAUZCCRHEMNJGMA3NPJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019815},"type":"text","content":"Some jurisdictions have more unconventional rules for public speaking."},{"_id":"JJX3RQJ6HNC4ZHMFRMGAQTPH24","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"JROBA53WSNFEZLE3FT6A5CDLZI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: The DEI hit list is an assault on history","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-dei-hit-list-is-a-hit-on-history/LMJUIWMI7FCGNKX5HS4AG7UP6Y/"},{"_id":"FCZHO523DBGLXLVVUU56GSX5MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019816},"type":"text","content":"In Cobb County, council members approved a plan last year to split public comment in two periods, with half near the beginning of the meeting and half near the end. They previously prohibited anyone speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting from using audio and visual media since technical difficulties made it hard to consistently rely on those tools. "},{"_id":"4QRPTQOJO5FJJPSQ5HA5DD7ZWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019817},"type":"text","content":"But let’s get back to Villa Rica."},{"_id":"HIZK3YDRNBE4HMZ2PPFQNMC34Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019818},"type":"text","content":"Many jurisdictions set time limits for public comment, require advance sign-ups or enforce standards to manage vulgar or disruptive comments, but requiring speakers to reveal their home addresses in a roomful of observers seems like a backhanded way of making sure no one says anything remotely controversial or challenging."},{"_id":"XUIQXYDNSNGF3P7EOE6XNBNTOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019819},"type":"text","content":"Villa Rica city council members have prohibited any speech that is deemed “personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks,” but those are vague terms that leave too much room for interpretation. Speakers are likely to be confused about what they can and cannot say in their comments."},{"_id":"AAQGZ7Z2K5GIRNPXSLF46EMPXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019820},"type":"text","content":"Would speakers no longer be able to direct their comments to a particular council member because that would make it too personal? If someone makes an unflattering statement, would a council member have the power to call it slanderous and shut it down without proving it to be false?"},{"_id":"57VZ5OFAF5GGJNIL64JYUQDFRU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MSZBQ6VSVBG4DGCMPNIJVJJYJY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: Stop the encampment sweeps and make the plans public","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/rhone-stop-the-encampment-sweeps-and-make-the-plans-public/US55SCKNDZGLNFRVRBWA3RCJQQ/"},{"_id":"KMK33STITNDQTOE377DLFABNZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019821},"type":"text","content":"Speakers should be able to express themselves during public comment periods without fear that those comments will fall under some hazy definition of prohibited speech. And they should not have to state their home address and fear retaliation from elected leaders or fellow residents who don’t agree with their viewpoints."},{"_id":"PHM7NHCWHZCV3CE3GPBLFIMHFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019822},"type":"text","content":"“Speech on matters of public concern is ‘at the heart of the First Amendment’s protection’ and ‘should be uninhibited, robust and wide-open,’” ACLU of Georgia attorneys wrote in the letter to the Villa Rica officials."},{"_id":"3BPUWK2HURBKVLD6Z27VJSXV2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019823},"type":"text","content":"If Villa Rica council members want to encourage a more respectful exchange between residents and city officials, they should act with integrity instead of resorting to intimidation."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1739306019824},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Be careful when expressing your opinions in Villa Rica, or you might violate a new policy limiting the tone and content of public comment at city council meetings."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"local government"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c"},"subtitle":"City of Villa Rica","width":3300,"caption":"Villa Rica police removed an individual from a city council meeting in December, sparking a change to public comment policy at city council meetings. 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Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. 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ACLU Georgia has asked the Council to reverse the policy and its treatment of public speakers, both of which unconstitutionally infringe on people's rights to speak freely on matters of public concern. (Villa Rica Police Department via The New York Times)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"6fa12dc0-f99c-4219-910f-a0a911a4d4c7"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg","height":2472,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/47UDAC4MEZIXEBCQQJC56ZPOWU.jpg?auth=4d47dfc5fe9d2941a602762e09b037c3490e5da3f919974b325abfec2285a18c&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"CG6D2NA4HZHQPHSQXTQQCPKRWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"History has a way of revealing leaders who, against insurmountable odds, stand firm in their belief in a brighter, more equitable future. One such leader was the Rev. William Finch, a trailblazer whose legacy continues to inspire Atlanta’s commitment to educational equity today. As chair of the Atlanta Board of Education, I find it deeply meaningful to reflect on Finch’s contributions to our city and its education system during a transformative period in American history."},{"_id":"QHPQ74VZDNBULMWTOADAXDYWO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.atlantaparent.com/black-history-is-all-around-atlanta/\" target=\"_blank\">Born enslaved</a> in Wilkes County, Georgia, in 1832, Finch rose from the shackles of bondage to become a community leader, an entrepreneur and <a href=\"https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/exhibitions/the-color-line-the-problem-of-the-centuries/a-city-enslaved/\" target=\"_blank\">one of the first African Americans to serve on the Atlanta Board of Aldermen</a>, now known as the Atlanta City Council. His journey from slavery to civic leadership is a testament to his resilience, intellect and unwavering commitment to justice."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c"},"caption":"Erika Y. Mitchell, APS Board of Education chair","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"GFDJQK3LDFEI7CLUH4SYV2MQXM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Erika Y. Mitchell","width":1049,"_id":"NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/l7mCdVpOKT9iu68IXRJe00rRFBw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Erika Mitchell.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4XTWMOAPVNAXHIXEXD3I32VHPQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T16:26:39Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:31:55Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg?auth=e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"_id":"F2ROM4YS7ZHUTOPSL3FDISNW2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s ascent to public office came during the Reconstruction Era, a time when African American men were granted the right to vote for the first time. Elected in 1870 by the predominantly African American residents of the Old Fourth Ward, Finch found himself in the midst of critical discussions about the <a href=\"https://apstoday.us/2014/05/18/william-finch-elementary-honors-their-namesake-with-the-finch-family-during-a-special-ceremony/\" target=\"_blank\">establishment of Atlanta’s first public school system</a>. Recognizing the transformative power of education, he used his position to advocate for a school system that served all children — not just the wealthy or white, but also the poor and African American."},{"_id":"YFO5ECWVKBGTXHI3LBMIXL6INI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This advocacy was groundbreaking in a city and era in which systemic barriers sought to exclude marginalized communities from accessing quality education. Finch’s insistence that the new school system benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today."},{"_id":"HB4WWR7JR5C7HECIGRSKYPF73M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Even after losing his seat on the City Council because of redistricting efforts aimed at diluting Black political power, Finch remained steadfast in his commitment to education. He championed the hiring of Black teachers to serve in the schools designated for African American children. His efforts bore fruit in the 1877-1878 school year, when the first two African American teachers were hired at Storrs School, near what is now the historic Sweet Auburn District. Four years later, Houston Street School, also known as Gate City Colored School, became the first school with an all-African American teaching staff."},{"_id":"JN5B7TSNWVH5BEDIFALIXKG2AI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:18:44.868Z","replies":[],"pos":240,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s vision extended beyond his time in office. He understood that representation matters — not only in leadership but also in the classroom. By advocating for African American educators to teach African American students, Finch ensured these children had role models who reflected their identities and aspirations. This was a revolutionary idea in an era in which segregation and disenfranchisement sought to diminish the potential of Black communities."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"ad3086c69c26dfb216ecc78901b2ba5a7de4b607091711a08240b9ccc885bb71"},"vanity_credits":{},"caption":"The Rev. William Finch’s ascent to public office came during the Reconstruction Era, a time when African American men were granted the right to vote for the first time. (Courtesy)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"The Rev. William Finch","width":868,"_id":"ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","link":"","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5Kj1lpqvfns-_X_bdVrlvNshhV0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Sw3D6oC0gA0u-T8m5L7Nq2Iwp-E=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Finch.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"N237DJE5BFEOPAVSSN53LSMO2E"},"created_date":"2025-02-05T15:32:55Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-05T15:32:55Z","alignment":"left","height":1450,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITFFFNVKG5DWBI2VGUMPWVYCIE.JPG?auth=ad3086c69c26dfb216ecc78901b2ba5a7de4b607091711a08240b9ccc885bb71&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ZANY7PUFEFA5PNNOVNOWTHSHE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:23:04.000Z","replies":[],"start":0,"end":5,"text":"the photo above was dropped in here multiple times and the text was aligned right. deleted duplicate pics and aligned body copy left","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Today, as we reflect on Finch’s legacy, his influence is evident in the mission of the Atlanta Board of Education. Our work to create a culture of equity, trust and collaboration is deeply rooted in the ideals he championed. From policies that prioritize equitable resource allocation to initiatives that address systemic disparities, we are building upon the foundation Finch laid more than 150 years ago."},{"_id":"C47DVRL7BJFRRAMLP7CSYBF6UY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-05T17:21:11.047Z","replies":[],"pos":0,"comment":"The Rev. William ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch’s story is not just one of historical significance; it is a call to action. His determination to create opportunities for all children, regardless of their race or socioeconomic status, reminds us of the importance of perseverance and advocacy in the face of adversity. As we continue to advance educational equity in Atlanta, we honor his memory by striving to ensure that every child in our city has access to the tools and opportunities they need to succeed."},{"_id":"GX5LOBET75ASHBE6EXQD6CEGMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Finch died in 1911 and rests in Historic Oakland Cemetery, but his legacy lives on in every classroom, every policy and every initiative that seeks to uplift Atlanta’s students. His work reminds us that progress is possible when we lead with courage and an unwavering commitment to justice. It is my hope that his story inspires us all to continue the fight for a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come."},{"_id":"TXOOD53KURFGHOBGBIO3F5JDY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<i>Erika Y. Mitchell is the chair of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His insistence that Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid groundwork for conversations about equity that we continue to build on today."},"description":{"basic":"His insistence that the Atlanta Public Schools benefit all children laid the groundwork for a conversation about equity that we continue to build on today."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Atlanta Public Schools First Day","width":4108,"caption":"Students navigate the hallways during the first day of class at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Atlanta on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BTA7YXE47VDHLPYGQBCGF53PTE.JPG","height":2739,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BTA7YXE47VDHLPYGQBCGF53PTE.JPG?auth=d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-rev-william-finch-was-a-pioneer-for-equity-in-atlanta-schools/SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Erika Y. Mitchell","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Rev. William Finch was a pioneer for equity in Atlanta schools"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:01.006Z","_id":"SNAIGKIBI5F2XFV6XE6Z4ZP2PI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ziyu Julian Zhu","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Atlanta Public Schools First Day","width":4108,"caption":"Students navigate the hallways during the first day of class at Sylvan Hills Middle School in Atlanta on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BTA7YXE47VDHLPYGQBCGF53PTE.JPG","height":2739,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BTA7YXE47VDHLPYGQBCGF53PTE.JPG?auth=d1910fa81071f438fc025b02967f2fe11af32a3ef3f3191c5140db91f992ee87&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"XXDP4D7UMZCZNIOCAZUUYZTL4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819451},"type":"text","content":"Rural America faces many challenges that Congress and the federal government could help alleviate under the new Trump administration."},{"_id":"OHB3ZJRX55AXDGVXLE2QYLF7DE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819452},"type":"text","content":"Rural hospitals and their obstetrics wards have been closing at a rapid pace, leaving rural residents traveling farther for health care. Affordable housing is increasingly hard to find in rural communities, where pay is often lower and poverty higher than average. Land ownership is changing, leaving more communities with outsiders wielding influence over their local resources."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"d069082f2ca08ad1684247d418feda496f614f65fbf1fec61420907fc3cad8bb"},"caption":"Randolph Hubach, Purdue U.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"New York","type":"author","byline":"New York"}]},"subtitle":"Randolph Hubach","width":238,"_id":"S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/UJLuK1mhrKDGllHNMqBlg7B2Cgs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/UJLuK1mhrKDGllHNMqBlg7B2Cgs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/UJLuK1mhrKDGllHNMqBlg7B2Cgs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/kDAgg3sWdOL5EYrvfOuE1-MyCSs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Randolph Hubach.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BQ7T5I7RBVBUNMHXFRKVQQH6OA"},"created_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:16Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:16Z","alignment":"right","height":238,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S4BRLHJWG5DZ3DGKH3GICOAJWQ.jpg?auth=d069082f2ca08ad1684247d418feda496f614f65fbf1fec61420907fc3cad8bb&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"18019ddc7c7cbb5417c66d75e0f6d2ff0aa7886de1611a036513b939c4ca71a7"},"caption":"Cody Mullen, Purdue","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Cody Mullen","width":238,"_id":"2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/hfNL0sBofi9V1iAD_56nbwX5hM4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/hfNL0sBofi9V1iAD_56nbwX5hM4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/hfNL0sBofi9V1iAD_56nbwX5hM4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/S_vWR_opmxqTef8wr7lSVXDdRNI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Cody Mullen.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"HS5DPW3Y2FBV7HFROJHFFRGJ7I"},"created_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:41Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T16:38:41Z","alignment":"right","height":238,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2UVOD6TT7RH7HOIVJGMAYNXSHQ.jpg?auth=18019ddc7c7cbb5417c66d75e0f6d2ff0aa7886de1611a036513b939c4ca71a7&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"_id":"VGNEE5AELFEYZHWQAYVQY352DM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819455},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As experts in <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/randolph-hubach/\">rural health</a> and <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/cody-mullen/\">policy</a> at the <a href=\"https://hhs.purdue.edu/crmh/\">Center for Rural and Migrant Health</a> at Purdue University, we work with people across the United States to build resilient rural communities."},{"_id":"DLM46CDBCFEI3JVMRW6L2UTMI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819456},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Here are some ways we believe the Trump administration could work with Congress to boost these communities’ health and economies."},{"level":5,"_id":"LGGXXV6IGNCXHAPHFGHQK2TDNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819457},"alignment":"left","type":"header","content":"1. Rural health care access"},{"_id":"JAFNVBVRAZH7TOLJX72WNY46UM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819458},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One of the greatest challenges to rural health care is its vulnerability to shifts in policy and funding cuts because of rural areas’ high rates of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries."},{"_id":"5RZQCF3MCFCPJMZE7GDTE3JAAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819459},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"About 25% of rural residents rely on Medicaid, a federal program that <a href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/what-is-the-difference-between-medicare-medicaid/index.html\">provides health insurance for low-income residents</a>. A disproportionate share of Medicare beneficiaries — <a href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/\">people over 65</a> who receive federal health coverage — also live in rural areas. At the same time, the average <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/files/document/advancing-rural-health-equity-11-2022.pdf\">health of rural residents lags</a> the nation as a whole."},{"_id":"FRNQDL6RQBCAHLJH3MBJOHRDF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819460},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Funding from those federal programs affects rural hospitals, and rural hospitals are struggling."},{"_id":"OOXOLBZLIFCW5IWCUXH5WIHDCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819461},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Nearly half of rural hospitals <a href=\"https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf\">operate in the red</a> today, and more than <a href=\"https://www.chartis.com/sites/default/files/documents/chartis_rural_study_pressure_pushes_rural_safety_net_crisis_into_uncharted_territory_feb_15_2024_fnl.pdf\">170 rural hospitals have closed</a> since 2010. The low population density of rural areas can make it difficult for hospitals to cover operating costs when their patient volume is low. These hospital closures have left rural residents traveling an <a href=\"https://www.gao.gov/blog/why-health-care-harder-access-rural-america\">extra 20 miles on average</a> to receive inpatient health care services and an extra 40 miles for specialty care services."},{"_id":"PKQFVYBJ4FDTXFZVKQ63UIVGLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819462},"type":"text","content":"The government has created programs to try to help keep hospitals operating, but they all require funding that is at risk. For example:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"VT63XA4PS5DDTN2RH7I2AKVC3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"SMFRYFRIKFFZBGWWGAVTBTPH4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"The Low-volume Hospital Adjustment Act, first implemented in 2005, has helped numerous rural hospitals by <a href=\"https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/product/the-low-volume-hospital-adjustment-before-and-during-covid-19/\">boosting their Medicare payments</a> per patient, but it faces regular threats of funding cuts. It and several other programs to support Medicare-dependent hospitals are set to expire on March 31, 2025, when the next federal budget is due."},{"_id":"I44MUEV42FCNRB7VMILI42K7N4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/quality-safety-oversight-guidance-laws-regulations/hospitals/rural-emergency-hospitals\">rural emergency hospital model</a>, created in 2020, helps qualifying rural facilities to maintain access to essential emergency and outpatient hospital services, also by providing higher Medicare payments. Thus far, only <a href=\"https://www.ruralhealth.us/nationalruralhealth/media/documents/advocacy/advocacy%20leave-behinds%202024/2-0-rural-emergency-hospital-one-pager.pdf\">30 rural hospitals have transitioned</a> to this model, in part because they would have to eliminate inpatient care services, which also limits outpatient surgery and other medical services that could require overnight care in the event of an emergency."}]},{"_id":"RMVVKOOGYVA2PNZAQAQLHZ5PUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819464},"type":"text","content":"Between 2011 and 2021, <a href=\"https://nrha-prod-eastus-be.azure.silvertech.net/NationalRuralHealth/media/Documents/Advocacy/Advocacy%20Leave-Behinds%202024/FY-2025-Approps-Table.pdf\">267 rural hospitals discontinued obstetric services</a>, representing 25% of the United States’ rural obstetrics units. In response, the federal government has implemented various initiatives to enhance access to care, such as the <a href=\"https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/grants/rural-hospitals\">Rural Hospital Stabilization Pilot Program</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/grants/rural-community/rmoms\">Rural Maternal and Obstetric Management Strategies Program</a>. However, these programs also require funding."},{"_id":"U5I44MZBGBCO3GCP6CC2MEB2NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819465},"type":"text","content":"Before the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth — the ability to meet with your doctor over video — wasn’t widely used. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2022.04.002\">It could be difficult</a> for doctors to ensure reimbursement, and the logistics of meeting federal requirements and privacy rules could be challenging."},{"_id":"BATBDYIOG5CZLOWON6IVFMXTIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819466},"type":"text","content":"The pandemic changed that. Improving technology allowed telehealth to quickly expand, reducing people’s contact with sick patients, and the government issued waivers for Medicare and Medicaid to pay for telehealth treatment. That <a href=\"https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-rural-areas/getting-started\">opened new opportunities</a> for rural patients to get health care and opportunities for <a href=\"https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-rural-areas/getting-started\">providers to reach more patients</a>."},{"_id":"F25EYAMAEZA6LG7KCLB5A3M5QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819467},"type":"text","content":"However, the Medicare and Medicaid waivers for most telehealth services were only temporary. Only payments for mental and behavioral health telehealth services continued, and those are set to expire with the federal budget in March 2025, unless they are renewed."},{"_id":"22A64QQ52VASFFATRH2KZLW4NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819468},"type":"text","content":"One <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7395209/#Abs1\">way to expand rural health care</a> would be to make those waivers permanent."},{"_id":"5BSF6OGT75DR3OIYV43NZW2RDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819469},"type":"text","content":"Increasing access to telehealth could also <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7861202/\">support people struggling with opioid</a> addiction and other substance use disorders, which have <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rural-health/php/public-health-strategy/public-health-considerations-for-drug-overdose-in-rural-america.html#:%7E:text=In%20rural%20areas%2C%20rates%20of,are%20higher%20in%20rural%20areas.\">been on the rise in rural areas</a>."},{"level":5,"_id":"6SUACPIYURAIBPOYGCHPHBNGSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819470},"type":"header","content":"2. Affordable housing is a rural problem too"},{"_id":"EZIETQLOIJFIHC6S7TLUF2OWPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819471},"type":"text","content":"Like their urban peers, rural communities face a shortage of affordable housing."},{"_id":"G5YRCSFT5VCPDIVJ5E5ZFGMQ44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819472},"type":"text","content":"Unemployment in rural areas today exceeds levels before the COVID-19 pandemic. Job growth and median incomes lag behind urban areas, and rural <a href=\"https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/05/persistent-poverty-areas-with-long-term-high-poverty.html\">poverty rates are higher</a>."},{"_id":"TWZOSKIWYBB4RDIA3PQFPP7WSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819473},"type":"text","content":"Rural housing prices have been exacerbated by <a href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=107875\">continued population growth</a> over the past four years, lower incomes compared with their urban peers, limited employment opportunities and few high-quality homes available for rent or sale. Rural communities often have aging homes with outdated or inadequate infrastructure, such as deteriorating sewer and water lines."},{"_id":"SMZVWNJJFJHE5GEN6YK57LRQ7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819474},"type":"text","content":"Rental homes in older towns can become run down. Community maintenance of pipes and other services also requires funding."},{"_id":"HWEYI2UMW5AITJHIJCIK7EWJZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819475},"type":"text","content":"One proposal to help people looking for affordable rural housing is the bipartisan <a href=\"https://www.ncsha.org/resource/neighborhood-homes-investment-act-faqs/\">Neighborhood Homes Investment Act</a>, which calls for creating a new federal tax credit to spur the development and renovation of family housing in distressed urban, suburban and rural neighborhoods."},{"_id":"AUWGK66HBFAHRANZ4DDHK3GUBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819476},"type":"text","content":"Similarly, the Section 502 Direct Loan Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which subsidizes mortgages for low-income applicants to obtain safe housing, could be expanded with additional funding to enable more people to receive subsidized mortgages."},{"level":5,"_id":"5ZEKCCBW5JHHNGUR6SPQV7POAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819477},"type":"header","content":"3. Locally owned land benefits communities"},{"_id":"PQXYXCCV4BAOPHEOM4XC3722UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819478},"type":"text","content":"Seniors age 65 and older own 40% of the agricultural land in the United States, according to the <a href=\"https://farmland.org/transition2021/\">American Farmland Trust</a>. That means that more than 360 million acres of farmland could be transferred to new owners in the next few decades. If their heirs aren’t interested in farming, that land could be sold to large operations or real estate developers."},{"_id":"IMLJWPACXRG5NM4HIZJNLVC4EU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819479},"type":"text","content":"That affects rural communities because locally owned rural <a href=\"https://www.brookings.edu/articles/rural-small-businesses-need-local-solutions-to-survive/\">businesses tend to invest in their communities</a>, and they are more likely to make decisions that <a href=\"https://rural.stateinnovation.org/invest-in-rural-communities/support-small-business-and-rural-main-street/\">benefit the community’s well-being</a>."},{"_id":"VO7OJIANZZCPPD3MBLJ3ZN6P4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819480},"type":"text","content":"Congress can take some steps to help communities keep more farmland locally owned."},{"_id":"QSRC5LQADFA33OXMWLVLSISHS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819481},"type":"text","content":"The proposed <a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4018\">Farm Transitions Act</a>, for example, would establish a commission on farm transitions to study issues that affect locally owned farms and provide recommendations to help transition agricultural operations to the next generation of farmers and ranchers."},{"_id":"CZMNNXMSFZEQFPUNPPVZHPEGHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819482},"type":"text","content":"About 30% of farmers have been in business for fewer than 10 years, and many of them rent the land they farm. Programs such as <a href=\"https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/farm-loan-programs\">USDA’s farm loan programs</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/beginning-farmer-rancher-development-program-bfrdp\">Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program</a> help support local land purchases and could be improved to identify and eliminate barriers that communities face."},{"_id":"X4PISHRHJZEFDDWZPV6QBF56WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819483},"type":"text","content":"We believe that by addressing these issues, Congress and the new administration can help some of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. Efforts to build resilient and strong rural communities will benefit everyone."},{"_id":"SZMTNZ2MERFMFNRXFQMHY2XNVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604819484},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://theconversation.com/profiles/randolph-hubach-2276174\"><i>Randolph Hubach</i></a><i> is a professor of public health at Purdue University. </i><a href=\"https://theconversation.com/profiles/cody-mullen-2298331\"><i>Cody Mullen</i></a><i> is a clinical professor of public health at Purdue University.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics."},"description":{"basic":"Changes in health care, housing and local ownership could boost these communities’ health and economics."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-RURAL-HOSPITAL-1-SH","width":3000,"caption":"Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Thomasville, Ala., closed in September after fewer than five years in operation. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-three-ways-trump-could-help-rural-americans/EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Randolph Hubach","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Cody Mullen","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Three ways Trump could help rural Americans"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-11T11:00:01.476Z","_id":"EMFHKTA7YNDTRMRIOHXAL2W5JU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-RURAL-HOSPITAL-1-SH","width":3000,"caption":"Thomasville Regional Medical Center, a hospital in Thomasville, Ala., closed in September after fewer than five years in operation. (Anna Claire Vollers/Stateline/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GKOR3R4NKSETORYMV3W25HVINY.jpg?auth=b36fbd8d0e6023bef96530e8b091cd7b04b1831b929d8bc3b1911197b4b373d0&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}}],"expires":1739740651960,"lastModified":1739740531747},"{\"daysBack\":30,\"excludeSections\":\"/opinion/mike-luckovich-blog\",\"excludeTags\":\"readers write,ajc-sports.ajc, luckovich\",\"from\":8,\"includeSections\":\"/opinion\",\"primarySize\":[[375,250]],\"size\":3}":{"data":[{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MTY2UXHH6RA67OKDS3VXMV3XRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/\">Transportation Security Administration</a> (TSA) reported that it intercepted <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2025/01/15/tsa-intercepts-6678-firearms-airport-security-checkpoints-2024\">6,678 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2024</a> (or around 18 per day), with 94% loaded. This is a drop from <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/news/press/releases/2024/01/10/tsa-detects-6737-firearms-airport-security-checkpoints-2023\">6,737 firearms intercepted in 2023</a>. The nation’s leader was Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. with 440 firearms intercepted in 2024, down from 451 in 2023. Given that the <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-volumes\">number of travelers jumped by more than 5%</a>, the firearm detection rate (measured per 1 million passengers screened) dropped by nearly 6%. For air travelers, is this news to celebrate or an issue of concern?"},{"_id":"TY5GONAOTVA3LPZKFVVYE2JPZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On one hand, this might be because a <a href=\"https://www.safehome.org/data/firearms-guns-statistics/\">fewer number of firearms were purchased in 2024 compared to 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020</a>. On the other hand, if people are attempting to pass the same number of guns through airports security checkpoints, then catching fewer firearms might raise a red flag on the effectiveness of the screening procedures."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"463ac5533102baaa2349513c8300ba58ee37ffbb2aeec37d0cc5ac7c9f8e24be"},"caption":"Sheldon H. Jacobson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sheldon H. Jacobson","width":421,"_id":"ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/m4GlsUgpTc8_2YkU7djahGqCeN4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Sheldon Jacobson.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RSKWFORPHJHVLKPSH3F5FXJTYM"},"created_date":"2024-07-16T13:12:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T13:12:42Z","alignment":"right","height":559,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg?auth=463ac5533102baaa2349513c8300ba58ee37ffbb2aeec37d0cc5ac7c9f8e24be&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"_id":"UCLBUIA7OZAXBEZJZTSFL4LWU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The TSA does not report the number of firearms missed. Of course, if you miss something, how would you know that you missed it? One way to estimate this is by looking at whether the people found with a firearm are on the originating or returning part of their flight itinerary. If they are on the returning part, they likely had the firearm with them on their originating flight as well."},{"_id":"GON2WHW4GZDB7IC2NDFADPDLEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The TSA has made substantial investments in new <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/computed-tomography\">CT technologies</a> designed to more effectively find threat items that people carry with them in their carry-on bags. These technologies take a 3D scan of a bags content, rather than a 2-D scan that the X-ray machines that they replaced provided. The hope is that CT scanners are reducing the number of missed threat items, including firearms."},{"_id":"6RZ3MD5ZGRAEFOQFHFRCXFDON4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The TSA permits people to travel with firearms and ammunition in their <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/sites/default/files/transportation-security-administration-tsa-national-firearms-document_final.pdf\">checked bag, with well-defined procedures</a> and precautions. The issue only becomes problematic when passengers attempt to bring a firearm with them in their carry-on bag."},{"_id":"PBIK34VBI5FRHFDTUKVAJRMPUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The difference in the numbers between 2024 and 2023 is sufficiently small that it is impossible to explain. It would require several years of such observational data to support any explanations as to its cause."},{"_id":"TGBBMMJULBCJTI2HHHOBY3T2IM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The ideal numbers of firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints would be zero. This would occur when no one brings a firearm to a checkpoint, hence there are no firearms for the TSA officers to intercept. Of course, that is highly unrealistic to expect. With nearly <a href=\"https://www.consumershield.com/articles/how-many-guns-us\">400 million firearms in the nation</a>, the likelihood that there are some people who regularly carry a firearm on them forget to leave it at home before taking their flight is quite high. This is also the most frequent reason that travelers give when found with a firearm at an airport security checkpoint."},{"_id":"Q6LPXQT7W5DF3AKKWOLWYYF5M4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.consumershield.com/articles/how-many-guns-us\">TSA posts highly visible signs at the entrance of airport security checkpoints alerting travelers that firearms are not permitted in carry-on bags</a>. It also posts the associated penalties if caught, with the <a href=\"https://www.tsa.gov/travel/civil-enforcement\">maximum penalty currently set at $14,950</a>. Despite all such efforts, firearms continue to show up at airport security checkpoints. Clearly, such signs and penalties are inadequate to meaningfully reduce the firearm numbers."},{"_id":"EZRIOXBCDBBDTPGEG4YELRTJBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though the number of firearms is relatively small (around 18 per day across more than 400 federalized airports and with about 2.5 million passengers being screened), when they are found, they create disruption at airport checkpoints, with law enforcement officers engaged to address the issue. Even when the passenger claims that he or she forgot about the firearm in a carry-on bag, everyone who is attempting to pass through the checkpoint at that time is affected."},{"_id":"HN52VIG36VGMXPIXX2TAGXD2UI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Given that more than one-third of the firearms intercepted were at 10 high-volume airports in states with <a href=\"https://sightmark.com/blogs/news/states-ranked-by-how-strict-their-gun-laws-are\">permissive firearms laws</a> (Georgia, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Arizona and Tennessee), risk-based security suggests that these airports require even greater attention to inform flyers from their airports that firearms are permitted in checked, but not in carry-on bags. This could include triage at the beginning of the lines into these 10 airports’ checkpoint areas asking people if they have a firearm on them or in their carry-one bag. Such a person-to-person interaction could significantly reduce the number of firearms intercepted at these airports, with travelers directly reminded about the issue."},{"_id":"ZXSE7DGDS5DXRDIVZXZYGIHWSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Of course, even with 6,678 firearms intercepted in 2024, and especially for those missed, the good news is that nothing occurred that led to acts of violence within the air system. This should be the end measure for the effectiveness of the TSA."},{"_id":"ZEM7GSOWMRFVXEJAAZI44JUEUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Passengers should feel confident that the number of firearms detected at airport security checkpoints by the TSA is not an effective measure for how well or poorly the TSA is doing its job. It is likely more indicative that we live in a society where firearms are ubiquitous."},{"_id":"MTY2UXHH6RA67OKDS3VXMV3XRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sheldon H. Jacobson is a professor in computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has researched risk-based aviation security for more than 25 years.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We might never get to zero, but the there are things the TSA can do."},"description":{"basic":"We might never get to zero, but the there are things the TSA can do."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"ccc691c3640794efccc48e7d1ef22183e90f2b2cf9bedad9ea61806f563363f7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TSA-OFFICER-ARRESTE-AT","width":5000,"caption":"Passengers head through the security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on July 1, 2022. (Steve Schaefer/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2KJEMOYBCPH3WJRGWASHJSEZKY.jpg","height":3335,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2KJEMOYBCPH3WJRGWASHJSEZKY.jpg?auth=ccc691c3640794efccc48e7d1ef22183e90f2b2cf9bedad9ea61806f563363f7&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-fewer-firearms-caught-at-airport-checkpoints-thats-good-right/EH4FGEIXUVDALPF7DEYTM3SK54/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-10T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Sheldon H. Jacobson","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Fewer firearms caught at airport checkpoints. That’s good, right? "},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-10T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-10T11:00:05.115Z","_id":"EH4FGEIXUVDALPF7DEYTM3SK54","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"ccc691c3640794efccc48e7d1ef22183e90f2b2cf9bedad9ea61806f563363f7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TSA-OFFICER-ARRESTE-AT","width":5000,"caption":"Passengers head through the security checkpoint at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on July 1, 2022. (Steve Schaefer/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2KJEMOYBCPH3WJRGWASHJSEZKY.jpg","height":3335,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2KJEMOYBCPH3WJRGWASHJSEZKY.jpg?auth=ccc691c3640794efccc48e7d1ef22183e90f2b2cf9bedad9ea61806f563363f7&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UT6NZ7EJ7VBNDHGP4VDDZU3RNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810066},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/the-all-out-lobbying-blitz-behind-gov-brian-kemps-tort-reform/I7XYTJJNFNGWPDWPYFME7SPSZ4/\" target=\"_blank\">proposed “tort reform” legislation</a> will hurt sex trafficking survivors in Georgia and encourage bad actors. Not all businesses are unfortunate victims of random acts of violence. Some businesses know crime pays. Tort reform will ensure it pays more."},{"_id":"MTGRWOKQLVCUFMHBL3U6ILQSXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810067},"type":"text","content":"We filed the first civil sex trafficking cases in Georgia in 2019. Since then, we have solely represented sex trafficking survivors against businesses that we believe knew or should have known they were profiting from our clients’ trafficking. The vast majority were violently sold for sex as teenagers. Nearly all were trafficked in the same few dozen hotels in the metro area."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7e8ad9e05a7b212626dc357fda4542756742833c61b01b9236e83cb934298a9e"},"caption":"Pat McDonough, lawyer","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Pat McDonough","width":3600,"_id":"2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/HYT3pH_V9tKHh2ZjhpKBJ_-odyc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/HYT3pH_V9tKHh2ZjhpKBJ_-odyc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","takenOn":"2016-02-19T09:08:32Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/HYT3pH_V9tKHh2ZjhpKBJ_-odyc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Gt0UIPC9Hoxu_fL2OLCkPE_ad1w=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Pat McDonough.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6CYV6KAY6VBH7NT4SAGYDCBYAA"},"created_date":"2025-02-06T20:17:52Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-06T20:17:52Z","alignment":"right","height":2400,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2NDKIUSHCZG7DH25BA33YINFPY.jpg?auth=7e8ad9e05a7b212626dc357fda4542756742833c61b01b9236e83cb934298a9e&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"09effc6850515225c15258872338cd165bf1ca5cb7e841c3845dcce453947397"},"caption":"Jonathan Tonge, Lawyer","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jonathan Tonge","width":800,"_id":"CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/FgBFLcUb7R54qbUoFdlMZw7IL68=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/FgBFLcUb7R54qbUoFdlMZw7IL68=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/FgBFLcUb7R54qbUoFdlMZw7IL68=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vNePXMKifIIXM5meRVK2mIt1I9c=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jonthan Tonge.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RKKUAYCHPZAKZJHCW4Y6YF5ZSI"},"created_date":"2025-02-06T20:18:27Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-06T20:18:27Z","alignment":"right","height":509,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CFR7UW77SZB2HLPUFPOGCFWVOM.jpg?auth=09effc6850515225c15258872338cd165bf1ca5cb7e841c3845dcce453947397&width=750&height=500&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SUMF42BYZRCQJJRXFAYVWRL36M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810070},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Most of our cases are in federal court because Georgia’s civil laws are already worse for sex trafficking survivors than federal laws. For example, Georgia doesn’t have a rape shield law for civil cases. A sex trafficking survivor in Georgia runs the risk of her sexual history being used against her. And Georgia’s civil sex trafficking statute only became effective in 2021. Anyone trafficked before that has no trafficking claim in Georgia. Still, we bring Georgia negligence and nuisance claims in our federal cases. “Tort reform” would end that."},{"_id":"5CPSLW7TYFCF5H5FG3CZT3LXGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810071},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Let me tell you about a few hotels we have sued. These are businesses that would be protected by “tort reform.”"},{"_id":"SVWVCROSINDMHHS3VM26ZWHVHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810072},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Consider a hotel off Fulton Industrial, where several of our clients were trafficked for sex as children. A simple YouTube search shows multiple<a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z3gP9Z_GGg__;!!JZyed81S!gi4WHeou1_hKIuo6qCqjg4pKj_ft-kMGfImAo99_fQYz1lVyvm36Ts8o9u-DaGqzY2zfsFQSIDkyHuOc0g$\"> </a>videos<a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXig2mAoiSU__;!!JZyed81S!gi4WHeou1_hKIuo6qCqjg4pKj_ft-kMGfImAo99_fQYz1lVyvm36Ts8o9u-DaGqzY2zfsFQSIDlt4K5Ygg$\"> </a>of women who were sold for sex saying they know the owner, condoms strewed in the hallway, and people smoking crack in the rooms. As teenagers, our clients had to stand right in front of the hotel so men could pick them out and walk them inside by the front desk to buy them for sex. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHCJdI5nueo\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta television stations use one such scene</a> as stock footage for their sex trafficking reports."},{"_id":"GGVCGCSFCNANFLNW6N7BENKVIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810073},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At one motel in Tucker, a police officer testified the hotel “wouldn’t be able to stay afloat as a business, you know, if — if they didn’t let these, you know, nefarious acts going on and who were paying cash every day for five or six rooms.... So there’s no way I don’t think they can keep that massive hotel afloat if they didn’t allow this to happen. . . . We would have undercover officers there, and they would actually watch this security guard actually yelling out ‘12′, which means, hey, police are coming.”"},{"_id":"22GSTBJBJRBHJJKOXSU7BFT3RU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810074},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At a motel in Cartersville, after the local government<a href=\"https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dozens-of-families-scrambling-to-find-new-home-after-motel-unexpectedly-shuts-down/998148542/\"> shut down the hotel</a> for rampant crime, the hotel reopened with a new manager who quickly began exploiting women at the hotel for labor and violent sex. The manager <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/cartersville/cartersville-motel-manager-pleads-guilty-to-sex-trafficking/85-786fa935-2b61-4041-bcb8-479ae59a08a8\">pleaded guilty</a><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.11alive.com/article/news/local/cartersville/cartersville-motel-manager-pleads-guilty-to-sex-trafficking/85-786fa935-2b61-4041-bcb8-479ae59a08a8__;!!JZyed81S!gi4WHeou1_hKIuo6qCqjg4pKj_ft-kMGfImAo99_fQYz1lVyvm36Ts8o9u-DaGqzY2zfsFQSIDkXqsSDWQ$\"> </a>to sex and labor trafficking in 2023."},{"_id":"TL3OM2DMVBG7JGMUOE46ODXOGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810075},"type":"text","content":"Our clients were also sold at apartment complexes. Every time, it is one of the “<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/dwellings/list-dangerous-apartments/\">Dangerous Dwellings</a>” in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s list of the most dangerous apartments in the metro area, often owned by corporate and absentee landlords who do little to make their highly profitable investments safe. If your child were <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/dwellings/apartments-part-six/\">one of the 13,000</a> who live in these dangerous apartments, and God forbid they were the victim of a violent crime, would it ease your mind to know that your right to hold the out-of-state owners accountable was traded to lower their insurance premiums?"},{"_id":"2YDHDTZHOZBR7LOQYVMWWEGDII","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810076},"type":"text","content":"We have repeatedly heard testimony about hotel staff and owners allowing sex trafficking, being paid for it, having sex with victims at the hotel and other vile acts of participating in selling children for sex. We have represented more than 20 survivors coincidentally trafficked at the same two hotels."},{"_id":"STUWUL6YHZBPRJAYX7GFXIJIDU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810077},"type":"text","content":"Civil suits provide justice, healing and, yes, compensation to people who were seriously injured. But they also act as a deterrent. Since 2019, five of the worst hotels we sued in Atlanta have shut down. This is not only because of the lawsuits, but where government resources are inadequate, civil suits bring change. That’s why cars are safer and why companies hire security guards. How will less liability make us more safe?"},{"_id":"2AVA3HFUYBHS7N4GTCURF6HXSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810078},"type":"text","content":"Supporters of tort reform compare insurance settlements to winning the lottery. Many of our clients have settled cases for more than $1 million. After spending their childhoods being raped by adults for money, while other adults and businesses profited and looked the other way, after being sold for sex hundreds or thousands of times when they should have been in middle or high school, we can assure you that not one of our clients feels as if she won the lottery in life. Meanwhile, Liberty Mutual — a single insurance company — <a href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liberty-mutual-insurance-reports-third-quarter-2024-results-302298787.html#:~:text=and%20its%20subsidiaries%20(collectively%20%22LMHC,the%20same%20periods%20in%202023.\">reported $3.4 </a><a href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liberty-mutual-insurance-reports-third-quarter-2024-results-302298787.html#:~:text=and%20its%20subsidiaries%20(collectively%20%22LMHC,the%20same%20periods%20in%202023.\"><i>billion</i></a><a href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/liberty-mutual-insurance-reports-third-quarter-2024-results-302298787.html#:~:text=and%20its%20subsidiaries%20(collectively%20%22LMHC,the%20same%20periods%20in%202023.\"> in profits</a> in just the first nine months of 2024."},{"_id":"6S2BVHOIFZHYVLRRGWLAUG6GIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810079},"type":"text","content":"Instead of rushing to shield bad actors from liability, the legislature should focus on preventing children from being sold for sex at the same businesses, over and over again. If you would like to make Georgia safer, we encourage you to contact your representatives and tell them to vote no on “tort reform.”"},{"_id":"2SGW44W5MRF67AG4JXPZK4KI2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874810080},"type":"text","content":"<i>Pat McDonough and Jonathan Tonge are partners at Andersen, Tate & Carr in Duluth, where they lead the firm’s anti-sex trafficking division.</i>"},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Matthew Pearson/WABE","address":{"locality":"Atlanta ","country_name":"USA","region":"GA"},"auth":{"1":"575f7dca564fb9f3f989d4bddb01108e05fec03b8add11fbed4d9985832646fe"},"caption":"Crowds of people fill the north steps of the Georgia State Capitol to attend a news conference on tort reform hosted by Gov. Brian Kemp, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Atlanta. 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reversed or revised."},{"_id":"4X36H6SOFZB5TPILBQUNPFQX2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491927},"type":"text","content":"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Air Force to restore the history of the Tuskegee Airmen to training materials, but the lesson was clear: The erasure of DEI programs would not only threaten efforts to diversify the workforce but could also result in the erasure of history and culture."},{"_id":"H24H2N4TKFF6BLCPIS3FTOVLLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491928},"type":"text","content":"I thought about this a lot last week as the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution launched its 10th anniversary Black History Month coverage titled <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/ajc-black-history-month-series-turns-10/C4JM546GRRD75A7SKIMGUYGUHY/\" target=\"_blank\">“Atlanta Unveiled: How African Americans Shaped our City.”</a>"},{"_id":"NTZPV5MI3ZC3HBFT5AJBL4P2TU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491929},"type":"text","content":"For the series, I wrote about Atlanta’s Black architects and the iconic buildings they have designed."},{"_id":"XI5WHMSS5BFZHNZ7OXYU7QAEDQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"O3TBTX5TKJGZHEF4AVKTRLZOOI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Despite challenges, Georgia’s Black architects make their mark on Atlanta","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/despite-challenges-georgias-black-architects-continue-making-their-mark-on-atlanta/UOEMGBNQWVDAHABCM6S7327WZI/"},{"_id":"D4UXX7F3CRB7BDWBML4C2DSHG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491931},"type":"text","content":"So many readers wrote to thank me for sharing the lives of these often unheralded builders of Atlanta. And some of them shared the names of other Black architects in Atlanta whose stories are less well known."},{"_id":"URT4BNGEHNDN7BC6HJQF5H6XAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491932},"type":"text","content":"Since history is being erased as I write, I am going to share some of those names right here."},{"_id":"REIGYC2RPRCKBHIYFXYUCQH45I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491933},"type":"text","content":"Cordell Ingram was a Tuskegee graduate who came to Atlanta in 1976 and worked on designs for Philips Arena and several venues for the 1996 Olympics."},{"_id":"ZECWQ52HHFF3JELWTVCIMBCX54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491934},"type":"text","content":"In Ingram’s 2004 obituary, friend Robert Brown, another Tuskegee-educated architect, called Ingram a pioneer in getting important project management jobs for Black architects. Brown, who founded his Atlanta-based firm in 1984, has built a portfolio of schools, performing arts centers and other structures across DeKalb and Fulton counties that showcase his design talents."},{"_id":"D2XCV2RMTJESDAEZ6OHDX4GAXI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"GUH55FRUEZBQHM6XXMAMXMMRAA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"LGBTQ event at Federal Reserve Bank seeks new home after Trump DEI order","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/lgbtq-event-at-the-atlanta-fed-seeks-new-home-after-trump-dei-order/ASNFOZHRP5A77D5HXYWLQFIN7U/"},{"_id":"ROKGZBT5XJC2PMVKKSZMO5U5M4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":299,"comment":"Ala"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491935},"type":"text","content":"Tarlee Brown (no relation to Robert), also a Tuskegee graduate, designed the Auburn Avenue Research Library, but his promising career was derailed when he was involved in a corruption case and told prosecutors he paid a kickback to Richard Arrington Jr., the first Black mayor of Birmingham, Alabama."},{"_id":"VQ3BPRDCINHRRLKNU6TEL42AB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491936},"type":"text","content":"J. Max Bond Jr. — who designed Freedom Hall, the Administration Building and the reflecting pool at the King Center — spent part of his childhood in Atlanta, attending Booker T. Washington High School, before heading off to Harvard University and becoming one of the most influential Black architects of the 20th century."},{"_id":"NXGGYMZMGRDXVEVWVRZ3MYTC3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":130,"comment":"the North Carolina State School of Design "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491937},"type":"text","content":"Arthur Clement, a retired architect turned independent historian, was the first Black student to earn an architecture degree from North Carolina State University’s School of Design. He moved to Atlanta in 1975 after serving in the U.S. Army, one of the many Black architects summoned by then-Mayor Maynard Jackson (his cousin) to take part in the building of Atlanta."},{"_id":"E7GJA64FQVAH3JFY55WGKQMDNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491938},"type":"text","content":"Clement worked at Heery and Heery Architects with another Black architect named Rayford Newman. It was a small community and most Black architects in Atlanta crossed paths while working at larger firms or moonlighting for Black firms to make extra money."},{"_id":"IN4FCIU5CBHHNIEMDE7ORMTF74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":117,"comment":"Rev. "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491939},"type":"text","content":"Newman’s daughter, Helen Smith, told me her father was vice president at Heery and Heery and worked on the design of Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School and Peyton Forest Elementary School. He later joined the Black-owned firm J.W. Robinson & Associates, but died shortly after at age 39. A conflict over his role in the company led to a lawsuit, said Smith, who was only 13 years old at the time."},{"_id":"SCPYHH46LVHHJP4TGRRDSPONJY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MEVO7NNBDVGL3OU5SCD5WCXPHI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Trump’s executive orders are already beginning to change Georgia policy","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/trumps-executive-orders-are-already-beginning-to-change-georgia-policy/I7DQA6QLDZDHXFDPGHZFK4O2FE/"},{"_id":"KOAOZVMEUVHM7JL5TEGTHANEXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491940},"type":"text","content":"When her mother died last year, Smith discovered a trove of her father’s documents — his licenses, old articles and his briefcase still filled with papers. There was so much of her dad’s story she didn’t know, and she wanted to make sure others knew his name."},{"_id":"BUG7ZJ5G7ZHUXF2TPQEIGPJK2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491941},"type":"text","content":"“It is important for young people coming up to hear these stories so they have a better appreciation of what can and cannot happen,” Smith said."},{"_id":"AMQ5HDLNMBGH5FVJ2FWDCEUILY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":178,"comment":", a Tuskegee graduate,"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491942},"type":"text","content":"Smith wasn’t the only daughter who wanted to make sure her father’s legacy was remembered. I also heard from Rashida Trimble Winfrey, whose father, Tuskegee graduate Carl Trimble came to Atlanta in 1973."},{"_id":"AQPRCJXP5RDWNIEMUXFAGEE3A4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491943},"type":"text","content":"Trimble was a founding member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and was known for aggressively pressing the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games to give 50% of design contracts and full partnerships to women- and minority-owned firms."},{"_id":"RUYB6PWDLJGCZDUXCEOBBUXDVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491944},"type":"text","content":"He wrote an editorial and took out a full-page advertisement in The Atlanta Journal, decrying the lack of opportunities for Black architects in public and private deals."},{"_id":"U7E5MIVYRJBO3KAP4AS663UXLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":178,"comment":"personal "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491945},"type":"text","content":"Trimble knew the problem wasn’t a lack of talent, it was lack of access. Black architects, he said, struggled to gain proximity to decision-makers who granted contracts to their friends and political cronies."},{"_id":"WCLTMTVACREBJOLE2VRKWGXAWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491946},"type":"text","content":"Now, the president who granted jobs to personal friends and political cronies wants us to believe everyone has “individual opportunity.”"},{"_id":"T56QZC3NBJAVDGLCNX5TBNSVPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491947},"type":"text","content":"When we erase the histories of people like Trimble or the Tuskegee Airmen, we lose those details that remind us how little has changed in two generations."},{"_id":"OEBVS6FLNZFFDM3USAFUIFUJ7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491948},"type":"text","content":"We forget the struggle and strife on which their accomplishments were built."},{"_id":"UBYTPG5IZRBT5BZVTIK2DMIIBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491949},"type":"text","content":"We sweep their stories under the banner of DEI and convince ourselves there is no work to be done."},{"_id":"IPE6WA4BR5GTXBAUDIAVILM6GQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738874491950},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Scrubbing history is just one way federal agencies and contractors have responded to the 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These include measures like the Every Student Succeeds Act, which evolved from the No Child Left Behind Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. "},{"_id":"5TI2VFJOABBSBFLQKUROCGO7ZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This act helps fund programs for teacher training, English language learners, unhoused students and those with special needs, among others. Title I, in particular, provides crucial funding for schools serving high-poverty communities. 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Initially tasked with gathering data on schools, it was quickly downgraded to an office of education. "},{"_id":"3DFTXUWITZCRHEXUZBIFSSCVOM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"At the time, any federal action was seen as part of the larger Reconstruction effort, and the education of former enslaved people caused unease in both Northern and Southern states. This resistance to educating all citizens and establishing equitable education practices led states to assert that education was a matter of states’ rights and that the federal government was exceeding its authority."},{"_id":"BT7INJM4EJGBZHJMWE4LQSUCUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Over the next century, efforts to boost federal investment in education came again in response to national crises. "},{"_id":"NXIWPAKNL5HVVCX33MDGE2SR2A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In 1958, the <a href=\"https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/Sputnik_Spurs_Passage_of_National_Defense_Education_Act.htm\" target=\"_blank\">National Defense Education Act</a> was created to address the scientific and technological gaps exposed by the launch of Sputnik. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty resulted in the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, aiming to provide federal funding for schools serving low-income students, English learners, students with disabilities and other marginalized students — groups historically underserved by the education system."},{"_id":"UY5N5LEFJJAJDLKJRTYYK7DL4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It wasn’t until the Carter administration in 1979 that <a href=\"https://www.theschoolleader.org/news/president-jimmy-carter-s-legacy-education\" target=\"_blank\">Congress created the modern Department of Education</a> to centralize these efforts. "},{"_id":"ZMIGBJZDXBBSVEURNEKBE65Z3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The department was tasked with administering federal education assistance, enforcing civil rights laws, conducting educational research and promoting best practices across states, schools and research institutions. "},{"_id":"ITJZG56BV5GHJFNPFQ5ZYP64BA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Consolidating 267 educational programs spanning 24 federal agencies highlighted the nation’s commitment to ensuring educational opportunities for all students, particularly those facing the greatest challenges. It also established a Cabinet-level position, underscoring the growing importance of education at the national level."},{"_id":"RAJKVU6MQVGYVP6EGZURTEQHUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The Department of Education today represents only <a href=\"https://www.newamerica.org/education-policy/topics/school-funding-and-resources/school-funding/federal-funding/\" target=\"_blank\">3% of the federal budget</a>, but it provides, on average, 13.7% of a state’s education funding — <a href=\"https://usafacts.org/answers/what-percentage-of-public-school-funding-comes-from-the-federal-government/state/georgia/#:~:text=During%20the%202021%2D22%20school%20year%2C%20public%20schools%20in%20Georgia,funding%20from%20the%20federal%20government.&text=In%20all%2C%20public%20schools%20in,average%20of%20$2%2C536%20per%20student.\" target=\"_blank\">16.1% in Georgia</a>. The department’s policies are shaped by Congress and the president. "},{"_id":"ULQIJUASABFX3LG6N5HADC6OXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Trump would need congressional approval to dismantle the department. Alternatively, he can weaken the department by not filling positions, a tactic he chose in his first term."},{"_id":"QT7X4URHLVDLZPGT5KFGVT6FUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If the Department of Education is disassembled, the funds tied to federal educational laws would be redirected to states without federal oversight to ensure compliance. Though removing federal oversight could encourage innovation by offering local flexibility in educational programming, it also would introduce significant risks. "},{"_id":"5TD7QXFM4BD2XOSPBZKTHAEK7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"States, already grappling with tight budgets and competing priorities, might be forced to make difficult decisions. The concern is that, under financial pressure, states could cut support for the students who need it most."},{"_id":"IXVDFY2HU5B6RACZS5XXWJUG4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Georgia’s student population is diverse, with <a href=\"https://www.childrensdefense.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SOAC-2021-Fact-Sheet_Georgia.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">20% living in poverty</a>, 7.7% learning English and 13.6% receiving special education services (including students with visual and hearing impairments, autism and learning and intellectual disabilities). "},{"_id":"EEQFCGMRXJDTBMGW4GICVK5K2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"These vulnerable students face additional challenges that require customized programs and support to succeed in school. Such support includes access to specialized resources and technology, fostering parental involvement, hiring qualified staff, offering academic programs during the summer and after school and more. "},{"_id":"FYWZDA2G5BDJPFSWOMNAXWVUJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If federal funding is allocated to states without ensuring these supports, essential services could be cut, causing students to fall behind academically. "},{"_id":"NWUF6642AJEKNFIVLTIWIGSDEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Current investments in education are long-term assets, as they lead to higher incomes for students, reduce the likelihood of poverty and help build a strong workforce that attracts businesses. When students receive the appropriate support, they are more likely to stay in school longer, earn a diploma and pursue further education or training."},{"_id":"56ELYFY5C5ASRHGC4OJ4EA6RBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The federal government has historically played a key role in addressing systemic inequities in education. "},{"_id":"KY7EJD6PGZFYHJUIMQTCASQSLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In his first week in office, Trump dismantled diversity, equity and inclusion programs across federal agencies and reversed a 1965 executive order that prohibited federal contractors from discriminating based on race, religion or national origin."},{"_id":"NRWNV7PPW5HXHJJ3OVEBCXCX2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Georgia schools continue to rely on a 1985 funding formula, and it remains one of only six states that does not consider the number of low-income students when allocating funds. "},{"_id":"WRBGXO3225A2DKIUXRGVQQOCSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-03T18:22:51.180Z","replies":[],"pos":256,"comment":"— including Georgia —","type":"insert","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Federal programs such as Title I help bridge this gap, supporting educational initiatives for low-income students. Yet, without clear guidelines for state funding distribution, and given the historical need for federal support for at-risk students, states facing tough budgetary decisions might not prioritize the needs of vulnerable students."},{"_id":"LPSIIZ6PYBH4ZHH5JARPLRPVJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As a public schoolteacher in Georgia for 25 years, I have witnessed firsthand how quality educators and programs can transform students’ lives. All students should have the chance to achieve their full potential, and it’s essential that we protect the educational programs that make this possible."},{"_id":"B47WCXBPGFABZFO7UZAGJO6FR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Permeil Dass is a high school teacher, data analyst and instructional coach.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Funds tied to federal educational laws would be redirected to states without federal oversight to ensure compliance. "},"description":{"basic":"Funds tied to federal educational laws would be redirected to states without federal oversight to ensure compliance."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"4e3abda962c0c8752bc8bdc5c08bb1cbc86ef7dc5b0900c8f89a89218a026aae"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump Inauguration Issues","width":6000,"caption":"The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITATZUGRA3USPN4FLHY25IV6XA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITATZUGRA3USPN4FLHY25IV6XA.jpg?auth=4e3abda962c0c8752bc8bdc5c08bb1cbc86ef7dc5b0900c8f89a89218a026aae&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-dissolving-the-department-of-education-would-harm-vulnerable-students/LTZP56B5WZDYDBVSUE5FITL2NE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-06T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Permeil Dass","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Dissolving the Department of Education would harm vulnerable students"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-06T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-06T11:00:01.24Z","_id":"LTZP56B5WZDYDBVSUE5FITL2NE","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"4e3abda962c0c8752bc8bdc5c08bb1cbc86ef7dc5b0900c8f89a89218a026aae"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump Inauguration Issues","width":6000,"caption":"The U.S. Department of Education building in Washington. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITATZUGRA3USPN4FLHY25IV6XA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITATZUGRA3USPN4FLHY25IV6XA.jpg?auth=4e3abda962c0c8752bc8bdc5c08bb1cbc86ef7dc5b0900c8f89a89218a026aae&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"JAR4WEQEOBDI7DCZTP7A6PLVM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The federal government, like any large organization, benefits from periodic restructuring. But such adjustments require precision and an understanding of long-term consequences. The <a href=\"https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/02/cia-offers-buyouts-to-staffers-as-new-director-looks-to-stamp-trumps-imprint-on-the-agency/\">Central Intelligence Agency’s “deferred resignation” policy</a> — announced to the workforce on Tuesday by the new director, John Ratcliffe — offers employees a chance to quit while continuing to be paid through September. This policy is a crude, ill-conceived approach masquerading as reform. Far from being the result of agencywide consultation, it reflects a top-down decision focused on reshaping the workforce with little consideration for its potential impact on national security."},{"_id":"3G3RZWLQCRGWVBJPUCQI3OBCEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Behind this initiative lies the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to shrink the federal workforce — initially launched as a governmentwide effort and now entering a 2.0 phase, one in which national security organizations are not exempt. The inclusion of the intelligence community in this endeavor shows little understanding of — or perhaps no regard for — how intelligence agencies operate or how strategic continuity is maintained."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426"},"caption":"Brian O'Neill, visiting prof, Georgia Tech","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Brian O'Neill","width":574,"_id":"6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/XNSccLB--Rse7q_-CmX1ZKZp2f0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Brian O'Neill.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"WZNS3IHHSNCHNHW6AZPF4DDIHE"},"created_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","alignment":"right","height":574,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg?auth=7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QWRRW4DRUFF63JAWODINKLYR4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The assumption underlying CIA’s deferred resignation policy is that ineffective personnel will self-select for departure. Yet, those who truly do not contribute effectively to mission success are often the most likely to stay, either because they do not perceive their shortcomings or because they lack better options. Meanwhile, high performers — who are keenly aware of their value and have lucrative private-sector opportunities — are more likely to take the offer and leave. This dynamic risks creating the opposite of what the policy intends: a drain on talent and institutional knowledge while supposed under-performers remain entrenched."},{"_id":"ZYDHAKHMIJD4VAX743SRB36KFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Many of those who joined the agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks now occupy roles that require a deep understanding of tradecraft, adversary behavior, and institutional knowledge — expertise that cannot be replaced quickly or easily. The agency’s work is not transactional; it relies on years of investment in personnel, training and experience. Those in their second or third decades of service are essential anchors to long-term mission continuity."},{"_id":"BRJV57RUMFD6PCOWA5WL2FWKTI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And mid-career officers promoted prematurely will face steep learning curves without the necessary mentorship and experience. This is not about preserving the status quo — it’s about ensuring that leadership transitions occur in a way that maintains mission effectiveness. The intelligence community’s success depends on the seamless transfer of knowledge, something that this policy jeopardizes."},{"_id":"7ULJSAYKJRCCXJFXB3IGBMUPTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The CIA’s decision also to send an unclassified email listing probationary employees — those with less than three years of service — to the White House further highlights the disjointed and ill-considered nature of the Trump policy. If the goal is to purge employees under the probationary period to shield the agency from legal challenges, then compiling a list of names instead of relying on general personnel statistics serves no purpose other than to spread paranoia among the workforce. The naïveté and lack of forethought are further reflected in what is assumed to be Director’s Radcliffe’s belief that providing a list — unclassified, no less — with employee last names limited to initials would somehow mitigate security risks."},{"_id":"2O2AOXSKYJABHFK3EX5PTIZVXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This list does not simply endanger individual officers; it jeopardizes critical agency capabilities at a time when adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran actively target U.S. intelligence assets. This misstep reflects a glaring failure in strategic planning to counter emerging counterintelligence threats."},{"_id":"QIK4LAJOX5AAXEYZR25ODSCIQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Years of deliberate recruiting efforts are at risk of being undone if the intent is to institute a wholesale purge of the agency’s junior workforce. Under former director William J. Burns, the agency expanded its China-related operations and cybersecurity capabilities. Recruiting Mandarin speakers, technology experts and diverse officers with specialized knowledge has been a cornerstone of countering the complex threat landscape."},{"_id":"6KSTK2I35ZESTJFBM2Y67ABZEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Gutting this junior workforce raises two critical questions: Will recruitment be frozen, further compounding the problem? If not, what is gained by replacing probationary but trained officers with untrained new hires?"},{"_id":"LI6RPQMSGBHX3PFZYT2HPYQTAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Halting recruitment won’t be a temporary setback; it will disrupt the agency’s ability to maintain long-term effectiveness. Potential applicants will move on to other opportunities, shrinking the talent pool. Even when a hiring freeze is lifted, new personnel won’t arrive quickly. Each candidate must pass a thorough vetting process, often taking 12 to 18 months. Without a steady recruitment pipeline, the agency’s ability to respond to threats will diminish, giving adversaries more room to exploit vulnerabilities."},{"_id":"X2SOFS4OF5GZRJL5DU5QGC7J2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Effective reform requires targeted interventions, not blunt instruments. The agency already has mechanisms for identifying and addressing underperformance, including performance reviews and retraining programs. If leadership genuinely seeks to improve effectiveness, it should focus on enhancing these mechanisms rather than creating incentives for the best and brightest to leave."},{"_id":"2BAMEFR3DBF43BPDNCMW37XABM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The CIA’s mission is inherently tied to protecting U.S. interests, and that mission requires depth of thought, strategy, and long-term planning. This policy exhibits none of those qualities. It is reactive, poorly designed, and likely to achieve the opposite of its stated goal."},{"_id":"QPB3HD4URZGDLL23IJM6YHHK2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If this course is not reversed or rethought, the result will be diminished readiness, fractured morale, and an enduring void in critical expertise — precisely the conditions that adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran will exploit. They will not wait for CIA to rebuild; they will act while its defenses are weakest. And once the damage is done, no quick policy reversal will undo it."},{"_id":"SBMWW7WQIBA5VE4IHT37YE6SZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Brian O’Neill, a retired senior executive from the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center, is an instructor on strategic intelligence at Georgia Tech.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Gutting an institution of its talent and experience weakens its ability to function when it matters most."},"description":{"basic":"Gutting an institution of its talent and experience weakens its ability to function when it matters most."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carolyn Kaster","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"United States Israel Documents","width":3000,"caption":"The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. 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The vice president is posting on social media that the administration made Mexico back down and send 10,000 troops to the border — which then-President Joe Biden negotiated back in 2023. That announcement — that Mexico would continue to keep troops on its border, though it had no intention of removing them — made President Donald Trump <a href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-victory-lap-ahead-inauguration-213518860.html\" target=\"_blank\">back off — for now — on tariffs</a>."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. 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Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"CJQ6YQB74RDHBMD3WWSATXXKTY"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"UWKXGULSZFGJDKOO4YHNQNYW54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126960},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But the Monday morning stock market drop might have had more to do with making Trump sober up and pull back from his abuse of our allies and friends."},{"_id":"K2UICCX32FHUVEAOVTFZFK7L5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126961},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Our new secretary of State, Marco Rubio, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/world/americas/marco-rubio-panama.html\" target=\"_blank\">publicly threatened to retake the Panama Canal</a>. Rubio also declared that he is <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers\" target=\"_blank\">now head of the U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, which was shut down under murky and likely illegal circumstances over the weekend. Employees and members of Congress were locked out on Monday morning. Employees were told to work from home."},{"_id":"7N7KZQZNNZHRVBHRXVRSPI3AIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126962},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Federal agents have been fired from the FBI because they worked on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection investigation. The Social Security Administration database has been breached by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency committee."},{"_id":"GQPMM3GOLVBGRJL6REDG2DM5EI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126963},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Despite the sudden and open chaos, Congress has been on break since the inauguration on Jan. 20. And in that time, Trump and Musk have been wreaking havoc on federal agencies and our allies. Congressional Democrats showed up at USAID to protest on Monday afternoon, and <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.axios.com/2025/02/03/hakeem-jeffries-house-democrats-donald-trump__;!!JZyed81S!j6eSSV8MuY-lcrnDteOf9mpQIy9uo74pTu07UGw_Q1r1uUwUUNxIs0fopTKQJdtVB96A4pJtaEddJaZrr_6F_w$\">Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released a 10-point action plan</a> to fight the Trump administration. But none of this has slowed Trump or Musk in their open and hostile purge of government employees."},{"_id":"VHGSJTLZRBGHDP7FC5GTZDFZ7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126964},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Worse than that, if you could imagine, Trump used the tragedy of a midair collision between a commercial passenger plane and a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Reagan National Airport to advance his unhinged theories about diversity, equity and inclusion. Sixty-seven people, including the three members of our military aboard the helicopter, died, and, instead of consoling the nation and the families of those who died, he continued his divisive, inflammatory rhetoric. Never mind that he and Musk, apparently working as copresident, ordered cutbacks to the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic controller budgets."},{"_id":"TCECK5XIOBEZHG4OYRWTP5SZ3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126965},"type":"text","content":"Instead of reading in our history books about fascism and authoritarianism and how they creep up on democracies, we are watching it unfold in real-time."},{"_id":"25ZYEO6VCFECPPZPAS4UTO3FRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126966},"type":"text","content":"All the while, Congress is mute and neutered except for a few voices. Musk and Trump have raided the Justice Department. They are working on shuttering the Department of Education. Career civil servants are being fired without authorization by Congress."},{"_id":"ZZWC3NV4GNFEDK2WTNBGKCDWN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126967},"type":"text","content":"Many Americans watching this play out feel helpless and ill-prepared for such a frontal assault from within our government — worse, from our president."},{"_id":"OXXBPFD2QRCKLFCVABZK422DJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126968},"type":"text","content":"Our Founding Fathers established a system of checks and balances for a reason. They wanted no king, no monarchy. They wanted to keep the “executive” from becoming too powerful and too remote from the people. That is why the Constitution includes an impeachment and removal clause — to check the executive should he engage in illegal, immoral or unconstitutional actions."},{"_id":"2HUZGDIGKZCXBLNX6LKQZOP2YI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126969},"type":"text","content":"America was not built for dictators or authoritarians; we overthrew a tyrannical king in 1776. We established the freest form of government ever seen on the face of the earth. For 249 years, it has been safe and secure — until 1,500 people rioted at and inside the U.S. Capitol to stop the counting of electoral votes because a sore loser claimed a free and fair election was rigged. Four years later, that sore loser somehow won again, and in one of his first acts in office, pardoned those insurrectionists who had sacked the Capitol on his behalf."},{"_id":"AAN7JIT7YZEZFELP5WGMXQIS5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126970},"type":"text","content":"With a passive Congress, where do we go? Most Republicans, of course, are in lockstep with their dear leader. But Democrats should be a very vocal, very angry and very active minority. They need to use every parliamentary tool at their disposal. Filibuster. Put holds on nominations in the Senate, as Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii has vowed to do. Refuse to vote in the House. Democrats and sane Republicans concerned about the constitutional order and our very democracy must use every constitutional power granted them under Article I. Now."},{"_id":"SHRPSXBJEFECVIA2CS5DZ66ZXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738695126971},"type":"text","content":"Otherwise, a rogue executive can do whatever he likes by hiring extrajudicial hitmen and ruin our republic in less than 30 days. It took Hitler fewer than 60."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"What are Democrats and constitutionally minded Republicans doing as Trump and Musk ransack our federal agencies?"},"description":{"basic":"What are Democrats and constitutionally minded Republicans doing as Trump and Musk ransack our federal agencies?"},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"62519d778a893ded81ca286913c7ab8983575d7da0910cd7aff8839f512c5771"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Manuel Balce Ceneta","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump USAID","width":4842,"caption":"Flowers outside the United States Agency for International Development office in Washington on Feb. 3. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JQZA2HKREIHDX76DXF2TWKNX3Q.jpg","height":3227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JQZA2HKREIHDX76DXF2TWKNX3Q.jpg?auth=62519d778a893ded81ca286913c7ab8983575d7da0910cd7aff8839f512c5771&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-as-trump-and-musk-run-wild-in-washington-congress-is-conspicuously-absent/DJG7NQ6EQVFCXMF3Q25VDLDMXI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-05T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","firstName":"Sophia","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"A.","_id":"snelson","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-30T00:46:40.034Z","byline":"Sophia A. 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(Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JQZA2HKREIHDX76DXF2TWKNX3Q.jpg","height":3227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JQZA2HKREIHDX76DXF2TWKNX3Q.jpg?auth=62519d778a893ded81ca286913c7ab8983575d7da0910cd7aff8839f512c5771&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"BM5LI2ZHW5AM5DPNOL2I6UK4F4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863536},"type":"text","content":"I went to bed one Sunday last month and didn’t wake up until the following Tuesday afternoon. I’m not exaggerating. I’d love to tell you that it was intentional and I enjoyed it. I’d love to tell you that it was because of my hard-core, jet-settin’, rock-n-roll lifestyle. A result of a sold-out show full of adoring fans spilling out into the bar and praising my talents till dawn broke and I was forced to have my handlers wheelbarrow me home."},{"_id":"PSHPX6KZCND5XMKE5MVEWJQT5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863537},"type":"text","content":"But you’ve all seen me, and you know this is not the case. The only way I’d ever be a rock star is if they needed someone to double as Meat Loaf in a Rocky Horror tribute band playing the dinner buffet in Piegon Forge. No, my extended coma came by way of how it usually goes for a middle-aged man: exhaustion mixed with the man flu. (Oh, by the way, <i>there is science </i>that suggests men actually do get sicker than women!)"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d"},"caption":"Corey Ryan Forrester, comedian from Chickamauga, Ga., and opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Corey Ryan Forrester","width":681,"_id":"FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/UEQTY_IVoEGdMUSYzruSdOAXw9g=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Corey Ryan Forrester.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"55GSIDEAVJHPTJOWIOFMVYM5O4"},"created_date":"2024-08-16T20:55:39Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:25:09Z","alignment":"right","height":681,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg?auth=35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QECVXVBTWZBRRDMR5JDGYAF2PI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863538},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I didn’t go to bed sick on that Sunday night. At least I didn’t think I did. Having a young child sort of changes your opinion on what constitutes “being sick.” I’d just gotten back from doing shows in scenic Raleigh, North Carolina, all weekend, and, yes, I was tired, but nothing two hours of Midsomer Murders followed by eight hours of mouth-breathing sleep couldn’t fix."},{"_id":"NXSVEOFSWFCJNJVAN5J5CCO7FA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863539},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But everything I did for the next 38 or so hours I either did in a dream or was relayed to me by my wife, who said she’d never seen me in such a state of disarray."},{"_id":"B2DW724QCVB37AYEUISYNRFEA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863540},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When I finally came to, I was covered in sweat and shaking like my Granny’s old Dodge Diplomat when you’d try to turn the engine over after the year’s first freeze. I had absolutely no idea where I was, but more frightening still: I had no idea who I was. I’m not telling you anything new when I say that the concept of time is heavily distorted in dreams. You can sail the ocean fighting alien pirates for buried treasure during a 15-minute power nap. Imagine what all you could do if you slept for more than a full day."},{"_id":"ROTQRKJ33RHGFCVHJZEVOQKKMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863541},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Well I don’t have to imagine, because I did it. Everyone knows that no one cares to hear about people’s dreams, so I won’t bore you with all of the details. But what I need you to know is that I lived a whole life. A whole different life. I had friends. A family. A job. I took vacations, I loved people. It was all so very real. So real, in fact that when I snapped to in a dark room and rolled over in a pool of my own sweat, I became very depressed. It truly took me a minute to process the fact that none of it was real. I had to jump in the shower and let the hot water bring me back to reality. For better or worse, I was Corey again. And that’s when it hit me: “Oh no! I’ve got a wife and kid! I better go see what they are doing!”"},{"_id":"R7NASVSTWVGSTOCU6N6AAOHG5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863542},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When I got into the living room my son was standing on his head eating a sandwich and watching Sesame Street. I might have lived another life, but nothing here had changed. Thank god for that. My wife looked at me lovingly (rare, but nice!) and said, “Wow, I was wondering when you were gonna start moving! Feeling better?”"},{"_id":"HFJMPEVOJNHZXMUS25CNG74XDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863543},"type":"text","content":"That’s when I was informed it was a whole two days later! You see, it was Jan. 19 when I fell asleep, and Jan. 21 when I finally awoke. My god, what had I missed? The National College Football Championship? I hadn’t missed a college football championship my entire life. Though, if I’m being honest, I was fine with it. Ohio State and Notre Dame are two of my least favorite teams."},{"_id":"6ORL3JIDMVGEPPBT35BVZ5GWJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863544},"type":"text","content":"But then it hit me: We had a new president now."},{"_id":"QNNBTN4SKVGBFC6JQWEAM47XSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863545},"type":"text","content":"So I did what shouldn’t be done when you’re already depressed. I grabbed my phone and scrolled the newsfeed."},{"_id":"O3V3GYGNNFE5LGYJ32VH3IWTPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604216512},"type":"text","content":"Dang."},{"_id":"T5BKM7QLRZCI7JUCNCZOJYJ4YE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604216513},"type":"text","content":"They say there are decades where nothing happens and weeks where decades happen. But in just one day, my country got set back 50 years. Each flick of my thumb across my phone’s screen showed worse and worse news. When I went to bed, I was under the impression that, flawed as it might be, we lived in a democracy. And then I wake up to see the world’s richest man doing a sieg heil in front of the presidential seal. Possibly worse, I saw Nazi sympathizers and actual Nazis squeal in adulation because they’d seen their dream realized. The thing we were told to believe was just political mudslinging and speculation was on full unapologetic display. Now they have no reason to hide it."},{"_id":"7YDVYKZRW5E5LGMW53N4JLNUIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863546},"type":"text","content":"And as if that wasn’t bad enough, here comes Billy Ray Cyrus!"},{"_id":"VYV2SNJOVNGRPGRHVBHDGKX6YE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738600863547},"type":"text","content":"Lord, please tell me I’m still dreaming."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"When you sleep for days, the whole country can change."},"description":{"basic":"When you sleep for days, the whole country can change."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"AJC Contributor"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"277d77c5b5e96d2599d464d8d5d17287db7e965d123622321362d453ebe1cdec"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Anupong Thongchan","type":"author","byline":"Anupong Thongchan"}]},"subtitle":"HEALTH-SLEEPING-POSITION-DMT","width":3000,"caption":"(Anupong Thongchan/Dreamstime/TNS)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YH2LPHLGCVCU5PX3FWRM62XW44.jpg","height":2000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YH2LPHLGCVCU5PX3FWRM62XW44.jpg?auth=277d77c5b5e96d2599d464d8d5d17287db7e965d123622321362d453ebe1cdec&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-my-fever-dream-and-waking-to-a-new-america/6BNLQKKS2VCAFI2VNAUMSZQISM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-05T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/76e9ea48-60d4-4f11-aab9-52a585f4c842.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Corey Forrester","description":"Corey Ryan Forrester is a comedian from Chickamauga, Ga. 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The ones that endure seem to be the ones that have come out of my gut.”"},{"_id":"PCHX6OWBANGBLMBFHJPBRUFI3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But the version of “Revelations” that audiences have seen for more than six decades, which propelled A’Keen and so many other young people into the performing arts, is not the “Revelations” Ailey initially envisioned."},{"_id":"DGYZTGRNIZGBFGOCPNIZY7PG2U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PPCZ53L74RAH7LPL6YU52VCLWI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta Ballet and Alvin Ailey: Different paths, common goal","url":"https://www.ajc.com/events/performing-arts/atlanta-ballet-and-alvin-ailey-differents-paths-common-goal/6poPfJm4BxcF44uwDIfPkM/"},{"_id":"B7I33A623JCXDERNWYYAKX2AQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"At the premiere on Jan. 31, 1960, at 92nd Street YM/YWHA in New York City, the piece had twice as many songs and the performance lasted more than an hour. Audiences would see this version only a few times before Ailey trimmed the score and scenes to prepare the performance for touring in Asia and Australia. The shortened version is the one most Ailey fans know and love."},{"_id":"XF26VY3ZVBGFFIAFAXAEXXRYOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This year, for the 65th anniversary of “Revelations,” Matthew Rushing, a former company dancer for Ailey and the current interim artistic director retrieved those lost songs, determined to mine them for information and remix them in a tribute to Ailey’s career-defining dance."},{"_id":"OLC5AU5ZZJDRRPO5XMRR3ZFTAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Rushing made a playlist of the nine deleted songs and called A’Keen to serve as composer. The collaboration connected Ailey, Rushing and A’Keen across three generations, each relying on their version of what Ailey called “blood memories” — memories of spirituals, faith and sadness of his youth."},{"_id":"2O4QZHBWF5A7DLWDM3GYABBXJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“Sacred Songs” debuts in Atlanta on Feb. 14 when the company makes its annual pilgrimage to the city from Feb. 12-16 at the Fox Theatre. There is also a live album featuring tracks that didn’t make it into the dance, A’Keen said."},{"_id":"AM72NGF6K5DK5MCWHLA3SVONCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Using a storyboard with index cards to map out different takes, Rushing and A’Keen mixed and matched until they developed the sounds and choreography for the 40-minute performance."},{"_id":"2FZZWDQPFFB7XI5YMBPUWJF4FA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“I wanted to explore the multiplicity of Black music: rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, funk, jazz, contemporary Christian, traditional gospel, scatting, calypso,” said A’Keen, whose dance training helped him connect the dots between music and movement."},{"_id":"QDFTHYBP4JDBHMBCKDG3IYT4ZI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"BNJLH7FICJBARFYSN2BCP4GCFY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"‘Five Stories’ documentary recognizes Atlanta’s first Black dance studios","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/five-stories-documentary-recognizes-atlantas-first-black-dance-studios/PS6E44MW3JEUNBXMH6VGRDPWXA/"},{"_id":"5U5OKELQGBEWRKCWTVYNYF76VE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Rushing choreographed as he listened to the music, sometimes suggesting a tempo change or different language as they worked. “We talked about narrative and which songs we would leave untouched,” Rushing said."},{"_id":"FSJLZTLKQNADDGEGFHT4DVRLFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It was heavy work and Rushing told me he needed a way to stay grounded and present during the process."},{"_id":"QFIK4ZQIQZFCTPBBAOYP4F3UU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“Studying the spirituals kept me focused through the moments of feeling like it was a big responsibility to take on,” he said. “I didn’t want anyone to think I was trying to make another ‘Revelations.’”"},{"_id":"EU3NUCQFERAERBWS25D7WGLSMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Rushing and A’Keen said they did a lot of improvisation but they both came to “Pilgrim’s Song” from “Revelations” with a measure of certainty about what they wanted to do. Reimagined as “Passage Song,” the music has no discernible words, only scatting, riffs and wailing — A’Keen’s way of playing with the idea of coded language or Black tongue."},{"_id":"NEJT6V3HB5EAFC2S4P2GW3FBJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“We used sounds to capture the struggles and pain we heard in the original version,” Rushing said."},{"_id":"ZJVYPCAJENEVTKUGYHKRNATG6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In some ways, these feel like troubled times again, maybe not the exact troubles Ailey sought to depict in “Revelations”<i> </i>but certainly part of the same continuum. Spirituals have long been a source of strength and hope. With “Sacred Songs,” Rushing and A’Keen want to offer those feelings to future generations."},{"_id":"MSIPQ5EJNBA37MOHPS7VPKYCSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Before our conversation ended, Rushing told me something else I didn’t know or didn’t remember about “Revelations.” In the early days, Ailey used to leave a program note for audiences with the quote, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” The lyrics are from an American folk song that served as an anthem for protesters during the Civil Rights Movement."},{"_id":"PDN3HSZ2YRH4LPACQSGITSKTZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"When I asked Rushing what he wanted Ailey audiences to take from “Sacred Songs,” he referenced Ailey’s program note."},{"_id":"UM7Z65VT55BXDPSHTF7ZIHBGRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“I want people to be enlightened,” he said. “I know that is a vague and broad saying, but in the midst of a time that can be so dark in so many different ways — personally, politically, socially — the idea of light is becoming so much more profound to me.”"},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Growing up in Albany, DuBois A’Keen developed a complicated relationship with his hometown and couldn't wait to flee to the big 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A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","_id":"nedra-rhone","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Rhone","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/98f2f50c-d4da-49ae-9bde-27e4311ab5ad.png","role":"Lifestyle Columnist","education":[{"name":"University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor's degree in Economics"},{"name":"Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism"}],"longBio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta. She has written about style, entertainment, personal finance and the environment for the AJC. Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","expertise":"2,7,16","author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Nedra","twitter":"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5465","custom_ajc_website":"ajc","_id":"nedra-rhone","last_updated_date":"2024-08-01T19:40:05.320Z","byline":"Nedra Rhone","email":"nedra.rhone@ajc.com","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"RHONE: Lost songs from Alvin Ailey’s ‘Revelations’ reborn in new tribute"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-05T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-12T20:28:13.992Z","_id":"NDIMIGVPURB45DDXJY4S3PZ26E","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"4f42d04c2db78fb6f8d8d649593eac8a56f4f3063dd6e158c86ba64636425eff"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Photo by ©Paul Kolnik","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Paul Kolnik","type":"author","byline":"Paul Kolnik"}]},"subtitle":"Sacred Songs\rChoreographer:Matthew Rushing\rAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater\rCredit Photo: ©Paul Kolnik\rpaul@paulkolnik.com\rNYC 917-673-3003","width":3000,"caption":"Sacred Songs\nChoreographer:Matthew Rushing\nAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater\nCredit Photo: ©Paul Kolnik","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MVHZQUAU2ZCDNJZZH5DGP6VANA.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MVHZQUAU2ZCDNJZZH5DGP6VANA.jpg?auth=4f42d04c2db78fb6f8d8d649593eac8a56f4f3063dd6e158c86ba64636425eff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"2TFOAZALKZGXHGX2K3F44TXG4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652924},"type":"text","content":"On Jan. 31, the <a href=\"https://www.eeoc.gov/\" target=\"_blank\">Equal Employment Opportunity Commission</a> (EEOC) staff received a new directive from its Trump-appointed acting chair. The directive instructed staff to halt the processing of EEOC charges alleging sexual orientation discrimination or discrimination based on gender identity and that all charges so alleging should be sent to national headquarters for review to make sure they “comply with applicable executive orders to the fullest extent possible.”"},{"_id":"TOI6QWEKOBEQXAYBJAZHEV2FAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652925},"type":"text","content":"This instruction flies in the face of the United States Supreme Court decision <a href=\"https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Bostock v. Clayton County</i></a>, a 2020 6-3 majority decision penned by Trump-appointed Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, in which the Supreme Court found that discrimination based on sexual orientation or based on gender identity is illegal sex discrimination under Title VII. It is unconstitutional to defer or delay these charges simply because they are brought by employees this administration prefers not to protect. The law as stated by the Supreme Court requires that these employees be treated fairly and equally. The charges should be processed timely, just as with any other charge."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"702a7d1640504fd7d5a1554ac5799f23a52a06234f6eb95b9da8b5b93e69e30a"},"caption":"Ed Buckley","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Ed Buckley","width":3169,"_id":"ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/UGYuEdHX9hqOBbB4cd9BAhPjn6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/UGYuEdHX9hqOBbB4cd9BAhPjn6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","takenOn":"2023-06-01T16:56:41Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/UGYuEdHX9hqOBbB4cd9BAhPjn6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/-UcjVS63PWqw-VjVPa9rHhpSa9s=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Ed Buckley.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"QINGGIIAJNEUVCRLSYWSNL7JA4"},"created_date":"2025-02-04T16:04:19Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-04T16:04:19Z","alignment":"right","height":3600,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZA7HHAPH4ZAIXDXAEOJNTDWWTE.jpg?auth=702a7d1640504fd7d5a1554ac5799f23a52a06234f6eb95b9da8b5b93e69e30a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"S6KMKSZMZBGUDIJCTIK6PDXZPI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652927},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The president of the United States does not have the authority to overrule the Supreme Court of the United States by executive order or otherwise. It is a bedrock principle of our constitutional democracy that there are three coequal branches of government, three coequal branches: the administrative branch, the legislative branch. When President Donald Trump seeks to overrule a Supreme Court case, he is ignoring our constitutional democracy and, instead, making a power grab, overreaching his authority. It is up to the officials at the EEOC to ignore this illegal directive or challenge this directive in a court of law. To do otherwise would be to not only bow to an illegal mandate but also to ignore illegal sexual orientation or gender-based discrimination, which has been recognized as actionable by the United States Supreme Court."},{"_id":"472IGVRUNJHHPHOI2HGUSOGEGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652928},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Separate and apart from the illegality of a new administration’s directive, is the cruel marginalization of two groups of people who, in recent times, were recognized as equal under the laws of this country. By directing the EEOC to delay or defer the processing of charges from these two groups, the Trump administration is sending a not-very subtle message to employers: discriminate at will against gay and transgender employees. Of course, the other side of that coin is that gay and transgender employees will live in fear in the workplace, operating with the belief that they are no longer protected by Title VII."},{"_id":"I7QUOROOJ5BULJV54TPEZWSZGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652929},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This marginalization will not only have a financial impact against those employees who find themselves fired, demoted, harassed or not promoted, but it also will have a substantial emotional impact on them, as they live in fear of workplace discrimination, which, for all intents and purposes, appears to be authorized by the president and his new administration. In addition to this authorization to permit the marginalization of gay and transgender people in the workplace, it appears that the Trump administration is prepared to do so in the military. Executive Order 14183, captioned “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness,” rescinds Executive Order 14004, which permits military service regardless of gender identity. Again, Trump chose to marginalize this minority group. It is an open question as to whether under <i>Bostock</i> such marginalization is illegal under <a href=\"https://www.eeoc.gov/statutes/title-vii-civil-rights-act-1964\" target=\"_blank\">Title VII</a>."},{"_id":"V2JUBGISMRHA7FNHE6UHNWZA4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652930},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"More broadly speaking, it appears the Trump administration is promulgating a rash of illegal executive orders that fly in the face of the Constitution and other well-established laws. This appears to be an effort to flood our country with illegal orders to overwhelm those who would oppose such actions and fracture and destroy the rich and diverse human family in our country. Other examples of this include his executive order outlawing birthright citizenship (a clear violation of the 14th Amendment, already struck down by one court), and the sudden termination of numerous federal employees in violation of civil service laws."},{"_id":"KV2FEMYWNFEJTICZMDT3AONVUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652931},"type":"text","content":"In short, the Trump administration is rushing the electorate with a series of orders that essentially say, “This is the law because I say so.” It is not. Trump does not have that authority. We are still a government by and for the people, governed by a Constitution that recognizes three distinct branches of government, each designed to keep the other in check."},{"_id":"JBYZGHWIQFEPZMN6ATCHOVF3VQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652932},"type":"text","content":"These orders and other efforts to overstep the Constitution must be opposed vigorously by litigation or legislation. This needs to happen immediately lest we lose our republic to tyranny."},{"_id":"4U6TUSEHXVEVZA56NSQKTQPEQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738686652933},"type":"text","content":"<i>Ed Buckley is a founding partner at the law firm Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLC and a leading expert on legal issues concerning civil rights and the LGBTQ+ community. Buckley and his law partner, Tow Mew, were involved in the litigation of the landmark 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County, which determined that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, securing crucial workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The administration is rushing the electorate with orders that essentially say, “This is the law because I say so.” That’s not the case."},"description":{"basic":"The administration is rushing the electorate with orders that essentially say, “This is the law because I say so.” That’s not the case."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d9881a801e0ce695f34673c5eab24234835a21e4285c577b0c73b39828462a76"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"Getty Images","name":"Chip Somodevilla","type":"author","byline":"Chip Somodevilla","slug":"chip-somodevilla"}]},"subtitle":"The Jolt: A Clayton County case, the U.S. Supreme Court and the meaning of ‘sex’","width":6486,"caption":"Eddie Reynoso of San Diego, California, attaches an American flag his chair on Oct. 7, 2019, while waiting in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court building for the chance to attend arguments in Bostock v. Clayton County. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/SUTBCKEEGK3MLT2W4R4IJ5MT4Y.jpg","height":4324,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/SUTBCKEEGK3MLT2W4R4IJ5MT4Y.jpg?auth=d9881a801e0ce695f34673c5eab24234835a21e4285c577b0c73b39828462a76&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-trumps-executive-orders-tilt-toward-tyranny/2UXA65A2AZBBPJWZZ4P2GCO4UY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-04T16:30:56.12Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Ed Buckley","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The great overreach: Trump’s executive orders tilt toward tyranny"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-04T16:30:56.12Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-04T18:15:39.996Z","_id":"2UXA65A2AZBBPJWZZ4P2GCO4UY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"d9881a801e0ce695f34673c5eab24234835a21e4285c577b0c73b39828462a76"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"Getty Images","name":"Chip Somodevilla","type":"author","byline":"Chip Somodevilla","slug":"chip-somodevilla"}]},"subtitle":"The Jolt: A Clayton County case, the U.S. Supreme Court and the meaning of ‘sex’","width":6486,"caption":"Eddie Reynoso of San Diego, California, attaches an American flag his chair on Oct. 7, 2019, while waiting in line outside the U.S. Supreme Court building for the chance to attend arguments in Bostock v. Clayton County. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/SUTBCKEEGK3MLT2W4R4IJ5MT4Y.jpg","height":4324,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/SUTBCKEEGK3MLT2W4R4IJ5MT4Y.jpg?auth=d9881a801e0ce695f34673c5eab24234835a21e4285c577b0c73b39828462a76&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"RTWRWKLLCJETXJIFLFJATPO6UE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661077},"type":"text","content":"The tragic death of Laken Riley in 2024, coupled with the surging illegal immigration crisis, ignited a renewed sense of urgency in Georgia to take decisive action."},{"_id":"QIEEFT7JBJDUJBSUNZZKN7OA4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":269,"comment":" please retain writer voice here, though it is against our reporting style. thanks."}],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661078},"type":"text","content":"Riley, a nursing student at Augusta University, became a symbol of the risks posed by illegal immigration when she was brutally attacked and murdered on the University of Georgia campus by Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant and is a <a href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/jose-ibarra-laken-riley-suspect-tren-de-aragua-links-1987608\" target=\"_blank\">reported member of a Venezuelan gang</a>."},{"_id":"ZGRTKUHEXNHZZMDA3TPHV2R2SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661079},"type":"text","content":"The details of the case are deeply disturbing: Ibarra entered the United States illegally, was initially sent to New York City and then was transported to Georgia on a taxpayer-funded flight. In Georgia, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/suspect-in-student-death-at-uga-cited-for-october-shoplifting-in-athens/KQNKOZMOLJBINHW4HQQXXZJ27Q/\" target=\"_blank\">he was arrested for shoplifting</a> — a charge that should have led to his immediate detention and eventual deportation. Instead, he was allowed to roam free until he ended the life of an innocent young Georgian."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"4d1592cfb0fd59c0e2525f1e59e9f2eeb6839526603260ba4e7d1092245bdf91"},"caption":"Chuck Efstration","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Chuck Efstration","width":1524,"_id":"ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/QrYGm4MyyvTe9aW3QOmhe6Jyz84=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/QrYGm4MyyvTe9aW3QOmhe6Jyz84=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/QrYGm4MyyvTe9aW3QOmhe6Jyz84=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/CqCr0rzp7oDohFu0Fr3dXiwIN8I=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Chuck Efstration.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6JMVQCE5BFH3TBP2UA4ZOQOPAI"},"created_date":"2025-02-03T16:09:51Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T16:09:51Z","alignment":"right","height":2283,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ROONFO3EPJCTXOT5SRUCGW7TN4.jpg?auth=4d1592cfb0fd59c0e2525f1e59e9f2eeb6839526603260ba4e7d1092245bdf91&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"HOH3IE2EFZE2TACJYHW6CAWNYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661081},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In response to this crime, the Georgia General Assembly took quick action, <a href=\"https://leitf.org/2024/07/leitf-explainer-the-georgia-criminal-alien-track-and-report-act-of-2024/\" target=\"_blank\">passing legislation requiring local law enforcement</a> to detain criminal illegal immigrants until they can be handed over to federal authorities. This legislation sent a clear message: Georgia will not serve as a sanctuary for criminal illegal immigrants."},{"_id":"PXMZKB7UIJG7DEYIERUTOOY6WY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661082},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This isn’t the first time Georgia has taken a firm stance against illegal immigration. Back in 2011, the state passed one of the <a href=\"https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20112012/116631\" target=\"_blank\">most comprehensive state-level immigration laws in the nation</a>, making it more difficult to illegally hire individuals without proper documentation. The law sought to address the problem at the local level, where illegal immigration has had the most significant impact."},{"_id":"ZNQL32AQTFA23H2LZPAIGZQ2YE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661083},"type":"text","content":"However, state-level action can only go so far. The problem of illegal immigration is a federal issue, and no state can solve it on its own."},{"_id":"NWOCNHBXWFFAPBMCHX6BXXBCCI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661084},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Unfortunately, under the Biden administration, this crisis escalated exponentially."},{"_id":"XMCS4QTBOZBPBIPTEVEBA33UBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-02-03T19:50:29.222Z","replies":[{"date":"2025-02-03T21:16:23.000Z","text":"Changes to among the highest. ","user":"Jamie Riley","email":"Jamie.Riley@ajc.com"}],"start":124,"end":142,"text":"Remove this claim? I didn't see that this was correct in either the link here to the AP story or the NYT link that follows.","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-02-03T19:58:11.695Z","replies":[{"date":"2025-02-03T21:17:21.657Z","text":"Changed to The border chaos.","user":"Jamie Riley","email":"Jamie.Riley@ajc.com"}],"start":225,"end":237,"text":"We may need to understand what is meant above to look at this sentence. I think he means something like '[the sheer number of immigrants trying to get in has led to a dramatic increase in illegal border crossing attempts ...' I don't know exactly what the chaos is. ","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738620661085},"type":"text","content":"The United States experienced <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-crossings-mexico-biden-18ac91ef502e0c5433f74de6cc629b32\" target=\"_blank\">among the highest percentages of illegal immigration</a> during any four-year period in our history, with more than <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/briefing/us-immigration-surge.html\" target=\"_blank\">60% of new immigrants entering the country illegally</a> during Biden’s time in office. The border chaos has not only led to a dramatic increase in border crossings but has also created a massive strain on state and local resources, from law enforcement to health care to education."},{"_id":"D276BGJH6RBF7CXIVU5GYWOWB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661086},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Building off Georgia’s bold legislative actions, Congress recently passed the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/what-is-the-laken-riley-act-key-details-on-the-new-immigration-bill/4b839730-3501-48b1-a703-af7e3a0ce497/\" target=\"_blank\">Laken Riley Act</a>, which requires a stronger partnership between state and federal authorities to address illegal immigration and its consequences. This new law, which was the first signed into law by President Donald Trump in his new term, is a fitting tribute to Riley’s memory. Her tragic death incited long overdue federal action to combat illegal immigration and protect all Americans."},{"_id":"RSZ4ZDTTRVBLDKBRNP2DYHMR7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661087},"type":"text","content":"Riley’s story is a reminder of the painful human cost of the Biden immigration crisis, but also underscores the need for meaningful reform."},{"_id":"NNUZEFZFLNCGVF3X6NJV33P6KI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661088},"type":"text","content":"Thanks to Trump’s leadership, Georgia and other states finally have a federal partner serious about protecting our border and enforcing our immigration laws."},{"_id":"D6HKJAPATJDEPCDFKT7CR25TJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661089},"type":"text","content":"The Biden administration’s failures to stop the historic flood of immigration didn’t stem from mere incompetence. Biden’s reckless rhetoric during the 2020 campaign sent a signal to the world that America would become a welcome mat for illegal immigration when he took office."},{"_id":"QCUE6GWKO5A5BMKNDLAVHIUOTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661090},"type":"text","content":"That was one campaign promise he certainly kept."},{"_id":"KBPH7OCWCNAB7APUW3G5ECUW4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661091},"type":"text","content":"Former Vice President Kamala Harris famously avoided going to the actual border. On the rare occasion when Americans heard the Biden administration speak about illegal immigration, it was to condemn and obstruct common sense efforts like those in Texas to erect border fencing."},{"_id":"5HDJVM7FSZAVZEZ5MHMWWZOJ74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661092},"type":"text","content":"That is changing now."},{"_id":"54FFJ3WY7VCJTDLTHH7RAOO43M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661093},"type":"text","content":"On the campaign trail, Trump was direct with the American people. He promised to arrest and send home illegal immigrants, prioritizing the deportation of criminals and those who are threats to national security."},{"_id":"HZNEW6VCAFBBND24OK5OOMFRRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661094},"type":"text","content":"The president’s job is to enforce laws on the books — and that’s exactly what is happening today."},{"_id":"Q2SGQ5MRYNAVNGHD63MTL52BXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661095},"type":"text","content":"Across the nation and here in metro Atlanta, criminals who are in our country illegally are being taken into custody and removed from our streets. As a former felony prosecutor, I know without a doubt that Americans are safer now than we were three weeks ago."},{"_id":"YQ327ERJYVE2TKETTXY7M76NJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661096},"type":"text","content":"The transparency of these federal operations fulfills Americans’ right to know what their government is doing, but the breadth also sends a clear signal here and abroad: Don’t come to the United States illegally or there will be serious consequences."},{"_id":"S4UNLJCDXJDUTELKYNNQWKCHRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661097},"type":"text","content":"The goal isn’t endless raids; it’s to end the need for raids by restoring our nation’s greatest treasure — the rule of law."},{"_id":"PLIPRE5JTNETJMXQ3FPJP24KZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661098},"type":"text","content":"Each generation of Americans has welcomed waves of immigrants who came to our country legally in search of a brighter future. The United States still offers that promise, but, under Trump’s leadership, we will do it on terms and timelines that adhere to our duly passed laws."},{"_id":"AHN7CWDMNJDR7D5AQWJL22GLPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738620661099},"type":"text","content":"<i>Chuck Efstration is the majority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Thanks to Trump, states finally have a federal partner serious about protecting our border and enforcing our laws."},"description":{"basic":"Thanks to Trump, states finally have a federal partner serious about protecting our border and enforcing our laws."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"6cd8ea07f9df88337f873874bb8e09dc01de166b8ac7275cd2037319ce35051a"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Nathan Posner for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"aajc 013025 laken riley act","width":3000,"caption":"Allyson Phillips, mother of Laken Riley, and President Donald Trump embrace ahead of the Jan. 29 signing of the Laken Riley Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington. 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These young people have grown up with us in our society, going to our schools, living in our communities and embracing the American life. "},{"_id":"KLXXIO7VO5AOLFSCL67GJYJPVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But as they graduate from our high schools, where do they go next? Do they have the same opportunities? Can we afford to lose them? Can we be thinking about the economic benefits they bring to our business community?"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"64d2d4ce7dd50e577e9ad14520d07dee8a06e4e2b828fde60b41c5a593fc8ca3"},"caption":"Emory Morsberger","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Emory Morsberger","width":600,"_id":"FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/lz0xOGpKpLp8cABDR_4d_GZv8cM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/lz0xOGpKpLp8cABDR_4d_GZv8cM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/lz0xOGpKpLp8cABDR_4d_GZv8cM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/OZJEWj31nhskwbZXpB_O2KLrb90=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"EMORY HEADSHOT.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"XCWX6E7JEFHHJI44JRJJRG2ZEY"},"created_date":"2024-08-20T19:47:27Z","last_updated_date":"2024-08-20T19:47:27Z","alignment":"right","height":635,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FLXQ47WRDBHIJFCT6AD4YDJS5A.jpg?auth=64d2d4ce7dd50e577e9ad14520d07dee8a06e4e2b828fde60b41c5a593fc8ca3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"IILV3H6ND5FHJMUD4RUKQCO5KA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I am interested in helping these Dreamers move forward with their lives, whether that means transitioning into jobs, technical colleges or universities. "},{"_id":"UYHNK353VFHLNHTCJ3Q7HBZWNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Why? Because we need them. "},{"_id":"RNH3G5ZTJZCGBOZS2OQ5HDOUAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We need them in our workforce. We need them in our manufacturing facilities. We need them in agriculture around the state of Georgia. We need them in our communities. "},{"_id":"PYTK224RQRBG3I7KLTMK6V4NVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"These young people, who come from diverse cultural backgrounds, are eager to contribute — yet they are also uncertain about the next steps."},{"_id":"Y7G73PYA3NHFNGQSULHCCYPGWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"With the new administration’s showy deportations of suspected undocumented migrants making news all across the country, it’s important to reflect on the ways immigrants enrich our cities, our state and this nation. "},{"_id":"5U2YWU44FVGIPCVNWLFE3WHESI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As we look at our economy and the jobs that are needed, we should want to lend support to Dreamers to keep these young people moving forward."},{"_id":"YS43L3JDNFFMPLR4HD4VS53EQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In this country, many of us are fortunate to live the American dream. America is a place where hard work pays off, where our dedication to one another develops strong communities dedicated to fulfilling the promise of our future. "},{"_id":"2IFSB2IMC5A23AKDE5NPTD56NU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Yes, there are many questions, but there are answers and we must act on them. Yes, there are aspects of our system and in our structure that need refinement, but now, as we contemplate the necessary steps for strengthening our economy, we must pursue the right answers and solutions and find new ways to support the entire community."},{"_id":"TTG4P76TRRBVNPSQ5GTREWV3HE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-02-03T16:20:01.941Z","replies":[],"pos":91,"comment":"great great great grandfather","type":"insert","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we all know, immigrants built our country. In fact, my own great-great-great-grandfather came to America in 1848 at the age of 20 with nothing and achieved the American dream. "},{"_id":"DIGSIYZUKJG5NLNWGTACFUKB4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We are fortunate to have a diverse workforce that fills jobs, grows our economy and enriches our culture. In metro Atlanta, we celebrate this diversity and watch with great enthusiasm the collective spirit of cooperation and mutual support from the business community, our neighborhoods, local retailers and social services that are so abundantly active here. "},{"_id":"HMSXEFGUYVCYFAP537WA3GQY7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"How can we come together more in support of our young immigrants?"},{"_id":"GAUKFNHRLFC5XMXKCYM2JS7BAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Almost 12% of Georgia jobs are filled by immigrants. That is not surprising, considering that the labor force participation rate for immigrants in Georgia is 71% compared with 61.9% for native-born workers. "},{"_id":"5BFCWRYPKBDBBAQHZJQ7W7QMJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"And this comes amid a labor shortage. "},{"_id":"NSJOMRRZMJBYPBEJVTFZD55YEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As of last year, there were only 54 available workers for every 100 jobs. These statistics certainly underscore that we have a great need for immigrant workers. There are job shortages in transportation and logistics, hospitality, construction and health care. "},{"_id":"ZDPNJUNMCZFT7DJFI5NPXRQETI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In health care alone, there is a particular need, one increasingly being filled by young people finishing high school and pursuing specialized courses to fulfill roles as medical and dental assistants and administrative positions. "},{"_id":"W5CAGHKWIZHPXNAV7BUSXH73YY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"With nearly 17,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Georgia, the math is clear: We must nurture these young adults, who were born outside of the United States, and welcome them into our workforce for the good of our economy."},{"_id":"MPFOLJWEXBCJHEHPHBI47F6UMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The purpose of DACA is to protect young immigrants, who were brought to the United States as children, from deportation. We have a responsibility to help educate these young people. "},{"_id":"Q7QCQCTKQRDWZH5E6DMVMPR6LA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"To me, the Dreamers are a special group of individuals who deserve our support and protection. It’s time we provide them with the same educational opportunities and instate tuition options that other Georgia students receive. We need their energy and curiosity to help build the future based on modern technologies and innovation. "},{"_id":"YRRGTREKLNDNBFSYG36O53JRHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We need them in Georgia."},{"_id":"SMQKY7JHUBBUVLXPA4GPYWKIPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though this group of young people is referred to as Dreamers, I am dreaming about what actions we can take together to support their futures. "},{"_id":"P6COGK5RBBFM5CSPATNTAB2TAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I’m dreaming about equality and humanitarian efforts to support them. I’m dreaming about areas of our city and state where diversity is celebrated and immigrants are supported, giving them the opportunities to make contributions here, to realize the American dream and to give back to their communities."},{"_id":"NO7DSEH6FNEHFGL5TNP46BJ7SI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Emory Morsberger, a former member of the Georgia Legislature who serves as chief executive of the Morsberger Group, a firm devoted to civic issues and economic development, is chair of Gateway 85, a Gwinnett County community improvement district.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"These young people help our communities in many ways. We must protect them."},"description":{"basic":"These young people help our communities in many ways. 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Kelly Loeffler tapped to lead the <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/04/politics/kelly-loeffler-trump-small-business-administration/index.html\">Small Business Administration</a> (SBA), franchising is poised for even more growth in the years ahead, especially with one key policy change."},{"_id":"T5ZDUW5FURDIZCL7YXYN5XMCC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811538},"type":"text","content":"Franchising refers to a business model in which one party (the franchisor) allows another party (the franchisee) the rights to operate under its established brand and business system. In exchange for access to the brand name, logo and organizational structure, the franchisee typically pays an initial fee and ongoing royalties to the franchisor — owning and operating their own small business."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"92898950272a67c839798473b702e2d3c7315a150479222cc16ba1b8cd9def91"},"caption":"Matt Haller","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Matt Haller","width":600,"_id":"GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Y4aqaNklfEQbr4cwz2HCFrC49m8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Y4aqaNklfEQbr4cwz2HCFrC49m8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","takenOn":"2021-06-17T12:41:20Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Y4aqaNklfEQbr4cwz2HCFrC49m8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Ed_6Klg3lyBbnOZ5pHUw7GCErmY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Matthew Haller.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"CW2MY3W6KFCRPJLLXIHTTSTFIQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-31T19:14:55Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-31T19:14:55Z","alignment":"right","height":400,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GEXQUG4YBJG6ZFIBHLTUYPFLHM.jpg?auth=92898950272a67c839798473b702e2d3c7315a150479222cc16ba1b8cd9def91&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"47IJ5SR7FFHVNB7GRLUCYNJMKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811540},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"Take a drive down any street in Georgia, and you’re likely to encounter a franchise business. In fact, more brands are headquartered in Atlanta than any other city in the country, leading to its distinction as the <a href=\"https://www.franchise.org/blog/open-for-opportunity-takes-on-atlanta\">franchising capital</a> of the United States."},{"_id":"D3ZUDJU5ONHSZLVCP5GQTEDBOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811541},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"A few of the iconic examples that began and remain based here include household names like <a href=\"https://www.chick-fil-a.com/customer-support/who-we-are/our-culture-and-values/where-is-chick-fil-as-headquarters-located\">Chick-Fil-A</a> and <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/business/atlanta-inspire-brands-buys-sonic/ohQ8wqckQYgKINZ90mgqnL/\">Sonic</a> and newer brands such as Floor Coverings International and Any Lab Test Now. Dozens of elected officials have visited these brands and their franchise locations through IFA’s “Open For Opportunity” road show, including <a href=\"https://x.com/CityofAtlanta/status/1508487573584367628\">Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens</a> and six of Georgia’s congressional delegation."},{"_id":"NNZUCZXYIZBMNAU4ZP5FV5JUNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811542},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"Though franchising is often associated with food, more than <a href=\"https://openforopportunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IFA_The-Value-of-Franchising_Sep2021.pdf\">6 in 10 franchises</a> are in another industry, including the Atlanta-based <a href=\"https://www.ihgplc.com/en/contact-us/regional-headquarters\">IHG Hotels</a> that provides travelers coast-to-coast reliable and affordable lodging. The franchise model is often mislabeled with big business and corporate behemoths, but more than 8 in 10 most franchise owners (81.6%) own and operate one location, according to FRANdata."},{"_id":"HGYRQ7WUANHDVER6BDVWIURATQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811543},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"Franchising allows entrepreneurs to go into business for themselves but not by themselves. It provides a new business owner with a proven system and infrastructure with the autonomy and independence to work as his or her own boss."},{"_id":"O3OOESCXVRE7PHR6ZQI6UI7CTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811544},"type":"text","content":"It’s not only the best of both worlds but also a proven pathway to entrepreneurship for underrepresented communities. More than 1 in 4 (<a href=\"https://openforopportunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IFA-Franchising-Report-Executive-Summary_092121.pdf\">approximately 26%)</a> franchises are owned by people of color, compared with 17% of independent businesses. Black-owned franchises earn <a href=\"https://openforopportunity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IFA-Franchising-Report-Executive-Summary_092121.pdf\">2.2 times more</a> than Black-owned independent businesses on average."},{"_id":"NPQ3EP4LBZAELJRGMRFAIE3YYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811545},"type":"text","content":"Franchising weathered the pandemic-induced storm better than its counterparts or economy writ large, in no small part because of the work of the first Trump administration’s focus on creating the Paycheck Protection Program the SBA administered. In 2023, the <a href=\"https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-data-shows-franchising-continues-to-exceed-growth-expectations-302062031.html#:~:text=%22Even%20in%20the%20face%20of,growth%20of%20the%20broader%20economy.\" target=\"_blank\">sector grew at 4</a><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-data-shows-franchising-continues-to-exceed-growth-expectations-302062031.html*:*:text=*22Even*20in*20the*20face*20of,growth*20of*20the*20broader*20economy.__;I34lJSUlJSUlJSU!!JZyed81S!jZybFDaBvVvRteGVdxZf6dfovCBZNNjRTJjX0-11CfE3lNEi5n1bqCshD3nRwECOheX-WEqQ_65bpkdHrg$\">%</a>, nearly double the 2% of the broader economy. In 2024, Georgia ranked third in the nation for fastest franchise growth — and is predicted to be the fastest growing state for franchises in 2025. Georgia is home to an estimated <a href=\"https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/2024%20Franchising%20Economic%20Report.pdf\">32,000 local franchise establishments</a> employing more than <a href=\"https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/2024%20Franchising%20Economic%20Report.pdf\">340,670 Georgians</a> and generating <a href=\"https://www.franchise.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/2024%20Franchising%20Economic%20Report.pdf\">$34.6 billion</a> in economic output."},{"_id":"XUT6MNOKPZD3JEGYYJXH5X3FEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811546},"type":"text","content":"These are all encouraging signs that give opportunities for Loeffler to build on should she be confirmed as the next SBA administrator. The agency she has been tapped to lead plays a major role for would-be franchisees accessing early financial capital. In fact, an estimated 20% of SBA loans by dollar volume go to franchises."},{"_id":"SS2T7EU55VFVJATMLSMM3CSO4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811547},"type":"text","content":"In 2023, the <a href=\"https://www.franchisewire.com/ifa-concerned-about-demise-of-sba-franchise-directory/\" target=\"_blank\">SBA ended the franchise directory</a>, which was a centralized and verified location for lenders to quickly and accurately check whether a franchise was eligible for SBA financing. Without it, lenders have to do more legwork to determine if a franchise qualifies for a loan, which has led to challenges for many brands finding financing for their new franchise owners."},{"_id":"CTU6BU6XQVG4PPFED5P3DANS2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811548},"type":"text","content":"Though the private sector normally appreciates attempts to streamline or eliminate government programs, the franchise directory was a critical tool. Its elimination caused certain lenders to pull back from franchise lending, denying would-be entrepreneurs access to a critical source of startup capital."},{"_id":"LCB2EXT6TFD2LMYDNB4THFEN5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811549},"type":"text","content":"To achieve its economic vision, the Trump administration must create a climate where small businesses can grow and thrive. Ensuring SBA’s lending programs meet the needs of franchise business owners would be a positive step in that direction, and reinstituting the franchise directory would be a sensible and bipartisan place to start."},{"_id":"PF2AIDJH5VED7HET7ZVOUUGBM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811550},"type":"text","content":"Given franchising’s success in Georgia, Kelly Loeffler has seen the power of the model in her own state. Should she take over the SBA, she can help local franchises reach even newer heights in the year ahead, providing more opportunity from entrepreneurs of all walks of life."},{"_id":"RAKVBLOIGVA25EW3ONICLLP7UE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738360811551},"type":"text","content":"<i>Matt Haller is the president and chief executive of the International Franchise Association.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"But first, the government should reinstate a list that helped entrepreneurs find financing."},"description":{"basic":"But first, the government should reinstate a list that helped entrepreneurs find financing."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"435a500dca991450c8dc721423e029b3e5a3fabcceadb403d94f68a5c3f1136f"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Chick-fil-A","type":"author","byline":"Chick-fil-A"}]},"subtitle":"Chick-fil-A opens first-ever elevated drive-thru restaurant near Atlanta","width":6123,"caption":"The first Chick-fil-A elevated drive-thru in McDonough.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4YIWF3PCDNB2VAMWGFU7OEOAEU.jpg","height":4082,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4YIWF3PCDNB2VAMWGFU7OEOAEU.jpg?auth=435a500dca991450c8dc721423e029b3e5a3fabcceadb403d94f68a5c3f1136f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-kelly-loeffler-can-export-georgias-franchising-success-everywhere/4IKBROTXSFF63IGSQPX3RKEJKA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-03T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Matt Haller","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Kelly Loeffler can export Georgia’s franchising success everywhere"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-03T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T12:45:51.532Z","_id":"4IKBROTXSFF63IGSQPX3RKEJKA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"435a500dca991450c8dc721423e029b3e5a3fabcceadb403d94f68a5c3f1136f"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Chick-fil-A","type":"author","byline":"Chick-fil-A"}]},"subtitle":"Chick-fil-A opens first-ever elevated drive-thru restaurant near Atlanta","width":6123,"caption":"The first Chick-fil-A elevated drive-thru in McDonough.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4YIWF3PCDNB2VAMWGFU7OEOAEU.jpg","height":4082,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4YIWF3PCDNB2VAMWGFU7OEOAEU.jpg?auth=435a500dca991450c8dc721423e029b3e5a3fabcceadb403d94f68a5c3f1136f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"S7POCTHUXFB55BTYAGS5K4P6TA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773329},"type":"text","content":"At just 10 years old, Nicole used to light up the exam room with her cheerful personality. Now, her voice was hushed and her eyes were dull. These subtle signs were immediate red flags for us as medical trainees. Her medical chart illustrated a dire loss in weight from the 50th to the 20th percentile. Her mother’s admission about the increasing difficulty of putting meals on the table solved the puzzle and revealed the underlying issue: childhood food insecurity."},{"_id":"IKN63NYGP5HYRIMW4FLSC5ENUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":804,"comment":"$90 "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T18:16:21.712Z","start":320,"end":322,"text":"added \"of\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-29T18:17:41.822Z","start":797,"end":803,"text":"tweaked the $90 to land with the million in link","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738356773330},"type":"text","content":"Childhood food insecurity is defined as individuals under 18 years of age experiencing reductions in dietary quality and reduced food intake, often because families cannot afford adequate <a href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2022/february/food-insecurity-for-households-with-children-rose-in-2020-disrupting-decade-long-decline/\">nutrition</a>. In 2022, an estimated 8.8% of U.S. <a href=\"https://frac.org/hunger-poverty-america#:~:text=Race%20and%20ethnicity:%20Black%20(22.4\">households</a> with children experienced food insecurity. In Georgia, that rate was 13.3% of <a href=\"https://www.acfb.org/\">households</a>, with its effects being felt across the state. Strikingly, 63% of these households live above the federal poverty line, rendering them ineligible for food assistance programs such as free or reduced <a href=\"https://gbpi.org/the-basics-of-the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-in-georgia/#:~:text=%,%20respectively).-,What%20is%20SNAP's%20Impact%20on%20Food%20Security?,and%20struggle%20to%20afford%20food.\">lunch</a>. Approximately one-third of parents who pay full or reduced price for school lunch report financial hardship and inability to routinely feed their children at school as a result of <a href=\"https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2023/september/one-third-of-households-with-children-paying-for-school-meals-reported-that-doing-so-contributed-to-financial-hardship/\">school lunch costs</a>, with Georgia having a school meal debt among families of around <a href=\"https://educationdata.org/school-lunch-debt\">$90 million</a>."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"daf03a3e5898570470498e20b6befb14804fba0585fad6c83a85903f71d3da2b"},"caption":"Nicholas Wilson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo 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Panchigar","width":1125,"_id":"WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Mxv7DxmvTrB9I2nX71e8VH0MBkw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Mxv7DxmvTrB9I2nX71e8VH0MBkw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Mxv7DxmvTrB9I2nX71e8VH0MBkw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Ds54ojOhULgG_9yLkxaRSR0GRMU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WU2GT7ORO5EXPEJEXYVY3SO6T4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Vishal Panchigar 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They include impaired memory and <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29957684/\">interpersonal skills</a>, lower math and reading <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25611561/\">scores</a>, and increased <a href=\"https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40066-016-0083-3\">school absenteeism</a> — all of which hinder educational achievement. The effects also extend to poorer physical health, higher risk of <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5398923/#:~:text=The%20odds%20of%20a%20child,CI:%201.15,%2020.8%5D.\">obesity</a> and <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10195571/\">mental illness</a>, increased <a href=\"https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/4/e20190397/38475/Food-Insecurity-and-Child-Health\">emergency room</a> visits and a higher risk of <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31501236/\">chronic diseases</a>. Financially, these consequences account for $53 billion annually in <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2019/18_0549.htm\">health care costs</a>."},{"_id":"7EVCTFQQAJG3VEEBWQDBPNQDSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":129,"comment":" (SEBTC)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T18:19:07.041Z","start":138,"end":148,"text":"removed acronym following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738356773335},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Georgia must address this crisis by implementing a universal school meals program and the Summer Electronic Benefits for Children initiative. These two policies could dramatically reduce food insecurity and its associated consequences, fostering a healthier, more productive future for Georgia’s youth."},{"_id":"SG3JJ3MNINGZZFD4KFWVL3TMOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":371,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773336},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Universal school meals programs ensure free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 students regardless of family income, eliminating stigma, improving classroom behavior and boosting <a href=\"https://www.americanprogress.org/article/challenges-and-opportunities-of-providing-free-school-meals-for-all/\">academic performance</a>. States that have adopted universal school meals, such as <a href=\"https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/HSMFA-Report-2024.pdf\">Colorado and Minnesota</a>, report increased meal participation rates, better attendance, improved classroom engagement and improved physical and mental health among students."},{"_id":"XRTQXQ77KZEBRK5CAEFP3CV3ZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":111,"comment":" (CEP)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773337},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In Georgia, there are efforts to combat childhood food insecurity, such as the Community Eligibility Provisions. CEP <a href=\"https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/cep\" target=\"_self\">offers free school meals</a> to students and has found that schools involved with CEP <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7922198/\">spend less on meals</a> while retaining the same nutritional quality. However, CEP is nonexistent in <a href=\"https://gadoe.org/snp/community-eligibility-provision/\">69 Georgia counties</a> and is limited to schools with a significant low-income student population. Expanding to a universal model would bridge this gap, benefiting every child regardless of income."},{"_id":"XXPXWZLPG5GP5FSURQ2FCTWCUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":113,"comment":"school-aged "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773338},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Even with universal school meals, food insecurity persists during the <a href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/free-school-lunch-kids-summer-hunger-2019-5\">summer months</a> when school is out. In fact, school-age children experience <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10598049/#:~:text=Food%20insecurity%20increases%20among%20marginalized,equitable%20access%20to%20summer%20programming.\">higher rates</a> of food insecurity during the summer months, a problem that might not be addressed by a universal school meals program."},{"_id":"4ZRBLQK3GRCRFNS4QV63O7DL5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":79,"comment":" (SNAP)"},{"pos":665,"comment":"the "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773339},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"SEBTC, a federal program that extends Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program <a href=\"https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/141/4/e20171657/37723/A-Summer-Nutrition-Benefit-Pilot-Program-and-Low?autologincheck=redirected\">benefits</a> to families of eligible students during the summer, has proved to be a lifeline. A national pilot of SEBTC reduced food insecurity by one-third and improved nutritional outcomes. Yet, Georgia has <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/georgia-opts-out-usda-summer-ebt-program-children-nutrition/85-58bff490-2941-46e9-80a7-a1176c632b68\">opted out</a>, citing concerns over SEBTC costs and the existence of community-based summer meal programs. However, these programs often face logistic challenges, including <a href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/free-school-lunch-kids-summer-hunger-2019-5\">limited transportation</a> for families to meal sites and inconvenient distribution times, leaving many families underserved. Similarly, temporary solutions, such as food banks, have faced <a href=\"https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2024/07/26/food-bank-demand-increases.html\">food shortages</a> because of rising demand and might lack <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9790279/\">adequate nutrition</a> for children."},{"_id":"A4E4RRHPDRHFJPVQKFIVL7ZWKE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"C3XS5567GBGGJKJAEPOUEVF32I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Groaning stomachs and gratefulness: Food insecurity grows in Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/groaning-stomachs-and-gratefulness-food-insecurity-grows-in-georgia/FADA5LDXO5FM5DBFTT3F3P2T7E/"},{"_id":"EMMBIL5X5ZAUPM5Z475IEKADO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773340},"type":"text","content":"Given these challenges, implementing universal school meals and SEBTC in Georgia is worth the cost, and especially so given the significant return on investment. Healthier, well-fed children are more likely to succeed <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9500247/#:~:text=As%20a%20result,%20the%20brain's,on%20academic%20performance%20of%20children.&text=This%20study%20reported%20that%20being,performance%20of%20children%20by%2068%.\">academically</a> and decrease the length of <a href=\"https://adc.bmj.com/content/95/2/141.long\">hospitalization</a>. In turn, there will be <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10346580/\">reduced health care spending</a> because malnourished children disproportionately use health care services even into adulthood. Universal school meal programs, specifically, can <a href=\"https://campaignforchildren.org/resource/issue-brief-universal-school-meals/#:~:text=Participating%20schools%20see%20decreased%20administrative,purchasing,%20and%20interacting%20with%20students\">reduce administrative costs</a> and burden faced by staff by eliminating the need for means-testing students that qualify for free or reduced lunch."},{"_id":"ZHG3COK5JJGDDCJZZBHQQOZWHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773341},"type":"text","content":"In funding SEBTC, the Georgia state government would only need to cover <a href=\"https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/administrative-funding-process-fy24\">50%</a> of administrative fees in return for receiving full federal funding to distribute to families. Meanwhile, for universal school meals, <a href=\"https://www.bridgemi.com/talent-education/what-know-about-michigans-universal-free-school-meals-program\">Michigan</a>, a state with a similar child population to Georgia, spent $160 million in providing free school meals to public school students and found a litany of improved child health outcomes as a result."},{"_id":"XUAIFCLZHVAKFN4Z2LJD4GAC3U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"FFDNAUK62NH7BAK6LIVHZKPE7U"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Solution to Atlanta food deserts requires more than food","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-solution-to-atlanta-food-deserts-requires-more-than-food/TPVNCJEFTNHMPCHJNBMS4YRX2Q/"},{"_id":"TOKGECJT5RCTZDBWQQJJBZF3MY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":376,"comment":" (AMA)"},{"pos":415,"comment":" (AAP)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773342},"type":"text","content":"With potential rollbacks in federal funding and stricter eligibility requirements threatening social welfare programs in the Trump administration, it is more urgent than ever for Georgia to protect its children. We urge Georgia’s policymakers to prioritize the health of our children by implementing these programs, which have been endorsed by the <a href=\"https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/mss-summary-of-actions-archive.pdf\">American Medical Association</a> and the <a href=\"https://collaborate.aap.org/alf/Documents/Advocating%20for%20the%20Use%20of%20SEBTC%20to%20Reduce%20Childhood%20Food%20Insecurity.pdf#search=Sebt\">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>, two leading medical organizations dedicated to promoting child health. The cost of inaction — in lost potential, higher health care expenses and societal inequities — is far greater than the cost of these solutions."},{"_id":"ACPGPIAJXRANPH6WXM4DZK22GI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773343},"type":"text","content":"Let’s ensure that no child in Georgia goes hungry, and that Nicole’s story is one that is not repeated. Universal school meals and SEBTC are not just programs; they are lifelines for children and investments in Georgia’s future."},{"_id":"SA7AILPSWBHD7BS4R72B3JMEVM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"IGHUTAHMEZHIZNNQWAPVQMOX3U"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta’s $2.5M plan to fight ‘food deserts’","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlantas-25m-plan-to-fight-food-deserts/OITU2LBGJNAYHGUXTNE35L2LKQ/"},{"_id":"K4T7IWALEFGEDEZDHSB7DEACMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738356773344},"type":"text","content":"<i>Nicholas Wilson is a medical student at Morehouse School of Medicine. Brendan Pulsifer is a third-year medical student and rpesident of Health Students Taking Action Together. Vishal Panchigar is a medical student at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Georgia.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Fueling the future by filling the plate."},"description":{"basic":"Fueling the future by filling the plate."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b4b822dc4ca9515003bc8551f4d49c12047291ac0c9e6800a79db8e5f15062a4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-KAN-SCHOOL-MEALS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Approximately one-third of parents who pay full or reduced price for school lunch report financial hardship and inability to routinely feed their children at school as a result of school lunch costs. (Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OQB2BE6Y5RRGB5FTFVQTHP24AM.jpg","height":1067,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OQB2BE6Y5RRGB5FTFVQTHP24AM.jpg?auth=b4b822dc4ca9515003bc8551f4d49c12047291ac0c9e6800a79db8e5f15062a4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-fueling-the-future-by-filling-the-plate/77IEWL5PXBH2RNSDA34Z7GLNHU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-03T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Nicholas Wilson","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Brendan Pulsifer","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Vishal Panchigar","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Georgia can combat childhood food insecurity"},"first_publish_date":"2025-02-03T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-04T14:34:00.364Z","_id":"77IEWL5PXBH2RNSDA34Z7GLNHU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b4b822dc4ca9515003bc8551f4d49c12047291ac0c9e6800a79db8e5f15062a4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-KAN-SCHOOL-MEALS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Approximately one-third of parents who pay full or reduced price for school lunch report financial hardship and inability to routinely feed their children at school as a result of school lunch costs. (Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OQB2BE6Y5RRGB5FTFVQTHP24AM.jpg","height":1067,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OQB2BE6Y5RRGB5FTFVQTHP24AM.jpg?auth=b4b822dc4ca9515003bc8551f4d49c12047291ac0c9e6800a79db8e5f15062a4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"NZTACFN65NAQXMDEUAUIGR3DEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"One can look to the past four years and see a cautionary tale of what an unwillingness to criticize a leader looks like within a party. "},{"_id":"SWELGPNVT5CXLNP66OHSDVFVSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Last February, when Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded that no criminal charges were warranted against then-President Joe Biden for withholding classified materials, he based this recommendation in part on his assessment that the jury would not convict Biden because, as he described in his report, he was an “elderly man with a poor memory.” "},{"_id":"MVMTG5C7VBHEPEFIIWSWVUKESQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-31T16:37:50.078Z","replies":[],"pos":139,"comment":"Shiff","type":"insert","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Hur, a Republican, was lambasted by Democrats far and wide who attributed these comments to his desire to create, what now-Sen. Adam Schiff of California called in a congressional hearing “a political firestorm.”"},{"_id":"EXHALOYSCJE7XGWUVOS4E45I3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It wasn’t until Biden’s disastrous debate performance just a few months after those hearings, a performance that reinforced the veracity of Hur’s comments, that any substantial cohort of Democrats began to slowly acknowledge publicly Biden was not fit to run for a second term. "},{"_id":"K4Z7V63EGBCFVC3UBBN22U2C2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I think part of this unwillingness to communicate honestly about Biden’s fitness for the presidency was the belief that the stakes in the election were so high that Biden’s public supporters had to say and do anything to support their candidate. “Democracy is at stake” was the phrase used by Democrats again and again."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"748b9f04517ec9c03c257b2e36335575fb9fa287e3495dbb710d10ed35b607eb"},"caption":"Hannah Heck","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Hannah Heck","width":1049,"_id":"5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/AGdMzrgVGeIsew867Mx-lO7V55I=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Hannah Heck.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"WDB34OK4ARH5JJL6Q7RTNGUTSM"},"created_date":"2024-11-11T17:01:50Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-11T17:01:50Z","alignment":"right","height":992,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg?auth=748b9f04517ec9c03c257b2e36335575fb9fa287e3495dbb710d10ed35b607eb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"MM3WUHBK7BCOJOBLEBDKQZGGAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Democrats got it wrong by failing to criticize their candidate, but I think they might have been right to be worried about democracy. I’d argue that the ability to engage critically within our parties might be a significant indicator of how healthy our democracy is — and, by many measures, we’re looking rather sickly."},{"_id":"WQ4BQZE2SZD5NNWHZADYA3KURI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It’s obvious that it’s not just Democrats who are unwilling to criticize their candidate. "},{"_id":"MLE37UBMJNDL7D7FX2YMKXPXA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"President Donald Trump has described his followers as so loyal that, to use his words, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” "},{"_id":"UCO3G5DFPZH3RLPQKR4IGXN37A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But unconditional love belongs in the realm of theology, not government. To remove a person from the realm of criticism puts him in the realm of the divine. Loyalty to a leader, unmoored from character, principles, policies or outcomes, is dangerous and undemocratic."},{"_id":"M2EB7PJYXJELFN3DIOVEZSJBEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"You can be deeply committed to the policies of your party and critical of some of the actions of its leader. "},{"_id":"XB3D6VNCR5A5ZM4BP7XGYNR2UE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If your surgeon tells you that you are sick and your appendix needs to come out, you certainly care deeply that<i> </i>it happens, but you also care how it happens (put the rusty hacksaw away!). You might be glad that it’s not the other guy (or the other guy’s policies) carrying the day, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t highlight:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"VGJL2ZHAKRBZPOR63YXD42ZELY","type":"list","items":[{"_id":"EIR24OEYY5G3BFEL3VZMOC6O4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When your candidate issues executive orders that patently violate the Constitution (yes, even if the other party has issued unlawful executive orders);"},{"_id":"3YIZX2JRQRH7THL6OPXFYZMRFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When your candidate nominates someone for attorney general whom you wouldn’t let volunteer in your church youth group (yes, even if the other party had cabinet officers who made comments or supported policies you find deplorable); or"},{"_id":"FVDNK7S36FCRZAXJVRHLFXJHOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When your candidate pardons people who harmed police officers (yes, even if the other party pardoned dangerous criminals in the last days of their administration)."}]},{"_id":"TROP72Y3TBABPNZIBPRH7JGZQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Georgians have seen up close what intraparty conflict looks like. It is undoubtedly messy. "},{"_id":"WVNWD3DC6BAZJJV7QROIEAN5UE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though few could honestly question Gov. Brian Kemp’s conservative policy credentials, the state’s highest elected official had a public conflict with Trump in his first term when Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Contrary to Trump’s demands, Kemp certified the state election results."},{"_id":"6N6EAHV65VFCFCUCNVKH4JZGPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though this conflict happened as Trump was leaving office, Kemp’s actions were not without cost. "},{"_id":"IF3ZG73D75AVTMKUFQBFQFWG3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Trump frequently tweeted insults about Kemp, even berating him in a 2024 Georgia presidential campaign rally with baseless criticisms I won’t repeat. Kemp has only grown in popularity, with his approval ratings well over the margins of his 2022 election win. "},{"_id":"TASZ57IMSJEVZI5SAR474LKTWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I don’t attribute this approval solely to that 2020 action, but I do think that Kemp’s approval is likely linked to a type of principled leadership that is willing to have conflict for the right reasons."},{"_id":"VOQHL2FPM5AYLLUYKJ3UPGICM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The thing about conflict is that you almost always have it with your enemies, but in the healthiest of relationships, you also have it with those closest to you. This is what the Bible describes as “wounds from a friend.” "},{"_id":"N2U2HYXGS5GQ7AFH5OBVEQEI4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Plenty of barbs come from across the aisle, but we need more of the healthy intraparty criticism and conflict that allows the refining work of friction to reinvigorate our parties. We need a thoughtful and honest engagement that refuses to be drowned out by the screeching social media fringes. "},{"_id":"TXG52X26SVGWLKX6NNJH4HWF2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Only with this friction — the ability to debate ideas, approaches and priorities without being held hostage by a blind deference to a party leader — can we ensure that we remain, as John Adams so succinctly described at our country’s founding, “a government of laws, and not of men.”"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Unconditional love belongs in the realm of theology, not government. "},"description":{"basic":"Unconditional love belongs in the realm of theology not government."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"c7b7a35abd34e80f41868348e27b2b8f37c76e5ed811c02dcbaea601874423f6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ben Curtis","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US Cuba","width":8394,"caption":"People opposed to the Cuban government demonstrate and call for the release of political prisoners and in support of President Donald Trump near the White House on Jan. 28. (Ben Curtis/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NRYFNPYIX7F6OTCSS3TFZUX2ZU.jpg","height":5596,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NRYFNPYIX7F6OTCSS3TFZUX2ZU.jpg?auth=c7b7a35abd34e80f41868348e27b2b8f37c76e5ed811c02dcbaea601874423f6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-our-democracy-needs-intra-party-conflict/FBHPMWVDBRG2XCNH6JWO6V2NPU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-02-03T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/682173b1-fdb7-4d52-a682-f94b77ceb59a.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Hannah Heck","description":"Hannah Heck, a lawyer, founded a public policy, advocacy and consulting practice. She lives in Atlanta and spends most of her time in board service, supporting her four children and writing about life raising a son with Down syndrome.","_id":"hheck","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Heck","image":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/682173b1-fdb7-4d52-a682-f94b77ceb59a.png","role":"Contributing columnist","education":[],"longBio":"Hannah Heck, a lawyer, founded a public policy, advocacy and consulting practice. She lives in Atlanta and spends most of her time in board service, supporting her four children and writing about life raising a son with Down syndrome.","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Hannah Heck, a lawyer, founded a public policy, advocacy and consulting practice. 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(Ben Curtis/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NRYFNPYIX7F6OTCSS3TFZUX2ZU.jpg","height":5596,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NRYFNPYIX7F6OTCSS3TFZUX2ZU.jpg?auth=c7b7a35abd34e80f41868348e27b2b8f37c76e5ed811c02dcbaea601874423f6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"T73TAPEIQVGB3FM6Q2PZWNU7MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651264},"type":"text","content":"There was a time when artists representing two of America’s biggest homegrown musical genres wouldn’t get a look in at the Grammys."},{"_id":"VEGDJZRPCRGJDHLCPJPFZAINPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651265},"type":"text","content":"Hip-hop and house both have their origins in the 1970s and early 1980s — in fact, they recently <a href=\"https://the50thanniversaryofhip-hop.com/\">celebrated a 50th</a> and <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/dance-party-daley-plaza-40-years-house-music/\">40th birthday</a>, respectively. But it was only in 1989 that an award category for “<a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/arts/music/the-boycott-before-rap-and-resentment-at-the-1989-grammys.html\">best rap performance</a>” started recognizing hip-hop’s contribution to U.S. music. House had to wait another decade, with the introduction of “<a href=\"https://www.awardsandshows.com/features/best-dance-recording-289.html\">best dance/electronic recording</a>” in 1998."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"f2422a4b2689487a38be75d40fc1873dafee669f240e5c0806eec97b056d4bf8"},"caption":"Joycelyn Wilson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Joycelyn Wilson","width":238,"_id":"P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/dA7BH-7q9_MrEPzGOIp8aCeqtOM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/dA7BH-7q9_MrEPzGOIp8aCeqtOM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/dA7BH-7q9_MrEPzGOIp8aCeqtOM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/aEn6GaFiiZPRT7qAo8xIKR2vPgc=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Joycelyn Wilson.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"SGG4B5ZLTZFV3A3G55XNVHTKDQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-31T16:58:26Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-31T16:58:26Z","alignment":"right","height":238,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/P235LJGLV5HQVED72XVUBSW7ZQ.jpg?auth=f2422a4b2689487a38be75d40fc1873dafee669f240e5c0806eec97b056d4bf8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CVCFQC5YL5BZPB4L47NZIK672E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651267},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At this year’s awards, taking place on Feb. 2, hip-hop and house artists will be among the most talked about. House duo Justice and Kendrick Lamar, a hip-hop superstar who <a href=\"https://www.vibe.com/lists/best-songs-kendrick-lamar-gnx-album/\">incorporates elements of house himself</a>, are among those looking to pick up an award. Meanwhile, a nomination for a collaboration between <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGK3YVmGZ3Y\">DJ Kaytranada and rapper Childish Gambino</a> shows how artists from both genres continue to feed off each other."},{"_id":"ROJL2RSBRJBIBMM6ULUBRACNUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651268},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And while both genres are now celebrated for their separate contributions to the music landscape, as a <a href=\"https://iac.gatech.edu/people/person/joycelyn-wilson\">scholar of African American culture and music</a>, I am interested in their commonality: Both are distinctly Black American artforms that originated on the streets and dance floors of U.S. cities, developing a devoted underground following before being accepted by — and transforming — the mainstream."},{"_id":"XIGNIJDJAZHDRBSNTGSAYQ2YOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651269},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The roots of hip-hop and house music both lie in the seismic shifts of the late 1970s, a period of <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/blackout-gallery/\">sociopolitical unrest</a> and electronic experimentation that redefined the possibilities of sound."},{"_id":"S6NPEFSTWFHKLHOWUHUMZB44FY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651270},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For hip-hop, this was expressed through the turntable manipulation <a href=\"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/kool-herc-hip-hop-50-august-11-1973-1234802035/\">pioneered by DJ Kool Herc in 1973</a>, when he extended and looped breakbeats to energize crowds. House music’s innovators turned to the drum machine to create the genre’s foundational <a href=\"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/four-on-the-floor-rhythm-explained\">four-on-the-floor</a> dance rhythm."},{"_id":"OONIOOG5SZHJHGEL4CYCSS5QBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651271},"type":"text","content":"That rhythm, foreshadowed by <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJwcRSClia4\">Eddy Grant’s 1977 production of “Time Warp</a>” by The Coachouse Rhythm Section, would go on to shape house music’s distinct pulse. The track showed how electronic instruments such as the synthesizer and drum machine could recast traditional rhythmic patterns into something entirely new."},{"_id":"DSUILWIACNGP5FN3TL72WQYBSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651272},"type":"text","content":"This dance vibe — in which a base drum provides a steady four-four beat — became the heartbeat of house music, creating an enduring structure for DJs to layer basslines, percussion and melodies. In a similar way, Kool Herc’s breakbeat manipulation provided the scaffolding for MCs and dancers in hip-hop’s formative years."},{"_id":"EKRCFIOEVBESNEAYK5F7UBK4DY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651273},"type":"text","content":"Marginalized communities in urban centers like Chicago and New York were at the <a href=\"https://www.designchicago.org/chicago-home-of-house-at-navy-pier\">forefront of these innovations</a>. Despite experiencing grinding poverty and discrimination, it was Black and Latino youth — armed with turntables, drum machines and samplers — who made these groundbreaking advances in music."},{"_id":"SAJN666REJBFBGTG62DKC5T5WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651274},"type":"text","content":"For hip-hop, this meant manipulating breakbeats from songs like <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWSceMtAjPw\">Kraftwerk’s “Trans-Europe Express</a>” and “Numbers” to energize <a href=\"https://www.redbull.com/us-en/b-boy-and-b-girl-vs-breakdancer\">b-boys and b-girls</a>; for house, it meant extending disco’s rhythmic pulse into an ecstatic, inclusive dance floor. Both genres exemplified — and continue to exemplify — the ingenuity of predominantly Black and Hispanic communities who turned limited resources into cultural revolutions."},{"_id":"WKS7TVHJRNEEHK4XU7F7GTNG5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651275},"type":"text","content":"From this shared origin of technological experimentation, cultural resilience and creative ingenuity, hip-hop and house music grew into distinct yet globally influential movements."},{"_id":"TJQZ2RAO4FBA3O5GZUIGR4XEVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651276},"type":"text","content":"By the early 1980s, both genres had found their feet."},{"_id":"UAI7TUM7HFHNLDEI3JYABHIUFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651277},"type":"text","content":"Hip-hop emerged as a powerful voice for storytelling, resistance and identity. Building on the foundations laid down by DJ Kool Herc, artists like Afrika Bambaataa emphasized hip-hop’s cultural and communal aspects. Meanwhile, <a href=\"https://grandmasterflash.com/\">Grandmaster Flash</a> elevated the genre’s technical artistry with innovations like cutting and scratching."},{"_id":"GX5EQLRXI5G27AIS7YCIOQA2FU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651278},"type":"text","content":"By 1984, hip-hop had evolved from its grassroots beginnings in the Bronx into a cultural movement on the cusp of mainstream recognition. Run-DMC’s self-titled debut album released that year introduced a harder, stripped-down sound that departed from disco-influenced beats. Their music, paired with the trio’s Adidas tracksuits and gold chains, established an aesthetic that resonated far beyond New York City. Music videos on MTV gave hip-hop a new medium for storytelling, while films like “<a href=\"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086946/\">Beat Street</a>” and “<a href=\"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086998/\">Breakin’”</a> showcased the features and tenets of hip-hop culture: DJing, rapping, graffiti, breaking and knowledge of self — cementing its cultural presence, and presenting it to a world outside the U.S."},{"_id":"BSNKVHN7UVHMFP4F4BTISGLTYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651279},"type":"text","content":"But at its core, hip-hop remained a voice for the voiceless that sought to address systemic inequities through storytelling. Tracks like Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PobrSpMwKk4\">The Message</a>” vividly depicted the reality of living in poor, urban communities, while Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” and Tupac Shakur’s “Keep Ya Head Up” became anthems for social justice."},{"_id":"LSG6JV6IKNCMDFDLPFCBUYCOTQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651280},"type":"text","content":"Together these artists positioned hip-hop as a platform for resistance and empowerment."},{"_id":"HL3ZNALTWVB6LJU65JFPSFR6JE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651281},"type":"text","content":"Unlike hip-hop’s lyrical storytelling, house music focused on the physicality of rhythm and the collective experience of the dance floor. And as hip-hop moved away from disco, house leaned into it."},{"_id":"JPMVKQZCIFCAFAGDJYH3CP4SAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651282},"type":"text","content":"Italy’s “father of disco,” <a href=\"https://www.giorgiomoroder.com/\">Giorgio Moroder</a>, showed the way with his pioneering use of synthesizers in Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.” Over in New York, <a href=\"https://djhistory.com/read/larry-levan-and-the-lost-art-of-djing/\">Larry Levan’s DJ sets</a> at Paradise Garage demonstrated how electronic instruments could create immersive, emotionally charged experiences as a club that centered crowd participation through dance and not lyrics."},{"_id":"VF3EAW4EC5FQ7G36TSLVLY6P7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651283},"type":"text","content":"By 1984, Chicago DJs Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy were <a href=\"https://southsideweekly.com/chicago-legends-debate-the-origins-of-house-music/\">repurposing disco tracks with drum machines</a> like the Roland TR-808 and 909 to create hypnotic beats. Knuckles, known as the “Godfather of House,” transformed his sets at the Warehouse club into euphoric experiences, giving the genre its name in the process."},{"_id":"Y2HCYUDBDVHAJLPVJJP4CLBR54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651284},"type":"text","content":"House music thrived on inclusivity, served as a safe space for Black and Latino members of the LGBTQ+ communities at a time when hip-hop was <a href=\"https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/19/hip-hop-and-sexuality-is-the-culture-freeing-itself-of-homophobia-14783209/\">severely unwelcoming of gay men</a>. Tracks like <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUeMFG4wjJw\">Jesse Saunders’ “On & On</a>” and <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAR8cq5Bl94\">Marshall Jefferson’s “Move Your Body</a>” celebrated freedom, love and unity, encapsulating its liberatory spirit, as rap music and hip-hop culture embarked on its mainstream journey with songs like <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOKMWSR2Aio\">Run DMC’s “Sucker M.C.s (Krush Groove)</a>” and Salt-N-Pepa debuted their album “Hot, Cool, & Vicious.”"},{"_id":"Q4OXYQAEM5EMRFDGJVVCN2ZJ7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651285},"type":"text","content":"As with hip-hop, by the mid-1980s house music had become a cultural force, spreading from Chicago to Detroit, to New York and, eventually, to the U.K.’s rave scene. Its emphasis on repetition, rhythm and electronic instrumentation solidified its global appeal, uniting people across identities and geographies."},{"_id":"E74MPM2M75G3RMVP7HPQ6IDRVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651286},"type":"text","content":"Despite their differences, moments of crossover highlight their shared DNA."},{"_id":"Q3MZUTP32ZFNBO6PHQ4T67UVJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651287},"type":"text","content":"From the late 1980s, tracks like <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v7UiDd7wBA\">Fast Eddie’s “Yo Yo Get Funky</a>” and the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOKpUzUXmWU\">Jungle Brothers’ “I’ll House You</a>” merged house beats with hip-hop’s lyrical flow. Artists like Kaytranada and Doechii continue to blend the two genres today, staying true to the genres’ legacies while pushing their boundaries."},{"_id":"OS5TO2SZJVEERGMOQBQ63GD3YA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651288},"type":"text","content":"And technology continues to drive both genres. Platforms like SoundCloud have democratized music production, allowing emerging artists to build on the decades of innovations that preceded them. Collaborations, such as <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZrcXTHqQ_c\">Disclosure and Charli XCX’s “She’s Gone, Dance On</a>,” highlight their adaptability and enduring appeal."},{"_id":"ZGN4MPUDE5HHXEZQ26U3S636C4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651289},"type":"text","content":"Whether through hip-hop’s lyrical narratives or house’s rhythmic euphoria, these genres continue to inspire, challenge and transcend."},{"_id":"MAOFXZEMJFFXVBU66SHPPDBQEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651290},"type":"text","content":"As the 2025 Grammy Awards celebrate today’s leading house and hip-hop artists and their contemporary achievements, it is clear that the legacies of these two genres are mainstays in the kaleidoscope of American popular music and culture, having come a long way from back-to-school park jams and underground dance parties."},{"_id":"EVHA4RUHLVEL3CJWUZCH5YM7YA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738351651291},"type":"text","content":"<i>Joycelyn Wilson is an assistant professor of ethnographic and cultural studies at the </i><a href=\"https://theconversation.com/institutions/georgia-institute-of-technology-1310\"><i>Georgia Institute of Technology</i></a><i>. This appeared first at The Conversation.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"At its core, hip-hop is a voice for the voiceless seeking to address systemic inequities through storytelling."},"description":{"basic":"At its core, hip-hop is a voice for the voiceless seeking to address systemic inequities through storytelling."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/uatl","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"UATL","description":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the Black community","_id":"/uatl","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null},"_admin":{"alias_ids":["/uatl"]},"navigation":{"nav_title":"UATL","cohort_desktop_image":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/u9oT8sHgrFwM-4k0OVhMpmrjSEE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AC24LOAV3NDQNIEUSAU5NM34BM.png","cohort":"true","cohort_mobile_image":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/W7PlcNYiF7A-LGlN05rksg5tyWU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/363YOTHREFBFBFLTN6S7XZDZ3E.png","cohort_logo_image":"/resizer/oATjbNKHc-rXeDDYGL-LcBTO-3w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T5P2I73D6ZFABECDTUXOU2DNXE.png"},"site":{"site_url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/","site_keywords":null,"site_about":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the Black community","primary_color":"#E23229","site_description":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the Black community","site_title":"UATL","site_tagline":null},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"UATL","_id":"/uatl","ancestors":{"default":[],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"mobile_app":{"exclude_from_navigation":"false","webview":null,"exclude_from_web_site_navigation":null},"order":{"MainMenu2024":1007,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./uatl","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"UATL"},{"text":"uatl-entertainment"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"ed652f0c06d9cbd1765453ee29756bf8b1facd5973b5fdff7d2739571f0d722c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Ryan Fleisher","type":"author","byline":"Ryan Fleisher"}]},"subtitle":"AAJC 090324 childish gambino","width":3000,"caption":"Childish Gambino dazzled a sold-out crowd on Sept. 2 at State Farm Arena with hits spanning his career of rap, R&B, and anthemic hip-hop. 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(Ryan Fleisher for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LAE3O7MG4TQWBSI75NM4BPIINA.jpg","height":2000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LAE3O7MG4TQWBSI75NM4BPIINA.jpg?auth=ed652f0c06d9cbd1765453ee29756bf8b1facd5973b5fdff7d2739571f0d722c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"B3NH77U3GRHYPPV5ZNTSJCPJGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The University of Georgia School of Business’ <a href=\"https://www.terry.uga.edu/georgias-economy-will-grow-in-2025-but-more-slowly/#:~:text=for%20Economic%20Growth.-,Georgia's%20economy%20is%20projected%20to%20grow%20by%202.4%25%20in%202025,grow%20by%201.6%25%20in%202025.\" target=\"_blank\">prediction of economic growth</a> for our state in 2025 is welcome. At the same time, the chance to escape poverty for an Atlantan born into it hasn’t improved in more than a decade. A world-class city is one that empowers every citizen with the opportunity for upward mobility. In Atlanta, though, <a href=\"https://datausa.io/profile/geo/atlanta-ga#:~:text=Poverty%20%26%20Diversity&text=17.7%25%20of%20the%20population%20for,the%20national%20average%20of%2012.5%25.\" target=\"_blank\">about 18% of our neighbors live below the poverty line</a>. Ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from economic growth is easier said than done."},{"_id":"AX4ECXGIPFESJF4SHR7KIERFAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:00:46.021Z","replies":[],"pos":322,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:01:37.065Z","replies":[],"start":355,"end":358,"text":"added Jr. here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"Let’s resolve now to redouble our efforts to leverage the government’s investments in disinvested communities to catalyze wealth creation for families. This is an opportunity to bring about lasting, impactful change that breaks the cycle and makes economic mobility possible. It is a way to realize the justice and equity the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned in the beloved community."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"fb4765f9e92712376d58937e26410c489a1c7a5488d28f8b450c33349004025b"},"caption":"Eloisa Klementich","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Eloise Klementich","width":2628,"_id":"UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/7dWnoA3FP_RVBcV8whbcQwpJgcA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/7dWnoA3FP_RVBcV8whbcQwpJgcA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/7dWnoA3FP_RVBcV8whbcQwpJgcA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/nzTIazTtjHlgBZlc5zgGpKunWkQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Eloise Klementich.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"TJ7DVKHMCZDJXIYWFTLIYOP5UI"},"created_date":"2025-01-22T21:49:41Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T22:19:07Z","alignment":"right","height":3041,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/UIDZPH7QG5FOJJZIK2DAUUOG4M.jpg?auth=fb4765f9e92712376d58937e26410c489a1c7a5488d28f8b450c33349004025b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EXZLBX4HQJHZFCC3AIZ4MKO6EY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:03:31.105Z","replies":[],"pos":62,"comment":"third-grade ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:03:44.561Z","replies":[],"start":74,"end":85,"text":"no hyphen, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"How do we know where to invest? Based on 32 metrics — such as third grade reading levels and disposable income — <a href=\"https://www.investatlanta.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Invest Atlanta</a> created a tool that has statistically identified where in Atlanta greater government focus is needed. No surprise: There is a concentration of focus in south Atlanta."},{"_id":"T7W2EO62RBDSPNNBHIIQGDFWWY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:07:05.511Z","replies":[],"pos":725,"comment":"local ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-29T17:04:42.741Z","replies":[],"pos":741,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:07:21.456Z","replies":[],"start":731,"end":740,"text":"noted out local, as AP considers it a term to avoid","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Armed with this data and insight, we are creating ways to support these disinvested neighborhoods. This focus is changing the tide. For example, understanding that <a href=\"https://www.acfb.org/facts-and-stats/\" target=\"_blank\">more than 13% of our fellow Atlantans are food insecure</a>, we are targeting food deserts throughout the city. The goal is to ensure that everyone in Atlanta is within a half mile of access to fresh foods. Invest Atlanta is not waiting for the market to step in, though we welcome collaboration. Our strategy includes leasing grocer space, investing in innovative approaches to improving food security such as supporting independently owned markets that use cutting-edge technology for a consumer to bypass checkouts to enhance the shopping experience, supporting community stores and creating partnerships with long-standing organizations such as the Atlanta Food Bank."},{"_id":"YAFQM3LR4JEG7AUJAVKGDMPY5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T17:05:18.669Z","replies":[],"pos":200,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-29T17:05:45.415Z","replies":[],"pos":496,"comment":"have ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Another example is providing tax relief for Atlanta’s legacy residents. Welcoming new people into a community adds diversity, which is at the foundation of our country. As we do so, we want to ensure our longtime residents are not displaced from their neighborhood. Tax relief programs that put a ceiling on property taxes are essential. They ensure that for the next 20 years, what a senior pays in taxes will not change. These investments are game changers for seniors who might have otherwise had to make tough economic decisions between food, medicine or taxes."},{"_id":"CW5Y5IWDZBGPVDG4MTT73GELHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Recognizing no one entity can do this work alone, a concerted focus by business, philanthropy and government on these disinvested neighborhoods will drive the impact we all want to see. We can join in a shared mission of individual and community empowerment with a mandate to turn the tide and create wider pathways toward economic freedom. After all, the converse of “a rising tide lifts all boats” is “a receding tide sinks all ships.” Surely that’s not the outcome we seek."},{"_id":"2M4OQHFWDBB2ZJQHVSZ4YJ3QAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Eloisa Klementich is president and chief executive officer of Invest Atlanta, Atlanta’s economic development authority.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"If we redouble our efforts to leverage the government’s investments in disinvested communities, we can catalyze wealth creation for families."},"description":{"basic":"If we redouble our efforts to leverage the government’s investments in disinvested communities, we can catalyze wealth creation for families."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"68224cfb31d2080469ac2f198e2bea7c18c58af23d5dc23839912ee72a6c5c20"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Helps prepared and delivered 1200 meals","width":5128,"caption":"Volunteers load trays of food on Nov. 23, 2023, for delivery around Atlanta. 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(Steve Schaefer/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BJLIVT77BUGIBWGMKGU266HJAA.jpg","height":3419,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BJLIVT77BUGIBWGMKGU266HJAA.jpg?auth=68224cfb31d2080469ac2f198e2bea7c18c58af23d5dc23839912ee72a6c5c20&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"J2A5UWVD3RGEDDOUODX2Q6NGWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308598},"type":"text","content":"Sitting up, sweating, chest rising with shallow breaths and minimal eye contact, there was my next patient, a 45-year-old male. He was flagged to have limited English proficiency. He was struggling to breathe as his oxygen saturations were hovering around 90% (barely acceptable) even while on oxygen. History leads us to the diagnosis in medicine, and when interviewing him in Spanish, he tells me he’s from Central America, works in construction with long days outside in the cold, doesn’t stop to eat lunch and also works a few hours at night in a restaurant near his residence. He had been feeling ill for four days, but he kept working and did not seek medical attention. He confided that he couldn’t afford to lose income as he supported his wife and two young children."},{"_id":"QPUVSQ7US5H7VHRYYY4OSVKDRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308599},"type":"text","content":"As with any other patient, I finished my exam, explained the plan and reassured him that with antibiotics and a few days of hospital care, he should be good enough to go home. He and his wife were relieved and expressed gratitude to our team with the limited English they could speak."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"edd4f1a7a87f8aa78d6208be0f213bd25c9778b8bec0fa2f9f0726ed3e5b3f04"},"caption":"Dhaval Desai","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"BRVUNZXIIVCUZBJSFGWPA5RMMM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Contributed","type":"author","byline":"Contributed"}]},"subtitle":"Dr. Dhaval Desai","width":330,"_id":"YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/vCbp2XVKmtsQKfEryfm9hdAKG9Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","owner":"eric.stirgus@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/vCbp2XVKmtsQKfEryfm9hdAKG9Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/vCbp2XVKmtsQKfEryfm9hdAKG9Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/6XGU-CHZRP9IKovqsH3mX71guHA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Desai Headshot[1]_1185x666.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"LK3ZN7EQLVDXFOLU2UVRJFF4YA"},"created_date":"2025-01-30T16:35:28Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-30T20:29:23Z","alignment":"right","height":440,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YB3H2K3NVZAF3PTO5YCJQEACTY.jpg?auth=edd4f1a7a87f8aa78d6208be0f213bd25c9778b8bec0fa2f9f0726ed3e5b3f04&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"R3G75HVUVZAEJCHQST6626WU2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308601},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As I approach what I expect to be the halfway point of my career in medicine, I never would have imagined worrying about immigration authorities raiding hospitals to deport patients. Let me be clear: I have never been intimidated or antagonistic to legal authorities in the hospital. I’m accustomed to having armed security present in the hospital, and even local police if an incarcerated patient were admitted to the hospital or had a warrant out for his arrest. But the thought and images of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents forcefully entering a hospital, probing for information and potentially apprehending patients is purely unfathomable. It’s simply something that should never happen in a hospital anywhere, let alone in our country."},{"_id":"CBPQSZPLUNH5RK3J52HFYIVL3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308602},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I reflect a lot the infamous saying from medical training of “first, do no harm.” It’s simple enough, right? Our goal will always be to not medically harm a patient, which ranges from actual medical decision-making to communicating at the bedside. But even with the sincerest efforts in top-rated health systems, harm still occurs daily around the country in hospitals."},{"_id":"PACQGJ3GAVHNNNHIRNZBCAGE7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308603},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Recognizing the possibility that <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5112126-denver-mayor-decries-immigration-raids-hospitals-schools/\" target=\"_blank\">ICE could raid a hospital to detain a patient</a> adds a threat and a risk of real harm to the patients and the staff. Most patients are not fully healed when being discharged from a hospital. The majority are still sick, but not sick enough to be confined to a hospital bed. Their recovery continues for days or weeks at home. To think that ICE would apprehend human beings in that position, subject them to deportation and ultimately impede their healing frankly seems inhumane."},{"_id":"CMJKAE6ZYVHINGSU3CXJG44CZY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308604},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://natlawreview.com/article/trump-administrations-immigration-enforcement-policy-what-hospitals-and-health-0\" target=\"_blank\">experience of ICE entering hospitals can equally harm staff</a>. There are already a multitude of mundane and regulatory tasks and priorities that take the front-line staff — from doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and more — from the patient’s bedside. Not only would they be trying to protect a patient from an ICE arrest, but they would now be following additional safety protocols, screening mechanisms and witnessing more suffering of their patients. This will intensify the stress and chaos of the fragile workforce, and psychologically traumatize them as they witness these events."},{"_id":"ORYCZLSRGREUJMUA7AQK2L3X7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":106,"comment":"seek "},{"pos":247,"comment":"as"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308605},"type":"text","content":"It is yet to be seen, but I can hypothesize that many who are undocumented will be cautious about seeking health care in hospitals as they will feel vulnerable and visible in the public eye, making them susceptible to ICE. This, in turn, is harm; it’s a risk to the individual’s health as well as potentially a community risk if they had a communicable disease."},{"_id":"5F2JRUHGARB7FOZJNNCQVYNWMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308606},"type":"text","content":"Let’s get back to my patient with pneumonia. A few days later, he was better and eager to be discharged. He was still weak and coughing but no longer required supplemental oxygen. His wife looked at us with relief and smiles as her family was getting their husband and father back. He asked about returning to work and the costs of medications, anxious about bills while caring for his family. My team and I found generic medications that were cheaper and would treat his pneumonia as well as his newly diagnosed diabetes. We advised him on best strategies to sustain his recovery at home and when he could return to work. I recognized that when he discharged, his resources for health care would be minimal as he is uninsured and unable to get insurance. Did that make me feel good? No, but I knew we did our best, empowered him to take care of himself and advocated for him. That’s our job."},{"_id":"LDYUFOMBVZGXFNHTS4K7AMVZYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":229,"comment":"an"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308607},"type":"text","content":"The metaphorical equation of caring for patients in hospitals and other health care settings these days is increasingly complex, with so many variables that it is almost impossible to successfully solve. We are now faced with the additional complex variable of ICE entering a hospital to apprehend a patient."},{"_id":"UIF52TVVANH33DEAY5PG73GJ2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308608},"type":"text","content":"I plead for us to remember there are essential safe places in a community, and a brick-and-mortar hospital is one that needs to be immune from an ICE raid. When patients enter the doors of a hospital, it’s simple humanity to responsibly provide care, advocate and keep them safe on all levels, just like we did for my patient. That’s how we did things yesterday, how we do them today and how we’ll continue tomorrow."},{"_id":"ZJWMCUNYHVATTI6U5RIIEBHNLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738255308609},"type":"text","content":"<i>Dhaval Desai is a physician in Atlanta.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Hospitals are meant to heal, not harm. We can’t help people who are afraid to seek treatment."},"description":{"basic":"Hospitals are meant to heal, not harm. We can’t help people who are afraid to seek treatment."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"02e2aaf1ee42deafbc61e89878c5ddad8882739dd138ee1834da11f9cc5cf297"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-HOSPITALS-IMMIGRATION-STATUS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7DTFI3B5ICH5KWRSHXD5LMJV7A.jpg","height":1065,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DTFI3B5ICH5KWRSHXD5LMJV7A.jpg?auth=02e2aaf1ee42deafbc61e89878c5ddad8882739dd138ee1834da11f9cc5cf297&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-keep-ice-raids-out-of-health-care/OZZJ5X3GH5G77K42VMRBDPQ6BU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-30T18:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Dhaval Desai","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Keep ICE raids out of health care"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-30T18:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-30T20:54:12.192Z","_id":"OZZJ5X3GH5G77K42VMRBDPQ6BU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"02e2aaf1ee42deafbc61e89878c5ddad8882739dd138ee1834da11f9cc5cf297"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-HOSPITALS-IMMIGRATION-STATUS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7DTFI3B5ICH5KWRSHXD5LMJV7A.jpg","height":1065,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7DTFI3B5ICH5KWRSHXD5LMJV7A.jpg?auth=02e2aaf1ee42deafbc61e89878c5ddad8882739dd138ee1834da11f9cc5cf297&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"NTNCIISWEFFJVITHMNGZXJQIWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:41:36.004Z","replies":[],"pos":160,"comment":"NGOs ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:42:06.928Z","replies":[],"start":165,"end":180,"text":"spell out on first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"The United States and its taxpayers have been taken advantage of for too long. For the last four years, illegal migrant crossings, through government-sponsored nongovernmental organizations, visa overstays and border entries, have reached a tipping point. It is irresponsible for us to continue this trend while intentionally forgoing enforcement of our immigration laws. Though advocates of illegal immigration continue to delegitimize legal pathways to citizenship, it is imperative that our nation enforces its immigration laws and regains control of our southern border."},{"_id":"VWU4SJUKMBB5TPNMSJDDSWTPGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:32:50.880Z","replies":[],"pos":196,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-30T16:33:04.358Z","replies":[],"pos":429,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The last administration and sanctuary cities across the country prioritized subsidizing and protecting illegal immigrants over supporting and safeguarding their own citizens. The financial strain this has put on local governments is felt by all. Denver, a sanctuary city whose mayor vowed to fight President Donald Trump’s immigration policy, has been forced to <a href=\"https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/2024-services-migrants-budget-cuts-denver-agencies-fund-programs/73-a8654a1f-0a20-4928-9d4d-f8a3c2966719\">slash budgets</a> for police and fire departments, cut 911 operator pay and freeze hiring to pay for the housing and support of its 42,000 illegal immigrants. Chicago, which is currently experiencing a self-induced budget shortfall, is expecting to spend <a href=\"https://news.wttw.com/2024/04/19/city-council-votes-30-18-spend-70m-more-care-migrants-chicago\">$321 million</a> this year in supporting their illegal immigrant population. In 2019, Athens, Georgia, opened its doors as a sanctuary city and the nation bore witness to the <a href=\"https://www.redandblack.com/athensnews/president-donald-trump-signs-the-laken-riley-act-into-law/article_c21bc850-de84-11ef-a0ab-d7fa060b21f1.html\">inhumanity that was brought to the campus of the University of Georgia</a>. Examples of how illegal immigration has crippled local economies and civic organizations are not hard to come by."},{"copyright":"Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.","auth":{"1":"fbbfb8b4ea8b5494b6150c69fba354ae8dcaa194de4361e6acb640407c3fa925"},"caption":"Mike Collins","source":{"system":"arc i/o","name":"Associated Press Photo Stream","edit_url":"","source_type":"wires","source_id":"d2200921add44ccc83c508adee7ac5f9","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"A6NH2X5RDHABAYLHPMBA27YGDA","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Mark Schiefelbein","type":"author"}]},"additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/lQF-t_yTPDOOxG7ojE1sXUvkNGg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","iptc_source":"AP","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"DCMS113","keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/lQF-t_yTPDOOxG7ojE1sXUvkNGg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","takenOn":"2025-01-03T18:24:46Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/lQF-t_yTPDOOxG7ojE1sXUvkNGg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/TmEcfPnSp_RMFSbwTJJjnBK48gc=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","version":3,"countryId":227,"originalName":"d2200921add44ccc83c508adee7ac5f9","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"VHURNFNQJVES3DPOZUVBHEEINU","iptc_title":"STF"},"last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T01:01:44Z","slug":"Congress","height":1450,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{"locality":"Washington","country_name":"USA","region":"DC"},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","subtitle":"Congress","width":1088,"_id":"32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U","created_date":"2025-01-30T16:21:38Z","alignment":"right","status":"usable","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/32OIQ3OFLJAFVAF5SEHAPAP25U?auth=fbbfb8b4ea8b5494b6150c69fba354ae8dcaa194de4361e6acb640407c3fa925&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"IKXQDHFH4BAAZBRYBZYKGM5LA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Advocates of illegal immigration will attempt to focus on the hypothetical productivity and economic benefits of migrants, but these arguments are speculative at best. If mass migration is a net economic positive, why are the border crisis and the financial support of migrants sending cities to near bankruptcy? Why are these same cities, which loudly proclaim their sanctuary status, <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/sanctuary-cities-are-straining-support-thousands-migrants-arriving-bus-rcna48570\">begging Texas Gov. Greg Abbott</a> to stop the bussing of migrants to their doors? Illegal immigration is simply bad fiscal policy."},{"_id":"B5C3CTZMT5EGNLRW7Q575K7RVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:35:43.714Z","replies":[],"pos":322,"comment":"Laken ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-30T16:35:51.235Z","replies":[],"pos":327,"comment":" in cold blood","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-30T16:36:07.430Z","replies":[],"pos":331,"comment":"the campus of ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:36:57.755Z","replies":[],"start":328,"end":333,"text":"last names only following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we have sadly found out in the past few years, these policies are also deadly. The killing of 22-year-old Laken Riley serves as a reminder of the horror that unenforced immigration laws bring to our communities. Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan criminal that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was unable to stop, murdered Riley on the University of Georgia campus last year. On Jan. 29, Trump signed my Laken Riley Act into law to stop her fate from ever happening to another innocent soul, marking the start to a renewed focus of removing these dangerous criminals from our communities."},{"_id":"AQJFM3ZZF5A77OEA3B5PHNQA3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:38:03.030Z","replies":[],"pos":281,"comment":"out-of-touch ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Anti-legal immigration leaders and activists have used support for illegal immigration as a litmus test for progressive bona fides, and the thousands like Laken Riley have paid the price. Instead of focusing on supporting existing at-risk populations or protecting their citizens, far-left politicians are subverting immigration laws as a deliberate attack against Republicans and are using their newly found support of illegal immigrants as a vehicle for resistance against Trump."},{"_id":"HXOGJVCGBBCQJE4XAM6DJAJ2UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:39:13.395Z","replies":[],"pos":392,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-30T16:39:03.996Z","replies":[],"start":249,"end":254,"text":"added then- here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It wasn’t always like this. Repatriation was seldom a controversial topic prior to Jan. 20. The stigmatization of the enforcement of immigration laws in the media and with the progressive activists is a fairly new phenomenon. Between 2009 and 2015, then-President Barack Obama deported nearly <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obamas-deportation-policy-numbers/story?id=41715661\">2.5 million illegal immigrants.</a> The widespread negative ramifications and economy-crushing impacts the activist class claims will happen under Trump’s deportation plans did not materialize when previous presidential administrations enforced the laws. If the anti-legal immigration, pro-migrant activists are correct, wouldn’t their doomsday predictions have come true under Obama? A few loud voices in op-eds and news appearances should not dictate how the most powerful country on the globe enforces its laws. In fact, <a href=\"https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/majority-americans-support-deporting-immigrants-who-are-us-illegally\">66% of Americans</a> agree that we should deport illegal immigrants"},{"_id":"VUEABS5GZZHA3NUZE37JZV4WHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We are finally getting serious about protecting our sovereignty and rule of law because our country demanded it on Nov. 5. If an individual has entered our country illegally or has overstayed a visa, the United States has every right to remove this person from the country. We cannot simply ignore these crimes anymore. It is unreasonable to believe that we should intentionally not enforce our own immigration laws while opening the border to millions of people from across the globe."},{"_id":"URKUA63D2NHD7KSTW7KTOD3EJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"A nation is nothing without its borders and laws. Since Trump’s inauguration, we are finally starting to see enforcement at our southern border and a much-needed commitment to upholding U.S. law."},{"_id":"5FMFXDVFMZH3LOYBNLBCY5UJWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Mike Collins, a Republican, represents Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Far-left politicians are subverting immigration laws as a deliberate attack against Republicans and resistance against Trump."},"description":{"basic":"Far-left politicians are subverting immigration laws as a deliberate attack against Republicans and resistance against Trump."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"66152d86b470d51ad1b5a25b71b4fe5e60264514103190a2c0461a82bfeefaba"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Yuri Gripas","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TRUMP-IMMIGRATION-LAW-1-ABA","width":5789,"caption":"President Donald Trump signs the Laken Riley Act on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C. 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(Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/USHXO26POXWQDLKTT53GCPPR6Q.jpg","height":3859,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/USHXO26POXWQDLKTT53GCPPR6Q.jpg?auth=66152d86b470d51ad1b5a25b71b4fe5e60264514103190a2c0461a82bfeefaba&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"XFSWRP4GWFGH3M4GPUCOABVDCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828226},"type":"text","content":"As the mother of a toddler and a former elementary school principal, my heart aches every time I hear about a child or adult injured in a school zone. It’s a fear that lingers in the back of every parent’s mind — the thought of our little ones walking to school, so vulnerable and full of life, only to be struck down by a reckless driver. We teach them to look both ways and to be careful, but, ultimately, their safety rests in the hands of those behind the wheel."},{"_id":"IGYMPRZ4ZJDQLEOHZOMZSEEIBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":143,"comment":"Georgia,"},{"pos":154,"comment":"away from"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828227},"type":"text","content":"Last April, that fear became a reality for the family of 5-year-old <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122143893386092962&id=61552788879757&_rdr\" target=\"_blank\">Isaiah Silva</a>. He was walking to Len Lastinger Elementary School in Tifton, just steps the school doors, when a minivan struck him in the crosswalk. Can you imagine the horror of that moment? Isaiah suffered a traumatic brain injury, requiring him to be placed in a medically induced coma for weeks. He spent almost two months in the hospital fighting for his life. Thankfully, he survived, but his life will never be the same."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"54ba5a469ab63879d49b8a8043a54969d8d24a7f67047897704ff1528100abbf"},"caption":"Ashley Rose-Toomer","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Ashley Rose-Toomer","width":1290,"_id":"IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/edQJ9TjRxDN2quKheE9Y-z9NGW0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/edQJ9TjRxDN2quKheE9Y-z9NGW0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/edQJ9TjRxDN2quKheE9Y-z9NGW0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/3TaJdgwzm89ROp1Te2z820Stxhc=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Ashley Rose-Toomer.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"ORPTTJBD2JFDLEFAWOANHGVSWI"},"created_date":"2025-01-29T21:42:53Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-29T21:42:53Z","alignment":"right","height":2368,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IRPJNV3YRBCUXLZSYY3LOZCJ2Q.jpg?auth=54ba5a469ab63879d49b8a8043a54969d8d24a7f67047897704ff1528100abbf&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"BTMVBO7KRRAD7CIAHDM2YUNX2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828228},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Then there’s the story of <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/education/crosswalk-named-for-cobb-middle-school-crossing-guard-who-was-killed-on-the-job/4VU5BEP5PBGUPM5BQYJSM2STSA/\" target=\"_blank\">Edna Umeh</a>, a crossing guard at Lindley Middle School in Cobb County. She dedicated her days to ensuring the safety of children walking to and from school. Tragically, she lost her own life doing so. Umeh was hit and killed by a speeding driver right in front of the school, in front of the very children she was trying to protect."},{"_id":"OVK2AEFQO5BMFH4UNFIGFZQ2MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828229},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"These stories are not isolated incidents. They are a stark reminder of the dangers present in our school zones every single day. Across Georgia, parents, school officials and law enforcement officers are coming together to prioritize school-zone safety. We are demanding action, pleading for change and searching for solutions to protect our children."},{"_id":"P4KGPZDNZBERNP5YEWTRJJVJPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828230},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One of the most effective tools we have in this fight is the installation of school-zone safety cameras. These cameras have proved time and time again to reduce speeding and accidents significantly. Studies show they can <a href=\"https://www.lagrangenews.com/2023/10/19/school-zone-speed-cameras-still-in-the-works/\" target=\"_blank\">cut speeding by up to 90%</a> and <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6445786/\" target=\"_blank\">accident rates in half</a>. Parents want them. School officials want them. Law enforcement wants them. They work. But getting these cameras installed is a complicated process. It involves a needs-based traffic study, a local government applicant and approval from the Georgia Department of Transportation. It’s a bureaucratic maze that often leaves schools and communities feeling frustrated and helpless."},{"_id":"DSQN6E3G4ZF67D2LNDOY2E4JDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828231},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"To make matters worse, several Georgia legislators want to get rid of this successful safety program altogether. Why? Because they are listening to the wrong people. They are listening to the speeders who complain about getting tickets instead of listening to the parents, grandparents, teachers and concerned citizens who are begging for safer streets for our children. Imagine thieves and home invaders calling their elected officials to complain about burglar alarms, neighborhood watch groups or doorbell cameras. Then imagine your elected representative siding with the perpetrators over traumatized homeowners and terrified victims. That’s essentially what’s happening when lawmakers prioritize the complaints of speeders over the safety of our children."},{"_id":"ENP3ZFL2OBGRFNBLZI2RWVSB54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828232},"type":"text","content":"Our lawmakers need to summon the courage to tell speeders who complain to simply slow down for a hundred yards or so in school zones. It’s a small inconvenience that can save lives. If the speeders are louder than our families, the right to speed through school zones will win over our right to keep our kids safe. We cannot allow that to happen. We need to make our voices heard. We need to contact our elected officials and demand that they prioritize the safety of our children."},{"_id":"4PZJ624QJNAPLE3MKLPNUEOSH4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828233},"type":"text","content":"For more information on how to make your voice heard, go to <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/giveschoolkidsabrake.com/__;!!JZyed81S!ibFCS3hecOR95vQIV0C-02runZ9CV3lZp_Hd7A20v7gTytwN-LQtoWPOAzGiyD2t7Q_71XwdwlzaaiVu7K7ZPH6h$\">https://giveschoolkidsabrake.com/</a>. Your life and your children’s lives may well depend on it."},{"_id":"N6IK23W2NNHXHAV6USSYZYPG4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828234},"type":"text","content":"This isn’t just about statistics and traffic studies. It’s about real children, like Isaiah, who suffered life-altering injuries, and real heroes, like Edna Umeh, who lost their lives protecting others. It’s about creating a safe environment where our children can walk to school without fear, where parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their kids will arrive safely. It’s about making our school zones havens, not danger zones. We owe it to our children to do everything in our power to protect them."},{"_id":"RU2LLTTFURGORMIMV4OWDJH4EY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738183828235},"type":"text","content":"<i>Ashley Rose-Toomer, a former school principal, is the executive director of Give School Kids a Brake.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"School-zone speed cameras can help create a safe environment where our children can walk to school without fear."},"description":{"basic":"School-zone speed cameras can help create a safe environment where our children can walk to school without fear."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"f1618878bdf30c2f596463dc813d8ce5a8d01cc7e96568cd3a289dbac83cd8ce"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"NATRICE MILLER","type":"author","byline":"NATRICE MILLER"}]},"subtitle":"Speed cameras","width":4516,"caption":"Brendan Horgan rides his bike with his children (left to right) on Jan. 31, 2024, in a school zone where cameras have been installed to prevent speeding. 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(Natrice Miller/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4PXU7XOJWNCSNKQGOIGDJCBS5Q.jpg","height":2541,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4PXU7XOJWNCSNKQGOIGDJCBS5Q.jpg?auth=f1618878bdf30c2f596463dc813d8ce5a8d01cc7e96568cd3a289dbac83cd8ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"PTAMRSQV2BGQTKC3RAJEGA67QY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832834},"type":"text","content":"There has been no hotter topic in my emails, calls and meetings than the emergence of data centers. Tech companies including Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and even Netflix have massive data centers driven by demand from users, like you and me."},{"_id":"GXJFMF7IUBCP7K7GUWPRTV2AZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832835},"type":"text","content":"In fact, I asked my Google AI prompt about the impact, and this is what was returned: <i>“Yes, AI is significantly driving data center electricity demand, with the rapid growth of advanced AI systems like generative models leading to a surge in energy consumption as they require vast computational power and large numbers of processing chips, putting considerable strain on data center electricity grids.”</i>"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"f1bab8d98cce63b8d2ba7f844f98523f0d3ef0e335f13e75910863606a65bf62"},"caption":"Tim Echols","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Tim Echols","width":824,"_id":"K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/HSLIztX_0Qy_EEOqAT61O8LYcg0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/HSLIztX_0Qy_EEOqAT61O8LYcg0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/HSLIztX_0Qy_EEOqAT61O8LYcg0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/qCnWIb6Zahff7eJScDS-36atAUc=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"echols.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"VWN55QICJBHNTFRKA67ITP75DY"},"created_date":"2024-04-17T19:00:47Z","last_updated_date":"2024-04-17T19:00:47Z","alignment":"right","height":1099,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/K2CRVPXF4VEGHEAK7ANIRX2YKE.jpg?auth=f1bab8d98cce63b8d2ba7f844f98523f0d3ef0e335f13e75910863606a65bf62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XKRN2OXE4ZDCVHDNQ2JQLB7GIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":844,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832837},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The “considerable strain” part of that artificial intelligence answer is what we in the utility world have been concerned about. These tech companies need mass quantities of power and backup natural gas generation to keep running in outages, and they want it in a relatively quick time. Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns earlier this month announced a special committee to study our state’s resource management plan. No doubt that review will include the impact of these centers. But still, thanks to Georgia tax incentives and reasonably priced electricity in our state, more data centers and large-load customers are looking for sites throughout our state with adequate land, power and water. These centers bring immense capital and contributions to the tax base, offer premiums for the right property, support community infrastructure upgrades and often give financial support to community initiatives."},{"_id":"ADAIGEZGIFESTDDZL6KKFAPF3E","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LJKAQQBFBNCZPHXQ7GV6RECLOU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Data centers will drive up electric rates for Georgians","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-data-centers-will-drive-up-electric-rates-for-georgians/QVFJCW76MVBSBBEWIGTGYHOZUM/"},{"_id":"63SNR6JTYJHS5D6UD6YVK6LGIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Last year, our Public Service Commission took emergency action to acquire 3,300 megawatts of additional capacity, making sure the cost was borne by those asking for that power. In fact, Georgia Power agreed to reduce the average monthly bill by $2.89 as a result of these new loads and additional resources. Just recently, the PSC took further action and created new rules for very large-load customers, including data centers, to protect residential, small-business and existing large-business customers. Longer-term contracts, credit requirements, minimal bill provisions and appropriate termination policies guard against instances in which data centers or others might exit the system sooner than required to pay for their costs. These PSC-approved actions go a long way in resolving concerns from Georgia political leaders and ratepayers."},{"_id":"S5MWH4HLBZHOZBBHFPPED73EJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T21:36:52.661Z","start":81,"end":89,"text":"added COVID-19 on first reference to pandemic","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738192832839},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I know there is a <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-house-senate-leaders-take-aim-at-data-center-film-tax-breaks/ERNJYCRZ55GV7M6V2T4WO2NYNQ/\" target=\"_blank\">lingering concern across Georgia about energy prices</a> after the COVID-19 pandemic, vast inflation, hurricanes, winter storms and the completion of Plant Vogtle, a worthy project that went way over budget because of the bankruptcy of Westinghouse. But our PSC, a group of five elected officials, has proactively secured the power we all need and a healthy reserve margin — with more to come."},{"_id":"JKZEYJ7WRJCKRKQSB2QAMSNZIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":64,"comment":"Company "},{"pos":427,"comment":"Q-Cells "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T21:39:01.028Z","start":72,"end":75,"text":"abbreviate, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738192832841},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Not every state is in the position that Georgia is in. Southern Co. and Georgia Power have a reputation for reliability. Our PSC has approved projects that have created a high reserve margin, including Plant Vogtle, and we took action last year to acquire more capacity. And with our rates 15% below the national average and our 0% sales tax on manufacturing machinery and equipment, you can see why companies such as Hyundai, Qcells and SK Innovations now call Georgia home."},{"_id":"S4AUVIDNPFA2LONPHD2ETFPVLY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MFFYOIKLP5AMJF7XINK3BCCBG4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A new rule lets power companies charge data centers more","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/georgia-powers-rule-changes-to-address-data-center-energy-use-pass/QXGVZA6FI5AMRKIGPQUCSTGZMI/"},{"_id":"PWA3ENU4MRGRJP6HS5MTSWKNP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":234,"comment":"Q-Cells "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832842},"type":"text","content":"In fact, our energy policy and planning are often cited by companies coming to Georgia as a deciding factor. Our state has scooped up many clean energy projects. We landed the Hyundai Car Plant, the largest project ever in our state. Qcells, in Cartersville and Dalton, is the largest solar panel manufacturer in North America. SK Innovations in Commerce is a massive battery manufacturer making batteries for the F-150 and other models. Ascend Elements in Covington is the largest battery recycler in North America. Solarcycle being built in Northwest Georgia recycles solar panels. Bluebird buses down in Fort Valley make electric and traditional school buses. Clubcar and E-Z-GO in Augusta make more low-speed electric vehicles than any place in America."},{"_id":"4MKAX3YSVFDX3KQXR6ZBTMERHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T21:49:58.731Z","start":419,"end":432,"text":"added international to name of airport, per AJC style","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738192832843},"type":"text","content":"The Kia plant has been expanded and is making the EV6 and EV9 models. And Rivian has plans to build a mammoth car plant east of Atlanta, thanks to an injection of cash from Volkswagen and the Department of Energy. A deregulated natural gas system — second to none — allows us to greatly reduce pollution, especially in Atlanta. The list goes on. We have the fourth-largest container port in America. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the busiest on the planet. And Atlanta is the “fintech” capital of the United States. We have the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a world-class aquarium and are home to many civil rights icons."},{"_id":"IZXIPFVJHNBHHKVS56X4H7ZZD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832844},"type":"text","content":"These companies create high-paying jobs in Georgia, which improves our tax base and creates other service jobs in communities where these factories are."},{"_id":"V2QAYJNVYZHBVLOJ7LMTRJXZN4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"RF2USQ3H4JEHBAWJ7Q2MI6BQIY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A ‘tsunami’ of data centers is coming. Why that wave is hitting Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/follow-the-power-atlanta-becomes-darling-of-data-center-industry/K32OT4CVDRCIDPVV7DVZS3KUR4/"},{"_id":"TYQ7JXDNTJDR3LRZB3VSSCCFXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832845},"type":"text","content":"In Georgia, we have made steps to secure for our state an abundance of energy through multiple sources, making us attractive to both data centers and manufacturing. We are ready for the future."},{"_id":"ZCB32FBWTRCMBHWMF43EHNMQ2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738192832846},"type":"text","content":"<i>Tim Echols is a statewide elected official on the Georgia Public Service Commission, having served since 2011.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The Public Service Commission is balancing the electricity needs of data centers and the good they do for Georgia’s economy."},"description":{"basic":"The Public Service Commission is balancing the electricity needs of data centers and the good they do for Georgia’s economy."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"7cc838a095d8127fa9a013552a801f22a8d4a44bb93e53b65e701c8e273fae60"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"BIZ-DATA-CENTERS-UTILITIES-GEORGIA-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Construction is underway at DataBank ATL 4 in Atlanta on Dec. 6, 2024. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P5DAYVJCZ267MBLRB5ID3UTVXQ.jpg","height":2035,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/P5DAYVJCZ267MBLRB5ID3UTVXQ.jpg?auth=7cc838a095d8127fa9a013552a801f22a8d4a44bb93e53b65e701c8e273fae60&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-artificial-intelligence-and-the-demand-for-energy/6QKRVUZDKRC2DAU5WBMQYF7D3E/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-30T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Tim Echols","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Artificial intelligence and the demand for energy"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-30T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-30T10:00:03.931Z","_id":"6QKRVUZDKRC2DAU5WBMQYF7D3E","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"7cc838a095d8127fa9a013552a801f22a8d4a44bb93e53b65e701c8e273fae60"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"BIZ-DATA-CENTERS-UTILITIES-GEORGIA-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Construction is underway at DataBank ATL 4 in Atlanta on Dec. 6, 2024. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P5DAYVJCZ267MBLRB5ID3UTVXQ.jpg","height":2035,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/P5DAYVJCZ267MBLRB5ID3UTVXQ.jpg?auth=7cc838a095d8127fa9a013552a801f22a8d4a44bb93e53b65e701c8e273fae60&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UH3UIKZOBNBCXKSJHCGPJ347NA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575527},"type":"text","content":"For decades, the <a href=\"https://www.historytoday.com/archive/history-matters/how-south-became-republican\" target=\"_blank\">South has been painted as a Republican stronghold</a>, a region where Democratic campaigns go to falter and progressive policies hit a wall of resistance. But this narrative overlooks the evolving demographics, changing political landscape and untapped potential that make the South a battleground Democrats cannot afford to ignore. It’s time for Democrats to embrace a new Southern strategy — one that goes beyond simply competing and aims to build lasting political infrastructure in the region."},{"_id":"OMUPH3Q7ZBBD5ANERR2SCMJRKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":602,"comment":"COVID "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T16:24:17.655Z","start":608,"end":616,"text":"added -19, per AJC preferred style","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738604575528},"type":"text","content":"I bring this perspective not just as a political observer but as someone who has worked to expand Democratic outreach and engagement. I ran to be the next vice chair of the Democratic National Committee because I believe in building long-term power in the South. Most recently, I served as a senior Biden-Harris appointee at the Department of Commerce, where I helped push $800 million in grant money out to rural communities to help close the gap in broadband access. Through targeted outreach, text banking and organizing, my PAC, Ready for Change, contacted more than 26,000 young voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. I have seen firsthand how strategic investment and grassroots engagement can transform political landscapes."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"d5608f4ffc7a7e74c67a4f001fc063cf526ac1936de5aa738137c6e1e28ab213"},"caption":"Troy Blackwell","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Troy Blackwell","width":2158,"_id":"5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5IqhHixfInyTX9gx90akx-HkopQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5IqhHixfInyTX9gx90akx-HkopQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5IqhHixfInyTX9gx90akx-HkopQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/0KMFDdYL24u1hIHBU1rldKh_Z3s=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Troy Blackwell.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4KX7XAWF2ZFZNBGIZQOFNRFSHY"},"created_date":"2025-01-29T14:42:23Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-29T14:42:23Z","alignment":"right","height":1851,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5LYAKFLUK5DG5N6IDHXN7S6MFU.jpeg?auth=d5608f4ffc7a7e74c67a4f001fc063cf526ac1936de5aa738137c6e1e28ab213&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"2BRBYTU4LJBRJOOET76QD2FRCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":119,"comment":"that "},{"pos":210,"comment":"well-funded "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T16:36:55.440Z","start":227,"end":231,"text":"no hyphen necessary","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738604575530},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"First, let’s dispel the myth that the South is uniformly conservative. Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia have shown Democratic victories are not just possible but repeatable when campaigns are strategic and well funded. <a href=\"https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/diversity-inclusion/525387-how-stacey-abrams-helped-get-out-the-black-vote/\" target=\"_blank\">Stacey Abrams’ voter mobilization efforts in Georgia</a> are a case study in how grassroots organizing can turn out historically underrepresented communities and flip a state. Meanwhile, North Carolina remains a purple state, with competitive Senate races and growing urban centers that lean Democratic. Even in deep red states such as Texas and Alabama, urban areas and younger voters are pushing the needle leftward."},{"_id":"RKYXVXIIIVG2NABBTZRKCIKGFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":38,"comment":"fastest-growing "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T16:27:52.042Z","start":54,"end":69,"text":"only hyphenate as a compound modifier, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738604575531},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The South is also home to some of the fastest growing and most diverse populations in the country. Black voters remain the backbone of the Democratic Party, and the South has the <a href=\"https://stateline.org/2019/08/12/a-change-in-politics-with-more-black-voters-in-the-deep-south/\" target=\"_blank\">highest concentration of Black voters in the nation</a>. Additionally, the growth of Latino and Asian American populations adds new layers of opportunity for Democrats to expand their coalition. Ignoring the South is not just a political mistake — it’s a moral failing not to engage with the very communities that form the foundation of Democratic support."},{"_id":"RIWZ4AUPYJG7BHBONN5TSOPB2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":217,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575532},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Latinos make up <a href=\"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2023/hispanic-heritage-month.html\" target=\"_blank\">nearly 20% of the U.S. population</a>. They are now the nation’s second-largest group of eligible voters — only behind white non-Latino voters. According to projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 the <a href=\"https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/how-congressional-maps-could-change-2030\" target=\"_blank\">electoral map will shift</a>, with Southern states where Latinos are a key voting bloc — Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Florida — picking up more Electoral College votes."},{"_id":"UTELKRMYLBHIPLBJ4WJ2TGDXVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575533},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Democrats must engage Latino voters in a meaningful way by investing in Spanish-language outreach, supporting Latino community organizations and addressing issues that resonate deeply with these voters, such as immigration reform, education, health care and economic opportunity. Campaigns need to meet Latino voters where they are, whether in churches, workplaces or community centers, and ensure that outreach efforts are culturally competent and year-round, not just during election season. Building trust within Latino communities requires long-term commitment and representation at every level of government."},{"_id":"ULRNL7MZLRD3ROJHSNXLYYEZ3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575534},"type":"text","content":"One of the biggest missteps Democrats make in the South is treating it as a transactional relationship. Too often, national Democratic organizations pour money into high-profile races during election years only to pull out resources when the ballots are counted. This cycle of “parachute politics” leaves local organizations underfunded and communities feeling abandoned."},{"_id":"3JPX67MPUND7JK75YZPA7XUBJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":198,"comment":","},{"pos":543,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575535},"type":"text","content":"A new Southern strategy requires sustained investment in grassroots infrastructure. This means funding year-round voter registration efforts, supporting local candidates at every level of government and building a bench of young, diverse leaders who reflect the communities they serve. It also means addressing voter suppression head-on. Republican-led legislatures in the South have passed a slew of restrictive voting laws designed to disenfranchise Black and brown voters. Democrats must commit to fighting these laws in court and ensuring all eligible voters can cast their ballots."},{"_id":"OKALXWZ3N5FGZBN2HZMYKPUFX4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KQEVVIRO2FCVVBCLOELUTBCQRI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Democrats are splintered on immigration and how to respond to Trump","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/democrats-are-splintered-on-immigration-and-how-to-respond-to-trump/LNZCZTLKDNEEVBEBLF56AFA5DM/"},{"_id":"3FACLISDD5G2DGYYMTC3Z2NF5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575537},"type":"text","content":"Another key element of a new Southern strategy is crafting a message that speaks to the unique concerns of Southern voters. Republicans have long weaponized cultural issues to galvanize their base, painting Democrats as out of touch with “real America.” Democrats can counter this by grounding their policies in shared values like family, faith and opportunity while highlighting the tangible benefits of progressive policies."},{"_id":"J5DK4QU57ZCX5GZBKTYRGBE6ZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575538},"type":"text","content":"For example, expanding Medicaid resonates deeply in Southern states where millions lack access to affordable health care. Investing in infrastructure, education and good-paying jobs can also unite voters across racial and economic lines. Democrats should lean into the successes of the Biden administration — from capping insulin costs to creating manufacturing jobs — and show how these policies directly improve the lives of Southern families."},{"_id":"OIANPP5SUBDXZIOTWHVKJ5OSQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":40,"comment":"coalition-building "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-29T16:33:45.173Z","start":59,"end":68,"text":"only hyphenate as a compound modifier","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738604575539},"type":"text","content":"The South’s political future depends on coalition building. This means not only energizing the Democratic base but also reaching out to moderate and disaffected voters who feel left behind by Republican extremism. The overturning of Roe v. Wade, book bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights have alienated many suburban women and young voters, providing an opening for Democrats to make inroads."},{"_id":"3DZO6FY5LNFSTFRMXEEPH2GIMQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LNRBRO72YBBLRCP2XWBVYESVFY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Vaughan Emsley: Democrats have reason to be optimistic","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-democrats-have-reason-to-be-optimistic/KUUHNQH6YZFZZAYUSDDIE2HMQQ/"},{"_id":"KERQ6EF74ZHYBJKTH3VFFRL3KQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":183,"comment":"local "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575541},"type":"text","content":"At the same time, Democrats must ensure that Black voters and other communities of color feel valued, not taken for granted. This requires showing up in every community, listening to concerns and empowering grassroots leaders to drive the conversation. A big-tent coalition is built on trust, and trust is earned through consistent engagement."},{"_id":"KCR7RON5QVCIHBTSWEU6ZQVXFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575542},"type":"text","content":"The South is not just a regional battleground; it’s a reflection of America’s future. The policies enacted in state legislatures have national implications, from voting rights to abortion access to education. If Democrats want to protect democracy and expand opportunity for all, they cannot afford to write off the South."},{"_id":"EE2X2YPTGVGXBLMXOSYAC55IIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":155,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575543},"type":"text","content":"A new Southern strategy is not just about winning elections; it’s about building real power. It’s about investing in communities, amplifying diverse voices and fighting for the values that unite us. The South is changing, and Democratic strategies need to change with it."},{"_id":"E6KWMRI5WFFSLOABWLBMCUCYFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604575544},"type":"text","content":"<i>Troy Blackwell was a senior appointee in the Biden-Harris administration and deputy chief communications officer at the U.S. Department of Commerce.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"No longer a Republican stronghold, the region is in play thanks to changing demographics. "},"description":{"basic":"No longer a Republican stronghold, the region is perpetually in play thanks to changing demographics."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1af933bbc9484d999b25781c27da45a05ef67418127d2d2f571aeb784480cfcb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Election day polling place photos\r","width":3300,"caption":"A “Vote Here” sign is shown outside of a polling place, Israel Baptist Church, in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KGXJNL5USJ44P2AS6DEN5DVHAU.JPG","height":2200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KGXJNL5USJ44P2AS6DEN5DVHAU.JPG?auth=1af933bbc9484d999b25781c27da45a05ef67418127d2d2f571aeb784480cfcb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-south-is-a-battleground-democrats-cant-afford-to-ignore/DP4BPKZSKRCFVOC53HE46WPTAI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-29T15:46:07.124Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Troy Blackwell","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The South is a battleground Democrats can’t afford to ignore"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-29T15:46:07.124Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-03T17:44:22.093Z","_id":"DP4BPKZSKRCFVOC53HE46WPTAI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"1af933bbc9484d999b25781c27da45a05ef67418127d2d2f571aeb784480cfcb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Election day polling place photos\r","width":3300,"caption":"A “Vote Here” sign is shown outside of a polling place, Israel Baptist Church, in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KGXJNL5USJ44P2AS6DEN5DVHAU.JPG","height":2200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KGXJNL5USJ44P2AS6DEN5DVHAU.JPG?auth=1af933bbc9484d999b25781c27da45a05ef67418127d2d2f571aeb784480cfcb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"QNMJTM532JDZ5KIZ4GL73KVDBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783134},"type":"text","content":"In 2018, one of my company’s school buses was fully stopped with lights flashing, loading students along a DeKalb County road, as it did every school day, like at thousands of other school bus stops across the country."},{"_id":"UZ3F264TRRH3RA5MIMGYYWVE3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783135},"type":"text","content":"Our driver neither did anything different nor anything wrong, but heartbreaking tragedy struck. A mom and her 8-year-old daughter, running through a crosswalk, were struck by a car. The mother survived terrible injuries, but, sadly, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/girl-8-struck-by-car-while-getting-on-school-bus-in-henry-county/DVQFK57UUNEJFDP7EVQ5J2B7F4/\" target=\"_blank\">the girl died shortly after the accident</a>."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"8f093adeb8df376a2d6ba989c773a9275bd88b21bce6bec8ba533d263ab449d7"},"vanity_credits":{},"caption":"John Sambdman is chief executive of Samson Tours in Atlanta.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"John Sambdman","width":2320,"_id":"RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/sYXCEF9xE66RfJGkqblERixqreg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/sYXCEF9xE66RfJGkqblERixqreg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","link":"","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/sYXCEF9xE66RfJGkqblERixqreg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/IKB43T8fAexSzDBFIru2cTnShZA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"John Sambdman.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"EB7NS25EF5D5VMDCPQ4ZVNXJBY"},"created_date":"2025-01-28T20:17:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T20:17:00Z","alignment":"right","height":3088,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RWNQTUCQDZD37JU6FNP7HTMRJU.jpg?auth=8f093adeb8df376a2d6ba989c773a9275bd88b21bce6bec8ba533d263ab449d7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"UNANFNHXDVDBVGYMAJ6CMEDWAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783137},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Law enforcement on the scene had no doubt who was at fault: the driver of the car that struck the victims. She faced significant time in jail for the offense."},{"_id":"ZF26QXUZUZGNFEO3CFBKYUH6CM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783138},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But the person at fault was of little interest to the plaintiff’s attorney because the person at fault was poorly insured. A bus company like mine is required to possess robust coverage. So, a year after the tragedy, my company was sued because it was the nearest deep pocket and a prime target for aggressive lawyers."},{"_id":"6LTUGGINQRAD3GUDWN4D22GB2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783139},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"No rational person could argue our driver acted negligently. To argue my driver was at fault is to argue that any school bus driver picking up kids is acting recklessly. It’s absurd. Unfortunately, absurdities are allowed in Georgia courts."},{"_id":"5HFQENUISZHT5OV3KK4TVLUNLU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783140},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yet, because my insurance company feared the runaway jury verdicts that have become too common in Georgia, it settled with the plaintiff for $5 million — the maximum allowed under my policy — though the plaintiff’s attorney had floated obscene numbers up to $40 million."},{"_id":"OXC6XRNRFRDF7AW4MHO7QZKAIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783141},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Our company has offered bus services out of our headquarters near Hapeville since my father started the company in 1983. We provide charters, school buses and military transports, and we’re proud to offer good salaries that exceed industry standards. We take safety so seriously that we give our drivers a $500 safety bonus each month without an incident."},{"_id":"2TODRSSHTBENVM3HVSZV45X74E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783142},"type":"text","content":"Across many business sectors in Georgia, insurance rates have skyrocketed because of unfair, unjustified and unsustainable payouts to plaintiffs. In some counties in metro Atlanta, juries consider business defendants as guilty until proved otherwise by a mountain of evidence. In short, anyone with commercial insurance is considered at fault. It is also typical for the officer at the scene to charge the commercial carrier with fault, often not citing the driver of the other car involved as they know the commercial carrier has significant insurance. In short, Lady Justice has had her blindfold removed and her thumb placed firmly on the scales of justice against the commercial carrier."},{"_id":"PXZO2NY7RNHHLKZEQ5S75BQJQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":78,"comment":" COVID"},{"pos":176,"comment":"COVID’s "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-28T21:00:58.609Z","start":85,"end":94,"text":"added -19, per AJC preferred style","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1738345783143},"type":"text","content":"Our insurance costs have risen 400% since 2019. Before the government-mandated COVID-19 shutdowns, we owned and operated 62 units, paying $850,000 per year on insurance. After the pandemic’s disruptions to charter companies, we now operate 26 units, but our insurance is still nearly $800,000. The cost per unit has risen exorbitantly."},{"_id":"5MAWJASCS5A43DL3XSCBOHSK4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783144},"type":"text","content":"Whereas we used to get up to 10 bids from competing insurance companies, only one would offer us coverage last year. Carriers are leaving the market in Atlanta because our legal climate is untenable. As such, we do not know if we will even have insurance from one year to the next. At this point, we’re not fighting to profit; we’re fighting to just stay open."},{"_id":"LWUSSP4W2VBWZAMGUQT5RW4Q34","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":148,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783145},"type":"text","content":"As with any business expense, these costs are passed on to consumers. We all pay higher prices as a result. Perhaps that’s why <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/georgia-general-assembly-prioritize-lawsuit-reform/85-392b7d56-a360-4a4c-a969-454e38019ad4\" target=\"_blank\">71% of Georgians</a> say the increasing number of lawsuits is hurting the state’s economy, according to a University of Georgia poll."},{"_id":"TFQRDV6OLJCSZBJ4FMHOQHGQGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783146},"type":"text","content":"Concerned that jury verdicts in Georgia are far outstripping the costs in neighboring states, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-vows-to-pass-bill-curbing-excessive-lawsuits-this-year-one-way-or-another/I6YFNZTWJRD7LDGUIQ6T2DT2VM/\" target=\"_blank\">Gov. Brian Kemp is offering reforms</a> that will restore balance to our broken system, and I highly encourage our legislators to pass legislation that will bring relief."},{"_id":"GGLGWUPWGJFHJBZQRPLCMDYZOM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783147},"type":"text","content":"No business is seeking immunity when someone is harmed because of negligence. Someone who is wronged should have access to justice. But Georgia must rein in predatory lawsuits that target businesses simply for their proximity to an accident or crime."},{"_id":"Z422GR2SPZE75K6ATTXXG6DHUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783148},"type":"text","content":"Businesses like mine provide our communities with services they need. Without legislative changes that bring affordable insurance and rein in obvious fraud, the futures of many businesses are in peril."},{"_id":"3RJ63J4WIRGNJPMHODAONXPVMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738345783149},"type":"text","content":"<i>John Sambdman is chief executive of Samson Tours in Atlanta.</i>"},{"_id":"NETB6MSKIVGVFAC5HPL2NIXJ2A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Correction: An earlier version of this essay incorrectly said the driver of a car that hit a child served jail time. This version has been updated.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"My company used to have its pick of insurers. This year, only one company was offering insurance. "},"description":{"basic":"My company used to have its pick of insurers. This year, only one company was offering insurance."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"aa693d6ee156c0ae1d5697913176182115c751ee68150430604171f851ea26c8"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Natrice Miller","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-GA-KEMP-TORT-REFORM-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Gov. 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In the past few years, U.S. companies OpenAI, Google, Meta and Anthropic have dominated leaderboards for cutting-edge AI with Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia leading in cloud and specialized AI hardware. To play in this league requires a huge war chest of billions of dollars."},{"_id":"PHPO55MDNRAVHMAN6S65MWIKUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Now, DeepSeek, the AI division of a Chinese hedge fund and a (relatively) much smaller company, has released large-language and reasoning AI models whose performance is comparable to the best-in-class U.S. AI models. According to the company, it did not use high-end GPUs (i.e. AI chips), and the computing bill was estimated to be only $5.6 million, which is a fraction of what it costs rivals to build their current models. Expert and industry reactions to these claims ranged from skepticism to shock and awe. Based on the details in the technical reports from DeepSeek, this breakthrough, prima facie, seems plausible."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"c0bb8db44ed50977f63c95a89b79b43e763ac248028b8891b3830dbed7563e33"},"caption":"Kashyap Kompella","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Kashyap Kompella","width":1192,"_id":"LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/6RSJg1tIBZZy3JrZ0dSq3s9uqF0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/6RSJg1tIBZZy3JrZ0dSq3s9uqF0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/6RSJg1tIBZZy3JrZ0dSq3s9uqF0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/p_9KbdUFFBnlk4mtg-s7WGV-l_4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Kashyap Kompella.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"GXPOWBCXLVHXDK4EQMZRPGTS3E"},"created_date":"2025-01-28T14:23:58Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T14:23:58Z","alignment":"right","height":1257,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LXJ7J2T3URBFTO3QMF7YDGTEH4.jpg?auth=c0bb8db44ed50977f63c95a89b79b43e763ac248028b8891b3830dbed7563e33&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"fddd5c75166effff59597fc419116341ff24ff3bc7b804e80a1613c38e6ee803"},"caption":"James Cooper","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"James Cooper","width":200,"_id":"6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/X99vlSDXHQKoVJCvEPYOh8WnSLM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/X99vlSDXHQKoVJCvEPYOh8WnSLM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/X99vlSDXHQKoVJCvEPYOh8WnSLM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/2uIYzQwKi7nVLBmdM4Ye60sGFBk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"james cooper.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BD3DHLONJNCIZCFCGGQ7E3LRWU"},"created_date":"2025-01-28T14:24:40Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T14:24:40Z","alignment":"right","height":250,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6VFCWTVXRBG7JL25IZURGH32RY.jpg?auth=fddd5c75166effff59597fc419116341ff24ff3bc7b804e80a1613c38e6ee803&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"NRXTGSWMBRFDRE7YVCN63UWZGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Making available such an advanced AI model with a permissive open source license (i.e. almost giving it away for free) throws a wrench into the pricing strategies of commercial AI vendors who have to recoup their massive up-front investments. It might also mess up many 401(k) plans stateside."},{"_id":"YMCSZCD7LRHCZD7X2555DUE3MM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"For the Chinese government, DeepSeek is an inspiring David to U.S. Big Tech’s Goliath: local teams educated at top Chinese universities innovating against odds, delivering step-change cost reduction, open sourcing the latest AI models, and publishing their methods for others to leverage. Don’t be surprised if such open source AI is branded as a digital Belt and Road Initiative and a tool of Chinese soft power: AI solutions for the world, including the Global South, at a fraction of the cost."},{"_id":"IJ4KNL33WBB65IVV7AFGL25DOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"To be clear, this development does not dethrone the United States as the global leader in AI but narrows the gap between the United States and China; it requires the U.S. government to urgently reassess AI policies. It poses serious questions to U.S. AI companies about their competitive moats and the economics of commercial AI and requires them to refocus strategies and investments. These questions are important not only for policy wonks, tech moguls and venture capitalists; they are also relevant for everyday Americans whose 401(k) accounts could take a big hit if American AI leadership is not maintained. Consider that <a href=\"https://www.statista.com/statistics/270034/percentage-of-us-adults-to-have-money-invested-in-the-stock-market/\">62% of adult Americans</a> (including <a href=\"https://money.com/older-americans-own-most-stock-market/\">80% of older Americans</a>) invest in stocks. The S&P 500 returned <a href=\"https://www.valuethemarkets.com/investing-data-story/stock-market-trends-2024-sp-500s-winners-losers#:~:text=The%20S%26P%20500%20gained%2023.3,for%20the%20second%20consecutive%20year.\">23.3% in 2024</a>. Without the “Magnificent Seven” technology companies (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Tesla, Microsoft and Nvidia, all significant AI players) — it would have been <a href=\"https://www.inc.com/phil-rosen/stock-market-outlook-sp500-investors-economic-fed-rate-cut-magnificent-seven/9110311\">only 6.3%.</a> It is not surprising that around the world the initial stock market reaction has been brutal."},{"_id":"7RZI5MLE5ZGA3EXLC2R7DAXU7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In response to this disruption, there are a few initiatives on which the U.S. government and industry leaders can focus. The U.S. government, private equity, venture capital and other investors are pouring billions of dollars into AI. The Trump administration brought SoftBank, Oracle and OpenAI together for an event to announce a $100 billion investment in AI computing centers (code-named “Stargate”). The scale of these investments might need recalibration. There are many ways to make industry-friendly regulation here (construction, real estate, energy policies)."},{"_id":"CEHTGIJEEVEVFJPPWMHY364T2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Notwithstanding these big initiatives, much policymaking has been left to the courts. <a href=\"https://blogs.gwu.edu/law-eti/ai-litigation-database/\">High-stakes lawsuits</a> are snaking their way around the judiciary. Before these cases are decided, the U.S. government should provide clarity on regulation at federal level. The United States also needs to resist stamping out open source AI. If the government does that, it risks ceding space to China and others. Let us not forget that open source lets U.S. AI companies take advantage of DeepSeek’s new advances in this round."},{"_id":"FPG2RNLDBBBM7G3ORIL7WRIJMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Next, there is the issue whether U.S. export controls are serving their purpose. Indeed, Nvidia sells the H800 chip, which are the modified (slowed down) versions of the H100 chips that Washington has restricted Nvidia from selling to China. <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-asks-nvidia-super-micro-investigate-how-chips-ended-up-china-information-2024-12-19/\">There are news reports of reexports and smuggling of H100s to China</a>, something that is sure to concern the U.S. national security complex. The U.S. government must assess whether another round of export controls on the best semiconductor chips will be efficacious. <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-asks-nvidia-super-micro-investigate-how-chips-ended-up-china-information-2024-12-19/\">Better enforcement against smuggling of GPUs might be in order</a>. The Trump administration needs to rethink export controls. At the very least, it needs to monitor and enforce better. Ironically, AI will be helpful here. Also on the to do list is a rethink of regulation based on amount of compute used to train a model."},{"_id":"PTZHC6AMZJADRA7UTEPWWXTIBM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Generative AI, while important, is only one tool in the AI solutions portfolio. Generative AI is crowding out other AI investments, such as biomechanics and robotics. By leveraging U.S. research institutions and academic centers, these areas can be prioritized and grown. A talent strategy, even one encompassing immigration issues, needs to be seriously considered as well. David Sacks, the new AI czar, and the Trump administration have their work cut out for them. They should also consider devising an interim plan while fleshing out a longer-term vision that was mandated last week in an executive order."},{"_id":"UC6CPK4I3RAJNJOJZ2TFMQFMEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The U.S.’ AI leadership position needs to be protected, not just because AI is transformative for the future or geopolitically critical. The financial health of the American AI industry and Americans is at stake."},{"_id":"TJHG7TAJEVHWXMIXCPNYXV5WKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Kashyap Kompella is founder of </i><a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashyapkompella/\"><i>RPA2AI Research</i></a><i>, an AI analyst firm. James Cooper is a law professor at California Western School of Law in San Diego. They are coauthors of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Short-Artificial-Intelligence-Lawyers-Guides/dp/B0D2YDG1ST/\"><i>A Short and Happy Guide to Artificial Intelligence for Lawyers</i></a><i>.”</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"DeepSeek’s open source AI does not dethrone American tech, but it could be a tool of Chinese soft power."},"description":{"basic":"DeepSeek’s open source AI does not dethrone American tech, but it could be a tool of Chinese soft power."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"642e8254e332d98a6c02956a5904aaee6374e1191d387b0416f7a790a3f5fbef"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Andy Wong","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"China DeepSeek AI","width":5000,"caption":"The icons for the smartphone apps DeepSeek and ChatGPT on a smartphone screen on Jan. 28 in Beijing. (Andy Wong/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LZEVHCRLTFCCXDKZHDDRKTXX5A.jpg","height":3333,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LZEVHCRLTFCCXDKZHDDRKTXX5A.jpg?auth=642e8254e332d98a6c02956a5904aaee6374e1191d387b0416f7a790a3f5fbef&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-us-response-to-chinese-advances-in-artificial-intelligence/EE3ICC4XP5HONOCQQ2FXHQSSEY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-28T19:51:06.481Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Kashyap Kompella","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"James Cooper","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The U.S. response to Chinese advances in artificial intelligence"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-28T19:51:06.481Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T19:51:06.657Z","_id":"EE3ICC4XP5HONOCQQ2FXHQSSEY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"642e8254e332d98a6c02956a5904aaee6374e1191d387b0416f7a790a3f5fbef"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Andy Wong","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"China DeepSeek AI","width":5000,"caption":"The icons for the smartphone apps DeepSeek and ChatGPT on a smartphone screen on Jan. 28 in Beijing. (Andy Wong/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LZEVHCRLTFCCXDKZHDDRKTXX5A.jpg","height":3333,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LZEVHCRLTFCCXDKZHDDRKTXX5A.jpg?auth=642e8254e332d98a6c02956a5904aaee6374e1191d387b0416f7a790a3f5fbef&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"72QJGSKQEJHGHL3RTTSKT4PK5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670820},"type":"text","content":"Traditionally, employees punch the clock at a job for 40 hours per week, and they might receive benefits such as health insurance or retirement savings in return. For people who need flexibility or want the freedom to be their own boss, not getting those same benefits can be worth the trade off. But why have we always settled for this compromise?"},{"_id":"AXDHTVLKIRBH5B6DMQQDLYUOYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670821},"type":"text","content":"Increasingly, the question isn’t whether we should allow people to choose independent work. Voters and policymakers across the country have recognized that they should follow the will of the vast majority of independent workers, who want to keep their freedom and flexibility."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14e3f09fcbb131e6d01a29ba0816e683f346270f6671b87abdc9209b13b09886"},"caption":"Max Rettig, vp of DoorDash","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Max Rettig","width":320,"_id":"3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/7j_j55u4NRBova6rVh3qZ798hd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/7j_j55u4NRBova6rVh3qZ798hd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/7j_j55u4NRBova6rVh3qZ798hd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/brWKGSXkEaSufWvwbjwa9_-OZ80=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Max Rettig.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"AWSRZQ42QVG7RHB2JVUCI5JPGQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-27T19:22:02Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-27T19:22:02Z","alignment":"right","height":213,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3S5MR57BBZGFPDYGX6JLH26NEM.jpg?auth=14e3f09fcbb131e6d01a29ba0816e683f346270f6671b87abdc9209b13b09886&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"7DJOHXAWQJDNRNLHL3LKRQG4BQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670822},"type":"text","content":"But we also need to ask how we can extend benefits to those who need them, regardless of the way they work. That’s why we’re working with Gov. Brian Kemp to rethink the old rules and find a way to provide meaningful benefits without completely sacrificing the desired flexibility."},{"_id":"WCYE3DLDWFDEBKH2DMNTKNR6AM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670823},"type":"text","content":"People choose app-based work for different reasons. In 2023, more than 330,000 Georgians chose DoorDash to help earn a living. The vast majority of these Georgians are working for just a few hours each week, supplementing their existing income, including to offset rising prices. Other hardworking Georgians do app-based work more frequently, and it has become a way for them to make ends meet."},{"_id":"C2EP6AW76BDWPLVJ3UCWHO53YI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ER4CKBJ57BE4XA54M45ZL7PJQY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Uber Eats and DoorDash can bring you a burrito, and now tools from Home Depot","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/home-depot-adds-uber-eats-and-doordash-as-delivery-partners/OKGJEQVG6VA5HF6U4UVYJ53MT4/"},{"_id":"JRTQAWJSVVHVZHYFARED4ZZOBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670824},"type":"text","content":"Regardless of how a person earns a living, the need for benefits has remained the same. People still need to go to the doctor, still want to take vacations with their families and still want to retire."},{"_id":"SN62FGN2XZBPNBOU24VTKPB5WA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670825},"type":"text","content":"There can be a better way forward, and it’s time for policymakers to act. DoorDash has partnered with Kemp to serve as <a href=\"https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/2025/01/15/who-is-eligible-for-doordash-portable-benefits-account/77696236007/\">one of the pioneers</a> for a pilot program to do just that. From now through July, thousands of Georgians who earn income on DoorDash can be eligible for contributions that can be used toward benefits. Those who earn at least $1,000 in the first quarter of 2025 can open a savings account into which DoorDash will deposit an amount equal to 4% of their pre-tip earnings."},{"_id":"JMQLQSI7QRFZFPXB3GYTNQR4VI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670826},"type":"text","content":"With this pilot, Georgia is forging a path forward when it comes to the future of work. Here are three reasons that’s important."},{"_id":"X5OPF2LZNZG4JB23HDFYZJOHVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670827},"type":"text","content":"First, this program offers more freedom for those who earn money on our platform and makes their lives a little easier. Not only does it provide a platform and resources for benefits, but it also creates freedom to choose how they allocate them. Some workers might already have health insurance through a family member. They shouldn’t be forced to purchase a plan they don’t need or forfeit the funds. Instead, they can apply their contributions for time off or retirement."},{"_id":"OVQAWEIY5NCCDER6HOQGZFV5PE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670828},"type":"text","content":"Second, the six-month trial period will yield valuable data and learning lessons. We’ll be able to assess how participants are engaging with the program, how it’s meeting their needs and other trends. In a similar pilot we launched in Pennsylvania last year, <a href=\"https://about.doordash.com/en-us/news/ga-portable-benefits-pilot\">4,400 workers</a><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/about.doordash.com/en-us/news/ga-portable-benefits-pilot__;!!JZyed81S!hZdxlR4vcPMmplJeK-8NxtHArFChUtcmrthPxPVKc87yQ5fgnjft6MM9QwDvuVUBB33Tc8m0AxUijtVuIg$\"> </a>signed up to participate, and nearly 90% of participants said it has been beneficial. We can share this data with policymakers as they consider laws that would make this kind of program permanent and apply it to all companies in our industry — delivering even greater impact for workers."},{"_id":"ICIEN7XQNJGULNNQEHXK4E357U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670829},"type":"text","content":"Finally, this idea is grounded in bipartisanship and common sense. It <a href=\"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/georgia-doordash-drivers-could-eligible-135357479.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAYZFGN59oOQo5Yi2CYuy6ZKd6ZWzk3mwlNCFUsPVhadgZv8-juMRVK1UT3IXVpIji7UcFnSSRg83CA74_q2Xsrbc6Kt-t3f1bgaXNy8NRW7_QRobuXMzmB_hxCKNa2DTb11CkoR6b0NRMBIE2Wv8s9ZAk5NyPj9DrEO3rAyVGe5&guccounter=2\">has the backing</a> of Kemp, who, like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, has demonstrated an ability and willingness to focus on results. Georgia and Pennsylvania were the first homes of these pilot programs. Hopefully, other elected officials will follow this path forward."},{"_id":"4FHLFJIX6BDY5ENOFPDPUDFP44","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OFRJ6OMNDFFUFMTC6H6ZDDMMVE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"New programs seek to help minority-owned and longtime restaurants","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/atlanta-restaurant-blog/new-programs-seek-to-help-minority-owned-and-longtime-restaurants/D23R4G566JHIPC7HEEH2UXE4MY/"},{"_id":"MBUKAFCDDNEDFIPBRWFHO6KXWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670830},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.fdu.edu/news/fdu-poll-finds-voters-strongly-favor-new-benefit-requirements-for-app-workers/\">numbers are clear</a>: 66% of voters believe that app-based workers should remain independent contractors. Even at a time when consensus can be hard to come by, a majority of voters across both parties support policies like portable benefits. This is the future of work, and we need to make the future a reality right now. The system of benefits must keep up. Progress depends on it."},{"_id":"IKSE2GI7WJEBXAVINQS4DKO44U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738005670831},"type":"text","content":"<i>Max Rettig is vice president and global head of public policy, social impact and sustainability at DoorDash.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"People who choose app-based work might not have to decide between freedom and health care and retirement. "},"description":{"basic":"People who choose app-based work might not have to decide between freedom and health care and retirement."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1f366cb7f8c2052031532f1b2d343c35d011abc5ea6c0a94098bd05b8e58d9aa"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Eric Gay","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Fast Food Workers","width":6000,"caption":"TiAnna Yeldell makes a pizza delivery on Nov. 14 in Missouri City, Texas. 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I didn’t know what to make of it then, and I still don’t quite."},{"_id":"EAZ42WCDGFGYDJYUJ3BT7XLX7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":602,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"You enter the park on Jefferson Davis Drive and meet Robert E. Lee Boulevard, which snakes around the mountain. As you prepare for your walking ascent, you are greeted by a brigade of high-flying flags, including the Confederate Battle Flag and Georgia’s State Flag, which is the official flag of the Confederate States with the addition of the Georgia State Seal. In the year 2025, it’s a sickening sight<b> </b>to see it<b> </b>still flying at the home of the rebirth of the white supremacist terrorist group, the Ku Klux Klan. It’s difficult to wrestle with the lauded memorialization of the Confederacy, knowing the state of Georgia funded the carving’s completion as a response to school desegregation. Inside the park, the scene of an antebellum-era town is set, featuring replica set pieces from “Gone With the Wind” and a square once labeled an “Antebellum Plantation.” It should make you uncomfortable. 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carved Stone Mountain?"},"websites":{"ajc":{"website_url":"/news/who-was-the-man-who-carved-stone-mountain/ARML2IW5P6S35QNFBCLPDYWWSA/","website_section":{"path":"/news","_website":"ajc","name":"News","_id":"/news","type":"section","version":"0.6.0","primary":true}}},"_id":"ARML2IW5P6S35QNFBCLPDYWWSA","created_date":"2020-06-23T22:47:21Z","publish_date":"2025-01-28T13:06:04Z"},{"_id":"FB7MNCN3ZVCE5BJEK4ASSTN5FI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":178,"comment":"President ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But it doesn’t make you uncomfortable in the way that a good museum does. It doesn’t make you challenge your beliefs or look at something in a<b> </b>different light. Looking up at the president of the traitorous Confederacy and his generals incised on Stone Mountain, casting a long and heavy shadow over our state, you are certainly meant to feel something. Just not something good."},{"_id":"SV7S3XBU2ZAG5CCCBR2WWRHUQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":330,"comment":"Building ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Historians have found evidence that Stone Mountain was once an important religious and trading site for Georgia’s Indigenous peoples. Unbeknownst to many Georgians today, a stone wall once encircled the mountains peak. Before it was a Confederate memorial, it was a granite quarry, supplying the stone for Georgia’s State Capitol building, the Lincoln Memorial and the Panama Canal."},{"_id":"LUOPZ7KONRGHHJQWITBN26SQRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Today, Stone Mountain Park leaves a lot to be desired. It very much feels outdated as though it was conceived in the 20th century as a recreation of 19th century. That’s exactly what it is — an attempt to memorialize and re-create the era of slavery in Georgia and further the continuation of the “Lost Cause” today. Even as a light show dances on the faces of Confederate leaders and families enjoy attractions like Snow Mountain, it can’t hide what it is: 3,200 acres devoted to the Confederate cause and the oppression of Black people. It’s been described as the world’s largest monument to white supremacy."},{"_id":"ET4HSMMFJVDOTCRSIFACLPOB5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":178,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"There aren’t two sides to this space because there can’t be. Stone Mountain is carved with the likenesses of three men who were not from Georgia as a means to promote segregation and, worse, it is in a predominantly Black area. Frankly, I find it appalling and racist."},{"_id":"UFBJI5H6ZRCXTBHB4TE6E64UHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"For years, a Freedom Bell on the top of Stone Mountain has been debated to realize the Rev. Martin King Jr.’s call to “let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.” There still is no Liberty Bell, but the football-field-sized carving born out of racism remains. In principle and in practice, freedom will not ring from Stone Mountain Georgia until the stain of the Confederacy is removed from Stone Mountain Park."},{"_id":"NZ6D4RWSVNCXNHCTO7SR2ULGPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":86,"comment":" pock mark","type":"insert","user":"","email":""},{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":651,"comment":"civil rights movement ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T19:07:56.852Z","replies":[],"start":97,"end":105,"text":"one word, per merriam/AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-15T19:01:19.193Z","replies":[],"start":683,"end":704,"text":"capitalize when referring to specific push, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"When you look at it from high above, the carving looks small and<b> </b>insignificant, like a pockmark scarring the mountain. When you are looking up at it, it is<b> </b>larger than life. All the grandeur of Mount Rushmore, all the hatred of Jim Crow. Georgia’s most popular tourist attraction should reflect the best of our state, our history and our people, not our worst. One day, I want to be able to take my children or visiting friends to Stone Mountain and have them learn about the complex and rich history of our state: founded as an abolitionist colony by James Oglethorpe, our secession from the United States and our rebirth as the home of King and the Civil Rights Movement."},{"_id":"HL7GPDRKUNDZLGQCLCGNE3ME2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":42,"comment":"State ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""},{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":224,"comment":"State ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""},{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":292,"comment":" State Constitution","type":"insert","user":"","email":""},{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":497,"comment":"History Museum ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Stone Mountain is required by the Georgia Constitution to be a memorial to the Confederacy. Stone Mountain is owned by the state of Georgia and operated by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association. It’s past time the Georgia state Legislature considered changing the purpose of the site in the state constitution and changing Stone Mountain Park. Let this site honor the nuance of Georgia history and the natural space itself. The space would be well served as a Civil War and Civil Rights Georgia history museum."},{"_id":"WACEFBHHIFHIVM37VMCJKYPGGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We should not forget or hide Georgia’s history, but we must reckon with it honestly. It’s time we reconsider Stone Mountain."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We don’t have to forget Georgia’s history to reckon with it honestly."},"description":{"basic":"We don’t have to forget Georgia’s history to reckon with it honestly."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"video-lro-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"44d070ce78f31311d702882dc343b312ed6844055c81c3bdb77bc540d7730f9a"},"credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/e75580df-c242-40ff-b2b4-9809bdbda069.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"rodney.ho@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcrodneyho"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhoajc/"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"rodney.ho@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcrodneyho"},{"site":"instagram","url":"https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhoajc/"}],"name":"Rodney Ho","description":"Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. 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In 1995, I oversaw transportation, which included UPS and Delta Air Lines. In 1996, The Wall Street Journal hired me to be a small-business/entrepreneurship reporter until 2001. I returned to the AJC that year and wrote about nightlife, youth culture, radio and comedy. In 2005, I began covering TV and have since added film and other entertainment subjects. I've had the honor to interview Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Steven Spielberg, Billy Crystal and Jane Fonda. I have been the AJC's \"American Idol\" expert since 2002. I love tennis, pop culture, karaoke and all sorts of live events. I have an adorable adopted daughter Vega.","org":"ajc","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/","author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Rodney","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5688","_id":"rodney-ho","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"/staff/rodney-ho/"}]},"subtitle":"Stone Mountain rally","width":4032,"caption":"Visitors sit on the lawn in front of the monument at Stone Mountain on April 29, 2023. (Rodney Ho/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PXIKX4ZSWFEMVMVOOQZOB6VK5U.jpg","height":3024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PXIKX4ZSWFEMVMVOOQZOB6VK5U.jpg?auth=44d070ce78f31311d702882dc343b312ed6844055c81c3bdb77bc540d7730f9a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-its-time-we-reconsider-stone-mountain/UG352TAQUZHV7DW4JU4HKP7IAM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-28T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Parker Short","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"It’s time we reconsider Stone Mountain"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-28T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T14:49:34.094Z","_id":"UG352TAQUZHV7DW4JU4HKP7IAM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"44d070ce78f31311d702882dc343b312ed6844055c81c3bdb77bc540d7730f9a"},"credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/e75580df-c242-40ff-b2b4-9809bdbda069.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"rodney.ho@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcrodneyho"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhoajc/"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"rodney.ho@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/ajcrodneyho"},{"site":"instagram","url":"https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhoajc/"}],"name":"Rodney Ho","description":"Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.","_id":"rodney-ho","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Ho","role":"Entertainment/things to do reporter/columnist","education":[{"name":"Oyster Bay High School, 1987"},{"name":"Princeton University, B.A., political economics, 1991"},{"name":"George State University Robinson School, MBA marketig, 2007"}],"affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.","instagram":"https://www.instagram.com/rodneyhoajc/","expertise":"2, Film, TV, radio, comedy, things to do around town, business","type":"author","twitter":"https://twitter.com/ajcrodneyho","beat":"Entertatinment","custom_ajc_website":"ajc","last_updated_date":"2025-01-13T01:53:30.388Z","bio_page":"/staff/rodney-ho/","byline":"Rodney Ho","email":"rodney.ho@ajc.com","image":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/e75580df-c242-40ff-b2b4-9809bdbda069.jpg","longBio":"I cover a wide ranging array of entertainment topics for the print and online operations with a focus on Georgia and Atlanta including TV, film, comedy, music, local venues and cultural institutions. A New York native, I graduated Princeton University in 1991. I covered education at The Virginian-Pilot from 1991 to 1994, then moved to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1994 to cover finance. In 1995, I oversaw transportation, which included UPS and Delta Air Lines. In 1996, The Wall Street Journal hired me to be a small-business/entrepreneurship reporter until 2001. I returned to the AJC that year and wrote about nightlife, youth culture, radio and comedy. In 2005, I began covering TV and have since added film and other entertainment subjects. I've had the honor to interview Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Steven Spielberg, Billy Crystal and Jane Fonda. I have been the AJC's \"American Idol\" expert since 2002. I love tennis, pop culture, karaoke and all sorts of live events. I have an adorable adopted daughter Vega.","org":"ajc","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/ajcGAentertainment/","author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Rodney","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5688","_id":"rodney-ho","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"/staff/rodney-ho/"}]},"subtitle":"Stone Mountain rally","width":4032,"caption":"Visitors sit on the lawn in front of the monument at Stone Mountain on April 29, 2023. (Rodney Ho/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PXIKX4ZSWFEMVMVOOQZOB6VK5U.jpg","height":3024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PXIKX4ZSWFEMVMVOOQZOB6VK5U.jpg?auth=44d070ce78f31311d702882dc343b312ed6844055c81c3bdb77bc540d7730f9a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"7CWTJRNL4BFDFKSD7K5AUCWEWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense, <a href=\"https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-he-will-nominate-fox-news-host-pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-2024-11-13/&ved=2ahUKEwjG8rbx4I6LAxWgnokEHWoaPaEQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1h4gWMnMbyibE9OtHSqP_g\">rose to prominence</a> in part because of his critique that the Army has become “woke” — too focused on issues of diversity, equity and inclusion — at the expense of “lethality,” the ability to fight and win the nation’s wars."},{"_id":"ASUYF5IA4ND6FJI3IPXYUCLOC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In fact, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/us/politics/pete-hegseth-dei-trump.html?smid=url-share\">one of his first directives moved to eliminate DEI programs</a>. As part of a promised refocusing, he has advocated removing generals who have supported these initiatives from positions of command."},{"_id":"DVEVMUJBSRFBLKDZZR6AOKD22Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In December, the American Accountability Foundation, a conservative advocacy group, added to this call, sending Hegseth a <a href=\"https://www.scribd.com/document/801959915/AAF-Purge-List\">letter</a> identifying senior military officers who should be relieved of command for transgressions ranging from creating DEI programs to publishing social media posts celebrating Pride Month."},{"_id":"LDIPTHVVUZFHDMYJYMSHAGOGSU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"W4CKYF42UZFQDGHCA6DF5IQBZU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Executive orders targeting DEI frustrate and motivate Georgia business, civic leaders","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/trump-dei-executive-orders-frustrate-and-motivate-business-civic-leaders/LICBPNOVLRDUHOQUATLB24S7IU/"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7958e99cc38c106ca1d6429f6d882dedaa3c32657c063993f092f91742d679de"},"caption":"David Kieran","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"David Kieran","width":3024,"_id":"IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/B6Yi7W13OFoa1CXRhHPVFUg5XFA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"David Kieran.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2ZEWAFHKNNCD3FQXC5TTZKUC2M"},"created_date":"2024-12-31T15:11:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-31T15:11:42Z","alignment":"right","height":4032,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg?auth=7958e99cc38c106ca1d6429f6d882dedaa3c32657c063993f092f91742d679de&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EHJEFAYWJBFDNGUA5DPYDW46C4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Reading the list, I was particularly struck by AAF’s criticism of one Army lieutenant general, among whose supposed offenses was “visit(ing) 14 historically Black colleges and universities” in an effort to recruit more Black officers into the Army."},{"_id":"K22JKO3QTBCL3DI2THLFA2WCBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Here, history provides a useful perspective."},{"_id":"4WBOGLCHVNCU7MBSNLC6BPUU3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This officer is hardly the first officer to identify HBCUs as prime venues for recruiting talented soldiers, and any assertion that there is a trade-off between recruiting from across all segments of American society and maintaining the Army’s ability to fight is worse than a false dichotomy."},{"_id":"HZKZ7M3MKJBRHIAJADOPOGZ7CA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It’s political posturing that actually threatens, rather than enhances, readiness."},{"_id":"GD4CVAEEVZDA7C2IBZGWE6OZZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In March 1989, Gen. Maxwell R. Thurman, then the commanding general of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command and a man whose Washington Post <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/12/02/gen-maxwell-r-thurman-dies-at-64/5542cc8d-cadc-4e13-b988-e278296e24bb/\">obituary</a> referred to him as “the feisty and innovative four-star general widely credited with saving the all-volunteer Army in its troubled years after the Vietnam War,” spoke at <a href=\"https://emuweb.usahec.org/alma/multimedia/2375912/20184603MNBT1036354373F00000002330471003.pdf\">a conference of historically Black colleges and universities</a> in Raleigh, North Carolina."},{"_id":"WR3DFN4P5JBFLHPDFSVLDWUUG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"His goal: to convince those institutions to encourage and enable more young Black men and women to become officers in the U.S. Army. These efforts were part of a larger initiative to support ROTC programs at HBCUs and to recruit Black officers from among HBCU graduates."},{"_id":"AGGMZT2WCFB4NEEON5PYJA34PU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In 1986, the Army established a task force focused on HBCUs, with the goal of “ensuring that … quality Black officers are trained to assume the role of leadership excellence.” Initiatives included “over 200 four-year Quality Enrichment Program (QEP) Scholarships (that) have been earmarked for HBCUs.”"},{"_id":"DYKRR72C5ZGAPDW2J5BQN2B6IY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The next year, the Army reached out to 16,087 Black high school students who had done well on the PSAT and “encouraged prospects to apply for a 4-year ROTC scholarship” and spent $82,000 on advertising in magazines aimed at Black youth. Thurman, for his part, created a scholarship program that would allow “outstanding Black soldiers who have officer potential” to earn a commission through HBCU ROTC programs."},{"_id":"TAFPY7VROBD6BHQ2HQNQM3XE7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Thurman would have bristled at the notion that he was anything other than a warfighter. Make no mistake: When he spoke to those in this audience about the need to recruit “the very best leaders,” he meant those that could most effectively lead soldiers in combat."},{"_id":"7TB4EUM4YRFSJGP3PUNAYA3GPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In other speeches, he was quite explicit about this. “You’re trying to maximize firepower up there,” he told one audience, so “… you’ve got to have smart people in the combat arms.”"},{"_id":"XDWI7AF5YNDVLFBRXXUR5PB2NA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Thurman was a key member of the generation of leaders who spent their careers rebuilding the Army after the Vietnam War. The force they created proved itself on the battlefield."},{"_id":"B6OOPVBPNFGFPECHMFTMIE5I74","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"H7SGEY32TBG57EO62W5PNZENJA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Opinion: The federal government is on the run — from equal rights","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-the-federal-government-is-on-the-run-from-equal-rights/IPQOHACHMJE7JKKNXPBJIA3EWI/"},{"_id":"SPIFSIQVKRBG3PL56636XT4FAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Thurman himself would command the 1989 operation that ousted Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. Just more than a year later, the U.S. military defeated the Iraqi Army in 100 hours of ground combat in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. In those conflicts, as in every conflict in our nation’s history, Black soldiers and officers performed exceptionally."},{"_id":"RM6BRXSDVNC75JENZW6XXUH2XE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This history raises a critical question for this moment."},{"_id":"6PBF4OEIDND3JI7AGWDXQSZULE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"One must wonder what might have happened to those leaders — and how the Army might have fared — if the critics of their day had called for a for a purge of military leadership such as is being proposed today. Or if they had argued that speaking to HBCU leaders or seeking to recruit the most talented graduates of those schools was somehow at odds with securing the nation’s interests. Or that leaders who did so were “clearly disqualified from leading our brave men and women into battle.”"},{"_id":"BLXHW53FEZEWRJLIX27LMPUXX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In 2025, the stakes are too high for arguments that falsely claim that an investment in diversity is inherently a reduction in capacity."},{"_id":"65CKVD3T75CXDF2JA5WLFOFPLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The United States military faces continued <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/military-recruiting-army-shortfalls-enlist-1611ea378b32826cc4615dc3731f3f70\">recruiting difficulties</a> while confronting challenges in Europe, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. The next war will require warfighters who are capable of leading soldiers against well-equipped and well-trained adversaries, who can operate complex equipment and understand the potential of artificial intelligence and how space and cyber have become fighting domains."},{"_id":"IYFMYTPR5RH4XOWN6WW7LDSX2U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6JN2RLIEERCZZIZ6GZNF752IB4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Opinion: We can’t let Trump dismantle college DEI efforts","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-we-cant-let-trump-dismantle-college-dei-efforts/QEOXON3YPZBUFAMMR3NI73YKRY/"},{"_id":"HSW33ZLF75FXTK2VNQA5PFDKPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In these challenging times, we should reject any assertion that seeking to recruit the best leaders from across our nation conflicts with the requirement to field a lethal fighting force, or that doing so somehow disqualifies leaders who have served with distinction."},{"_id":"WA56S5TSQJAOTD7WDWZQZDNMQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Rather, it is precisely the sort of leadership we should expect and encourage in our military’s senior leaders."},{"_id":"UGY5CCBNGJD37NDNIQU2FWPRDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>David Kieran is the Colonel Richard R. Hallock Distinguished University Chair of Military History at Columbus State University and the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Vietnam-Divisive-American-Politics/dp/1625341008\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Forever Vietnam: How a Divisive War Changed American Public Memory</i></a><i>.” The views expressed here are solely his and do not represent any organization or institution.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The stakes are too high for arguments that falsely claim that an investment in diversity is inherently a reduction in capacity."},"description":{"basic":"Any assertion that there is a trade-off between recruiting across all segments of American society and maintaining the Army’s ability to fight is worse than a false dichotomy."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"cb733fa700f8c275a884b64eeac6cb85922ca0e792e486a60e25eeb6a25e674e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Chris Carlson","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Army Recruiting","width":4557,"caption":"Then-Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, front left, on a Sept. 25 tour with soldiers at Fort Jackson, a U.S. Army Training Center in Columbia, S.C. (Chris Carlson/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LADQD6AAW2BH33UZNZD2Q25E3Y.jpg","height":3038,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LADQD6AAW2BH33UZNZD2Q25E3Y.jpg?auth=cb733fa700f8c275a884b64eeac6cb85922ca0e792e486a60e25eeb6a25e674e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-political-posturing-on-diversity-threatens-military-readiness/UUDZ6VTSPRB6JMRCS2AGY4DSVU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-28T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"David Kieran","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Political posturing on diversity threatens military readiness"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-28T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-29T13:30:44.234Z","_id":"UUDZ6VTSPRB6JMRCS2AGY4DSVU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"cb733fa700f8c275a884b64eeac6cb85922ca0e792e486a60e25eeb6a25e674e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Chris Carlson","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Army Recruiting","width":4557,"caption":"Then-Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, front left, on a Sept. 25 tour with soldiers at Fort Jackson, a U.S. Army Training Center in Columbia, S.C. 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Depending on one’s political perspective, the opening chapter of the second Trump presidency has been the stuff of your wildest dreams or your worst nightmares."},{"_id":"JQVABEZSHVDLRJ4LHW6JWOFYOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Either way, the shock and awe of Trump 2.0 has been breathtaking to watch, with nearly <a href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/26/trump-orders-tangible-posturing-006590\">five dozen</a> executive orders signed and no signs of slowing down."},{"_id":"OIPPRXZ26JHKLF7PU4XPHTNP2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Republicans again find themselves between a rock and hard place attempting to justify several of Trump’s latest moves, much like their <a href=\"https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/republican-dodges-2020-election-still-matter-rcna174242\">synthetic positioning</a> around the 2020 election being rigged. 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Like other addicts, Trump gives no consideration to the risks involved while pursuing his next high. Even if those risks involve following through on an unpatriotic campaign promise to a rogue group of extremists like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys."},{"_id":"ADIKGIDXTZHABE3VL7ZIKWYG6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/26/politics/january-6-rioters-charges-convictions-dg/index.html\">Setting free violent criminals</a> who have been convicted of maliciously beating police officers with makeshift weapons is just another painful reminder of his addiction to the spotlight."},{"syndication":{"search":true},"description":{"basic":"Geoff Duncan speaks to the AJC's Politically Georgia about Trump's second term and his willingness to give him a 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It’s long past time for Trump to be conservative, not crazy."},{"_id":"2HWFHEBZXRAMRCZVTHWLQ54GBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It should never be considered conservative to <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/30/politics/federal-appeals-court-upholds-sexual-abuse-case-against-trump/index.html\">mistreat women</a> or be convicted of multiple felonies. It should never be considered conservative to <a href=\"https://time.com/7209169/trump-meme-coins-crypto/\">launch a TRUMP cryptocurrency</a> hours before an inauguration from which members of the Trump organization stand to profit."},{"_id":"B2L7I5LTCNGTBKPB2H6XWD5HRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It should never be considered conservative to abruptly <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/us/politics/trump-pompeo-security-iran.html\">remove the security detail</a> of former U.S. officials with known threats on their lives from the hostile Iranian regime. It should never be considered conservative to condone <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXtfEYNSLp8\">hitting a police officer</a> over the head with a metal baseball bat."},{"_id":"SMANO6HQZJC35PZ4EW52HCTEBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The generic phrase “Well, that’s who America voted for” feels like it carried more intellectual weight before the inauguration than after. One week in, Trump is already validating his skeptics’ warnings that his two-dimensional campaign rhetoric is better than his three-dimensional job skills."},{"_id":"B55SMCYE65EHJIYG6IRVNQ65SM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But the good news is we are only one pitch into a nine-inning game, so there is still time for Republicans to refocus Trump on the conservative part of his agenda."},{"_id":"A6E7XMYOSVDOBAEN3JROY7L7PA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If tariffs are the fix for our national debt crisis, let’s go. If using our military at the border will help to stem our illegal immigration problems, I’m in. If putting up with Elon Musk and all his weirdness gets our government spending under control, count me in."},{"_id":"XFDQINBD5JEANGIGF2RZUTUMFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But if it’s all for show, count me out."},{"_id":"JEVW6VP5EFHFFEQNUNN6GCZZYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Republicans can no longer stealthily lean into the Democrats to serve as an effective check on an overaggressive right-swinging pendulum. Their stunning defeat in November has all but ensured the muting of their left-of-center opinion throughout the legislative process for at least the next two years."},{"_id":"5JZMVBLGKNDVHPDP4TNHBRDAGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":63,"comment":"lying","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Republicans must show self-imposed restraint and avoid the low-hanging fruit of jamming square pegs through round holes just because they have the votes."},{"_id":"NDJCR5PF5FFB7NM4MA7PQ6PXGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Between a skittish economy, complicated wars, a growing debt crisis and sticky inflation, the next four years are already shaping up to be as turbulent on their own without the injection of presidential shiny objects."},{"_id":"HD4ARIYIWFFDTEUR5PIRE2FMEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Trump will have more than enough work to keep him busy. 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He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, government. \n","firstName":"Geoff","books":[{"publisher":"Forefront Books","title":"GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party","url":"https://www.amazon.com/GOP-2-0-Election-Americas-Conservative/dp/1637630131"}],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"_id":"gduncan","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T18:40:55.146Z","byline":"Geoff Duncan","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"It’s long past time for Trump to be conservative, not crazy"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-27T17:07:59.602Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-28T14:50:20.549Z","_id":"42WCF7PTR5GSZDOYVBZNIIZ2K4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"297516a8d1ce341498b36284a7b86c21d6eeb95ddb6977b883cbe83fe80296e4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Evan Vucci","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Climate Trump Orders Environment","width":4282,"caption":"President Donald Trump signs executive orders on Jan. 20 in the Oval Office of the White House. (Evan Vucci/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/E44HZ5ZU3JOYZMNS7TQLSQIZEI.jpg","height":2859,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/E44HZ5ZU3JOYZMNS7TQLSQIZEI.jpg?auth=297516a8d1ce341498b36284a7b86c21d6eeb95ddb6977b883cbe83fe80296e4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"KN7IQ3UERFHGPHRJDPLR6CUAAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":57,"comment":"that "},{"pos":445,"comment":"President "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-23T18:44:01.599Z","start":460,"end":465,"text":"use only last name following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737942818378},"type":"text","content":"Exit polls from the November presidential election found the <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2024/exit-polls-2024-election/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5U_5K3S8g$\">majority of veterans</a> chose Donald Trump, embracing his promise to make America great again. America’s veterans — and their service to our country — are part of what makes our nation great. They deserve not merely our thanks but also our support. Voters, veterans among them, trusted Trump because they are among those struggling financially. As the new commander in chief, we call on Trump to strengthen the federal programs that help our veterans transition smoothly into family-sustaining civilian jobs."},{"_id":"LZNTI5L2ARGOJBBMIZWZMM3YJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818379},"type":"text","content":"The federal government spends $13 billion annually on military-to-civilian transition programs, the <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1363-12.html__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5USAF4A_g$\">vast majority</a> of which goes to education services such as the GI Bill. However, veterans need — and a majority of them want — the opportunity to go straight into the workforce after leaving the military. Nearly two-thirds of the nation’s 4.1 million post-9/11 veterans <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/surface.syr.edu/ivmf/435/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XfazLFLw$\">report</a> that their civilian jobs don’t adequately align with their skills and education even six years after service. The harsh reality for many military veterans is chronic underemployment."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"f0922af10e018959f95a1b5d7d2d689bb1bd48e3a9a50578043ee4eb58ab3eb2"},"caption":"Megan Andros","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Megan ANdros","width":1100,"_id":"776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/mwXXB5_b-C1wyqTV-b0klEvMXaI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/mwXXB5_b-C1wyqTV-b0klEvMXaI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/mwXXB5_b-C1wyqTV-b0klEvMXaI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/WKENssqJ-oLCKZiywdq27ItRI6c=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png","version":0,"originalName":"Megan Andros The Heinz Endowments image courtesy The Heinz Endowments.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"QOVY5HKBRJAQPH6VYLSP56IK7I"},"created_date":"2025-01-23T18:02:09Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-23T18:02:09Z","alignment":"right","height":733,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/776S3OERIRD6LJMK2RTDLRVBEA.png?auth=f0922af10e018959f95a1b5d7d2d689bb1bd48e3a9a50578043ee4eb58ab3eb2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CJWEWZMVXZANZPS73226JLZBOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818381},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Though <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.dol.gov/agencies/vets/latest-numbers__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XEQLoJxQ$\">the veteran unemployment rate is low</a>, that statistic tells only part of the story. Despite their experience and technical abilities, most veterans face challenges obtaining meaningful civilian employment. An estimated 200,000 service members transition out of the military every year; <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0095327X231216678__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XaMX8fsQ$\">more than half struggle</a> with employment after service."},{"_id":"Y54IAJE2MFBFDKNDLHZDC3ZQ7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":542,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818382},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Currently, veterans rely on one of 45 separate programs administered by 11 government agencies, most notably the <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.dodtap.mil/dodtap/app/home__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5VuSqc5TQ$\">Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program</a>, which is mandatory for most service members entering civilian life. However, recent reports from the <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-97r__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5VBa-zuwg$\">U.S. Government Accountability Office</a> and <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1363-12.html__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5USAF4A_g$\">RAND</a> reveal the need for greater transparency and accountability for government transition programs to improve veteran employment outcomes. These programs often need to be <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1363-10.html?*cutoff=true&utm_source=AdaptiveMailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=701QK00000I0hKLYAZ&utm_term=00vQK00000CocT2YAJ&org=1674&lvl=100&ite=292180&lea=3899657&ctr=0&par=1&trk=a0wQK000007q5ilYAA__;Pw!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5VuTzx-Bg$\">supplemented by nonprofit organizations</a> that fill the gaps federal programs are unable to address to give veterans the best possible chance to find jobs that match their unique training. Two nonprofits making a significant impact in this area are <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5W_-gVXbg$\">Onward to Opportunity</a> and <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/vetjobs.org/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XtSQG_AA$\">VetJobs</a>, both supported by The Heinz Endowments. Onward to Opportunity has provided credentials to more than 100,000 veterans, and VetJobs has helped an additional 100,000 veterans secure meaningful employment. Improving oversight and effectiveness of critical federal transition programs must be a policy priority of the Trump administration."},{"_id":"YI3VCONTEREE3MIFJV6FB7GHAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":204,"comment":"cabinet "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-23T18:39:37.383Z","start":212,"end":219,"text":"uppercase, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737942818383},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"A successful transition to the workforce during the critical first three years outside the service can shape a new veteran’s well-being for life. Trump can ask the successful veterans he’s chosen for his Cabinet: Department of Veterans Affairs pick Ret. Navy Chaplain Doug Collins; Department of Defense pick Army Maj. Pete Hegseth; and Director of Intelligence pick Army Lt. Col. Tulsi Gabbard, all of whom have effectively navigated the military-to-civilian transition."},{"_id":"3DVSUHOPXBHIBNYGVMC3QROPH4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818384},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Supporting our veterans after service is not only the right thing to do, it’s also good business. Connecting the technical experts and leaders who have served with competitive roles jump-starts our economy with valuable new talent. Military experience translates well in a number of growing industries, including <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.energy.gov/useer2022*:*:text=The*202022*20USEER*20analysis*20shows,in*20the*20same*20time*20period.__;I34lJSUlJSUlJQ!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XPAiy4cg$\">energy</a> and <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/news.syr.edu/blog/2022/10/27/syracuse-university-to-play-key-role-in-training-workforce-of-the-future-supporting-veterans-initiatives-for-microns-memory-megafab-in-central-new-york/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5UnxL4z2g$\">semiconductor manufacturing</a>. Veteran employees strengthen our nation’s infrastructure; some of America’s largest and most influential corporations, from Boeing to Booz Allen, have <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/bestforvets.militarytimes.com/rankings/employers/y2024/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5XsOzC7Cw$\">staked their success</a> on hiring veterans."},{"_id":"CDTOCBC6OZGYLJKVSAJ2TJYBWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":367,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818385},"type":"text","content":"The United States prides itself on having the toughest, smartest and most skilled armed forces in the world. But as the military <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/article/3616786/dod-addresses-recruiting-shortfall-challenges/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5Xgq2Bg9w$\">consistently falls short</a> of its recruitment goals, the future of our mighty all-volunteer force — and our nation’s security — could be at risk. The post-military success of veterans transitioning into jobs that pay a sustainable wage and fully use their skills is one of the most powerful ways to encourage young people to enlist."},{"_id":"F4DYFTHWTBGY3B24U6PRXUHZF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818386},"type":"text","content":"In short, we urge Trump and his administration not just to thank veterans for their service. We want Trump and his administration to invest in their futures. That’s one meaningful way Trump can deliver on his promise to make America great."},{"_id":"DF433FLKKFEHRKAWYTDKDBATQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":261,"comment":"<i>First </i>"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737942818387},"type":"text","content":"<i>Megan Andros is Director of Veterans Affairs at </i><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.heinz.org/__;!!JZyed81S!lS1ysZkvaZ1FGKESUsSnqkDZfb_E-vstPz9zVDJXGPUoYT_FaifEDwJi9cFbo_T9oH_Dl5UefH6ifg$\"><i>The Heinz Endowments</i></a><i>, a Hoover Veteran Fellow, a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a former ordnance officer and combat veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom with the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Many former U.S. military members face challenges obtaining meaningful civilian employment. "},"description":{"basic":"Many former U.S. military members face challenges obtaining meaningful civilian employment."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"596e1551c58e07da3ddba6b99156949e606b34244da449ac9dba0c62fffba5f1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Veteran's Day at Atlanta History Center","width":6000,"caption":"The band director with the 116th Army band of the Georgia Army National Guard performs at the beginning of a Nov. 11 program for the 3rd Annual Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony at Atlanta History Center in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez-Jimenez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)\n(Miguel Martinez / AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AGOVCV4GUZV4IFJX4IDHS374EA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AGOVCV4GUZV4IFJX4IDHS374EA.jpg?auth=596e1551c58e07da3ddba6b99156949e606b34244da449ac9dba0c62fffba5f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-president-trump-our-veterans-make-america-great/AIG4M6YJCBEPBHNCDPSY4RYWJA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-27T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Megan Andros","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"President Trump, our veterans make America great "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-27T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-27T11:00:12.095Z","_id":"AIG4M6YJCBEPBHNCDPSY4RYWJA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"596e1551c58e07da3ddba6b99156949e606b34244da449ac9dba0c62fffba5f1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Veteran's Day at Atlanta History Center","width":6000,"caption":"The band director with the 116th Army band of the Georgia Army National Guard performs at the beginning of a Nov. 11 program for the 3rd Annual Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony at Atlanta History Center in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez-Jimenez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)\n(Miguel Martinez / AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AGOVCV4GUZV4IFJX4IDHS374EA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AGOVCV4GUZV4IFJX4IDHS374EA.jpg?auth=596e1551c58e07da3ddba6b99156949e606b34244da449ac9dba0c62fffba5f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MPQYMD2PSFGUHEAGJOI7R3BPRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857807},"type":"text","content":"Conservative politicians discovered decades ago that fear and misinformation are political tools to be weaponized against marginalized communities. The playbook is as old as it is predictable."},{"_id":"ARKHUGVB7NELNIXRKIJNOMPEFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":176,"comment":" (SB1)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857808},"type":"text","content":"As we enter into another session of the Georgia General Assembly, the Senate has already introduced anti-LGBTQ legislation targeting transgender Georgians through <a href=\"https://legiscan.com/GA/text/SB1/id/3053907\" target=\"_blank\">Senate Bill 1</a>. If passed, SB1 would effectively ban transgender students from participating in women’s and girls’ sports in middle school, high school and colleges across the state."},{"_id":"YKUGZ3S2F5AAZFJDXRBFJGDKR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857809},"type":"text","content":"Proponents of the ban falsely claim the legislation is about protecting women’s sports, despite zero incidents involving transgender youth or collegiate athletes in Georgia and despite transgender people making up <a href=\"https://georgiaequality.org/georgiaunites/wi-report/#:~:text=Around%2055%2C650%20people%E2%80%94or%20.,state's%20population%E2%80%94identify%20as%20transgender.\" target=\"_blank\">less than 1% of Georgia’s population</a>."},{"_id":"LB34KZEQGFGFPJA3YWN72O6U44","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ETQRJ3WXV5FH7AYKIYZA2BOURM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"House approves ban on transgender students in girls’ sports","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/house-approves-ban-on-transgender-students-in-girls-sports/Q7HL4TI62VCTJGX43OFNJEQFUM/"},{"_id":"MDHKRKWJFRDOZAGOF3BREBTQP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857810},"type":"text","content":"In Georgia and statehouses across the country, lawmakers have consistently been unable to cite examples of transgender participation in sports causing a negative impact to cisgender (nontransgender) girls and women in their states. The number of trans athletes is minuscule compared with the exponential number of bills targeting them nationwide."},{"_id":"CGEQ2FWFLZHAFLY537DAJI7VSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":156,"comment":"places "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857811},"type":"text","content":"There is no evidence that restricting transgender students from school sports has any benefit for cisgender students. In fact, <a href=\"https://www.americanprogress.org/article/fair-play/\" target=\"_self\">research shows the opposite</a>: some states allowing transgender students in sports actually have higher rates of participation among girls than those with bans."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"aa34fad8a2c309a0acc354e213a339f54b71e76574fd49ac8a43ccade3255098"},"caption":"Noël Heatherland","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Noël Heatherland","width":1242,"_id":"4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/bToN59by7bfRJnZ52cjgBRuQn2I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/bToN59by7bfRJnZ52cjgBRuQn2I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/bToN59by7bfRJnZ52cjgBRuQn2I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/1SaTKZh7AUz1BaC2gLuvOvEWJY8=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Noel Heatherland .jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"SYKU5XZTCRCENOGWKJVDDZLP74"},"created_date":"2025-01-22T21:21:06Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T21:21:06Z","alignment":"right","height":2208,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4F3ID2HXWZCZZBK4O2XEJLC7AY.jpg?auth=aa34fad8a2c309a0acc354e213a339f54b71e76574fd49ac8a43ccade3255098&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"FYJR3DFSM5D4BB4ACCFC5XE5LA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857813},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When we challenge the ability of transgender students to fully participate in school activities and extracurriculars alongside their peers, we often forget we are talking about actual people’s lives."},{"_id":"QRZUXMKKYRBFFDYDLFT3JWJK3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857814},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Transgender youth are fellow Georgians who belong to families. They are our neighbors — our children, and children are not problems. They are people. They belong to everyday American households and want similar things as other kids: to grow up happily, to play and belong on teams with their friends and to get a good education that promises a bright future."},{"_id":"2TFQI7WSUBDTVIFY3ICKNPG63I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857815},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Transgender youth are kids who, just like yours, want to play sports with their friends for all the reasons kids desire to play sports. And being characterized as nefarious simply because one is different is dangerous."},{"_id":"D2VOOOSHTBCFHFJTXVAFRIZCE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857816},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The playing field should be accessible to all girls and women."},{"_id":"P5S6DJVUXFCM7F4IKX45PKKU4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857817},"type":"text","content":"There are so many other critical issues lawmakers could tackle to help Georgians: affordable housing, food accessibility, education and eradicating gun violence in schools. Instead, Georgia lawmakers are wasting precious resources and time, emboldened by the dangerous antitrans rhetoric of their conservative congressional colleagues and by a recent executive order issued by the president."},{"_id":"P5ZVFD6PKVB2NKSCMUIXNGETUU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"HC2NQZ3LSBCOLBHDYEKM4KMNAU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"We are pediatricians. We oppose banning transgender youth from sports.","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-we-are-pediatricians-we-oppose-banning-transgender-youth-from-sports/4WUTWRYXFVDODLMCP6UHBUIERU/"},{"_id":"WWRCZTZ54ZBJRAHBVJVKX6SCG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857818},"type":"text","content":"These words and efforts deny the proven reality of the existence of gender expansive people and create a problem that will inflict unnecessary emotional and psychological harm on all children, transgender or not."},{"_id":"62K2XLDZ5BEBVFBTRQI6GYGEEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857819},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When the so-called Georgia Senate Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports held hearings in the summer and fall of 2024, discussions revolved around NCAA Division I championship <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/despite-controversy-transgender-swimmer-to-compete-at-georgia-tech-championship\" target=\"_blank\">collegiate swimmer Lia Thomas</a>, who is not a Georgia native or part of our school system but happened to compete in the state one time. The committee flew in past collegiate swimmers from other states to try to force a policy change in a state they have no connection to and don’t care about."},{"_id":"YTZOCU3KRFCGXCPA42Q6P7RAYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857820},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"If transgender girls and young transgender women truly enjoyed an unfair advantage, they would constantly win against cisgender women competitors, but that isn’t the reality. The truth is, we are all born with different traits that help us succeed in various aspects of our lives — athletics or otherwise. All players follow protocols in order to participate; and transgender students are no exception."},{"_id":"72LAQ4VTV5CFXDJZSSSFBSAEPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857821},"type":"text","content":"SB1 is a solution in search of a problem."},{"_id":"RFWYVHYO3FHV7IHF7ASQ4AHRZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857822},"type":"text","content":"If we begin to police kids’ bodies, will coaches be responsible for enforcing genital checks? Will school police officers force young people to disrobe in front of them so they can examine their genitalia? Will young girls be at risk if they are deemed too strong, too fast or too tall?"},{"_id":"JHY4NGFPDRCOTLEN67VCCMFYCM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"62NL7BXMLBAHLOM4TRE2YVAR4M"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia voters say discrimination against trans people is high, still back targeted laws","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/ajc-poll-georgia-voters-say-discrimination-against-trans-people-is-high-still-back-targeted-laws/CS3MIHFRLRAYTN2FXAOHDOFLSM/"},{"_id":"AUQDQA4Z3ZHSVGD5F4KWWJ6R7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857823},"type":"text","content":"Any person whose proportions deviate from societal norms or expectations, especially in relation to Eurocentric traditional beauty standards, will start to be critiqued, exposing all young people to possible privacy invasions and violations in the form of genital checks. To truly support girls and women in sports, we should focus on eliminating actual barriers to their success: inequitable facilities, unequal pay for female players and coaches and abuse and harassment."},{"_id":"LYUQLFT2YREFPHAKLOHTN6YO7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857824},"type":"text","content":"As a child sexual assault survivor, I am all for taking steps to protect all women."},{"_id":"UY66WLWSSRCB3AJQO4E7KDXXDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857825},"type":"text","content":"For example, I would love to see more thorough domestic violence bills introduced. That would help everyone in Georgia achieve safer communities because the common thread among perpetrators is that they are most frequently cisgender (not transgender) men, and, too often, they are related to the victim."},{"_id":"NMJBB5VCNNFUVHDE27LEGOESPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857826},"type":"text","content":"Like cisgender women, transgender women are statistically more likely to be victims of sexual violence than men are, and now they are being victimized and bullied in the halls of our Capitol. The painful reality of harmful legislation like SB1 is that, regardless of whether it passes, the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric espoused by proponents of the bill has grave consequences on the mental health of transgender youth."},{"_id":"W6G5CBVBURA5FKEUKTEF3FSFMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857827},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.thetrevorproject.org/blog/anti-transgender-laws-cause-up-to-72-increase-in-suicide-attempts-among-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth-study-shows/\">According to the Trevor Project</a>, suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth increased by as much as 72% from 2018 to 2022, at least in part because of the antitransgender proposals and the rhetoric surrounding them."},{"_id":"HQGV4TIHIVELHOGZZ4J76H7MLE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"CSTF6TFIUNG4ZGVC45H26TM76I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Transgender Georgians brace for new restrictions under Donald Trump","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/transgender-georgians-brace-for-new-restrictions-under-donald-trump/ITAWX4FKURA4LHCV2HP4XLOKPU/"},{"_id":"DHG4DZ2UMVEUZJEZPBT6B2XJ5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857828},"type":"text","content":"The dehumanization and unfair regulations of a minority population are nothing new."},{"_id":"6X3XGKMMENE3XGMYGBYYVVO56U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857829},"type":"text","content":"We saw it in the fight for marriage equality. Before that, we saw it in the fights for interracial relationships and desegregation. Transgender people are the latest political scapegoats used by right-wing extremists to unify their base by vilifying a small number of people who are simply trying to exist authentically."},{"_id":"FF6W7MWUMVEMBGRH425KDSSK6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857830},"type":"text","content":"But just like we’ve seen with marriage equality, interracial relationships and the civil rights movement, for beneficiaries of privilege, equality can often feel like oppression. There will always be detractors who oppose progress, but the future demands us to fight until we all win."},{"_id":"R5Z7UC2L2ZDZPKOKLV353HCNNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857831},"type":"text","content":"We invite you to stand on the side of love and progress with us."},{"_id":"WDAZRNTD7VFWNL2SEPIGKJWIPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737996857832},"type":"text","content":"<i>Noël Heatherland, an Atlanta resident born and raised in South Georgia, is a University of Georgia graduate. They are currently the statewide organizing manager at Georgia Equality, the state’s oldest and largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Transgender people are the latest political scapegoats used by right-wing extremists to unify their base."},"description":{"basic":"When we challenge the ability of transgender students to participate in school activities alongside their peers, we often forget we are talking about actual people’s lives."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d73934ba0275a96242980169b37f1a333ca250dd4bc7158ad6aaf89f78e526a0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Transgender","width":3300,"caption":"Advocates for transgender rights rally on Jan. 13, the first day of the legislative session, at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7TJHLIEC7Y4ZZYETHLED2R4RRI.JPG","height":2201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7TJHLIEC7Y4ZZYETHLED2R4RRI.JPG?auth=d73934ba0275a96242980169b37f1a333ca250dd4bc7158ad6aaf89f78e526a0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-how-to-really-protect-women-and-girls-in-sports/MZCOYDV3ZRCVRIPC5QDLW3WFKE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-27T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Noël Heatherland","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"How to really protect women and girls in sports "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-27T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-27T16:57:47.315Z","_id":"MZCOYDV3ZRCVRIPC5QDLW3WFKE","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"d73934ba0275a96242980169b37f1a333ca250dd4bc7158ad6aaf89f78e526a0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Transgender","width":3300,"caption":"Advocates for transgender rights rally on Jan. 13, the first day of the legislative session, at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7TJHLIEC7Y4ZZYETHLED2R4RRI.JPG","height":2201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7TJHLIEC7Y4ZZYETHLED2R4RRI.JPG?auth=d73934ba0275a96242980169b37f1a333ca250dd4bc7158ad6aaf89f78e526a0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"RXGTKSUTXFCR5CIM76SHT4YRX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464627},"type":"text","content":"As a Christian, I consider religious liberty one of the most sacrosanct freedoms our Founding Fathers left for us to protect and honor. So to see a <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-inaugural-prayer-service-washington-national-cathedral-interfaith-a95b36f962be93c8647cc5144266da11\" target=\"_blank\">sitting president openly attack and revile a bishop</a> who <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/us/trump-bishop-plea.html\" target=\"_blank\">asked him to show mercy</a> to immigrants and other vulnerable people is appalling."},{"_id":"MUGNJIYHTFGN5HGXEYIP7JQQXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464628},"type":"text","content":"Worse, it is un-American."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. Nelson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"Y2KF6KMTWJCWBMRW4HWPQMZINY","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"modifiedAt":"2023-11-22T16:00:52.072Z","allowAll":false,"description":"AJC","restrictions":[{"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","modifiedAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","name":"AJCOnly","description":"","modifiedBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","websites":[{"siteId":"ajc","type":"site"}],"id":"e9eadc36-8bc3-48a6-b3d2-b679aeb668e4","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"},{"name":"story"},{"name":"video"}],"enabled":true}],"mode":"custom","organizationId":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","archived":false,"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:19:14.302Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","organization":{"name":"ajc","id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a"},"organization_id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","name":"AJC","modifiedBy":"Surendra.Nuthi@ajc.com","id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019","category":"staff","subcategory":"","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"}]},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sophia A. Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"NL5EYYLZAJCRDD7XXTX3UUQHWU"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"IXTZVEBUXFDYHIKDWUORO3QZ3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464629},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and America’s third president, is why religious freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment. Jefferson started writing about “religious freedom” when America was still a British colony. While serving as ambassador to France, Jefferson <a href=\"https://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/thomas-jefferson-and-religious-freedom/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBelieving%20with%20you%20that%20religion,whole%20American%20people%20which%20declared\" target=\"_blank\">wrote letters to James Madison</a>, encouraging him to include religious freedom in the Constitution. In 1777, <a href=\"https://virginiahistory.org/learn/thomas-jefferson-and-virginia-statute-religious-freedom#:~:text=The%20Virginia%20Statute%20for%20Religious%20Freedom%20is%20a%20statement%20about,amendment%20protections%20for%20religious%20freedom.\" target=\"_blank\">Jefferson drafted a bill to establish religious liberty in Virginia</a> based on what he deemed the inalienable right to freedom of conscience. In 1779, he proposed it to the Virginia legislature, but it was opposed by the Church of England. The legislature eventually approved it, but only after Jefferson left office as governor."},{"_id":"NR6NKZIJKBBTBAPZ7WMRVMPFHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464630},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Jefferson saw religious freedom as essential for a functioning republic. He was right."},{"_id":"DJ3HULF4CBE2XCZSIAZW245MJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464631},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In America, we do not have kings or tyrants. We respect each other’s liberty and the right to worship as we choose or not to worship at all. That makes us unique in the world. It draws other people from around the world to the United States. No state-sanctioned religion. No state-sanctioned church. And our priests, bishops, pastors, rabbis, clerics and clergy are empowered by that freedom to preach unfettered the word of God to their parishioners, to the public and, yes, to heads of state who attend their services. That is America at her finest."},{"_id":"3MIUK5UTXJC2BH3O7SEQG4T2PM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464632},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yet, somehow a portion of the Republican Party, <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5103756-trump-denounces-bishop-budde-mercy-plea/\" target=\"_blank\">including President Donald Trump and his followers</a>, many of whom profess to love the lord and demand the Ten Commandments be displayed in schools, have decided that it is OK to attack a bishop, Mariann Budde of the Episcopal Church of Washington, for her humble and respectful plea to simply <i>show the least of these among us </i>— our fellow citizens — compassion."},{"_id":"SNAA775EGVHNFK3JWIUK4QATWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464633},"type":"text","content":"I am not sure how we got here, but this level of corrosive destruction and disrespect for our constitutional order is not sustainable. It is unthinkable for a sitting president to demand a bishop apologize to him because he did not like her speech at a church service he was attending. Worse is the number of so-called leaders, <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.foxnews.com/politics/desperate-pastors-conservatives-unleash-episcopal-bishop-weaponizing-pulpit-against-trump__;!!JZyed81S!j40i-YbNfVGQuRjkOI8xgdy-VuEd6O98t7ERx80DHn23OZawcvb1nkDyu_0dyPCfNP6UBTJDOYFkzdrbLl75mQ$\">from House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana to Ambassador Mike Huckabee — avowed Christians </a>— who attacked the bishop as “inappropriate” or worse."},{"_id":"DX2LPV75VBH6RMQY5LWGSDMV24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464634},"type":"text","content":"This sorry episode touches on freedom of speech, too. We have to protect freedom of speech now more than ever. We have to protect and look out for one another. Most of all, when we disagree or do not see the world the same. We need to talk. To listen. To hear and to be heard. When a bishop (or anyone) says something with which we disagree, maybe we engage in a dialogue instead of demanding retraction, apologies and dismissals. And it’s not just the right that’s trying to police thoughts and words."},{"_id":"KGMX63KM5JEJHIHKT5XDUPMA4U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"45WDBPYIJJFQ7PDZ434RAYLGWY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Jamie Dupree: Trump wastes no time in his return to office","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-trump-wastes-no-time-in-his-return-to-office/JBRECXLNEJDLLFCVQLL6CF76AA/"},{"_id":"7RAQ4SMR5JAN5H4STZCIEJWE3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464635},"type":"text","content":"As a Christian woman of color, I lived it. A few years ago, at a college in Virginia where I taught, I was censored, yelled at and protested for asking on my social media a civil, religious question about a DC Comics character promoted as LGBTQ+. Instead of talking, being civil and engaging in dialogue (which is what universities are for), certain campus communities relentlessly attacked me, making sure I would never teach there again."},{"_id":"C2ENQGILKNBWZPBA656HQWEJRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464636},"type":"text","content":"This is the type of conduct that put Trump back into office. Nobody wants to hear it, but it is the truth. People got sick and tired of the overreach, of the division, of the policing of what we think or of our differing viewpoints. People do not want to have to fear that they can be suspended, fired or, worse, have their careers and livelihoods ruined for thoughts or speech."},{"_id":"VTOLATAB3FG4ZGN4E6UTVR3R3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Those who, like me, did not like it when it was done to us must stand up for Budde and others who speak their religious viewpoints. People seem to only embrace “freedom” when it suits their needs or the moment they want to focus on. Cancel culture exists in very overt forms — in our nation’s universities, in our corporations and in our government — and it exists in more covert forms we don’t always see."},{"_id":"VLITF4DW5BHMRNDEEOUJYVIGAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748464638},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/episcopal-bishop-says-shell-continue-to-pray-for-trump-who-lashed-out-at-her-over-viral-sermon/PW4VCJOUGVAI7EBQWXQKL56G3M/\" target=\"_blank\">Bishop Budde</a> did not engage in politics. Hers was an act of bold faith. It was an act of conscience. And it was protected speech in the pulpit. Period."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"And those who attacked her for doing so fail to understand that free speech and freedom of religion are what make America great. "},"description":{"basic":"And those who attacked her for doing so fail to understand that free speech and freedom of religion are what make America great."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"bb1f2e96878029301b9923b9269920aaaae9183580b215760651dcc9a9fe72e1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Evan Vucci","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump","width":5723,"caption":"Bishop Mariann Budde leads a national prayer service on Jan. 21 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (Evan Vucci/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JICJI2N5UY2PH2LKXFQKHOU7EI.jpg","height":3815,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JICJI2N5UY2PH2LKXFQKHOU7EI.jpg?auth=bb1f2e96878029301b9923b9269920aaaae9183580b215760651dcc9a9fe72e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-bishop-budde-was-right-to-speak-truth-to-trump/UJB3SWQG6NFCBLNILCECVF4QDE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-26T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","firstName":"Sophia","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"A.","_id":"snelson","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-30T00:46:40.034Z","byline":"Sophia A. Nelson","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Bishop Budde was right to speak truth to Trump "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-26T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-26T11:00:09.89Z","_id":"UJB3SWQG6NFCBLNILCECVF4QDE","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"bb1f2e96878029301b9923b9269920aaaae9183580b215760651dcc9a9fe72e1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Evan Vucci","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump","width":5723,"caption":"Bishop Mariann Budde leads a national prayer service on Jan. 21 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (Evan Vucci/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JICJI2N5UY2PH2LKXFQKHOU7EI.jpg","height":3815,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JICJI2N5UY2PH2LKXFQKHOU7EI.jpg?auth=bb1f2e96878029301b9923b9269920aaaae9183580b215760651dcc9a9fe72e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"ACNJ6FY72NFG3PP7OBYXDIBA74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370489},"type":"text","content":"There’s a blue canvas bag that’s been sitting in a closet in my house for many years. It’s filled to the brim with press credentials and other memorabilia I’ve kept from the political events I started covering when I <a href=\"https://www.wabe.org/bill-nigut-returns-to-the-airwaves/\" target=\"_blank\">came to Atlanta to work at Channel 2 News</a> more than 40 years ago."},{"_id":"QMP7YK26CVEFLA2O6SPCBF7HKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370490},"type":"text","content":"And because I’ve never been one of those people who’s had the discipline to keep a daily journal of my activities, I dumped the contents of that bag out on our dining room table to help me reflect on a long career covering national and state politics."},{"_id":"BMOPMY7U3FHTRLTQI73EMJULFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370491},"type":"text","content":"The earliest badge I found was a laminated floor pass to the <a href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/SF-s-1984-Democratic-convention-Historic-but-8476660.php\" target=\"_blank\">1984 Democratic National Convention</a> at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, where Walter Mondale became the party’s official nominee and went on to lose 49 states, in part, because of an <a href=\"http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00697/pdfa/00697-00021.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">infamous line in his acceptance speech</a>: “Let’s tell the truth. Mr. Reagan will raise taxes and so will I. He won’t tell you. I just did!”"},{"_id":"5FNKLURBP5HU7PO7RF26PEMNHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370492},"type":"text","content":"Standing on the floor watching that speech with the Georgia delegation, I saw <a href=\"https://ohms.libs.uga.edu/viewer.php?cachefile=russell/RBRL425TPGA-040.xml\" target=\"_blank\">Gov. Joe Frank Harris</a> looking like his favorite dog had just died. Mondale would get no help trying to win Georgia from Joe Frank!"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"1196761ed8a1bbaf06af76903c48e99188dba6e10b305130f8c24f33e35e33eb"},"caption":"Bill Nigut, AJC's Politically Georgia team","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"AESGBLTDZJERPLGNCSJEJQSIGU","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"AJC","type":"author","byline":"AJC"}]},"subtitle":"Bill Nigut","width":3504,"_id":"CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/K6Np_G2ERwutm0HYmESXvbfMLQo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","owner":"ron.sirmans@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[""],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/K6Np_G2ERwutm0HYmESXvbfMLQo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","takenOn":"2023-10-26T15:46:43Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/K6Np_G2ERwutm0HYmESXvbfMLQo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/IK-6Poaaahdy0hOICJkIXGmbW4Y=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"AJC_2023_08926_R.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"YNUT4AWD6ZHENDJR4QPWRVUJHQ"},"created_date":"2024-06-25T01:53:13Z","last_updated_date":"2024-06-25T01:54:43Z","alignment":"right","height":2628,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CQ4PMAFOQVB5XCH4U5ZI2JR4KQ.jpg?auth=1196761ed8a1bbaf06af76903c48e99188dba6e10b305130f8c24f33e35e33eb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XBSNSJIS5RE37C4WXDSF4SBDWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370494},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The most recent addition to the bag was my floor passes for the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V85MsuQ1TS4\" target=\"_blank\">2024 Republican convention in Milwaukee</a>, which set Donald Trump back on the path to a second term in the White House."},{"_id":"SDJR7OVUXJD2XGVOBRJIGY6VVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370495},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I covered many conventions in the years between those two events. But while I was in Milwaukee, something shifted in me. Walking through the hall awash in red, white and blue bunting, past delegates in colorful hats, hearing speakers promise a better tomorrow, I realized that for the first time, the hypercharged energy of a national convention that once sent adrenaline and a sense of purpose rushing through me was just tiring me out."},{"_id":"4BIBRI6QPFDJVK72IUGZFRY7Q4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370496},"type":"text","content":"It was time for me to move on."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a773218cd7060cc1985a8188591276d205b31d3752a2b4929c6b290bb43443da"},"caption":"Bill Nigut's collection of press passes from his long career as a reporter.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Z7UMJH636RGHNBBBGQ3L7OQSDM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/002e1a9f-a3e4-407c-a6a1-18ef14387531.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"bill.nigut@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/nigutb"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"bill.nigut@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/nigutb"}],"name":"Bill Nigut","description":"Bill Nigut is a co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. ","_id":"bill-nigut","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nigut","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/002e1a9f-a3e4-407c-a6a1-18ef14387531.png","role":"Journalist","education":[],"longBio":"Bill Nigut is a journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. He is the former host of GPB's \"Political Rewind\" program and a former political reporter for WSB-TV.","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Bill Nigut is a co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. 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I’ve traveled the country covering dozens of presidential campaigns."},{"_id":"MOT6ZJCB4NGYFPPRHEGPD4XIT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370500},"type":"text","content":"I’ve gone on the road with presidents and vice presidents. I’ve jumped on planes to get to the White House and Capitol Hill when important national stories were unfolding."},{"_id":"AADU2GLHCBGYLJPAYKJMS3NC2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370501},"type":"text","content":"I’ve crisscrossed Georgia following candidates for governor, senator and other statewide offices, walked the marble floors of the state Capitol reporting on 19 legislative sessions and had the great good fortune to be present to witness a number of historic moments in Georgia and national politics."},{"_id":"5PFVP2HR5ZGYHIUQZV26F5F32Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370502},"type":"text","content":"Now, in just a few days, I’ll take my final turn hosting the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/politically-georgia/\" target=\"_blank\">Politically Georgia</a> podcast and radio show."},{"_id":"SKH6KKMK2VARLFKCKZD52H7ZLU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":277,"comment":"former Vice President"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370503},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As I wrote this farewell column, I was <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/aajc-012025-trump-inauguration/WL2O5VFFYVG5ZGA3ADH5U3JM3I/\" target=\"_blank\">watching President Trump’s inauguration</a>. My first thought was about the people in the audience whom I covered over the years and who, like me, are showing signs of aging. Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. and Laura Bush, Newt Gingrich, Dan Quayle and his wife, Marilyn. And so many others."},{"_id":"UMZ25E3MMFDORKTPV4FAJSHGVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":153,"comment":"Walter "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370504},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And I was thinking about those I covered who are no longer with us. Paul Coverdell, Max Cleland, John Lewis, Zell Miller, George H.W. Bush, John McCain, Mondale, and, of course, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter."},{"_id":"FEDT6KNODVDDDKZAUZ4E7ASHRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370505},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As a reporter, I knew that keeping a certain distance from those you cover is crucial. But I admit I grew to truly like and admire some of those I reported on, and my feelings had little to do with their party affiliation or their position on issues."},{"_id":"BIEM6PC4YVFETLWUYW2U2MYUOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370506},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2018/03/27/zell-miller-remembered-at-memorial-service\" target=\"_blank\">Zell Miller</a> had a cranky streak that belied a soft heart. He cried easily. The week my father died, Miller tracked me down somehow at my brother’s house in Chicago. He called my brother’s home phone and shared with me his condolences. As he got off the call, he said, “Bill, I love you.” I was startled but deeply moved by the tenderness he showed me in that moment."},{"_id":"7SKWQLWZRVBLPFB54WOEOWLT6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":125,"comment":"E"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370507},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2015/04/02/punches-and-counter-punches-a-timeline-of-georgias-religious-freedom-bill-fight/\" target=\"_blank\">Paul Coverdell</a> always conducted himself like a gentleman. Max Cleland achieved political heights but was invariably down to earth with people he encountered. John Lewis had a modesty that stood in contrast with his proper place as an American hero. <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2019/12/23/political-rewind-special-edition-sen-johnny-isakson\" target=\"_blank\">Johnny Isakson</a> never failed to ask me about my children – by name. During his time in the senate, <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2022/02/28/political-rewind-former-sen-sam-nunn-talks-about-ukraine-ukrainians-in-ga-weigh\" target=\"_blank\">Sam Nunn</a> was the very image of a stateman. <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/author/bill-nigut?instance_overrides_key=NoiY94XYoaT616RrYUt9EKIdtvDmXLsGGbovMZkcJKE&page=251\" target=\"_blank\">Roy Barnes</a> is as funny as he is smart. <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/06/22/political-rewind-in-conversation-former-atlanta-mayor-shirley-franklin\" target=\"_blank\">Shirley Franklin</a> has great political wisdom and has shared it with me often. <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2022/02/21/political-rewind-andrew-young-reflects-on-his-remarkable-life-and-career\" target=\"_blank\">Andy Young</a> is a civil rights hero who amazingly became my friend. And <a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/kemps-state-of-the-state-senator-colton-moores/id1356662668?i=1000684404017\" target=\"_blank\">Brian Kemp</a> has impressed me greatly with his political savvy."},{"_id":"55H4SSZSPRGU5JIRQJ5IPLQQ5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":115,"comment":" "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370508},"type":"text","content":"Early in his career as a backbencher in the U.S. House, <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/11/16/political-rewind-trial-in-brunswick-ga-continues-gingrich-weighs-in-on-kemp\" target=\"_blank\">Newt Gingrich</a> handled tough questions with a spirit of goodwill. But when he climbed the mountaintop to become Speaker of the House, he became brittle and combative when asked tough questions."},{"_id":"HH5IAG5ARJDPNKIMPH7BANSB4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370509},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.rainbowpush.org/rev-jesse-jackson-bio\" target=\"_blank\">Jesse Jackson</a> is struggling with Parkinson’s disease, which makes me sad. He was a larger-than-life force and much more caring than many people realize."},{"_id":"ZQPQRS3Y4RAUPCYNXHQB3PDPWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":120,"comment":"é"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370510},"type":"text","content":"One of the greatest campaign events I every covered was a rally in a Black church in Cleveland, Ohio. To cite the cliche, Jackson blew the roof off the sanctuary, preaching a stem-winding sermon on behalf of the disenfranchised."},{"_id":"V6QZJYVZZZHDDCKBZ7HBOBQRM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370511},"type":"text","content":"And there were memories about the presidents:"},{"_id":"CCOOCZZB4VCI7LC2UL4EMR2PSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370512},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/bush-campaign-remarks/25617\" target=\"_blank\">George H.W. Bush</a> treated everyone with kindness and respect, and, for whatever reason, he was <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2018/12/07/political-rewind-remembering-president-george-h-w-bush\" target=\"_blank\">especially kind to me</a>."},{"_id":"JIE6CZRWNNEE3AKTIALM7XYOPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370513},"type":"text","content":"On the night before the 1992 election, which polls showed he was almost certain to lose, his campaign reached out to me to say that he was hoping he could do one last interview with me before Election Day. The request came while he was on Air Force One headed for a final rally in Houston."},{"_id":"CUAD7IUTBBFPZOKQT4OLIAPWNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370514},"type":"text","content":"Scrambling at the last minute, we were able to arrange for me to do that interview with President Bush. He closed our conversation by saying this was his final interview as a candidate for office and “I’m so glad it was with you.”"},{"_id":"SVIVM5NQEBANZHUKFS7M3PXCSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370515},"type":"text","content":"To this day, I don’t know what led him to do that interview, but it’s one of my fondest memories."},{"_id":"LFQ7FXPUBRFIFASQKVVRKZULPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370516},"type":"text","content":"Walking through snowy neighborhoods in Iowa and New Hampshire with <a href=\"https://current.org/2017/08/bill-nigut-you-cannot-help-people-understand-politics-and-all-the-nuances-in-a-minute-and-30/\" target=\"_blank\">Bill Clinton</a> as he knocked on doors asking for votes, like many others, I saw the great charm and charisma that would help propel him to the White House."},{"_id":"63AF6YXOPNH5LFQVFTPP3YMTHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370517},"type":"text","content":"I’ll never forget the evening he came to WSB-TV after I arranged with the campaign for me to host a <a href=\"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-town-meeting-detroit\" target=\"_blank\">live town meeting with Clinton</a> in front of an audience of undecided voters. For more than an hour after our live show was over, Bill and Hillary Clinton sat in a green room with me and several station executives just chatting as if they were glad for the momentary reprieve from the rigors of the campaign trail."},{"_id":"ATW3JWDZSFGOPOHLNS667ULGDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370518},"type":"text","content":"I got to know George W. Bush during flights on his father’s 1988 campaign plane, so by the time he became a candidate for president, we already had an easy rapport. He had nicknames for the reporters who covered him, and mine was “ugly,” which I took as an insult — until he told me he used it because I always asked him “ugly” questions."},{"_id":"JT2CFLZOGZFOJNNCGGSLXFIQA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370519},"type":"text","content":"I carried that as a badge of honor."},{"_id":"ZZE3KBSNNZGTZHXWBH4DQHJZXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370520},"type":"text","content":"For me, those were heady years. But as I approach 78 years old, I’m looking hard at a question that’s haunted me for some time: “Why do I have this compulsion that I always have to do more?” But I think I finally have the answer."},{"_id":"2ZJEEIWL45BADNNCN4EAX25ZRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370521},"type":"text","content":"At long last, I’ve come to terms with the fact that I’ve done some work I can be proud of. Where I’ve failed, it’s too late to change that now."},{"_id":"RO45HC5HBRFSRN6LDO5NSZK2KY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370522},"type":"text","content":"As I prepared for my final edition of “Politically Georgia” this coming Friday, my fondest memories are certainly of the people who have watched and listened to me over the years."},{"_id":"YFQSEZUISZAEFIWIELLUTFMQBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370523},"type":"text","content":"It’s an extraordinary honor to hear many of you say you believe I’ve been a voice of reason and civility. That is how I’ve tried to conduct myself: treating even those with whom I disagree with respect and hoping that I’ve been able to bring clarity to the often tumultuous world of politics."},{"_id":"HXCJAIHUGNHGXHF2E2B6XQXYNI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370524},"type":"text","content":"If I’ve succeeded in doing that I’ll leave with no regrets."},{"_id":"BPNYIBOKZJC4HJS42N53RSPAYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737478370525},"type":"text","content":"<i>Bill Nigut is a host of the AJC’s Politically Georgia podcast and radio show.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"I’ve had the privilege to keep Georgians informed about state and national politics. As I retire, I’m thankful for the memories."},"description":{"basic":"I’ve had the privilege to keep Georgians informed about state and national politics. As I retire, I’m thankful for the memories."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"14c14e6a6999d464caa3af550c491ae77350bea350d45430986e39e6fa5b240e"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"AJC file photo","type":"author","byline":"AJC file photo"}]},"subtitle":"GPB","width":1024,"caption":"Bill Nigut. (AJC file photo)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PXIBRSTADRG7VLBGT7B4XXAG4U.jpeg","height":576,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PXIBRSTADRG7VLBGT7B4XXAG4U.jpeg?auth=14c14e6a6999d464caa3af550c491ae77350bea350d45430986e39e6fa5b240e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/bill-nigut-saying-goodbye-after-four-decades-in-georgia-politics/R3RQIG5N5FDQ3E7F5YRF5AAVG4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-25T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/002e1a9f-a3e4-407c-a6a1-18ef14387531.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"bill.nigut@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/nigutb"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"bill.nigut@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/nigutb"}],"name":"Bill Nigut","description":"Bill Nigut is a co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. ","_id":"bill-nigut","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nigut","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/002e1a9f-a3e4-407c-a6a1-18ef14387531.png","role":"Journalist","education":[],"longBio":"Bill Nigut is a journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. He is the former host of GPB's \"Political Rewind\" program and a former political reporter for WSB-TV.","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Bill Nigut is a co-host of the AJC Politically Georgia live radio show and podcast. 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(AJC file photo)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PXIBRSTADRG7VLBGT7B4XXAG4U.jpeg","height":576,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PXIBRSTADRG7VLBGT7B4XXAG4U.jpeg?auth=14c14e6a6999d464caa3af550c491ae77350bea350d45430986e39e6fa5b240e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"JLGVNTLLGNCA5B4LXMUEIXIXE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164470},"type":"text","content":"Less than a month into 2025, and the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-is-reeling-from-a-rare-one-two-punch-by-mother-nature/KXMG3YWCDZB5PJCTI3N7GC6IBM/\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta area has experienced two snowstorms</a>. It’s been several years since the area had more than an inch of snow, so the exuberance, dread and wish-casting were on display."},{"_id":"OLJIKU7MK5BM5EDF6WW5R2UCTQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164471},"type":"text","content":"The first storm delivered <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/snow-and-ice-in-georgia-live-updates/VARZUD6CDNE2XDH3OXMVP6LEGE/\" target=\"_blank\">2.1 inches of snowfall</a> at the Atlanta airport, which placed the official total above the annual average total for the year. The <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/aajc-012125-snow-geogia/2SY3LBSANFEBLPODUISHRN7ANM/\" target=\"_blank\">second storm was connected to a more historic event</a> that produced blizzard warnings in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and nearly 10 inches of snow in New Orleans. That same storm also painted beaches in Alabama and the panhandle snow white before taking aim at the Interstate 95 corridor."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"b5a6197aadb4f8420e2c3315bfd17aac699439ec5613b7422ab4606d01f15856"},"caption":"J. Marshall Shepherd","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"James Marshall Shepherd","width":400,"_id":"DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/lsepZbJ3YeLqJIqKpVHirsLz2jw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/lsepZbJ3YeLqJIqKpVHirsLz2jw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/lsepZbJ3YeLqJIqKpVHirsLz2jw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/zBi2DMGovdyocvoeXpU_-8oQVbU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"James Marshall Shepherd.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"47SUSS3HP5ED7P456YF65OI6TU"},"created_date":"2024-10-11T15:50:33Z","last_updated_date":"2024-10-11T15:50:33Z","alignment":"right","height":400,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DHYAUAX5FFCENA7UHRM6LEZDKE.jpg?auth=b5a6197aadb4f8420e2c3315bfd17aac699439ec5613b7422ab4606d01f15856&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QRUSOGCTIRE5FIHY35IT2RX3Z4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164473},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"From a forecast standpoint, the Atlanta area got pretty much what was forecast. Amounts ranged from a dusting on the northern fringe of the Winter Weather Advisory region to more than 1 inch in the Winter Storm Warning areas. The National Weather Service-Peachtree City did a masterful job leading up to the event with its forecast and messaging. One aspect of its messaging and my own assessment was how similar this storm was to the 2014 “Snowmageddon” storm that brought Atlanta to an abrupt and treacherous standstill."},{"_id":"FCHJ2MD3YBCN3O6TUJ4FCJA6CY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164474},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Generally, Southerners are socialized to be in awe of snow and fixate on how much will fall. This storm reaffirms that Georgians must evolve how they think about snowstorms in three important ways. I came to this realization while monitoring a popular Georgia social media site. There were several lighthearted comments about how a “tiny amount” of snow shuts Atlanta down. Geez, we already deal with jokes from people in the northern U.S. who must not understand that we have minimal snow removal capacity. Why would we? The average snow in the area is less than 2 inches <i>total, </i>and even that might tot happen every year."},{"_id":"36HCWGLB7VHVLBIJGJ6CCPGOUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164475},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Like “<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-snowmaggedon-2014-the-january-snow-storm-that-paralyzed-atlanta/KTEPKGS2RNHBTEOCIOFVSKNWFE/\" target=\"_blank\">Snowmageddon 2014</a>,” temperatures were frigid by Georgia standards, and peak snow amounts were expected south of the city. The pre-storm atmosphere was initially dry. It was snowing over Atlanta most of the day but did not reach the ground until early afternoon. Our University of Georgia-Georgia Tech weather radar at Georgia Gwinnett College detected the snow level gradually making its way to the surface."},{"_id":"4BTQXIMKBRHPBCOF47VCUAHCCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164476},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Both state and city officials formed taskforces in the wake of the 2014 storm. I served on the group organized by Atlanta. Both committees revealed several <a href=\"https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/its-been-10-years-since-snowmageddon-paralyzed-metro-atlanta-here-are-lessons-learned/EQLZD73W6FD65MHVXP5CDIZALU/\">lessons learned</a>. I saw them in action this time. The state, Atlanta and several county jurisdictions deserve major kudos. Roads were pretreated. Many school systems (but not all) under the Winter Weather Advisory or Winter Storm Warning preemptively closed or pivoted to digital instruction. The governor issued a state of emergency. Data on road temperatures were being collected by post-2014 monitoring systems. Georgia even established a state meteorologist who coordinates with federal meteorologists, jurisdictions and emergency managers."},{"_id":"E522CMN2GNGOLLJQVSPTBZ6DFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164477},"type":"text","content":"<i>The public and business communities must evolve from the mindset of “how much is going to fall” and focus on “how fast does it freeze.” </i>Even with such improvements, this event still caused significant commuting delays, traffic jams and accidents throughout the region — though not to the scale of the 2014 event. Forecasts were spot-on with the timing of the snow. It started midafternoon, which, for many people, creates a sense of normality. Through much of the day, it was easy to get to work or run errands. The question becomes, “Can you get home?” What confuses some people is that typical snowfalls in Georgia happen at temperatures near 32 degrees F. In this event (and in 2014), temperatures were very cold and falling, which causes rapid freezing. Because we had experienced several days of below-freezing temperatures, the roads were also quite cold."},{"_id":"LZT5GPM4GRB2TM47SRA54XYBN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164478},"type":"text","content":"<i>Further engagement is needed to increase winter weather literacy. </i>Another challenge was revealed in a comment by a person who lived in the eastern part of the metropolitan area. She seemed to blame the National Weather Service. Her premise was that her county was not in the Winter Storm Warning area, which informed her actions and perhaps those of her school system. It reaffirms for me that the use of “advisories” might be problematic. Her county was in the Winter Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service. According to the <a href=\"https://gema.georgia.gov/plan-prepare/storms-disasters/winter-weather-terms#:~:text=A%20winter%20weather%20advisory%20is,does%20not%20meet%20warning%20criteria.\">Georgia Emergency Management Agency</a>, “A winter weather advisory is issued up to 36 hours before an event where an 80 percent or greater chance of winter precipitation (i.e. snow, freezing rain/drizzle, sleet or blowing snow) is expected to cause inconveniences, but does not meet warning criteria.” With its messaging, the National Weather Service clearly noted that up to 1 inch of snow was possible in counties under the advisory. A Winter Storm Warning is issued if 0.5 inch or more of sleet, at least 0.25 inches of freezing rain, and/or 2 or more inches of snow are expected. As I noticed in 2014, some people do not perceive advisories as worthy of risk aversion. The snow totals that caused hazardous conditions this time mostly met Winter Weather Advisory conditions<i>. (Alternatively, should we continue to use advisories?</i> That’s a discussion for a different day.)"},{"_id":"OXBPZBGSBVCQLIQQTAQLSVSQ3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164479},"type":"text","content":"<i>We must become a society comfortable with precautionary risk aversion even if there are no direct impacts ultimately.</i> I also noticed something very interesting over the course of my career. The public has selective tolerance with risk planning and actions. We buy home or car insurance policies. We take classes to get driver’s licenses or other certification. We adhere to speed limits or other laws that might be perceived to be inconveniences. In some cases, we never use those insurance policies. However, when it comes to weather risk, people often complain. If a school system releases students early because of a tornado threat, some people complain because the tornado happened in the county but not where they lived. When I became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., my fraternity brothers taught us the 5P’s: Prior planning prevents poor performance. That advice is warranted with our future snowstorms, hurricane events, floods and heat waves."},{"_id":"WXSJSTETURH77PUS5HD5JVNXUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737745164480},"type":"text","content":"<i>J. Marshall Shepherd is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor and the director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. He also serves as an associate dean in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he served as president of the American Meteorological Society.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Heed advisories and follow the 5Ps, and you’ll make it through the South’s occasional snows."},"description":{"basic":"Heed advisories and follow the 5Ps, and you’ll make it through the South’s occasional snows."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"19c742382fa2623520a97c741f48fea46d117e582774a9e96afb46c2d4f3b5a5"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Mike Esterl / AJC","type":"author","byline":"Mike Esterl / AJC"}]},"subtitle":"georgia snow","width":4032,"caption":"The Beltline in the Old Fourth Ward turned white as snow began falling more heavily on Jan. 10. Only a few joggers and pedestrians were out near the Krog Street section of the trail. (Mike Esterl/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/A2WRAGZSMNAJBBOVI62XAF4JW4.jpg","height":3024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/A2WRAGZSMNAJBBOVI62XAF4JW4.jpg?auth=19c742382fa2623520a97c741f48fea46d117e582774a9e96afb46c2d4f3b5a5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-georgians-must-evolve-their-thinking-on-snow/MKDXW5QV3FG4RDXDGISJO65T5I/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-25T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Georgians must evolve their thinking on snow"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-25T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-25T11:00:07.126Z","_id":"MKDXW5QV3FG4RDXDGISJO65T5I","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"19c742382fa2623520a97c741f48fea46d117e582774a9e96afb46c2d4f3b5a5"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Mike Esterl / AJC","type":"author","byline":"Mike Esterl / AJC"}]},"subtitle":"georgia snow","width":4032,"caption":"The Beltline in the Old Fourth Ward turned white as snow began falling more heavily on Jan. 10. Only a few joggers and pedestrians were out near the Krog Street section of the trail. (Mike Esterl/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/A2WRAGZSMNAJBBOVI62XAF4JW4.jpg","height":3024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/A2WRAGZSMNAJBBOVI62XAF4JW4.jpg?auth=19c742382fa2623520a97c741f48fea46d117e582774a9e96afb46c2d4f3b5a5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"2UHMUKPBE5BPXMRUTJDROY7TFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064432},"type":"text","content":"The system for security clearances has always been a cornerstone of our national defense. These safeguards ensure that individuals entrusted with roles requiring access to the nation’s most sensitive information undergo rigorous vetting to confirm they are trustworthy, reliable and free of vulnerabilities."},{"_id":"D7GFHJZPQVERTIMAJIIR2GBSNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064433},"type":"text","content":"Yet, on his first day back in office, President Donald Trump <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/politics/trump-temporary-security-clearances/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">signed a memorandum</a> to “resolve the backlog” of security clearances for personnel in the Executive Office of the President. This executive order bypasses the standard clearance process, granting appointees interim Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) access for up to six months. The stated justification was to address delays allegedly created by the Biden administration."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426"},"caption":"Brian O'Neill, visiting prof, Georgia Tech","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Brian O'Neill","width":574,"_id":"6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/XNSccLB--Rse7q_-CmX1ZKZp2f0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Brian O'Neill.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"5FHLS2LYL5AMTMOXFEQOW3E4R4"},"created_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","alignment":"right","height":574,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg?auth=7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"YTPL775Q6NBUXOUQUR2FOEU3UI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064435},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But the process isn’t broken. It’s deliberate, thorough and essential for protecting the country’s secrets. By bypassing the vetting process, Trump effectively grants appointees access to classified information without ensuring they are free of vulnerabilities or compromising ties."},{"_id":"JBVUS4CYSZGMXNUR4ZPJI5WGQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064436},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This reckless shortcut undermines the very safeguards designed to prevent insider threats and foreign exploitation."},{"_id":"UHSMJPWZ45AKRNOTEJB6GOZ7FU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064437},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When I applied to the CIA to be an intelligence analyst, I knew the agency would scrutinize every aspect of my life — financial history, personal relationships and significant decisions — before granting me TS/SCI access. My qualifications — such as my experience as an infantry officer and my graduate studies — were not enough. Polished interviews or even demonstrated patriotism didn’t suffice either. The CIA required proof that I could not only protect classified information but that I had no vulnerabilities that could be exploited."},{"_id":"UQLTFIH4SJGDJHQWEVE4RAGU6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064438},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This same scrutiny has been applied to everyone who has served in such sensitive national security posts, from junior analysts to senior leaders. No one has been exempt. Those entrusted with our nation’s most sensitive information, whether at the CIA, the Pentagon or the White House, undergo this vetting process."},{"_id":"ZMFTZ74C4FAGTIND5DOO22OZIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064439},"type":"text","content":"Moreover, this diligence doesn’t end once a clearance is granted. Reassessments occur, and sometimes random inquiries are triggered to ensure continued reliability. People change — financial circumstances deteriorate, personal relationships shift or other pressures arise. A person cleared today can become a vulnerability tomorrow."},{"_id":"VLE44YXG6FBSRMUJ56VD73DNSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064440},"type":"text","content":"What makes Trump’s executive order particularly dangerous is that it politicizes a system meant to ensure impartiality. By bypassing the clearance process, it sends a clear signal that loyalty and expedience are valued over diligence and safeguards, undermining the trust and integrity that the clearance system is built on."},{"_id":"FGYSMRDE5NCRVHTR7BTDMB6UOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064441},"type":"text","content":"This abuse of authority is further evidenced by a <a href=\"https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/20/politics/trump-revokes-security-clearances-former-officials-hunter-biden-laptop-letter/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">related executive order targeting former officials</a>. In an unprecedented move, Trump revoked the security clearances of dozens of individuals, including former CIA directors and senior national security leaders. Many of these officials, whom I have served with or under directly, dedicated their careers to safeguarding the nation. The executive order suggests these respected individuals used their clearances to interfere in the 2024 election — an apparent justification for silencing critics and political opponents who either refused to endorse him or supported President Joe Biden’s reelection."},{"_id":"VITT66EEAFEWROOK7FJ2BUSNCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064442},"type":"text","content":"This is more than an act of petty political retribution; it is a veiled threat to silence dissent and erodes the nonpartisan foundation of the national security apparatus. By this same definition of a “security threat,” this essay could make me the target of similar actions. Weaponizing security clearances in this way undermines trust in a system designed to prioritize the nation’s safety over personal or political loyalties."},{"_id":"TYVSCALIQRDEVJROZG5HWAC57A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064443},"type":"text","content":"Trump might argue that the nation’s peril is so grave, so unprecedented, that extraordinary measures are not only justified but necessary. His executive order frames the delays in the clearance process as a “backlog created by the Biden Administration,” claiming that these delays prevent key personnel in the Executive Office of the President from performing their duties. However, every incoming president has faced profound crises — circumstances demanding swift, decisive action. Through economic collapse, global wars, nuclear brinkmanship and acts of terror, the standards for security clearances have held firm. To suggest that Trump’s challenges are so uniquely burdensome as to warrant exemptions is disingenuous and diminishes the resolve and integrity of those who led through far greater tests of leadership."},{"_id":"5B54OXT45ZALPJ7EDSGLF2URSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064444},"type":"text","content":"History offers painful reminders of the consequences of undermining such protective measures. Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, two of the most damaging spies in U.S. history, exploited gaps in oversight and evaded detection for years, causing catastrophic harm. Their actions cost lives, compromised missions and demonstrated why rigorous and impartial vetting must be nonnegotiable. When the clearance system is bypassed or politicized, it opens the door to vulnerabilities that our adversaries are eager to exploit."},{"_id":"G3OFNUW65JDXFAUEW4O6QERL54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064445},"type":"text","content":"Instead of dismantling or bypassing these safeguards, we should focus on strengthening them."},{"_id":"6AANOAUSQZEYZB4RJF7OOITPO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064446},"type":"text","content":"Delays in the clearance process, while frustrating, stem from underfunding and understaffing, not from flaws in the system itself. Expanding the investigative workforce and leveraging technology could reduce backlogs without compromising security."},{"_id":"PLADWZ2VXJBFHECHV557YKBOUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064447},"type":"text","content":"Security clearances are not a privilege or a political bargaining chip — they are a cornerstone of our national defense. Politicizing or shortcutting this process, whether for convenience or retribution, is not just irresponsible — it is dangerous."},{"_id":"G27B677BBBEOXCCVXMXZO2NKKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737748064448},"type":"text","content":"<i>Brian O’Neill, a recently retired senior executive from the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center, is an instructor on strategic intelligence at Georgia Tech.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Security clearances are not a privilege or a political bargaining chip — they are a cornerstone of our national defense. "},"description":{"basic":"Security clearances are not a privilege or a political bargaining chip — they are a cornerstone of our national defense."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carolyn Kaster","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"United States Israel Documents","width":3000,"caption":"The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., in 2016. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"f2a90805-7d0d-46e0-bff3-5e7060bf4d90"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LJ2UYSP4QMB2ZS6E2CCR6VYQF4.jpg","height":2072,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LJ2UYSP4QMB2ZS6E2CCR6VYQF4.jpg?auth=a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-trumps-shortcutting-of-security-vetting-endangers-national-safety/AGWHJZUZLFEK7PR2P4JZ4ZKCFA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-24T20:00:15.221Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Brian O'Neill","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Trump’s shortcutting of security vetting endangers national safety"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-24T20:00:15.221Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-24T20:00:15.339Z","_id":"AGWHJZUZLFEK7PR2P4JZ4ZKCFA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carolyn Kaster","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"United States Israel Documents","width":3000,"caption":"The seal of the Central Intelligence Agency at CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., in 2016. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"f2a90805-7d0d-46e0-bff3-5e7060bf4d90"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LJ2UYSP4QMB2ZS6E2CCR6VYQF4.jpg","height":2072,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LJ2UYSP4QMB2ZS6E2CCR6VYQF4.jpg?auth=a0f00514abf5f9b7557e9ee9038f5d5846e6c39dd90078b1db6311c5abc27ba6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"DWONUMHVTZAIFHIIAO3HLRGYIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481591},"type":"text","content":"Now that President Donald Trump has followed through on his promise to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/trump-makes-good-on-promise-pardons-jan-6-defendants/2RX3W2D3V5BGZBNRCTJO2G2PFM/\" target=\"_blank\">pardon the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists</a>, we are in for a tough time as a democracy. With the convicted thugs relieved of accountability for their violent and illegal actions with pardons, what will Trump and his mob do next?"},{"_id":"XJ6RFN4NWVE7LB4TUMIKPK3MDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481594},"type":"text","content":"About 1,000 of the 1,500 people indicted in connection with the insurrection, an attempt to delay certification of the 2020 presidential election, had been convicted or pleaded guilty. Those who assaulted police officers or destroyed government property received lengthy sentences, some exceeding 15 years."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"82f7fe559775a9bb2225555aa00cbd79d520c6477e7ddda1b769e0ec67ea29d8"},"caption":"Jim Harrison, retired environmental scientist","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jim Harrison","width":2576,"_id":"5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/O5lYfg-0swxqUNTIdS27guZaqc4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/O5lYfg-0swxqUNTIdS27guZaqc4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/O5lYfg-0swxqUNTIdS27guZaqc4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/OZ6tYsbNc4pCq8dvk3xHgGxbqIo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Jim Harrison for AJC.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"YR7VVGKPHNCGZINYIGMM6M5BNE"},"created_date":"2025-01-22T20:39:03Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T20:39:03Z","alignment":"right","height":3220,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5CS6O4OH2JBW3CXHIMXRUDOSDM.JPG?auth=82f7fe559775a9bb2225555aa00cbd79d520c6477e7ddda1b769e0ec67ea29d8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JBH43YQKBBCFDKMIRIQZTHORDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481595},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"More than <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/04/politics/january-6-prosecutions-justice-department/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">140 officers were injured</a>. <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/05/us/politics/jan-6-capitol-deaths.html\" target=\"_blank\">Four rioters died</a>. One police officer died the next day. Four officers committed suicide within seven months of the attack. About <a href=\"https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2025-01-21/jan-6-defendants-including-in-california-begin-receiving-trump-pardons\" target=\"_blank\">590 of the insurrection rioters</a> were charged with assaulting officers. Hundreds who crossed barriers or entered the Capitol without being violent received lesser charges. Their collective mission failed, merely delaying the count for a handful of hours. Democracy held, but only by a thread."},{"_id":"ZRXUKFCE7VG3RJRDQUGX7QE5NA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481596},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"So far, Trump has avoided accountability and consequences for his actions instigating and supporting the Jan. 6 insurrectionists. He was impeached but not convicted. A federal case against him closed after the election. The reasons and methods for this failure to hold him accountable are many: the spineless inability of most Senate Republicans to convict him on his impeachment, the endless delays of his criminal cases by legal appeals fueled with election funds and dark money, his reelection powered by billionaires (Elon Musk alone <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-277-million-trump-republican-candidates-donations/\" target=\"_blank\">provided $277 million</a> — that we know of), and his lies, distractions and innuendoes, among others."},{"_id":"5SB2CBKCERE7TGZHW3ML6XULVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481597},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump is already taking dozens of steps toward a full authoritarian presidency: his nomination of many unqualified candidates for his cabinet, his pressure on the House and Senate to acquiesce to recess appointments of those nominations — an attempt to circumvent the Senate’s constitutional authority; his plans to institute a state of emergency and use the military for mass deportations; and many others. Pardoning the Jan. 6 insurrectionists was just one of these scary steps."},{"_id":"QA4ZQ7H5LZH2ZCNOPAVUP4PCQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481598},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump is showing his unambiguous intention to bulldoze all boundaries around presidential powers."},{"_id":"JEX3RRIP5VBOBHUE5I35QDITA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481599},"type":"text","content":"What might come next? With their pardons, the insurrectionists will know that they can wield vicious intimidation and violence on Trump’s behalf with impunity. A legion of other Trump followers who want to vent their pent-up anger over perceived grievances will have a green light to harass, intimidate, threaten and use violence. History shows this is how dictators solidify their power and dictatorships begin. No one will be safe."},{"_id":"SCPMGXAZRRF6RII7GPBLXKQWBU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6LTD2NN3LFGP7C5BDKHAFVK7GE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Carolyn Bourdeaux: Trump's Jan. 6 pardons and the darkness to come","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-trumps-jan-6-pardons-and-the-darkness-to-come/PNCXOJC3BJCT5KZY5I5GB26RGA/"},{"_id":"SAVFUTDQ4RA2XKE7XE2O6XZVY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481601},"type":"text","content":"Sickeningly, given all his freedom of speech rhetoric, Trump uses fear to silence his opponents, to remove critics from power and silence anyone he views as a threat, including those in his party. Consider his past behavior: funding primary challenges to members of his own party who disagreed with him."},{"_id":"HM2IFGB7NRDRLLK6Q7YVD67SFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737489481604},"type":"text","content":"But we must not give in. Silence, inaction and acquiescence multiply the risk of Trump moving our country toward becoming a fascist state. As Americans, we cannot allow this. Our love for American democracy, our rights and our freedoms, and our commitment to sustaining the American dream for our children and children’s children forbid it."},{"_id":"ST36SFLBRZDIRLY3IJRCRQQF64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737573379096},"type":"text","content":"Make no mistake, we will not let pardons for the Jan. 6 insurrectionists mark the end of the American democratic experiment. What to do? Have courage. Be brave. Be fearless. Speak out."},{"_id":"QYASMGZHQ5APPNW5TPOVNPNBSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737573379097},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jim Harrison of Atlanta is a retired environmental scientist who worked for the federal government for more than 30 years.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Now that President Trump has pardoned the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, what comes next?"},"description":{"basic":"Now that President Trump has pardoned the Jan. 6 insurrectionists, what comes next?"},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"fbafc74da6c873cfa5014cb03a7601035e27797bece966d2f9b6ad9156e3ed76"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Congress Capitol Riot Pardons","width":5792,"caption":"Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol in Washington in Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DNZOK6YRSD6XGDWMHGL33FPE44.jpg","height":3861,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DNZOK6YRSD6XGDWMHGL33FPE44.jpg?auth=fbafc74da6c873cfa5014cb03a7601035e27797bece966d2f9b6ad9156e3ed76&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-welcome-to-the-thugocracy/KK6653A6ENBTTJFJGFN5HD2H5M/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-24T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jim Harrison","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Welcome to the Thugocracy"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-24T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-24T11:00:12.661Z","_id":"KK6653A6ENBTTJFJGFN5HD2H5M","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"fbafc74da6c873cfa5014cb03a7601035e27797bece966d2f9b6ad9156e3ed76"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Congress Capitol Riot Pardons","width":5792,"caption":"Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol in Washington in Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DNZOK6YRSD6XGDWMHGL33FPE44.jpg","height":3861,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DNZOK6YRSD6XGDWMHGL33FPE44.jpg?auth=fbafc74da6c873cfa5014cb03a7601035e27797bece966d2f9b6ad9156e3ed76&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"AV66RDJTR5EJPG3RKU5HBJIEYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712724},"type":"text","content":"America is more polarized today than it has been at nearly any point in its history. Again, President Donald Trump has capitalized on this division to rise to the most powerful office in the land. As he enters his final term in office, he has a historic opportunity to bridge this divide and heal our fractured nation."},{"_id":"24NXGZZM2ZEXLBMEQI4KWJW2B4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712725},"type":"text","content":"Though we remain deeply divided on most political matters, there is one issue that most Americans agree upon: the U.S. health care system is broken."},{"_id":"O26X7HC2TBG7TGOR2JJT62ZU4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712726},"type":"text","content":"A <a href=\"https://news.gallup.com/poll/654044/view-healthcare-quality-declines-year-low.aspx\">2024 Gallup Poll</a> found that Americans are more dissatisfied with our health care system today than at any point during the poll’s 24-year history. Importantly, the dissatisfaction crosses party lines, with only 30% of Democrats and 25% of Republicans rating our health care system favorably."},{"_id":"FYDWEQ5WN5G7FLSRNPRDQDWDIM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"642GGLDNU5BU5N6QEUFEY3J3M4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Hundreds of thousands in GA could lose health insurance next year. This is one story.","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/hundreds-of-thousands-in-ga-could-lose-health-insurance-next-year-this-is-one-story/PQVEE6FFNVD3LKL6CJ5MP3LIAQ/"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"W Bond Photography","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"55a4f44c4fc69ab0c89b2d87e94d04ba78270e2a4c68e01ff5bedb1f96afe137"},"caption":"Belinda McIntosh","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"W Bond Sr","type":"author","byline":"W Bond Sr"}]},"subtitle":"Belinda McIntosh","width":320,"_id":"M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/wXj_grxjtj9beha5b99FichecDQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/wXj_grxjtj9beha5b99FichecDQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","takenOn":"2023-07-11T11:18:57Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/wXj_grxjtj9beha5b99FichecDQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/S2IFXJeEu48WowsQ4D712p8YXTA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"McIntosh-Belinda-Headshot-320x320.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"ISD3QNFJ4JGZJMK5TLD7SCRTQU"},"created_date":"2025-01-21T16:07:53Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-21T16:07:53Z","alignment":"right","height":320,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/M4OLREEAAJDHLFEHHUQYW22L6Q.jpeg?auth=55a4f44c4fc69ab0c89b2d87e94d04ba78270e2a4c68e01ff5bedb1f96afe137&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"12bf279ae81e4e6f7050046a19aeb1ff8b8089bb25abdb40bf8684226b887b49"},"caption":"Toby Terwilliger","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author","byline":"contributed"}]},"subtitle":"Toby Terwilliger","width":1200,"creditIPTC":"contributed","_id":"2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/U98e4aoX1IzJS1cTdUI_kg9IHD8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","owner":"andre.jackson@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/U98e4aoX1IzJS1cTdUI_kg9IHD8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/U98e4aoX1IzJS1cTdUI_kg9IHD8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/ugqxiioxgw8ZKz5tTHiNDtJncI0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Toby Terwilliger.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"GRLOY4LH6NGL5B7P26WMF4BLPY"},"created_date":"2023-03-29T22:11:41Z","last_updated_date":"2023-03-29T22:11:41Z","alignment":"right","height":1172,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2SEQI57LQZHXZLIO2TFZRMGJ6Q.jpg?auth=12bf279ae81e4e6f7050046a19aeb1ff8b8089bb25abdb40bf8684226b887b49&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"7PHATLI5LRC4DFEGVIPWOQMY44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712729},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This disdain for U.S. health care is well-founded."},{"_id":"ZKMORLQ5BFFM5HETWBZCAP6HVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712730},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The average family spends more than <a href=\"https://www.kff.org/health-costs/press-release/interactive-calculator-estimates-both-direct-and-hidden-household-spending/\">11% of its income on health care</a>, and <a href=\"https://www.kff.org/report-section/kff-health-care-debt-survey-main-findings/\">41% of Americans carry some degree of medical debt</a>, which accounts for two-thirds of personal bankruptcy filings. <a href=\"https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/health-insurance-statistics/\">Insurance behemoths are recording record profits</a>, with the <a href=\"https://ceoworld.biz/2023/05/10/highest-paid-health-insurance-ceos-six-ceos-raked-in-a-record-123-million-last-year/#google_vignette\">five highest-paid chief executives earning more than $20 million a year,</a> while the average American employee faces unyielding wage stagnation."},{"_id":"CUIG5KJWYJBNFFOOOK526WW5WY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712731},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/all-topics/business-growth-and-entrepreneurship/small-business-health-insurance-burdens\">The rising cost of health insurance</a> forces employers to forgo payroll increases for their employees and puts heightened financial pressure on small- and medium-sized businesses. For workers and families, this might be the difference between a comfortable middle-class life and scraping to get by."},{"_id":"BJTD3FEKXJFB3BXIMORAREN734","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712732},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fortunately, there is a solution that is widely popular among both political parties: universal health care."},{"_id":"3JLHSE5PWZCIHOTFQL37TA3QK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712733},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"A <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-election-progressives/\">2018 Reuters-Ipsos</a> poll found that 85% of Democrats and 52% of Republicans support a single-payer health care system, such as that in the <a href=\"https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/\" target=\"_blank\">Medicare for All Act</a> proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. A single-payer system would benefit lower- and middle-class families, many of whom turned out in huge swathes to reelect Trump. A single-payer system would eliminate all out-of-pocket costs for routine and emergency medical care, and it would ensure that no man, woman or child would go without care because of the inability to pay."},{"_id":"F6WWUIXERVHBVBIM7T37NHODLY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"GSW2P7VDOJGKVISDLPJ6YBZGXM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Health care for American women is lagging. Does Britain have answers for Georgia?","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/healthcare-is-failing-american-women-does-england-have-the-answers/WMDPEGQKDBACRMVAZRF2BMVV2U/"},{"_id":"BOC7F4QLMBGA7OU6TO2VPIJC5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712734},"type":"text","content":"Medicare for All is not a zero-sum game; there are no losers. An ultra-wealthy class of elites would finally be paying its fair share, and the rest of America would pay less for their health care."},{"_id":"U4LHFB6DKBBO5GILE3E52TVKNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712735},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump has flirted with the idea of universal health care before."},{"_id":"MXWMPWIUK5DDJN6EODMP2FOIGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712736},"type":"text","content":"When asked how he envisioned replacing the Affordable Care Act, Trump stated “<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8p6zZZ3DPGE\" target=\"_blank\">I have concepts of a plan</a>.” Though this plan has yet to materialize, we can look at his past statements for clues."},{"_id":"AEMGWG776ZBY3KPX4ADDKLJQOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712737},"type":"text","content":"In 2017, Trump praised the <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-australians-better-health-care\" target=\"_blank\">Australian health care system</a>, a hybrid public-private system that operates similarly to that proposed by the Medicare for All Act. In 2015, he spoke admiringly about the Scottish health care system, which is one of the purest forms of nationalized health care in the world."},{"_id":"JSVHXSZA65G45JIB546AKMJCXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712738},"type":"text","content":"Most famously, in his 2000 book, “<a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/America-We-Deserve-Donald-Trump/dp/1580631312\" target=\"_blank\">The America We Deserve</a>,” Trump expressed his full-fledged support for a single-payer system stating:"},{"_id":"6QWLTKL6KNEUXPW67PGT7MNLZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712739},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"“I’m a conservative on most issues but a liberal on this one. We should not hear so many stories of families ruined by health care expenses. We must not allow citizens with medical problems to go untreated because of financial problems or red tape. … We need, as a nation, to reexamine the single-payer plan.”"},{"_id":"SNSHMEWY7JEMDNVGNAKGDV7UYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712740},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Recent events have made Trump’s nod to single-payer health care even more prescient."},{"_id":"WXRI77A2XJBRDCR2ACLXVV2ZLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712741},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d\" target=\"_blank\">tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO</a> has ignited a national conversation — not just about violence but about the anger and desperation felt by many who are trapped in a health care system that prioritizes corporate profits over people."},{"_id":"ILCORGKUT5BDJG373QKI6PFFW4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"VPV2PBQRCZHNDGVE7IT52VFPSI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Health care AI, intended to save money, turns out to require a lot of expensive humans","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/health-care-ai-intended-to-save-money-turns-out-to-require-a-lot-of-expensive-humans/JI7UM4DZCJH7TIHKNTZ6TQS6RU/"},{"_id":"WJEXVMI6L5E6DCQMSCLV5COAOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712742},"type":"text","content":"As a nation, we must unequivocally condemn all forms of targeted violence. At the same time, we must acknowledge the overwhelming consensus that has become apparent: Americans, regardless of political affiliation, are fed up with a system that often denies care, burdens families with insurmountable costs and enriches corporate elites."},{"_id":"YBHYIHT5A5F4ZABRRQXABXBAB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712743},"type":"text","content":"This shared frustration presents Trump with a unique opportunity to align his actions with the populist message that won him the presidency. If Trump truly stands for the working class, he will lead the charge for Medicare for All."},{"_id":"Q35LW5EFOJCFNJ27B5YWLT7CXQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"A63KXJ2EFZFEZKCFVIJB7QVWGY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"We all benefit from and are hurt by health insurance claim denials","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-we-all-benefit-from-and-are-hurt-by-health-insurance-claim-denials/CXFLJIHFBFEJLDCHPTINLB5HE4/"},{"_id":"W3CS7ECRARAT7FBIOP5ZCRJEMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712744},"type":"text","content":"Not only would this fulfill his unyielding promise to “drain the swamp,” but it would also secure his legacy as the president who finally fixed America’s broken health care system."},{"_id":"CJQU7ZCT5JBS7PBRESPLUSXWZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737738712745},"type":"text","content":"<i>Belinda McIntosh is an Atlanta-based physician who served as chair for Georgians for a Universal Health Program and now sits on the Board of Directors of Physicians for a National Health Program. Toby Terwilliger is an Atlanta-based physician who serves as cochair of Georgians for a Universal Health Program and sits on the Board of Directors of Physicians for a National Health Program.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Vast numbers of Americans support Medicare for All. The new president should, too."},"description":{"basic":"Vast numbers of Americans support Medicare for All. The new president should, too."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"228991c2a9a5f3089fdc4479f6ca925be45657614219806f2a58ed24065d34e2"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"NYT","name":"TOM BRENNER","type":"author","byline":"TOM BRENNER","slug":"tom-brenner"}]},"subtitle":"Sen. Harris, other democrats give support to Bernie Sanders’ single-payer plan","width":4785,"caption":"Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a Sept. 13, 2017, news conference to announce a \"Medicare for All\" plan on Capitol Hill in Washington.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NUURSJK622RKGN4EEPRWLGLLQ4.jpg","height":3126,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NUURSJK622RKGN4EEPRWLGLLQ4.jpg?auth=228991c2a9a5f3089fdc4479f6ca925be45657614219806f2a58ed24065d34e2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-how-donald-trump-can-fix-american-health-care/ENBXOZADEFHHHF53HQ4FG2QCQQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-24T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Belinda McIntosh","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Toby Terwilliger","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"How Donald Trump can fix American health care"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-24T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-24T17:14:23.351Z","_id":"ENBXOZADEFHHHF53HQ4FG2QCQQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"228991c2a9a5f3089fdc4479f6ca925be45657614219806f2a58ed24065d34e2"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"NYT","name":"TOM BRENNER","type":"author","byline":"TOM BRENNER","slug":"tom-brenner"}]},"subtitle":"Sen. Harris, other democrats give support to Bernie Sanders’ single-payer plan","width":4785,"caption":"Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at a Sept. 13, 2017, news conference to announce a \"Medicare for All\" plan on Capitol Hill in Washington.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NUURSJK622RKGN4EEPRWLGLLQ4.jpg","height":3126,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NUURSJK622RKGN4EEPRWLGLLQ4.jpg?auth=228991c2a9a5f3089fdc4479f6ca925be45657614219806f2a58ed24065d34e2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"6SHR5KOCK5ANVJDWS3QS3EWIT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923118},"type":"text","content":"Hatred and bigotry are more prevalent than many realize."},{"_id":"L5VW2QHUJBHHZFGKXXUB5PCCAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923120},"type":"text","content":"With President Donald Trump’s reelection, the federal government will soon be on the run — from equal rights. With the growth of the MAGA movement, major corporations have already been headed in that direction, afraid to be labeled as “woke” by the right. Companies that have already <a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/dei-dying-heres-list-companies-have-rolled-back-woke-policies\" target=\"_blank\">abolished or diminished their diversity, equity and inclusion policies</a> include Amazon, Meta, McDonald’s, American Airlines, Boeing, Caterpillar, Ford, Harley-Davidson, John Deere and Lowe’s."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"b4d92f3cf5b3bcea0db6ff0c7fb48c97f54924133ae13c66a7b2e311421c0ee9"},"caption":"Jack Bernard is form Republican chair of Jasper County Commission","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Courtesy Photo","type":"author","byline":"Courtesy Photo"}]},"subtitle":"Jack Bernard","width":1339,"_id":"7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZhLOuIO9MaLHYEfOnzjJKkRqPzE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","owner":"maureen.downey@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZhLOuIO9MaLHYEfOnzjJKkRqPzE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZhLOuIO9MaLHYEfOnzjJKkRqPzE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/j2IaTuid7EHcm5NS5BR8-Zys5gU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"bernard1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BNU7LWLM3RAMZFVBLG2HY5DETY"},"created_date":"2023-12-01T02:42:52Z","last_updated_date":"2023-12-01T02:42:52Z","alignment":"right","height":1784,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7S6DCAJPZRHA5L5QAW4GBVI5YI.jpg?auth=b4d92f3cf5b3bcea0db6ff0c7fb48c97f54924133ae13c66a7b2e311421c0ee9&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JZDN6CVX6FF6VO2IRUXRPH4KHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737580242251},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In April 2022, while signing Georgia’s supposedly enlightened “divisive concepts” law, Gov. Brian Kemp said, “Here in Georgia, our classrooms will not be pawns to those who indoctrinate our kids with their partisan political agendas.”"},{"_id":"NASMNG6IWRGWRA6EVXMCWT7QMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923121},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This misguided, naive bill made it illegal for Georgia public school educators to teach the historical truth about racism, including that the United States was once “fundamentally racist.” The bill also restricted teachers from teaching anything about racism that might make a student “feel anguish, guilt or any other form of.”"},{"_id":"I5OB4TT3NBFWXLF4IQE3B2IP6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923122},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Kemp signed the bill one year after the sentencing of three white men for killing Ahmaud Arbery, an unarmed 25-year-old black jogger near Brunswick. I wonder if Arbrey felt any “discomfort or stress” when he was murdered in cold blood in a clearly racist attack?"},{"_id":"GBWLL6RPAZB6HEYQR4C5T3GRZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923123},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"His only crime was “RWB.” In other words, he was running while Black in a white neighborhood."},{"_id":"DU3TO64DFFHETDD6GO3US5DMLY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737580242255},"type":"text","content":"It took a very long time, and pressure from vocal advocates, for this case to even be prosecuted by <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/ahmaud-arbery-case-former-das-trial-set-to-begin-tuesday/QRWKPAEIYJHRJK5KXLQLPF63BU/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TodaysTop5(TT5)&utm_content=6389749\" target=\"_blank\">reluctant district attorneys</a>. More than a year later, those three white men, including a local police officer, were <a href=\"https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/nation/2021/11/24/ahmaud-arbery-murder-trial-verdict/8720260002/\" target=\"_blank\">convicted of murdering Arbery</a>."},{"_id":"BSTKDFDYYRFOFLGMUUEB7NW2RA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923125},"type":"text","content":"There is a misguided, willfully ignorant push from MAGA to <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/08/business/media/tucker-carlson-white-supremacy.html\" target=\"_blank\">declare bigotry a thing of the </a>past. Tucker Carlson says it’s a “hoax,” “not a problem.” Therefore, there’s no need to assure there will be no discrimination in government."},{"_id":"EO55IMBNBNA2LARZBU2Q5T4LSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923126},"type":"text","content":"The GOP-controlled House Oversight Committee passed a bill that would do away with federal offices and guidelines promoting DEI in the federal government and its contractors. Significantly, the bill was passed 23-17, with no Democrat voting for it."},{"_id":"EK4S56HSNRDPHGAHKUOIJCNE7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923127},"type":"text","content":"The committee <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLTRuiHxr6c\" target=\"_blank\">misinterpreted governmental DEI efforts</a>, saying that DEI is unjust, promoting discrimination and division, while ignoring merit. This view is incorrect, reflecting an overly naive view of our society."},{"_id":"6K5TJ7BXMNGTPABW3YDVSVWBJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923128},"type":"text","content":"Bigotry is alive, as shown by the large number of hate crimes, including the racist Arbery killing. National and state data is poorly maintained and publicized, with 42% of these assaults going unreported. A <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLTRuiHxr6c\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Department of Justice report</a>, covering 2005-2019, showed 250,000 hate crimes."},{"_id":"ZEP3VCMJR5ANLFOUOMI4KXFCK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923129},"type":"text","content":"Michael Lieberman of the Southern Poverty Law Center <a href=\"https://www.splcenter.org/resources/reports/hate-crimes-explained/\" target=\"_blank\">detailed the national history and targets of hate crimes</a>. Per Liebman, “the victim’s race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability is the reason for the crime.”"},{"_id":"DI63PT5D3ZH7VKOZMNS25MMESE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737580242261},"type":"text","content":"Most incidents were characterized by innocent victims being assaulted by pure strangers, usually men (74%). Race, ethnicity and national origin of the victims accounted for 60% of violent attacks. One fourth of these crimes were gender based. Another 20% of victims were assaulted because of their sexual orientation. Religiously based attacks, predominantly against Jews, accounted for another 9%. Hispanics were 22% of violent hate crime victims but only 16% of the U.S. population."},{"_id":"HAMQ4354YVGHNGJJ7JOYNL53T4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923131},"type":"text","content":"The SPLC indicates that there are currently <a href=\"https://www.splcenter.org/states/georgia/\" target=\"_blank\">49 hate groups in our own state of Georgia</a>. These organizations range from general hate groups like the Proud Boys to white nationalists like the Patriot Front."},{"_id":"WUPTRZRRC5FE3LZZJMCML67CRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737494923132},"type":"text","content":"Protesters from groups like these held a widely condemned rally in Newnan in 2018. Organized by the National Socialist Movement, a white nationalist hate group, they <a href=\"https://nypost.com/2018/04/22/neo-nazis-hold-swastika-burning-at-georgia-rally/\" target=\"_blank\">burned crosses and gave Nazi salutes</a>. Although there were 100 counterprotesters, there was no violence. As opposed to the Charlottesville, Va., white power rally in 2017, during which many were injured and one counterprotester was killed."},{"_id":"2YNPGMLVTVAARA6LPIA3FM2NKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737580242264},"type":"text","content":"The annals of racism are also the history of the United States and Georgia. Go to the Montgomery Civil Rights Memorial Center and look at the exhibits if you wish to learn more, including about the many lynchings of black Georgians."},{"_id":"3346C2G4RNDCPPKZDE4Z5IOSSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737580242265},"type":"text","content":"We fought a bloody Civil War over civil rights. Wishing it away does not change that fact — or the truth that racism still exists in America."},{"_id":"7B3PSBXUOZDQHLK7JSVRVJHXWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jack Bernard, a retired business executive and former chair of the Jasper County Commission and Republican Party, was the first director of health planning for Georgia.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"There is a misguided, willfully ignorant push from MAGA to declare bigotry a thing of the past. "},"description":{"basic":"There is a misguided, willfully ignorant push from MAGA to declare bigotry a thing of the past."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carlos Gonzalez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"OPED-MINN-SCHOOLS-DEI-EDITORIAL-MS","width":4320,"caption":"Demonstrators make their way to the Sandburg Education Center during an April 22 Youth for Unity rally and march before an Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting in Anoka, Minnesota. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg","height":3000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg?auth=fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-federal-government-is-on-the-run-from-equal-rights/IPQOHACHMJE7JKKNXPBJIA3EWI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-23T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jack Bernard","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The federal government is on the run — from equal rights"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-23T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-23T11:00:17.324Z","_id":"IPQOHACHMJE7JKKNXPBJIA3EWI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carlos Gonzalez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"OPED-MINN-SCHOOLS-DEI-EDITORIAL-MS","width":4320,"caption":"Demonstrators make their way to the Sandburg Education Center during an April 22 Youth for Unity rally and march before an Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting in Anoka, Minnesota. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg","height":3000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg?auth=fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"IB7WOUTDO5BILNXSNRFIF5HIPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Health insurance has become necessary, with large and unpredictable health care costs always looming before each of us. Unfortunately, the <a href=\"https://www.kff.org/private-insurance/poll-finding/kff-survey-of-consumer-experiences-with-health-insurance/\">majority of people have experienced problems when using their health insurance</a> to pay for their medical care. Health insurance serves as the buffer between patients and the medical care system, using <a href=\"https://www.associationhealthplans.com/glossary/risk-pool/#:~:text=A%20risk%20pool%20is%20the,premiums%20than%20small%20risk%20pools.\">population pooling to mitigate the risk exposure on any one individual</a>."},{"_id":"YUJ6EDOPI5HO3M3GJ6YVS6ZN5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Claim denial by a health insurer is always a looming risk when receiving medical care. This is particularly true when health care services are needed to address an <a href=\"https://www.jeniusbank.com/blog/articles/unexpected-expenses\">unexpected health event or accident and the cost of the needed services is large</a>."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"463ac5533102baaa2349513c8300ba58ee37ffbb2aeec37d0cc5ac7c9f8e24be"},"caption":"Sheldon H. Jacobson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sheldon H. Jacobson","width":421,"_id":"ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/reINZKl-PLzmXCoQk36edZ5xcAo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/m4GlsUgpTc8_2YkU7djahGqCeN4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Sheldon Jacobson.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"KTGB3ZTRLFCIRACQCD6ZKWL2GY"},"created_date":"2024-07-16T13:12:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T13:12:42Z","alignment":"right","height":559,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ELLRMKK5CNA3FDCXKWQODPEDI4.jpg?auth=463ac5533102baaa2349513c8300ba58ee37ffbb2aeec37d0cc5ac7c9f8e24be&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LVQYYAJXQRCRNFLZW6GW5XA75E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Every health insurance company handles claims differently. When a claim is denied, some states provide a <a href=\"https://idoi.illinois.gov/consumers/understanding-complaint-process-provider.html#:~:text=If%20you%20believe%20a%20claim,However%2C%20our%20authority%20is%20limited.\">mechanism to ensure that the process used to deny the claim follows state laws</a>. This provides some checks and balances on the insurance claims process."},{"_id":"M33MFKQ7JFDE5FDNBVZQYNCQT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Despite such safeguards, claim denial rates can be perplexingly high. For example, <a href=\"https://www.valuepenguin.com/health-insurance-claim-denials-and-appeals#denial-rates\">UnitedHealthcare has the highest claim denial rate among the major health insurance companies</a>. At 32%, or just under 1 in 3 claims denied, its denial rate is more than four times higher than <a href=\"https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/commitments-and-impact/public-policy/our-impact\">Kaiser Permanente</a>, with a 7% claim denial rate, or around 1 in 14 claims denied."},{"_id":"2SOEYPJBTFHELAF52NZCXD4ZBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T17:03:10.009Z","replies":[],"pos":133,"comment":"7 ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This means that for a random set of 100 claims, UnitedHealthcare will deny around 32 of them on average, and Kaiser will deny around seven. Everything else being equal, 25 of the 100 claims that Kaiser approves would be denied by UnitedHealthcare."},{"_id":"NCRNP22CHVDW3GXBQJJB2GODSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Though every claim is different, these statistics provide a general picture of how two large health insurers approach claims and the outcomes of their internal claims review process. It is worth noting that UnitedHealthcare is a for-profit entity, beholden to its shareholders, and Kaiser Permanent is a <a href=\"https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/top-10-nonprofit-health-systems-2021-operating-revenue\">not-for profit</a>, beholden to its members."},{"_id":"S55QP6LPLBEPPOYZ6W5VL5ESGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T17:04:02.756Z","replies":[],"pos":240,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Regrettably, claim denials can be used as a weapon by health insurance companies. Any time a claim is denied, physicians and health care providers are forced to <a href=\"https://www.healthcare.gov/appeal-insurance-company-decision/#:~:text=If%20your%20health%20insurer%20refuses,claim%20or%20ended%20your%20coverage.\">battle the health insurer to do nothing more than justify the medical services</a> they deem necessary and appropriate."},{"_id":"NWPKB7BJGZBBFDJCWGXIXFDE4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Even if the battle is won, it takes time and resources from the health care system to fight such denials. Patients are also put at risk for medical issues not getting resolved in a timely manner, leading to <a href=\"https://www.needle.tube/resources-articles/the-impact-of-a-denied-medical-claim-on-patient-treatment-progress?srsltid=AfmBOorzIXEaroutTBwA_7QNZQcI6bkr21LJXheKI5uP3remLx8P7_0_\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https://www.needle.tube/resources-articles/the-impact-of-a-denied-medical-claim-on-patient-treatment-progress?srsltid=AfmBOorzIXEaroutTBwA_7QNZQcI6bkr21LJXheKI5uP3remLx8P7_0_\">medical complications and, in extreme cases, deaths</a>."},{"_id":"OP6BGAZOYVA3JGXYT5HEOO2JEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The issue with for-profit health insurance companies is that they are beholden to shareholders who expect returns on their investments. Yet who are these shareholders?"},{"_id":"WD4V3OJCLZEYHM6C2NSUHNS3EY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Ironically, this includes anyone who owns shares in <a href=\"https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/UNH/holders/\">S&P 500 or Total Stock Market index funds</a>, which includes people with 401(k) (around <a href=\"https://www.ici.org/401k#:~:text=401(k)%20plans%20hold%20%247.4,of%20former%20employees%20and%20retirees.\">70 million people</a>) or IRA (around <a href=\"https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/who-uses-individual-retirement-accounts#:~:text=Nearly%2065%20million%20taxpayers%20own,with%20IRAs%20is%20about%20%24195%2C000.\">65 million people</a>) accounts. Indeed, of the <a href=\"https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/UNH/unitedhealth-group/shares-outstanding#:~:text=UnitedHealth%20Group%20shares%20outstanding%20for,a%200.63%25%20decline%20from%202021.\">900 million shares issued</a> by the <a href=\"https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/UNH/unitedhealth-group/stock-splits\">United Health Group</a> that trade on the <a href=\"https://www.nyse.com/index\">New York Stock Exchange</a>, less than <a href=\"https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/UNH/holders/\">one-quarter of 1% are held by company insiders</a><u>,</u> including the companies’ chief executives and other high-ranking executives. The vast majority (more than 90%) of United Health Group shares are held by institutions in their portfolios, including the <a href=\"https://institutional.vanguard.com/home\">Vanguard Group</a> and <a href=\"https://www.blackrock.com/us/individual\">BlackRock</a>, that many people with retirement or investment accounts own. United Health Group has become one of the largest companies in the United States, standing among the top <a href=\"https://www.slickcharts.com/sp500\">20 largest weighted components</a> in the S&P 500, and the second largest health company in the index (after Eli Lily)."},{"_id":"LHEM4FGQAJCKPD3JXL2O4T5FTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This means that many of the very people hurt by health insurance claim denials are also benefiting in their investment portfolios from the money saved by health insurance companies in making such denials. It takes some time to wrap one’s head around this seeming circle of contradiction."},{"_id":"DDUE7XA3QFB7DLU437ALBLMW3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The point of highlighting such data is that no one person, including the CEO of United Health Group, is personally responsible for health insurance claim denials that many of us will face at some point in our lives. Decisions in any large and complex system have both desirable and undesirable consequences. Concerns at a granular level (like life-and-death decisions for patients) can be misplaced when the issue is on a coarser plane (like corporate profits)."},{"_id":"DOIGVRRN2ZD4XECWBIE34M6ZC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This raises the questions: Is there a mismatch between the profit objectives of health insurance companies and the needs of patients in securing necessary health care services? If all health insurers transformed into not-for-profit corporations, would the claim denial rate drop across the industry? Perhaps."},{"_id":"DYMV2TTDCBA4FPTMAM36RYUDYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Health care is a public good. The <a href=\"https://www.ahip.org/news/articles/new-poll-strong-majority-of-americans-satisfied-with-employer-provided-health-coverage\">nation’s health care system works reasonably well for the majority of people</a>. What does not work well is the system used to pay for such services. The distributed system in use today leaves multiple financial rabbit holes that people are at risk of falling through when faced with an unexpected health episode that is costly to treat."},{"_id":"A2BVILJ6SVDCDGHUN5NT73OEGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"No person can indefinitely avoid the health care system. At some point, our bodies betray us, simply by the fact that we are getting older every day."},{"_id":"RI2KGQHVQVDJJBCFU3QFSNYBDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T17:08:49.987Z","replies":[],"start":451,"end":452,"text":"added comma here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"When it comes to health insurance and our nation’s health care system, everyone has an opinion, yet no one has a solution. The reason is that with such a diverse set of needs across the population based on age and demographics, there is no single solution that can work for everyone. This explains why the current distributed system has become the norm, and any changes to it, including a <a href=\"https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/single-payer-healthcare-pluses-minuses-means-201606279835\">single-payer system</a> or the mandates in the <a href=\"https://www.healthcare.gov/where-can-i-read-the-affordable-care-act/\">Affordable Care Act</a>, are met with resistance by those who have the most to lose with changes."},{"_id":"JA53TUKHYBETHCIF7SPMEJOB2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Ironically, the very people who can effect change — our elected officials — are among those who have an excellent array of health insurance options and, hence, have no incentive to make changes that would compromise their coverage."},{"_id":"TOC6M4GIEBBVFFUTYIWLOQHITA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T17:09:05.507Z","replies":[],"pos":25,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-21T17:09:28.972Z","replies":[],"pos":143,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Getting sick is a burden we will all bear at some point in our life. Dealing with health insurance claims, and their denials, is not something we need to manage at such times. Something clearly needs to change."},{"_id":"KHBT62K25ZHGNHEWQBXEPYO3JY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sheldon H. Jacobson is a professor in computer science in the Grainger College of Engineering and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He used his expertise in risk-based analytics to address problems in public policy and public health.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"For-profit insurance companies deny claims to benefit the shareholders to whom they’re beholden. In many cases, that’s us."},"description":{"basic":"For-profit insurance companies deny claims to benefit the shareholders to whom they’re beholden. In many cases, that’s us."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"068a91506cdce6d00e278539263a6bbc9b6c5f9e1bd4df6a0d1623bd85acd4a6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Patrick Sison","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"UnitedHealth Results","width":7360,"caption":"The United Healthcare website is displayed on a computer screen on Feb. 29 in New York. Every health insurance company handles claims differently. (Patrick Sison/AP 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S7EDUKAHVNI45V5K5HLSRKOJ5E.jpg","height":4912,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S7EDUKAHVNI45V5K5HLSRKOJ5E.jpg?auth=068a91506cdce6d00e278539263a6bbc9b6c5f9e1bd4df6a0d1623bd85acd4a6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-we-all-benefit-from-and-are-hurt-by-health-insurance-claim-denials/CXFLJIHFBFEJLDCHPTINLB5HE4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-23T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Sheldon Jacobson","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"We all benefit from and are hurt by health insurance claim denials"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-23T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-23T10:00:05.134Z","_id":"CXFLJIHFBFEJLDCHPTINLB5HE4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"068a91506cdce6d00e278539263a6bbc9b6c5f9e1bd4df6a0d1623bd85acd4a6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Patrick Sison","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"UnitedHealth Results","width":7360,"caption":"The United Healthcare website is displayed on a computer screen on Feb. 29 in New York. Every health insurance company handles claims differently. (Patrick Sison/AP 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S7EDUKAHVNI45V5K5HLSRKOJ5E.jpg","height":4912,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S7EDUKAHVNI45V5K5HLSRKOJ5E.jpg?auth=068a91506cdce6d00e278539263a6bbc9b6c5f9e1bd4df6a0d1623bd85acd4a6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"44FKPMAOF5GUFDIPR4CWIDETYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":329,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240359},"type":"text","content":"On Monday, President Donald Trump <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/trump-makes-good-on-promise-pardons-jan-6-defendants/2RX3W2D3V5BGZBNRCTJO2G2PFM/\" target=\"_blank\">pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters</a>, including those who violently attacked the police and broke into the Capitol building to stop the electoral count. With those pardons, Trump essentially affirmed that he supports the use of violent means to override the rule of law and the processes of democracy so he can keep and hold power."},{"_id":"DF4MISNA5BADLHUKHYAFO4LKU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240360},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/vance-trump-pardons-capitol-riot-31308a54ebac4ef6783662f595262dec\" target=\"_blank\">Vice President JD Vance</a> said the administration would review the cases of violence more carefully and be selective about pardons and commuting sentences. Of course <a href=\"https://www.alternet.org/trump-axios-vance-pardons/\" target=\"_blank\">Trump did not do that</a>. Yes, Trump pardoned some who were hapless members of the crowd who broke into the Capitol, but he also pardoned those who <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/21/us/politics/jan-6-pardons-police.html\" target=\"_blank\">beat up the Capitol Police</a> with baseball bats and sprayed them with bear spray. He commuted the sentences of <a href=\"https://www.axios.com/2025/01/21/trump-jan-6-pardons-j6-proud-boys-oath-keepers\" target=\"_blank\">leaders of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers</a>, some of whom were convicted of conspiring to use violent force to overthrow the government."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d"},"caption":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","width":1000,"_id":"EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/dKV7lzuHrd3SkIR-51QEcVAXusU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Carolyn-Bourdeaux.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"5N6XMAYY6VG23GOIUUOGVE5DIY"},"created_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","alignment":"right","height":1000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg?auth=2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"6A2EGXUJ7BEQ5OWFYTC2NMMLLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240362},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I had just been sworn in as a member of Congress on that day, and it is possible that one of the only reasons I am alive, along with former Vice President Mike Pence and many other members of Congress, is that some of the most violent, like Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, had been arrested before arriving in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. Tarrio was released from a federal prison in Louisiana as news of his commutation broke."},{"_id":"GSN5KFXMXVB4PBFNQ365WWEA6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":90,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240363},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For some reason, Democrats and Republicans who are condemning these pardons are concerned the rioters attacked the police — that’s bad, certainly — but the real reason these pardons cast such a long shadow is that the rioters attacked the police at the instigation of Trump himself. They attacked the police because they were told by Trump to go to the Capitol and stop the certification of an election he claimed was stolen."},{"_id":"NKPBSJ4I2VBLLF4DP5AUO2Y5HM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-22T18:32:53.984Z","start":11,"end":14,"text":"added \"the\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737571240364},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Do you see the problem here?"},{"_id":"TGXJ7OPYENDGLIPDMODQAUUVNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240365},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"We as a country have always been saved by “institutional forbearance,” which is to say the ethics and restraint of our leaders, particularly our executive leaders, who have always had the capacity to seize more power but have chosen not to. I am not saying Democratic presidents have been saints, but I have yet to see a line Trump won’t cross if it is to his advantage. There are no rules for him."},{"_id":"CVKVCV6E4NFN3PVUMCCHAZ6E5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240366},"type":"text","content":"To some degree, presidents have faced the institutional guardrails of checks and balances. But not one of them has stopped Trump, and it’s hard to imagine they will going forward. Trump couldn’t be held accountable through impeachment; he couldn’t be held accountable through the courts; the Supreme Court delayed his trials and then ruled that he could not be prosecuted for “official actions.” The last guardrail to fall was the power of the electorate to uphold the constitutional order, which it chose not to do."},{"_id":"JCWEO4AI7NDJ3JIYGN5BO4XZZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240367},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden didn’t do us any favors when he issued “preemptive” and blanket pardons for Hunter Biden and other family members on his way out the door. These are legally suspect, but worse is that they give Trump cover to do what he will."},{"_id":"3QERNASMMJD4HEECI2MYKMISCM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240368},"type":"text","content":"So here we are."},{"_id":"DG6VDZREFFFY7JFZQOXNAAN5HE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":574,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240369},"type":"text","content":"After Trump’s 2016 election, I was worried about the threat he posed to our democracy. In 2017, I gave up my academic career and ran campaign after campaign to try to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/opinion-us-rep-carolyn-bourdeaux-is-still-a-democrat-but/XBPYLX5YBNGTZOXHCJWDXOXISA/\" target=\"_blank\">flip Georgia’s 7th Congressional District</a> and flip Georgia for the Democrats. Some Republicans — including former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan and former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — gave up careers, deep friendships and even the safety of their families to try to stop Trump. Many millions of others also stepped up to run for office, to work on campaigns, to knock doors and raise money in ways they never had before. There was a cost to what we did."},{"_id":"OHO722XPJVAUTISRPSY24JYOYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240370},"type":"text","content":"One of the reasons I and many others are so angry with the Democratic Party is that its leaders, including Biden, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-this-time-its-the-democrats-who-need-to-change/6HCTKOABOREMHP4RD4FNXTUQG4/\" target=\"_blank\">arrogantly frittered away this effort</a> and goodwill in thrall to identity politics and failed economic theories. Rather than making the hard choices to build a coalition that could endure, many in the party leadership and their partners in the mainstream media and left-wing interest groups chose instead to savage anyone who dared to challenge the direction of the party as “betrayers” of cherished values. In 2024, Trump was not popular. He went into the election with a <a href=\"https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/favorability/donald-trump/\">44% approval rating</a>. But the American people saw the Democratic Party as worse. Let that sink in."},{"_id":"NFUBG64WFNGMRDK7N3RZ5LNWNI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240371},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-trumps-second-term-wont-be-like-his-first/RJ2SAA4L4RHCNDWVI4MHGQPIYM/\" target=\"_blank\">As I wrote before</a>, I don’t think it’s going to be as easy as it might sound for Trump to seize absolute power, but I never said it wasn’t going to be very, very rough."},{"_id":"UF3DAD2XANCKFMMSMWO4V24M24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240372},"type":"text","content":"As Trump faces the inevitable obstacles to his agenda, as his policies start to exact an economic price, he is likely to reach for more and more dangerous levers of power to impose his will — the power of surveillance, of persecution, of harassment and perhaps even of violence — which are now available to him as they never were before. After all he can just preemptively pardon anyone who might be investigated. And what are our leaders going to do? Impeach him? Sue him? Vote him out of office?"},{"_id":"G47K5BYFO5HNPKMLY2EYYKIQIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240373},"type":"text","content":"In Trump’s inaugural address, he styled himself as God’s chosen candidate. But as I steel myself for the days to come, I think of Trump as God’s hard question to each of us: Do we really want a democracy? Do we really want freedom? Do we deserve it?"},{"_id":"LJ7FIPVKHJDA3ILC2U3TEOCVYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737571240374},"type":"text","content":"In the days ahead, you and I, Democrat, Republican, independent and everything in between, are going to be tested in ways we never have been before. We are going to have to prove we really want this country that was built with the blood, toil and sacrifice of so many. And though the cost was high in 2016, this time, it is going to be much higher."},{"_id":"3UVTHP6IRRDD3OORNJOJWC2TVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-22T18:38:47.614Z","start":0,"end":17,"text":"added tagline","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737571240375},"type":"text","content":"<i>Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"He directed his followers to stop the electoral count. He was never held accountable. Now we all will pay the price."},"description":{"basic":"He directed his followers to stop the electoral count. He was never held accountable. Now we all will pay the price."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"bf8ea518d68269e344f1e4d7d8a2761e293d41a706d78e095b2543d5d68da232"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Minchillo","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Capitol Riot Fugitive Arrested","width":3381,"caption":"Rioters storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (John Minchillo/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FIGWT3IIXE7MCX4MIIZJX5EGSQ.jpg","height":2254,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FIGWT3IIXE7MCX4MIIZJX5EGSQ.jpg?auth=bf8ea518d68269e344f1e4d7d8a2761e293d41a706d78e095b2543d5d68da232&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-trumps-jan-6-pardons-and-the-darkness-to-come/PNCXOJC3BJCT5KZY5I5GB26RGA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-22T18:03:43.807Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","description":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","_id":"cbourdeaux","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Bourdeaux","image":"","role":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. 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(John Minchillo/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FIGWT3IIXE7MCX4MIIZJX5EGSQ.jpg","height":2254,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FIGWT3IIXE7MCX4MIIZJX5EGSQ.jpg?auth=bf8ea518d68269e344f1e4d7d8a2761e293d41a706d78e095b2543d5d68da232&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"RIMD2IP3TJDMZPVR6FORKQDGDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162439},"type":"text","content":"Watching the devastating wildfires in California, I was struck by a <a href=\"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/local-news/tyler-perry-insurance-companies-pure-greed-la-fires-1236107503/\" target=\"_blank\">gut-wrenching scene shared by Tyler Perry</a>: a daughter desperately using a garden hose to protect her 90-year-old parents’ home because their insurance had been canceled. This is the human toll of corporate greed — a story that’s all too familiar for many Georgians. Families are facing skyrocketing insurance premiums or outright cancellations, and our state Legislature has failed to act."},{"_id":"OL7SHEQUH5CLBEUNZG5WJLSP6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":82,"comment":"“"},{"pos":94,"comment":"”"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T21:02:09.318Z","start":97,"end":98,"text":"took unnecessary quotations off tort reform","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737502162440},"type":"text","content":"Instead of holding insurers accountable, some Georgia Republicans have focused on <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-vows-to-pass-bill-curbing-excessive-lawsuits-this-year-one-way-or-another/I6YFNZTWJRD7LDGUIQ6T2DT2VM/\" target=\"_blank\">tort reform</a>, a misguided attempt to limit your right to seek justice in court. Tort reform won’t lower your premiums, stop insurers from denying claims or prevent them from abandoning policyholders during times of crisis. It’s a distraction — a ploy to protect the billion-dollar insurance industry at the expense of hardworking Georgians."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"fff4b7f876d6d077f230a5db06ec4ac67ba34dd2f18e5d8cf8f7d8b6c22e81a3"},"caption":"Tanya F. Miller","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"courtesy","type":"author","byline":"courtesy"}]},"subtitle":"Tanya F. Miller","width":225,"_id":"S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/FbZGdghDnuQ186RxOf4imS_oAgA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","owner":"shannon.n.dominy@gmail.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/FbZGdghDnuQ186RxOf4imS_oAgA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/FbZGdghDnuQ186RxOf4imS_oAgA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/MHP7ESKRD2BzXbDFm-7gHh_ewjk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"unnamed.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"AKGIC7WZKZHMFATDMEQZMGJVGA"},"created_date":"2024-07-22T15:27:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-22T15:27:42Z","alignment":"right","height":225,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S5UEMEJLRFHVPPWTA7SWVHGX7Y.jpg?auth=fff4b7f876d6d077f230a5db06ec4ac67ba34dd2f18e5d8cf8f7d8b6c22e81a3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"OXOSFUFWBNHYBA5FDDFLGQX3AI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162442},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The problem isn’t lawsuits; it’s the insurance companies themselves. Last year, the industry made more than <a href=\"https://iltla.com/?pg=Blog&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=109107\" target=\"_blank\">$80 billion in profits</a> while mastering the art of squeezing every last penny out of policyholders. From hurricanes to wildfires, many insurers deploy a notorious playbook: delay payments, deny claims and defend their profits at all costs."},{"_id":"TPV2SH6G3VETDFHMLFDMJGVYFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162443},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This predatory behavior hit home in Georgia after <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/insurance-hurricane-helene-florida-north-carolina-fema-flood-homeowners/\" target=\"_blank\">Hurricane Helene</a>. Families across the state were left stranded by insurers when they needed help the most. One family in Lowndes County faced endless hurdles to get their insurer to cover basic repairs after their home was severely damaged. Their claim was initially denied, and the eventual payout offered covered only a fraction of the costs."},{"_id":"ZVWDVI6IVRDZXKODXPWENCMKKM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KRKELAT4FVBPTO5STTWDMKFYPM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Will home insurance disappear in disaster-prone states?","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/will-home-insurance-disappear-in-disaster-prone-states/9b08eee1-1518-4fec-acfd-d2689feb9d8c/"},{"_id":"7ZK24BLM6JH5NMMNRI7L6SFOAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737505771978},"type":"text","content":"And yet, when faced with these realities, some Georgia Republicans have consistently chosen to protect insurance companies over citizens. They refuse to cap premium increases or demand transparency in rate-setting. They’ve ignored calls to strengthen oversight and enforcement, leaving insurance companies free to operate without accountability."},{"_id":"POBRSPDK6FA47J4TRO6RXPO35I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162445},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"They claim that “frivolous lawsuits” drive up premiums, but this framing is dishonest. Georgia courts are already well-equipped to handle baseless claims, dismissing meritless lawsuits and sanctioning attorneys who bring them. Instead of requiring insurers to provide clear proof that <i>successful</i> citizen lawsuits are raising premiums, their champions expect us to simply take their word for it."},{"_id":"ETVB32XC65HTHFMVYXSUGP3YXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162446},"type":"text","content":"The truth is, many insurance companies and<i> </i>their lawyers gamble in court, hoping juries will side with them, instead of paying valid claims. When they lose, they blame citizens and run to lawmakers for protection. Now, they want to strip Georgians of their constitutional right to have a fair shot at justice in court."},{"_id":"BUKO6UYMMZHE3CKHCZC4NUYPZU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KAHPW57WCNAHNOBH2BTTHJI4ZM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Drone data is costing homeowners their insurance. Here’s how","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/torpy-insurers-spy-cams-in-the-sky-cause-lots-of-tree-chopping/LKYZWRVY7ZCB5IKKJ5GOOIW44Y/"},{"_id":"RY2XCJZJGVBSNB4YMNXLRK2ACA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162447},"type":"text","content":"Here’s how we fix this broken system:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"5LF7BCDJ55GPLENXN32UQ6SVSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"F2LKXK6TSZESXDKHPU7KTSILNI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Transparency in rate-setting: Insurers must justify premiums and prove rate increases are necessary — not just profitable."},{"_id":"O3EASLT73ZH5TNC4ICAAYY3ECY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Cap premium increases: Families and businesses shouldn’t face sudden, unaffordable hikes because insurers want to pad their bottom line."},{"_id":"FLAZ2GWEBFHMVMPTONNWYHAY4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Stricter oversight: The Georgia Insurance Commissioner’s office needs resources and authority to investigate unfair practices and enforce penalties."},{"_id":"7UCQU7EBVRBFTCBVLZI6CA4VIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"indent":0},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Give consumers an advocate: A state advocate should represent policyholders in rate hearings and ensure their voices are heard."}]},{"_id":"35RLHWVJFFEDFLUKUFPBM6HWK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162449},"type":"text","content":"These common sense solutions help address the real causes of rising premiums without sacrificing Georgians’ constitutional rights."},{"_id":"H4GUOO53INAAVADYSLG4IOOOBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162450},"type":"text","content":"These claims about lawsuits driving up costs are a distraction. States with strict tort reform haven’t seen premiums decrease — in fact, some have seen them rise. You see, the problem isn’t the courtroom; it’s the boardroom."},{"_id":"X44IFZEN35ECRPWDEAPDWAC6SE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"Tyler "},{"pos":85,"comment":" small business"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-21T21:09:40.569Z","start":6,"end":11,"text":"noted out first name following first reference","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-21T21:07:40.007Z","start":107,"end":121,"text":"hyphenate, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737502162451},"type":"text","content":"Perry highlighted a story that isn’t unique, and neither are the struggles of Georgia small-business owners and families like those in Lowndes County. It’s time for real leadership that prioritizes accountability and people over profits."},{"_id":"FN3NN2DQLBDFDK6LLKFA6DRKR4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OAC3GZLEGNHN5LXPUWYDR6TWAY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Why buying a home is harder than ever","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/why-buying-a-home-is-harder-than-ever-know-your-stuff-from-the-ajc/QDBGKZJIXBCV3N4O423DNTY4EM/"},{"_id":"CXIOTNVVMJCB5L6THXH44XNN4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":203,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162452},"type":"text","content":"Georgia leaders have a clear choice: Fight to shield the powerful from accountability or demand that insurance companies stop hiding behind words like “tort reform” to shield their greed. It’s high time they be held accountable to those whose money they took on a promise to protect them. I know where I will stand."},{"_id":"L3GGJJWL2RBJPLC5FHW4DXRBOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502162453},"type":"text","content":"<i>Tanya Miller represents District 62 in the Georgia House of Representatives. </i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Tort reform is a ploy to protect the billion-dollar insurance industry at the expense of hardworking Georgians."},"description":{"basic":"Tort reform is a ploy to protect the billion-dollar insurance industry at the expense of hardworking Georgians."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"dde6f37dd63b625a5dca8053d472aab46de2ecf828e3707206ced5f3cc56c9f6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ross Cavitt","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ross Cavitt","type":"author","byline":"Ross Cavitt"}]},"subtitle":"Ross Cavitt's home","width":3856,"caption":"A homeowner in Cobb County had to remove trees from his property (center) because his homeowners insurance had been canceled after the insurance company said there were too many trees nearby. (Courtesy of Ross Cavitt 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MH2IZGXH4FBWXKL4Y7MDZUF7TM.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MH2IZGXH4FBWXKL4Y7MDZUF7TM.jpg?auth=dde6f37dd63b625a5dca8053d472aab46de2ecf828e3707206ced5f3cc56c9f6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-whos-really-to-blame-for-rising-insurance-rates/FDU2OJW2IBCMXLYVE3A3QTOB7U/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-22T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Tanya Miller","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Who’s really to blame for rising insurance rates?"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-22T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T11:00:25.27Z","_id":"FDU2OJW2IBCMXLYVE3A3QTOB7U","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"dde6f37dd63b625a5dca8053d472aab46de2ecf828e3707206ced5f3cc56c9f6"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ross Cavitt","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ross Cavitt","type":"author","byline":"Ross Cavitt"}]},"subtitle":"Ross Cavitt's home","width":3856,"caption":"A homeowner in Cobb County had to remove trees from his property (center) because his homeowners insurance had been canceled after the insurance company said there were too many trees nearby. (Courtesy of Ross Cavitt 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MH2IZGXH4FBWXKL4Y7MDZUF7TM.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MH2IZGXH4FBWXKL4Y7MDZUF7TM.jpg?auth=dde6f37dd63b625a5dca8053d472aab46de2ecf828e3707206ced5f3cc56c9f6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"67OE5XC2VVFPDN4X4FWUYJ4QW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314960},"type":"text","content":"When I heard that the cease fire in Gaza had begun, I was reminded of a family photo."},{"_id":"5DGMZXRTG5DJFOSZ2SYH5FIINQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314961},"type":"text","content":"In the picture, Sabreen Sakani smiles contentedly at her bright eyed 3-year-old daughter, who sits snugly on her father’s lap, both of them looking out at the photographer. It’s a picturesque family setting, with a Christmas motif behind them, complete with red stockings hanging on the wall and holiday ornaments. The picture is not dated, but it had to have been in late 2022, and Sabreen probably already knew she was pregnant with her second child."},{"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"f3262e03d03076e4be0454eec9aeaedbff4684d844780d76e16acba94d589fb7"},"caption":"Nidal M. Ibrahim","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"L2SNA32GOJHC3E5ES46VYKLM5U","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Contributed","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Contributed","type":"author","byline":"Contributed"}]},"creditIPTC":"Contributed","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/CxfruXHlqob011iVkipoBLD2mq0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","owner":"shaddi.abusaid@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/CxfruXHlqob011iVkipoBLD2mq0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/CxfruXHlqob011iVkipoBLD2mq0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/cf5cso_DzTTND9piBwKna_CI55M=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"Elnajjar.jpg_web.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"JCRPOVMUH5EPNPOWZDXH5CQKYY"},"last_updated_date":"2025-01-20T21:45:58Z","height":161,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg","subtitle":"Gaza story","width":121,"_id":"S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y","created_date":"2025-01-20T21:20:41Z","alignment":"right","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S7KHB5Q6EFFQVKY3WVXQBT2O3Y.jpg?auth=f3262e03d03076e4be0454eec9aeaedbff4684d844780d76e16acba94d589fb7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"U6W7IXIC3NCO5OU76KQH6PVYGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314963},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In April 2023, Sabreen, her husband Shukri and 3-year-old daughter, Malak, were <a href=\"https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/04/1148866\" target=\"_blank\">killed by an Israeli airstrike</a> on their family home in a designated safe zone in Rafah, Sabreen at that time 30 weeks pregnant. That unborn child, named Rouh Sabreen (the soul of Sabreen), would be rescued by doctors performing a posthumous cesarean section -- captured by an NBC News crew — on her mother’s dead body. Little orphan <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68903591\" target=\"_blank\">Rouh Sabreen died five days later</a>."},{"_id":"A4VSCDME7FBMVPONT4ZNUWU32Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314964},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Sabreen and her family are relatives of my wife, and the tragic news devastated us — again. Our family has been especially hard hit by Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, with <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/our-loved-ones-in-gaza-are-not-numbers/IZQOXRRT6JFAJHHNDY2J6QQJSU/\" target=\"_blank\">more than 120 family members being killed</a> by the more than <a href=\"https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20241107-israel-dropped-over-85000-tons-of-bombs-on-gaza/\" target=\"_blank\">85,000 tons of bombs Israel has dropped</a> on the 2.2 million people of Gaza, the equivalent of almost six Hiroshima atomic bombs."},{"_id":"LTWD5KKDNRCIJCNIGEOIWWX6HQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"AE2JFOZHFFDU5EPTWNCQ4CQFPU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia’s Palestinian and Jewish lawmakers respond to Israel-Hamas ceasefire","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgias-palestinian-and-jewish-lawmakers-respond-to-israel-hamas-ceasefire/NYZ4ZRLK75A5NF4EHLGUHTSMSI/"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a71b77036d0cf644e1d99b449a09cee06a05f2ab4e7a605aea7a03e04fbc2a3a"},"caption":"Shukri and Sabreen Sakani with their daughter, Malak, in Gaza. The family was killed in an airstrike on their home in Rafah in April 2023. Sabreen Sakani was seven months pregnant at the time. Her baby was delivered but died five days later. (Family photo)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"LYYAWCNLWBCWPCELQ5FOTJLDEM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Gaza family","width":4032,"_id":"WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/MahSCKhRcIxpWP69JraHXDsiI6I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","owner":"sandra.brown@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/MahSCKhRcIxpWP69JraHXDsiI6I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/MahSCKhRcIxpWP69JraHXDsiI6I=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/pw1zLNcnnL01ZHZeU6k16Jt_SqE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg","version":4,"originalName":"IMG_1528.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"OP4IPUW3HFAGRF6N3T2DYCLZ4E"},"created_date":"2025-01-20T21:44:02Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-20T21:45:57Z","height":3024,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WMKFB5CPIRDENOJJCCE5ZPAPPQ.jpg?auth=a71b77036d0cf644e1d99b449a09cee06a05f2ab4e7a605aea7a03e04fbc2a3a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EPQ6DS6ASRAZNLXAYWAD5NW7ME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314966},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>The days after: Cautious optimism.</b>"},{"_id":"X4POAZVD2JDJZIQA3SGAXUAPTA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314967},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fifteen months after the war in Gaza began, the day after has — hopefully — finally arrived. Lost along the way has been the lives of more than 47,000 Palestinians, along with more than 1,000 Israelis. The <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/three-israeli-hostages-arrive-in-israel-as-fragile-ceasefire-passes-first-hurdle/WUY7BFQC6ZA2LCE2O5MQO7AQYM/\" target=\"_blank\">cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel</a>, the first phase of which went into effect Sunday, hopefully brings to an end Israel’s devastation of Gaza."},{"_id":"AVDHM5RIYNHXJMV5TFQNMRJHUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314968},"type":"text","content":"I’m cautiously optimistic, but, based on painful experience, I also am well aware that Israel’s bombardment and killing of Palestinians can easily be restarted, especially considering that the extremist elements of the most right-wing Israeli government in history stands opposed to the cease fire and continues to call for the continuation of the atrocities in Gaza."},{"_id":"GWANIGU45VF37M5EP5CBPHNCBQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"4YDBHNBILJHE5IAHQZDX2LO624"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Our loved ones in Gaza are not numbers","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/our-loved-ones-in-gaza-are-not-numbers/IZQOXRRT6JFAJHHNDY2J6QQJSU/"},{"_id":"UTUO2GE43NHRZKG6JKT2ANHH4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314969},"type":"text","content":"But for today, at least, there is a palpable sense of relief, even as the monumental reconstruction process is set to begin. Most important and urgent, the cease-fire deal calls for Israel to finally allow <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq33ONP3lQA\" target=\"_blank\">humanitarian aid</a> — 600 trucks per day — to flow freely to all parts of Gaza, ending starvation as a war policy."},{"_id":"GQMZNHCHQJDITOLBAVTLOAPYTI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314970},"type":"text","content":"As Palestinians flow out of their tent camps and stream back to their homes — <a href=\"https://www.bernama.com/misc/rss/news.php?id=2384736\" target=\"_blank\">90% of which have been destroyed or damaged</a> by Israel’s carpet-bombing campaign — they will find all manner of infrastructure devastated. Hospitals, schools, universities, churches, mosques, water and electric infrastructure. All must be rebuilt."},{"_id":"KOHUH5546JFRXC2L6T64KEOZNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314971},"type":"text","content":"As the process of reconstructing Gaza begins, so, too, must the process of rehabilitating Israel begin, one that includes recognizing Palestinians as human beings and granting them equal access to the political and economic opportunities so easily afforded to citizens of Israel."},{"_id":"GRKNUVBDIRE6DBE3DNVVIDEBAI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"2KPFSM6YXFERVDW3PDWMUHV2BY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Black artists address Gaza, election, Diddy and other controversies","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/black-artists-address-gaza-election-diddy-and-other-controversies/XFLWFCL4XND4BL5MYTB7BVOVQA/"},{"_id":"FMLT6CM3HBG3ZH6J6TIWIIXEQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314972},"type":"text","content":"<b>The way forward</b>"},{"_id":"NOU7JRTT45EE7LO7AJQKC7K34E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314973},"type":"text","content":"As devastating and bleak as the past 471 days of the Israeli onslaught have been, one can point to the occasional instances that offer hope and a way forward. Chief among them has been the alliance that has grown among Muslims, Christians and Jews, of all political stripes, who recognize that Israel’s genocidal acts are in no way representative of American and Western ideals. That those who would perpetrate one of the worst violations of human rights since the genocides of Darfur in Sudan, Myanmar, Rwanda and Ethiopia must first be challenged and stopped and then be held to account. In that spirit, this nascent coalition must devote itself to altering the United States’ blind support and rearming of an extremist Israeli government that has abandoned respect for the standards of international law."},{"_id":"C3OSKFXVG5BTBLKZHFNNE6WRZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314974},"type":"text","content":"As the Trump administration takes power, it has an opportunity to forever change the face of the Middle East and usher in true democracy in Israel and the Palestinian territories. If Israel is to continue to occupy and subjugate the Palestinians in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza while continuing to illegally expropriate their land, it must also usher in true democracy by extending Israeli citizenship and the right to vote to <a href=\"https://freedomhouse.org/country/israel/freedom-world/2020\" target=\"_blank\">all the peoples of that land</a>, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity. Israel must turn away from and dismantle the apartheid system it has created to protect its internationally recognized illegal settlements, and allow all people equal rights under the law, including the right to vote and be represented at the national level."},{"_id":"XKLJ4NSTGRHYLNOTFBPMDJEOUE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314976},"type":"text","content":"To that end, American Jews and other supporters of Israel must recognize that Israel’s actions in the past 15 months in Gaza are in no way representative of the noble values of Judaism — or any other religion for that matter. Support of Israel — whether by Jews or Christians, Republican or Democrat — must be conditioned on Israel abiding by international law and the Geneva Conventions, which serve as the bulwark of the current international order. Accordingly, Israel must be held accountable for its capricious and reckless disregard for international law, as has been pointed out by the United Nations, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice and countless other organizations and institutions."},{"_id":"TEMLS7VIYZGL3EXJEVW3F7ZJNY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LLIGZITSXFF33HLWV6HPNP73IM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Nidal M. Ibrahim: Introducing my kids to their ancestral homeland","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-introducing-my-kids-to-their-ancestral-palestinian-homeland/NWVVLZYPGFCCHFT74FBIZOTYN4/"},{"_id":"NQIJS23XHNCL5KTKGQMDP5NHEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314977},"type":"text","content":"It is incumbent that those who support Israel demand that it shed its status as a pariah state, and to do that is to recognize the indigenous Palestinian population, humanize them and grant them the right afforded to all Israelis, namely the right to live in peace and have a voice in the political process that shapes their future. To do less — and to consign the Palestinians to continued subjugation under an apartheid system that has relegated them to second-class status with no say in the political decisions that shape their and their children’s lives — is to go back to a pre-Oct. 7, 2023, status quo, one equally unacceptable today as it was on Oct. 6, 2023."},{"_id":"C3K5MQNXOBB5LGSCLGVUMXD7JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737502314978},"type":"text","content":"<i>Nidal M. Ibrahim is former executive director of the Arab American Institute and former publisher of Arab American Business Magazine.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"A cease fire between Israel and Hamas has begun. There’s much work to do ahead."},"description":{"basic":"As the process of reconstructing Gaza begins, so, too, must the process of rehabilitating Israel begin."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"58d87639897a7a6891762ec377aa1d0e031b487b9b42f7ae209f25a76aed3564"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jehad Alshrafi","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Israel Palestinians","width":5167,"caption":"Displaced Palestinians return to Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Monday, a day after the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect. (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/F6XZWPR7GTTOO4DVV3W7NGXTSI.jpg","height":3445,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/F6XZWPR7GTTOO4DVV3W7NGXTSI.jpg?auth=58d87639897a7a6891762ec377aa1d0e031b487b9b42f7ae209f25a76aed3564&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-gaza-finally-gets-the-day-after/RTXMBEQEJVD5FJ63ZT7NVECME4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-22T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Nidal M. Ibrahim","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Gaza finally gets the day after"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-22T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T10:00:20.25Z","_id":"RTXMBEQEJVD5FJ63ZT7NVECME4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"58d87639897a7a6891762ec377aa1d0e031b487b9b42f7ae209f25a76aed3564"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jehad Alshrafi","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Israel Palestinians","width":5167,"caption":"Displaced Palestinians return to Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Monday, a day after the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect. (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/F6XZWPR7GTTOO4DVV3W7NGXTSI.jpg","height":3445,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/F6XZWPR7GTTOO4DVV3W7NGXTSI.jpg?auth=58d87639897a7a6891762ec377aa1d0e031b487b9b42f7ae209f25a76aed3564&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UJ422XG27RGY5MK7KSOIHH7OKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466633},"type":"text","content":"Keep going, no matter what."},{"_id":"JAN5ISYKXZAUTJDTJVIAMLLBY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466634},"type":"text","content":"That’s one of the lessons I learned from a recent trip to Ukraine. I am from Ukraine and chose to spend the holidays visiting family in the midst of war. Since becoming a U.S. citizen and living in Atlanta, I have found immense pride in my Ukrainian background, my relationship with those exhibiting courage every day in my homeland and the work my colleagues and I are doing through <a href=\"https://helpingukraine.us/\" target=\"_blank\">HelpingUkraine.US</a>."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a54c5788fe539f4a81b33bac255b08bb53a098135091a6db10bf4231c0860862"},"caption":"Olga Gorman","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Olga Gorman","width":3306,"_id":"MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/E_Gy7fx2LbsONLLYe5YGRxnt_P8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/E_Gy7fx2LbsONLLYe5YGRxnt_P8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/E_Gy7fx2LbsONLLYe5YGRxnt_P8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/lPmBmAODb9GA0H0lI93u8lYm9Eg=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png","version":0,"originalName":"Olga Gorman.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"C26JZ3BMC5FABHB2KMSA33Z2QY"},"created_date":"2025-01-17T22:52:36Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-17T22:52:36Z","alignment":"right","height":3306,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MDO7Y6NBNRGDVOQBNIMIFPR6PA.png?auth=a54c5788fe539f4a81b33bac255b08bb53a098135091a6db10bf4231c0860862&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"45TFAXMP4RFFPDVD4HKEQFADRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466636},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yes, I visited my family, but I also visited five projects we are funding to support Ukrainians during this time of turmoil and trauma, thanks to the Russian war on Ukraine that started three years ago this month. It is easy to forget, because we have so much, the suffering that is happening in a country where villages are shrinking, children lack access to education and communities must come together to pool their resources for medical services, education and even joy. I chose to go at Christmastime, but it was I who received a gift: incredible appreciation shown in so many of the projects we support."},{"_id":"4UVL7O2MCJDQXDWRT75SWFK35E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466637},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Much of our work is aimed at helping children, and, through that, I found the joy of Christmas."},{"_id":"YLIIAHYKHRHFXKFJDZNLX6GB2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466638},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One such project, the Children’s Cultural Center in Rohan Village, includes education focused not just on the written word but also on the arts, allowing children to find delight in music and dance. I arrived there on Christmas Eve, escorted by Roman Smyrnov from our partner foundation, <a href=\"https://www.powerinua.com/en/\">Power in UA</a>, and delivered gifts to 280 children in the ensemble at the center. The joy I witnessed in these children made me feel like Santa Claus. While we visited, they put on a concert for us and their parents, which felt like a present to me and a sign of their appreciation for what we are doing. The smiles on the parents’ faces as the children performed and the delight and glee in the children who received new instruments from us were immeasurable."},{"_id":"2EX5SXGM3VERNPIWV7QFHXKHEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466639},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Other aspects of our work aim to help older adults. While in Khoroshevo Village, we visited more than 300 seniors with disabilities from villages and towns that were destroyed. We earlier created a medical facility for them. We had a similar experience visiting with the seniors, for whom a gift of chocolate meant so much."},{"_id":"D2MAG5BKX5FCVG7PG5QLGG3CWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466640},"type":"text","content":"As I witness life in Ukraine today, I see acceptance of a new way of life, living around the destroyed structures that were once so beautiful, living with sirens in the background, the terror of bombs shaking the very ground under our feet and drones flying overhead. It has been almost three years since Ukrainians have had to learn to live with courage, making every minute count. Helping each other has been the purpose of everyday life."},{"_id":"FRLNNR7ZK5COHOO27XFPDYQLVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466641},"type":"text","content":"Through this tragedy, Ukrainians continue to go to work, support their families and navigate this trauma in a way that should teach us all what real courage is. The deep meaning of home — even to destroyed villages — and spreading love within their communities encourages them to persevere with hope, pride and sheer determination."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"d962dc6c15272765fad846b3a988bba904d089cbc485b9d15997b6fc7c152e59"},"caption":"Olga Gorman, left, with presents for members of a Ukrainian children's choir.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Courtesy Olga Gorman","type":"author","byline":"Courtesy Olga Gorman"}]},"subtitle":"Olga Gorman children's choir","width":1280,"_id":"YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/JzWNPW9HXlO_DqxLj4mgaCC8XP0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/JzWNPW9HXlO_DqxLj4mgaCC8XP0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/JzWNPW9HXlO_DqxLj4mgaCC8XP0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/fOPdPL8yLlM2NRhGIVG-WzWRdJQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Gorman choir.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"XQHIOBCWWBBHZIR26GFZTVQ3UE"},"created_date":"2025-02-04T19:27:18Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-04T19:27:18Z","height":720,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YCRM5LZZNBA6PMI4OPL6OVHX3Q.jpg?auth=d962dc6c15272765fad846b3a988bba904d089cbc485b9d15997b6fc7c152e59&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"DNSU3RBS4FGK7FNQY4HVUAYKG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":611,"comment":"us"}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466642},"type":"text","content":"They are not doing this alone. During my visit, I met Devon Hazelett, a man from Ohio who previously served in the U.S. Army. After seeing videos of crying mothers and children, he was moved by the need for help and wanted to do more. In March 2022, he joined an international military group supporting Ukraine. After two and a half years of service, he transitioned to providing medical support on Ukraine’s front lines, continuing his commitment to humanitarian efforts. Meeting someone with no prior ties to Ukraine yet who is fully dedicated to supporting my family, friends and those whom HelpingUkraine.US serves was incredibly moving. In addition to Hazelett, we have hundreds of volunteers in our Hope Centers, medical facilities and children’s programs."},{"_id":"C6Q3AMTLMRENJETIM6NTCS4LJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466643},"type":"text","content":"What does hope mean? How can we draw inspiration from the courage of others? How can we rediscover the magic of giving to those in need? As we reflect on the resilience of the Ukrainian people who are facing unimaginable challenges yet finding strength in community and generosity, we’re reminded of the power of unity and selflessness. In this new year, can we in this country, with our freedoms, embrace a similar spirit of giving? Can we learn to make each day and each moment meaningful by reaching out to others? This is the challenge and opportunity that lies before us."},{"_id":"GBAO2IC6ERECFG7EOD6I6TOMQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466644},"type":"text","content":"I visited Ukraine at Christmas and ventured into war zones. I witnessed the grief and suffering that is embedded in Ukrainians everyday lives, but I returned home feeling inspired to continue bringing hope to those in Ukraine who are fighting not only for their freedom but also for democracy worldwide, including ours."},{"_id":"CEN5DCT77JE6DBBDEGHXEDM2BY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":19,"comment":"<i>Volunteer </i>"},{"pos":336,"comment":"<i>,</i>"},{"pos":353,"comment":"Tribune "}],"comments":[],"_id":1738604466645},"type":"text","content":"<i>Olga Gorman is the volunteer chief executive officer of </i><a href=\"https://helpingukraine.us/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>HelpingUkraine.US foundation</i></a><i>. She immigrated to the United States three years ago from Ukraine. Her hometown in the Donetsk region has been occupied by Russia since 2014. With the help of Ukrainian volunteers, Gorman has organized events including art exhibitions, film screenings and a Ukrainian tribute at a Braves Game to highlight Ukraine’s resilience and rich culture.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The resilience and generosity of the Ukrainian people who are facing unimaginable challenges remind us of the power of unity and selflessness. "},"description":{"basic":"The resilience and generosity of the Ukrainian people who are facing unimaginable challenges remind us of the power of unity and selflessness."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1095,"ComposerNav":1012}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"51d1cd97dbccd42d51feab2869882596da70d08efb250b4d2eec570700f6e3aa"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Courtesy Olga Gorman","type":"author","byline":"Courtesy Olga Gorman"}]},"subtitle":"Olga Gorman choir","width":1280,"caption":"Olga Gorman (front) with a children's choir in Ukraine.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3HUN3I4WSJAKFPXNA5MGG5Y7BM.jpg","height":720,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3HUN3I4WSJAKFPXNA5MGG5Y7BM.jpg?auth=51d1cd97dbccd42d51feab2869882596da70d08efb250b4d2eec570700f6e3aa&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-finding-joy-in-wartime-ukraine/YZL3PWWM3BFATBO5U5VPIRIMNE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-21T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Olga Gorman","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Finding joy in wartime Ukraine"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-21T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-02-06T19:58:43.624Z","_id":"YZL3PWWM3BFATBO5U5VPIRIMNE","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"51d1cd97dbccd42d51feab2869882596da70d08efb250b4d2eec570700f6e3aa"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Courtesy Olga Gorman","type":"author","byline":"Courtesy Olga Gorman"}]},"subtitle":"Olga Gorman choir","width":1280,"caption":"Olga Gorman (front) with a children's choir in Ukraine.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3HUN3I4WSJAKFPXNA5MGG5Y7BM.jpg","height":720,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3HUN3I4WSJAKFPXNA5MGG5Y7BM.jpg?auth=51d1cd97dbccd42d51feab2869882596da70d08efb250b4d2eec570700f6e3aa&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"Q5DCAZEMNVHZ5EIGMISE2RH43A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544317},"type":"text","content":"My son Jonah died at age 25 after being poisoned by fentanyl. He had just landed his dream job as a production assistant in Atlanta for TNT Sports. His career, his love life, his future — everything — was taken from him in an instant."},{"_id":"NW3WJ7IFTRFF5FXJVR4TBH5GVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544318},"type":"text","content":"In the aftermath of his death, and while producing a <a href=\"https://www.scrippsnews.com/to-save-a-life/watch-to-save-a-life-a-national-fentanyl-alarm\">television program</a> on the dangers of fentanyl to honor him, I learned a lot about this lethal drug that I didn’t know before. One of the most shocking things was that kids and young adults are unknowingly being exposed to fentanyl in alarming numbers — and many are dying as a result. Seventy thousand people die from <a href=\"https://www.google.com/search?q=+from+fentanyl+overdoses+in+the+United+States+every+yea&sca_esv=e67db641c1c92d57&rlz=1C1GCEU_enUS1102US1102&sxsrf=ADLYWIIBagAWluM3c_IygXbkbv8aPW4PLA%3A1737049157278&ei=RUSJZ6bfELGHwbkPv_7PqQ4&ved=0ahUKEwjmleiv5PqKAxWxQzABHT__M-UQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=+from+fentanyl+overdoses+in+the+United+States+every+yea&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiNyBmcm9tIGZlbnRhbnlsIG92ZXJkb3NlcyBpbiB0aGUgVW5pdGVkIFN0YXRlcyBldmVyeSB5ZWEyBRAAGO8FMgUQABjvBTIIEAAYgAQYogRIvARQAFgAcAB4AJABAJgBlwGgAZcBqgEDMC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAIBoAKhAZgDAOIDBRIBMSBAkgcDMC4xoAeVAw&sclient=gws-wiz-serp\" target=\"_blank\">fentanyl overdoses</a> in the United States every year, making it a<b> </b><a href=\"https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/media/dea-administrator-record-fentanyl-overdose-deaths\" target=\"_blank\">leading cause of death</a> for people ages 55 and under."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"ce4a018d8b8327312b95a9c9e10675ec6122a769de0d6ee38eff2aa992490bf9"},"caption":"Caren Zucker and her son, Jonah. (Handout)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"LZLCFSON2NCRLN4GGJD35DYHPE","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Fentanyl overdose","width":1934,"_id":"O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/9kvG_6uJZnEDMwbDIXVac7M2N9s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","owner":"sandra.brown@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/9kvG_6uJZnEDMwbDIXVac7M2N9s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/9kvG_6uJZnEDMwbDIXVac7M2N9s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/G3iQFRPQ3MdglFoFXUZoTOZYrII=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"IMG_7380.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2CZEJ5LZWZC2BK2RNZ47IQQLHU"},"created_date":"2025-01-22T21:44:48Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T22:11:02Z","height":1451,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/O7NS7MU5ZBBWJHUBGT2ONL2ZFI.jpg?auth=ce4a018d8b8327312b95a9c9e10675ec6122a769de0d6ee38eff2aa992490bf9&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"4KWCFY56KVC7RLXCMTUNVCVS6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544320},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Curbing the supply of fentanyl from Mexico is one of President-elect Donald Trump’s stated priorities for his second term. He is <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-promises-25-tariff-products-mexico-canada-2024-11-25/\" target=\"_blank\">demanding that Mexico crack down</a> on the cartels supplying fentanyl to the American heartland, where it has had a devastating impact since roughly 2015, and he’s promised to impose massive tariffs on goods from the country to achieve that aim. Clearly, the less fentanyl reaching the United States from Mexico the better. But there is an achievable path out of this crisis that doesn’t focus solely on geopolitics and targeting supply. We must put more of our energy into the other end of the equation: demand. With less demand, the market will shrink, and fewer people will die."},{"_id":"ZGNF7KHFL5BZNAOAMDT2FPS63Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544321},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"How do we encourage choice — the choice to avoid a deadly drug — when so many people unintentionally ingest fentanyl? That requires getting the facts about fentanyl into the heads of people who do not recognize how it alone has increased the risk of death by drugs by orders of magnitude."},{"_id":"HP6OFQ5N75FJTHVKPES5IUX2YI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544322},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I was one of those people before Jonah died. I did not know that dealers were cutting fentanyl into drugs such as cocaine without the knowledge of their customers. I did not know that an amount of fentanyl equal to <a href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=2468&TargetID=1\" target=\"_blank\">a few grains of sand</a> is enough to kill you. I did not know that the market is flooded with <a href=\"https://www.dea.gov/alert/dea-laboratory-testing-reveals-6-out-10-fentanyl-laced-fake-prescription-pills-now-contain\" target=\"_blank\">fake versions of well-known prescription pills</a> such as Xanax, Percocet and Adderall that are as much as 70% pure fentanyl. I just did not know."},{"_id":"SC74UAPNRNBD5KZKDYBUVT7WGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":601,"comment":"..."}],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544323},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fentanyl, which has legitimate use as an anesthetic in strictly controlled medical settings, is far different from traditional recreational drugs, such as marijuana and cocaine. That’s because it is a synthetic opioid, which makes it easier and cheaper to produce than an opioid derived from plants — and more profitable for the cartels pumping it into the drug supply. It is also more potent. “What we’re seeing today is the single largest transformation in the drug trade ever,” Jim Crotty, a former deputy chief of staff at the Drug Enforcement Agency, said in my program. “Drugs are nothing new. … What’s different today is how lethal they are.”"},{"_id":"3JQRJBAOPNHGZCDEI23JWEZ3ZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544324},"type":"text","content":"That means a different kind of message is needed. The “<a href=\"https://www.issup.net/training/resources/glossary/just-say-no\" target=\"_blank\">Just Say No</a>” campaign of the 1980s failed because its patronizing tone implied that those who abstained from drugs were morally superior to those who took part recreationally or regularly. Its warnings that so-called “gateway drugs” like marijuana and cocaine would inevitably lead to catastrophe turned out to be exaggerated and mostly false. And yet, despite the flawed messaging of “Just Say No,” back in the 1980s, a single line of cocaine or one pill didn’t carry a potential death sentence, as it does now."},{"_id":"IWZRXATGRBGCJORTRW4JP5RDU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544325},"type":"text","content":"With fentanyl, the alarm is real. This catastrophe is continuing to unfold. And that calls for a stark warning: The drugs you buy from dealers today have a high risk of being contaminated with fentanyl, and, if they are, they will kill you. This might sound like yet one more case being made for abstinence, but this is not an appeal to morality. This is an argument based on reason and the instinct for self-preservation."},{"_id":"5EFHJHHLNFGEVPLXTZS4FW5MPI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544326},"type":"text","content":"Given that <a href=\"https://www.uclahealth.org/news/release/about-22-high-school-age-adolescents-died-each-week\" target=\"_blank\">22 American teenagers die</a> from drug overdoses each week, with fentanyl involved 75% of the time, schools should be a priority venue for delivering the warning message. Good educational programs are struggling to get a foothold, however, either because local education leaders still don’t understand the risks or are shying away from an issue that continues to carry enormous stigma. We must change this."},{"_id":"EAILE5P3L5FN3CSR5LRELUFZZY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544327},"type":"text","content":"Exceptions do exist. After the fentanyl-induced deaths of four students in Beaverton, Oregon, in 2021, the school district worked with a parent-led organization, “<a href=\"https://www.songforcharlie.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Song for Charlie</a>,” founded to raise awareness of these dangers for families, teens, and young adults — to create a classroom program appropriate for children. It relies on the facts and does not sugarcoat them. Jennifer Hicks, the teacher who leads the program, explained, “I need them to understand you cannot trust a random pill. This is life or death. There’s no experimenting with these substances.” There have been no deaths from fentanyl in the Beaverton district since the program began."},{"_id":"PVUH67FLCJDUJIZM43Z4WDZWRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":272,"comment":"in "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544328},"type":"text","content":"Of course, there will still be some kids who don’t heed the warnings or might be unaware of the danger and end up overdosing. At that point, it may fall to the people with them — their friends and classmates — to save them. Education must therefore include instruction on how to recognize an overdose, why it is critical to call 911 and how to administer the <a href=\"https://www.dea.gov/onepill/save-lives\" target=\"_blank\">drug naloxone</a>, which immediately reverses the deadly effects of fentanyl."},{"_id":"MXRBJQVN2RAOLP5X2OEGCVWUOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544329},"type":"text","content":"Each day, when I think about my Jonah, I think about the many ways he might still be here if only he had understood the risks he took during a single night out with friends. If only I had known more about fentanyl and could have warned him about it. If only the friends he was with had recognized what had happened to him and called for help or administered help themselves."},{"_id":"OF7SM4HIJZBSLJTX4STO7ERNTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544330},"type":"text","content":"None of that happened, and my Jonah is gone. But it’s not too late to create a world where the warnings about fentanyl are so widely heard and understood that nobody would want to touch a “random pill” from a drug dealer. It’s not too late to educate each other on the signs of an overdose, how to deliver help directly and when to call for help. I still believe this is all a possibility. But first, we need to talk about the danger. We need to teach about it. And while others work on the supply, we need to turn off the demand."},{"_id":"KRMVE46MKRDYXKHIBTZSEHFMIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737579544331},"type":"text","content":"<i>Caren Zucker is a journalist and documentary filmmaker. She served as co-host and an executive producer of “</i><a href=\"https://www.scrippsnews.com/to-save-a-life/watch-to-save-a-life-a-national-fentanyl-alarm\"><i>To Save a Life: A National Fentanyl Alarm</i></a><i>,” which aired on Scripps News.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"This time, drug education is a call for self-preservation, not abstinence."},"description":{"basic":"This time, drug education is a call for self-preservation, not abstinence."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"newsroom-free"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"86758ca6587f9a70c9e0303a1e10375e325b3f5b69ef63e9d91f0bcc5faf6a81"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Lynn Arditi/The Public’s Radio","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-STIMULANT-USERS-4-MCT","width":1600,"caption":"Test strips like these are used to detect the powerful opioid fentanyl in cocaine samples. (Lynn Arditi/The Public’s Radio/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2HF2DGAGHYFX7L7TNYQUEB63M4.jpg","height":1200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2HF2DGAGHYFX7L7TNYQUEB63M4.jpg?auth=86758ca6587f9a70c9e0303a1e10375e325b3f5b69ef63e9d91f0bcc5faf6a81&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-we-must-hear-the-warnings-about-fentanyl/MTEKNULXY5BC7HO7DVEFVSH2S4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-21T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Caren Zucker","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"We must hear the warnings about fentanyl"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-21T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-22T22:14:38.373Z","_id":"MTEKNULXY5BC7HO7DVEFVSH2S4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"86758ca6587f9a70c9e0303a1e10375e325b3f5b69ef63e9d91f0bcc5faf6a81"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Lynn Arditi/The Public’s Radio","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-HEALTH-STIMULANT-USERS-4-MCT","width":1600,"caption":"Test strips like these are used to detect the powerful opioid fentanyl in cocaine samples. (Lynn Arditi/The Public’s Radio/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2HF2DGAGHYFX7L7TNYQUEB63M4.jpg","height":1200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2HF2DGAGHYFX7L7TNYQUEB63M4.jpg?auth=86758ca6587f9a70c9e0303a1e10375e325b3f5b69ef63e9d91f0bcc5faf6a81&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"VVQRVR2ZM5EJTOBMRFGCGJ5GYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178049},"type":"text","content":"Today, America witnessed the collision of two meaningful events: Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the presidential inauguration."},{"_id":"7FAB5MQTBNCZHDUJI7EW77TL4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178050},"type":"text","content":"Honoring King, a civil rights leader, with a national holiday was a long battle that began days after his assassination in Memphis in April 1968. President Jimmy Carter lent his support in 1979, but the holiday didn’t become official until 1983. Now, many people, including me, observe the King holiday with a day of service in their communities."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. Nelson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"Y2KF6KMTWJCWBMRW4HWPQMZINY","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"modifiedAt":"2023-11-22T16:00:52.072Z","allowAll":false,"description":"AJC","restrictions":[{"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","modifiedAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","name":"AJCOnly","description":"","modifiedBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","websites":[{"siteId":"ajc","type":"site"}],"id":"e9eadc36-8bc3-48a6-b3d2-b679aeb668e4","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"},{"name":"story"},{"name":"video"}],"enabled":true}],"mode":"custom","organizationId":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","archived":false,"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:19:14.302Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","organization":{"name":"ajc","id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a"},"organization_id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","name":"AJC","modifiedBy":"Surendra.Nuthi@ajc.com","id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019","category":"staff","subcategory":"","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"}]},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sophia A. Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"5HCPSGRILJD4LNU2CQ4LTJ6M4E"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"TWXBV7YIA5BILL6QA3UPQP5MBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178051},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"That the holiday this year coincides with the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/trump-inauguration-day-live-updates/7GK6JC3465D4VHHC2A2MSMV4EA/\" target=\"_blank\">inauguration of Donald Trump</a> to his second presidential term is challenging for many Americans, probably especially so for the 75 million who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris in November."},{"_id":"CZO6PYVG4VBJJH7Z2P2LCW42KA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178052},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Many people — including a few elected officials and others in politics — have pledged not to watch the inauguration. This time around, Trump carried a lot of baggage as he took the oath of office."},{"_id":"B7WP7NA6CJGFPKMA7HGE2QPDQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Former <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/michelle-obama-will-not-attend-trumps-inauguration-rcna187604__;!!JZyed81S!mTF-FIXq9CTcelEI4EWqXxyYVFs7tF4o8UnAd-37sSj-wDanYtin08ibIHc9iBIRlFhM2g697LVewt_HDU4shg$\">first lady Michelle Obama</a> caused a bit of a stir when she said <a href=\"https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/where-michelle-obama-miss-trump-inauguration-why/6114357/\" target=\"_blank\">she would not attend the inauguration</a>. She also skipped the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, where, by protocol, she would have sat next to Trump. Obama has not said why she skipped either event, but those who read her memoir, “<a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Michelle-Obama/dp/0525633677/ref=asc_df_0525633677?mcid=4535407ea7e93e2ea615019fdb7fcfbe&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693341079312&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10309533214580426651&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010952&hvtargid=pla-574892495490&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\">Becoming</a>,” and heard her <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgJBFBwRXvc\" target=\"_blank\">speech at the Democratic National Convention</a> could guess that watching Trump’s inauguration would make her uncomfortable."},{"_id":"HL4BVHRSF5DJRCG4U6AQIKDFFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178054},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Joining her in skipping the inauguration was former <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/abc-former-speaker-nancy-pelosi-attend-trumps-inauguration/story?id=117747765\" target=\"_blank\">House Speaker Nancy Pelosi</a>, D-Calif., who is recovering from a hip replacement. Like Harris, Pelosi is no friend of Trump’s and blames <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/09/29/trump-mocks-hammer-attack-on-pelosis-husband-in-incendiary-speech/__;!!JZyed81S!mTF-FIXq9CTcelEI4EWqXxyYVFs7tF4o8UnAd-37sSj-wDanYtin08ibIHc9iBIRlFhM2g697LVewt9xSH83XA$\">his rhetoric for the attack on her husband in their San Francisco home in 2022</a>. "},{"_id":"7Q35B7QHAFEABMM5U5JZVN2W6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Two rising young Democratic stars — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas — also didn’t attend. Unlike Obama and Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez and Crockett were clear in their reasoning. In a video online, <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/tribune.com.pk/story/2523305/i-dont-celebrate-rapists-alexandra-ocasio-cortez-lashes-out-ahead-of-trumps-inauguration__;!!JZyed81S!mTF-FIXq9CTcelEI4EWqXxyYVFs7tF4o8UnAd-37sSj-wDanYtin08ibIHc9iBIRlFhM2g697LVewt9pKST4QA$\">Ocasio-Cortez said she couldn’t support Trump</a> and referenced the many sexual assault accusations made against the president, all of which he denies. <a href=\"https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/01/17/some-texas-democrats-in-congress-plan-to-skip-donald-trumps-inauguration/\" target=\"_blank\">Crockett told the Dallas Morning News</a>, “The idea of celebrating someone that I consider to continuously desecrate the work and the legacy of Martin Luther King on Martin Luther King Day — it was just kind of like a double whammy and an absolute no for me.”"},{"_id":"H67V66MDTJCBZMLLZ6JR7R2SVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178055},"type":"text","content":"The three living ex-presidents — Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton — attended the inauguration but <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/obama-clinton-bush-skip-trump-inauguration-lunch-rcna187899\" target=\"_blank\">declined to attend a customary luncheon</a> in Trump’s honor after the swearing-in."},{"_id":"IBK23CBYSFCW5IEO4OFHG4MU3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178056},"type":"text","content":"Given Trump’s history, you would think more current and former elected officials would have openly protested the inauguration."},{"_id":"6N3FV4ARFZDG3HI4QEOL3VEFQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178057},"type":"text","content":"Barely more than a week ago, special prosecutor <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/special-counsel-who-investigated-trump-says-in-report-his-team-stood-up-for-the-rule-of-law/DPOEUQBY55FA5NIWXFMFH4VBDE/\" target=\"_blank\">Jack Smith released one</a> of two much-anticipated reports on the federal criminal indictments of Trump, which were wound down after Trump’s November victory. In the report about Trump’s role in Capitol riot on the Jan. 6, 2021, Smith wrote: “Indeed, but for Mr. Trump’s election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.” (Monday morning, <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.cnn.com/2025/01/20/politics/joe-biden-preemptive-pardons/index.html__;!!JZyed81S!mTF-FIXq9CTcelEI4EWqXxyYVFs7tF4o8UnAd-37sSj-wDanYtin08ibIHc9iBIRlFhM2g697LVewt-AQ_f7wA$\">Biden issued preemptive pardons</a> for members of the House Jan. 6 select committee, including former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming. He also preemptively pardoned various other public servants, including infectious diseases expert Anthony S. Fauci and retired Gen. Mark Milley, who could be targets under the Trump administration.)"},{"_id":"FWS2YVRZSBBC3L2AQVXQUZ2EAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178058},"type":"text","content":"The other report, on the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/special-counsel-who-investigated-trump-says-in-report-his-team-stood-up-for-the-rule-of-law/DPOEUQBY55FA5NIWXFMFH4VBDE/\" target=\"_blank\">classified documents case</a>, is being held hostage by a Trump-appointed federal judge in Florida."},{"_id":"DPIVQIR4IZAHNESFEGVVWE2C3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178059},"type":"text","content":"Trump began his transition by making notably outrageous Cabinet picks. His appointments would have been unthinkable just a decade ago, DOA at the Senate. "},{"_id":"7IZIUXFAWFFL7CM7CHTG447TYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178060},"type":"text","content":"More disturbingly, just 48 hours before taking the oath of office, <a href=\"https://www.investors.com/news/donald-trump-launches-trump-meme-coin-inauguration/\" target=\"_blank\">Trump introduced a memorabilia cryptocurrency coin</a> called $trump that surged to more than $70 billion in value in its first day. The coin offers anyone — including U.S. adversaries — a path to funnel money directly to the president. "},{"_id":"XTJSKYDXKRH2RCSMOIXFZ2GLXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178061},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, media outlets are capitulating to Trump, settling lawsuits instead of fighting them and moving respected reporters out of high-visibility jobs. ABC News settled a libel suit for millions, even though <a href=\"https://fair.org/home/abc-settles-with-trump-in-a-case-it-could-have-won/\" target=\"_blank\">experts believed the news network would have won</a>. The <a href=\"https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-most-hated-cnn-anchor-jim-acosta-gives-cryptic-signoff/\" target=\"_blank\">Daily Beast reported</a> that CNN star reporter Jim Acosta might be moved from his prime morning slot to midnight. Acosta famously was banned from the White House during Trump’s first term. CNN sued and Acosta was let back in."},{"_id":"4DJGZGXKIVBMPJPUYRNGAHHWW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178062},"type":"text","content":"It should leave all who still values virtue, honesty and fidelity to the Constitution shaking their heads. We used to believe our presidents were honorable men, at least in the public’s eye. No more. Trump is America’s 47th president despite being a twice-impeached convicted felon who was under federal indictment for dozens of alleged crimes."},{"_id":"S5ZWRZIVPRGCFG4EKWD7LAOUPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737395178063},"type":"text","content":"I fear for my country today, as many do. But I stand in solidarity with the peaceful, nonviolent patriots whose absence at the Capitol on this day spoke volumes. As King said, “Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it.”"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"A few patriotic-minded people skipped Trump’s second swearing-in. More should have done so."},"description":{"basic":"A few patriotic-minded people skipped Trump’s second swearing-in. More should have done so."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"608b7ebea6cf192211dd0cd4c4e91c91915362dd155d2cd64dd88556c55aa5c5"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Chip Somodevilla","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump Inauguration","width":6000,"caption":"President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZUY5IHMNWSSNNBFETJDOMD5REU.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZUY5IHMNWSSNNBFETJDOMD5REU.jpg?auth=608b7ebea6cf192211dd0cd4c4e91c91915362dd155d2cd64dd88556c55aa5c5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-on-mlk-day-an-inauguration-and-protest-by-absence/RPWRUTQCUNDW7G5ONELYPBNKX4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-20T18:01:28.286Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. 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Nelson","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"On MLK Day, an inauguration and protest by absence"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-20T18:01:28.286Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-20T18:01:28.416Z","_id":"RPWRUTQCUNDW7G5ONELYPBNKX4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"608b7ebea6cf192211dd0cd4c4e91c91915362dd155d2cd64dd88556c55aa5c5"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Chip Somodevilla","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Trump Inauguration","width":6000,"caption":"President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZUY5IHMNWSSNNBFETJDOMD5REU.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZUY5IHMNWSSNNBFETJDOMD5REU.jpg?auth=608b7ebea6cf192211dd0cd4c4e91c91915362dd155d2cd64dd88556c55aa5c5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"XXAHJ6HSAJBMVCAL4VFMZWGHFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546226},"type":"text","content":"As we pay homage to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. today, let us not forget his profound belief in the moral imperative of leadership, especially in light of the current political environment in our country."},{"_id":"OAF7UUSJ4RH5LH5QTTQPCZG42M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546227},"type":"text","content":"King dedicated his life to ensuring that America lived up to its foundational promise: that all men are created equal. His vision of leadership was not merely about holding a position of power; it was about embodying ethical responsibility and integrity. King’s description of moral leadership was detailed in a <a href=\"https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/desegregation-and-future-address-delivered-annual-luncheon-national-committee#:~:text=May%20I%20stress%20the%20need,%2C%20courageous%2C%20and%20intelligent%20leaders.\" target=\"_blank\">speech in 1956</a>: “May I stress the need of courageous, intelligent leadership. Leaders of sound integrity. Leaders not in love of publicity, but in love of justice. Leaders not in love of money, but in love of humanity.”"},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08"},"caption":"John Eaves","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"bda47fee-994a-11ea-9ad2-27c8c00e8173","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"Rebecca Breyer","type":"author","byline":"Rebecca Breyer","slug":"rebecca-breyer"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia 2020: Where 7th District Democratic candidates stand on the issues","width":700,"first_publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","_id":"RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","comments":[],"keywords":["politicsajc","isabetai","ga-government.ajc","georgia-news.ajc"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","takenOn":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/I3nfdg_Ib-b5z3G-aIHRYmT1KEA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p11/AJC/2020/05/18/Images/eaves.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"PWQA6HB4QNGU7M3Z7EWYR7HPSM"},"created_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","alignment":"right","publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","height":700,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg?auth=4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SHL4USVA2FHHBPYTMMSD5E3CWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546229},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King’s ethical philosophy was profoundly shaped by his religious upbringing and formal education. He grew up in Atlanta, the son of a Baptist minister and a nurturing mother. He matriculated in the Atlanta public schools, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School at age 15, then continued his education at Morehouse College. While at Morehouse, he was mentored by its president, Benjamin Elijah Mays, attended daily chapel services, participated on the debate team and joined the local chapter of the NAACP. During these formative years, he began to hone his ideas about justice and equality. Even as a student, he displayed a fierce commitment to activism, <a href=\"https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/kick-dust-letter-editor-atlanta-constitution\" target=\"_blank\">writing a letter to the editor of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a> newspaper abhorring the everyday practice of segregation in Georgia. This early engagement laid the groundwork for his future role as a leader in the civil rights movement, through which he would advocate for justice, equality and nonviolence."},{"_id":"HE2PEG226ZFGRKQNTWFVHVMWCE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546230},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"A pivotal moment happened in King’s life in 1955. Slightly more than a year after becoming pastor at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, in Montgomery, Alabama, he assumed leadership in the Montgomery Improvement Association, which marked the beginning of his enduring legacy. He led the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted 381 days, standing firm against an unjust system of discrimination against African Americans. King’s approach was rooted in the principles of nonviolence and moral clarity, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. He understood that leadership comes with ethical responsibilities, particularly to those who are oppressed."},{"_id":"3U3GZVLNXFDHFJJ4PF7HIN6XNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546231},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we anxiously await the start of Donald Trump’s second term as president, it is essential to expect the ethical responsibilities that leaders owe to their constituents. I am a former elected official, having served as chair of Fulton County for nearly 11 years. I was often complimented by constituents, who stated “nothing unethical happened” under my watch in Fulton County. I know leadership is not merely about winning elections or wielding power; it is about serving the public with integrity and accountability. King’s vision of leadership calls on those in positions of authority to prioritize the well-being of their constituents, fostering an environment where justice and equality thrive as well as harmony."},{"_id":"WWISPP7EPZD57OMVJ6TYR5MD7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546232},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One of King’s most powerful messages was the importance of standing up against injustice, even when it is inconvenient. He often spoke out against systemic racism, economic inequality, and war, urging elected leaders to take a stand for what is right. In contrast, the first Trump administration often fueled division and discord, prioritizing personal interests over the collective good. This erosion of ethical leadership is a stark reminder of the consequences of abandoning moral responsibility."},{"_id":"UOR5XUJE3RD6RGR5V4ETHKKDBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546233},"type":"text","content":"Integrity in public office is a necessity. Leaders must act with transparency, honesty and a commitment to the truth. When leaders fail to uphold these values, they jeopardize the very foundation of democracy, as we learned four years ago on the Jan. 6. insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In his day, King boldly used his prophetic voice to challenge the actions of segregationist governors George Wallace of Alabama and Ross Barnett of Mississippi, along with Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. King envisioned a society in which leaders would be held accountable for their actions and decisions, recognizing that their choices have profound impacts on the lives of individuals and communities."},{"_id":"KP3O2VW5BFCKNPVVI5JBW75VQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546234},"type":"text","content":"Over the next four years, it is imperative that we, as Americans, demand a higher standard of moral responsibility from our leaders. The lessons of King’s life and work should serve as a guiding light, reminding us that ethical leadership is not an option; it is an obligation. We must support leaders who prioritize the common good, champion justice and embody the principles of integrity and accountability."},{"_id":"6OQ266M6ZJCCVAEW42QLUZLMJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737387546235},"type":"text","content":"As we commemorate the King holiday, let us reflect on the moral responsibilities that come with leadership. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to hold our leaders to a higher standard — a standard that King exemplified throughout his life. Let us honor his legacy by demanding moral responsibility in leadership, ensuring that our democracy remains a beacon of hope and integrity for all."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"King’s life and work should serve as a guiding light as Americans demand a higher standard of moral responsibility from our leaders. "},"description":{"basic":"King’s life and work should serve as a guiding light as Americans demand a higher standard of moral responsibility from our leaders."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":""}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"9d5080e23c8631894de90d03e63ab56dc9da19e0b24ce17a9d027278c128f0f0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Andrew Harnik","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"MLK Day Trump Inauguration","width":6000,"caption":"A wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Jan. 16, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AHOWRY2632D42R7WS5PKVDTMHA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AHOWRY2632D42R7WS5PKVDTMHA.jpg?auth=9d5080e23c8631894de90d03e63ab56dc9da19e0b24ce17a9d027278c128f0f0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-reflecting-on-the-trump-era-through-the-lens-of-martin-luther-king-jr/MFLFHQDLBVDZBNJ6YGASS3JCAU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-20T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"John Eaves","description":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","_id":"jheaves","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Eaves","image":"","role":"Contributing columnist","education":[],"longBio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, county government.","firstName":"John","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"H.","_id":"jheaves","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-05-22T11:53:54.103Z","byline":"John H. Eaves","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Reflecting on the Trump era through the lens of Martin Luther King Jr."},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-20T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-20T15:40:38.9Z","_id":"MFLFHQDLBVDZBNJ6YGASS3JCAU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"9d5080e23c8631894de90d03e63ab56dc9da19e0b24ce17a9d027278c128f0f0"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Andrew Harnik","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"MLK Day Trump Inauguration","width":6000,"caption":"A wreath-laying ceremony at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on Jan. 16, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AHOWRY2632D42R7WS5PKVDTMHA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AHOWRY2632D42R7WS5PKVDTMHA.jpg?auth=9d5080e23c8631894de90d03e63ab56dc9da19e0b24ce17a9d027278c128f0f0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"CKCNUZXEWBHNRKG574XSHO3VEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996595},"type":"text","content":"Earlier this month, I convened more than 600 Black men in downtown Atlanta. We came together to begin to chart an agenda for our community. We discussed economics, education, health and criminal justice reform, among other issues. We closed out the day by marching to the King Memorial to show our respect to America’s greatest son and to symbolically let him see that there are still brothers ready to hold our leaders accountable and to get into what congressman John Lewis called “good trouble.”"},{"_id":"OZEFMAKFZZDZXEHYTNADIYWWLU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":190,"comment":"m1:23"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996596},"type":"text","content":"As the men spoke, my mind took me back to August 2016, when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump infamously made his pitch to Black voters by asking, “<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-jasg-_E5M\" target=\"_blank\">What the hell do you have to lose?</a>”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2a53def9134f8a021926dbf962d1864891a79cbd7fe16b93536b9395fa6fa72e"},"caption":"Jamal-Harrison Bryant","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jamal-Harrison Bryant","width":1030,"_id":"7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/CirPzQcN7KxnnfgWoqn44aLkJpg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/CirPzQcN7KxnnfgWoqn44aLkJpg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/CirPzQcN7KxnnfgWoqn44aLkJpg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/zTtQtAvpc3H1ycqOVzFdUtioRhE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"jhb 4.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"MMYLUERXKZGL5PU27AMR4FWYDE"},"created_date":"2024-05-15T14:39:26Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-15T14:39:26Z","alignment":"right","height":1157,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7CCRYNFJFFHXRGELGGPBW7OYXA.jpg?auth=2a53def9134f8a021926dbf962d1864891a79cbd7fe16b93536b9395fa6fa72e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CLDIXHFFT5G7HNYIYRM4CVPCCM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996598},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lewis, the men who came together on that day know that there is much to lose when we elect leaders who do not value us, who will not work with us and who enact policies that do not work for us."},{"_id":"V5JVL34B2ZBL5LE7E3LBTKW7EQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996599},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Let’s start with the economy. King’s emphasis in his later years was to shift the energy of his movement from civil rights to <i>silver rights</i>, realizing that true freedom was rooted in economic power and greater opportunities to escape poverty."},{"_id":"JUFOYVX6W5GRZL5S3ZKLXB63WQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996600},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump’s return to the White House raises critical economic questions for America’s minority communities. His first term saw the enactment of tax policies that disproportionately benefited wealthy individuals and corporations while doing little to address systemic economic inequities. Minority communities, already grappling with generational wealth gaps, could face further challenges under this second Trump presidency."},{"_id":"UHY46UAICRF63KLJGOGPGMTFRA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"NGDWG57DYJHQTADSAKSAW6V4BQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Shared date of King holiday and Trump inauguration brings culture clash","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/king-day-trump-inauguration-brings-culture-clash/C7BK2A4GYVHN7CLE3DP2EUTGVA/"},{"_id":"Q7AV4JNS7NEVFGZ6IWAPNQ25VY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996601},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One of the most significant concerns is the rollback of policies designed to promote economic equity. During his first term, Trump weakened fair housing regulations, such as the <a href=\"https://www.hud.gov/AFFH\" target=\"_blank\">Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule</a>, which aimed to combat racial segregation in housing. Without robust federal oversight, the widening wealth gap between white and minority households will likely persist, exacerbating barriers to homeownership and wealth accumulation."},{"_id":"XX3RGT2H25HLVAACGPD2OWWMDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996602},"type":"text","content":"Additionally, Trump’s emphasis on deregulation and cuts to social programs could undermine safety nets that many marginalized communities rely on. Funding for public education, health care access through Medicaid and job-training programs are likely again to face cuts, limiting pathways to upward mobility. Such austerity measures disproportionately harm Black and Latino populations, which experience higher poverty and unemployment — not because we lack motivation, ingenuity or ability but because of the persistent, intractable barriers of racism propped up by the politically powerful and their policies that give too few of us a fair chance to prosper."},{"_id":"BMLG6ECB6VFIDPW74WPIIZUZJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996603},"type":"text","content":"Indeed, the stakes are high."},{"_id":"FGY4JG2CPVG7NMOFMH4KVRHRM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996604},"type":"text","content":"Minority communities need policies that close wealth gaps, ensure equitable access to education and housing, and invest in long-term economic development. A second Trump presidency, judging by his first, likely means a continued disregard for these urgent needs, leaving millions further behind in an economy increasingly built for the few at the expense of the many."},{"_id":"NE7VKVHEYRGZXNNADUF4A446C4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KGP2M2G4GVAPBDUBQSYM2DTGPU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"On MLK Day, an inauguration and protest by absence","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-on-mlk-day-an-inauguration-and-protest-by-absence/RPWRUTQCUNDW7G5ONELYPBNKX4/"},{"_id":"F5FRBVYJ4JH7FN7Y3CTVBCK4WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996605},"type":"text","content":"Emblematic of the peril minority communities face under a second Trump presidency is his plan to roll back diversity initiatives across the nation. Trump has repeatedly attacked policies promoting inclusivity in education, workplaces and government. From <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/03/us/politics/trump-affirmative-action-race-schools.html\" target=\"_blank\">rescinding Obama-era guidelines on affirmative action</a> in schools to issuing executive orders <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-diversity-training-lawsuit-naacp-4c426e9f14fcf0618eac5d457e0d2066\" target=\"_blank\">limiting diversity training in federal agencies</a>, Trump has demonstrated an aversion to programs designed to level the playing field for marginalized groups."},{"_id":"57YN7LNNHRATXPRYIREJSUE6RA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996606},"type":"text","content":"In education, Trump’s administration opposed race-conscious admissions policies, jeopardizing efforts to create equitable access to elite institutions for underrepresented students. A return to such policies would stifle progress in closing educational achievement gaps and limit opportunities for minority students to thrive in competitive fields."},{"_id":"4A65UNQ7E5HWFMOFFGMV2B42SI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":106,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996607},"type":"text","content":"In the workplace, Trump has called diversity training programs “<a href=\"https://seramount.com/articles/what-a-second-presidential-term-for-donald-trump-means-for-dei-leaders-navigating-uncertainty-and-seizing-opportunities/\" target=\"_blank\">divisive</a>” and “<a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-54038888\" target=\"_blank\">anti-American</a>.” If his antidiversity policies are enacted, these measures will hinder organizations from addressing unconscious bias and fostering inclusive environments. Such a rollback would disproportionately affect marginalized employees, perpetuating inequities in hiring, promotion and pay. This shift threatens years of progress in creating equitable institutions and ensuring all voices are represented in shaping America’s future."},{"_id":"NBAF6TG2DFHINL3RXQSDJKAYFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":21,"comment":"Sente "},{"pos":168,"comment":"(DEI) "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996608},"type":"text","content":"In his <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/pete-hegseth-confirmation-hearing/card/what-has-pete-hegseth-said-about-wokeness-and-diversity-programs--ChQmNCwZrdZT6gCkxAm8\" target=\"_blank\">recent Senate </a><a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/pete-hegseth-confirmation-hearing/card/what-has-pete-hegseth-said-about-wokeness-and-diversity-programs--ChQmNCwZrdZT6gCkxAm8\" target=\"_blank\">confirmation hearing</a>, Pete Hegseth, Trump’s nominee for secretary of Defense, expressed strong opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military. Hegseth criticized “wokeness” and DEI efforts, asserting that they undermine military cohesion and effectiveness."},{"_id":"Y6VQGII5EZGMBD6RR6ANQNHEKA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"EMPSX4HCS5FZRAAEIE6F5ZZB3M"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Reflecting on the Trump era through the lens of Martin Luther King Jr.","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-reflecting-on-the-trump-era-through-the-lens-of-martin-luther-king-jr/MFLFHQDLBVDZBNJ6YGASS3JCAU/"},{"_id":"KTDJHOBF7JC5PIVRN2QTGHLF64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996609},"type":"text","content":"Hegseth’s stance suggests that, under a second Trump administration, there could be significant rollbacks of DEI programs not only in the military but potentially across other federal agencies. This is a dangerous, regressive position to take and portends calamity for minorities who work for the federal government."},{"_id":"HT2UYSSCSJDKVOFRNWYNTHMJEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996610},"type":"text","content":"Eliminating DEI efforts would reverse progress made toward inclusivity and equal opportunity, leading to a less diverse and less fair environment in our federal workforce. Such programs are essential for addressing systemic biases and fostering environments in which individuals from all backgrounds can succeed."},{"_id":"7ZAF7V4FZNBGXDJUD5J54DQKLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996611},"type":"text","content":"Monday at high noon, Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States. Perhaps the most insidious threat of a second Trump presidency is the weaponization of division. During his first term, Trump exploited racial, ethnic and cultural differences to sow discord and inflame tensions. This divisive rhetoric not only harmed communities of color but also poisoned the broader social fabric of our nation. I join those poised and positioned to hold Trump accountable and to fight against any measure that pulls us backward to the bad ol’ days."},{"_id":"MDE46DM6RNDW7ABRMLVJVTNEOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":432,"comment":"One "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996612},"type":"text","content":"Some say it is irresponsible to voice concerns or criticisms of the president before he even takes office or as he does so, but I disagree. Accountability is a cornerstone of democracy, and any presidency — whether it is the first or second term — must be scrutinized to ensure it serves the best interests of all people. Leaders have a responsibility to critically engage with any administration, holding it accountable from Day 1 to uphold democratic principles, safeguard institutions and protect vulnerable populations. Waiting to see what unfolds risks normalizing harmful policies or actions, delaying necessary interventions that could prevent long-term damage. Accountability is not opposition; it is a duty to the people and the future of the country."},{"_id":"E3XEK3KUBBAANMTESL5UPB4YN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737072996613},"type":"text","content":"<i>The Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant is senior pastor of New Birth Church.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Perhaps the most insidious threat of a second Trump presidency is the weaponization of division. "},"description":{"basic":"Accountability is a cornerstone of democracy, and any presidency must be scrutinized to ensure it serves the best interests of all people."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carlos Gonzalez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"OPED-MINN-SCHOOLS-DEI-EDITORIAL-MS","width":4320,"caption":"Demonstrators make their way on April 22 to the Sandburg Education Center during A Youth for Unity rally and march before an Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting in Anoka, Minnesota. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg","height":3000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg?auth=fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-on-the-king-holiday-a-reminder-that-accountability-is-not-opposition/SMQUJJ5OAFEFLBK43VT5AEMLJA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-20T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jamal-Harrison Bryant","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"On the King holiday, a reminder that accountability is not opposition"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-20T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-20T18:54:22.463Z","_id":"SMQUJJ5OAFEFLBK43VT5AEMLJA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Carlos Gonzalez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"OPED-MINN-SCHOOLS-DEI-EDITORIAL-MS","width":4320,"caption":"Demonstrators make their way on April 22 to the Sandburg Education Center during A Youth for Unity rally and march before an Anoka-Hennepin school board meeting in Anoka, Minnesota. (Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg","height":3000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7GW6J6MT4XGVWSISHIOC5HSGGQ.jpg?auth=fe0ab12dd0150e129347c8b0ca3d715c4a73e3827fd737d2bbc63bfa23ae5955&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"LGW6NFQ6LFE5HPUCTHJUKQF5TU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":440,"comment":"has "}],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631118},"type":"text","content":"When the College Football Playoffs reached a crescendo on Jan. 3 with the University of Notre Dame’s impressive <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs/georgia-football-defeated-by-notre-dame-in-sugar-bowl/76R4KXJD2VDG5GAQLIX7FLHHAI/\" target=\"_blank\">triumph over the Georgia Bulldogs</a>, a perennial powerhouse, it was inevitable that attention would turn to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/marcus-freeman-leads-notre-dame-to-historic-victory-headed-to-atlanta-for-cfp-finals/RXNKEF2DQNEVRM7L3YREHRZCXE/\" target=\"_blank\">Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s history-making national title run</a>. Freeman’s responses when asked about being the first Black head coach in the semifinals and then the championship game after his team wins thus far have been a disappointing negation of his achievement’s historical significance."},{"_id":"ZXYJV65IO5GV7IYDZE2YGIJUEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631119},"type":"text","content":"When interviewed on the field after Notre Dame survived its latest playoff battle in Miami, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/marcus-freeman-leads-notre-dame-to-historic-victory-headed-to-atlanta-for-cfp-finals/RXNKEF2DQNEVRM7L3YREHRZCXE/\" target=\"_blank\">knocking Penn State out</a> of title contention, Freeman again refused to unequivocally own or at least comfortably acknowledge it. Instead, the head coach of one of the most famous programs in sports said he didn’t want to take the spotlight off the team and he hoped there would just be more “opportunities” for deserving people to lead “young men” like his <i>— </i>Asian, Black and white, too. Say what?"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"726d8729bb1b3d228d234a9cf759c31125405c2475719b0b03a885603a29ce05"},"caption":"Stephane Dunn","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"david collins","type":"author","byline":"david collins"}]},"subtitle":"Stephane Dunn","width":567,"_id":"7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/fVJNbfio_wdcH6H7PNnqJH0oST8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/fVJNbfio_wdcH6H7PNnqJH0oST8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/fVJNbfio_wdcH6H7PNnqJH0oST8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/68m1L7LcokLtN7ufnWJNvEYIFBg=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Stephane Dunn.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"IEUEEQTOBNCMFN5CVMIFCWRSS4"},"created_date":"2025-01-17T22:08:06Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-17T22:08:06Z","alignment":"right","height":423,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7WBMDXLHCFEXRLGREIHNVDZG74.JPG?auth=726d8729bb1b3d228d234a9cf759c31125405c2475719b0b03a885603a29ce05&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"4G3SPR3WOZD53IZDMFY3MMHSNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631121},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"My Aunt Joyce was the first to call. “That’s the only thing I don’t like that he’s done, not owning it. Doesn’t he realize it makes us feel good to seeing his accomplishments?” She’s lived within a 10-minute drive of Notre Dame’s campus for decades, and she and my mother have kept Coach Freeman in their prayers since he became head coach."},{"_id":"OBXHIKY5D5D3NDSZRLBOGIMU6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T23:20:41.970Z","replies":[{"date":"2025-01-17T23:47:50.994Z","text":"I fixed it! Thanks!","user":"Jamie Riley","email":"Jamie.Riley@ajc.com"}],"start":502,"end":503,"text":"I don't know who questioned this earlier, but I agree it's confusing, and the suggested replacement is good.","user":"Bonny Jones","email":"Bonny.Jones@ajc.com"}],"_id":1737152631122},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This smacks eerily of a dilemma the poet-writer Langston Hughes interrogated in his 1926 essay, “<a href=\"https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/69395/the-negro-artist-and-the-racial-mountain\" target=\"_blank\">The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain</a>.” Though Hughes refers specifically to writers and artists, his cautionary note remains relevant for underrepresented Black public creatives, whether in art or sports. <i>Hughes argues that artists should embrace the wealth and inspiration of their history and cultural reservoir and not worry about whether the white mainstream sees or tags them as “Negro” artists.</i> Hughes writes, “But this is the mountain standing in the way of any true Negro art in America — this urge within the race toward whiteness, the desire to pour racial individuality into the mold of American standardization, and to be as little Negro and as much American as possible.” Attention on Freeman’s racial identification and the politics of race that certainly have played a role in Notre Dame’s and college football’s history generally is clearly an uncomfortable point of focus for the coach. It shouldn’t be."},{"_id":"QIKV5EY5GFDDRML4GRFB3WP47A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631123},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"American sports politics today is a study of just how much history has shaped it. College and professional sports have been a microcosm of the legacy of racial and gender inequities in opportunity, whether in executive, head coach or quarterback positions. At Notre Dame, history is everything when it comes to football. Until recently, the program has remained relevant among far more dominant contemporary college football programs because of Notre Dame’s storied competitive and championship history — a reign at the top that has lasted for decades."},{"_id":"MXHYXYD4V5COPPPNWQLFJFZ4DU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631124},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Freeman is Notre Dame’s second Black head football coach. The first was <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/02/sports/college-football-new-notre-dame-coach-senses-weight-of-the-job.html\" target=\"_blank\">Tyrone Willingham in 2002</a>. His run <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/09/sports/ncaafootball/outgoing-president-opposed-firing-willingham.html\" target=\"_blank\">ended prematurely in 2004</a> amid much controversy about <a href=\"https://www.redandblack.com/sports/did-notre-dame-treat-willingham-unfairly/article_82b9af9a-6f71-5a15-ae0e-26f093ca6082.html\" target=\"_blank\">Notre Dame’s treatment of its first Black coach</a>. Freeman, in just his third year, can make history in more than one way. If he wins the national title in his third year, he’ll follow several Notre Dame coaching legends: <a href=\"https://www.onefootdown.com/2015/4/22/8374451/lets-talk-about-frank-leahy-navigating-wwii-building-a-college\" target=\"_blank\">Frank Leahy in 1943</a>, <a href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/8/2/18409480/ara-parseghian-never-regretted-playing-for-tie-in-game-of-century\" target=\"_blank\">Ara Parseghian in 1966</a> and <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/10/sports/dan-devine-football-coach-is-dead-at-77.html\" target=\"_blank\">Dan Devine in 1977</a>. This is not history-making to run from — and especially so considering how much more challenging it has been for coaches who aren’t white to attain elite program head coaching positions and get the time and support to succeed on their merit when they do."},{"_id":"MYLVRILYHND6BIOJDVKWT6QYSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631125},"type":"text","content":"Though all head coaches at champion pedigree programs face scrutiny and the threat of being fired sooner rather than later, it’s quietly understood that the timer for success or bust has tended to be shorter for Black coaches."},{"_id":"YME6OXB6QVHXBKQXW2DCOMPWJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631126},"type":"text","content":"Coach Freeman is admirably winning big on the field and in the locker room, but not when it comes to owning this problematic history. Though his public platform is bigger than it’s ever been, he’s standing on some historical shoulders, joining the pantheon of other college and professional football sports history makers, from legendary football college coaches like <a href=\"https://www.robinsonmuseum.com/pages/bio.php\" target=\"_blank\">Grambling State’s Eddie Robinson</a> and <a href=\"https://gsutigers.com/news/2024/10/29/football-grambling-state-legend-doug-williams-selected-as-the-2024-afca-trailblazer-award-recipient.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Doug Williams</a>, the first Black football players in formerly segregated elite NFL and college football teams like <a href=\"https://strongofheart.nd.edu/profiles/wayne-edmonds-2012/\" target=\"_blank\">Notre Dame’s Wayne Edmonds</a> (1952) to the NFL’s former Indianapolis Colts head coach <a href=\"https://www.profootballhof.com/players/tony-dungy/\" target=\"_blank\">Tony Dungy</a> (Superbowl XLI winner), who, in another first in a Superbowl game, defeated a team led by another African American head coach, <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc7Rm0RJtmQ\" target=\"_blank\">Lovie Smith</a>, of the Chicago Bears."},{"_id":"N2CC2J2IZFE7PJ2XLSFAYXZCCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631127},"type":"text","content":"This year, the College Football Championship game falls on the national holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and it’s being held in Atlanta, King’s hometown and a key site for civil rights activism. Freeman knows he has serious coaching credibility. Hopefully, win or lose, before or after the game, when the microphone is thrust into his face and millions are watching, Freeman will honor history and understand his own moment within it. He doesn’t have to be bold like Deion Sanders (Coach Prime) and call out specific inequities or declare himself a barrier-breaker nor attempt lofty philosophical platitudes."},{"_id":"IOINQICXDFFA5F7B7CUQCCNC7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631128},"type":"text","content":"King already nailed articulating the dream of being judged by the “content of one’s character.” Coach Freeman just needs to recognize that his getting here, to the most competitive height of college football, opens the door wider for other Black coaches. He should quell that desire to deflect attention from it. This, too, is a teachable moment for his players who are writing their own history."},{"_id":"P7UKN4HGMRHF7IRKWWEBRUWG6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631129},"type":"text","content":"When you write your own history, you are adding a footstep that others after you can step into and beyond."},{"_id":"FNMJ3VV6YFFI7K3HD45CEJZ2NU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737152631130},"type":"text","content":"<i>Stephane Dunn, a University of Notre Dame alum, is a writer, filmmaker and professor at Morehouse College. She is the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p075483\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Baad Bitches & Sassy Supermamas: Black Power Action Films</i></a><i>” and “</i><a href=\"https://www.leeandlow.com/books/snitchers/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Snitchers</i></a><i>” and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Newsweek, Vogue, Ms. magazine, </i><a href=\"http://cnn.com/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>CNN.com</i></a><i>, the Chronicle of Higher Education and the Root, among others.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"This is not history-making to run from — especially considering how much more challenging it has been for coaches who aren’t white to attain elite coaching positions."},"description":{"basic":"This is not history-making to run from — especially considering how much more challenging it has been for coaches who aren’t white to attain elite coaching positions."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"575efa6a10fe9d7a66f1694c74946073fc9f2e8c8ce649b88bc73bf5f094682a"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Lynne Sladky","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"CFP Orange Bowl Football","width":3255,"caption":"Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman touches the Orange Bowl trophy at the end of the Jan. 9 Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Penn State in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5HMVJFKSXT7H2DUHBS3BSGUMHY.jpg","height":2170,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5HMVJFKSXT7H2DUHBS3BSGUMHY.jpg?auth=575efa6a10fe9d7a66f1694c74946073fc9f2e8c8ce649b88bc73bf5f094682a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-coach-marcus-freeman-should-own-making-history-race-included/3B67VFYJAVAYJHLF2A72W225FU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-19T17:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Stephane Dunn","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Coach Marcus Freeman should own making history — race included"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-19T17:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-19T17:00:00.857Z","_id":"3B67VFYJAVAYJHLF2A72W225FU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"575efa6a10fe9d7a66f1694c74946073fc9f2e8c8ce649b88bc73bf5f094682a"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Lynne Sladky","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"CFP Orange Bowl Football","width":3255,"caption":"Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman touches the Orange Bowl trophy at the end of the Jan. 9 Orange Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game against Penn State in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5HMVJFKSXT7H2DUHBS3BSGUMHY.jpg","height":2170,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5HMVJFKSXT7H2DUHBS3BSGUMHY.jpg?auth=575efa6a10fe9d7a66f1694c74946073fc9f2e8c8ce649b88bc73bf5f094682a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"GQVPOMWSXJAOZFHAUF2NONKT6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368219},"type":"text","content":"The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” These words, written in 1947 while King was attending Morehouse College, are as profound today as they were then. For Atlanta Public Schools (APS) — the district that helped nurture Dr. King during his formative years — the question of what we owe him is not rhetorical but deeply personal and pressing."},{"_id":"7ISJWSKBYNDSZPYAEVICQ5PTFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368220},"type":"text","content":"King’s educational journey began within APS. At the age of 5, he attended <a href=\"https://africanamericanheritagesites.stqry.app/en/story/55815\" target=\"_blank\">Yonge Street Colored School</a>, which he was required to leave because of the formal enrollment age rules at the time. He later attended Howard Junior High School, graduating with distinction, before moving on to Washington High School. In 1944, the same year his sister Willie Christine graduated, King completed his high school studies at Morehouse College, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/08/books/the-new-definitive-biography-of-martin-luther-king-jr.html\" target=\"_blank\">entering at just 15 years old</a>. One thing that stood out throughout King’s youth was his talent as a skilled orator, winning him honors in competitive speech competitions."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c"},"caption":"Erika Y. Mitchell, APS Board of Education chair","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"GFDJQK3LDFEI7CLUH4SYV2MQXM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Erika Y. Mitchell","width":1049,"_id":"NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/l7mCdVpOKT9iu68IXRJe00rRFBw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Erika Mitchell.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"HCTK2XEB3FE2ZOKQ626ZIPA7BY"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T16:26:39Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:31:55Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg?auth=e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"GYF6BZPJ2NDDPMA6DVFEB4EJ7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368222},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Education was not merely a pathway to personal success for King; it was a civil right and a cornerstone of equality. He envisioned desegregated schools that provided equitable opportunities for all students, regardless of race or background."},{"_id":"G2UKJ42JCBFG5DLVOZLILCKPIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368223},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King’s journey as a global civil rights leader began in Atlanta, a city renowned for its legacy of Black excellence in education. APS played a vital role in shaping his early development, equipping him with the foundational tools to lead a movement that transformed the nation."},{"_id":"VOAQVQIUJRBA3OFWOYUFDLBLWY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368224},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As stewards of the very school system that influenced him, what do we owe King’s legacy? At its heart, we owe him a school system that reflects his vision: one that prioritizes equity, critical thinking and character development for every student."},{"_id":"WF5FWE456JGDDNJYZAPPH7JL4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368225},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King’s fight for justice compels us to confront the ongoing inequities within our schools. Though APS has made significant progress in improving graduation rates and student outcomes, systemic disparities in resources, opportunities and support persist. Many students in underserved communities still face barriers that hinder their ability to succeed academically and personally."},{"_id":"PTN7BNKPD5DGJFKCQKFND33IZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368226},"type":"text","content":"To truly honor King, APS must intensify its efforts to close these gaps. This requires providing all students with access to high-quality teachers, a rigorous curriculum, mental health resources and the tools necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world."},{"_id":"BC5V7UIQZJFQFMTMFN34COTTIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368227},"type":"text","content":"King believed that education should empower individuals to challenge injustice and create a more equitable society. APS must strive to produce academically successful students along with socially conscious leaders capable of critical thought and courageous action."},{"_id":"DJJOVDWQMNGFDFF3D6FSZFAJPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368228},"type":"text","content":"Integrating programs that promote civic engagement, cultural awareness and an understanding of civil rights history into the curriculum is essential. These are not optional additions but necessary components of a well-rounded education. By embedding these principles into our schools, we empower students to carry forward King’s mission in their own lives and communities."},{"_id":"SVF4JJYUURCR5EQ4YTFZ7Q2BIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368229},"type":"text","content":"The question of what APS owes the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. is answered by the call to action. It challenges us — as educators, leaders and community members — to rise to the occasion and create a school system that embodies his vision of equity and excellence. Celebrating his legacy once a year is not enough. His principles must be embedded in the culture and operations of our schools."},{"_id":"26RD26YYSJFABPPGWW7CU54YWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368230},"type":"text","content":"We owe King more than words of admiration. We owe him action. We owe him schools where all children, regardless of their ZIP code or socioeconomic status, have the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential. We owe him a district that prioritizes not only intelligence but also character, compassion and courage."},{"_id":"2CC6N7XVVVDCREJUOHDYA3OBWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368231},"type":"text","content":"As we reflect on King’s life and legacy, let us recommit to the work of building an Atlanta Public Schools system that honors him — not just in words, but in deeds. This is not just a responsibility; it is a moral imperative."},{"_id":"ORHNMFRTYRHIDK4JZDVOTJ2ZAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139368232},"type":"text","content":"<i>Erika Y. Mitchell is chair of the Atlanta Board of Education Board.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"At the very least, we owe him a school system that reflects his vision."},"description":{"basic":"At the very least, we owe him a school system that reflects his vision."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/education","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Education","description":"School and education news from metro Atlanta and Georgia from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. including Atlanta Georgia schools: Atlanta, Gwinnett County Schools, Cobb County, DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton, Buford, Marietta, Decatur, city of Atlanta schools","_id":"/education","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/news","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"School and education news from metro Atlanta and Georgia from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. including Atlanta Georgia schools: Atlanta, Gwinnett County Schools, Cobb County, DeKalb, Fulton, Clayton, Buford, Marietta, Decatur, city of Atlanta schools","site_title":"Atlanta Schools: Education and School News"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Education"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Education","_id":"/education","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/news","/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/"]},"order":{"AmpNav":1027,"default":1077,"MainMenu2024":2005,"SectionMap":1049,"ComposerNav":1002}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./education","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"atlanta public schools"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"5176ee6da63d3505c13691d6b2c5b24edf4c6f5938e6cf7c24f0d5ccf8011bf3"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jason Getz","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-MLK-ANNIVERSARY-3-AT","width":3000,"caption":"The Martin Luther King Jr. statue outside the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse College campus. 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(Jason Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/URVRL2NMVOGZGHWVDHA5YMH4JA.jpg","height":2001,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/URVRL2NMVOGZGHWVDHA5YMH4JA.jpg?auth=5176ee6da63d3505c13691d6b2c5b24edf4c6f5938e6cf7c24f0d5ccf8011bf3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"TPL6N3OSSNA3PFLWHWVM6K5K5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814153},"type":"text","content":"With the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday upon us, there is no better time to set the record straight about the civil rights leader’s first major campaign after Montgomery."},{"_id":"ISQFIVSMCRB2XD5PQJ463PBMNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814154},"type":"text","content":"Though the <a href=\"https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/albany-movement\" target=\"_blank\">Albany Movement</a> has long been called a <a href=\"https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/albany-movement/\" target=\"_blank\">defeat for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.</a>, nothing could be further from the truth."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"85b9a946271adb058eb5e5ce0ba58a42e496c635a7ca37a53047cc958e5d49a8"},"caption":"Clennon L. King","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FDFUC5MIZJFFBAXU5CVRP24SGQ.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Clennon L. 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King Headshot.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6ELEF72UEBHBXOLFOYL633BIP4"},"created_date":"2024-08-09T17:18:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-08-09T17:18:42Z","alignment":"right","height":1282,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FDFUC5MIZJFFBAXU5CVRP24SGQ.jpeg?auth=85b9a946271adb058eb5e5ce0ba58a42e496c635a7ca37a53047cc958e5d49a8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CQYDSBXWEJGH5IXHHA37J4MEGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814155},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The fact is that the campaign was no more a failure than Pearl Harbor was for Navy sailors, Auschwitz and Dachau was for Jews or 9/11 for New Yorkers and the Pentagon."},{"_id":"M4ECM6FXANCP3L57GPBQF7SMAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814156},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Movement veterans were the victims, not the perpetrators. The good guys, not the bad guys. The ones who assumed the moral high ground, not the low ground, successfully wiping segregation laws off Albany’s books even before Birmingham."},{"_id":"GKPOITH7G5C4VOSDPVQ2RENJF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814157},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Indeed, the campaign was a calculated hit executed by two ambitious white men in pursuit of wealth, power and the White House."},{"_id":"62TD62ZHXVG6BKOCUM6Q45QXRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814158},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Traces of those two men’s relationship first surfaced publicly in early 1957."},{"_id":"67KQDMQKQFH4ZFTHULCZDPDHDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814159},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"That’s when wealthy New England <a href=\"https://crdl.usg.edu/record/ugabma_walb_walb00061\" target=\"_blank\">businessman James H. Gray</a>, who settled in Albany in the 1940s and made himself into a <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/21/obituaries/james-h-gray-70-publisher-and-a-former-segregationist.html\" target=\"_blank\">leading segregationist voice</a>, arranged for a rising political star, Sen. John F. Kennedy, to visit the city."},{"_id":"7BGFQV5VCRAUBAB55ZPC5FR5HI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814160},"type":"text","content":"How well they knew each other remains unclear. But Gray and Kennedy had a lot in common. A year apart in age, both hailed from Massachusetts, graduated from Ivy League schools and served in World War II. Both were also state Democratic Party chairs."},{"_id":"WQMSQYJM3ZEGBJAFVXJDYVGXOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814161},"type":"text","content":"Unlike Kennedy, Gray married into money. He invested his wife’s wealth to build a nascent communications empire. He acquired a daily newspaper, penned a column that unapologetically took a hard line on segregation and <a href=\"https://www.walb.com/2019/04/05/gray-legacy-walb-founder-james-h-gray-remembered/\" target=\"_blank\">launched the second TV station</a> in the state. He also owned a radio station and a controlling interest in a general aviation airport."},{"_id":"XPBOZKHCFNGHFNGEIMZQE2EE2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814162},"type":"text","content":"From that airfield on Thursday, Feb. 7, 1957, Gray dispatched a pilot and plane bound for Washington, D.C., to pick up Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, for an event. That evening, the politician who had made a national splash the year before at the Democratic National Convention served as <a href=\"https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/albany-ga-19570207\" target=\"_blank\">keynote speaker at Albany’s annual Chamber of Commerce dinner</a>, which Gray televised live. The couple overnighted at Gray’s Radium Springs home, where Kennedy reportedly slept on the floor because of his bad back. Then, Gray delivered them the next morning to the airport, where they flew on to Florida for a family vacation."},{"_id":"6TTWGWB7FZGT3OEFJ52Y7OIFL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814163},"type":"text","content":"Kennedy’s trip makes clear that he and Gray shared something more valuable than money: a relationship and, apparently, an understanding: If one needed help, the other had his back, whether it be support for a White House run or help containing Black Americans who had forgotten their place."},{"_id":"WTYRNDEN7VGTBP7QBQWJKIGDFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814164},"type":"text","content":"In advance of the Albany Movement, Kennedy’s stance on race was a mixed bag. On Sept. 9, 1957, in the name of not alienating Southern Democrats and jeopardizing his political future, he voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, aimed at protecting Black voting rights. Three years later, on the eve of his election, he secured the Oct. 27, 1960, <a href=\"https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/interview-after-release-georgia-state-prison-reidsville\" target=\"_blank\">release of MLK from jail at Reidsville</a>, winning overwhelming Black support, which helped him land the White House."},{"_id":"JVX6RGGHTVFI5ONU5KPAUMARRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814165},"type":"text","content":"Coming off that win, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/thisfarbyfaith/witnesses/charles_sherrod.html#:~:text=Early%20on%2C%20one%20of%20SNCC's,during%20which%20hundreds%20were%20arrested.\" target=\"_blank\">Charles Sherrod rolled into Albany</a> in November 1961, organizing Black voter registration and kick-starting the Albany Movement."},{"_id":"J2VOU2BIBRGFHBQFSC32Q26HJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814166},"type":"text","content":"Gray and the powers-that-be pushed back hard, partnering with surrounding counties and placing hundreds behind bars, including King."},{"_id":"FXJD5HL5QBE5JDHD5DAW7YSPCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814167},"type":"text","content":"Movement leaders telegrammed the Oval Office, naively expecting Kennedy to reciprocate their support shown at the polls the year before."},{"_id":"IYDJHIR5HZF7NH36MIDN6XHEVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814168},"type":"text","content":"They were dumbfounded as they <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b00JTFwLc1k\" target=\"_blank\">watched the administration stand on the sidelines</a>, giving Gray and other segregationists full sway to do as they pleased."},{"_id":"EBUJYOZ2PFCRXLGJPQKLHLYBEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814169},"type":"text","content":"By July 1962, <a href=\"https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/albany-movement/#:~:text=The%20Albany%20Movement%20began%20in,Albany%20and%20surrounding%20rural%20counties.\" target=\"_blank\">thousands had been arrested</a>, King had been run out of town, a civil rights lawyer had been beaten by the sheriff and a <a href=\"https://www.crmvet.org/docs/630800_sncc_albany-fed-cr.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">pregnant mother had been assaulted by police</a>, killing the unborn child. Kennedy refused to intervene."},{"_id":"UYDTNUZA7JC7NF4BKSTE4NNVNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814170},"type":"text","content":"The Kennedy administration didn’t even react when Gray pulled arguably the most flagrantly racist stunt of the campaign. After a lawsuit forced the all-white city commission to remove segregation laws from its books, the body circumvented the victory by selling its once-segregated public pool to Gray, who <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1986/09/21/obituaries/james-h-gray-70-publisher-and-a-former-segregationist.html\" target=\"_blank\">reopened it as a private whites-only establishment</a>."},{"_id":"3W3L3OLLCZAP5BP4U7V7GFWYHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814171},"type":"text","content":"Through it all, Kennedy remained loyal to his friend and ally. On, Feb. 7, 1963, six months after the height of the Albany Movement, Gray was photographed at a White House luncheon with the president sitting six chairs away. Six months after that, at an <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XYzEHwkE04\" target=\"_blank\">Aug. 9, 1963, news conference</a>, the president’s brother, U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy, personally announced the <a href=\"https://www.crmvet.org/tim/tim63b.htm\" target=\"_blank\">indictments of nine leaders of the Albany Movement</a>, who were prosecuted and convicted, effectively shutting down the campaign."},{"_id":"X6M43QDGDFH4BGYEV2TWIUFL5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814172},"type":"text","content":"The Albany Movement was not a failure. It was a targeted hit by a president protecting the vested interests of a rabid racist and his own shot at a second term."},{"_id":"YWDA4VZ7FBDUFJSNH7OYU5EPFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737136814173},"type":"text","content":"<i>Clennon L. King is an Albany, Georgia-based historian and award-winning documentary filmmaker, who has published extensively on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. His father was the legendary civil rights lawyer C.B. King, who represented Martin Luther King Jr. during the Albany Movement.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The people working on the ground to advance civil rights had powerful foes. "},"description":{"basic":"The people working on the ground to advance civil rights had powerful foes."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1c63e17687c72825d0d856169fb2bc71f5124deb5affc7fa8f5afd16be51180f"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Photos: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.","width":385,"caption":"Martin Luther King Jr. talks to a packed church gathering about his \"mysterious release\" from jail and a later three-hour long conference with city officials in an effort the ease the local racial problems on July 13, 1962, Albany, Ga.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TVZOKF3YJL6KO4FSD4J3ZBAS4Y.jpg","height":400,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/TVZOKF3YJL6KO4FSD4J3ZBAS4Y.jpg?auth=1c63e17687c72825d0d856169fb2bc71f5124deb5affc7fa8f5afd16be51180f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-mlks-albany-movement-was-not-a-failure/4R5UDK5UP5H4ZA5CKWKLWQNEMY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-19T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Clennon L. King","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"MLK’s Albany Movement was not a failure "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-19T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-19T10:00:07.841Z","_id":"4R5UDK5UP5H4ZA5CKWKLWQNEMY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"1c63e17687c72825d0d856169fb2bc71f5124deb5affc7fa8f5afd16be51180f"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Photos: Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.","width":385,"caption":"Martin Luther King Jr. talks to a packed church gathering about his \"mysterious release\" from jail and a later three-hour long conference with city officials in an effort the ease the local racial problems on July 13, 1962, Albany, Ga.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TVZOKF3YJL6KO4FSD4J3ZBAS4Y.jpg","height":400,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/TVZOKF3YJL6KO4FSD4J3ZBAS4Y.jpg?auth=1c63e17687c72825d0d856169fb2bc71f5124deb5affc7fa8f5afd16be51180f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"TR2PC2SJ3ZFG7LFRDWXD2IGOYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468010},"type":"text","content":"As much of Los Angeles burned to the ground this past week, the world’s richest man stepped forward again to show that government’s failure to protect its citizens can be resolved by the entrepreneurship of the private sector."},{"_id":"WYPYUOBLMFEXDLPX2625IL3QAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468011},"type":"text","content":"With little fanfare, Elon Musk, the chief executive of tech companies including Space X, Tesla X and the satellite communications wonder Starlink, <a href=\"https://www.foxnews.com/us/los-angeles-wildfires-elon-musk-personally-delivers-starlink-satellites-california-first-responders\" target=\"_blank\">personally delivered Starlink communications systems</a> and Cybertrucks to rescue groups and first responders battling wildfires throughout Los Angeles County."},{"auth":{"1":"631eb81e4581988fb7333ff6c04e73956b579fd07ad455777271d8839408079e"},"caption":"Mark Burkhalter","source":{"system":"Methode","name":"AJC","source_type":"staff","source_id":"8a3fee5a-97aa-11ea-8f53-b17e3dd2e71d","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"YXFAW7ZZYEPTERFH4CCNO43DDM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HANDOUT","type":"author","byline":"HANDOUT","slug":"handout"}]},"first_publish_date":"2020-05-16T19:22:11Z","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/lYG7EkpV5R7aUKofODKt8QgK_o4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","comments":[],"keywords":["breaking-news.ajc","ajc top news","atlanta-news-metro.ajc","georgia-news.ajc","atlanta-neighborhoods.ajc","crime-news.ajc","georgia news","Cobb County","crimeajc","publicsafetyajc"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/lYG7EkpV5R7aUKofODKt8QgK_o4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","takenOn":"2020-05-16T19:22:11Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/lYG7EkpV5R7aUKofODKt8QgK_o4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/-vHwvjuyzeWiTFzEQY69XyGOFRk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p11/AJC/2020/05/16/Images/MarkBurkhalter.JPG_web.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"KE5JIKPI3FBI5HOZUUOARYBZXM"},"last_updated_date":"2025-01-17T18:57:54Z","height":450,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg","display_date":"2020-05-16T19:22:11Z","subtitle":"Former Georgia state rep. tapped for Norway ambassador position","width":338,"_id":"IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI","created_date":"2025-01-17T18:53:14Z","alignment":"right","publish_date":"2020-05-16T19:22:11Z","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IAOA7USYJJC43O62EZSHW47TXI.jpg?auth=631eb81e4581988fb7333ff6c04e73956b579fd07ad455777271d8839408079e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"R7VYKTRXDVEYBBFDI7TEGOKQ2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468012},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Without telecommunications, search, rescue and firefighting would be impossible. More than <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/california-fires-winds-updates/\" target=\"_blank\">two dozen people</a> have already lost their lives to these wildfires. It would have been easier to contain or prevent these catastrophic infernos if state and local officials had planned appropriately."},{"_id":"GZD2RF7QK5HDRAXIPZUSIJCRWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468013},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Instead, Musk stepped in as humanitarian to support volunteers and others on the ground with Starlink — just as he did with <a href=\"https://www.fox9.com/news/starlink-free-service-hurricane-victims\" target=\"_blank\">hurricanes Helene and Milton</a> that hit the South very hard last fall."},{"_id":"JL6CJY52KBBX3AJGHNB4EIINZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468014},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In Western North Carolina, residents and private search and rescue teams rejoiced when Starlink arrived, frustrated by slow response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Starlink enabled them to contact family members and give search and rescue volunteers internet service to coordinate sweeps of riverbanks and mountains of debris, looking for survivors."},{"_id":"7EDUSGESHVEVPJCYTFSHDLT3SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468015},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Musk is emblematic of what the private sector can do when government fails its citizens — either in slow response time to a tragedy like a hurricane, fire or other natural disaster or in how to prevent one. Even the uber wealthy of Los Angeles knew this and used private firefighting teams to protect their estates, sometimes using water from their swimming pools."},{"_id":"WCCQIE256ZBA5CH2O4X5C5NTYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468016},"type":"text","content":"We in the Georgia Legislature knew the private sector could do a better job of meeting our citizens’ needs 20 years ago when Republicans took control for the first time since Reconstruction. As is seen in California, too often bureaucrats cave to special interest groups and fad ideas, such as extremist climate change theories that throw common sense out the window when it comes to public planning. Even the late <a href=\"https://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/127546/feinstein-blames-sierra-club-for-thinning-bill-failure.html\" target=\"_blank\">Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., blamed the Sierra Club</a> when it blocked her federal efforts to thin national forests in California and other areas of the west so there would be less debris fueling fires, especially near urban areas."},{"_id":"J5S2R4Y4LJAOZKABGDPCWPADNI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468017},"type":"text","content":"When we created the cities of Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Dunwoody and others, the Georgia Legislature for the first time allowed government to be contracted with private management so they would be run like a business."},{"_id":"U7O2CKDHBNF6BGWNMXE52JOQDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468018},"type":"text","content":"Musk is often criticized because he has become a confidant of President-elect Donald Trump. Yet Trump should be commended for recognizing Musk’s extraordinary talents. He sees that Musk knows how to attack an issue and manage it like a any successful business executive."},{"_id":"KEVRCITB3VDG3IP7HEYLH2TXVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468019},"type":"text","content":"Take, for example, his approach to outer space. Musk now regularly launches rockets that can return to Earth. Musk’s companies are sending satellites into orbit at dizzying speed, something sadly NASA nor our government could do because of the slow pace and size of the bureaucracy of the federal government. Musk has also been called in to save astronauts stranded at the International Space Station because NASA can’t do the job."},{"_id":"X24JCFFTWRGPLCJ6GCM2LFOOAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468020},"type":"text","content":"After Musk purchased Twitter and renamed it X, he was nominated for a Nobel Prize by a Norwegian member of parliament for his global commitment to free speech and competition with corporate media."},{"_id":"HUBTLO3C2RENPNF6YXG5NP2CYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468021},"type":"text","content":"But Musk’s recent actions to help victims of hurricanes, fires and other disasters is truly emblematic of the private sector solving the problems either caused by government or that government can’t quickly resolve."},{"_id":"6I6HA4HHNRHJZKBGXX5IIPL4JI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468022},"type":"text","content":"Another example, when Flint, Michigan, underwent a federal emergency in because of lead contamination in its drinking water, Musk stepped up to provide a filtration system and filters for the city’s public schools while public officials took years to rebuild the water infrastructure."},{"_id":"R5YGCMDFFZBLLBATWDPK3HW7AI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468023},"type":"text","content":"Musk is a man who knows how to harness the ingenuity and warp speed of business to solve our nation’s critical challenges. We all will soon be learning more from Musk that solutions are not found in another government department, agency, committee or law."},{"_id":"WEGLUSCNXZBOFHPLP4IPNO7HQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468024},"type":"text","content":"The solution is always found in each one of us thinking outside the box, coming to the rescue of each other to create a better way of life. Musk deserves to be commended on what he has done and will do to help Americans in need."},{"_id":"QBSNSLFZLRF4BI33B4SNQSFRS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1737139468025},"type":"text","content":"<i>Mark Burkhalter, a former speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, is an international business owner and real estate developer. He was nominated by President Donald Trump in his first term to be ambassador to Norway.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The tech executive is emblematic of what the private sector can do when government fails its citizens."},"description":{"basic":"The tech executive is emblematic of what the private sector can do when government fails its citizens."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"2c702fd1bee05ee8860101151511564ba10e4a463b661a7e349d7069f17ad24e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Brian van der Brug","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-CALIF-WILDFIRES-HOME-INSURER-LA","width":2000,"caption":"A firefighting plane makes a drop on a burning home from the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades, California, which quickly consumed more than 1,200 acres of vegetation on Jan. 7, 2025, pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DDQT6ZRAQU3CBXMPVQSHGLUWEM.jpg","height":1433,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DDQT6ZRAQU3CBXMPVQSHGLUWEM.jpg?auth=2c702fd1bee05ee8860101151511564ba10e4a463b661a7e349d7069f17ad24e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-elon-musks-rapid-response-to-fires-hurricanes-and-other-disasters/OBVPWVGCXJGNRF3KDK3UVOPXK4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-18T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Mark Burkhalter","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Elon Musk’s rapid response to fires, hurricanes and other disasters"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-18T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-19T05:19:27.587Z","_id":"OBVPWVGCXJGNRF3KDK3UVOPXK4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"2c702fd1bee05ee8860101151511564ba10e4a463b661a7e349d7069f17ad24e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Brian van der Brug","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-CALIF-WILDFIRES-HOME-INSURER-LA","width":2000,"caption":"A firefighting plane makes a drop on a burning home from the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades, California, which quickly consumed more than 1,200 acres of vegetation on Jan. 7, 2025, pushed by gusting Santa Ana winds. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DDQT6ZRAQU3CBXMPVQSHGLUWEM.jpg","height":1433,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DDQT6ZRAQU3CBXMPVQSHGLUWEM.jpg?auth=2c702fd1bee05ee8860101151511564ba10e4a463b661a7e349d7069f17ad24e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"5JEXSV6QQRBTVLEMFPKECSY45Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On Thursday, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/kemp-vows-to-pass-bill-curbing-excessive-lawsuits-this-year-one-way-or-another/I6YFNZTWJRD7LDGUIQ6T2DT2VM/\" target=\"_blank\">Gov. Brian Kemp outlined his agenda</a> for this year’s legislative session. Unfortunately, again, the Republican Party and the governor are relying on a hope and a prayer that their agenda will help your family. Take a look at what they are prioritizing. Defunding public schools and propping up private schools? Investing billions of dollars in corporations but refusing to close the coverage gap for 500,000 Georgians? Every single time, the governor puts corporations over people. This is the reality of Kemp’s Georgia. Kemp’s agenda doesn’t work for families. Our agenda will."},{"_id":"MIT4ROU7PJAXPHAAZVRX4DHFEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-16T17:43:34.850Z","replies":[],"pos":386,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We have seen the cost of living skyrocket under Republican leadership. For generations, Georgia’s middle-class families have struggled to support themselves on a state minimum wage that is nothing short of shameful. At just $5.15 an hour, the current minimum wage is a relic of the past and cannot cover even basic needs. That is the governor’s Georgia. Senate Democrats want to ensure our state helps more than just big corporations. Senate Democrats would raise the minimum wage to $22 an hour so all Georgians can support their families. Coupled with a billion-dollar investment in affordable housing, this initiative would help more families achieve the dream of a safe, stable home."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e9fd634b469cf3341ef3c1133e837255ce4a108519dae4cc156e5ecf6cad8860"},"caption":"Sen. Harold Jones II","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sen. Harold Jones II","width":3059,"_id":"GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/1EOfkuLIclWPSETry7Ty4DYAFTQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/1EOfkuLIclWPSETry7Ty4DYAFTQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","takenOn":"2024-11-19T21:15:32Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/1EOfkuLIclWPSETry7Ty4DYAFTQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/TgR64A3QP9r5xNPUwTssfA9aUw0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Sen. Harold Jones II.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"OBMVMHT5FBALDCUQ5Y6CU4GLSU"},"created_date":"2025-01-15T22:38:32Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-15T22:38:32Z","alignment":"right","height":4588,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GY7KBONBPBASBGSQF7FWE7IV6A.jpg?auth=e9fd634b469cf3341ef3c1133e837255ce4a108519dae4cc156e5ecf6cad8860&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XX36D4VJ4NEKFPXDDEFJAU7NGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In rural Georgia, residents often have to drive hours to access basic medical care, and the burden of medical debt makes it harder for millions of families to get a mortgage they need to take that next step toward homeownership. Meanwhile, women’s bodily autonomy has been stripped away by a restrictive six-week abortion ban, which has led to increased maternal fatalities. This session, we will continue the fight to repeal that ban and restore women’s fundamental right to make their own health care decisions. These choices should remain between a woman and her doctor, not be dictated by politicians."},{"_id":"VLQQ2N4KRBBUNDZBGJUBEFFBOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-16T17:45:24.632Z","replies":[],"pos":33,"comment":"“","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-16T17:45:28.368Z","replies":[],"pos":41,"comment":"”","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In Kemp’s vision of Georgia, his Pathways program will do just fine, despite it proving an ineffective and inadequate response to our state’s health care challenges. Using just a fraction of the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-starts-budget-season-with-165-billion-in-reserves/RVULGEGNJZDTTJTPARHOO5GADE/\" target=\"_blank\">$16 billion surplus</a> to increase health care access would finally allow uninsured Georgians to receive the care they deserve. Nearly half a million Georgians remain without access to affordable health care because of the high cost of health insurance. Closing this coverage gap is not just a moral obligation; it’s a necessity. Let’s end his failed and costly Pathways program and give <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/number-of-georgians-dropped-from-medicaid-nears-500000/VAQYLWFWCFBA7JMGOJX6T62T6U/\" target=\"_blank\">500,000 Georgians access</a> to quality, affordable, private insurance. Cover a few thousand or 500,000? We all know the right path."},{"_id":"2IZQ6BTYNNG57B6BHPVRTX7QNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Republicans have also created the threat of rural school district bankruptcy through their efforts to push for private school vouchers. Diverting funds from public schools is barely a plan and doesn’t even put a Band-Aid on the larger issue of inadequate school funding. Senate Democrats will work to invest public education across Georgia. We will champion increased funding for schools, support for teachers and investments in educational resources to help every student succeed."},{"_id":"KKZMNGIAOZEFFJKLEZVXG322OY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Kemp’s Georgia is his Georgia — a Georgia for corporations and moneyed interests. My promise to you is that Senate Democrats will continue our work to fight for our shared values, for <i>our</i> Georgia. That is who we are, and when we fight for you, never wavering, our state will always be strong."},{"_id":"U3UGBFGJEFBQLH3NGJNCVV657E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Harold Jones II, a Democrat, represents Augusta in the Georgia state Senate, where he is the minority leader.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Senate Democrats would like more education funding, a higher minimum wage and expanded Medicaid."},"description":{"basic":"Senate Democrats would like more education funding, a higher minimum wage and expanded Medicaid."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1b47d986420fb620c19dff7c8c85fe6a9983cb5e0fcada424be5ce695618fac4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Brian Kemp seeks limited Medicaid expansion","width":4841,"caption":"Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/VJMHOGMDUKRTFAVPP34ICT5YLA.jpg","height":3227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/VJMHOGMDUKRTFAVPP34ICT5YLA.jpg?auth=1b47d986420fb620c19dff7c8c85fe6a9983cb5e0fcada424be5ce695618fac4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-brian-kemps-vision-for-georgia-leaves-too-many-people-behind/OALB4MNORJDYDGHKF4QVUAYCR4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-16T17:07:09.05Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Harold Jones II","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Brian Kemp’s vision for Georgia leaves too many people behind "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-16T17:07:09.05Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-16T17:47:19.962Z","_id":"OALB4MNORJDYDGHKF4QVUAYCR4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"1b47d986420fb620c19dff7c8c85fe6a9983cb5e0fcada424be5ce695618fac4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez-Jimenez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Brian Kemp seeks limited Medicaid expansion","width":4841,"caption":"Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/VJMHOGMDUKRTFAVPP34ICT5YLA.jpg","height":3227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/VJMHOGMDUKRTFAVPP34ICT5YLA.jpg?auth=1b47d986420fb620c19dff7c8c85fe6a9983cb5e0fcada424be5ce695618fac4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"EQ4OGO43WNCBZFCMPZZMRBF7JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-14T23:31:03.015Z","start":375,"end":378,"text":"added jr. here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736974095093},"type":"text","content":"The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream of the Beloved Community — a society built on justice, equality and shared prosperity — was as much about economic liberation as it was about civil rights. He understood that systems of exploitation, including financial injustice, were designed to keep marginalized communities trapped in cycles of poverty. On this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we must reflect on how Atlanta, the city of King’s birth and work, still struggles under the weight of economic oppression in the form of predatory lending."},{"_id":"RN3VVKOZDRDNVO6EY6F5NJDE24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095094},"type":"text","content":"Predatory lenders, including auto title loan companies, cluster disproportionately in Atlanta’s majority-Black neighborhoods. “<a href=\"https://kindredfutures.org/work/lead/\" target=\"_blank\">Trapped by Design: How Predatory Lenders Exploit Black Atlanta</a>,” a recent report by <a href=\"https://kindredfutures.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Kindred Futures</a>, reveals that 67% of predatory lending institutions in Atlanta are concentrated in majority-Black neighborhoods, despite these areas making up a smaller share of the city’s population. Meanwhile, just 33% of such businesses exist in wealthier, non-majority Black neighborhoods with greater access to traditional banking services. This stark imbalance is no accident; it is a deliberate strategy that thrives on systemic racial and economic inequities."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Mecca Gamble McConnell","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"be8432cab5f6471de8e913f75965f84383c3441a61860b15f9bf1abff22d1e7b"},"caption":"Alex Camardelle","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Mecca Gamble McConnell","type":"author","byline":"Mecca Gamble McConnell"}]},"subtitle":"Alex Camardelle","width":2048,"_id":"BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/GkWQEqzmfLUCDD7YOePVgPnJi5E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":["atlanta brand photographer","atlanta creative agency","atlanta wealth building initiative","awbi","brand photography ideas","corporate photography atlanta","headshot photographer in atlanta","indigo creative agency","mecca gamble mcconnell","personal brand poses and inspriration"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/GkWQEqzmfLUCDD7YOePVgPnJi5E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","takenOn":"2024-05-22T15:59:57Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/GkWQEqzmfLUCDD7YOePVgPnJi5E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/7W9oLsDN4FI_wEVAqU8ezYiCtBE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"alex camardelle.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FG4KAN37RNHWNF7HZTKUXKXOK4","iptc_title":""},"created_date":"2025-01-14T21:16:44Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-14T21:16:44Z","alignment":"right","height":1366,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BNQDHIYSLFGOVG5DRSMDNCKKFU.jpg?auth=be8432cab5f6471de8e913f75965f84383c3441a61860b15f9bf1abff22d1e7b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XP55IEEF2NDN7KFJMOH2QZ4OT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":78,"comment":"that "},{"pos":359,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095096},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The economic harm caused by these practices is staggering. Our estimates show title loans alone drain $128.2 million annually from Atlanta’s economy, with ripple effects that result in the loss of 1,336 jobs each year. Over the past decade, this financial exploitation has amounted to $1.2 billion in economic losses for Atlanta. Retail trade, health services and local businesses suffer as families are forced to divert resources to pay off high-interest loans, leaving them with less money to spend on essential goods and services."},{"_id":"GJBY7Q3PEVH3FADB73ZCL6F724","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"5LNNO7KKMJABZIJZ57NQMUGWOE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Reconstructing Atlanta: A vision of faith and renewal","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-reconstructing-atlanta-through-faith-and-renewal/GJM3T5QWIJBXDNYMLJLBMX5TMI/"},{"_id":"DB3WDSIZJREMHG5HWX2XTCXF6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":373,"comment":","},{"pos":490,"comment":"two "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-14T23:33:04.363Z","start":495,"end":501,"text":"use figures for miles, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736974095097},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For Atlanta’s Black communities, these losses represent more than numbers. They signify a deepening of the racial wealth divide. The average <a href=\"https://www.democracycollaborative.org/atl-case-study#:~:text=In%20the%20City%20of%20Atlanta,for%20Black%20households%20(%2415%2C499).\" target=\"_blank\">net worth of Black households in Atlanta</a> is just $5,180, compared with $194,043 for white households. Predatory lenders exacerbate this disparity by trapping families in cycles of debt, often resulting in car repossessions, job loss and damaged credit. More than <a href=\"https://buildblackwealth.info/access-to-capital/\" target=\"_blank\">37,000 Black Atlantans live in banking deserts</a> — areas with no bank branches within a 2-mile radius — making them particularly vulnerable to these exploitative financial products."},{"_id":"NEO5OP5ZHVA7NOLSVLYSLCRHDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095098},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King once said, “We must rapidly begin the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society.” Predatory lending embodies the opposite: a thing-oriented approach that prioritizes profit over people. These lenders extract wealth from Black neighborhoods, perpetuating poverty rather than providing pathways to financial stability."},{"_id":"FQKQDCHZ3REVJLQUEQUWM2OJ3A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"QIWMQHKSBFBUZFFIX662PEIC7E"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Bookshelf: Commemorative publication of King’s famous letter timed for MLK Day","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/bookshelf-commemorative-publication-of-kings-famous-letter-timed-for-mlk-day/VMGYX4QQK5ENJMPIVXZT5SCS4Q/"},{"_id":"UDPDKHD7OBEGVPH7NVRIM45CNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095099},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King’s vision of a beloved community calls us to action. To honor his legacy, Atlanta must dismantle the systems of financial exploitation that target its most vulnerable residents. This begins with bold, transformative policies:"},{"_id":"T4LOVCRUPVHS3HAUYHNCDMVLFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095100},"type":"text","content":"· Cap interest rates. Georgia should implement a 36% APR cap on title loans, following the example of other states, including Colorado and Illinois. To achieve the biggest benefit for consumers, Georgia can follow the lead of neighboring North Carolina and effectively prohibit title lending altogether. Such caps have been proved to reduce the cycle of debt for low-income borrowers."},{"_id":"JWNLMGLU4NDG3OSPZGVMNRPWQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095101},"type":"text","content":"· Zoning reform<i>.</i> Local policymakers should use zoning laws to limit the density of predatory lenders in majority-Black neighborhoods. Cities in Alabama, Mississippi and other states have already successfully restricted predatory institutions through targeted zoning reforms."},{"_id":"VYLSHLN5FBECHMRWKHI3C42PGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":91,"comment":" (CDFIs)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-14T23:34:30.127Z","start":100,"end":103,"text":"noted out acronym following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736974095102},"type":"text","content":"· Expand financial alternatives. Investment in Community Development Financial Institutions can provide accessible, low-interest loans and financial services to underserved neighborhoods. CDFIs are legally designed to support people and places pushed out of economic opportunity."},{"_id":"3H72WITVYBA45DGAT7572SOPIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095103},"type":"text","content":"King reminded us that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Predatory lending is an injustice that harms Atlanta’s families, businesses and economy as a whole. On this MLK Day, we must commit to ending this exploitation and building a system of economic justice that aligns with King’s vision."},{"_id":"H5DBNBYXDFEFPKV3G6LDWDEK54","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ZHXDCNQXXJAXPMVOPMFGUAFRPY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Honor MLK’s birthday at these Atlanta events","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/honor-mlks-birthday-at-these-atlanta-events/4UNP5N4QMZBRJPGPXWU3W4ND4A/"},{"_id":"WPABQY6EMREA7CEH6EVINUGIIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095104},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta has the opportunity to become a model for equitable economic development. By addressing predatory debt, we can turn financial losses into investments in Black neighborhoods, create jobs and support families in achieving financial independence. In doing so, we move closer to realizing the beloved community — a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive."},{"_id":"OUCQSADLTBB77OMF6AMUE2SIUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736974095105},"type":"text","content":"<i>Alex Camardelle is vice president of policy and research for Kindred Futures.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Atlanta, the city of King’s birth and work, still struggles under the weight of economic oppression."},"description":{"basic":"Atlanta, the city of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birth and work, still struggles under the weight of economic oppression."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"9dfa2d2e0268fadcbe6eaee1aba0b01489c2b01ce89073ac14370e206f9bcc3e"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Critics: Fed’s proposed curb on payday loans may weaken Georgia’s ban","width":2342,"caption":"Signs advertise short-term loans stands in Birmingham, Ala., in 2015. (Gary Tramontina/Bloomberg News)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PI22JX6P4T7CHYOVNUU6OI2IFM.jpg","height":1538,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PI22JX6P4T7CHYOVNUU6OI2IFM.jpg?auth=9dfa2d2e0268fadcbe6eaee1aba0b01489c2b01ce89073ac14370e206f9bcc3e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-building-kings-beloved-community-by-ending-predatory-debt-in-atlanta/DOESTLCEIRFUFFT6JNFAUTJNBQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-16T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Alex Camardelle","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Building King’s beloved community by ending predatory debt in Atlanta"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-16T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-16T11:00:14.34Z","_id":"DOESTLCEIRFUFFT6JNFAUTJNBQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"9dfa2d2e0268fadcbe6eaee1aba0b01489c2b01ce89073ac14370e206f9bcc3e"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Critics: Fed’s proposed curb on payday loans may weaken Georgia’s ban","width":2342,"caption":"Signs advertise short-term loans stands in Birmingham, Ala., in 2015. (Gary Tramontina/Bloomberg News)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PI22JX6P4T7CHYOVNUU6OI2IFM.jpg","height":1538,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PI22JX6P4T7CHYOVNUU6OI2IFM.jpg?auth=9dfa2d2e0268fadcbe6eaee1aba0b01489c2b01ce89073ac14370e206f9bcc3e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"SM7TSMHP4RBVHFLWKCZ2TF6EFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T16:38:17.695Z","replies":[],"pos":384,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T16:24:50.462Z","replies":[],"start":353,"end":360,"text":"put name of podcast in quotations, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-15T16:38:46.385Z","replies":[],"start":386,"end":391,"text":"moved comma inside quotation marks","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"No problem can be solved without being accurately diagnosed — whether it’s a medical condition, challenge at work, economic struggle or international conflict. That makes this time we’re living through especially exasperating to people who care deeply about the truth. Around us, powerful people and groups are being rewarded for lying. Listeners to my podcast <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\" title=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\">“They Stand Corrected,”</a> which fact checks the news, <a href=\"https://form.jotform.com/240654108502145\">send in</a> more examples than I can keep up with."},{"_id":"6IVP2YZQVJDINE53NS3FOOTL24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On Monday, Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term as president. Through all my years of fact-checking politicians across the political spectrum, I’ve never seen anyone so mendacious. His capacity to shamelessly utter and spread extreme falsehoods, at an exhausting pace, has been <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/01/24/trumps-false-or-misleading-claims-total-30573-over-four-years/\">cataloged</a> and studied. One of his biggest lies, the false notion that the 2020 election was “stolen,” inspired the violent, antidemocratic insurrection on the Capitol four years ago."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e"},"caption":"Josh Levs, opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"4HD3CCQAQNEKVJ6BM5UKP7ONVA","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Josh Levs","width":1007,"_id":"AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Wj-q9_UXl7EjVaK8A3OcCqrQQVk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","version":4,"originalName":"Levs-full-2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"55YMWDCZSRBM7KMWLJBLXKQQLA"},"created_date":"2024-09-23T14:50:57Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:27:35Z","alignment":"right","height":1342,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg?auth=59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"2YYN2TK4OBB5RM5OR2CPK4OORE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But lies are also plentiful on the far left. Antidemocratic movements have been spreading myths designed to obscure the <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/a-giant-figure-you-wont-hear-in-the\">growing global threat</a> of Islamist terrorism, like the deadly <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/as-bourbon-street-reopens-after-new-orleans-attack-wariness-remains/AL5HZ6HT5JAABAQDKRQ3RLHHZU/\">New Year’s attack</a> in New Orleans. Using the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacres in Israel as a jumping off point, self-declared “progressive” groups have been pushing all kinds of lies, like casting Iran-backed terrorists as “freedom fighters.” These groups have <a href=\"https://www.fdd.org/analysis/op_eds/2024/05/24/why-the-pro-hamas-demonstrations-are-different-and-more-dangerous/\">engaged</a> in violence and <a href=\"https://www.adl.org/resources/article/intimidation-harassment-and-support-hamas-mark-widespread-anti-israel-student\">celebrated</a> terrorism. They’re egged on by <a href=\"https://x.com/JoshLevs/status/1640460154230706177\">lies</a> from certain figures in Washington, including <a href=\"https://aish.com/rashida-tlaibs-four-lies-about-palestinians-and-the-holocaust/\">Rep. Rashida Tlaib.</a>"},{"_id":"HSP65WDDEVGO7P4HWNWIRPDBHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T16:28:27.499Z","replies":[],"pos":187,"comment":"“","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-15T16:28:31.835Z","replies":[],"pos":197,"comment":"”","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Where have big national media been on all this? Though some claim to be in the business of fact-checking Trump, they often let him lie with impunity in <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/its-time-to-end-news-open-mic-nights\">news conferences</a>, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-would-it-be-patriotic-to-ban-lying-by-lawmakers/RKFWR25QH5CLPMRXFTAKAE5CJE/\">debates</a> and even <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/cnn-brass-defends-trump-town-hall-amid-criticism/YML3L2CGPVFRXPZRKKDLMMCROQ/\" title=\"https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/cnn-brass-defends-trump-town-hall-amid-criticism/YML3L2CGPVFRXPZRKKDLMMCROQ/\">town halls</a> organized by news networks themselves. And when it comes to the lies of the left, these news organizations do an even worse job, regularly <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/cnns-bonkers-lie-about-the-idf-and\">saying</a> things that are demonstrably false. Trump supporters (just like the rest of us) have every right to be disgusted by media that call Trump a liar while preposterously treating <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/even-hamas-is-no-longer-claiming\">Hamas</a> — the Islamist terrorist group that has long been in charge of Gaza — as a trustworthy source of truth."},{"_id":"U72HUODM3JAQ7BN4D5PDBTZ3CY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T16:29:19.618Z","replies":[],"pos":58,"comment":"that ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When Meta, parent company of Facebook, recently <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/meta-replaces-fact-checking-with-x-style-community-notes/MM3FGRMR75EXHEOPZ2SEJHGK7Y/\">announced</a> it would end its fact-checking operation, many news organizations were quick to warn that the move was dangerous and would pave the way for even more mis- and disinformation. The decision was widely and probably accurately seen as what The Associated Press called a “bow to Trump.”"},{"_id":"I7KQIFEKSZD47CE2P3LR55VP4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-15T16:31:51.819Z","replies":[],"pos":167,"comment":" that","type":"insert","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yes, Meta’s decision might bring dangers. But these news organizations are in no position to point fingers. Many of the false reports I correct on my podcast are posts these news agencies have put up on Meta’s platforms — Facebook and Instagram — with no one fact-checking them. It’s been a case of big media wanting “rules for thee but not for me.” For some of the worst examples of 2024, see the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-the-crucial-message-of-the-media-fail-awards/ZZSLEYWXQ5BKNNUIECZHNVT7IM/\" target=\"_blank\">Media Fail Awards</a>, in which listeners to my podcast voted for the biggest journalistic disasters."},{"_id":"CBL74HPRZRGQZJARAVLVKTAKKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Given all this, some people are surprised when I tell them I’m optimistic. But here’s why: Movements trigger <a href=\"https://joshlevs.com/episode-40-truth-countermovement/\">countermovements</a>. After Trump took office in 2016, #MeToo took off. (As part of my work for <a href=\"https://joshlevs.com/all-in-dadhood/\">gender equality</a>, I did events focused on the role of men in the movement, including one <a href=\"https://www.linkedin.com/posts/joshlevs_i-had-the-phenomenal-experience-of-speaking-activity-6428623062756843521-j2A2\">with founder Tarana Burke.</a>) Men who had gotten away with horrific behaviors for decades were exposed."},{"_id":"5EZYFDWYTZDDZD2I2RQEKVC4QI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Yes, the movement did not erase the problem. But it achieved progress. And the movement, like so many others, began and grew in the culture, among individuals — not in the halls of Washington."},{"_id":"XJHTR3NEPNDWBBSFSAIS4TRRXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Now we need a cultural countermovement for truth. It won’t come from the government or from big media. But it could come from individuals who demand that our society put truth first. I believe it can happen."},{"_id":"H7WRA45IXZFNXCQZPIC4F37PIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This year, Inauguration Day is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day. When King received his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, he <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/acceptance-speech/\">said</a>, “I accept this award in the spirit of a curator of some precious heirloom which he holds in trust for its true owners — all those to whom beauty is truth and truth beauty — and in whose eyes the beauty of genuine brotherhood and peace is more precious than diamonds or silver or gold.” (For the record, King was equally eloquent in his staunch <a href=\"https://jcpa.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Washington_Israelphobia_Book_WEB-18.pdf\">support for Israel</a>.)"},{"_id":"ORFAODVVONH6BBDT3Z6RIHZXJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Everyone who sees the beauty of truth can be part of this new movement. One that prizes accuracy, rather than claims that exacerbate biases. And one that tells those who have failed us for so long that they stand corrected."},{"_id":"AGZJB5RWBBDDDF6X535A6554LE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Josh Levs, the host of </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\"><i>They Stand Corrected</i></a><i>, the </i><a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-stand-corrected/id1739637144\"><i>podcast</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"http://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\"><i>newsletter</i></a><i> fact-checking the media, is a frequent contributor to AJC Opinion. Find him at </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/\"><i>joshlevs.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"With Meta banning fact-checkers, anyone who sees beauty in facts can be part of this new movement. "},"description":{"basic":"With Meta banning fact-checkers, anyone who sees beauty in facts can be part of this new movement."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"f09bbeb1f10c554ed59ccafcb18a7ffffc527f23c7847ab1e84e19512c138679"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jeff Chiu","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US Media Fact Checking Falters","width":5100,"caption":"The Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (Jeff Chiu/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DVP3234UYNVGUATWKQYGH7W2H4.jpg","height":3400,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DVP3234UYNVGUATWKQYGH7W2H4.jpg?auth=f09bbeb1f10c554ed59ccafcb18a7ffffc527f23c7847ab1e84e19512c138679&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-america-needs-a-grassroots-countermovement-for-truth/ASTCEP4ZOBA3ZLMMK5Z7V6GGQY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-16T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Josh Levs","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"America needs a grassroots countermovement for truth"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-16T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-16T10:00:17.538Z","_id":"ASTCEP4ZOBA3ZLMMK5Z7V6GGQY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"f09bbeb1f10c554ed59ccafcb18a7ffffc527f23c7847ab1e84e19512c138679"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jeff Chiu","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US Media Fact Checking Falters","width":5100,"caption":"The Meta booth at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 22, 2023. (Jeff Chiu/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DVP3234UYNVGUATWKQYGH7W2H4.jpg","height":3400,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DVP3234UYNVGUATWKQYGH7W2H4.jpg?auth=f09bbeb1f10c554ed59ccafcb18a7ffffc527f23c7847ab1e84e19512c138679&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"IWVL3PU3YRHBJF2M427LZNHJT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Twin Pines might get a permit for its controversial mining plan to dig 50 feet into 582 acres into Trail Ridge, on the border of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge — but there’s another threat. Mining tens of thousands of acres on the Toledo Manufacturing property, which lies at a lower elevation and closer to the swamp than the Twin Pines’ proposed mine site south of it, would also harm the one and only Okefenokee Swamp. Digging 50 feet deep for titanium and other valuable heavy minerals on Toledo’s property would bring mining operations to the edge of the swamp and to depths actually below the water table of the swamp."},{"_id":"NLY5VT5E2BD4VDUFJL4JASUDYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Joe Hopkins, chief executive of the family-owned Toledo Manufacturing, has said <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/courierheraldtoday.com/one-problem-for-another-in-swamp-mining-controversy/__;!!JZyed81S!grS114Pe7gqXPK8TtAHTiEERhwe7NncE1hPW576D7EVwxzvJ22fYAjYEUIxLBu1nDWi_MWyMnC8-DA$\">he would prefer a different company than Twin Pines</a> mine the area. That doesn’t matter. He does not have the private property right to harm others’ properties and especially so if it is property owned by all citizens of our United States of America as a National Wildlife Refuge. A decision to mine his property would diminish forever his hometown’s future as an international travel destination."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2fa5be81d82800dddbbe253d2631dfbc85b76f59d1bed67e14cddb70a1f88fc5"},"caption":"Rena Peck","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Rena Peck","width":302,"_id":"JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/cGP0OQR1moAWQz4mBFCr_Gjd018=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/cGP0OQR1moAWQz4mBFCr_Gjd018=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/cGP0OQR1moAWQz4mBFCr_Gjd018=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/ixZGoIwfHmELwxdu6zPeOSdIwls=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"rena peck.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"U2CEBRPCCNGYHMLYZ4GWQFXEQM"},"created_date":"2024-04-01T14:00:51Z","last_updated_date":"2024-04-01T14:00:51Z","alignment":"right","height":292,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JO4PQZGYCRBFRJGC5DL4UWZN4Q.jpg?auth=2fa5be81d82800dddbbe253d2631dfbc85b76f59d1bed67e14cddb70a1f88fc5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"IWVL3PU3YRHBJF2M427LZNHJT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge attracts <a href=\"https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/OkefenokeeNWR_2022CombinedFactSheets_508.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">visitors from around the world</a> and is expected to double <a href=\"https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-historic-sites-are-doing-to-protect-their-unesco-world-heritage-status#:~:text=Being%20named%20a%20UNESCO%20World,heritage%20preservation%20and%20sustainable%20development.\" target=\"_blank\">tourism visitation to the surrounding communities</a> when it becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site."},{"_id":"YXMP7DGXQRFSXHCICKCW5SWJJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Mining that steals water from the Okefenokee, Georgia’s grandest public property, should not be allowed. Mining that lowers the water table — causing drought conditions across Trail Ridge, drying up waterlogged peat in the swamp — sets the stage for unnaturally severe wildfires that damage others’ private properties such as valuable tree farms."},{"_id":"2DU5UQMZLZANHFDORNOWSYUTNI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ZA7LTDW7VFEFRJWIWW3JQIDKBA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC Editorial: Gov. Kemp, it's now or never for the Okefenokee","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/editorial-gov-kemp-its-now-or-never-for-the-okefenokee/GM767GY52BEM7GCNTMOH5MFAVA/"},{"_id":"QKUWKSKSYNA2DIYIXBLF2Q3UUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The Okefenokee is fire adapted, burning frequently on its own schedule. Natural fires keep the swamp in natural flux, rejuvenating the mosaic of habitats, retarding its conversion to a completely forested bog. Primarily, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/weather/photos-south-georgia-wildfire-rages-okefenokee-swamp/KTZkrxeld296F1sXwWs6WM/\" target=\"_blank\">surface fires sweep over the landscape</a>, hardly touching the waterlogged peat layers storing carbon below. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners recognize the importance of fire to the swamp and work together to suppress fires on the edge of the swamp before it damages the commercial timber on private lands. Everyone is working together to preserve the natural functioning of the irreplaceable Okefenokee Swamp — everyone except the mining companies that propose to dig along its hydrogeological dam, Trail Ridge."},{"_id":"B4HFWKNLKFGVBLGANPUNF3L4D4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The water-holding properties of the Okefenokee benefit everyone from local residents to the world’s populations as a huge carbon sink that remarkably has retained its ability to sustain itself via fluctuating water levels and periodic fire occurrences. Mining that decreases the swamp’s ability to hold water will change the swamp’s natural dynamics and send it spiraling into unnatural conditions that would no doubt include greater occurrences of longer lasting droughts and high-intensity wildfires. The unnaturally severe fires would damage wildlife habitat and private property, and burn peat, sending carbon dioxide into the atmosphere."},{"_id":"GRETCMBO65BEDBO2OD57QUDKXQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"CANKAOVJGFE4JOY52YUUZ4MR5Q"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Take a photo tour of the Okefenokee","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgias-okefenokee/N774AU5KAZGPDBWASQF6A66EJE/"},{"_id":"QYJJD75WURDYND33MC6ZC454L4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The Okefenokee is the largest, most intact freshwater peat wetland remaining in the subtropical climate zone worldwide. How can we even entertain activities that would threaten the existence of the Okefenokee Swamp? Unlike the minerals within Trail Ridge, the value of the Okefenokee Swamp is priceless."},{"_id":"ANTQH7HKO5C7RGEUL5KVAXFTBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Rena Ann Peck is executive director of Georgia Rivers.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Mining anywhere near our beloved swamp should not be allowed."},"description":{"basic":"Mining anywhere near our beloved swamp should not be allowed."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"5c95c173f82a781d2c750b7e63f0a833d36781988c8adf40a562194b52c271ea"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Steve Stephens","type":"author","byline":"Steve Stephens"}]},"subtitle":"Okefenokee Swamp","width":4160,"caption":"Water lilies grow abundantly in Okefenokee Swamp. (Steve Stephens/The Atlanta Journal Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GBNP7KAC4ZBYXP4UPZPWQ5JWSE.jpg","height":3120,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GBNP7KAC4ZBYXP4UPZPWQ5JWSE.jpg?auth=5c95c173f82a781d2c750b7e63f0a833d36781988c8adf40a562194b52c271ea&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-threats-to-the-okefenokee-just-keep-coming/WEK5WS5XXFCUJFI7NLOFUY24TU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-15T18:13:24.024Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Rena Ann Peck","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Threats to the Okefenokee just keep coming"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-15T18:13:24.024Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-15T18:13:24.174Z","_id":"WEK5WS5XXFCUJFI7NLOFUY24TU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"5c95c173f82a781d2c750b7e63f0a833d36781988c8adf40a562194b52c271ea"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Steve Stephens","type":"author","byline":"Steve Stephens"}]},"subtitle":"Okefenokee Swamp","width":4160,"caption":"Water lilies grow abundantly in Okefenokee Swamp. (Steve Stephens/The Atlanta Journal Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GBNP7KAC4ZBYXP4UPZPWQ5JWSE.jpg","height":3120,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GBNP7KAC4ZBYXP4UPZPWQ5JWSE.jpg?auth=5c95c173f82a781d2c750b7e63f0a833d36781988c8adf40a562194b52c271ea&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"JXYTRGYYK5CKPB7ZS42YWBCWIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:36:45.780Z","replies":[],"pos":234,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"With President Jimmy Carter’s death, we’ve been reminded of the successes and failures of his presidency and remarkable post-presidency. Less attention has been given to what will be Carter’s continuing legacy through the work of the <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"\" title=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/\">Carter Center</a>, including the critical supporting role it played in what has become “<a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fair-food-program-helps-end-the-use-of-slavery-in-the-tomato-fields/2012/09/02/788f1a1a-f39c-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html\">one of the greatest human rights successes of our day</a>.”"},{"_id":"HXKA4EL7JNGKDLNSWGXTJ6WMNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:36:24.301Z","replies":[],"pos":305,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Envisioned and led by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, the <a href=\"https://fairfoodprogram.org/\">Fair Food Program</a> is transforming agriculture, ending the endemic abuse on farms across the U.S. and, increasingly, around the globe. When this groundbreaking program was still a bold but untested idea in the early 2000s, Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center brought expertise in conflict resolution and Carter’s prestige to the farmworkers’ campaign for human rights."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"0b18fc5f1368695f6db46a2564682b9caf85ba64444964ef7af692bca535eb68"},"caption":"Susan L. Marquis","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Susan L. Marquis","width":750,"_id":"RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/sxSolGLaoEB42qSeCcT1X6JEKaw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/sxSolGLaoEB42qSeCcT1X6JEKaw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/sxSolGLaoEB42qSeCcT1X6JEKaw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/TWVrPn2n87Xr3Qlo9pA59IPq4SM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Susan L. Marquis.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"25RKNBXZUJDXPMEHXAKNGQNEW4"},"created_date":"2025-01-14T21:46:08Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-14T21:46:08Z","alignment":"right","height":1125,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RM4SMPIETBFTLA65IQNSBQTCJA.jpg?auth=0b18fc5f1368695f6db46a2564682b9caf85ba64444964ef7af692bca535eb68&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"K2FDFERAHZDO5KXWR3K3VUPFDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In the early 1990s, responding to rampant abuse still found in agricultural labor in the U.S. and international food chains, migrant farmworkers in southeastern Florida formed the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). Just before Christmas 1997, the CIW launched a hunger strike to shine light on abusive working conditions. The Carter Center staff raised the hunger strike and CIW’s cause to the former president’s attention, and as the hunger strike entered its fourth week, Carter came out in support of the farmworkers’ call for direct talks with the growers."},{"_id":"XZ54TOAHEJCMDC33LBK62M3F6A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:37:41.687Z","replies":[],"pos":243,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-17T20:37:50.946Z","replies":[],"pos":403,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter’s involvement brought national awareness to the CIW’s protest and, by promising continuing engagement, enabled the farmworkers to end their hunger strike with dignity. It was the starting point of decades-long support of the CIW by the Carter Center as an institution and Jimmy Carter personally. The sincerity of his initial interest was demonstrated when, in 2003, the former president and the Carter Center moved from support to active conflict resolution and engagement."},{"_id":"Z3RVSVJXQJD67GEGBJSLWNC22M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:38:15.839Z","replies":[],"pos":92,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The CIW recognized that corporate buyers including McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Walmart and international grocery corporations such as Ahold had the buying power to set not only prices for food they purchased but also requirements for their suppliers. Holding these corporations accountable for their supply chains, in 2001 the CIW declared the Campaign for Fair Food, demanding corporations use their market power to boost below-poverty farmworker wages and ensure safe working conditions on suppliers’ farms."},{"_id":"H34OOKEBT5EYLPWNGW3X45QCOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:40:52.975Z","replies":[],"pos":373,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The campaign’s first target was Taco Bell. Declaring a boycott of the fast-food chain, the farmworkers gradually gained national support across college campuses and from major faith denominations. By late summer 2003, talks with Taco Bell had broken down. Once again, the former president was called to bring his reputation and experience to the fight, in keeping with the Carter Center’s <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/peace/index.html\">mission</a> to support human rights through conflict resolution. Carter again responded, sending personal letters to Yum Brands, the corporation that owned Taco Bell, while the Center’s staff worked back-channel communications and facilitated negotiations."},{"_id":"ZEFHV6AX5JBXJHQDUZPTOICDJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:42:04.352Z","replies":[],"pos":429,"comment":"C","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"},{"date":"2025-01-17T20:42:05.921Z","replies":[],"pos":437,"comment":"C","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"After almost two years of on-again/off-again talks, and amid the pressure of the Taco Bell boycott, Yum! announced that it had signed a <a href=\"https://ciw-online.org/blog/2005/03/we-won/\">historic agreement</a> to “work with the CIW to improve working and pay conditions for farmworkers in Florida tomato fields.” The agreement included the first-ever direct, ongoing payment by a food corporation to farmworkers in its supply chain, the first enforceable (and, ultimately, enforced) code of conduct for agricultural suppliers in the food industry and transparency in the company’s tomato purchases."},{"_id":"Q22VFRV4KJHDXEZNOCXTLYSUTY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:42:35.361Z","replies":[],"pos":512,"comment":",","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The agreement established the template that has continued to build and expand as Walmart, McDonald’s, Whole Foods and other national and global chains have put their corporate buying power behind enforcement of the Fair Food Program code of conduct to ensure the human rights, safety and fair pay of workers in their supply chains. The Fair Food Program is now on farms from Florida to Maine, into Tennessee and Kentucky, the Midwest through to Colorado and California, and internationally in Chile, South Africa and the United Kingdom. Multiple crops are covered with the list of farms, products, buyers, states and nations continuing to expand."},{"_id":"7ZR342R2XFBRJCEPEKFB52ATOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:43:05.065Z","replies":[],"pos":288,"comment":"The ","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The initiative is recognized as being the <a href=\"https://clje.law.harvard.edu/worker-driven-social-responsibility-a-new-proven-model-for-defining-claiming-and-protecting-workers-human-rights/\">only effective program</a> to eliminate the abuses in corporate food supply chains, as exposed by the CIW and abhorred by Jimmy Carter, for tens of thousands of farmworkers each year on participating farms. The former president committed his and the Carter Center’s time and expertise believing that corporations, growers, consumers and workers must be active participants in establishing a fair wage and good working conditions in service to the human rights and dignity of every human being."},{"_id":"J4O6KPHMZFAMZIBMFC2ANFWHHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"2025-01-17T20:45:23.863Z","replies":[],"pos":189,"comment":"<i>s</i>","type":"insert","user":"Amanda Cortright","email":"Amanda.Cortright@ajc.com"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Susan L. Marquis is the Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor and Lecturer in Public and International Affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. Marquis’</i><i> report “</i><a href=\"https://clje.law.harvard.edu/worker-driven-social-responsibility-a-new-proven-model-for-defining-claiming-and-protecting-workers-human-rights/\"><i>Worker-Driven Social Responsibility: A New, Proven Model for Defining, Claiming, and Protecting Workers’ Human Rights</i></a><i>” was published by the Harvard Law Center for Labor and a Just Economy, and she is the author of the book “</i><a href=\"https://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/9781501713088/i-am-not-a-tractor/#bookTabs=1\"><i>I Am Not a Tractor! How Florida Farmworkers Took On the Fast Food Giants and Won</i></a><i>.”</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The Fair Food Program is transforming agriculture across the U.S. and the globe."},"description":{"basic":"The Fair Food Program is transforming agriculture across the U.S. and the globe."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"cf9492cb557df06c22f3aa6892cb72a340775e8c7b40c061c0e132be05cb0f74"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Laura Emiko Soltis","type":"author","byline":"Laura Emiko Soltis"}]},"subtitle":"Carter at Emory","width":5184,"caption":"Former President Jimmy Carter visits the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Modern Day Slavery Museum at Emory University. The Modern Day Slavery Museum highlights numerous contemporary cases of forced labor on U.S. commodity farms. (Laura Emiko Soltis/Courtesy of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZEZ7J4WD5NCTHH35NVAJAOK4UY.jpg","height":3456,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZEZ7J4WD5NCTHH35NVAJAOK4UY.jpg?auth=cf9492cb557df06c22f3aa6892cb72a340775e8c7b40c061c0e132be05cb0f74&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-carters-lesser-known-but-important-post-presidency-achievement/4635NSR23BC2BI7DJ6JTRKUHCI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-15T15:09:44.839Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Susan L. 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(Laura Emiko Soltis/Courtesy of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZEZ7J4WD5NCTHH35NVAJAOK4UY.jpg","height":3456,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZEZ7J4WD5NCTHH35NVAJAOK4UY.jpg?auth=cf9492cb557df06c22f3aa6892cb72a340775e8c7b40c061c0e132be05cb0f74&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"Y55T2LRJBNCXVI4TIV3WTTEEK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130605},"type":"text","content":"As we approach Inauguration Day for President-elect Donald Trump, consider this: His second term is going to be different from the first. Yes, he narrowly won the popular vote, but once Republicans actually get down to the business of legislating, they are going to realize that Trump has been dealt a weaker hand this go-round, politically and economically."},{"_id":"5ZJGXYZXBRGPZGBHZGPX7QDINI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":358,"comment":" (TCJA)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130606},"type":"text","content":"In 2016, Donald Trump had a Senate margin of 51-49 and a margin in the House of roughly 235-193, give or take some vacancies. Even with this <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/results/president\" target=\"_blank\">relatively comfortable margin</a>, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., had a hard time managing his caucus, and Republicans were only able to accomplish one major piece of legislation: the <a href=\"https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/how-did-tcja-affect-federal-budget-outlook\" target=\"_blank\">debt-financed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act</a>, many provisions of which are set to expire this year."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d"},"caption":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","width":1000,"_id":"EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/dKV7lzuHrd3SkIR-51QEcVAXusU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Carolyn-Bourdeaux.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"NMFBITVOFVFJ7L4F5OJ6SULILQ"},"created_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","alignment":"right","height":1000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg?auth=2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"3UXBPVQDFVECLJ7ZWM4YNJW5OU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130607},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In 2025, Trump will face a Senate with a <a href=\"https://www.cfr.org/article/2024-election-numbers\" target=\"_blank\">Republican margin of 53-47</a>, so slightly better but certainly not filibusterproof. In the House, Republicans will have only a one-vote margin once Trump’s appointees move to the executive branch."},{"_id":"MPA4C63TJRAQBGENAKDGILWVMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736904451049},"type":"text","content":"Republicans were barely able to govern in the last Congress with a four-vote margin; they <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/louisiana-rep-mike-johnson-elected-house-speaker-ends-22-day-vacancy/PH2Z2PREB5E6BI7FSLJC5XAKY4/\" target=\"_blank\">struggled to elect Mike Johnson of Louisiana as speaker</a>; the House has passed five of the 12 budget bills to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2025 — a fiscal year that began Oct. 1; the Senate hasn’t taken up any. The <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-government-shutdown-deadline-speaker-johnson-budget-da117337aa0c0adab34a5626bb5816af\" target=\"_blank\">House barely managed to pass</a> a continuing resolution right before Christmas just to keep the government open for three more months."},{"_id":"X3RO2M2C7NA2RCJZM7FMMNLXGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130608},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Now, right out of the gate, they face an ambitious agenda of authorizing “<a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/11/politics/trump-border-czar-tom-homan-deportations/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">mass deportations</a>” and <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/08/trump-taxes-senate-republicans/\" target=\"_blank\">border security</a> and <a href=\"https://pro.bloombergtax.com/insights/federal-tax/what-is-the-future-of-the-tcja/\" target=\"_blank\">reauthorizing the Tax Cut and Jobs Act</a>, which has a <a href=\"https://www.grantthornton.com/insights/newsletters/tax/2024/hot-topics/may-24/cbo-pegs-cost-of-tcja-extension-at-trillion\" target=\"_blank\">price tag of $4.6 trillion</a>."},{"_id":"XTNLAJRB4VFGZMYNKCNH5MIT6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130609},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"An agenda like that might be easier if the country were flush with cash, but our staggering debt and deficit are starting to take a toll on our economy. Addressing this is going to require some adult policymaking, which is to say policymaking that is most likely bipartisan (especially given the Republicans’ narrow margins) and that requires politicians to actually say “no” to portions of their base."},{"_id":"XJYK56FANVHI3FPO2OJ7DQLC5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130610},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In 2016, Trump inherited an economy that was stable if not booming. The <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/us-national-debt-by-year-7499291\" target=\"_blank\">national debt was around $20 trillion</a> (with a total-debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio of 97%). The <a href=\"https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/graphic/52408-budgetoverall.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">annual deficit</a> was around $665.7 billion (or 3.5% of the GDP). Not great, but the country’s fiscal situation was such that the debt-financed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act functioned as a stimulus that juiced the economy without much inflation. The national debt went up dramatically, but Republicans got lucky, and, without inflation, the Federal Reserve was able to keep interest rates low."},{"_id":"KZ7KZZIU2FD5RKIIHLTHQ3I74I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130611},"type":"text","content":"Today the <a href=\"https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-debt/\" target=\"_blank\">national debt is $36 trillion</a> (total-debt-to-GDP ratio of 123%). The <a href=\"https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/fiscal-year-2024-ends-18-trillion-deficit#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20Treasury%20Department%20today,budget%20deficit%20totaled%20%241.8%20trillion.\" target=\"_blank\">annual deficit is around $1.8 trillion</a> (6.4% of the GDP). This time, the country had recent serious inflation and, though the Federal Reserve has been guardedly lowering interest rates in the hopes that inflation is now under control, the long-term interest rates that affect mortgages and many other costs continue to rise on the fear of more federal deficit spending."},{"_id":"JD4YXLRM3VE6JHOZUHLN6323QM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736904451054},"type":"text","content":"The country is now spending more on interest payments than on our national defense."},{"_id":"XSL74SZ35BFRRP5MA7FNKBW7OQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130612},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, truly catastrophic economic consequences from our debt and deficit are now on the visible horizon. The <a href=\"https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v70n3/v70n3p111.html\" target=\"_blank\">Social Security Trust Fund surplus</a> is projected to run out of money by 2035, triggering an estimated 21% across-the-board cut in benefits as automatic circuit breakers kick in to match Social Security expenditures to actual revenue available. Every year of delay makes the situation worse."},{"_id":"FVYB2ANQFJDNRE6SH5PV7OZFAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130613},"type":"text","content":"Economists have started to project the point at which the financing of our national debt overwhelms our ability to pay and we default on our debt and/or experience hyperinflation. In 2023, the <a href=\"https://budgetmodel.wharton.upenn.edu/issues/2023/10/6/when-does-federal-debt-reach-unsustainable-levels\" target=\"_blank\">Penn-Wharton budget model</a> projected that we were within a 20-year window of the point of no return, where no amount of spending cuts or tax increases could save us from economic collapse. Again, every year of delay makes the situation worse and more likely."},{"_id":"D2VNSLU4RBFPVLOROLLNCN3BIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130614},"type":"text","content":"So what are Republicans planning to do?"},{"_id":"IG7C444ZLJBNPFBGLLW55U3KGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736904451058},"type":"text","content":"At the moment: blow another massive hole in our budget by reauthorizing the unpaid-for <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.pgpf.org/article/how-much-would-it-cost-to-make-the-tcja-permanent/__;!!JZyed81S!iv6sc3Qp0ESrUqhtZc1ch6wsPujEXndoUa6VUxdJ_6_bjYS1M1EyjVWz_a314R5IcTveeZHM0aVOfVawQC4$\">$4.6 trillion</a> Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a number that does not include all the sweeteners and add-ons being proposed by members of Congress and the president-elect. I like a good tax cut as much as the next person, but the situation is sufficiently grave that the Congressional Budget Office is actually projecting <a href=\"https://www.crfb.org/blogs/tcja-extension-might-not-pay-any-itself\">the bill without any offsets will have negative dynamic effects</a> — driving up the debt, raising interest rates and causing the economy to contract."},{"_id":"E7EBPG7D7NF7HCLUP3DAEAEMNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130615},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, Trump has said he is going to pay for this bill with tariffs. Don’t worry."},{"_id":"KC4P54E6ZBCUFGPN5JATJOB63M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130616},"type":"text","content":"However, even <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/trump-tariffs-revenue-estimates/\" target=\"_blank\">broad and sweeping tariffs</a> in the range of 10% to 20% will not even get close to covering the full cost of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reauthorization, much less any add-ons. And let’s just be clear, with tariffs at the scope and scale needed to actually raise serious revenues, the money you and I gain from the tax cuts will go right back out of our bank account to pay for higher prices on <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/trump-tariffs-revenue-estimates/\">goods we purchase</a> that were manufactured in whole or in part overseas."},{"_id":"5W5WF3242BHALGS5GCY2QNBKTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736904451061},"type":"text","content":"Economically, tariffs function like tax increases — causing the economy to contract with negative dynamic effects. This is even without considering lost jobs as certain industries struggle or collapse in the face of retaliatory tariffs from other countries. Over time, the economy might adjust, but this country has not experimented with tariffs at this scale since the Smoot-Hawley tariffs helped precipitate the Great Depression in the 1930s."},{"_id":"SM5CYJEBZVE5NJ2KTIEIBI5CI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130617},"type":"text","content":"Various think tanks in Washington are <a href=\"https://www.crfb.org/our-work/issues/budget-offsets-bank\">churning out lists of ways to pay for this bill</a> — it can be done — but it’s going to require more than a smidgen of political courage."},{"_id":"LVXUWNXRGRBCZEP7WD6FEXLTHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":151,"comment":"Rep"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736904451063},"type":"text","content":"So for all those Republicans who talk a good game about the debt and deficit, now is your moment. I’m looking at you, Georgia Reps. Rich McCormick and .Andrew Clyde."},{"_id":"RVGO6MY76JAMVK6NDKZMPXX3SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736778130618},"type":"text","content":"And welcome back, President Trump."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The president-elect has a weaker hand going into his second term in the White House."},"description":{"basic":"The president-elect has a weaker hand going into his second term in the White House."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"AJC Contributor"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1748f7479840d328d7f407a49b836c4b9031cdddeb1764a7a9d9915adc374ec4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Clarence Tabb Jr.","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TRUMP-TARIFFS-ASSESS-DTN","width":3000,"caption":"At an Oct. 10 speech at the Detroit Economic Club, Donald Trump touted a plan to revive the U.S. auto industry through aggressive tariffs on foreign imports, corporate tax cuts and a new tax write off for interest payments on car loans. (Clarence Tabb Jr./The Detroit News/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QFWQLBLOWL7YPHJ7MSTNRDET5U.jpg","height":2216,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QFWQLBLOWL7YPHJ7MSTNRDET5U.jpg?auth=1748f7479840d328d7f407a49b836c4b9031cdddeb1764a7a9d9915adc374ec4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-trumps-second-term-wont-be-like-his-first/RJ2SAA4L4RHCNDWVI4MHGQPIYM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-15T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","description":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","_id":"cbourdeaux","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Bourdeaux","image":"","role":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. 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(Clarence Tabb Jr./The Detroit News/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QFWQLBLOWL7YPHJ7MSTNRDET5U.jpg","height":2216,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QFWQLBLOWL7YPHJ7MSTNRDET5U.jpg?auth=1748f7479840d328d7f407a49b836c4b9031cdddeb1764a7a9d9915adc374ec4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"N2QPUHDGTNAPZA3DIT4LKOVIXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Whenever the Atlanta forecast calls for snow, I brace myself. Not for the onslaught of ice and wintry weather but for the insults."},{"_id":"MEJP6IBA6FCEXEDMTKODQ7XEY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The subtle and not-so-subtle put-downs come from recent transplants and people across the country convinced — even a decade after the “snowpocalypse” that brought the city to a halt — that Georgians are a bunch of snowflakes."},{"_id":"REKIE2WVERBJBIWTRITUOKDEGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"We are still living down that searing “Daily Show” sketch from 2014 in which Jon Stewart suggested we haven’t considered carpooling since Miss Daisy was being driven around by her chauffeur."},{"_id":"2HZELOXB6ZHGHL6Z2WC54VJEUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":45,"comment":"governor","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Or when he highlighted the irony of then-Gov. Nathan Deal saying “There is no one in this room who could have predicted the degree or the magnitude of the problem that developed” — even though the Weather Channel is headquartered in Atlanta and meteorologists had accurately predicted the 2 inches of snow that dropped on the metro area that day in late January 2014."},{"syndication":{"search":true},"subheadlines":{"basic":"Over 2 inches of snow fell in metro Atlanta on a Friday in January of 2014, leading to what many refer to as the infamous \"snowpocalypse,\" when icy roadways and slippery highways ground the city to a halt and remained that way for up to 24 hours. Since then, Georgia state and local governments have strived to make improvements to prevent another winter storm catastrophe. 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faces major winter storm. Did it learn from \"Snowpocalypse?\"","basic":"What lessons did Atlanta learn from \"Snowpocalypse?\""},"websites":{"ajc":{"website_url":"/news/video/atlanta-faces-major-winter-storm-did-it-learn-from-snowpocalypse/16b6fbc3-9dbd-4d60-b794-5d27c16eb683/","website_section":{"path":"/news/video","_website":"ajc","name":"Videos","_id":"/news/video","type":"section","version":"0.6.0","primary":true}}},"_id":"16b6fbc3-9dbd-4d60-b794-5d27c16eb683","created_date":"2025-01-09T16:39:20Z","publish_date":"2025-01-16T13:40:58Z"},{"_id":"K5C23RCEDNALPNH63HJTNHL34Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":65,"comment":"3.5","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"So, last week, when predictions of an inch of snow turned into 3½ inches in some parts of town, I was ready for the jokes I knew were coming my way from fellow Chicagoans."},{"_id":"YDU7CWJJMVAQZLDI6MNVX3IRWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"“It doesn’t really look like much snow,” my best friend from high school said Friday as she watched videos on social media featuring Atlanta residents commenting about staying inside."},{"_id":"BGFVTTQGMFELBHDCDAINV7LNAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":93,"comment":" three","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This is a standard response from Midwesterners to a snowstorm that drops anything less than 3 feet of snow."},{"_id":"2IBFCTRILJHEFFMINZ6NMSG6GU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I assured her there was more than an inch of snow. I took photos of the streets blanketed in white and my partially buried car and sent them to her."},{"_id":"VVFJCPNBIVFWXHP4RYMAR77FLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I sent snaps of kids sledding and the occasional car driving down my street, intent on proving we aren’t a bunch of wimps. She reluctantly rescinded her statement, but I knew there was snark in her heart."},{"_id":"UQ3BCV4X65HP5CQJJYVX24RM5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":201,"comment":" three to four inches","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Still, we made it through another snowstorm, the most snow we’ve seen since 2018, and I think we did pretty well, or at least well enough to end the perception that Georgia is too incompetent to handle 3 to 4 inches of snow once or twice a year."},{"_id":"CGO6B37HHJHXXMVX4SOPAFRG6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"There were a few hiccups this past weekend, including a mini snowmageddon that left about a dozen vehicles stuck in the snow on Old Snellville Highway in Lawrenceville."},{"_id":"J7F3S46BHJGIZKBVJHICA3WYRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Motorists spun out of control on roadways slick with ice. Thousands of residents lost power. Hundreds of flights were canceled at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. And, of course, there was the prestorm scramble for meat, bread, and milk at grocery stores."},{"_id":"UPX34BYXNNHIROKCL5VTBQ3DPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"To be fair, these are all mostly universal occurrences when there is a snowstorm, and not just in the South."},{"_id":"NC67ERGYYFDC3M6FZMVULE6V2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"According to a friend in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, residents were also emptying shelves of perishable items (it’s the nonperishables you want) after a winter weather advisory predicted 3 to 5 inches of snow beginning Saturday night through late Sunday afternoon."},{"_id":"PHU2D75GPVHHZBVFXA3NMCWSN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In 2017, Georgia meteorologist Marshall Shepherd, <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2017/01/06/the-science-of-why-people-buy-bread-when-snow-is-in-the-forecast/?sh=868241b59785\">writing for Forbes magazine</a>, tried to uncover the history behind our scramble for food in the face of a storm."},{"_id":"46YCR4WE4RGC5IG7MU5SBBKGI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"With the help of colleagues, he traced the trend back to New Englanders and the blizzard of 1978. Another colleague noted how logical thought tends to fly out of the window whenever we face risks such as severe weather. Snow may be scary, but we are confident we can whip up a meal from milk and bread."},{"_id":"AB4FG5CEUBHHXCPZSBMWOF2Q3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In 2025, Georgia authorities said they learned important lessons from 2014."},{"_id":"XEOXC3C7HNHSLIBACJIOQJM4M4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Gov. Brian Kemp <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/storm-prompts-painful-memories-of-georgias-snowmageddon/AEYX3M2VIBG6VL5DM4JQPB6AHU/\" target=\"_self\">told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week</a> that we got ahead of the storm this time and that it is better to be overprepared than caught off guard."},{"_id":"NLDNHBPJIZCR5MS47I3XU5ZDEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Before the storm, we brined 20,000 miles of road, used more than 770 tons of salt and mobilized more than 300 snowplows to clear the streets."},{"_id":"DE5YMSVIWFCTNKJYLIEUUBU3CM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It all worked out, but this won’t be the last time we get a snow event."},{"_id":"OX77YVMRHNAXLAOHKMAHIF4CDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"According to my colleagues at <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/politically-georgia/will-another-georgia-storm-spur-state-lawmakers-to-take-action/M56YRWSKGZBS7O53GVPHCNMFEM/\" target=\"_self\">Politically Georgia</a>, state lawmakers will begin debating updates to the state’s emergency policies in the legislative session, which began Monday. Already, there have been calls to create an Office of Resilience and update the 911 system."},{"_id":"3COCR6R57JG5LD3JR2HNY4SNAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"While we’re at it, I hope local governments will also consider addressing some of the deeper unresolved issues that led to 2014’s snowpocalypse, such as Atlanta’s car-centric culture and lack of a truly regional transit system."},{"_id":"27BKCDFSCVDJ5BD5COAXQNGR4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The first snow I experienced in Atlanta was in 2007, and I chuckled as I coasted down the highway. I was the only person on the road, but I’ve lived here for 20 years now and I understand the reasons for a certain amount of caution."},{"_id":"HI6NGLV74VBNLAAUEW2EKFSLME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It’s easier to stay home than find yourself stranded on the roadways. No one wants to live through another snowpocalypse."},{"_id":"EDKZIDDD25CULATQW7KPIU5FC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"But last week, I saw so many Atlanta residents outside — skiing, sledding, making snow angels, building snowmen and walking dogs."},{"_id":"6HVPXA35O5BU7KYKWA5CF6XMPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"That’s not a city that is scared of snow; that is a city that is learning to embrace it."},{"_id":"ISABI7OSLJHVTFZQ23SCO6NSZY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It felt like an indication that maybe we have gotten past our trauma of 2014. And if we can get past it, the rest of the country should get past it too."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":""},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta 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Instead, they are designed to bound uncertainty for policymakers — clarifying what we know, what we don’t and what lies in the gray zones in between. The goal is to reduce ambiguity and support informed decision-making."},{"_id":"HXSTBPTKSBACFDPPGZZQU6L5AU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312422},"type":"text","content":"Ironically, President-elect Donald Trump’s <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-offshore-drilling-gulf-of-america-fa66f8d072eb39c00a8128a8941ede75\">recent statements</a> — ranging from acquiring Greenland to retaking the Panama Canal and renaming the Gulf of Mexico — have not clarified U.S. strategic priorities. Instead, his remarks — whether bluster or strategic posturing — have provided adversaries with a predictable framework for justifying their own territorial ambitions."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426"},"caption":"Brian O'Neill, visiting prof, Georgia Tech","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Brian O'Neill","width":574,"_id":"6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/XNSccLB--Rse7q_-CmX1ZKZp2f0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Brian O'Neill.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"TKXFN7G5M5H7HFOXF5A4TMXIK4"},"created_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","alignment":"right","height":574,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg?auth=7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"BSCXLFJGCBDCVIHAKB5XJO5X7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312424},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Though these declarations could be dismissed domestically as political theater, their international ramifications cannot be ignored. Adversaries such as Russia and China might well seize on these statements to justify their own territorial claims, pointing to a U.S. precedent. Meanwhile, allies who depend on a steady and principled United States might view such rhetoric as further evidence of strategic unpredictability."},{"_id":"DB66RLV75ZHWHNDYA327EHNV4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312425},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Together, these dynamics risk eroding the credibility of U.S. leadership, undermining its influence on the global stage."},{"_id":"ET5CASA4NBDK5JVQYMTOUMRM3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312426},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Some might argue that Trump’s declarations signal a vital reassertion of American power in an era of great-power competition. Proponents might frame his rhetoric as a return to “peace through strength” or as a form of strategic ambiguity designed to deter adversaries."},{"_id":"6LZISF42GZBDTOSS5ARUK22SLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312427},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On the surface, such an approach might appear rational, particularly when viewed through the lens of 19th-century realism. Greenland’s vast reserves of critical resources and its strategic location are undeniably valuable assets for any great power. Similarly, securing the Panama Canal — a crucial trade artery — could bolster U.S. control over global commerce while curbing Chinese influence in Latin America."},{"_id":"NTRFJ6PLQ5G2DHW7W7OTYBAPVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312428},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"However, effective deterrence requires coherence and careful calibration — qualities Trump’s rhetoric lacks. Rather than reassuring allies and creating uncertainty for adversaries, his unpredictability generates confusion and emboldens rivals. By mirroring the tactics of revisionist powers such as Russia and China, Trump risks legitimizing their disregard for international norms while fostering a global environment that serves their ambitions at the expense of U.S. values and credibility."},{"_id":"WTQHNPEPZZA6DMMJWU7WY7YSFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312429},"type":"text","content":"For Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump’s proclamations are a strategic gift. Russia has not required external validation for its actions in Ukraine or Crimea, but Trump’s voiced territorial ambitions bolster Putin’s narrative. Putin’s justification for invading Ukraine — a supposed defense of ethnic Russians, <a href=\"https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/what-does-putin-really-want-ukraine\">reclaiming “rightful” territory</a> and <a href=\"https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/putins-eurasian-fixation-reveals-ambitions-beyond-ukraine/\">resisting NATO’s “encirclement”</a> — is an imperialist agenda cloaked in rhetorical legitimacy. Trump’s statements echo these themes, giving Putin’s doctrine a veneer of credibility."},{"_id":"RCDDC7SBV5GI3O63VH4GSK44PE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312430},"type":"text","content":"Russian state media will be at the ready to seize on Trump’s rhetoric and portray his territorial ambitions as equivalent to Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. This narrative not only undermines Washington’s ability to credibly condemn Russian aggression but could also embolden Putin to press further in Eastern Europe or the Arctic. Worse, Trump’s statements risk being framed as tacit approval for Moscow’s imperialist ambitions, complicating NATO’s efforts to present a united front against Russian expansionism."},{"_id":"3T2RM4LUANDKDJSX3Z4RCAN33U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312431},"type":"text","content":"China, too, benefits from this narrative. <a href=\"https://www.cfr.org/excerpt-third-revolution\">Xi Jinping’s policy of national rejuvenation</a> frames <a href=\"https://www.heritage.org/china/commentary/how-china-views-the-south-china-sea-sovereign-territory\">territorial recovery</a> as central to China’s historical identity. Beijing can point to the United States’ openly declared ambitions as a pretext to escalate its own actions, such as challenging U.S. resolve<a href=\"https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/territorial-disputes-south-china-sea\"> in the South China Sea</a> or testing the limits of American commitments to Taiwan. These provocations could force the United States to respond, putting Trump’s bluster to the test in scenarios where the stakes for failure would be far higher than any perceived gain."},{"_id":"KKJYGM35IJHVRMS4GNFID55XYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312432},"type":"text","content":"For Indo-Pacific allies such as Japan, South Korea and Australia, the disparity between Trump’s rhetoric and traditional U.S. commitments to international norms is deeply troubling. This inconsistency raises serious questions about Washington’s reliability and long-term commitment to countering Beijing’s influence."},{"_id":"YWYGI5XYKFDJVFGBNRIMWFTBGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312433},"type":"text","content":"Trump’s rhetoric also risks alienating key partners beyond traditional alliances. In Latin America, Trump’s talk of <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/business/logistics/panama-canal-chief-says-trumps-ideas-will-lead-to-chaos-a5f2dee9?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">retaking the Panama Canal</a> revives memories of U.S. dominance in Latin America. In a region where China’s<a href=\"https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/09/what-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-bri\"> Belt and Road Initiative</a> has made significant inroads, such statements could further erode U.S. influence. Beijing’s investments are often framed as pragmatic partnerships, avoiding the overt territorial claims that Trump’s rhetoric embraces. This allows China to position itself as a more reliable and less intrusive actor, deepening its influence at the United States’ expense."},{"_id":"IBMLGH5U5BED3ALIWTEXCVHC5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312434},"type":"text","content":"In Africa, where <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/trump-inherits-us-embassies-africa-lacking-staff-resources-2024-11-11/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">the United States has struggled</a> to counter <a href=\"https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis/opinion-lost-ground-how-china-and-russia-are-outflanking-the-us-in-africa/3246326?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">growing Russian and Chinese influence</a>, Trump’s declarations could compound skepticism about American intentions. Both adversaries have consolidated their influence without the need for territorial claims, relying instead on infrastructure investments and strategic alliances. Trump’s statements risk reinforcing perceptions of the United States as an unpredictable power, further alienating nations that might otherwise serve as critical partners in countering Chinese and Russian influence."},{"_id":"XQH6F42K4ZGYFFILX5LF5VXH4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312435},"type":"text","content":"Trump has long sought to project an image of Churchillian strength — stoic, tough, and visionary. He has leaned into Churchill’s remark, <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/posts/you-have-enemies-good-that-means-youve-stood-up-for-something-sometime-in-your-l/10154393417515725/\">“You have enemies? Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” </a>Yet Churchill also warned, <a href=\"https://winstonchurchill.org/old-site/learn/speeches-learn/the-price-of-greatness/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">“The price of greatness is responsibility.”</a> This principle calls for engaged and accountable leadership, not unilateral bluster cloaked in chaos."},{"_id":"A2UUW6RBFVH5JGWHK7IJGFH6FM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Trump’s reliance on chaos as a strategy may resonate in a corporate setting, but in geopolitics, it sows disorder with far-reaching consequences. Rival leaders — such as Putin and Xi — thrive in such environments, turning disorder to their advantage. This approach risks legitimizing adversaries’ territorial ambitions and undermining U.S. credibility, framing Washington as an expansionist power rather than a defender of sovereignty.”"},{"_id":"ERLUW2F2IVDXRBGJKQVXAT2KZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312437},"type":"text","content":"Adversaries have already witnessed the first act of Trump’s leadership and are now better prepared to exploit his blind spots and missteps in the sequel."},{"_id":"VQCUSHNLEFBHLJWAYH6QAMLNA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736863312438},"type":"text","content":"<i>Brian O’Neill, a recently retired senior executive from the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center, is an instructor on strategic intelligence at Georgia Tech.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Though these declarations could be dismissed domestically as political theater, their international ramifications cannot be ignored. 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Whelton.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6QAE2UIYPFCLROD5GD7R5GR4KQ"},"created_date":"2025-01-13T19:55:55Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-13T19:55:55Z","alignment":"right","height":238,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OSJVIJE6XVAZFIDHPQJ5W2ESIY.jpg?auth=0cff83f0624afb66eb5c823b059c092f442e172753edb6a84660ae9585fb9ed8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"OYB572NLDRE5BDS72J4HAS5SWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342720},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"What many people don’t realize is the extent to which their community drinking water systems can be damaged by fire, how their water is affected and what they can do about it."},{"_id":"ZKVFIHXFTBC33JOSQZXHAOL4JA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342721},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As an <a href=\"https://engineering.purdue.edu/EEE/People/ptProfile?resource_id=110359\">environmental engineer</a>, I work with communities affected by wildfires and other disasters. Over the years, my team and I have been called in to help after some of the most destructive wildfires in U.S. history. In some cases, we have advised state and local officials from afar."},{"_id":"HCZBEGA45ZFUJMODU3KOWW7TAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342722},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Several <a href=\"https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PWP-Do-not-drink-Notice_2025-01.pdf\">local water</a> systems in the Los Angeles area have begun <a href=\"https://ladwp-jtti.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/09115000/Pacific-Palisades-Boil-Water-Notice-January-8-2025-3.pdf\">issuing warnings</a> about <a href=\"https://ladwp-jtti.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/10120405/DND-Notice-Final.pdf\">not using</a> the <a href=\"https://www.kinneloairrigationdistrict.info/files/92284bdd4/Unsafe+Water+Alert.pdf\">potentially unsafe drinking water</a>. Here’s what residents in the area, and anyone else living near where a wildfire burns, need to know."},{"_id":"7ZHFJPX24JFQDDRZFCUD434IGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342723},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fires can make drinking water, and the water pipes and tanks themselves, <a href=\"https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aws2.1183\">unsafe</a>. This occurs for a number of reasons."},{"_id":"RIQ4NNPDWFC7FDMVXYD6BVZJFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342724},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One cause is when high water use from firefighting drains the water system."},{"_id":"PZYWBF6HX5CQFASCSU6FBZQSVU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342725},"type":"text","content":"Water systems are not <a href=\"https://www.nfpa.org/news-blogs-and-articles/blogs/2024/01/12/fire-hydrant-flow\">designed</a> to fight wildfires. Damaged and destroyed structures also prompt <a href=\"https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aws2.1183\">uncontrolled</a> water leaks. <a href=\"https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-says-intentional-power-outages-to-prevent-more-fires-led-to-california-water-shortages/ar-BB1rbBu0\">Power</a> <a href=\"https://awwa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aws2.1318\">loss</a> can prevent water from being replenished fast enough into the draining water systems. Combined, these factors can depressurize the water system, leaving no water available."},{"_id":"GG3FW2W7O5D2JCEB45EUBY2ZKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342726},"type":"text","content":"When water is <a href=\"https://time.com/7205670/dry-fire-hydrants-southern-california-la-fires/\">depleted</a>, the system is vulnerable to chemical contamination."},{"_id":"6RAYSKDXHVALTHSFU2CERYZ5PQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342727},"type":"text","content":"Drinking water contamination can also come <a href=\"https://theconversation.com/wildfires-are-contaminating-drinking-water-systems-and-its-more-widespread-than-people-realize-159527\">from the air and from damage to water system infrastructure</a>. Heat can partially melt plastic pipes and water meters, <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00836B\">releasing chemicals</a>; smoke can be sucked into water systems; and breaks in the water infrastructure can introduce contamination."},{"_id":"A2RV53L3PJDQFLTBVSMV5ODTAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342728},"type":"text","content":"Cancer-causing chemicals have been found in damaged water systems after wildfires. Sometimes these chemicals, <a href=\"https://engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/resources/Benzene-Levels-in-Water.pdf\">such as benzene</a>, can cause someone to become immediately ill if they drink or use the water. Symptoms can include nausea, headaches and rashes."},{"_id":"HEXBBRLNE5ER3MMRKAOVPB35VE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342729},"type":"text","content":"These chemicals stick to the infrastructure surfaces and can even penetrate some plastic pipes and gaskets. Removing them can take days to months. Some plastics can <a href=\"https://theconversation.com/plastic-pipes-are-polluting-drinking-water-systems-after-wildfires-its-a-risk-in-urban-fires-too-150923\">adsorb chemicals like a sponge</a> and release them into clean drinking water slowly, making that water unsafe for long periods of time."},{"_id":"6OBYNBUUUZBEVJOZHRV2PQD7AQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342730},"type":"text","content":"Residents and businesses should pay attention to announcements from their drinking water provider and health officials about water safety."},{"_id":"M6NSYAKASVC2VG2ASQNEI7I44M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342731},"type":"text","content":"Safety can be determined through proper chemical testing. Fortunately, the first-ever <a href=\"https://www.waterrf.org/resource/concept-operations-conops-plan-water-distribution-system-testing-and-recovery\">guide for water systems</a> to respond to and recover from fires was published in 2024. <a href=\"https://readyforwildfire.org/post-wildfire/returning-home/\">Property owners</a> can find <a href=\"https://engineering.purdue.edu/PlumbingSafety/resources/wildfire-response\">more information</a> from groups like our research team at Purdue University."},{"_id":"TADDADDJZZDMLMQI5PANMG72FM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342732},"type":"text","content":"When it comes to testing home drinking water, caution is needed."},{"_id":"MTMJ2T4YXFH5VCLZFSUEZRMERY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342733},"type":"text","content":"After the 2023 wildfires in <a href=\"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/ew/d4ew00216d\">Maui, Hawaii</a>, and the 2018 Camp Fire in <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04714-9\">Paradise, California</a>, I met with many households who spent hundreds to thousands of dollars to hire companies to conduct their own water testing. However, many of the results turned out to be irrelevant. In some cases:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"PWGIIWIDQBA2ZDIJF2RKDIB2ZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"5BAMPCI4FBCDJPOYRYGL3S35JM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Residents were charged for water analysis even though their samples were improperly handled."},{"_id":"BQAE3UI47JE35AD6HAMLKH673Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"The potentially contaminated water was dumped out of plumbing before a sample was collected."},{"_id":"22ZI2EUXH5GCZOOUXHKULPI5YY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Water samples were not <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW00216D\">screened</a> for the correct fire-related chemicals."},{"_id":"LL3YOHKFQVFHZPZEDK35TCXIB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Samples were not collected from the right locations or enough locations in the home."}]},{"_id":"CPOSPOSAVFGXRKC5CHA4J5O7GE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342735},"type":"text","content":"Treating water is not advised until the levels of contamination are known. Water systems in the area <a href=\"https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PWP-Do-not-drink-Notice_2025-01.pdf\">have issued such warnings</a>."},{"_id":"3YIPL4WLTVB3JG47WGJJFVNO6I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342736},"type":"text","content":"Residents should also be aware that home water treatment devices are not certified to <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-021-04714-9\">make extremely contaminated water safe</a>."},{"_id":"S2FYWLPH2BDJ7KIMANTLLEPGRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342737},"type":"text","content":"To help property owners make the best decisions, water utilities need to rapidly test and share with the public what chemicals are present in their water systems. Once that testing has been done and the risks are known, property owners might want to commission their own testing if their plumbing is damaged or if contaminated water has flowed in."},{"_id":"5HIMJJOHBBDIFL22VOYCR3ZSW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342738},"type":"text","content":"It can be frustrating waiting for information, but immediately after fires it’s often unsafe for water officials to enter the affected areas to begin testing."},{"_id":"LOFE3K662BADNKKLIVFANF3TQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342739},"type":"text","content":"As history has shown, safe water can be restored. Assistance from experts who have helped others respond can expedite the recovery. In my experience, communities that recover rapidly and stronger are those where they work together and support one another."},{"_id":"364QM5EO4BENFPPK26DZGAU5MI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736819342740},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-j-whelton-1031851\"><i>Andrew J. Whelton</i></a><i> is a professor of civil, environmental and ecological engineering at Purdue University.</i>"},{"_id":"PBOLDMUE6VBBRNFJXGF4VD22TA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"BUHTVWALH5ECXB34JS2BUXFMZ4"},"type":"raw_html","content":"<iframe src=\"https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247146/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" style=\"border: none !important\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\"></iframe>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Safe drinking water should be top of mind for those residents able to return to their homes."},"description":{"basic":"Safe drinking water should be top of mind for those residents able to return to their homes."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"eaa3d16fbb8f4ef0ab95524cc5eff55a602245a4abf5ac7f8ed1c0493bc00bef"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Noah Berger","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"California Wildfires","width":5399,"caption":"An air tanker drops fire retardant on Jan. 13 near Altadena, California, while working to contain the Eaton Fire. (Noah Berger/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7BV6JDSX2MGA4VY7PAOYFMXKZU.jpg","height":3599,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7BV6JDSX2MGA4VY7PAOYFMXKZU.jpg?auth=eaa3d16fbb8f4ef0ab95524cc5eff55a602245a4abf5ac7f8ed1c0493bc00bef&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-wildfire-can-make-drinking-water-unsafe/MX5FZ2EXXVFORB37KL24NHEBTY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-14T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Andrew J. Whelton","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Wildfires can make drinking water unsafe"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-14T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-14T11:00:10.824Z","_id":"MX5FZ2EXXVFORB37KL24NHEBTY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"eaa3d16fbb8f4ef0ab95524cc5eff55a602245a4abf5ac7f8ed1c0493bc00bef"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Noah Berger","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"California Wildfires","width":5399,"caption":"An air tanker drops fire retardant on Jan. 13 near Altadena, California, while working to contain the Eaton Fire. (Noah Berger/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7BV6JDSX2MGA4VY7PAOYFMXKZU.jpg","height":3599,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7BV6JDSX2MGA4VY7PAOYFMXKZU.jpg?auth=eaa3d16fbb8f4ef0ab95524cc5eff55a602245a4abf5ac7f8ed1c0493bc00bef&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"5NG5BZQYY5CUPPIWERKAMJDSLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":584,"comment":"baited "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997928},"type":"text","content":"I remember one of my riskier parenting decisions. While on a family trip overseas, my husband and I let our two oldest daughters, then ages 9 and 7, walk by themselves through town to the bakery a good half mile away. Coins in pockets, they had memorized just enough German to manage the purchase of breakfast pastries for the family. This trek was outside my comfort zone, but my husband had managed a solo walk to kindergarten when his parents were medical missionaries in Africa; he was much more confident about the benefits. We had prepared the children, but I waited with bated breath for my daughters’ return. They came back exhilarated and empowered, croissants in tow. They had done something hard but had also grown confidence from their ability to carry this responsibility. No doubt, this activity had some risk, but it also had the potential for great reward."},{"_id":"SWVBVKAZ6FERLMVNFKKHS6FCKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997929},"type":"text","content":"I couldn’t help but think of that experience when the news broke in November about Brittany Patterson, a mother of four arrested in North Georgia for “reckless conduct” after her 10-year-old son was found walking by himself less than a mile from their home. More than one friend reached out in shock asking, “Is this really a crime?” I think my friends were asking the same question I have since asked: “Are we allowed to let our children take risks?”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"748b9f04517ec9c03c257b2e36335575fb9fa287e3495dbb710d10ed35b607eb"},"caption":"Hannah Heck","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Hannah Heck","width":1049,"_id":"5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_ZfN4bZqpyaidp87sr3Y0zqhHos=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/AGdMzrgVGeIsew867Mx-lO7V55I=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Hannah Heck.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"DCTYX4UBMVADHNTGYR7DITM7E4"},"created_date":"2024-11-11T17:01:50Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-11T17:01:50Z","alignment":"right","height":992,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5FOMMNLMU5H77C2ERAQHH42XW4.jpg?auth=748b9f04517ec9c03c257b2e36335575fb9fa287e3495dbb710d10ed35b607eb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CYMHCT7ESFGCDIHJOLCTWREK3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997930},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Clearly, some risks are unacceptable. In his book “<a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036\" target=\"_blank\">The Anxious Generation</a>,”<i> </i>social psychologist<i> </i>Jonathan Haidt warns of the risks of the “phone based childhood.” Haidt argues that early and relatively unfettered access to smartphones and social media has exposed children to unacceptable risks, both of actual predatory online behavior and the negative mental and social-health impacts of near-constant access to social media."},{"_id":"5WVFWC3DJZEJNJWAGAD2M7UAUE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997931},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Haidt’s ideas and the research supporting them have had an impact. This fall, Australia became the first country to ban access to social media for those under age 16. Florida has a law that went into effect just this month that requires parental consent for social media access for 14- and 15-year-olds and bans such access for younger children. Many Atlanta-area metro schools and districts have started to restrict student access to cellphones within the classroom."},{"_id":"PVFANRVPKZD7PCTLXWHXVFCVZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997932},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Movement away from the phone-based childhood is, on the whole, a positive development. But we cannot consider what we should protect children from while neglecting to consider what we are protecting them for. Haidt argues that children have been overexposed to risk in the phone-based childhood, but he also argues that children have been underexposed to risk in the physical world. We miss an opportunity to aid in the challenges facing this generation by focusing only on reducing risks, such as the mental health impacts of the cellphone, and not engaging with the question of whether children’s deprivation of fruitful risks, particularly those in the real world, might also be causing harm."},{"_id":"4BLSHRF6QNFANAEYLQPFK4FDQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":59,"comment":"j"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997933},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Author Nasim Talib argues that children are “antifragile”: Just as immune systems and bones need stressors to be healthy, so do our children. Giving our children the freedom to go into a store and navigate a purchase by themselves gives them confidence and grows their ability to navigate adult conversation independently. Enabling our children to ride their bikes down a steep hill, though they might take a tumble, teaches them how to successfully navigate their bodies and the world around them. Giving a child increasing freedom of movement grows their understanding of their autonomy and capabilities. Indeed, all of these behaviors carry some risk, but they also have the potential to make our children stronger, more resilient, connected and ultimately healthier people."},{"_id":"XLLTZ2NVCBCJXKUTUBS5XELJLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997934},"type":"text","content":"Parents, including me, have the opportunity to reevaluate our relationship to risk with our children asking not “is this safe?” but “do the benefits in developing my child’s cognitive and emotional development outweigh the risk to them?” Put another way, “is this a fruitful risk?”"},{"_id":"L6SZFKLICRHXXPSCLVY5SJB36E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":645,"comment":", "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997935},"type":"text","content":"We can bring this question to our schools and our social institutions, asking whether there might be opportunities to enable risk in areas of high positive impact. Recently, a parent questioned whether our church’s policy that allowed only adults to gather children from the nursery negatively impacted their middle schooler by limiting his ability to navigate our church independently and contributing to his family by taking on this responsibility. I was glad this parent raised this concern. Even if we don’t reach a consensus, our institutions will be better off if we continue to ask the question for our children, “is this risk worth it?” understanding that the answer might sometimes be yes. We want our children to be safe, but we want them to be safe so that they may live full and fruitful lives."},{"_id":"QD3G5YDFEFEYNMSAWUQOUVUM6A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997936},"type":"text","content":"Finally, we can ask our legislators to keep this fruitful risk-taking in mind as they evaluate legislation. Yes, research what laws are needed to protect our children from a phone-based childhood, but we must not lose focus on what we are wanting to free them for. Shaping the character of our children is risky business, but when the reward is young people who are confident, capable, resilient and engaged in the world around them, the risk is worth it."},{"_id":"TAKOAKI4WRHL5FYXT3OORE3YNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736796997937},"type":"text","content":"Brittany Patterson’s case is working through the Georgia legal system. I can’t pretend to know every detail of her family’s situation, but I’d wager that her case has left many parents with the nagging question of whether they are allowed to give their child the freedom to take risks. I’d argue, the stakes are too high not to."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We cannot consider what we should protect children from while neglecting what we are protecting them for. 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My critics dismissed the phrase as “focus group” generated and too Pollyanna to be taken seriously enough to be elected or have a chance to get results."},{"_id":"GR7PZAC3HJGHLCPKNSH7WZ6QPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649597},"type":"text","content":"They were wrong on both fronts."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"handout","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8"},"source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"T4RB6LHAOBHYTGPYW7WVPZ4RIU","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Geoff Duncan","type":"author","byline":"Geoff Duncan"}]},"subtitle":"Geoff Duncan","width":205,"_id":"KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/W4zUPTmEzIxDXLV_F1BkXCXlJyo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Geoff Duncan.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"R4N6TJYFPNBBNOE26Y5UKYMETU"},"created_date":"2024-07-15T17:59:33Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-15T18:14:33Z","alignment":"right","height":154,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg?auth=aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XXYQL6FUCBHN3LLY73XWVWFOX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649599},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Despite the toxic partisanship of the national stage, Georgians on both sides of the aisle have been putting policy over politics for decades on politically complicated issues. In the 1990s, Gov. Zell Miller led the legislature down the politically dangerous and divisive path of creating a lottery system. The primary purpose was funding college tuition for graduating high school students who could maintain a “B” average or higher. The metrics of success for a lottery-driven scholarship program continue to be kind to this bipartisan historical effort. An astonishing <a href=\"https://www.georgiahistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Georgia-Lottery-lr.pdf\">2.1 million students</a> have participated in the program since 1994, and a jaw-dropping <a href=\"https://gov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2024-07-16/gov-kemp-hope-scholarship-awards-reach-over-15-billion#:~:text=This%20year%2C%20the%20program%20has,President%20and%20CEO%20Gretchen%20Corbin.\">$15 billion</a> has been generated from the lottery so far with no end in sight. It now seems easy to say the bipartisan juice was worth the squeeze for Georgia on this one."},{"_id":"COFXVEUVNVG2XBMKFKKZBYXBAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649600},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Other modern examples of our elected officials ignoring the synthetic heartburn created in partisan corners are scattered throughout our history books. From <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local/history-georgia-state-flag-things-know/rQ0DK2QtuSP13EStbLC5iK/\">changing state flags</a>, <a href=\"https://www.goalscholarship.org/\">modernizing education</a>, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local/deal-criminal-justice-reforms-leaves-lasting-legacy/ZMwb2vG7C4LurWoFESw46O/\">reforming criminal justice systems</a> or, more recently, building out an economic development engine that will thrive on a global stage for decades to come. In fact, looking back at most of the noteworthy accomplishments in our state’s recent history, they all seem to be rooted in politically courageous bipartisanship. No reason to stop now!"},{"_id":"4YO6VRVSQNBCLMJTORE2VL2KZY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649601},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The new legislative session is underway, and there are no shortage of important subjects to tackle under the Gold Dome. Few are more pressing than meaningful bipartisan gun safety legislation. Firearms continue to be the <a href=\"https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/guns-remain-leading-cause-of-death-for-children-and-teens\">leading cause of death</a> for children and teenagers. The seriousness of the issue requires its elevation above the shallowness of outdated partisan politics."},{"_id":"SSNSD6NFZFB2NNDCDWWF23GQZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649602},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Past, present and future families dealing with immense levels of grief are counting on the General Assembly to get this one right, and so are many others. According to a <a href=\"https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3848\">Quinnipiac poll</a>, 92% of Americans support universal background checks and 83% support red flag laws. These numbers are unavoidable truths for conservative legislators and should provide the necessary aircover to fend off their worrisome political fears from the fractional extreme right."},{"_id":"K7FOOBOPT5CPRFXVNL6TTEVUX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649603},"type":"text","content":"This is not a one-size-fits all issue, and there is no exacting recipe for the perfect gun safety bill. Yet perfect cannot become the enemy of the good. Some necessary elements include universal background checks, red flag laws and safe gun storage laws. Rarely does perfect show up at the legislative finish line inside the Capitol, especially when it’s a bipartisan effort, but it should be continuously viewed as the north star throughout the process — shining enough light on history to see the inconsequential electoral effects of doing the right thing versus the faint whispers of a primary opponent."},{"_id":"LFJ5NXCYXNDEVA6WTKB26QB34A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649604},"type":"text","content":"Let me be clear: Updating our state’s gun safety laws to properly reflect reality is not an all-out attack on an individual’s Second Amendment rights like the barrage of fundraising emails from overzealous gun groups would lead one to believe. In fact, despite bipartisan support, the Republican majorities no doubt will generate a conservative strategy to temporarily keep guns away from someone who is an immediate threat to themselves or others, which we should all agree is a fantastic idea."},{"_id":"HYLGPRNZGRBE5AK7GEKKQAJBBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649605},"type":"text","content":"Signs of bipartisanship momentum surfaced last session with the passage of <a href=\"https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/66156\">HB971</a> in the Georgia House. The <a href=\"https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/03/14/tax-credit-for-gun-safety-devices-nears-vote-by-full-georgia-senate/\">bipartisan effort</a> would have provided a tax credit of up to $300 for gun safety devices such as safes and trigger locks."},{"_id":"P2YHDSILQNDPZJKYNHJR4JUIXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649606},"type":"text","content":"Though final passage was eventually circumvented in the Senate, this was a step in the right direction. But it should be only a starting point. Politically similar states like <a href=\"https://carolinaacross100.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/NC-SAFE.pdf\">North Carolina</a> and <a href=\"https://safegunstoragetexas.com/\">Texas</a> have been able to pass meaningful safe gun storage laws that include state money to fund public health messaging programs. In fact, Texas appropriates <a href=\"https://messenger-news.com/2020/11/02/keep-em-safe-texas/\">$500,000</a> annually to the “Keep ‘Em Safe Texas” gun safety program that operates an informational website, creates promotional materials to hand out at schools and in the community, and has a dedicated staff. There is no way to tabulate the cumulative number of lives a program like this in Georgia would save from senseless gun violence and suicide, but I guarantee the juice will again be worth the squeeze."},{"_id":"SU6BH6PP5NECTHW6WWAFGIURAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736781649607},"type":"text","content":"With our razor-thin elections and controversial court cases, Georgia is poised to remain in the center of the political universe for years to come. With the nation watching, let’s add one more topic for their viewing pleasure: bipartisan safe gun legislation that could serve as a model for others on how to put policy over politics."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Our state will be in the national spotlight for years, so let’s be a north star on smart gun bills."},"description":{"basic":"Our state will be in the national spotlight for years, so let’s be a north star on smart gun bills."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"00dcb7856cfccda959802a1db60aaf698d0432baa4716208065313d78f7d6410"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"A RALLY ORGANIZED BY MOMS DEMAND ACTION","width":6000,"caption":"A May 13, 2023, rally organized by Georgia Moms Demand Action in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. 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It can again on gun safety."},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-13T15:22:52.758Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-13T15:22:52.883Z","_id":"E34EDGEXABF47KBSBNKCRSBHAU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"00dcb7856cfccda959802a1db60aaf698d0432baa4716208065313d78f7d6410"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Steve Schaefer","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"A RALLY ORGANIZED BY MOMS DEMAND ACTION","width":6000,"caption":"A May 13, 2023, rally organized by Georgia Moms Demand Action in Piedmont Park in Atlanta. (Steve Schaefer/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EEPJU4UG7MICNF2IF2LV7TNHRY.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EEPJU4UG7MICNF2IF2LV7TNHRY.jpg?auth=00dcb7856cfccda959802a1db60aaf698d0432baa4716208065313d78f7d6410&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"FF66CAWFE5D5RPRNEXITKGY5WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It’s a sad day for transparency and accountability in Atlanta. On Jan. 6, Atlanta City Council member Howard Shook <a href=\"https://atlantaciviccircle.org/2025/01/09/bill-would-gut-atlanta-corruption-watchdogs-independence/\">introduced</a> charter amendment legislation during a the City Council meeting that would all-but-end the Office of the Inspector General’s (IG) independence. What’s more, IG Shannon Manigault’s investigative powers would be defanged and her access to records would be sharply limited. Passage of this legislation would render the IG helpless to hold Atlanta’s notoriously corrupt city leadership accountable for their misdeeds and <a href=\"https://atlpresscollective.com/2025/01/09/as-damaging-as-one-could-imagine-city-council-introduces-legislation-to-weaken-oversight/\">sideline key IG allies</a> from the watchdog’s governing board. As Manigault rightly notes, “What the legislation does — it is taking Atlanta backwards.” The Atlanta City Council must quash this horrible piece of legislation and give IG Manigault the tools she needs to turn the city around."},{"_id":"FR3XULAE4RBJJFZMIBMEMLRIQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It certainly isn’t easy to fight against corruption in Atlanta. Even when one investigation concludes, crooks just keep on coming. In 2022, former Atlanta city official and pastor Mitzi Bickers was <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/former-atlanta-official-mitzi-bickers-sentenced-in-city-hall-corruption-investigation\">sentenced</a> to 14 years in prison for using her position as city director of human services to steer $17 million in city work to local contractors in exchange for bribes. A sprawling, eight-year federal investigation has nabbed numerous other Atlanta officials for fraud, bribery and misuse of taxpayer dollars. One recently uncovered perpetrator is former Chief Financial Officer Jim Beard, who <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/plea-hearing-set-for-atlantas-former-cfo-in-sprawling-corruption-case/TZMSM2BMXJGSLH27VB2WPUJ54U/\">used taxpayer dollars</a> to buy machine guns, airline tickets, limousines and fancy hotel rooms for him and his pals. These developments certainly don’t bode well for Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who has <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/10/07/atlanta-mayoral-candidates-who-tout-transparency-have-disclosure-problems-of-their\">repeatedly called for</a> ethics and transparency reforms."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"78ebb8e9d38be7f2a98019c9cb1050c4124fc923c32542113164db16562404e1"},"caption":"David Williams","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"David Williams","width":400,"_id":"EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/CrHCBiYRuN9_NntBgfdQ5gWyFgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/CrHCBiYRuN9_NntBgfdQ5gWyFgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/CrHCBiYRuN9_NntBgfdQ5gWyFgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/5k8FdkA2xiV68vKje_IKrv-_SgA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"David Williams.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4KWY2F34GFHSHLLD2UETVBBCCM"},"created_date":"2025-01-13T14:17:42Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-13T14:17:42Z","alignment":"right","height":400,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EVLOU3CA5ZBGLIOTI5HJVRLY2Q.jpg?auth=78ebb8e9d38be7f2a98019c9cb1050c4124fc923c32542113164db16562404e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EBJ6KPFBGZHHDOHUBPCDM7IHOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The IG’s office is working to sniff out these schemes and expose city officials making a mockery of public service. According to one <a href=\"https://atloig.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/OIG.report.lipscomb-blanton.4.11.24.pdf\">recently released report</a> by IG Manigault’s office, one senior city employee actively tried steering solicitations for taxpayer-funded projects to a friend who worked for a bidding company. The employee would inappropriately share project details and granular budget information with their friend, who would then use the information to increase proposed costs for task order services. The IG <a href=\"https://atloig.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/OIG.report.lipscomb-blanton.4.11.24.pdf\">found</a>, “On the identified task orders, quotes increased at least $850,000 following the disclosure of budget information.”"},{"_id":"RCXI6KY6XVHK7KCHNPFKWZXWOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Another recent report by the IG <a href=\"https://atloig.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/report.smith_.pdf\">concluded</a> that the commissioner of the Department of Human Resources “abused her authority in creating a [city of Atlanta job] position for her daughter and attempting the termination of … [her daughter’s] supervisor” after the supervisor pointed out the daughter’s absenteeism. The IG deserves praise from city officials for bringing attention to this unacceptable conduct. Instead, she and her office have been targeted and obstructed every step of the way."},{"_id":"3LVPEESHLJDGRCQNGF5HACXETM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Manigault <a href=\"https://atlantaciviccircle.org/2024/05/21/atlanta-inspector-general-alleges-widespread-impediments-to-investigations/\">notes</a> that, lately, “there have been processes and procedures put in place that have made it harder for us to do our jobs, harder for us to get access to necessary records... City departments have been given an instruction — and we have multiple cases that can speak to this — where they were told to treat the Office of Inspector General requests like open records requests.” Meanwhile, city council members such as Rep. Marci Collier Overstreet (District 11) have lambasted the IG for not going through “proper channels” nor being consulted about the corruption crisis. Overstreet should be more concerned about widespread criminal activity in city government and less concerned with how the news is delivered."},{"_id":"AWEHDD3JJJFNXJOTOUILIB7YCI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The latest proposed legislation is just the latest low blow by a group of lawmakers determined to stop the IG at all costs."},{"_id":"5KMG4EXCNFBMXO3XGJQXXKQYPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Unfortunately, Manigault is not the only IG who has faced pushback for doing her job. Baltimore city <a href=\"https://www.protectingtaxpayers.org/state-issues/profile-in-courage-baltimore-inspector-general-isabel-mercedes-cumming/\">IG Isabel Cumming</a> has taken considerable heat for standing up to Charm City’s corruption-plagued government. Cumming investigated Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, known for her lavish international trips on the taxpayer’s dime and problems accurately reporting her finances. Following the release of a report detailing Mosby’s many ethically dubious travel expenditures, Mosby’s lawyers pressured the IG office to revise the report to make the embattled attorney look better. Cumming <a href=\"https://baltimorebrew.com/2021/02/22/cumming-says-she-wont-revise-her-mosby-report-despite-demands-by-the-states-attorney-to-do-so/\">stood firm</a>, responding, “[n]o. I’m standing behind my report.” And, now that Mosby has been convicted of <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/marilyn-mosby-baltimore-prosecutor-sentencing-8f2419edd3ff404cdf24434777e6eefe\">fraud and perjury</a>, Cumming’s decision to not waver in holding her accountable looks all the better."},{"_id":"PMXGWF7W7VBXPLVTG3K5NI7SKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Cumming persisted and, during her tenure as IG, has identified tens of millions of dollars in wasteful and unnecessary spending. IG Cumming also exposed the Baltimore City Department of Public Works and its<b> </b>unsanitary and unsafe working conditions, which ultimately resulted in the death of a DPW employee from heat exhaustion. Cumming wouldn’t have been able to do any of this work without the Baltimore the City Council and ultimately the citizens giving her the independence to conduct her oversight work unfettered."},{"_id":"AYI3GIGCWJCK5D3Q4J2GEHHSBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Neighboring Baltimore County has also had more than its fair share of hostility against government watchdogs. In a battle that began in 2021, Baltimore County officials tried to strip IG Kelly Madigan of some investigative powers and attempted to set up roadblocks for requesting information that<b> </b>would have effectively made the IG’s office toothless. A public pressure campaign forced Baltimore County officials to back off."},{"_id":"7CBPPKFYGNBP7IZZDSALD5URYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"IGs such as Shannon Manigault, Kelly Madigan, and Isabel Cumming are the heroes that taxpayers absolutely do deserve. Unfortunately, lawmakers are determined to hold them back and eliminate all barriers to corruption."},{"_id":"LB52DJ2FAFHOBJCONTXMSW7PVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta lawmakers have a stark choice. They can continue to allow corruption to fester or they can take a stand and zealously defend the IG’s independence."},{"_id":"NYFCDEI57BE2DG3RPNDMTCUPJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>David Williams is the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The inspector general is working to sniff out schemes and corruption."},"description":{"basic":"The inspector general is working to sniff out schemes and corruption."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"c28f2c253d42e0cc7da7aa51e9b6f9dac1d2bc5ad6ec290f9600250ca0223ac8"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Riley Bunch","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-ATLANTA-INSPECTOR-GENERAL-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Atlanta Inspector General Shannon Manigault speaks on Nov. 20 at an Atlanta Young Republicans' event. (Riley Bunch/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/SX3UWVMDWY5KJK2LYEM73KUSP4.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/SX3UWVMDWY5KJK2LYEM73KUSP4.jpg?auth=c28f2c253d42e0cc7da7aa51e9b6f9dac1d2bc5ad6ec290f9600250ca0223ac8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-atlanta-city-council-must-protect-ig-independence/7MYQ2VJ4M5FQFNW63MDVKULA7M/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-13T14:20:32.369Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"David Williams","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Atlanta City Council must protect IG independence"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-13T14:20:32.369Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-14T15:58:35.781Z","_id":"7MYQ2VJ4M5FQFNW63MDVKULA7M","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"c28f2c253d42e0cc7da7aa51e9b6f9dac1d2bc5ad6ec290f9600250ca0223ac8"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Riley Bunch","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-ATLANTA-INSPECTOR-GENERAL-AT","width":3000,"caption":"Atlanta Inspector General Shannon Manigault speaks on Nov. 20 at an Atlanta Young Republicans' event. (Riley Bunch/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/SX3UWVMDWY5KJK2LYEM73KUSP4.jpg","height":2250,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/SX3UWVMDWY5KJK2LYEM73KUSP4.jpg?auth=c28f2c253d42e0cc7da7aa51e9b6f9dac1d2bc5ad6ec290f9600250ca0223ac8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MS7ZWXPP7VAXHNZKN5HAV5RS7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923342},"type":"text","content":"Years after horrifying abuses and corruption in the Georgia state prison system began to come to light, Gov. Brian Kemp and the Georgia Legislature are taking action."},{"_id":"HA2CIU4ARBECXAWXTZHNH7G35A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923343},"type":"text","content":"On Tuesday, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/ga-lawmakers-and-governor-propose-600-million-to-fix-state-prisons/2HUR7YIYLNBA5JCCIH6BYBTV7M/\" target=\"_blank\">Kemp released his proposals</a> to finally address the problem, including $600 million in additional funding for a department with a budget of more than $1.48 billion. The money would help hire more prison staff, update training, make repairs to facilities and fix security issues."},{"_id":"QNWKXPWCKFFGXN6YBO6ZV2ACRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":34,"comment":"Commission"},{"pos":53,"comment":"Tryone"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923344},"type":"text","content":"Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver, who has long blamed the media for reporting the prison system’s failures rather than try to fix the problems, acknowledged that work is needed and warned that it will take years."},{"_id":"A2X6HXATRNHENPYSWXI2O2KM4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":6,"comment":"The"},{"pos":36,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923345},"type":"text","content":"Kemp’s recommendations came at a presession meeting of the Joint Appropriations House and Senate Public Safety Subcommittees. Both chambers of the Legislature had empaneled committees to study myriad problems in the state’s prisons and were charged with making recommendations for the legislative session that begins Monday."},{"_id":"6MHSWRJVMNFQBEHUOLZP4HVEY4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"XYX6BEJ6WRCZVCHHNN26FQ76XQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia lawmakers and governor propose $600 million to fix state prisons","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/ga-lawmakers-and-governor-propose-600-million-to-fix-state-prisons/2HUR7YIYLNBA5JCCIH6BYBTV7M/"},{"_id":"D5U2ZFQYOFBKBNZMECZUUGTXCE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923346},"type":"text","content":"Kemp’s plan comes not a moment too soon. As House Appropriations Chairman Matt Hatchett said, “You can study things for a long time and hope you get the right answer and the right path forward. Well, this has been studied and studied. … It’s time to get something done.”"},{"_id":"VT43DG5IURCYNN55UB36RT2M74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":101,"comment":"Justice"},{"pos":235,"comment":"GDC "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923347},"type":"text","content":"Now, nearly everyone seems to agree that the prisons need massive reform. Last year, the U.S. Justice Department issued a scathing report on the state of Georgia’s prisons. And a federal judge accused Georgia Department of Corrections officials of misrepresenting facts before the court."},{"_id":"56ASHMEZLRHENEXPIDWSFTFYBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923348},"type":"text","content":"The officials, the judge wrote, “have repeatedly presented false or misleading information to federal investigators, state lawmakers and even a federal judge,” <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/georgia-prison-officials-have-repeatedly-presented-false-or-misleading-information-to-federal-investigators-state-lawmakers-and-a-federal-judge/H76M74I6L5F5DKXEYSSZEQSLGY/\" target=\"_blank\">The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Danny Robbins and Carrie Teegardin reported</a> last month. “Falsified and backdated documents, false statements and flawed data are some of the tactics the agency has employed in attempting to hide its dysfunction, the AJC found. The GDC also has moved to block access to potentially damaging information,” the AJC staff members wrote."},{"_id":"MG2AIB6QEVEPLCRPCJLQP7THFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923350},"type":"text","content":"The GDC reduced the information it provides on inmate deaths, restricted how and when federal investigators could access the prisons and refused to release some records."},{"_id":"R5CC2VH2NZEMZDLWAOKPEMVA6I","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6X2QQLYTMJFB5EVMMRGAC3D4L4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The AJC's investigations into Georgia's prison system","url":"https://www.ajc.com/investigations/georgia-prisons/"},{"_id":"CABEQBA3RRHJFJEMIJG4I6UA7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923351},"type":"text","content":"This shows the clear need for transparency in prison operations. That could be a prison ombudsman appointed by and reporting to the governor or rules set forth by the Legislature on the quick and full release of documents. As the AJC reported, the prison system has for years shielded the public from escalating violence and downplayed media reports of a system teetering under a wave of violence. Public trust hinges on prisons providing accurate and timely data that provide insight into how the system is being run."},{"_id":"4RZNIZGVRJEZ7ESQSDVDD6WMDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923352},"type":"text","content":"In April, a <a href=\"https://wtop.com/national/2024/04/georgia-prison-officials-in-flagrant-violation-of-solitary-confinement-reforms-judge-says/\" target=\"_blank\">federal judge issued a contempt order</a> citing the department with misrepresenting its efforts to comply with a five-year-old settlement over conditions in the state’s maximum-security prison, the Special Management Unit."},{"_id":"UUDGZ44M4VGZ5JI3SD2EDTDWL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923353},"type":"text","content":"“As the end of the injunction’s term neared, it became clear to the Court that the defendants, in effect, were running a four-corner offense and had no desire or intention to comply with the Court’s injunction; they would stall until the injunction expired,” the judge wrote."},{"_id":"SVQVJRECLVCVPEFSBFAZ4WWALY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":27,"comment":"SMU"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923354},"type":"text","content":"The Special Management Unit case stemmed from a prisoner’s lawsuit over solitary confinement. The inmate, Timothy Gunn, had been in solitary for five years. Excessive use of solitary confinement, though not unconstitutional, contributes to poor mental and physical health."},{"_id":"FOJX5OMBVBCL3NHKJWAYUJ5ZW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":246,"comment":"SMU"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363095},"type":"text","content":"More than 40 U.S. states have banned or severely limited solitary confinement. The United Nations considers solitary confinement in excess of 15 days to be torture. An expert on prison conditions and solitary described the Special Management Unit as among the most draconian facilities he had ever seen, the AJC reported."},{"_id":"73G3BF4CJRFI5EKTIG4VEI7HRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":202,"comment":"GDC"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923355},"type":"text","content":"Gunn’s lawsuit <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local/state-agrees-improve-prison-conditions-solitary-confinement-unit/sczr93Pqum6sbPGBhpXXiN/\">resulted in a settlement</a> that demanded major changes to Georgia’s prison system. An independent monitor is overseeing the GDC’s compliance with the settlement terms, though the department says that’s unnecessary."},{"_id":"C5L42FNMENGUTFGISHSGHC3W2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923356},"type":"text","content":"As the media and federal investigators put a spotlight on the deadly deficiencies of the Georgia prison system, Oliver denied and misrepresented the problems. The state needs better leadership, and Kemp should demand it."},{"_id":"FLBX54GZW5DTREQPHQEML76I3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923357},"type":"text","content":"The AJC has investigated the state’s prisons for years and found rampant corruption, understaffing, drug and gang activity, contraband and record numbers of homicides and suicides. Wrongful death lawsuits have cost the state millions."},{"_id":"FLNEQO76TFFOBBKT4DD6KXX27A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"VDN63QI4WZE55MBYQMR75WXOXQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Opinion: Making Georgia’s prisons safer for workers, inmates and communities","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/editorial-making-georgias-prisons-safer-for-workers-inmates-and-communities/RX733BWCMRGJ7DMWJW7B2EE7ZE/"},{"_id":"EZKXJG4WZBARDAMY5B6JZ26NFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":85,"comment":"vacancy "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923359},"type":"text","content":"Understaffing is a serious issue. The AJC reported that some prisons have job vacancyrates of more than 70 percent. The GDC told legislators it has 2,600 openings out of almost 11,000 positions."},{"_id":"5EU6MTMYSNGOPMRIVSXAUBF3XA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363101},"type":"text","content":"Part of the problem is low pay. The average salary for new corrections officers is $44,000. Kemp’s additional funding would help pay for higher salaries for correctional workers — including behavioral health, education and food service workers — bringing pay in line with neighboring states."},{"_id":"LZ3BSIRRN5BDXO6I35ZV2B7UXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923360},"type":"text","content":"Understaffed prisons become hotbeds for criminal activity and violence. The <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/georgia-expected-to-fight-feds-over-states-prison-conditions/WVLCO3P3EBEC5DTOSCZL7VFNHI/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Justice’s October report</a> called Georgia’s prisons inhumane. “People are assaulted, stabbed, raped and killed or left to languish inside facilities that are woefully understaffed,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said."},{"_id":"VKK7DJOTFFGSXKXM7DEEMNV3FY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923361},"type":"text","content":"The GDC’s defense? The findings “reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of the current challenges of operating any prison system.”"},{"_id":"LBCXCQ4XENAD5IB6DBCJ6R7NNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923362},"type":"text","content":"The Justice Department clearly understands the challenges of incarceration. But it’s not clear the GDC understands its role in protecting its staff, its inmates, the state’s tax dollars or the state’s residents."},{"_id":"BCC35MSIE5D27KQH5KQJYLG2SY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363105},"type":"text","content":"The prison system has to deal with contraband — including cellphones, drugs and weapons — being smuggled into the prisons. The Senate committee recommended seeking permission from the federal government for cellphone jamming and creating consistent, systemwide policies to prevent managerial differences within corrections facilities."},{"_id":"XTLLWXY2BFHSJN5XCZPSQR6IWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923364},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/comics-editorial-georgias-prison-system-is-in-crisis/CJG3GEA2CVCYNMGF4RCZCBFMGU/\" target=\"_blank\">GDC’s failures are leading to deaths and other harm</a>. GDC policies mandate that some closely supervised prisoners be checked every 15 to 30 minutes. After one inmate died, his attorneys discovered that no one had checked on him for almost seven hours."},{"_id":"H3AG2LWXQJG5JETK6ZCNHJRJFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923365},"type":"text","content":"Gang activity spills over the prison walls into our communities. Drug rings run from inside prisons put dangerous substances on our streets."},{"_id":"UA334MP4TVD6HJJWQ3CBKCE6EM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363108},"type":"text","content":"Prison sentences shouldn’t be death sentences, but a record number of inmates are dying."},{"_id":"6ZG34UZZ3NDGHCWSTTQRVDGQQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363109},"type":"text","content":"Prison employees should know they are going home to their families after each shift, but two have been killed in recent years, including a kitchen worker."},{"_id":"SE4LPLJQ5FDHLFIN2TB5Y66MIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923366},"type":"text","content":"Prison reform in Georgia is long overdue. It’s heartening that the governor and legislators are finally moving beyond studying the issue to fix it. The $600 million commitment from the governor is significant, but the governor and state lawmakers should be willing to commit more. Georgia has a $16 billion surplus."},{"_id":"I74WNWUFZBDY5JT422O6PRDGFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736454363111},"type":"text","content":"There are many urgent needs in this state, but few are more urgent than fixing a system that is a threat to safety inside and outside of Georgia’s prisons."},{"_id":"BQ7SXQF5HNC5RHXCE2GIQJ63IA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736441923367},"type":"text","content":"<i>— The editorial board</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Additional funding and more attention are a start in cleaning up the crisis in the state’s prison system. "},"description":{"basic":"Additional funding and more attention are a start in cleaning up the crisis in Georgia’s prison system."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"66795f79865dba92ceead659b8a6d2eba5813c158ce71a896a79da31f036477e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"David Goldman","type":"author","byline":"David Goldman"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia Prisons Special Management Unit","width":5760,"caption":"An inmate looks out of his cell in 2015 in the the Special Management Unit, a maximum security unit at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia. (David Goldman/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RKI3ORVZTVGB5GV6ARFXDB55CE.jpg","height":3840,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RKI3ORVZTVGB5GV6ARFXDB55CE.jpg?auth=66795f79865dba92ceead659b8a6d2eba5813c158ce71a896a79da31f036477e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/editorial-gov-kemp-takes-a-bold-step-on-prison-reform-theres-more-to-do/UJTWWOA3KBE3PJZ4GUOO6XDWEA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-10T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"The Editorial Board","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Gov. Kemp takes a bold step on prison reform. There’s more to do."},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-10T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-10T12:19:11.234Z","_id":"UJTWWOA3KBE3PJZ4GUOO6XDWEA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"66795f79865dba92ceead659b8a6d2eba5813c158ce71a896a79da31f036477e"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"David Goldman","type":"author","byline":"David Goldman"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia Prisons Special Management Unit","width":5760,"caption":"An inmate looks out of his cell in 2015 in the the Special Management Unit, a maximum security unit at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia. (David Goldman/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RKI3ORVZTVGB5GV6ARFXDB55CE.jpg","height":3840,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RKI3ORVZTVGB5GV6ARFXDB55CE.jpg?auth=66795f79865dba92ceead659b8a6d2eba5813c158ce71a896a79da31f036477e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"EHENBJI46NEQ3P4DZZ5NSYNXMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537196},"type":"text","content":"On a recent afternoon, as I was sitting on the sofa with my daughter, she leaned in closer and looked at me with raised eyebrows and what felt like a question in her eyes."},{"_id":"FVEKHEWI3RHUFGH2MNQB7IKGJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537197},"type":"text","content":"“What is it?” I said, already worried about whatever was worrying her."},{"_id":"LPFYUZLUOVG5DCUWU7DB5SVTDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537198},"type":"text","content":"“You’re not breathing,” she said."},{"_id":"WLERVKDQAJGMJAS33753F6ORQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537199},"type":"text","content":"She was right. I was not breathing. She had been watching me, waiting for my chest to expand and my shoulders to rise and fall as they do when a human actually breathes."},{"_id":"Q7A5GFX4BNAR3KZA3XEYASX3HU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537200},"type":"text","content":"But it seems I had been holding my breath long before she gave me a reason to hold my breath in anticipation of her telling me that I was holding it."},{"_id":"BN5WYXLWDNBRXJNJVSNS3QFLBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537201},"type":"text","content":"How was I even alive?"},{"_id":"VRQGIXYKZFACZDVAF5XVB3QEHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537202},"type":"text","content":"I need to learn how to breathe again."},{"_id":"3352RUGNG5AYDI7WOPR46FIWLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537203},"type":"text","content":"Like many Black women, I have pledged to rest more this year — to learn the value of saying no, to limit my contacts to people who share my values and my respect for humanity, and to avoid engagement with people who are intent on telling lies as truths or offering diatribes instead of dialogue."},{"_id":"L2NCJOZZTZF5FMZ3KEFE6FCRIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537204},"type":"text","content":"But getting from theory to practice is challenging. I have become so unaccustomed to resting that I am unsure how to begin."},{"_id":"FPOQM2OZMJF5LPXOFLD6LOIG4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537205},"type":"text","content":"What does it mean when Black women say they are resting for the next four years?"},{"_id":"SESHXQIEVRAB5DTPAXKMYJRSTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537206},"type":"text","content":"I recently learned that on Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. while thousands of people attend the People’s March in Washington, D.C., another movement is underway encouraging Black women to go to brunch instead."},{"_id":"WSEF56SUOJE7TD4234WZCGJIJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537207},"type":"text","content":"The 92% brunch has made the rounds on social media as a plan for Black (and Jewish) women nationwide to skip the protesting and marching and instead gather with their chosen community for a celebration of self."},{"_id":"IZX3C6WFJVHDHBYNBYPCFI6AYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537208},"type":"text","content":"Lists are already circulating of Black-owned brunch locations in cities where Black women have expressed an interest in participating in this national effort to make good on all those vows to avoid overextending themselves without reciprocity."},{"_id":"A2UWMPRBT5BXFAR6ORQ6BSEU44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537209},"type":"text","content":"It feels like an unofficial kickoff for the self-care journey so many of us have said we seek for the foreseeable future."},{"_id":"YPYENMXNZNA4JB53MDUXQLN3FU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537210},"type":"text","content":"But just going to brunch isn’t going to help me breathe."},{"_id":"IZULYDF4D5F6ZKXBQ2RQPPQV3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537211},"type":"text","content":"And as of last week, it doesn’t seem as if social media will be a reliable space to search for additional insight on how to relax."},{"_id":"SD6AQGFEXFCEFLUSGP7L472HQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537212},"type":"text","content":"On Tuesday, founder Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta platforms would end almost a decade of third-party fact-checking while also loosening restrictions that would prevent various forms of trash speech. Zuckerberg said he made the decision to protect free speech, even if that speech happens to be filled with vitriol and falsehoods."},{"_id":"O4ON3ECITZAG3N4DKHRS262HQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537213},"type":"text","content":"One of my more politically outspoken Facebook friends announced she would be deleting her Facebook account and moving her commentary to Bluesky, a platform that gives users more control over content."},{"_id":"UE7DEEEJP5H2XEWQ2TOMWNWMAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537214},"type":"text","content":"“We deserve better than having to spend most of our time on social media straining to separate facts from lies,” she said."},{"_id":"FMWST7KXMZG7DLHBN6BNU4PCCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537215},"type":"text","content":"I admire her conviction and understand the value of a digital detox in protecting one’s sanity. But while I have joined Bluesky, my ties to Meta platforms can’t be severed as easily since most of my social media accounts are also tied to work."},{"_id":"WJVAYPYHUJFX5CK7FUEMYVT4ZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537216},"type":"text","content":"Maybe I should just start spending more time on Bluesky than on those other platforms. Or at least spend less than my current daily average of 4 hours on social media."},{"_id":"2BCD2AUAQ5AG5HEFV4OAVX2A3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537218},"type":"text","content":"One friend said she was planning to rest by no longer code-switching. It is exhausting to always conform to one set of social norms, particularly when the expectation of conformity only flows in one direction."},{"_id":"VS3V6UWQ25GDRB3ICZE2GIVW4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537219},"type":"text","content":"My friend shared this strategy with me on Jan. 6, the day Vice President Kamala Harris certified the election results in Congress. This time around, the tone was dramatically different from four years ago when rioters stormed the Capitol amid false allegations of a stolen election."},{"_id":"F767COAAABE65IEWN7ZSGQYD44","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6MAPNK3EBFA4DLTSYYF43CGFNQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: Kamala Harris loss showed women the underbelly of America","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-harris-loss-showed-women-the-underbelly-of-america/TSOWNBZRB5DAZOI4M2LTBBFYDY/"},{"_id":"DAIJ4XSJNRBBVDNW26CMYOMEBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537220},"type":"text","content":"Harris said it should be the norm that one of the most important pillars of our democracy would have “a peaceful transfer of power.” In <a href=\"https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-recast/2025/01/07/lisa-blunt-rochester-senate-jan-6-00196837\" target=\"_blank\">an interview with Politico reporters</a>, Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del), the first Black woman to serve terms in both chambers of Congress, praised Harris for her composure."},{"_id":"LZ4JY2DY2VD5TJFPM6VCM6O5QU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736433256434},"type":"text","content":"Harris was in the unique position of certifying her loss to an opponent who had refused to do the same four years ago and who had spent the last election cycle hurling racialized and sexualized attacks in her direction."},{"_id":"QW3563F4UZDH5AOZKP7YILYMSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537222},"type":"text","content":"“She did that with so much grace, so much dignity, so much poise, so much backbone — it was a feeling of pride watching her,” Blunt Rochester said."},{"_id":"KKKLCO2I7VFV7GN25VI4OW6I5Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537223},"type":"text","content":"But always turning the other cheek and going high when they go low brings exactly the kind of exhaustion that some Black women are seeking to escape. For my friend, letting go of the need to always behave in ways deemed socially acceptable by others is an act of rest and resistance."},{"_id":"L37BCRMBKNBERC6JMTYOV2KEFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537224},"type":"text","content":"I still haven’t figured out exactly how to embrace my resting era."},{"_id":"53Z2L4PBFZDPZFQMQNH3GQKQL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":32,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1736426537225},"type":"text","content":"More brunches, less social media and more authentic interactions all feel like good ways to start the process. But ultimately, I just want to breathe again."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736337754027},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":""},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"UATL"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"local government"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"57afa3fb80e50501da6ae08313ee3f575e9adcbd11ce702a40e16615ff567e70"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Manuel Balce Ceneta","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Congress Rochester","width":4654,"caption":"Sen. 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Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. 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Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., left, with Vice President Kamala Harris, right, points to her family, during a swearing-in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber at the Capitol, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q7GG6ZAE354LGN3QX4HE4EHXIM.jpg","height":3102,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Q7GG6ZAE354LGN3QX4HE4EHXIM.jpg?auth=57afa3fb80e50501da6ae08313ee3f575e9adcbd11ce702a40e16615ff567e70&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"S5T2BT7R4FFRZKN47DLAWQF5WA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229942},"type":"text","content":"Are you ready to get your freak on?"},{"_id":"AJ7HTCAPFREJXGUIMJOIXX3AGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229943},"type":"text","content":"Nope. Sorry. That’s the wrong battle cry."},{"_id":"3ENYHK5YGRBFPOXX7ZMGT3OXGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229944},"type":"text","content":"Are you ready to get your freak-out on? That’s the one."},{"_id":"232JRCU6JVHZHCH3ZL62LM5BQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229945},"type":"text","content":"Weather forecasters are <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/significant-snow-accumulation-possible-in-north-ga-plan-on-hazardous-roads/YJ7ZMREVRJH55OTGEAOIPEQRI4/\" target=\"_blank\">calling for a bit of snow in Atlanta</a> (and a bit more than a bit in northern Georgia) starting Friday and going into Saturday."},{"_id":"JHG6QKWFZNGQBM7KM2R5PSYO44","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"Y7WFU4QGGJBGXE7W4ZQYC6WOGE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Kemp issues state of emergency ahead of Friday’s winter storm","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/significant-snow-accumulation-possible-in-north-ga-plan-on-hazardous-roads/YJ7ZMREVRJH55OTGEAOIPEQRI4/"},{"_id":"TIOADT6J7NDNPID7XCXRETCNXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229946},"type":"text","content":"“Expect significant accumulations of snow, sleet and freezing rain that will lead to hazardous travel conditions,” the National Weather Service warned. As of Wednesday, that meant a couple of inches north of Interstate 20. North Georgia is expected to see about 4 inches of flakes. Some <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/education/some-georgia-colleges-and-schools-closing-friday-as-storm-approaches/KLGOYSQH7BHTJL3VLHRYRZTYGE/\" target=\"_blank\">schools announced closures</a> as early as Wednesday, and Delta said travelers could <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/airlines-warn-of-travel-disruptions-from-storm-expected-to-bring-snow-friday/KEZLB74SHZHPPIUOEXR2DXVIQY/\" target=\"_blank\">change their flights</a> without penalty."},{"_id":"G6UCOZNECVDLDBHD26OJUVQERE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229947},"type":"text","content":"Atlantans are freaking out. Mostly because they don’t know how to drive in snow."},{"_id":"XZ3SFITGRBAXTOYHQH64KBE2OE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229948},"type":"text","content":"As <a href=\"https://bsky.app/profile/cvilletgr.bsky.social/post/3lewucgbfr22b\" target=\"_blank\">Brian Broadus wrote on BlueSky</a>, “Merely whispering the words ‘frozen precipitation’ gridlocks the town for a day.”"},{"_id":"FXUWUGTRWNFG7DDE5FUN2ICZCE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229949},"type":"text","content":"Many Atlanta transplants think Atlantans don’t know how to drive in any weather. I’ve been tooling along Interstate 285 at, uh, the speed limit, of course, and nearly been blown sideways by the drag force of a 20-year-old sports car weaving and passing at warp speed. Every time I visit my sister in Paulding County, I have to decide between fast and fearful. Do I risk my life on the Perimeter and get to her house in 45 minutes, or do I take back roads and get there in two days? I always choose 285, because I’m impatient, but I also always heave a huge sigh of relief as I unclench my <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCUr2pNJft4\" target=\"_blank\">white-knuckle grip</a> from the steering wheel once safely parked."},{"_id":"5MWTOBFX4ZHENG3IMVQXHAG3IM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229950},"type":"text","content":"So, I’m not sorry for already being worried about what a couple of inches of snow and ice is going to do. But we can get through this together."},{"_id":"HUQQKWXFOBGSHEOKMTW6QYIK5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229951},"type":"text","content":"I’m no expert on driving in snow. I grew up in the St. Louis area and moved here in March after spending almost a dozen years in Washington, D.C. Neither place is a winter wonderland as far as snow goes, especially in the past few decades. And everyone in those cities also complains that no one knows how to drive in snow. I once got pulled over on Highway 40 in St. Louis going about 50 in a 60 mph zone about an hour into a winter weather event. The officer said there were three cars, and one of us was speeding. “Wasn’t me,” I told him. “I’m scared of driving in snow.” Yes. I’m part of the problem. He let me go."},{"_id":"YUM5A65UYJBTZC6QJ2T4BGTYMA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"JCR4VHPITNHUDKL26DIINFEHFE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Weathering the snow, winter storm in metro Atlanta: What to know","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/weathering-the-snow-winter-storm-in-metro-atlanta-what-to-know/JVRYGD47SNAX3J7T7ZFIH7WSGQ/"},{"_id":"AY7AMEF5WBG3XNO726ZKEQFLHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229952},"type":"text","content":"The city of <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/weathering-the-snow-winter-storm-in-metro-atlanta-what-to-know/JVRYGD47SNAX3J7T7ZFIH7WSGQ/\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta is preparing now</a>. Many main roads and highways will be treated with salt or brine, focusing first on routes to hospitals and police stations."},{"_id":"O5WWGQ5UOJGBBNDQCD5WSN3NH4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229953},"type":"text","content":"But there are a few common sense things we can all do."},{"_id":"ZB64SOQ4UBHMXP2DGR3BLW3IJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229954},"type":"text","content":"Drive slowly. Not Atlanta slow. Actual slow. That means under the speed limit, not just under the speed of sound. Brake early. Cars take longer to stop on slick surfaces, so tailgating and jamming your brakes at the last second won’t cut it. It will cut you right into the ditch or the car in front or next to you."},{"_id":"T3QFLXQVC5ASTEFM72FIMXGR7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229955},"type":"text","content":"And, especially early in the storm and after, watch for black ice. Water that freezes on the roadways can be very hard to see. You can be hydroplaning into a guardrail before you even realize the road is icy. Body shops might like that, but you and your wallet won’t. Be especially careful on bridges and overpasses."},{"_id":"XRYIQFCWWRHUDPP4VA4QEVYJD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229956},"type":"text","content":"Give yourself a lot of extra time to get where you’re going. If your 12-mile trek down I-75 usually takes 20 minutes, plan for it to take two hours. In the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbgP-KmTMN0\" target=\"_blank\">2010 Atlanta snowstorm</a>, drivers were stranded on highways for hours. So, if you have to go out — and I mean <i>have</i> to — equip your car with a blanket or two, a snow shovel, kitty litter for traction in case you get stuck, a flashlight, snacks and extra water. And charge your phone. Maybe carry a fully charged backup battery."},{"_id":"VSKPAM466VF3RP7K7O4RWEMA64","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"Y3WNTQWTCJBSHPJAF6ZVGSTMWM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"More Georgia colleges and schools closing Friday as storm approaches","url":"https://www.ajc.com/education/more-georgia-colleges-and-schools-closing-friday-as-storm-approaches/KLGOYSQH7BHTJL3VLHRYRZTYGE/"},{"_id":"NNMBV4FCVJCVXFNUAMOGRRTWI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229957},"type":"text","content":"And turn your headlights on, no matter what time of day it is. It helps you see, and it helps other drivers see you."},{"_id":"PHOP677OCJH7HGDUYYEF3RSHLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229958},"type":"text","content":"The best tip, though, is not to go out at all. That purse at TJ Maxx that your favorite influencer is hawking will still be there on Sunday. The crab cakes at Atlanta Fish Market will be even tastier when you don’t put your life and the lives of others on the line. If you’re not a hospital worker, a firefighter, a police officer or a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAiE9fJbVd4\" target=\"_blank\">TV weatherman</a> forced to stand on the side of Interstate 85 to say it’s snowing, stay home."},{"_id":"USLSFS6LRJHMHD3CXGAUKW7D24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229959},"type":"text","content":"You can look at pictures of <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/matts.moments/p/DD-2AKQuned/\" target=\"_blank\">Piedmont Park</a> in the snow on your socials. You don’t need to see it for yourself, especially if you live in Norcross or Hapeville. The grocery stores, if they’re even open, won’t have any milk, bread or eggs. That all will have been gone by Thursday night. You don’t need to see “Gladiator 2″ again this weekend."},{"_id":"ZUT2SSW6FNHZHJNNASR42DW7UU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736440229960},"type":"text","content":"So stay home, watch the snow fall, and hope your power stays on. That’s what winter weekends are for."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Atlanta’s rare snowfalls make drivers nervous. "},"description":{"basic":"Weather forecasters are calling for a bit of snow in Atlanta, and Atlantans are freaking out — mostly because they don’t know how to drive in snow."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"081cd4ef1d4271a1050b4fe2baccf15b185d3cfde38b329742854db90dd2212c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author","byline":"Miguel Martinez"}]},"subtitle":"poy miguel martinez","width":5533,"caption":"About two inches of snow fell in parts of metro Atlanta on Jan. 16, 2022. (Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XJLWVQL4MFGNJC3VJODHZVT6A4.JPG","height":3688,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XJLWVQL4MFGNJC3VJODHZVT6A4.JPG?auth=081cd4ef1d4271a1050b4fe2baccf15b185d3cfde38b329742854db90dd2212c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-fear-the-impending-doom-and-stay-home/CJYTP4WWKFHX5IYDZ5J4KKHIJQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-09T16:30:54.931Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/fca9d566-069d-415b-983e-ab4c4382ec4d.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jamie.riley@ajc.com"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"jamie.riley@ajc.com"}],"name":"Jamie Riley","description":"Jamie Riley is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's senior editor for opinion. She is a veteran journalist who worked as an editor at The Washington Post and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ","_id":"jamie-riley","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Riley","education":[{"name":"Eastern Illinois University"}],"role":"Opinion editor","native_app_rendering":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Jamie Riley is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's senior editor for opinion. She is a veteran journalist who worked as an editor at The Washington Post and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ","expertise":"Jamie Riley serves as opinion editor.","contributor":false,"custom_ajc_website":"ajc","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2025-01-09T14:20:26.682Z","byline":"Jamie Riley","email":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","slug":"","image":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/fca9d566-069d-415b-983e-ab4c4382ec4d.png","longBio":"Jamie Riley is The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's senior editor for opinion. She is a veteran journalist who worked as an editor at The Washington Post and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. ","fuzzy_match":false,"author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Jamie","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"314-954-9134","location":"Atlanta","_id":"jamie-riley","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Fear the impending doom. And stay home."},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-09T16:30:54.931Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-09T17:46:29.139Z","_id":"CJYTP4WWKFHX5IYDZ5J4KKHIJQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"081cd4ef1d4271a1050b4fe2baccf15b185d3cfde38b329742854db90dd2212c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author","byline":"Miguel Martinez"}]},"subtitle":"poy miguel martinez","width":5533,"caption":"About two inches of snow fell in parts of metro Atlanta on Jan. 16, 2022. (Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XJLWVQL4MFGNJC3VJODHZVT6A4.JPG","height":3688,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XJLWVQL4MFGNJC3VJODHZVT6A4.JPG?auth=081cd4ef1d4271a1050b4fe2baccf15b185d3cfde38b329742854db90dd2212c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"CKPEUMTBIJFCXGN4E3V2MSTKHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103740},"type":"text","content":"Jimmy Carter was my last president. I believe that is true for progressive civic groups, too. He actively opened up the federal government to engagement and participation from long politically excluded American activists."},{"_id":"Z56FELMBKJDCXP2PXDEQ5LMGJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103741},"type":"text","content":"When he was campaigning in 1976, he would say that he wanted to be more of a consumer advocate than I am, that he would take seriously my recommendations for his nominations to head federal regulatory agencies. Pleasing rhetoric, I thought."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a58cd6f85d8652b5a831c9d7117bd19c10a861ac8f19e35818b6ab460046ff44"},"caption":"Ralph Nader","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Ralph Nader","width":350,"_id":"FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/xmLziaok9gbEbZgD_gQx2PeV8bg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/xmLziaok9gbEbZgD_gQx2PeV8bg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/xmLziaok9gbEbZgD_gQx2PeV8bg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/w_csPgqMoUH7_Ljr3E8iXJUnhyI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Ralph Nader.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"MESWRDSDC5DRVMCPJSERN22AXI"},"created_date":"2025-01-09T15:56:25Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-09T15:56:25Z","alignment":"right","height":476,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FXMKL4LGKNCVBEPSJ34YV5SX5E.jpg?auth=a58cd6f85d8652b5a831c9d7117bd19c10a861ac8f19e35818b6ab460046ff44&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JFLS7VD2VBG35IXSEEXPREM2FA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103742},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Then, in August 1976, after his nomination, he invited me to Plains, Georgia, for talks and an overnight stay at his modest home. Together with his wife Rosalynn, we talked over a simple supper of black-eyed peas. The next day, I spent several hours with Carter in his study, going over what policies the civic community wanted him to pursue, what he was likely to confront in Washington and responding to his searching questions. He was taking copious notes — a good sign, I mused."},{"_id":"XLSUSLCU35H6LIHJWRVOUVNVQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103743},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"He punctuated the importance of the visit by introducing me to the attending members of the national press corps and promptly had me umpire part of the daily softball game between Carter’s campaign aides and the reporters. I left Plains with his phone number and a matter-of-fact assurance of more receptivity to come."},{"_id":"YCXWMGOD4JHINMVPFH55TN22DQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103744},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"After his election victory over President Gerald Ford, I invited him to address a special gathering of citizen advocates in a large hotel ballroom near the White House. To my surprise, he accepted. There must have been nearly 1,000 people in the room with a dozen civic leaders on the dais. I introduced them to president-elect Carter, who then delivered remarks we all were pleased to hear."},{"_id":"H2B7TLVTVZAJJOIDYQJBPAWE44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103745},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This signal gathering, never again repeated by any president elect, did not get much media for the simple reason that reporters saw it as public relations around popular policies."},{"_id":"VMALA3DNYFEVZM5NH2IRT7WCDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103746},"type":"text","content":"Not so. Once in office, he chose numerous civic leaders and other solid progressives to head regulatory agencies such as Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration, the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, among other important positions in the White House and other departments."},{"_id":"S3NU6QH6NJEHRBQZUBGZVJORI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103747},"type":"text","content":"Furthermore, Carter took a stand behind probably the most widely opposed legislation ever by corporate lobbyists: the <a href=\"https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/consumer-protection-legislation-message-the-congress\" target=\"_blank\">creation of a consumer protection agency</a> with the authority to intervene before federal agencies and departments to champion consumer interests and, if their arguments were arbitrarily rejected, to take these agencies to court. That agency would upset the cushy, often secret relationship between federal agencies and the companies they were supposed to regulate."},{"_id":"5NWZQBY2MZFZBEQS5AARVY32JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103748},"type":"text","content":"The corporatists went into a frenzy of lobbying, meeting regularly in the Madison Hotel to plan each week’s anti-consumer tactics. We had the votes to create the consumer agency in the Senate, but, unfortunately, the House voted first on Feb. 7, 1978, and <a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/95th-congress/house-bill/6805\" target=\"_blank\">narrowly defeated the bill</a> despite our efforts and those of Carter’s formidable Esther Peterson, the special White House assistant for consumer protection."},{"_id":"TXTKN3LYDBHIZH7VWCARYIJILI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103749},"type":"text","content":"No president since has made any mention of resurrecting this vital objective of the consumer movement to institutionalize consumers’ well-being and set an example for the states to do the same. Needless to say, President Ronald Reagan shut down Carter’s consumer presence, replacing his appointments, deregulating the health, safety and economic justice agencies, and inviting a rapacious “wish list” from commercial and industrial interests. He even took down <a href=\"https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-carter-presidency-solar-panels-white-house-reagan-2023-2\" target=\"_blank\">Carter’s 32 solar panels</a> from the White House roof, reflecting his support for the fossil fuel companies."},{"_id":"X4GNTNQR5JFSXDTUK62LT26LFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103750},"type":"text","content":"Unfortunately, the last 18 months of Carter’s presidency witnessed punishing inflation, <a href=\"https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/2022/7/13/23188455/inflation-paul-volcker-shock-recession-1970s\" target=\"_blank\">Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker’s sky-high interest rates</a> to stop spiraling prices and increasing conservative rebellions from his own Democrats in Congress. The pressure from all these quarters and the preoccupation with the lengthy Iranian hostage crisis drained his energy from consumer protection issues."},{"_id":"CS7CMQ3DIJA4PDWHEM7NI7BOCI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103751},"type":"text","content":"Still, no other president since has taken our calls, met with us for serious discussions in the White House and provided more government action and information stressing that the economy, after all, must be heavily judged by its defense and advance of consumer welfare."},{"_id":"6HZAD2XWNVFSXE2JNXLQHDFETA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103752},"type":"text","content":"The expectations of the current generation of consumer advocates has never come close to expecting a president like Jimmy Carter. He gave the leadership of the Federal Trade Commission to Michael Pertschuk — the very successful staff architect for <a href=\"https://digital.lib.washington.edu/researchworks/items/b3723e98-f7bd-45dd-891e-834740e09681\" target=\"_blank\">Sen. Warren Magnuson’s championing of consumer protection legislation</a>. He placed Public Citizen’s<a href=\"https://usa.streetsblog.org/2020/10/16/the-auto-industry-went-beserk-five-questions-with-joan-claybrook-former-head-of-nhtsa\" target=\"_blank\"> Joan Claybrook in charge of the auto safety agency</a>, made <a href=\"https://www.dol.gov/general/aboutdol/history/osha13bingham\" target=\"_blank\">Eula Bingham the head the Occupational Safety and Health Administration</a>, <a href=\"https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-leadership-1907-today/donald-kennedy\" target=\"_blank\">Donald Kennedy head of the Food and Drug Administration</a>, <a href=\"https://www.epa.gov/archive/epa/aboutepa/administrator-douglas-m-costle-1977-1981.html#:~:text=Administrator%20Costle%20served%20as%20EPA's,creation%20of%20the%20Superfund%20Program.\" target=\"_blank\">Douglas Costle the director of the Environmental Protection Agency</a>, and <a href=\"https://www.eli.org/celebrating-pioneers-in-environmental-law/j-gustave-speth\" target=\"_blank\">Gus Speth to head the new Council on Environmental Quality</a> in the Executive Office of the President."},{"_id":"VPGN2DYVJJHVLHFSV4AYCNNFKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103753},"type":"text","content":"Today, consumer leaders rarely get their calls returned by the White House or the agencies, whether under Democratic or Republican control."},{"_id":"OQCD2F6UEJFOREZF42V264EKQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103754},"type":"text","content":"In all the obituaries and articles, written about the death of Jimmy Carter, there was almost no mention of his pioneering work in consumer protection. His performance needs to be front and center for both his legacy and to provide standards for both presidential campaigns that ignore consumer issues and, for sitting presidents. Presidents need to realize, as did Jimmy Carter, that “consumers” are just another name for all the American people."},{"_id":"JCABFREWVFACJJ5S5TNZTDRTHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103755},"type":"text","content":"<i>Ralph Nader is a consumer advocate and frequent candidate for president.</i>"},{"_id":"RWAXYQBFK5BRTIZWGMJCKI3CFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103756},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"6DGVNVQSUFFAFNICEBR7XLGQEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103757},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"GYUCSPDPXNAAFOJOUD775S6UHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103758},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"RRXGURPTWBDNZEDU2C7MIXQZOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103759},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"VSKRIPINOVGUTJS5HS7DEEY5Y4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736438103760},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"He brought consumer advocates into the White House. "},"description":{"basic":"He brought consumer advocates into the White House."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"39649d7becc01bcedcccfa604463227a20f8ccbc6c4405a5b85615e982d131b4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Harvey Georges","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Obit Jimmy Carter Environment","width":2994,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter speaks against a backdrop of solar panels at the White House on June 21, 1979. 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Jimmy Carter’s approach to international affairs could be understood through two types of foreign policy. There is his moralism rooted in his fundamentalist Southern Baptist faith and the realist tradition or <i>realpolitik </i>through which he checked the then-ascending Soviet regional and global power. Neither philosophical orientation was a condition of the other. Carter balanced both, showing the world how he thought about global problems."},{"_id":"MCQA4Y5SPVEFRAKPIUJUKZYTVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975834},"type":"text","content":"When National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski admonished him to be a President Truman before a President Wilson, Carter strove to make the two goals mutually objective."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"b3bb2acef84a61ea17607dbf427b6531a45e9205979aae1639df5beb7dbdec13"},"caption":"Nabil S. 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Mikhail.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"J6TVSFW5XBEUFMO6J3M3GKP4BI"},"created_date":"2025-01-08T18:38:13Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-08T18:38:13Z","alignment":"right","height":225,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KPEQMHER7NFADKMEIHWWQTGWQE.png?auth=b3bb2acef84a61ea17607dbf427b6531a45e9205979aae1639df5beb7dbdec13&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SO5ZQMEVVBGMLJUH4ZBZXIB5SQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975835},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Like Truman, Carter applied the doctrine of containment. Carter was not obliged to turn to containment after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late December 1979. Containment for him was an institution to be extended to a wide and varied sphere. For example, his mediation between Egypt and Israel to establish peace and his annunciation of the Carter Doctrine on Jan. 23, 1980, to defend the Persian Gulf region were in part intended to circumscribe the Soviet influence in these two areas."},{"_id":"NKIISOKU2JHS5IMEKQARW2VS5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975836},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"His emphasis on human rights brought positive results even to the countries that had committed atrocities or human rights abuses. Soviet scientist and dissident <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/29/archives/text-of-sakharov-letter-to-carter-on-human-rights.html\" target=\"_blank\">Andrei Sakharov wrote to Carter</a> on Jan. 29, 1977, “It’s very important to defend those who suffer because of their nonviolent struggle, for openness, for justice, for destroyed rights of other people. Our and your duty is to fight for them. I think that a great deal depends on this struggle — trust between the people, trust in high promises and the final result — international security.” Further escalation in the global arms race between Washington and Moscow could have been avoided had the two countries encouraged a trustful relationship and dialogue on human rights."},{"_id":"2NBQZDPPKFDZBLLJ5PRCDQ56E4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975837},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Overall, the concept of a universal morality was paramount to both President Woodrow Wilson and Carter. The first promulgated self-determination for colonized nations and the second valued the individual freedoms."},{"_id":"WTFHJ64HDVHAVDRIPNSFFEJEJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975838},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The tone of Carter’s synthesis of moralism and realism found its perfect strategic equilibrium in America’s relations with Great Britain. Ian Buruma, in his book “The Churchill Complex,” wrote that many Irish groups wrote to the White House demanding that Carter address the problem of human rights in Northern Ireland. A director for the Irish National Caucus, F.B. O’Brien said, “British patterns of torture do not seem to change much over the centuries, one need only to travel to Charleston, South Carolina and view where the British tortured Americans in their own cellars.” Carter was receptive to this plea, but his temper was one of self-caution in order not to strain American-British relations. Equally important was the agreement with the United Kingdom to <a href=\"https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_22AA44B566844D888F89E1BA4A3F3925\" target=\"_blank\">modernize its strategic arsenal</a> with U.S.-made Lockheed Trident C4 nuclear missiles."},{"_id":"ELCYCONHUZEKFFTGRKS2ETG5J4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975839},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s characterization of power and principle was expressed in how he viewed religions as significant centers of power and historical sources of morality."},{"_id":"NWH4UL4XX5GZJP2QL76NGQMOEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736379595219},"type":"text","content":"Carter was extremely courteous with foreign visitors, and he highly esteemed religion in his meetings. On April 20, 1977, he met Pope Shenouda III, the Pope and Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Egypt. When they were discussing the travels of Apostle Mark the Evangelist, who founded Christianity in Egypt, he engaged his Egyptian visitor in reading from his private Bible more information about the trips of Saint Mark as they were reported in the Book of Acts. Additionally, Carter met with the highest Islamic Sunni clerk in the world, the Grand Sheik of Al Azhar, Abdel Halim Mahmoud, on Nov. 29, 1977. Carter promised that he would listen to the tapes of the recited Quran, which the Grand Sheik had given Carter as a gift. These noble gestures endeared him to millions and augmented his acquisition of knowledge about power and its instruments and his learning about morality."},{"_id":"VBTACARBWFCWBDAHO3SZTGEOEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975840},"type":"text","content":"The practice of being a moralist and a realist in American foreign policy has slipped from favorability for many U.S. presidents and politicians. Whether these two schools of policy stand alone or separate, they are inextricably and intimately associated with Carter, testifying to his good presidential character."},{"_id":"JRIKV75KXJHD7FB3H3Q7L77Y7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975841},"type":"text","content":"Many foreign policy practitioners try to be practical and pragmatic. However, they failed. George Bush ignored the Chinese bloodbath in Tiananmen Square in June 1989, and his applications of flashes of realism and power politics in the conclusion of the Gulf War in February 1991 created a nagging strategic quandary that precipitated another costly war. Ironically, he is described as the foreign policy president. Jimmy Carter, however, applied morality to the United States’ long-term strategic interests."},{"_id":"GFLP66I6SNB3VE75NZLEQP5CQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736360975842},"type":"text","content":"Carter revisionism is justified. Following his example will lend more legitimacy to modern American foreign policy. At the end, the final historical judgment on Carter is high praise."},{"_id":"IXGGCTRINNFONGNFB3VU43WO4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736375465103},"type":"text","content":"<i>Nabil S. 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First, the Carter Center and then the Freedom Parkway were built, and the landscaping of adjoining Freedom Park buried the last foundational outlines of the families and residences that had once occupied the same place. The subsequent reinvigoration of the affected neighborhoods may feel like a successful story of urban renewal, but the ghosts remain."},{"_id":"G2JQXIIT3VBAFK7HLPLUQLDPD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736168219165},"type":"text","content":"While home from college one summer, a friend and I sneaked onto the grounds of the Carter Center after midnight and sat in the Japanese Garden with its beautiful hilltop view of downtown Atlanta. It was familiar and foreign all at once. We just stared and silently reminisced. The guard eventually found us. “Move on” he said."},{"_id":"MSCSITR6CVEEZDMUMUDDDQEITA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"FT43OBMHPNDA5MWRCDEK4LPPJU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"PHOTOS: Jimmy Carter lies in repose in Atlanta","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/photos-jimmy-carter-lies-in-repose-in-atlanta/7WHERXKT4RCXHAU54YNE3MUKKA/"},{"_id":"WHB7345PUJGR5KSDEF4OWTHAWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736168219166},"type":"text","content":"Jimmy Carter spent much of his life helping people and followed his religious convictions, but even saints are human, and their decisions can have varied consequences."},{"_id":"5Z26MLBSXJGT7J4ERC7EVWD4YQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736358302788},"type":"text","content":"The road to the Carter Center was paved with good intentions, but it left many feeling less than blessed."},{"_id":"YIXGUBXWPRGOVG2H7O54KEWE5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736256196904},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jeremy Fletcher grew up in Candler Park, Atlanta. His mother taught art history at Emory University and his father ran Design & Cabinetry near Inman Park. He attended Mary Lin Elementary School, Inman Middle School and Grady High School. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he is a band director and professional jazz arranger and continues to pursue photography.</i>"},{"_id":"WIE3DMIFRZCFRMZWQNBAZRMAEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736168219168},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"I grew up playing in the kudzu-covered fields full of stairs that went nowhere and half-built highway overpasses. 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(Jeremy Fletcher)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/VVF23OOQK5FNZMOUBRYGDW2C6U.jpg","height":2677,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/VVF23OOQK5FNZMOUBRYGDW2C6U.jpg?auth=343d3184a1de2d58739142265822423cabf553f14a08b66cb958e8941f4aa7a2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-road-to-the-carter-center/IEAP2HX435D3LGT2JTTFRQ6XSA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-09T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jeremy Fletcher","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The road to the Carter Center"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-09T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-09T13:56:30.032Z","_id":"IEAP2HX435D3LGT2JTTFRQ6XSA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"343d3184a1de2d58739142265822423cabf553f14a08b66cb958e8941f4aa7a2"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Jeremy Fletcher","type":"author","byline":"Jeremy Fletcher"}]},"subtitle":"Carter Center sign","width":4458,"caption":"A sign points the way to the Carter Presidential Center. (Jeremy Fletcher)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/VVF23OOQK5FNZMOUBRYGDW2C6U.jpg","height":2677,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/VVF23OOQK5FNZMOUBRYGDW2C6U.jpg?auth=343d3184a1de2d58739142265822423cabf553f14a08b66cb958e8941f4aa7a2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"OOVXBIIGBBB7LGWADZFASUZZPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395171},"type":"text","content":"Outside the main entrance of the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva stands a bronze statue of an African boy walking ahead of his blinded father, guiding him with a long stick they both hold."},{"_id":"LBBVNWKPR5DJTCJKE2BI53ZDUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395172},"type":"text","content":"This poignant artwork depicts how <a href=\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/onchocerciasis\">onchocerciasis</a>, an ancient disease commonly known as river blindness, impacts many of the world’s poorest people. Several replicas have been installed around the world, including notably at the <a href=\"http://www.atlantafreedomtrail.com/carter-center.html\">Carter Presidential Center</a> in Atlanta, Georgia."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"dadd2f1d1693a20c23eaaa93b14a016fa077350d363f28288dd3f7759e458d78"},"caption":"Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus","width":648,"_id":"C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/uQAk4pCxFqG86KI_1GZpmkDy0eo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/uQAk4pCxFqG86KI_1GZpmkDy0eo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/uQAk4pCxFqG86KI_1GZpmkDy0eo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/k5YXivUda5nSW-waT899QCREg_s=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png","version":0,"originalName":"dr-terdos-profile.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"LU4BR6CJUNHX3ABGKI3TFRQZTI"},"created_date":"2025-01-08T20:20:13Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-08T20:20:13Z","alignment":"right","height":881,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/C3GFD453WZGYNMX5HZJAF7WSS4.png?auth=dadd2f1d1693a20c23eaaa93b14a016fa077350d363f28288dd3f7759e458d78&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"42ZDKSSGQBBI3EL6UR3JWYMC7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395173},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The statue conveys many things: service, hope, the pride possessed by people who many see as vulnerable. Above all, it underscores how access to health is essential to enable each of us to live with dignity, no matter income or birthplace."},{"_id":"FGRN4QZL7FFW3EZEHXEJ77VTE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395174},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"President Jimmy Carter, with whom I was privileged to have worked closely for two decades, embodied and championed all this and more. While attending services in Washington D.C. celebrating President Carter’s life, I will pay tribute to the lasting legacies he left with the partnerships and programs that protect millions from the global threats of disease and war."},{"_id":"T73SJX7GWJCTJHLK2JYI2HXVPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395175},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"President Carter saw afflictions such as river blindness, <a href=\"https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malaria\">malaria</a> and <a href=\"https://www.who.int/health-topics/dracunculiasis#tab=tab_1\">Guinea-worm disease</a> as debilitating drivers of and results of poverty and insecurity. In the 1980s, about 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia lived with Guinea-worm disease, a debilitating condition with no vaccine or treatment. It is caused by drinking stagnant water infected by parasites that, once ingested, grow into long worms that burrow, painfully, out of the patient’s body through their skin."},{"_id":"NJJ53BISKJEGTI67QOODVRH7KM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OUS5OYB2ARG7LOFJQAMC6V32JQ"},"type":"raw_html","content":"<CustomInfoBox id=\"IIGGF4IJPZBNTD2PADC7F44XVQ\" />"},{"_id":"NCGIEQBLS5BLDD3HNSP4QMEGKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395176},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"President Carter understood this disease preyed on the world’s poorest people. But he believed it could be fought with strategies owned by affected communities and countries and implemented with simple tools. In this case, a filter to separate the parasites from collected drinking water at the source."},{"_id":"MYGWKGXSJZGLFMUR7LBAK7V4SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395177},"type":"text","content":"In 1986, the <a href=\"https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/CTD-DRA-95.4\">World Health Assembly</a> called for the disease’s eradication. The Carter Center, which the president founded with his late wife, Rosalynn, and Emory University, would play a leading role. It supported heads of state and health departments in affected countries, and collaborated with global partners, including WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Gates Foundation, to mobilize needed resources."},{"_id":"XMDYWMUWIVED3OYCGK6HVVSWTI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395178},"type":"text","content":"Since 2000, the disease has been eliminated from Southeast Asia, with only about a dozen reported cases today in Africa. Global eradication is in sight, a result that ranks as one of President Carter’s most important postpresidential achievements."},{"_id":"JAZMRDBPKVAV3NSLQDTN6NDXZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395179},"type":"text","content":"I met President Carter during his visit to inspect the health projects his center was supporting in Ethiopia. I was serving as minister of health. What impressed me then and the many times we met after was his humility and commitment to service. He strategically leveraged his position as a president of the United States to open doors to governments around the world and help build country-led solutions."},{"_id":"RG4CFFRQLRBSHFSP5HOWVJV2WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395180},"type":"text","content":"That meeting in Addis Ababa, some 20 years ago, was immensely important personally. It started a close relationship, built on shared goals of achieving health for all, respecting individual dignity and human rights, and pursuing peace. I was humbled in 2011 to be the first non-American recipient of the <a href=\"https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/tedros.pdf\">Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award</a>. I also appreciated the president’s support of my campaign to become the first African elected director-general of WHO."},{"_id":"VR3LJKK3OZEXZPVRS6QH4776WY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ZNBDPC2WMRBXPH3PI7IVRN3E2U"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"PHOTOS: Nation mourns Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/aajc-010925-carter-nation/ITAKSVLVUBCBHOOSJMTJDIHCTM/"},{"_id":"7AFE6E3GB5BR7G55DHXGL5DH7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395181},"type":"text","content":"The impact the Carters have had on people’s well-being extends to mental health. Their Center has drafted policy, reduced stigma and raised the importance of mental health in the United States and beyond. In 2023, first lady Carter was presented with the <a href=\"https://www.who.int/news/item/06-02-2023-longstanding-who-partners-to-enter-into-official-relations-with-the-organization\">WHO Award for Global Health</a> to recognize her lifetime achievement in working on mental health issues."},{"_id":"73BEAK4NEFDNTHSNYCZRPX6UDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395182},"type":"text","content":"Importantly, President Carter recognized the links between health and peace. The Carter Center, <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKgmsMZta6w\">he once said</a>, “Always considered peace and health to be interrelated. The right of people to live in peace and the right of people to have adequate health care, and to have their children survive, are inseparable basic rights of a human being.”"},{"_id":"4PYY55W6QFE5TI2JMIYVJ26HYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395183},"type":"text","content":"By bringing Egypt and Israel together to forge the historic Camp David Accords and the resulting 1979 peace deal, he showed it is possible to end war and build secure futures for people tired of conflict. The need for this in the Middle East today has never been stronger."},{"_id":"GT34IQTK65GTTM6WAS4OJMWPQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395184},"type":"text","content":"In 1995, during <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/countries/sudan.html#:~:text=When%20the%20Sudan%20Guinea%20Worm,humanitarian%20cease%2Dfire%20in%20history.\">Sudan’s</a> civil war, President Carter astutely negotiated a six-month cease-fire to give health workers the space and security to undertake Guinea-worm disease, river blindness and other health programs."},{"_id":"Q2DJTB5OCZAXDFTCKNU7CKQ7JY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395185},"type":"text","content":"During and after his presidency, President Carter also demonstrated the political and moral leadership of the United States over and over again, and its role in advancing global security, collaboration and health to protect everyone in America and around the world."},{"_id":"KA5OLVCDOFBFFK2TZOMMTI3IQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395186},"type":"text","content":"These examples and more are prescient for today’s volatile world."},{"_id":"K3RQMV7ZTJC6BHU2442OJCARSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395187},"type":"text","content":"The divide between rich and poor has never been wider, nor has wealth been so concentrated in the hands of so few. And the perils we collectively face — wars, outbreaks and climate change — have never felt more pressing. But President Carter’s example as a leader, a humanitarian and a human can guide us through these unclear times. I urge us all to follow his lead."},{"_id":"OBHDGJD2LBFTZGM6DPE5H53GIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736367395188},"type":"text","content":"<i>Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is director-general of the World Health Organization.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His work in public health serves as a guide for the world."},"description":{"basic":"His work in public health serves as a guide for the world."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"sp-aging"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"13ad9a1dbd7430318b2f5bd8e5d230c2178201f73bb4abce8d7cbf5f63aa99e7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Sam Mednick","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter Guinea Worm","width":4240,"caption":"Aid workers with the Carter Center work in to raise awareness about Guinea worm in Jarweng, South Sudan, on May 13, 2023. (Sam Mednick/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"f2a90805-7d0d-46e0-bff3-5e7060bf4d90"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6B6CF5WZXET4X4V5H57PJIFLEQ.jpg","height":2832,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6B6CF5WZXET4X4V5H57PJIFLEQ.jpg?auth=13ad9a1dbd7430318b2f5bd8e5d230c2178201f73bb4abce8d7cbf5f63aa99e7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-carters-resolute-humble-leadership-saved-millions-of-lives/YKZYS4FGWBDUDCGQVRSV4E4R5Q/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-09T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Carter’s resolute, humble leadership saved millions of lives"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-09T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-09T17:20:22.816Z","_id":"YKZYS4FGWBDUDCGQVRSV4E4R5Q","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"13ad9a1dbd7430318b2f5bd8e5d230c2178201f73bb4abce8d7cbf5f63aa99e7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Sam Mednick","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter Guinea Worm","width":4240,"caption":"Aid workers with the Carter Center work in to raise awareness about Guinea worm in Jarweng, South Sudan, on May 13, 2023. (Sam Mednick/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"f2a90805-7d0d-46e0-bff3-5e7060bf4d90"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6B6CF5WZXET4X4V5H57PJIFLEQ.jpg","height":2832,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6B6CF5WZXET4X4V5H57PJIFLEQ.jpg?auth=13ad9a1dbd7430318b2f5bd8e5d230c2178201f73bb4abce8d7cbf5f63aa99e7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"VXOIF75CSNB5PC73BAW6WCMDLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738027},"type":"text","content":"Imagine getting a phone call from the school principal informing you that your son has been suspended indefinitely because he has threatened to shoot his classmates. Shocked and heart pounding, you ask, “What happened?” The principal simply says, “We can talk when you get here.”"},{"_id":"A22CM7JX6NBLLE45ZRMROVELNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824439},"type":"text","content":"Yet after you pick up your child, you are even more perplexed. The principal tells you that several classmates reported that your son threatened to shoot them. Your son claims they are making up a story to get him into trouble."},{"_id":"C74SA5NU5BAZLKVEON2NZ6QFQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824440},"type":"text","content":"It seems like the principal is overreacting, but he says he has to make sure everyone in the school is safe. You are told that the police will be coming to search your house and that you must obtain a psychological evaluation of your son before he can return to school."},{"_id":"RHWPC455HNHD7E6W5J4PUDLCTU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"2IOOKZENBVH3JE6ZHA67KYYADI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia students could face tougher penalties for making school threats","url":"https://www.ajc.com/education/georgia-house-speaker-says-lawmakers-will-seek-to-increase-penalties-for-school-threats/VU27KOETRJAFVGTZKVBAQC6ECA/"},{"_id":"3TJWC5RKFFEXXLYQSPIRHVEAGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738028},"type":"text","content":"As clinical psychologists and researchers who have devoted our careers to preventing youth violence, this is an all-too-familiar situation. After shootings like the one at Apalachee High school, there is a predictable <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/school-threats-continue-8-days-after-apalachee-high-school-shooting/MMMWSUJHUBDEZAMSBGSXB6MQZQ/\">surge in arrests of students</a> for making threats. At least <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/25/us/school-violence-threats-student-arrests.html\">700 students have been arrested</a> nationwide following the Georgia school shooting."},{"_id":"CVOCSSKZEZCMHDE4IU7LTWBCGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824442},"type":"text","content":"School authorities think they must remove a potentially dangerous student to err on the side of safety. They are choosing overreaction to avoid underreaction."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"27ba0ec7cc902df93cd6da869384359e07a762e5dae1c55c1d99d18de848b351"},"caption":"Sharmila Mehta","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sharmila Mehta","width":2400,"_id":"IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/0YnVAe-6GfsFbX42zl9R621nhgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/0YnVAe-6GfsFbX42zl9R621nhgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","takenOn":"2021-05-26T10:11:35Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/0YnVAe-6GfsFbX42zl9R621nhgU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/uzODya7sFk7Xwujz06NwQGdOzTs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Mehta_Sharmila (8962) (2).jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"PNMWHGZ67NFCJEVHPZG4SAHD5Q"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T19:09:30Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T19:09:30Z","alignment":"right","height":3600,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IMK52LILVNEB7J6B5QWBS5IB6Q.jpg?auth=27ba0ec7cc902df93cd6da869384359e07a762e5dae1c55c1d99d18de848b351&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9191d8e9b3dee6413e11795556adde352ad69224a9be2e584520a7177af1c2ce"},"caption":"Dewey Cornell","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Dewey Cornell","width":2728,"_id":"OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/dOHOo0V5pMgdAt2PgJdtCn_ZewU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/dOHOo0V5pMgdAt2PgJdtCn_ZewU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","takenOn":"2016-10-03T09:47:32Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/dOHOo0V5pMgdAt2PgJdtCn_ZewU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/6GaTvhzx1q0V1siaJ4kN2mRzIdk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Dewey Cornell.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FLXKRB3NEFBJLEJQIFK57GK7FY"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T19:12:09Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T19:12:09Z","alignment":"right","height":3410,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OM7TT236EVBY5K26RXZCDHGEAI.jpg?auth=9191d8e9b3dee6413e11795556adde352ad69224a9be2e584520a7177af1c2ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LPOQA2RJCNH6TOPIXJBKKEYCUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738031},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yet common sense, supported by research, shows that most student threats do not pose a serious risk of violence."},{"_id":"ZXGIGDWNIFDDFLS4XXCRNG23EY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824446},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Young people often act impulsively and make statements they do not mean. Schools using a violence prevention strategy known as “behavioral threat assessment and management,” can effectively support safety without turning to overreaction."},{"_id":"X65A2SCJXBDFNAEGVJEJM2U3ZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824447},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"According to a University of Virginia <a href=\"https://education.virginia.edu/research-initiatives/explore-research?search=School%20Threat%20Assessment%20in%20Florida&topic=All&profile=All&department=All&project=All&type=All\">study of behavioral threat assessment in 3,400 Florida schools</a>, most threats can be resolved without resorting to school removal or arrest."},{"_id":"MYI3LDTLMVABJMVFD5VOHPLNAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824448},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In a sample of 22,000 cases, 82% of threats evaluated by the school threat assessment team were found to be unfounded rumors, jokes or expressions of frustration (“I could kill you for that”). About 13% were serious threats to fight, typically referred for counseling. Only 5% were considered very serious substantive threats involving a threat to shoot or kill someone that required law enforcement involvement and development of a safety plan."},{"_id":"QXQJHI3ZPZCSVOFC77WUOEVW4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824449},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"About a quarter of the students had a short-term suspension (typically a few days), fewer than 2% were expelled and fewer than 1% were arrested. In 94% of cases, the threat was resolved without violence. There were some fights, but no school shootings or homicides."},{"_id":"FGBRRM7QWVHNRMBQEIKSURUYEI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738032},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Overreaction is fueled by a widespread belief that school shootings are pervasive and that schools are dangerous places. This fear has been amplified by the use of state-mandated school shooter drills that are often so frightening that <a href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/09/26/executive-order-on-combating-emerging-firearms-threats-and-improving-school-based-active-shooter-drills/\">President Joe Biden issued an executive order</a> to set standards that make them less traumatic."},{"_id":"XRKCKE6S5BCW3OPFRMAZJMKLJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824451},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Statistically, school homicides are rare."},{"_id":"WLMGNVPKTZHZJLARVH6UWZK6JI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":50,"comment":"only "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824452},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"With nearly <a href=\"https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_214.10.asp\">130,000 schools in the United States</a>, <a href=\"https://everytownresearch.org/maps/gunfire-on-school-grounds/?_gl=1*rp2por*_ga*ODM3MDIwNTczLjE3Mjc2MjMwNjU.*_ga_68QYBV181T*MTcyNzYyMzA2NS4xLjEuMTcyNzYyMzEzMS4wLjAuMA..*_ga_1FTV9KT752*MTcyNzYyMzA2NS4xLjAuMTcyNzYyMzA2NS4wLjAuMA..\">15 experienced a school shooting homicide in 2023</a>, making the expected frequency of a homicide in the average school about once every 8,666 years. Although homicide has become a leading cause of death among school-age youth, <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/youth-violence/data-research/school-associatedviolentdeathstudy/index.html#:~:text=What%20to%20know,to%20prevent%20fatal%20school%20violence.\" target=\"_blank\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data</a> show that less than 2% of these homicides occur at school, making schools among the safest places from gun violence in the United States."},{"_id":"4RHKMJWJ2RCBBLZJMN7XVNTN2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738033},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Underreaction to a serious threat can have tragic consequences, but overreaction is harmful too."},{"_id":"DPENZWXBHVACTKMJZKILHWLHEI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ME47OMDGJBFRHJT37T7KW4TVGQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A Cobb student warned friends about a shooting threat. He was expelled for it","url":"https://www.ajc.com/education/a-cobb-student-warned-friends-about-a-shooting-threat-he-was-expelled-for-it/ECVWADGYEJEY3HZLQURNFXSY7A/"},{"_id":"D45A2YLP3FG6DBP4KZXUZ23ANE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824454},"type":"text","content":"Multiple <a href=\"https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/school-discipline/\">studies</a> have found that when students are suspended, they are more likely to fall behind academically, disengage from learning and eventually drop out. Moreover, the <a href=\"https://www.secretservice.gov/node/2565\">Secret Service study</a> of school shootings found that it is safer to monitor and support a troubled student than to remove that student from school, leaving them to act on their own. Parents should not be forced to remove their child from school and find someone to do an evaluation."},{"_id":"7IWAMJTS7ZDCPKR7C7DU5W7ZWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738035},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we continue to mourn the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/education/students-staff-return-to-georgia-high-school-after-deadly-school-shooting/37X3S5QZ2BBA7OOFSW7ZW3OW4U/\">losses at Apalachee High School</a>, we must take care to prevent further violence using the most effective measures available."},{"_id":"ZFCD2FIFZZB7RE5N5KW3AOIQEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824457},"type":"text","content":"Twenty-three states, including Georgia, currently <a href=\"https://statepolicies.nasbe.org/health/categories/physical-environment/threat-assessment\">require or encourage their schools to use a threat assessment team</a> to conduct their own evaluations. Behavioral threat assessment and management focuses on violence prevention and safety planning that contextualizes threats within the actual risks at hand. It also <a href=\"https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/threat-assessment-and-disparities-school-discipline\">reduces disparities</a> in school discipline outcomes based on race and special education status."},{"_id":"J33SCFLZWFCEFJFM3XOLQTILUI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"C2YDSBEU6VH5BOTSLLLOLLRW4M"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Shattered Georgia community united behind 'Barrow strong' rally","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/shattered-georgia-community-unites-behind-barrow-strong-rally/WIABFUCPHVAGLO7EFCHDBKXPPU/"},{"_id":"7AWEK7QMJBFPJDXBWE5D2J7FS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736290824458},"type":"text","content":"The use of <a href=\"https://www.nc2s.org/resource/school-threat-assessment-toolkit/\">nationally recognized standards and practices</a> can help protect a fearful community from both the devastating impact of a shooting and the damaging outcomes of overreaction."},{"_id":"IR7HKBYHFNDUVGWTRF2I24BKLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738036},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sharmila B. Mehta is clinical director of the Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Services at Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School. Dewey Cornell is a professor of education at the University of Virginia who has conducted research and developed a program for the use of behavioral threat assessment for student threats of violence.</i>"},{"_id":"I56K3AE54BC4BPC2PRGABN7UB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736195738037},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":" It might be safer to monitor and support a troubled student than to remove that student from school."},"description":{"basic":"After school shootings, there is a predictable surge in arrests of students for making threats. At least 700 have been arrested nationwide following the one at Apalachee High."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"e6a394988f1a64cd4c7ad03f98c4f26c6d4b5354e43325f5f924d2a5e9b99cdc"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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No spend January."},{"_id":"RSSFU7DLVND2LFK2QCH77OWMXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729766},"type":"text","content":"Everyone is swearing off some perceived vice — food, drink, shopping — which makes January seem more like a downer than an exciting new beginning."},{"_id":"72MI7LHNOJHFFFGLLMTPDIWD74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729767},"type":"text","content":"Whatever label you put on it, January has come to represent a month of deprivation, which doesn’t feel like a solid strategy for long-term change."},{"_id":"R3DXHACGPJHHLC34OMSU5IKIDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729768},"type":"text","content":"There is a reason Jan. 10 is dubbed National Quitters Day based on research showing that most people have abandoned resolutions by the second week of January."},{"_id":"OQ22YNBK3NBWTM3THKQJAE7RPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729769},"type":"text","content":"I know at least one person who quit a resolution before he even started working toward it. After announcing to friends on New Year’s Day his intention to stop drinking for 30 days, he scheduled a lunch date for mid-January at a local brewery and sheepishly said he would probably have a beer ... and not the nonalcoholic variety."},{"_id":"OOLP3N2SVZEFFEOA4OQPLZ3MF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729770},"type":"text","content":"I won’t pretend we don’t have problems in America that need to be addressed. Our drinking, eating and shopping habits likely rank high on the list of practices that need to be reigned in or reset."},{"_id":"Y7EGPSFVW5EVFGMNHJ7COGREAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736259386639},"type":"text","content":"Just last week, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new advisory on alcohol and cancer risk, revealing the direct connection between the consumption of alcohol and increased risk of cancers ranging from breast cancer to mouth cancer. It was yet another wake-up call that many of our habits can lead to poor health and diminished wellness."},{"_id":"JYABUKWIORANPBPTVZREBQABCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":168,"comment":"his or her "},{"pos":240,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729771},"type":"text","content":"Dry January may offer a moment for some people to reevaluate their relationship to alcohol, but how meaningful that effort might be depends on the individual and their motivation. Everyone isn’t going to derive the same benefit from a monthlong deprivation challenge."},{"_id":"VTVMGGXMNVEBFFPBWCLYFTFTFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":14,"comment":"C"},{"pos":23,"comment":"D"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729772},"type":"text","content":"Sean O’Neil, clinical director at Westside Recovery Center in San Diego, said breaking habits is hard and challenges like dry January or no-spend January can help get momentum going. But they can also lead to the kind of all-or-none thinking that makes you give up on the goal if you miss one day."},{"_id":"4O2N5PEOBBCWTBGGZTBYI6GGCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729773},"type":"text","content":"And participating in those challenges is often more about other people than you."},{"_id":"O3KHVOAGZRB5PPWX7DYJ3Y3T5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729774},"type":"text","content":"“These challenges rely too much on proving to others and external motivation rather than what is the deeper intrinsic motivation,” O’Neil said. Anyone who is engaging in behavioral deprivation without digging into the psychological or emotional reasons for doing it may be missing the point."},{"_id":"EKWS33EQJNCKPF5BX3G7OGWCJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729775},"type":"text","content":"Jenné Claiborne, the Atlanta-based creator of Sweet Potato Soul and author of “Vegan Vibes,” agreed short-term changes can be helpful but only when they are accompanied by a deeper understanding of what we are doing and why we are doing it."},{"_id":"AOI4KKL4D5FNZEF4D7QQGWFFAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729776},"type":"text","content":"“I do not make really big life changes in January, but I am very comfortable with helping people become vegan or become more plant-based at any time of the year,” said Claiborne, who sometimes uses the term veganuary as a hashtag in January because it is catchy. Her focus, however, is on helping others live a vegan lifestyle that is longer term."},{"_id":"IPFXNRNMLJCCFIIP3CGRRLBUV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729777},"type":"text","content":"More important than going vegan for one month in January is understanding why you want to do it and learning more about what plant-based eating is all about, she said."},{"_id":"O6GLPMHYLRDQ3AEK7AFOTN5TGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729778},"type":"text","content":"“Using January to try out the vegan thing is good, but throughout the month, educate yourself. ... Veganism is more than a diet. Start to learn more about the lifestyle, and see if it is something that resonates with you,” Claiborne said."},{"_id":"QUZ3BN4CVZCUZMOROXO3IWGWRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":112,"comment":"all-in"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729779},"type":"text","content":"Easing into any new transition, such as becoming vegan, can be just as effective (or more effective) than going all in for one month and then spending the next 11 months doing whatever you did the previous year."},{"_id":"IUTABXWL6JHUPACGBOZEIJWWMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729780},"type":"text","content":"Claiborne, whose path to veganism began in 2007 when she was a student at Boston University, notes that the 80/20 rule can work for transitioning from animal products to plant-based foods. That means eating plant-based 80% of the time and whatever you want 20% of the time."},{"_id":"IUQUYK4FHRFKHOB4OH62ELWQJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736259386650},"type":"text","content":"No fan of a scarcity mindset, Claiborne likes to view veganism through a lens of abundance."},{"_id":"5L3AMN4T5FHTNORX3ECVX6XSYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729782},"type":"text","content":"“I like to think of veganism as what you can eat,” she said. “I like to present it as a positive or an abundant way of eating.”"},{"_id":"SMC6WK4PONE2XKNSRY47KQIWOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729783},"type":"text","content":"The abundance mindset could also apply to any of the challenges that pop up at the start of the new year."},{"_id":"XVQQTNO6WVEUXNOMXDNC554CKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729784},"type":"text","content":"Goodbye, dry January. Hello, drink more water January."},{"_id":"KL2EBK3VHZC3VDFIF2E7OWZSXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729785},"type":"text","content":"So long, no spend January. Welcome, shop your closet January."},{"_id":"WKBX734B35BO3MTOF6QZPI3IF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736253729786},"type":"text","content":"Deprivation needs to have purpose, so join that challenge but also resolve to understand your deeper motivations, put progress over perfection and focus on all of the things that are being added to your life rather than taken away."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736220191179},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"I've always looked forward to January. 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Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. 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Hello, drink water January."},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-08T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-08T10:00:15.984Z","_id":"ARHGT4DTMRFWNKPLI46V26H344","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"da79275a7d349ade5bc274cf9418b3535df126d9a7c3ff9eb09d4fac882eea06"},"credits":{"by":[]},"subtitle":"Dry January","width":438,"caption":"Dry January","type":"image","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q32LAKGH65EDXL5YQ7JCAXMAPQ.jpg","height":285,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Q32LAKGH65EDXL5YQ7JCAXMAPQ.jpg?auth=da79275a7d349ade5bc274cf9418b3535df126d9a7c3ff9eb09d4fac882eea06&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"633WPK65CRAW5BNTNIUWAOXBXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084988},"type":"text","content":"When I saw the breaking news of the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/georgia-shooting-at-apalachee-high-school-what-happened-key-things-to-know-today/EBLDIJNAFZAJ5MDHLIMJKEX45I/\" target=\"_blank\">Apalachee High School mass shooting</a> in September, my heart stopped. I sat in my office and prayed to God for the safety of the children and teachers. The shock I felt reminded me of the day during my time as solicitor general when a young gunman with mental health issues walked into the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/mcnair-gunman-serve-years-for-school-invasion/QeEkEB5eBQ8NYLljx2Xw6H/\" target=\"_blank\">Ronald McNair Discovery Academy</a> with an automatic weapon and enough ammunition to kill hundreds of students and staff."},{"_id":"LFBBLNGZAJH27AJPBCZR2KN3JA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":441,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084989},"type":"text","content":"Thank God a veteran school employee, Antoinette Tuff, calmly talked the would-be attacker down before he could hurt anyone. This happened in my own backyard — my two young daughters were locked down in their elementary school a few blocks away, and the district attorney’s office I now lead prosecuted the case. So, as I sat at my desk that day in September, contemplating the 385th mass shooting of 2024, I wondered how we can still be here reacting to this terrible violence instead of doing everything we can to prevent it."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"508c24f0bcec1d87d73c23694b9ffc1bf0c8836db4ceab2aa2617868ca2e6b42"},"caption":"Sherry Boston, DeKalb DA","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sherry Boston","width":3036,"_id":"DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/KmiShxfqYeVjlDDhiv9JolpCY9Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/KmiShxfqYeVjlDDhiv9JolpCY9Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/KmiShxfqYeVjlDDhiv9JolpCY9Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Ti60ft97oDMOFEmV8RwpBl3qEmo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Sherry Boston.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"WXACAHDMGRDLVHLV2DJOGYFAQI"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T18:10:24Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:10:24Z","alignment":"right","height":4048,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DUXBRWPUVRHYRPY4Y4C6L6Q7LY.jpeg?auth=508c24f0bcec1d87d73c23694b9ffc1bf0c8836db4ceab2aa2617868ca2e6b42&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"BLPCZMELMBFHDFIPXA4MVVWZFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084991},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As the leader of the second largest district attorney’s office in the state, I am no stranger to the issues at hand: gun violence, gun rights, mental health treatment and due process. My duty to protect my community never leaves my mind. I will continue to aggressively prosecute violent offenders, but what about prevention? In 2019, Dayton, Ohio, <a href=\"https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/cincinnati/news/press-releases/investigative-report-on-the-august-4-2019-attack-in-dayton-ohio\" target=\"_blank\">police confronted an active shooter</a> 20 seconds after he started his attack. Ten seconds after that, the shooter was dead. Nine people were killed and 27 were injured over the course of 30 seconds."},{"_id":"X3RPJVI3JBEORL4PLAS5P6JWAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084992},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fast, effective response is not enough. Law enforcement urgently needs a tool to stop these tragedies before they happen. I believe the right tool is what is known as an extreme-risk protection order or “red flag law.”"},{"_id":"ACQV2AT7K5CXDJCFYHZOALEFCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084993},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In the months leading up to the tragedy at Apalachee, the FBI identified the accused shooter as a potential threat, and the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/barrow-school-shooting-suspect-previously-investigated-for-threats-fbi-says/URBYIRVIN5CBRFUDDTWV2HNNQE/\" target=\"_blank\">Jackson County Sheriff’s Office interviewed him</a> and his father. But neither had committed a crime, so law enforcement was unable to intervene further. The accused gunman’s father later bought his son an assault rifle for Christmas and has been charged in connection with the attack."},{"_id":"U6MMYCEYNFFBFNWYPEXV37QZPQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LAFLB6SRHJAKJI6Y4IBRAQOONU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia lawmakers seek ‘middle ground’ on gun laws after Apalachee shooting","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/some-republicans-in-georgia-say-theyre-open-to-changing-the-states-gun-laws/ZY3S7EA2EJC33MHRXBZU4OIYIU/"},{"_id":"3FBSH3BAXZE5DP7ZOQ7ZXXNANA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084994},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Before a shooter killed 17 people at <a href=\"https://www.broward.org/Documents/MSD%20Overview%20Public%204-24-18.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Parkland High School</a> in Florida in 2018, a <a href=\"https://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=1087125396\" target=\"_blank\">relative informed the FBI</a> that she feared that the attacker “was going to slip into a school and start shooting the place up.” Local police officers were <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/02/28/589502906/a-clearer-picture-of-parkland-shooting-suspect-comes-into-focus\" target=\"_blank\">repeatedly called to the gunman’s house</a> because of threats and disturbing behavior, and two school guidance counselors and a sheriff’s deputy recommended that he be admitted for psychiatric care. All of those concerned people were powerless."},{"_id":"WHPDU4YS2RAWVNSUFIUC5MTIEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084995},"type":"text","content":"A <a href=\"https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/pre-attack-behaviors-of-active-shooters-in-us-2000-2013.pdf/view\" target=\"_blank\">2018 FBI study of mass shooters’ pre-attack behavior</a> found that, on average, each perpetrator exhibited four to five observable concerning behaviors. A similar study by the <a href=\"https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-09/MAPS2019.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Secret Service in 2019</a> found that every single one of the 41 mass shooters studied exhibited concerning behaviors prior to their attacks."},{"_id":"TCR3PJ73KVDEPAYJQLGREGTGEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084996},"type":"text","content":"Twenty-one states — including Florida, Virginia, New Mexico and Nevada — have enacted red flag laws. These laws, which vary around the country and can be tailored to a state’s specific needs, generally allow family, school employees and law enforcement to ask a local court to determine if a person is a threat to himself or others. After the due process of that hearing, the court may order that all firearms be temporarily removed from the person’s home and that the person be prohibited from possessing guns until a mental health and/or substance abuse evaluation has been completed. Contrary to the concerns of opponents of red flag laws, none of this happens automatically. The law simply empowers concerned people to ask a court to investigate. It is up to the court to receive evidence and decide whether to issue an order. That order is temporary, and the subject of the order has a right to appeal."},{"_id":"DD2ZT3RIPFH4RNU7D3WUWKZIKI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"4XZ3WDK5CJANFL7GFJ2FYSRCQM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"After Apalachee, Republican lawmakers split on gun safety rules","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/after-apalachee-republican-lawmakers-split-on-gun-safety-rules/L72BUM27KBGB7GYUW4ISAIBQUA/"},{"_id":"7TC2PYBEOJBHRAEVNQHWAINDDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084997},"type":"text","content":"As we look back in anguish at the tragedy at Apalachee (and so many others), we have heard from family, community members, and law enforcement who saw warning signs but were helpless to do anything. A red flag law is a common sense, narrowly tailored tool that could have saved lives."},{"_id":"2HZGHYIMDBCFNDBQOCEKGJHTDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084998},"type":"text","content":"Georgia lawmakers will convene at the State Capitol on Jan. 13 to begin this year’s legislative session. House Speaker Jon Burns has endorsed an expansion of mental health care access and wants to offer incentives for safe storage of guns as well as toughen penalties against people who make terroristic threats against a school. He also wants to examine a statewide mandate for mental health and behavior monitoring of students to encourage better coordination between administrators and authorities."},{"_id":"BESPNXACZJHGFJXR4C3BJREDJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193084999},"type":"text","content":"These are good steps in the right direction but are not sufficient to empower law enforcement to identify and intervene with shooters before they act. Passing a red flag law should also be a top legislative priority."},{"_id":"G5N2D7YQ4ZBXLLWEAM5PVQVS5A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"5FQEBX4LGBHQTAFDZ237FHLRY4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The making of an alleged school shooter: Missed warnings and years of neglect","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/the-making-of-an-alleged-school-shooter-missed-warnings-and-years-of-neglect/GLKEJF4SF5FS5AXTD3X7WY3P2U/"},{"_id":"QHVP2PVRAJFORKGZKUKQFHQQUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193085000},"type":"text","content":"We must give community members and law enforcement the power to ask for help in averting foreseeable tragedy. Let’s take steps to temporarily remove guns from the hands of people who have demonstrated to those who know them best that they are a danger. We cannot wait for the next breaking news, the next community ripped apart, the next child’s casket wrapped in a Superman cape."},{"_id":"N2PY54YKBZALNIT4M5XOLPMEFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193085001},"type":"text","content":"No single measure will end the epidemic of gun violence in this country, but with a red flag law, Christian Angulo, Mason Schermerhorn, Richard Aspinwall and Cristine Irimie might well be starting the spring semester at Appalachee High School."},{"_id":"IG6FEJJMAJEDPO5HIAWK6XXZQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193176065},"type":"text","content":"Now is the time for action."},{"_id":"DLP6UGZBW5D7VAKF2GU44QKCJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193176066},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sherry Boston is the DeKalb County district attorney.</i>"},{"_id":"EAVCOTXNQJEZNHWYDJVJK22BZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736193085003},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Passing an extreme risk order law should also be a top legislative priority.   "},"description":{"basic":"A red flag law is a common sense, narrowly tailored tool that could have saved lives."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"075277411781414e06440ca6f444dcd34ca3337ca8b4c547dfcf301dcf7838f1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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(John Spinks/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XA7CKTZLPZHMXIW3LZ2ZRYAUPY.jpg","height":1158,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XA7CKTZLPZHMXIW3LZ2ZRYAUPY.jpg?auth=075277411781414e06440ca6f444dcd34ca3337ca8b4c547dfcf301dcf7838f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"X7AN4RTZK5CKRBJUOPYIW7V5BI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738347},"type":"text","content":"Let’s suppose you’re a biology teacher in an American high school. A student announces in class that she doesn’t believe in human evolution; she thinks God created Adam and Eve, as the Bible says. What should you do?"},{"_id":"JLM5TL2GANBV7ODYJTUOEZ77QI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738348},"type":"text","content":"A) Tell the student that the issue is too controversial to discuss;"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Kielinski Photographers, LLC","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829"},"caption":"Jonathan Zimmerman","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"KYLE KIELINSKI","type":"author","byline":"KYLE KIELINSKI"}]},"subtitle":"Jonathan Zimmerman","width":5000,"_id":"ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","takenOn":"2022-08-25T18:47:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vQSchqz7DKor3QmaILzAVY8xYDs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jonathan Zimmerman.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FC2BSMMO4NBQXAU5WULRTB7G7U"},"created_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","last_updated_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","alignment":"right","height":3333,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg?auth=007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QAML2DRO2NHGLCRWTCJKEWDLR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738350},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"B) Ask her to present evidence for her point of view;"},{"_id":"GBL5LBZYYFFOLF2VTBXYDAXZRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738351},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"C) Tell her that she can believe whatever she wants, but she also needs to be able to explain the scientific principles of evolution."},{"_id":"A5INDWXWBNCI5PD5NYUPIY2OXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738352},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The correct answer is C. As Daniel Patrick Moynihan <a href=\"https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1745-everyone-is-entitled-to-his-own-opinion-but-not-to\">famously quipped</a>, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not to their own facts. And it’s the job of our schools to help young people see the difference, without requiring them to believe anything."},{"_id":"F7UUSZMQFZCSLA7N2PSMGRC7VY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738353},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"That’s what we need to do when we teach about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob attacked the U.S. Capitol on the false belief that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election because of voter fraud. Trump continued to repeat that fiction until the 2024 contest, which he won fair and square."},{"_id":"FG6AIZYSXRABPDRW25ONT6WZKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738354},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But almost a third of Americans — and two-third of Republicans — <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/almost-third-americans-still-believe-2020-election-result-was-fraudule-rcna90145\">continue to insist</a> that the 2020 election was fraudulent. They are citizens and taxpayers, and many of them are parents as well. As Trump returns to the White House, some of their children will echo his election falsehoods in school."},{"_id":"SDS654DC35EANLS444P77JJ3LY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738355},"type":"text","content":"And teachers will be tempted to choose Option A: tell the class we can’t talk about it. Indeed, <a href=\"https://whyy.org/articles/dont-discuss-the-jan-6-insurrection-with-students-a-bucks-school-district-tells-teachers/\">some school districts have instructed their teachers to avoid the subject</a>. It’s too dangerous, too provocative, too controversial."},{"_id":"LYT7RCTBPFGYXB23XG3QUFVGDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738356},"type":"text","content":"That’s the coward’s way out. And it’s an abdication of our duty as educators, which is to prepare our young people to become knowledgeable and engaged citizens. We can’t do that if we sidestep the issues that divide us."},{"_id":"ROCQO7FUYJH3FEEKDCOD2J2SYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738357},"type":"text","content":"Nor should we encourage election deniers to present the evidence for their view in class any more than we would ask a creationist to do so. That imagines there are equally informed and reasonable perspectives on both sides of these matters."},{"_id":"34VSLTI4VZEVPCZDJAIDKYU4WQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738358},"type":"text","content":"There aren’t. There is no scientific evidence — none — for the proposition that human beings were created whole; all of the facts indicate that we evolved from other mammals. Likewise, <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/exhaustive-fact-check-finds-little-evidence-of-voter-fraud-but-2020s-big-lie-lives-on\" target=\"_blank\">dozens of investigations</a> and <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/article/world/fact-check-courts-have-dismissed-multiple-lawsuits-of-alleged-electoral-fraud-p-idUSKBN2AF1FQ/\" target=\"_blank\">court decisions</a> found that Joe Biden — not Donald Trump — won the 2020 election fairly and that voter fraud was minimal."},{"_id":"2AMMMJPRU5DNTPYLHANDMN4SIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738359},"type":"text","content":"But there are plenty of legitimate controversies around Jan. 6, too. Being vigilant about the facts also means acknowledging the places where informed people disagree."},{"_id":"D7NAXPL25BACBD32AFUP6JLRGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738360},"type":"text","content":"Were the Jan. 6 protesters engaged in an “insurrection”? What role did race — and racism — play in their behavior? And what kinds of punishments should they receive?"},{"_id":"EYKD7A65ZVAN5O6THYZD5Q6AUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738361},"type":"text","content":"Unlike the vote count in 2020, all of these questions are fully debatable. Pretending otherwise plays fast and loose with the facts, just like election deniers do."},{"_id":"H3XASSKHUFENHPKFOCQMGVJDA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738362},"type":"text","content":"Yes, a <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/19/us/politics/trump-colorado-ballot-14th-amendment.html\">Colorado court</a> found that Trump had engaged in an “insurrection” on Jan. 6 and should therefore be ineligible for office under the 14th Amendment. But everything hinges on how you’re defining the word."},{"_id":"7KADILKK3JFLHFXZHDALPCAUPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738363},"type":"text","content":"“Insurrection is a broad, broad term,” <a href=\"https://time.com/6692956/trump-supreme-court-insurrection-jan-6/\">Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said</a> during the Supreme Court’s deliberations about the issue. “And if there’s some debate about it … we would be deciding whether it was an insurrection when one President did something as opposed to when somebody else did something else.”"},{"_id":"QBDMK2JSR5AOZISDDCW3IJDVPI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738364},"type":"text","content":"The Supreme Court eventually <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/04/us/politics/trump-supreme-court-colorado-ballot.html\">overturned the Colorado ruling</a> on the grounds that only Congress — not individual states — could bar candidates under the insurrection provision. But surely there was — and is — debate on its meaning, as Roberts correctly asserted."},{"_id":"BP2XBXU7NZG2RIVG5X55NHJUEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738365},"type":"text","content":"So it would be a mistake for a teacher to label the Jan. 6 events an “insurrection,” as if that’s a fact. We should instead ask our students if it <i>was</i> an insurrection — and why."},{"_id":"V5OZMQTAYFF4ZFJGWSO4CPQ5OU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"N6UDECHU6ZD4FDWFO7WT7HUUCA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: The Capitol riot investigation","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/us-capitol-riots/"},{"_id":"EG5I3SDOWJDKVMZ3HWAVR5HBIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738367},"type":"text","content":"Ditto for the issues around race. Here, too, we should share the facts: some Jan. 6 protesters carried <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/US/symbols-hate-extremism-display-pro-trump-capitol-siege/story?id=75177671\">Confederate and Nazi regalia</a>. But does that mean that the broader protest was motivated by racism? That’s a different and more complicated question. We should ask it, instead of assuming — or imposing — an answer."},{"_id":"YQVZRBXHBFBEJBLQVOQII33YZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738368},"type":"text","content":"Finally, we should also ask whether the <a href=\"https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-high-water-mark-of-the-jan.-6-prosecutions\">1,270 people convicted of assaulting the Capitol</a> received proper sentences and whether they should be pardoned, as <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us/who-are-jan-6-defendants-that-might-receive-clemency-donald-trump-2025-01-06/\">Trump has pledged to do</a>. Again, we must make it clear that their claims about a fraudulent election are false. But that’s a different matter from how they should be sanctioned, which we can — and should — deliberate."},{"_id":"NEOME77NX5HMVK3ZMAR3SUD5DA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738369},"type":"text","content":"Most of all, we should tell our students that they can believe whatever they wish about the 2020 election. Yet they should also know that there’s going to be a test one day, and they’ll be asked who got more votes. There’s only one right answer to that, and it’s not Donald Trump."},{"_id":"WECYPLZU6BFU3LC7QU2TYJESQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736254738370},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “</i><a href=\"https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/C/bo25956793.html\" target=\"_blank\"><i>The Case for Contention: Teaching Controversial Issues in American Schools</i></a><i>” and eight other books.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Being vigilant about the facts also means acknowledging the places where informed people disagree."},"description":{"basic":"Being vigilant about the facts also means acknowledging the places where informed people disagree."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d6086aa9b4bb55ae44932c59ca395b4da31936d8d56bf2e1aa0e640771444e12"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana/AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"January 6 Then and Now Photo Gallery","width":5739,"caption":"Supporters of then-President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/43WZVCCK24Z2EZGPIO7JIAOGDM.jpg","height":3826,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/43WZVCCK24Z2EZGPIO7JIAOGDM.jpg?auth=d6086aa9b4bb55ae44932c59ca395b4da31936d8d56bf2e1aa0e640771444e12&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-what-should-we-teach-about-jan-6/XASEIWS5RZBFDGANOHK5VGB4IU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-07T15:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jonathan Zimmerman","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"What should we teach about Jan. 6?"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-07T15:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-07T15:00:03.835Z","_id":"XASEIWS5RZBFDGANOHK5VGB4IU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"d6086aa9b4bb55ae44932c59ca395b4da31936d8d56bf2e1aa0e640771444e12"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana/AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jose Luis Magana","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"January 6 Then and Now Photo Gallery","width":5739,"caption":"Supporters of then-President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. (Jose Luis Magana/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/43WZVCCK24Z2EZGPIO7JIAOGDM.jpg","height":3826,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/43WZVCCK24Z2EZGPIO7JIAOGDM.jpg?auth=d6086aa9b4bb55ae44932c59ca395b4da31936d8d56bf2e1aa0e640771444e12&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"2E6TKWKBEFHCLNCF5HY3XOXJJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059393},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta Public Schools owes a profound debt of gratitude to the late President Jimmy Carter, whose vision and leadership left an indelible mark on our district. Through his unwavering commitment to education, transparency and equality, Carter’s influence resonates in ways that continue to shape our schools and our community."},{"_id":"GZBE2QK5FFBENJMB236XQILIRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059394},"type":"text","content":"One of Carter’s most lasting contributions is his role in preserving the history of the Atlanta Public Schools. His signing of the Georgia Open Records Act in 1972 set a precedent for transparency and accountability that has been crucial for public institutions. At the time, the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education was chaired by the iconic civil rights leader Benjamin E. Mays, who served as an adviser to Carter. Together, their commitment to preserving public records ensured that our district’s decisions, policies and stories were not lost to time. Today, Atlanta Public Schools’ archives and museum stand as a testament to their shared vision. These repositories of history offer our students and community members an unparalleled opportunity to connect with the legacy of education in Atlanta."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c"},"caption":"Erika Y. Mitchell, APS Board of Education chair","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"GFDJQK3LDFEI7CLUH4SYV2MQXM","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Erika Y. Mitchell","width":1049,"_id":"NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZC9X0zGNUcIE0aA8KJ0YnO8AEho=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/l7mCdVpOKT9iu68IXRJe00rRFBw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Erika Mitchell.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"UCTDUZTXSVA5RL6UQHBE67TZSE"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T16:26:39Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:31:55Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NPHBMYB4SFFFVPNU2REQCC4UNU.jpg?auth=e3fa51191fad526b9d725c743bb847de781cc2fe3c0237a8e76a0756d190042c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XWNRTGUCUFANVPOA6SIMGEHRGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059396},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter’s foresight extended far beyond record-keeping. As the founder of the Education Department in 1980, Carter recognized the importance of addressing systemic inequities in education. He understood that improving the quality of education required more than just financial investment — it required collaboration, innovation and a commitment to equal opportunity. This philosophy has been a guiding principle for the Atlanta Public Schools as we strive to meet the needs of our diverse student population."},{"_id":"SCRSJJGEXVDQVNE5RJ7B4PKTAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059397},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Another hallmark of Carter’s legacy is his work through the Atlanta Project, launched in 1992. The Atlanta Project directly targeted challenges faced by disadvantaged families in Atlanta, dividing the metro area into cluster communities supported by local institutions. For the Atlanta Public Schools, this meant meaningful partnerships, such as Emory University’s collaboration with the Booker T. Washington cluster. The Atlanta Project not only enhanced educational opportunities, but it also addressed broader community challenges, creating a stronger foundation for student success."},{"_id":"EBCGDYYGYVEUFIHEPCGRI7UG3A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"EFKI2WLFIVEYRP2MSOPVHEQ2UY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Carter’s affordable housing legacy rooted in Atlanta and Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/carters-affordable-housing-legacy-rooted-in-atlanta-and-georgia/SHLO3ZYDXNDD7G34PPHQPVRITM/"},{"_id":"I6C5ETB72FA5NBSPJQRXC3JFHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059398},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter’s lifelong commitment to civil rights also profoundly impacted Atlanta Public Schools. During his presidency, his collaboration with Mays ensured that issues of equity and justice remained at the forefront of his leadership. This partnership reinforced the Atlanta Public Schools’ role as a champion for educational equity, inspiring policies and programs that prioritize student success regardless of socioeconomic background."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"70c3a8021fbfcd921571722f4bd518ecd4812dd556a83d25b4284093fe9890c1"},"caption":"Former President Carter, bottom left, visited Benjamin Mays, bottom right, in 1983 to present him with an award, with former Atlanta Public Schools Archivist Cathy Loving, top right, and Mays secretary Sally Warner. (Courtesy Atlanta Public School Archives/Cathy Loving)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"APS Archives, courtesy of Cathy Loving","type":"author","byline":"APS Archives, courtesy of Cathy Loving"}]},"subtitle":"Carter and Mays","width":720,"_id":"TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/WgGZlXml0yl3kqQq2UPoxKh5AG8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"DNEjz2Md89_zbF2ACWD-","keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/WgGZlXml0yl3kqQq2UPoxKh5AG8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/WgGZlXml0yl3kqQq2UPoxKh5AG8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/zN7mHa8C-WTKNpw0pFsDTIAoZGw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Carter and Mays.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"IHGVPX7HGRF3BBDHW2BDWSZYYM"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T18:27:22Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:27:22Z","height":960,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/TN5ZSWMVPJGGFKITG2FJCPXZME.JPG?auth=70c3a8021fbfcd921571722f4bd518ecd4812dd556a83d25b4284093fe9890c1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"5SS5BYKTG5CAVHKS5RVPST622Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":49,"comment":"after"}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-06T18:54:14.803Z","start":54,"end":56,"text":"I changed \"after\" to \"in wake of \" because \"after\" made it sound like he was still contributing after his death.","user":"Sharon D. McMillar","email":"SharonD.McMillar@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736188059399},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we reflect on Carter’s enduring contributions in the wake of his death Dec. 29, one photograph stands out — a moment captured at the Mays Home with Carter, Mays and Cathy Loving, a former Atlanta Public Schools archivist. This image is more than a keepsake; it symbolizes the intersection of leadership, history and education. It reminds us of Carter’s deep connection to Atlanta and his belief in the power of education to transform lives."},{"_id":"CIDGUCLU7ZCANLTVPBXQCZPV4A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"RJWQ5MOAUVCAXN2YDAMPGZA3QQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Remembering Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/"},{"_id":"RZRWF6GUE5CIJDPXIFF4LBB6CA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059401},"type":"text","content":"Jimmy Carter’s legacy within Atlanta Public Schools is multifaceted: He preserved our history, promoted transparency, established innovative educational frameworks and facilitated community partnerships. His leadership equipped us with the tools to honor our past while building a future that ensures every child has access to quality education."},{"_id":"Q2ZSRLPBZBARZLZSJVYJJAARNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059402},"type":"text","content":"As we continue to strive for excellence, let us remember the man who taught us the importance of looking back to move forward. Carter’s influence will forever be woven into the fabric of Atlanta Public Schools — a legacy that will inspire generations to come."},{"_id":"QJSF3ZG6BBH47DJ35PE2QOJIHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736188059403},"type":"text","content":"<i>Erika Y. Mitchell is chair of the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His leadership equipped us with the tools to honor our past while building a future that ensures every child has access to quality education."},"description":{"basic":"President Carter's leadership equipped us with the tools to honor our past while building a future that ensures every child has access to quality education."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b5d917892e73d11f40faff6b4ac80073c354ab0dd7363afde54b0cd7213106d9"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Erika Collier","type":"author","byline":"Erika Collier"}]},"subtitle":"Carters APS","width":1280,"caption":"Former first lady Rosalynn Carter in an Atlanta Public Schools class in the 1970s with students and former Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education President Benjamin E. Mays. (Courtesy the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Archives)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ENJSOCDTPFFPPBHFOMPIMRLL7Q.jpeg","height":720,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ENJSOCDTPFFPPBHFOMPIMRLL7Q.jpeg?auth=b5d917892e73d11f40faff6b4ac80073c354ab0dd7363afde54b0cd7213106d9&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-president-jimmy-carters-enduring-legacy-in-atlanta-public-schools/K55VXACHIBA4NJBODBTLOUK4SU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-07T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Erika Y. Mitchell","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"President Jimmy Carter’s enduring legacy in Atlanta Public Schools "},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-07T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-07T11:00:08.21Z","_id":"K55VXACHIBA4NJBODBTLOUK4SU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b5d917892e73d11f40faff6b4ac80073c354ab0dd7363afde54b0cd7213106d9"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Erika Collier","type":"author","byline":"Erika Collier"}]},"subtitle":"Carters APS","width":1280,"caption":"Former first lady Rosalynn Carter in an Atlanta Public Schools class in the 1970s with students and former Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education President Benjamin E. Mays. (Courtesy the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education Archives)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ENJSOCDTPFFPPBHFOMPIMRLL7Q.jpeg","height":720,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ENJSOCDTPFFPPBHFOMPIMRLL7Q.jpeg?auth=b5d917892e73d11f40faff6b4ac80073c354ab0dd7363afde54b0cd7213106d9&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"TNGXZJ5NVBE3HL5HJ75Z5LBMWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149890},"type":"text","content":"I’m a self-confessed NIMBY when it comes to streetcars next to the Beltline. Living nearby, I don’t want them there. But call me schizophrenic, too, because I can get behind <a href=\"https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/04/23/five-ish-points-robot-pods-roaming-the-beltline\" target=\"_blank\">self-driving pods</a> filling that same space. Is one really better than the other? You bet."},{"_id":"GZH4JECJOJCS5FRAM3RTRILSOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149891},"type":"text","content":"Here are a few of the advantages of driverless pods over streetcars:"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"002b3a0b85c74826324dcf615f960b27631ce5cbe89467f3960496b526af8c60"},"caption":"Jay Miller","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jay Miller","width":1512,"_id":"TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/JhLBd2BSPghcwrJxpPQVyjUSjf4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/JhLBd2BSPghcwrJxpPQVyjUSjf4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/JhLBd2BSPghcwrJxpPQVyjUSjf4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/FRmg5gLMxn5Wy7ipqn09qqSZXVc=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jay Miller.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"XRRQ4SAW6FFO3P3KYAQQDFZSNQ"},"created_date":"2024-05-14T14:41:41Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-14T14:41:41Z","alignment":"right","height":2016,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/TOVPMQGAZ5HSDJJQLFA77F7D6E.jpg?auth=002b3a0b85c74826324dcf615f960b27631ce5cbe89467f3960496b526af8c60&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"OW2GRL7E7NFIHHRNATDK44BE6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149893},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>Cost efficiency</b>: They are generally cheaper to implement and maintain than streetcars. The initial investment and ongoing operational costs are lower, making them a more financially viable option."},{"_id":"6ZJH5QWJLNBPHED5RWHE7HVF54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149894},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>Scalability</b>: They can be easily scaled up or down based on demand, allowing for more efficient use of resources and better accommodation with respect to peak and off-peak hours."},{"_id":"UNAHUAPF4JD4XCUMG27ITHOA5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149895},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Moreover, if for some reason driverless pods unexpectedly prove to be no more popular than the streetcar has been, the path created for it could be converted into one for wheels of another sort, such as bicycles and scooters. With abandoned streetcars, we would be stuck with tracks and wires in place, languishing as an eyesore indefinitely."},{"_id":"KPXNS2U4ORDTLOKVCRTC33X6CE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149896},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>Noise level</b>: They are smaller and lighter than streetcars, which means they produce less noise when in operation."},{"_id":"IPBZ2JDHEZGP5MWQBK6LMKX75E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149897},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>Technological innovation</b>: Implementing self-driving pods can position Atlanta as a leader in adopting cutting-edge transportation technology, attracting investment and fostering innovation in the region."},{"_id":"YOG36I6OTBEFZJMM36Z4IRHK3E","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"B457B6VBIVE3ND3QSXF73NJXTQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Opinion: A streetcar would be bad for business and bad for the Atlanta Beltline","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-a-streetcar-would-be-bad-for-business-and-bad-for-the-beltline/NAKB2RDVBBCEFH6WBHWP23VZNU/"},{"_id":"3YZW47W5IVGQFH6WUUAIGHI2SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-08T21:53:17.476Z","start":210,"end":212,"text":"removed atlanta from between jackson and international in hyperlink","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736271149898},"type":"text","content":"If you were to distill the essential differences to a single sentence, it would read: Driverless vehicles represent the future; streetcars the past. Indeed, the future is now, right here in the Atlanta area: at <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/inside-city-hall-dickens-suggest-driverless-pods-along-the-beltline/25LBUSFGZFFAHIIYIW6DAOQTYY/\" target=\"_blank\">Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport</a>, around <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTjb4wfL2SA\" target=\"_blank\">Truist Park</a> and in downtown Atlanta itself."},{"_id":"2AHRPGUBCZCANAD2M6R74E2SXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149899},"type":"text","content":"The Atlanta airport is unveiling perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching project. Working with the autonomous car company Glydways, it will deploy driverless pods to serve the Georgia International Convention Center near the airport in a pilot program that is scheduled to start in 2026. <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/self-driving-pods-arrive-atlantas-airport-pilot-ground-transportation-program\" target=\"_blank\">Glydways told Fox 5 Atlanta</a> that the system can handle up to 10,000 people an hour, and if the pilot succeeds it could serve the entire airport and surrounding areas."},{"_id":"BKABFDCFV5HGXEKBC4MJZ5TFQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149900},"type":"text","content":"Think about it. If self-driving pods can succeed at the busiest airport in the world, they can more than pass muster at the Beltline. As Gerald McDowell, executive director of the ATL Airport Community Investment District,<a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.fox5atlanta.com/news/self-driving-pods-arrive-atlantas-airport-pilot-ground-transportation-program__;!!JZyed81S!lHvUH64njjBTFKcM5bxnC9FgCv72ClawgmLyLczp7pUIe8i455fFeVwKx4ucG42z4ckVsjO7SPBC0iUlh0ZO$\"> </a><a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/self-driving-pods-arrive-atlantas-airport-pilot-ground-transportation-program\" target=\"_blank\">put it</a>, “Personal rapid transit, as well as micro transit and autonomous shuttles, we believe is the future of public transportation.” In other words, not just at the airport."},{"_id":"MP4SUP2WZ5FMPGT63OZAPPOM5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-08T21:55:36.656Z","start":248,"end":250,"text":"added \"program\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1736271149901},"type":"text","content":"Elsewhere, the Cumberland Community Improvement District <a href=\"https://www.gpb.org/news/2023/07/26/beep-self-driving-shuttle-will-take-passengers-cobb-galleria-the-battery\">has partnered with</a> Beep, a leader in mobility solutions, to introduce a self-driving vehicle called the Hopper to serve destinations around Truist Park. It started out as an eight-month pilot program ending earlier this year, but is reported to be part of a major mobility project that is in design with construction to begin in 2027."},{"_id":"76Z4CGDE5ZDYXHGA3Q2SIHRSTA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"RZZGEQFWDZFVNDLQE64RJJC2UQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Mayor Dickens suggests driverless pods along the Beltline","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/inside-city-hall-dickens-suggest-driverless-pods-along-the-beltline/25LBUSFGZFFAHIIYIW6DAOQTYY/"},{"_id":"MXXLHO76W5CK3PMGCWLVTGP3H4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149902},"type":"text","content":"And, of course, watch out for driverless cars, a close relative of self-driving pods. They’re<a href=\"https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2024/09/13/uber-waymo-self-driving-cars-atlanta\"> on the cusp of coming to town too</a>, courtesy of Uber and others."},{"_id":"TI2IQPARZVANDFX56AIBBWPXVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149904},"type":"text","content":"Given these advancements, it seems anachronistic or even quaint to continue to lobby for streetcars. It’s sort of like trying to bring back the Ford Model-T. Actually that’s being unfair to the Model-T. It started rolling off the assembly line <a href=\"https://corporate.ford.com/articles/history/the-model-t.html\">in the early 1900s</a>, whereas the first electric streetcars made their <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streetcars_in_North_America__;!!JZyed81S!lHvUH64njjBTFKcM5bxnC9FgCv72ClawgmLyLczp7pUIe8i455fFeVwKx4ucG42z4ckVsjO7SPBC0qEbTGb-$\">debut in 1886</a>. Sure, there have been substantial improvements since then, but not in ways that keep pace with transit technology overall."},{"_id":"4N67Y72PONF5DPAIRQ6IPEZNSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149905},"type":"text","content":"The downtown streetcar has been a monumental failure. Doubling down on that failure by adding it to and alongside the Beltline would be misguided. If, as the officials of Hartsfield-Jackson and many others seem to think, driverless vehicles are the future of public transportation, that should include in the vicinity of the Beltline."},{"_id":"ZG2L6Y25NJC5VG3EYQ5BYTSYYM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"CMJPACUEANDVHFBZNDS4HRRP5E"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta Streetcar hits milestone anniversary","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-streetcar-hits-milestone-anniversary/B3V26533GBBXTIJY7CE4SDNCLE/"},{"_id":"QFXGR7PTAJCONA6ZKGJPIVK7MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149906},"type":"text","content":"Not long ago, Mayor Andre Dickens met with residents of the Inman Park neighborhood, and the topic of putting streetcars next to the Beltline came up. He made it clear that he is keeping his options open as to what sort of transit is appropriate there. One option he cited, however, as a possible alternative to streetcars was self-driving pods. That’s an option this NIMBY can get on board with."},{"_id":"4GDZW2WZQNEWFPSKFV3PTJ63EQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736271149907},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jay Miller, a semiretired lawyer who lives in Atlanta, is an active supporter of Better Atlanta Transit.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Driverless vehicles are the future of public transportation in Atlanta, including close to the Beltline."},"description":{"basic":"If self-driving pods can succeed at the busiest airport in the world, they can more than pass muster at the Beltline."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b3803154ccb1e846bb05cfaa8f2342de5453e2cb2d25430852f858e10b4aebc2"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Alternatives to Atlanta gridlock","width":1655,"caption":"A scooter rider and a jogger both enjoy the Beltline on July 22 in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FSK65R6TR7OSW73HC7QDYUV7AE.jpg","height":1103,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FSK65R6TR7OSW73HC7QDYUV7AE.jpg?auth=b3803154ccb1e846bb05cfaa8f2342de5453e2cb2d25430852f858e10b4aebc2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-one-type-of-public-transit-fits-the-beltline-its-not-a-streetcar/ASQQ55PYE5ETPBMDAUZMQ6YZBM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-07T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jay Miller","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"One type of public transit fits the Beltline. 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(Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FSK65R6TR7OSW73HC7QDYUV7AE.jpg","height":1103,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FSK65R6TR7OSW73HC7QDYUV7AE.jpg?auth=b3803154ccb1e846bb05cfaa8f2342de5453e2cb2d25430852f858e10b4aebc2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"JGZ565RQPRFPZIUCE5BBZDKOCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742250},"type":"text","content":"The future of “work from home” is a hot topic today — and one with the potential to transform our companies and our consciousness."},{"_id":"GWEFU767CNDFXDE5EMAL7TES64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":113,"comment":" (WFH)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742251},"type":"text","content":"Leaders of the incoming Trump administration and many business executives want to end work-from-home arrangements. They claim to want workers in the office for greater efficiency and effectiveness. But the evidence is against them, and there are deeper issues at play."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9ecd1df3454256187026bedf6af8f90faca627d00153736340d1c57ef6da1da2"},"caption":"Robert Rasmussen","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Robert Rasmussen","width":200,"_id":"P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/sDz-ZM78w9OZYoqBHhmyJbl-YO8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/sDz-ZM78w9OZYoqBHhmyJbl-YO8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/sDz-ZM78w9OZYoqBHhmyJbl-YO8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/0-HQZzEzsE4QogbdAqKADVFToKM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Robert Rasmussen.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"J3Z5GW4TSZEJZHVFU642HYFZYU"},"created_date":"2025-01-06T16:53:10Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T16:53:10Z","alignment":"right","height":200,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/P5CYBDPTBJGW5GXWQFQ6QYC464.jpeg?auth=9ecd1df3454256187026bedf6af8f90faca627d00153736340d1c57ef6da1da2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"photo by Andria Lo","address":{"region":"CA"},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"fd2c3754c419c3d8f414a1af0d564e710a8a01928d4b5aa3fcb6df70e7cbe0c8"},"caption":"Ed Frauenheim","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Andria Lo","type":"author","byline":"Andria Lo"}]},"subtitle":"Ed Frauenheim","width":572,"_id":"QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/E8NC4HqpGxMcZ-NG7wEd3sMYF6w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/E8NC4HqpGxMcZ-NG7wEd3sMYF6w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","takenOn":"2017-08-15T22:13:11Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/E8NC4HqpGxMcZ-NG7wEd3sMYF6w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/h-fW343r-NAfw7-8u3jjJhGqTfg=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Ed Frauenheim Headshot.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"7TEJLSPDLNEIJFJFZ4BEFVQ2UQ"},"created_date":"2024-10-15T15:35:40Z","last_updated_date":"2024-10-15T15:35:40Z","alignment":"right","height":680,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QBZ7GMBSTBHR3J5V7LH3RGN2VA.jpg?auth=fd2c3754c419c3d8f414a1af0d564e710a8a01928d4b5aa3fcb6df70e7cbe0c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"4UQIBWG6GBHLNPT6JVF4XP5ULY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742254},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fundamental beliefs about trust and human nature shape the debate. Cynicism about people and their ability to be good stewards of their freedoms often underpin the anti-WFH arguments. In fact, the conversation around WFH is a great opportunity to shift our thinking as leaders and as a society. So we would like to offer a counter perspective. Remote work policies are a prompt for us to shed mindsets of fear and scarcity in favor of a credo of faith and abundance."},{"_id":"SIH4AWN25NGXPHCHWNDNH4DZUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742255},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"WFH has worked in co-author Robert Rasmussen’s organization, software and services firm Agile Six. In fact, Agile Six was a fully remote organization even before the coronavirus pandemic. Robert and team were determined not to have offices for many reasons: environmental, social and personal. And this remote-first approach has fueled business success, primarily as a government contractor. Agile Six has grown to more than 100 employees over the past decade."},{"_id":"J6Z5MM44KVHI7GBI4L5FH3IVLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742256},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The wider data also suggests WFH works. Just look at U.S. gross domestic product over the past few years. As WFH grew, so did U.S. GDP: 6.28% in 2023, 9.11% in 2022, 10.65% in 2021. Or consider the <a href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2024/06/hybrid-work-is-a-win-win-win-for-companies-workers#:~:text=In%20the%20largest%20study%20yet,both%20employees%20and%20their%20bosses.\">conclusions of a major study on WFH</a> last year by Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom. He found employees who work from home two days a week are just as productive and likely to get promoted and far less prone to quit."},{"_id":"V2PBWXM5T5DOPC7CALCH6HRHYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":252,"comment":"spending "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742257},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Even within government agencies, the notion that remote work arrangements are out of control doesn’t square with the evidence. In 2024, the Office of Management and Budget found that federal employees who were eligible for telework were still spending <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/26/trump-return-to-office-federal-workers-resistance/\">more than 60% of their work hours on-site</a>."},{"_id":"CNRZEIVNLJHBLJX6RL3X3IZI7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742258},"type":"text","content":"When we ignore these facts, we see old ideology resurfacing: You can’t trust people. And bosses call the shots, not workers."},{"_id":"YPILEZHXUFDIBBY7D2H4BMPMDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":13,"comment":"advisors "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742259},"type":"text","content":"Two advisers of the incoming administration, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, revealed such beliefs in a November opinion piece."},{"_id":"YTQMTF27RBDOBNKUHNESV64KZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742260},"type":"text","content":"“If federal employees don’t want to show up, American taxpayers shouldn’t pay them for the Covid-era privilege of staying home,” they wrote."},{"_id":"M7GI4SD2OFCLVEIZ6DUC5ERSKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":208,"comment":"-- "}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742261},"type":"text","content":"The term “privilege” suggests employees should have minimal or no authority over how and where they work. It’s the old notion of an organizational pyramid, a pecking order, a patriarchy where the “father”— usually a male chief executive — knows best and should rule with an iron fist."},{"_id":"2YDOYCCHYRDZVNHTUJQSJ6OTZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742262},"type":"text","content":"But this was never a humane mindset, and it’s increasingly outdated. Top-down, domination-based hierarchies are ineffective in the world that is emerging."},{"_id":"XSEZWB6PYZENFJSJ5CRRJVPXO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742263},"type":"text","content":"That world is faster, flatter, fairness-focused and more fully human than it once was. Businesses that wait for top executives to make decisions don’t respond to threats fast enough and miss out on opportunities. That’s why you see <a href=\"https://greatplacetowork.com.mm/resource/covid-19-reveals-why-flat-organizations-thrive-steal-their-secrets/\">leading companies distributing power more</a>, turning pyramids into pancakes where front-line team members have greater authority, and the business becomes nimbler."},{"_id":"G5RYECEUEBEBBCQXYHOCOXM74U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742264},"type":"text","content":"This power-sharing shift corresponds to the wider reckoning underway in organizations and society overall around privilege. Women, people of color and other long-marginalized groups have been calling BS on bias and inequity. Why should executives — mostly white men — have the freedom to work wherever they please while lower-ranking employees have to trudge into the office?"},{"_id":"4QYGAICMLNE4JNKNIP5CONBDKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742265},"type":"text","content":"A silver lining of the COVID pandemic is that it enabled us to ask precisely these sorts of questions. The scary disease and stressful lockdowns prompted people to recognize the dignity and value of “essential” workers and to pay more attention to holistic well-being. It was suddenly OK to not be OK. And employees now expect their leaders to continue <a href=\"https://www.ey.com/en_us/newsroom/2023/03/new-ey-us-consulting-study\">to be empathetic</a>, more attuned to such things as family obligations and our deeper callings."},{"_id":"NASZLKLUV5DYFFS5C4XMUVFVKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742266},"type":"text","content":"This moment calls for a shift away from fearing the worst in people and believing that resources are scarce, and toward trusting in each other and seeing abundance all around us."},{"_id":"TQ72JTS32NGQPAL2WWIXVBSS64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":191,"comment":"mpany"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742267},"type":"text","content":"Such a positive mindset shift is empowering the next generation of business cultures, as described in Fredrick Laloux’s 2014 book, “<a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Organizations-Creating-Inspired-Consciousness/dp/B0D8WSWR1Y/ref=asc_df_B0D8WSWR1Y?mcid=417d86b1d1ab3e6ca08e30cd6d5b5245&hvocijid=6301828963947789186-B0D8WSWR1Y-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6301828963947789186&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9061275&hvtargid=pla-2281435181658&psc=1\">Reinventing Organizations</a>.” Laloux, a former McKinsey & Co. associate partner, developed the concept of “Teal” organizations to describe how we are evolving as a species toward a higher consciousness and corresponding way of working."},{"_id":"VZIYZOQMCFCWDPKLDBMZK66KQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742268},"type":"text","content":"Teal organizations:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"YD566PKCIVCVNDLC3FSZRMZN6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"DZA3THK6MBF4TN5FZ7NQLKRO5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Prioritize self-management, trusting people to make decisions with high levels of autonomy;"},{"_id":"UULRQWTJVFDYXB27WPLMOQ4O54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Embrace wholeness, including our need for personal development and emotional and spiritual well-being;"},{"_id":"4GH4FWJTQZCDNNXW4J6KXIRH3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Operate with “evolutionary purpose,” treating the organization as a living organism with a calling that might change over time."}]},{"_id":"CH7J4A54NRA43OEO6RRP6IV3DU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742270},"type":"text","content":"We have evolved over the past 10 years. The community of <a href=\"https://thetealteam.com/teal-landscape-landing-page\">Teal organizations is expanding</a>. And many of the people we meet have shifted toward Teal, even if they have not yet found the words to explain this shift."},{"_id":"YSIALTGDABFW5JSH7GU3FPLYIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742271},"type":"text","content":"Yet our very survival as a species depends on more of us moving to a Teal mindset. A consciousness where we see ourselves as one large human family, we rein in the damage unchecked capitalism is doing to our fragile climate and we meet everyone’s basic needs so we can pursue our highest purposes."},{"_id":"BCV7FPNO5JEDVHDXHXLY754Y7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742272},"type":"text","content":"That’s why this WFH discussion is promising. Widespread freedom to work remotely during COVID led people to realize we could better integrate work and the rest of life."},{"_id":"C3PLCJKB6NEC7JYKEO2BO7RN2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":176,"comment":"."}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742273},"type":"text","content":"Government and business leaders might be misguided when they call for shutting down WFH. But they are doing us all a favor. This is a perfect time to engage in a lively debate: about surface-level questions of efficiency and performance, yes. But also about more profound matters of believing in each other and evolving beyond a fearful, distrusting mindset to a consciousness of confidence and abundance."},{"_id":"5E23JYCR6RFTDL7WPNZ6W7SDRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742274},"type":"text","content":"In this way, the conversation about WFH can help us get to better places —- no matter where we end up working."},{"_id":"ZLDGZ4BI75HK3HMDY4C64J6TBM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":566,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736182742275},"type":"text","content":"<i>Robert Rasmussen is CEO of software and services firm Agile Six as well as author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Better-Places-Communities-Authenticity-Compassion/dp/1642259055\"><i>Better Places: Building Stronger Communities with Authenticity and Compassion</i></a><i>.” Ed Frauenheim is a consultant, speaker and co-author of four books, including “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Masculinity-Liberating-Compassion-Connection/dp/1523088966/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=reinventing+masculinity&qid=1664316275&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjM2IiwicXNhIjoiMS4xNyIsInFzcCI6IjEuNTAifQ%3D%3D&s=books&sprefix=reinventing+masc%2Cstripbooks%2C148&sr=1-1\"><i>Reinventing Masculinity: The Liberating Power of Compassion and Connection</i></a><i>.” The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely our own and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or positions of Agile Six Applications Inc. or its employees. As a company, Agile Six remains committed to maintaining a nonpartisan, collaborative approach and aligning with our core values of trust, self-management and inclusion.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Whether people should be able to work remotely gets at deeper issues of trust."},"description":{"basic":"Whether people should be able to work remotely gets at deeper issues of trust."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b4f2455e14bcc41d0de2b7a48da5c7bedeec4ceabc5b45a7ab11457dd643646d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"BIZ-WRK-REMOTE-WORKING-DMT","width":2121,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CDVQUZI6BJFID6IPUJPW4XWDOE.jpg","height":1414,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CDVQUZI6BJFID6IPUJPW4XWDOE.jpg?auth=b4f2455e14bcc41d0de2b7a48da5c7bedeec4ceabc5b45a7ab11457dd643646d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-how-the-work-from-home-debate-can-take-us-to-better-places/VLZZQC6IUND5FMD6WCKU54NHK4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-06T18:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Robert Rasmussen","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Ed Frauenheim","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"How the work-from-home debate can take us to better places"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-06T18:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-06T18:00:00.694Z","_id":"VLZZQC6IUND5FMD6WCKU54NHK4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b4f2455e14bcc41d0de2b7a48da5c7bedeec4ceabc5b45a7ab11457dd643646d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"BIZ-WRK-REMOTE-WORKING-DMT","width":2121,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CDVQUZI6BJFID6IPUJPW4XWDOE.jpg","height":1414,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CDVQUZI6BJFID6IPUJPW4XWDOE.jpg?auth=b4f2455e14bcc41d0de2b7a48da5c7bedeec4ceabc5b45a7ab11457dd643646d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"3ZCCTT4NHZCYPG246TSTWS63Y4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904860},"type":"text","content":"I witnessed history many times while covering Jimmy Carter’s post-presidential good works for 10 years, from 1989 to 1999, as a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution."},{"_id":"XMXOON5GAZDZ7LAB4CYLZGUB3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":190,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904861},"type":"text","content":"I traveled the world in his shadow, sometimes rushing to the airport on a couple hours’ notice, notebook and camera in hand. I reported on his tireless efforts to end wars in Sudan, Ethiopia and Bosnia, and to prevent potential wars in Haiti and Korea."},{"_id":"TE5X7DMFX5FEVBCGODAWYTDAWY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904862},"type":"text","content":"I watched him <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/5-things-to-know-about-jimmy-carter-and-his-role-with-habitat-for-humanity/HSIURCIW7VATBMRX22767PEZ3A/\" target=\"_blank\">build Habitat for Humanity houses</a> on barren, desolate fields in Mexico that had no water or electricity. It was similar in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, where he helped build Habitat houses on Indian land."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"930a9eaf9a0fd9c1dbb958982be1ad1f9a10a9d0392fdfe739e6d0a8b89cb537"},"caption":"Since 1984, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter and thousands of volunteers have helped build or repair more than 3,800 homes.","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"30b8caa9-8b39-4d7d-be65-5da1642fec1f","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2013-10-05T00:07:28Z","credits":{},"subtitle":"Carters Habitat 100413","width":2145,"first_publish_date":"2013-10-05T00:07:28Z","_id":"QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/cMBeAZRxBwJWhyg2JU-0QeluDQs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/cMBeAZRxBwJWhyg2JU-0QeluDQs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","takenOn":"2013-10-05T00:07:28Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/cMBeAZRxBwJWhyg2JU-0QeluDQs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Mr1G-4dDHaWJO8pnXVXCXxnhFdI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p4/AJC/2013/10/05/Images/photos.medleyphoto.3961610.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"KLRCOU57RRETBABZLJP6RYD6CQ"},"created_date":"2020-06-16T06:43:44Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-16T06:43:44Z","publish_date":"2013-10-05T00:16:17Z","height":1050,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QAILWYKF6GC56OITFEZM6RCU5Y.jpg?auth=930a9eaf9a0fd9c1dbb958982be1ad1f9a10a9d0392fdfe739e6d0a8b89cb537&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ND6GPLZFI5CBXEWTIAB772QXKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904863},"type":"text","content":"I watched him monitor elections in Nicaragua, where he persuaded Daniel Ortega in the middle of the night to do the right thing and concede defeat."},{"_id":"FSYFAISDOZHEZKTWI52LC7HNZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904864},"type":"text","content":"“I told him that I understood how he felt,” Carter told me, recalling his own humbling defeat in 1980."},{"_id":"3IFH5MLKMZE3FCSKRDC4XNU5XI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"Z6JB77QSERAYPDHUCZF23DDMDY"},"type":"raw_html","content":"<CustomInfoBox id=\"IIGGF4IJPZBNTD2PADC7F44XVQ\" />"},{"_id":"LGREKCT2RRCJDMMNROG5YFIRBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":68,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904865},"type":"text","content":"In every case, Carter was a <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/carter-center-came-to-former-president-in-a-dream/R2VZSMPXMNFZZDQADUS43EZS3I/\" target=\"_blank\">relentless advocate for democracy, peace and human rights</a>. Stubborn, tenacious, at times impatient. His work took him to godforsaken lands whose people were victims of intractable wars. Sometimes a cease-fire would be brief, and critics would wonder whether it had been worth the price."},{"_id":"6WZOPSRZMNGDRAANROCGNACGCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904866},"type":"text","content":"There was no shortage of people who belittled Carter’s efforts. In the time I covered him, I took notes as critics took potshots. He’s meddling, they said. He’s irresponsible."},{"_id":"FGSFLTXTG5GINMDVYXX23PGPDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904867},"type":"text","content":"He was trying to reinvent himself and make us forget his failed presidency. Some branded him a traitor, citing his letter to world leaders asking them not to support the U.S. coalition on the eve of the Gulf War."},{"_id":"ROVXOJP47NAYVEWEK2KJ2AWBDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904868},"type":"text","content":"He didn’t care what they said. He was willing to risk his own reputation and, more important, risk failing. In his mind, the real failure would be if he didn’t even try to find a peaceful resolution to conflict."},{"_id":"HFN547IZYZDOHCOXYMX66QXJGQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"L3ZINQPXTVDNXI47OVGOAVYK3M"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta mourners pass through Jimmy Carter’s life to visit him in repose","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/atlanta-mourners-pass-through-jimmy-carters-life-to-visit-him-in-repose/SUQ7BTK53RGR5JSFJHSL55I6EU/"},{"_id":"E6A75NKBLVEYPHBDLQTMFOFHWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":191,"comment":"U"},{"pos":202,"comment":"D"},{"pos":216,"comment":"P"}],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904869},"type":"text","content":"Carter had close ties to Emory University, where he headlined annual Jimmy Carter town hall meetings, which I remember covering. He often went to campus, lecturing to students in his role as university distinguished professor."},{"_id":"VZSRZ5JDJZB3LKZ4X72RWBW7MU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904870},"type":"text","content":"It wasn’t always a lovefest; during the 1991 Gulf War, a student accused Carter of “appeasement and capitulation” because Carter had urged negotiations to avoid war with Saddam Hussein. I took notes."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"ec9bcd9ad8ba807490436d735c90c799fe7393f9251d4e3ac6221d45fe896f50"},"caption":"Carter meeting with former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat as an elections observer in 1996. Since leaving office Carter has traveled the globe to conduct peace negotiations, observe elections, and aid in disease prevention. In 1979, he negotiated a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"4c47dd96-95cc-4bec-b413-41f668a5b8d2","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"AP","type":"author","byline":"AP","slug":"ap"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter","width":500,"first_publish_date":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","_id":"YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/tCHtwyHC8U27lIwhVVzRpNiR2SU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/tCHtwyHC8U27lIwhVVzRpNiR2SU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","takenOn":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/tCHtwyHC8U27lIwhVVzRpNiR2SU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vNfeiHPNSklA0DnyX-dQc0C_hf4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p8/AJC/2008/08/13/Images/photos.medleyphoto.2320051.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[{"headlines":{"basic":"Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter"},"_id":"WM7H4HQIQCQUFHMYBOW3DDVKNQ"}],"_id":"URE5P7ZOJNFUVGBJM2ODM2XUHQ"},"created_date":"2020-06-25T14:09:24Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-25T14:09:24Z","publish_date":"2012-08-12T16:59:07Z","height":335,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YO4XM6JGRCBVCZ2JKMD3Z7ZAKY.jpg?auth=ec9bcd9ad8ba807490436d735c90c799fe7393f9251d4e3ac6221d45fe896f50&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"UDBR7HBXAZCMFL74R5QQLD4MNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904871},"type":"text","content":"Sometimes, he even made news at these gatherings, letting slip who he had just talked to, usually a dictator or some other unsavory character who couldn’t get through to the White House or State Department: people like Fidel Castro of Cuba, Mohammed Farah Aideed of Somalia, Manuel Noriega of Panama, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Hafez Assad of Syria, Kim Il Sung of North Korea, Mengistu of Ethiopia."},{"_id":"EJ4QFUVNHRCRRHFRIXF6UINNFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904872},"type":"text","content":"Those stories often made the front page — not so with Carter’s efforts to increase crop yields in Africa, or to rid the world of horrible diseases like Guinea worm and river blindness. Despite the lack of international headlines, he approached those good works with the same resolve."},{"_id":"L2DXXK6MFJGTTAH3GMJPC5TNXE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OR5YAI2725HZHHCBS3RLXK54UU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Remembering Jimmy Carter: Former AJC reporter Moni Basu","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/remembering-jimmy-carter-former-ajc-reporter-monimala-basu/LVOYP75FI5EQJFLEYD2DTIWWFU/"},{"_id":"7F33RGUURFD4ZDDDJUJKB5EL3M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904873},"type":"text","content":"My stories helped document the work that helped him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, long after I had left the AJC. He was honored for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.”"},{"_id":"TN2TQH6HSFBOZF42YBYFAGKM3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904874},"type":"text","content":"That is what I witnessed when I followed him around the world. Rest in peace, Mr. President. Your legacy is safe."},{"_id":"XKQ5PRRPQRGY7GLZRZK3BD6RRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1678227904875},"type":"text","content":"<i>Elizabeth Kurylo is a former Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter who covered Jimmy Carter’s post-presidency.</i>"},{"_id":"UUAR5GIGW5D25NP4MZCWZHSKOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736191009430},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Elizabeth Kurylo reflects on her time covering Jimmy Carter in the 1990s as a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/news/georgia-news","parent":{"default":"/news"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/news","name":"Georgia News","description":"This page does not 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(CURTIS COMPTON/staff)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WBWNSQFKQVGHNGZZTILA5H3OFQ.jpg","height":1236,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WBWNSQFKQVGHNGZZTILA5H3OFQ.jpg?auth=b2f9b4b27fde7cf4fa0a307514f08225c2d401fd3407212d3cea57c8bdf602d7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"A42RAWT25VBDTDZ6KLOLON4VO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735652205110},"type":"text","content":"History, I am certain, will be kind to Jimmy Carter, perhaps the most misunderstood president in the last century. He worked hard to fulfill his mission to better humanity. But that long list does not fully tell the story of a man I came to respect and revere, a man who was our nation’s conscience."},{"_id":"75BFZUT3CJB4DPOUDTUA2MFAKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206904},"type":"text","content":"I think back to 2002, when I first met Carter. I was a reporter at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution whose job was to write about global organizations that were based here. The Carter Center, then celebrating its 20th anniversary, was among the most well-known. I drove down to Plains for an interview. I was nervous, obviously. Intimidated. I had never spoken with a president before. I did not know what to expect as we passed through Secret Service checkpoints."},{"_id":"K7HJAXTMHRBFDG45GTYEDYRA3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206905},"type":"text","content":"Beyond lay a ranch-style house, modest in comparison with the mansions that line Church Street in Plains. The former president was waiting outside for us."},{"_id":"4HFCUGOW3NGGLFWNDUAJJGD22I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206906},"type":"text","content":"“Hello. So nice to meet you,” he said, extending his arm for a handshake."},{"_id":"DQU77GHLPBDXDK3AUGLQILISZE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"QQK6VZ5STVCMLBI6QULUQTVHZA"},"type":"raw_html","content":"<CustomInfoBox id=\"IIGGF4IJPZBNTD2PADC7F44XVQ\" />"},{"_id":"W3GTE5YDBFHXNOGTLXT6F246LY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435567},"type":"text","content":"He was wearing what had become his uniform when he was not at suit-required events: a plaid shirt, gray pants, cowboy boots and a silver “JC” belt buckle."},{"_id":"OEG3MRATGFE3FI6G6TLXCYGG2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435568},"type":"text","content":"“Come on in. I’ll get Rosalynn,” he said, flashing his toothy signature smile."},{"_id":"HRHHQG62PFDXDFEPMQPBCKHCIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-06T19:51:35.016Z","start":149,"end":150,"text":"from\"...baby blue carpeting harkened (AP stye hearkened) a bygone era' changed to \"... baby blue carpeting hearkening to a bygone era.\"","user":"Sharon D. McMillar","email":"SharonD.McMillar@ajc.com"}],"_id":1735657206909},"type":"text","content":"We stepped inside onto the parqueted-floor entrance and sat on a couch in the small and sparse living room. The plush, baby blue carpeting hearkening to a bygone era. The Carters had lived in that house since 1961. And even after four years in the White House, when so many might have been tempted to scale up, they returned home, to this most unpresidential of abodes."},{"_id":"IJ4R3CHUXNDHJFNJXOH6JGFQDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206910},"type":"text","content":"Mrs. Carter poured sweet tea and served us herself as we began our hourlong interview."},{"_id":"UWUC5QCWYVCJXBKXX4ABTMMXG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206911},"type":"text","content":"“Which has meant more to you — your work as president or your work at the Carter Center?” I asked him."},{"_id":"PQENKWQ7WJCOPMWPLQT5I6R7PQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435572},"type":"text","content":"He replied both were meaningful in their own ways."},{"_id":"APDNQCBWHBBE7G6CRCADZOF2UQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435573},"type":"text","content":"“Except I don’t agree,” Mrs. Carter chimed in. “I think the country would have been better off had he had another term as president.”"},{"_id":"QYCCDBMB4BAUJK3ZLNBTGP5JJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435574},"type":"text","content":"I realized then what a sweet relationship the two had. They had been married since 1946."},{"_id":"PKZ5MKDPFJEQDACTW7YVSPNUXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206915},"type":"text","content":"A few months after that first meeting in Plains, I traveled to Cuba to report on Carter’s historic visit. No American president had gone to the island nation since the Cuban revolution. Nor has any president visited since then."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"c46a617ca2c0be340a2205b5ae3f131f3e697ebd764ec4595b70e5a836701c99"},"caption":"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter enjoyed a warm welcome from Cuban citizens during a walking tour of historic Old Havana.\rIn May 2002, President Carter, joined by his wife, Rosalynn, became the first former or sitting U.S. president to travel to Cuba since the 1959 Cuban revolution. In an unprecedented live speech broadcast on Cuban television, President Carter called on the United States to end an \"ineffective 43-year-old economic embargo\" and on President Castro to hold free elections, improve human rights, and allow greater civil liberties. 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Cubans lined the streets and peered out of windows to catch a glimpse of the gringo president. He visited schools, medical clinics and the country’s top biotechnology lab. He spoke fluently in Spanish in an unprecedented speech at the University of Havana that was broadcast live on Cuban television and radio. Carter, who had by then gained a reputation as a global champion of human rights, did not hold back in this indelible moment. He urged Castro, who sat in the front row, to recognize the civil liberties of the Cuban people."},{"_id":"FY2DYAKN3NFGBDFPDRFC2XW674","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206917},"type":"text","content":"“Your constitution recognizes freedom of speech and association,” Carter said, “but other laws deny these freedoms to those who disagree with the government.”"},{"_id":"ISQYDEZH5VEVVB6V5P7WVVOCC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435578},"type":"text","content":"He took the air out of the room. Few could have imagined a U.S. president castigating Fidel Castro on his home turf. It was an indelible moment."},{"_id":"KQRXIDRLZJH2LNXS6TGL5V5GXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435579},"type":"text","content":"Castro shook hands with Carter after the speech and made light of the moment by telling him to shed his suit and get into something more comfortable. The two then motored to a nearby stadium for a Cuban all-star baseball game, where Carter, wearing a Cuba baseball cap, tossed out the ceremonial first pitch."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"e7ba8fe884bd02e90ef8814166391359e2f1bd3df092d3705c1c98f5c638bf37"},"caption":"Former Jimmy Carter waves goodbye as he walks with Castro at Jose Marti Airport after a week-long visit to Cuba in 2002.","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"2e520fba-13e5-4a44-bb47-55be5636972d","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2008-02-19T15:16:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"David Tulis / AJC","type":"author","byline":"David Tulis / AJC","slug":"david-tulis-ajc"}]},"subtitle":"Castro resigns as Cuban president","width":500,"first_publish_date":"2008-02-19T15:16:00Z","_id":"LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/CoCuSMFNTgdmMwtpchuepsQGH1M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/CoCuSMFNTgdmMwtpchuepsQGH1M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","takenOn":"2008-02-19T15:16:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/CoCuSMFNTgdmMwtpchuepsQGH1M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/6PcXayAmK81eovo97QoZHx1RUaE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p8/AJC/2008/02/19/Images/photos.medleyphoto.2241768.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[{"headlines":{"basic":"Castro resigns as Cuban president"},"_id":"SF74T3327PTOP6NO7Z23E662SM"}],"_id":"2C6YO2HPDBARFFQWG4V6YHKF5Y"},"created_date":"2020-06-25T10:57:41Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-25T10:57:41Z","publish_date":"2012-08-11T21:26:34Z","height":328,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LGKODCYE5MHRRJAGP6VL2FOD5U.jpg?auth=e7ba8fe884bd02e90ef8814166391359e2f1bd3df092d3705c1c98f5c638bf37&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"453XWVY33VAKDO3F4TZZHJUALI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435580},"type":"text","content":"What I remember most about that Cuba trip is watching Carter, the former president, morph back into the simple Baptist man from South Georgia. At a church in Havana’s Marinao neighborhood, a choir sang “We Shall Overcome” and Carter put policies and politics aside. The Sunday school teacher from Plains brought a simple message about love and compassion."},{"_id":"BSOCW4MVTVB5JEH5JSITPAZOFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435581},"type":"text","content":"“The most important thing in my life is my faith in Jesus Christ,” Carter said."},{"_id":"5RXDWJWN7JHFVIMNAYN5QDUPRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435582},"type":"text","content":"He told them he taught lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church and that he learned Spanish by reading a page from the Bible in that language for the last two decades."},{"_id":"GT2WFOYZPBCKDHE7MVBWT2CTIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206923},"type":"text","content":"Later that year, in October, the phone rang at the Carter residence in Plains at 4:02 a.m., early even for the Carters. They thought something might have happened to one of their children. Or that it was a prank call. But it was the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Carter had finally won the coveted prize that had eluded him for years."},{"_id":"TT2KQ7X435BVNBB4W4Z6MH3UK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206924},"type":"text","content":"I asked him that day about the Nobel citation. He was humble. He surmised he had won in 2002 because that year marked the 20th anniversary of the Carter Center."},{"_id":"IAUNHILXSFAB5LPAUK77OAERBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435585},"type":"text","content":"“I was very grateful that they put their primary focus on the work of the Carter Center in the last 20 years, our work for peace and human rights and the alleviation of suffering,” he said. “And they mentioned in passing ... that I had helped negotiate the Camp David agreement between the Egyptians and Israelis.”"},{"_id":"TOO6SRHG2VCX5JW5LECBQKLRDE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MII2H566F5CEJGJUM4LUTXHHZE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta mourners pass through Jimmy Carter’s life to visit him in repose","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/atlanta-mourners-pass-through-jimmy-carters-life-to-visit-him-in-repose/SUQ7BTK53RGR5JSFJHSL55I6EU/"},{"_id":"TQMLH2WVZZB75OJWQVTPJNREHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206926},"type":"text","content":"In December, I flew to Oslo to watch Carter receive his prize. The war in Afghanistan was raging and a U.S.-led invasion of Iraq seemed imminent. In his acceptance speech, Carter implored world leaders to meet global challenges with “an emphasis on peace.”"},{"_id":"ZASZJ7I3KBBGDF54XA7TAXASIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206927},"type":"text","content":"The Nobel ceremonies were grand but even at the height of elegance, Carter’s humble roots shone bright. The Nobel dinner featured peanuts as the centerpiece of every table. A musical extravaganza featured divas Angelique Kidjo and Jessye Norman and, of course, country singer Willie Nelson, one of Carter’s favorite musicians."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"ca164622d156ed6ded7d9c08e44ef2bbf741ba7ed4ecdcc71892d83cafefa010"},"caption":"Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, in 2002 for his diplomacy work through The Carter Center.","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"a0bff73b-31b0-42b4-b4d4-bf1f61e824aa","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"17ed3688-7626-4f35-a455-5436a94a8512"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"CARTER CENTER","type":"author","byline":"CARTER CENTER","slug":"carter-center"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter","width":500,"first_publish_date":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","_id":"LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/qEhfGXIKaBmcpoupjU8_mtjj2YM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/qEhfGXIKaBmcpoupjU8_mtjj2YM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","takenOn":"2008-08-13T00:34:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/qEhfGXIKaBmcpoupjU8_mtjj2YM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/XeKMOKnti5G6lg3z_e6mPAqc9do=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p8/AJC/2008/08/13/Images/photos.medleyphoto.2320052.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[{"headlines":{"basic":"Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter"},"_id":"WM7H4HQIQCQUFHMYBOW3DDVKNQ"}],"_id":"LNANSNVATRBZBB5U5G2A7Q2CDU"},"created_date":"2020-06-25T14:09:25Z","last_updated_date":"2020-07-02T06:53:35Z","publish_date":"2012-08-12T16:59:07Z","height":332,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LNLZ6POZQE56S5XORGLLDGPB5A.jpg?auth=ca164622d156ed6ded7d9c08e44ef2bbf741ba7ed4ecdcc71892d83cafefa010&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"WQH4O3CLZ5CLZCC4HCD537Q3HA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206928},"type":"text","content":"Nelson serenaded Carter with “Georgia on My Mind” and Carter, still on stage, sang along. Afterward, he and Nelson embraced."},{"_id":"RTXW62BPJFAKRNO2K25JI2IWAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435589},"type":"text","content":"“When I hear Willie Nelson, my heart pounds,” Carter said."},{"_id":"JCRT36NONVEQ5P4NFRX5GIBFJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206930},"type":"text","content":"The celebrations in Oslo had barely ended when Carter prepared to leave for Jamaica, where he was to lead an international team of election observers."},{"_id":"NWKCQZUCQJAVZG32PS72N2X55I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206931},"type":"text","content":"I stopped covering Carter on a regular basis when Iraq became my primary focus. But time to time, I would call for an interview on various matters. The last was on the eve of the 2009 presidential inauguration. Carter had made history as the first Georgian to ascend to the presidency and the first president to walk from his inaugural ceremony at the Capitol to the White House. I asked Carter to reflect as another man, Barack Obama, was also about to make history by becoming America’s first Black president."},{"_id":"PKI6I2EXXJB7PE76XX6J5VLTKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206932},"type":"text","content":"“I knew I wanted to reassure the American people that I was one of them, which I was,” he said about his inauguration walk. “I was just a peanut farmer before I started debating President (Gerald) Ford.”"},{"_id":"6GCVLVUB6NEMPHPEOURYRU4FUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435593},"type":"text","content":"As always, Carter’s answers were thoughtful and refreshingly blunt. He was never one to use political jargon. He spoke as the honest man that he was; each sentence carrying the weight of his experiences. I thought of him more as a philosopher and theologian rather than a politician."},{"_id":"Q76KTUUMYFBAFE5AJ2OP332JQU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"S3DYK7PLD5GVBPNBN6NRAQ3WPU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"","url":""},{"_id":"I6GJLZE2GNGRNIO5UOKRBTFIOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435594},"type":"text","content":"I once had had a chance to speak with some of Carter’s family members: his sons, grandson and his Aunt Sissy, the sister of his mother, Miss Lillian. Those conversations painted a portrait of man who had led a life shaped by sheer determination and a will to do good."},{"_id":"DIWNQG54BRETVMANY7X262QMDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435595},"type":"text","content":"He grew up in a strict family and was spanked for stealing a penny out of the collection plate at church. Carter would go on to raise his own boys with love but the same stern discipline."},{"_id":"Y6P6ZIRZ2VHZLNE5V2NE67X2BM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435596},"type":"text","content":"As a young boy in Plains, Carter listened intently to beloved school Principal Julia Coleman; she was a big influence on his life. Apparently, she had him reading Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” when he was 12."},{"_id":"FLR5IJJFIFHTXMOLZYRFKNSBZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435597},"type":"text","content":"Carter mentioned Coleman both at his inauguration and in his Nobel speech. She had once given him an admonition that he kept close to his heart in the White House and in the years since. “We must adjust to changing times,” she had told him, “but still hold to unchanging principles.”"},{"_id":"AUJ6GORX5BCKRF4OYZR2CAHAWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435598},"type":"text","content":"Carter was also inspired by Aunt Sissy’s husband, his uncle Tom Gordy, who was stationed in Guam during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and spent the rest of World War II as a prisoner of war. Before his capture, Gordy had sent his young nephew postcards from his Pacific tour. One was of a Chinese junk. The image of the flat-bottomed lugsail ship launched a thousand dreams for the young and impressionable Jimmy and, at 18, he landed in Annapolis. He had the Navy in his head even before he had finished high school."},{"_id":"4FCWIKVHE5EGTOWOM25Y5DHMPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206939},"type":"text","content":"These are the stories I heard over the years that helped me better understand Carter."},{"_id":"M3FMLX3JEJDFNLLNS6NIBNQ45A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":161,"comment":"press"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206940},"type":"text","content":"I remember the kind gestures, starting with the hospitality in Plains to our last day in Cuba. He had made it a point to call on me from the podium at his final news conference when my voice got drowned by media big guns like CNN and The New York Times. In 2015, I happened to be on a flight with him from Atlanta to Paris. He made sure to say hello."},{"_id":"X5NR5CR4VRDHBM2MG6ABYRQYVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":297,"comment":"disease "}],"comments":[{"date":"2025-01-06T19:35:38.836Z","start":315,"end":317,"text":"The sentence said\nHe had so wanted to live to see the day that the Guinea Worm, a devastating and neglected disease, would be eradicated. I changed sentence slightly to add disease because Guinea worms (alone) are parasites, which infect so you get what's called Guinea worm disease.","user":"Sharon D. McMillar","email":"SharonD.McMillar@ajc.com"}],"_id":1735657206941},"type":"text","content":"I watched him, along with Rosalynn, monitor elections and build houses for the poor with Habitat for Humanity both here at home and in faraway nations. I watched him travel to nations rife with disease. He had so wanted to live to see the day that Guinea worm disease, a devastating and neglected infection, would be eradicated. He came so close. After years of the Carter Center’s work to vanquish Guinea worm disease, only seven human cases were reported in 2024."},{"_id":"MJIHGZXGANGOLCDEBIEYFCO7U4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206942},"type":"text","content":"Even after surgery for a brain tumor, Carter left no doubt about his dedication or stamina. The last time I visited Plains was in August 2015, just three days after Carter had received radiation treatment. He was already back teaching Sunday school classes at his beloved Maranatha Baptist Church. The small sanctuary was overflowing that day, well beyond its 460-person capacity."},{"_id":"2NDBRAXX6ZCP5HMRVCTE5HU6HY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435603},"type":"text","content":"He was 90 then and seemed unstoppable, though I knew that he had long been keenly aware of his own mortality. When I heard the news that Carter had chosen to go into hospice care in February 2023, I opened again his 1995 book of poems, “Always a Reckoning.” In one, “A Committee of Scholars Describe the Future Without Me,” Carter wrote:"},{"_id":"EOOYU7JNVJCZPFFJVVUX6OTEQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435604},"type":"text","content":"<i>Some shy professors, forced to write</i>"},{"_id":"WRPH54NH55ACJFXPYDWNLNN5CY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435605},"type":"text","content":"<i>about a time that’s bound to come</i>"},{"_id":"HJZUN3VABRHG7MLSAKI7Y6BE2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435606},"type":"text","content":"<i>when my earthly life is done</i>"},{"_id":"SPPFFI7EYVEFNC6DJUSX5E3JAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435607},"type":"text","content":"<i>described my ultimate demise . . .</i>"},{"_id":"X5C4BSFN6VDLDCLD2LZIESHG3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435608},"type":"text","content":"<i>stating the lamented fact</i>"},{"_id":"5UISEGVLU5APZJNGAPWBXL3XZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435609},"type":"text","content":"<i>in the best and gentlest terms</i>"},{"_id":"NOF4WLZGPVCWLCNPY2ETQDT4NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435610},"type":"text","content":"<i>that I, now dead, have recently</i>"},{"_id":"DFGCLB2C7BDOXCEWQNNR673CQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435611},"type":"text","content":"<i>reduced my level of participation.</i>"},{"_id":"QGB33L4JH5BMXPFHPGIFVMEFOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435612},"type":"text","content":"Carter described this poem as humor. The last line, he said in a C-SPAN interview, stemmed from a euphemism used by Emory University scholars who were looking into the school’s relationship with the Carter Center after Carter’s death."},{"_id":"FAS4XJ5L3BBIND3TAHVBTMAI3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1677876435613},"type":"text","content":"“They couldn’t bring themselves to use any sort of frank language about my being dead,” Carter said. “Instead of saying, ‘when he’s dead,’ they said, ‘when his level of participation is reduced.’ So just to kid them, I wrote the first version of this poem and just sent it to them as a funny thing. Then I decided, well, it’s an interesting concept. I’ll just make a poem out of it.”"},{"_id":"TCS2S5RMKBE3XPK5XMKYHPX5AQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206954},"type":"text","content":"On the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 29, my phone lit up with the sad news about Carter’s reduced level of participation. He had died peacefully at home in Plains."},{"_id":"CI44MEAPXNAPJFSFSQWSKNBPPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206955},"type":"text","content":"In the days ahead, the headlines are sure to be dominated by Carter’s legacy. I’ve heard historians, biographers, colleagues and friends speak of the man they knew and loved. About Carter’s successes in the White House that were perhaps downplayed or overlooked altogether over the years by the problems that dogged him. About how Carter promised Americans he would never lie to them and got bad press for his eat-your-peas attitude. And about how Carter blazed a brave new trail as a former president; even his greatest foes express respect and admiration for the Carter Center’s efforts to relieve human suffering."},{"_id":"77GA63YZBBBCXBFWDGV3DPLCN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206956},"type":"text","content":"Carter was a true champion of human rights. A man of integrity. That’s a rare quality in politicians these days, I fear."},{"_id":"SHSTT367FBDI7P4IHM6Q72URSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206957},"type":"text","content":"Thank you, James Earl Carter Jr., for all that you gave to this world. It is a better place because you were in it. Even if it was only for 100 years."},{"_id":"J3TDUTUQZVEFHDXJFCVGIQAOEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735657206958},"type":"text","content":"— <i>Moni Basu is the director of the MFA in Narrative Nonfiction at the University of Georgia’s </i><a href=\"https://grady.uga.edu/faculty/basu/\"><i>Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication</i></a><i>.</i>"},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"2021 Atlanta Journal-Constitution","address":{},"auth":{"1":"01e7aede005551a6683b587e27370914316901ba8298d866cf201c8263fec0b1"},"caption":"Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary with a private reception for more than 300 invited guests at Plains High School in Plains on Saturday, July 10, 2021. 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(CURTIS COMPTON/staff)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WBWNSQFKQVGHNGZZTILA5H3OFQ.jpg","height":1236,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WBWNSQFKQVGHNGZZTILA5H3OFQ.jpg?auth=b2f9b4b27fde7cf4fa0a307514f08225c2d401fd3407212d3cea57c8bdf602d7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"IXFAPZQ2YJF6BDNWQCHYXJS3KE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811521},"type":"text","content":"More than 44,000 Americans died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022, including more than 8,000 pedestrians. Another 140,000 pedestrians went to the emergency room after being hit by a car."},{"_id":"CS7BIIB5VNGTPG5XJQOIEVFTKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811522},"type":"text","content":"The number of people injured and killed by automobiles has been increasing for several years, exacerbated by cellphone use, the coronavirus pandemic and an increase in street racing."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"69db495261f31ec4256d3f619dfc03a51065126b22afee5c93f6f770c2229a43"},"caption":"George Dusenbury, Georgia State DIrector, Public Land","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"George Dusenbury","width":300,"_id":"MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/4B9bMy2Y5u1Og1gfqJKKkP4GOd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/4B9bMy2Y5u1Og1gfqJKKkP4GOd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/4B9bMy2Y5u1Og1gfqJKKkP4GOd0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vl_IrEBJm29rY-jR_K-S1GC6fNA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"George-Dusenbury.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"QTVABLHXIVEYHCRGS7NUYXYPOE"},"created_date":"2024-06-25T22:06:35Z","last_updated_date":"2024-06-25T22:06:35Z","alignment":"right","height":360,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MQW7A63RV5AMFKAIH6MY2RWZFA.jpg?auth=69db495261f31ec4256d3f619dfc03a51065126b22afee5c93f6f770c2229a43&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EIASWXQQIVCFPAKPDHRGQNU5AU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":89,"comment":"uptick "},{"pos":209,"comment":"s"}],"comments":[],"_id":1736012549359},"type":"text","content":"The Atlanta area, including Decatur, where I am a city commissioner, has not avoided the increase in automobile-related deaths and injuries experienced across the nation. In Decatur, we have had two pedestrian fatalities and 12 experience incapacitating injuries in the past five years. Two school crossing guards were hit while trying to help children cross the street."},{"_id":"FYE3J5ET5VE5VNGDMF7C7EB5D4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811525},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The overwhelming cause of these deaths and injuries is drivers not obeying the law. Speeding. Running red lights and stop signs. Driving distracted. Driving under the influence. All are illegal not just in Decatur, but across Georgia, too."},{"_id":"GZ4DZ7ZNSRDCBADYQN6AOLWAVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811526},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Elected officials, including me, have a responsibility not just to pass laws but also to ensure that they are enforced. We have a responsibility to hold people accountable for illegal actions that endanger our residents."},{"_id":"3IDSK326S5FN5OOQ3GD6GDCNDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811527},"type":"text","content":"That is why it was disheartening to read the Gridlock Guy’s Dec. 22 column, in which he complained about local jurisdictions enforcing traffic laws. He singled out Decatur, implying that our motivation for enforcing the law is revenue, not protecting our residents."},{"_id":"XTURNCRUE5FEFJDMA6QIGXRKHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811528},"type":"text","content":"The impetus for <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/gridlock-guy-with-more-automated-policing-shape-up-and-level-up-or-pay-up/6U5KIE2SPJHEDIDKLN2E52PXFA/\" target=\"_blank\">Doug Turnbull’s column</a> appeared to be that he got a ticket for running a red light in Kennesaw, where he “was dead to rights on the camera.” Turnbull noted that “if I had known (the camera) was there, I would not have tried to squeeze through the light.” Instead of taking responsibility for his own decision to speed up and try to get through the light, he seemed to find fault in Kennesaw for failing to give him adequate warning that it would enforce the law."},{"_id":"ACWC66G2RRGHLAZB6EKAASNPMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":180,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811529},"type":"text","content":"Turnbull’s underlying argument was that drivers are more likely to obey the law if they know that they will be caught and held responsible for their actions — that telling drivers they are on camera will increase compliance and improve safety."},{"_id":"3M5ZQKYLJ5FI3HANLT25HMOEMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811530},"type":"text","content":"Though this might be true, so is the converse. When drivers believe that they are not on camera and unlikely to be held accountable for their actions, they are more apt to break the law and endanger their fellow residents."},{"_id":"7YR5GNLQ65HFXNBWAEWKJWSA6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811531},"type":"text","content":"Twenty-five thousand people call Decatur home, and we have a responsibility to those residents. There are rules when you are in our home. Stop at the red light. Go no faster than the speed limit. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. These rules are not unique to Decatur."},{"_id":"QGXG6NIGSVFJ5KO6KPX4IGJ5N4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811532},"type":"text","content":"Decatur wants drivers to know there are consequences for breaking the law in our city. We cannot station police officers at every intersection. Instead, we and other jurisdictions have <a href=\"https://decaturish.com/2023/02/decatur-city-commission-approves-traffic-cameras-in-school-zones/\" target=\"_blank\">placed cameras at key areas</a>, especially <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/speed-cameras-city-decatur-school-zones-set-go-online-next-month\" target=\"_blank\">school zones</a>, where data show lawbreaking and dangerous driving is occurring, because we want drivers to follow the law and keep our children, crossing guards and residents safe — because drivers breaking the law have killed and injured too many people already."},{"_id":"GNQUINMGPJFJHAOPXDEJT75U2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":259,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811533},"type":"text","content":"Decatur is not installing cameras to generate revenue. As I have stated in commission meetings, I favor traffic cameras even if they lose money. <a href=\"https://www.decaturga.com/dec/page/traffic-controls\" target=\"_blank\">Installing cameras</a> is about public safety and holding lawbreakers accountable. It is about letting residents know we are looking out for them."},{"_id":"YWC36QLWNZACLJCVQUQ57WZOGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811534},"type":"text","content":"At the end of the day, if you don’t want a speeding ticket, don’t speed. If you don’t want a ticket for running a red light, don’t run a red light. If you don’t want a ticket for distracted driving, don’t drive distracted."},{"_id":"NGJZFLWNO5HV3CFT5XQAHVQMMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735928811535},"type":"text","content":"That would make us all safer and happier."},{"_id":"6KHMYU7NFZCZZH4QJFPN5JDCEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735929281396},"type":"text","content":"<i>George Dusenbury is a Decatur city commissioner.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Dangerous and distracted drivers kill people on Georgia’s roads every year. We have to do all we can to prevent that."},"description":{"basic":"Dangerous and distracted drivers kill people on Georgia’s roads every year. We have to do all we can to prevent that."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"9136641567d6354d607440e29bc67189023b21ceb14125d375b8cd561ef64bb5"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"cold weather","width":5398,"caption":"Crossing guard Karen Law stops traffic in Decatur on Oct. 18, 2022. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/APH26TM3HCO74FN63CVQJRH3GM.JPG","height":3599,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/APH26TM3HCO74FN63CVQJRH3GM.JPG?auth=9136641567d6354d607440e29bc67189023b21ceb14125d375b8cd561ef64bb5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-traffic-cameras-are-about-safety-period/MX75VNXMAVGWZOYFBIEI2A7N5E/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-06T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"George Dusenbury","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Traffic cameras are about safety. 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(Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/APH26TM3HCO74FN63CVQJRH3GM.JPG","height":3599,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/APH26TM3HCO74FN63CVQJRH3GM.JPG?auth=9136641567d6354d607440e29bc67189023b21ceb14125d375b8cd561ef64bb5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"5TSG25L44JHSDGYNBNDHQ3HK4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691777},"type":"text","content":"With the death of Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th president, on the mind of the nation and the world right now, decency might just make a comeback."},{"_id":"3B2REPYIFBANFHL5ILKU4RLMMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691778},"type":"text","content":"However, if you’ve been paying attention over the past year or so, you might be in serious doubt as to whether America will make it to her 250th birthday intact. Or at least in the America those of us of a certain age know and love."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. 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Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"7FXEXPX66FB6HMQSJYJ2B6EA7Q"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"BHWTGONDDJAB3MEPKPLAOH5U2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691779},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"If you’ve been watching <a href=\"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/inside-a-maga-civil-war-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-clash-with-trumps-admin-base-over-immigration-policy/articleshow/116732903.cms?utm_source%3Dtwitter_web%26utm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_campaign%3Dsocialsharebuttons\">MAGA fight defending Vivek Ramaswamy from Elon Musk</a> on X for the past few days, you understand what I am getting at. The two men President-Elect Donald Trump said will lead his Department of Government Efficiency efforts come Jan. 20 have been attacking one another over H1B visas, who is more educated (white Americans or immigrants from India), who is more qualified in tech professions, and whether Americans are lazy, know-it-alls who raise our kids to be entitled and weak."},{"_id":"7YBBTUDR5VBBBJNCDSMOM4S6KI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691780},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As the new year beings and with the inauguration of a new president a few weeks away, we should focus on what renowned political strategist and pollster <a href=\"https://archive.org/details/CNNW_20241229_230000_CNN_Newsroom/start/937/end/997?q=jimmy+carter\" target=\"_blank\">Larry Sabato said about Carter’s legacy</a>: “You know, back then I think we cared a lot more about virtue in high office. Quite obviously, without getting into details, we do not care about that anymore.”"},{"_id":"KKSVUMDCWJA37FCQMUKQHWCKAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691781},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The bar has been lowered consistently by the incivility in politics. Name-calling, casting aspersions and even threats of violence have become commonplace. Sabato’s point was that character once mattered in the U.S. presidency. President Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard M. Nixon in the wake of Watergate was seen as letting the rogue politicians run wild and get a pass in ways the rest of the citizenry never could. Sound familiar?"},{"_id":"VAIZXWUW7NBWHOGUIQ6TU3LP4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691782},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Almost 50% of American voters chose a convicted felon, former celebrity TV host and real estate mogul with a host of personal and financial scandals dating back more than 40 years to be president. They chose him over the sitting vice president who had none of those character issues or scandals in her background. It was and is a very revealing fact about who we are and who the electorate has become."},{"_id":"OP5II6AJMVE6JKNRYQTCIZQ5GQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691783},"type":"text","content":"Our charge now, especially over the next two years as we celebrate 250 years of being the world’s beacon, is to remain confident."},{"_id":"2S4XIJMOKNGLLDN5DX6DLBX5IM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691784},"type":"text","content":"Carter said it best in his famous “<a href=\"https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/july-15-1979-crisis-confidence-speech\" target=\"_blank\">crisis of confidence</a>” speech in the summer of 1979:"},{"_id":"56ZKLAE7RZC47OHEZ7553C2LMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691785},"type":"text","content":"“I want to talk to you right now about a fundamental threat to American democracy. I do not mean our political and civil liberties. They will endure. And I do not refer to the outward strength of America, a nation that is at peace tonight everywhere in the world, with unmatched economic power and military might. The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our Nation. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.”"},{"_id":"JV6IOVZIFRFN3HBOMWP7HYXDME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691786},"type":"text","content":"This crisis of confidence was fully realized and, some might say, metastasized in the 2024 campaign. I think that was Sabato’s point: character and virtue were thrown aside, despite John Adams’s warning that the American presidency and government must be occupied by “moral and virtuous men.” Voters thought the economy was bad, crime was high, housing was scarce, and that the price of eggs, milk and gas was too high. People did not feel confident in America’s strength or our security here at home. Confidence in America would mean that we recognize when the economy is good (President Joe Biden did better with the U.S. economy after the pandemic than any other leader.) Confidence in America would mean that we don’t fear our neighbor and we believe the FBI statistics that show crime is abating. Confidence in America would mean we understand that the president can do little to lower grocery prices."},{"_id":"WO7LHJSANRA5JNCUIHIY2JDET4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1736010077865},"type":"text","content":"We must also reconsider and reimagine how we define “freedom.” Freedom for who? Some of us or all of us? Freedom for rich capitalists such as Musk to buy our elections with unlimited spending. Freedom to threaten the free press or citizens with whom we disagree? Freedom over our bodies as women?"},{"_id":"UEMBHLYRBJG2LHUEA6HN7T3N4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691788},"type":"text","content":"Finally, we need to rediscover our purpose and promise. We need to understand that we are a center-right country. We are neither liberal nor conservative. Black nor white. Religious nor agnostic. Gay or straight. We are all those things combined. We are a melting pot of ideas and viewpoints. As Carter said way back in 1979, when I was in elementary school, “We must take the path of common purpose and the restoration of American values. That path leads to true freedom for our Nation and ourselves.”"},{"_id":"YLSYVFDZOJCIRH2FWVYUC4WPRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691789},"type":"text","content":"Common purpose, compromise, restoration of American values — life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."},{"_id":"QSZ734IIYRF5NMDVPN3GXJO64E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735844691790},"type":"text","content":"These are the questions we must dare to ask. And we must work together, despite our differences, to answer them as we Americans always have. And I pray to God we always will."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We must remember what America is and fight for it."},"description":{"basic":"We must remember what America is and fight for it."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"8d9e549315334dd26c31f792b9a39db334504a55eca43abb02c82d9c6238a0a7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dale G. Young","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Obit Jimmy Carter Quotes","width":3001,"caption":"In an image from a television screen, President Jimmy Carter delivers his energy speech in which he spoke of a \"crisis of confidence\" on July 15, 1979, from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (Dale G. Young/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3VJSZ7K6YEJUURFBHWL3VYZPPA.jpg","height":2346,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3VJSZ7K6YEJUURFBHWL3VYZPPA.jpg?auth=8d9e549315334dd26c31f792b9a39db334504a55eca43abb02c82d9c6238a0a7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-preserving-democracy-will-require-confidence-in-america/DUYETWENWREWHMHTCON26YH6OQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-03T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","firstName":"Sophia","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"A.","_id":"snelson","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-30T00:46:40.034Z","byline":"Sophia A. Nelson","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Preserving democracy will require confidence in America"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-03T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-04T17:03:12.924Z","_id":"DUYETWENWREWHMHTCON26YH6OQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"8d9e549315334dd26c31f792b9a39db334504a55eca43abb02c82d9c6238a0a7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dale G. Young","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Obit Jimmy Carter Quotes","width":3001,"caption":"In an image from a television screen, President Jimmy Carter delivers his energy speech in which he spoke of a \"crisis of confidence\" on July 15, 1979, from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (Dale G. Young/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3VJSZ7K6YEJUURFBHWL3VYZPPA.jpg","height":2346,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3VJSZ7K6YEJUURFBHWL3VYZPPA.jpg?auth=8d9e549315334dd26c31f792b9a39db334504a55eca43abb02c82d9c6238a0a7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"OVNMLXRD45AK7AFYUGADEIRLXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247483},"type":"text","content":"Former President <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/\" target=\"_blank\">Jimmy Carter is gone</a>. All Americans on the right and left should mourn. He was an oak of a man."},{"_id":"5I3N6DJO4BCDTHKV4BQS4FR4HY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247484},"type":"text","content":"Funerals are the time for the living to honor the dead, and there is much in Carter’s life that merits tribute. Honoring politicians in a democracy, however, is tricky. They can and often do make the wrong decisions. This fact is hardly surprising. Few people can bat 1.000. These mistakes are usually a function of judgment rather than character."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a430c39311de9b2c4bf270687d2ff756f167b10c7e4ee5f38db6b8f8d9d1b766"},"caption":"Nicholas Evan Sarantakes","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Nicholas Evan Sarantakes","width":600,"_id":"64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/970gJSzk_Ib_PTReXIoGfH9UGWs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/970gJSzk_Ib_PTReXIoGfH9UGWs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/970gJSzk_Ib_PTReXIoGfH9UGWs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/TPlhWuvR4SkCxAvFhfXXU5y2fwI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Nicholas Evan Sarantakes.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"QPK3J2PPRBGBXAEXFNHJFTVRNU"},"created_date":"2025-01-02T19:43:58Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:43:58Z","alignment":"right","height":750,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/64PNSVFHVVHLXA37K7RVH6WRQ4.jpg?auth=a430c39311de9b2c4bf270687d2ff756f167b10c7e4ee5f38db6b8f8d9d1b766&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"7L6WVEUSGFCVRPAJM23ANNRISE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247486},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter won the White House in 1976 for a reason. He offered a vision for America that resonated with a public aching after the humiliation of Vietnam and the betrayal of Watergate. He did so with the added liability of being from Georgia, making him the first Southerner to win the White House on his own since the Civil War. (Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson were from former Confederate states, but both had inherited the office and had the advantage of incumbency when they won election in their own right.) He was an “outsider” to the ways of Washington after three of the biggest “insiders” of all time — Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford — had brought the United States to the sorry state it found itself in during the mid-1970s."},{"_id":"LN6I4LICJFD2FMJZ7W7S5B6STA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247487},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Saying that his electoral victory was the most important presidential achievement — as one historian argued years ago — is more than a little harsh. The Panama Canal treaty and the Camp David peace settlement were foreign policy achievements of the first order."},{"_id":"FYSVZUH44NCW5DA6SJKVODD2SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247488},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I spent seven years living — in a figurative way — with Carter as I wrote a book on the <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-olympics-boycott-9ba0aad38e01013bd0f40ce554317caf#:~:text=It%20was%20Carter%20who%20called,since%20the%20second%20World%20War.%E2%80%9D\" target=\"_blank\">1980 Olympic boycott</a>. (One reviewer, intending this comment as a compliment, called it the most negative book ever written on Carter.) With that said, I was surprised at what I found. The Carter who emerged from the memos, letters and transcripts of meetings was a man of vision and resolution. Running counter to popular perceptions of his administration as indecisive, I found that once he made a decision, he had the conviction of his beliefs to push what he wanted. He was also open-minded; willing and determined to hear from people with different ideas. But once a decision was made, it was made. Many of his domestic critics saw his emphasis on human rights in foreign policy as naive and idealistic. Perhaps, but the Soviets saw him as a dangerous man, because his emphasis on the rights of all peoples was to them as an attack on the very foundations of the Soviet Union. Historians have offered many reasons for the end of the Cold War, but an emphasize on the power of human rights in the wake of the Helsinki Accords deserves a great deal of respect. At the same time, Carter was hardly naive. The military buildup that former President Ronald Reagan gets so much credit for actually started while the Georgia politician was in office."},{"_id":"5AQUL6JWVFBUTBIGLKZOUBGYQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247489},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Still, one-term presidents are one termers for a reason. In Carter’s case, despite having majorities in both houses of Congress, his relationship with the legislature was poor. Many established powers on Capitol Hill saw him as an interloper. He had trailed them in vote counts in their districts and states. They believed he owed them, not the other way around. Ignoring Congress, which the Carter administration did a lot, was not a move designed to make things better. His determination and resolution in decision-making turned into a rigid inflexibility, which is sometimes the worst thing a politician can do when they need to win votes. Interests rates when he ran for reelection were <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/world/us/jimmy-carters-biggest-challenges-while-president-2024-12-29/\" target=\"_blank\">bouncing around 20%</a>; <a href=\"https://www.investopedia.com/us-inflation-rate-by-president-8546447\" target=\"_blank\">inflation, 12%. </a>He also had a tendency to focus on details rather than on setting policy priorities. He failed to offer the nation a vision for the future. In short, the American people had good reason not to give him a second term in office."},{"_id":"GMEJYSKAPBDZLBECSNAZPDVFUY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"Q3QKPUDTB5DIRIPHZCIVMDVC4Y"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Jimmy Carter full coverage","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/"},{"_id":"SW3DDKUTIND3BMAHGPX2NCEMD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247491},"type":"text","content":"Power, though, was more than a list of achievements for Carter. Reflecting a realist view of human nature, Carter believed that those who had political power had the responsibility to use their resources to establish a system of justice that benefited all. Carter, reflecting his education at the U.S. Naval Academy, believed in leadership by example. In the White House, he showed the people that a fairly honest man could be a politician and president. We could do far worse."},{"_id":"IYRIACT27BGAZJG65CQRAIOIA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735847247492},"type":"text","content":"<i>Nicholas Evan Sarantakes is a professor of strategy and policy at the U.S. Naval War College and the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Dropping-Torch-Carter-Olympic-Boycott/dp/0521176662\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Dropping the Torch: Jimmy Carter, the Olympic Boycott and the Cold War</i></a><i>.” The views stated here are his and his alone and do not reflect the policy of the U.S. Navy or Department of Defense.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The former president believed that those who had political power had the responsibility to use their resources to establish a system of justice that benefitted all. "},"description":{"basic":"The former president believed that those who had political power had the responsibility to use their resources to establish a system of justice that benefitted all."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"551f5eacfdad9b1da4c7b81acd838ffece223b0ffaf7572b89f9bd47f95da4e4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Mark Wilson","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter Olympic Boycott","width":2914,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter pauses during a Feb. 1, 1980, speech in Washington, D.C., to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics. (Mark Wilson/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7K2OVKMVHYNDFILOUGH37ZFEAE.jpg","height":2010,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7K2OVKMVHYNDFILOUGH37ZFEAE.jpg?auth=551f5eacfdad9b1da4c7b81acd838ffece223b0ffaf7572b89f9bd47f95da4e4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-power-was-more-than-achievement-for-carter/VGHFOZWUS5GUNAL6FX7BCLGE6U/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-03T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Nicholas Evan Sarantakes","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Power was more than achievement for Carter"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-03T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-03T11:00:05.933Z","_id":"VGHFOZWUS5GUNAL6FX7BCLGE6U","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"551f5eacfdad9b1da4c7b81acd838ffece223b0ffaf7572b89f9bd47f95da4e4"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Mark Wilson","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter Olympic Boycott","width":2914,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter pauses during a Feb. 1, 1980, speech in Washington, D.C., to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics. (Mark Wilson/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7K2OVKMVHYNDFILOUGH37ZFEAE.jpg","height":2010,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7K2OVKMVHYNDFILOUGH37ZFEAE.jpg?auth=551f5eacfdad9b1da4c7b81acd838ffece223b0ffaf7572b89f9bd47f95da4e4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"224J3GM36NE7VIN2TZ5YRSFDI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089966},"type":"text","content":"When chaos strikes, as it did with the horrifying attack on Bourbon Street in <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/uga-student-critically-injured-in-new-orleans-attack/OOYJHGASSVATNPKIDUQTUYHDHY/\" target=\"_blank\">New Orleans early Wednesday</a> morning, the public’s immediate demand for answers is as natural as it is dangerous. In the hours and days after tragedy, uncertainty reigns. In this vulnerable space, the rush to assign blame or find “the face of evil” often leads to devastating unintended consequences — ruined lives, misdirected public anger and eroded trust in the institutions meant to protect us. As the dust settles, we must recognize that this period is as critical as the attack itself, where restraint and precision are our best tools for justice and societal healing."},{"_id":"T5PDFC65FVC5PAQDJHWUI43GAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089967},"type":"text","content":"<b>Historical lessons: Atlanta and Boston</b>"},{"_id":"MWC6EQKH3RERTJV2Z2F2A5D3U4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089968},"type":"text","content":"The Centennial Olympic Park bombing in 1996 remains a sobering example of how quickly the need for answers can go awry. <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local/atlanta-relive-one-its-best-worst-times-with-richard-jewell/7O4F75AXfVjp2QJvmG8EfM/\" target=\"_blank\">Richard Jewell</a>, a security guard who discovered the bomb and saved countless lives, was hailed as a hero — until he wasn’t. Within days, he was wrongfully accused, his life turned upside down by media speculation and a premature investigation. Though ultimately exonerated, the damage to his reputation and mental health was irreversible."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426"},"caption":"Brian O'Neill, visiting prof, Georgia Tech","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Brian O'Neill","width":574,"_id":"6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_LPtvkZQSuuclCqWHkjwRrZgp8Q=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/XNSccLB--Rse7q_-CmX1ZKZp2f0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Brian O'Neill.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"LCQJS7RIHVA7DDUGEUPRYCSVGI"},"created_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:14:37Z","alignment":"right","height":574,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6RDIUDOE75A4NORRNN2RTFXPMU.jpg?auth=7a21e2c864adcc2002637bfc7dc343cbd2908d473bdde251691a762a9973f426&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CANB45LR3JAINAL5LP2YFXMOAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089969},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Fast forward to 2013, when the <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-22214511\" target=\"_blank\">Boston Marathon bombing sparked a similar frenzy</a>. Internet users on platforms like Reddit and 4chan scoured photos and videos, identifying innocent individuals as potential suspects. One such victim was 22-year-old <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2016/04/18/474671097/how-social-media-smeared-a-missing-student-as-a-terrorism-suspect\" target=\"_blank\">Sunil Tripathi</a>, a missing college student whose name trended globally on Twitter after false accusations. Similarly, 17-year-old <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/teen-boston-marathon-bomber/story?id=18990057\" target=\"_blank\">Salah Barhoun</a> faced life-altering harassment after the New York Post prominently featured his image with the misleading headline “bag men.” These baseless allegations caused immense personal harm, highlighting the risks of crowdsourced sleuthing and the media’s responsibility to avoid amplifying unfounded claims."},{"_id":"7QTGX6OPTBHYDFC5XHUX3VAKR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089970},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>The Gaza hospital incident</b>"},{"_id":"67AE65EAPVB5RNIWRDALZQNJJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089971},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Oct. 17, 2023, explosion at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza offers another stark example of the dangers of premature narratives. Occurring in the early days of Israel’s ground invasion following the devastating Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, major news outlets initially reported — based on unverified statements — that the blast was caused by an Israeli airstrike. The reports, which spread rapidly across global media, were soon retracted after Israeli and U.S. intelligence officials pointed to a <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/briefing/gaza-hospital-explosion.html\" target=\"_blank\">misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad</a> as the likely cause."},{"_id":"67KON2BZA5CEXNWCHFTK6QHHUQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089972},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Despite these corrections, the damage was done. Protests erupted across the Middle East, summits involving Western and Arab leaders were canceled, and public sentiment was shaped by the initial, flawed narrative. The episode highlights not only the profound impact of rushed reporting but also the heightened responsibility of journalists to ensure their assessments are grounded in verified facts, particularly in volatile conflict zones."},{"_id":"66GYTTA5BFGJ5KBPY3W3AA3CHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089973},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>Revisiting the Trump shooting</b>"},{"_id":"D34PLTZFXFHMBDHJLVWKDU3554","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089974},"type":"text","content":"The dynamics observed following the July 13 shooting at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, offer a stark reminder of the dangers of politically charged impatience. After assailant Thomas Matthew Crooks’ failed attempt, public and political demands for immediate answers clashed with the need for careful analysis."},{"_id":"RI3WCABU4ZGPFMGCSBAH6AI4XA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089975},"type":"text","content":"During a televised congressional hearing on July 24, FBI Director Christopher Wray <a href=\"https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/07/26/congress/shrapnel-comments-prompt-gop-ire-fbi-trump-shooting-00171448\" target=\"_blank\">declined to declare</a> that a bullet struck now President-elect Donald Trump, suggesting it might have been a fragment. This measured response, while appropriate, provoked a political firestorm. Critics accused Wray of incompetence and even cover-ups, with conspiracy theories gaining traction online and in some media outlets. By the end of that week, the Bureau had concluded that a bullet, <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/07/26/trump-bullet-shot-assassination-attempt/\">“whether whole or fragmented into smaller pieces,”</a> struck the former president’s ear. Despite this eventual clarity, the backlash highlighted how a lack of immediate conclusions can fuel mistrust — even when investigative caution is warranted."},{"_id":"3DUQ7VBOQJFABPNN4U26SBRXNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089976},"type":"text","content":"<b>A call for strategic patience</b>"},{"_id":"SNOIBQ6QHRGNVPAESULWPSQJC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089977},"type":"text","content":"Initial assessments of the New Orleans attack from law enforcement and the FBI have been cautious. Authorities <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/10-killed-dozens-injured-as-vehicle-drives-into-new-orleans-crowd/BX2EN5VLFNBGPHTBUCDFUBZCXE/\" target=\"_blank\">reported discovering an ISIS flag</a>, weapons and a potential improvised explosive device in the truck of the attack. The driver has been identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen from Texas. The FBI have emphasized that while initial evidence suggested Jabbar was not acting alone, investigations into his potential affiliations and associations with terrorist organizations are ongoing."},{"_id":"VWVKBXLMJFATPA3ZNFOAJHPYHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089978},"type":"text","content":"This restraint is commendable. Federal investigators, faced with intense public scrutiny, have methodically focused on gathering credible evidence rather than fueling speculation. Their approach reflects a critical understanding of the consequences of haste: speculative narratives can derail investigations, unfairly tarnish reputations and leave the public misinformed at a time when clarity is most needed."},{"_id":"X6S6VNSFTRFORIPTAKGSXWJ7GA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089979},"type":"text","content":"To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, we must adopt a more deliberate approach. Law enforcement must prioritize thorough investigations over quick conclusions, communicating their progress transparently to temper public impatience. Media outlets must embrace accuracy over speed, employing rigorous editorial processes to avoid the kind of errors seen in the Gaza conflict. Finally, the public and political leaders must resist the urge to demand or share unverified information, understanding that collective patience is a powerful tool in ensuring justice and accountability."},{"_id":"X4XTQQ6A55ERHDSVRTYFQUIT7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089980},"type":"text","content":"The attack on New Orleans is a tragedy that demands justice. But how we respond in the days ahead will shape not only the investigation but also our collective resilience. By learning from the mistakes of Atlanta and Boston — and from the media missteps of Gaza — we can honor the victims not just through action but through wisdom and restraint."},{"_id":"6P4V3O77CVDDBPJS3T2NXCH64I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735845089981},"type":"text","content":"<i>Brian O’Neill, a recently retired senior executive from the CIA and National Counterterrorism Center, is an instructor on strategic intelligence at Georgia Tech.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We can honor the victims not just through action but through wisdom and restraint."},"description":{"basic":"We can honor the victims not just through action but through wisdom and restraint."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"899b388e488198c24eea6ae3e0373d78f7bfba285ca15cd914e95dda65dbfd0b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"George Walker IV","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"New Orleans Car Into Crowd","width":6000,"caption":"Police officers stand near the scene where a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon streets on Jan. 1. (George Walker IV/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PTIVRWPIX347HQTAUVJ7H2GUBA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PTIVRWPIX347HQTAUVJ7H2GUBA.jpg?auth=899b388e488198c24eea6ae3e0373d78f7bfba285ca15cd914e95dda65dbfd0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-unintended-casualties-of-post-attack-narratives/5V3P2TLHNBG7PPRHEC5643BP7A/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-02T19:15:09.168Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Brian O'Neill","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The unintended casualties of post-attack narratives"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-02T19:15:09.168Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T19:15:09.319Z","_id":"5V3P2TLHNBG7PPRHEC5643BP7A","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"899b388e488198c24eea6ae3e0373d78f7bfba285ca15cd914e95dda65dbfd0b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"George Walker IV","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"New Orleans Car Into Crowd","width":6000,"caption":"Police officers stand near the scene where a vehicle drove into a crowd on New Orleans' Canal and Bourbon streets on Jan. 1. (George Walker IV/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PTIVRWPIX347HQTAUVJ7H2GUBA.jpg","height":4000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PTIVRWPIX347HQTAUVJ7H2GUBA.jpg?auth=899b388e488198c24eea6ae3e0373d78f7bfba285ca15cd914e95dda65dbfd0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"HVQ4IPISXRHNVN6F7HCE6XIDLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923331},"type":"text","content":"“Government cannot solve our problems, it can’t set our goals, it cannot define our vision. Government cannot eliminate poverty or provide a bountiful economy or reduce inflation or save our cities or cure illiteracy or provide energy. And government cannot mandate goodness.”"},{"_id":"QUQ5LQJHDREXPDOIEO4QDGHX2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923332},"type":"text","content":"No, those aren’t the words of President Ronald Reagan. Those are the words of probably the last truly fiscally responsible democratic president the United States has seen. Worse is that he rarely gets credit for being so. Those were the words of President Jimmy Carter, and they represent the defining attitude his administration took toward the budget, the economy and government as a whole."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"1149a3181a7189095d8ef2e57defd7d5c486f729b28828b2735bace0e0236545"},"caption":"Harrison Lance","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Harrison Lance","width":400,"_id":"X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/0sRQyZUdTitVI3vWyc2P6CfeK6g=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/0sRQyZUdTitVI3vWyc2P6CfeK6g=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/0sRQyZUdTitVI3vWyc2P6CfeK6g=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/qgoQyVr19UhRUXR1mAcZtqx1q2g=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Harrison Lance.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"TFMRJEAAWBFORI4TPHCRBNSWC4"},"created_date":"2024-12-31T20:19:46Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-31T20:19:46Z","alignment":"right","height":400,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/X6KEJK5DJRFZBKFEFDWHGKAOFQ.jpg?auth=1149a3181a7189095d8ef2e57defd7d5c486f729b28828b2735bace0e0236545&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"VWPYYU6OPJAJRMC2NTVAEHA4SY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923333},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter met my grandfather under an old oak tree on the campus of Berry College in Rome, Georgia, in 1966. Carter, a young state senator at the time, was running for governor and faced the problem most politicians struggle to overcome: a lack of name recognition outside his district. “Mr. Carter, my name is Bert Lance. I want you to know that I like what you’ve been saying about the state and it’s future,” my grandfather said. Granddad was the chief executive of a community bank at the time — the youngest in the country, in fact — and those words were the start of a political and personal friendship that would last until my grandad’s dying day. Bert served Carter in Georgia as the state highway director and in Washington as head of the Office of Management and Budget, where he tried to wrestle the federal bureaucracy into submission."},{"_id":"H7WSYOZVMRGZFC7O55YT2JGHWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923334},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Executives of industry keep a pulse on who is rising, who is falling, and who represents their industry and themselves best. Granddad believed Carter was rising and would represent the banking industry well. He believed wholeheartedly in Carter’s mantra for government: Government ought to be as good as the people it serves."},{"_id":"RU6YUMNP2JCJNFRLDNOKBZNV6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923335},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter, as governor, took that message from heart to practice, being the face of the government he truly believed the people wanted — one that was kind but firm. During the gas crisis of his governorship, Carter decided to replace all the government SUVs with small four-door sedans because they consumed much less gas. Much to the chagrin of my 6′5″ 290-pound grandfather, who would teased Carter that the real reason he made the change was because he just didn’t like riding with Bert. Carter’s zeal for good government wasn’t just restricted to the lives of civil servants however, but to private citizens as well. On more than one occasion, my grandfather told me of how after instituting a 55 mph speed limit, Carter would instruct his personal State Patrol assigned to driving him to pull over someone speeding past them. The governor would then get out of the car and give the violator a stern talking to, explaining how “we all need to do our part as Georgians to combat the gas shortage” by following the agreed rules of the road, including the speed limit."},{"_id":"OTDZ6MOOBBGXBASVKURTD7XFQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923336},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter brought his fiscal discipline and unique idea of government’s role with him to the Governor’s Mansion. Through his “Goals for Georgia,” he brought together senior business executives from the business community to examine the state government and advise on how to make it better. Each department head had several corporate executives assigned to their department — these were executives from Georgia Power, Coca-Cola and the like. Serving without compensation, they were able to advise on how to best reorganize each department, starting with my grandad’s department, the GDOT."},{"_id":"J3AQVVK54JH6JN4EWIRBRVSWKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923337},"type":"text","content":"Together, my grandfather and Jimmy Carter reorganized the state Department of Transportation. They accomplished this through many ways, but started it off by reducing the department’s payroll from 9,500 employees to 6,500 through attrition. When someone resigned or retired, they tried to get along without filling the position. They implemented zero-based budgeting, requiring every agency to justify every penny of their budget, every year — forcing them to defend current and proposed programs, expenditures and staffing. They surrendered control of hundreds of millions of dollars previously controlled by the commissioner of highways, putting it back in the state’s general treasury."},{"_id":"HM3TGYVRZBGHPMDEXKP7DDMTUQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923338},"type":"text","content":"When Carter became governor, the state’s administrative side had swelled to more than 300 agencies, sinking beneath the weight of duplication, archaic activities and bureaucratic procedures that took too long, cost too much and produced too little. Carter and my grandfather put together a “Reorganization Plan” to solve this by enabling Carter and future governors to make changes they wanted, subject to reversal by the state legislature. This plan was approved and adopted by the margin of a single vote on a roll call. Four years later, Carter knocked those 300 agencies to 22, sending a clear message to the state and the legislature that the era of bloated government was over."},{"_id":"JBVA6GAHIBBCHB4Q6T5DRBEOME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923339},"type":"text","content":"This amazing feat wasn’t without its challenges, nor its many crises. One day, when granddad and Carter were in a helicopter over the Atlanta skyline, Carter told my grandfather how he wanted to make his mark on Georgia and its future — saying “you and I are going to have a lot of fun doing these things.” My granddad, ever the banker, would needle him right back whenever they were in a crisis with a quick retort of “you’re going to have to define what ‘fun’ is because I don’t believe we share the same definition.”"},{"_id":"ABKZKNPSFZHQ3G7RMTSZL3OGBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923340},"type":"text","content":"I believe Carter’s definition of “fun” was simple: Bring the most good to the most people you possibly can — then add one more. My grandfather shared this idea, even to the detriment of his political career. He resigned from OMB when he realized he’d become political deadweight to Carter."},{"_id":"U4LMIDSYMFB5PPVDAWD3IJ6COQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923341},"type":"text","content":"My grandfather died in 2013, and Carter delivered the eulogy. During it, Carter mentioned his journals had been digitized and was able to search for specific meetings, people, events, etc. Carter noted that only his wife, Rosalynn, was mentioned more than my grandfather."},{"_id":"7ZN7QQVECJAYLMW6U5AOMJLEXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735675923342},"type":"text","content":"Carter was a loving man and a devoted friend. Not just to my grandfather but to this country."},{"_id":"HAKGTBHK5ZDWJASJKOFFGHQG6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Harrison Lance, an Atlanta native, is an entrepreneur and specialist in international trade and economic development. He ran for the state Senate in 2020 as the Republican nominee and became the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Foundation. </i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"My grandfather was with him much of the way."},"description":{"basic":"My grandfather was with him much of the way."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"93e3a1e32dce6193568fde1ccd0acb93edc75523217ccb406929f00f0cee84ce"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"File photo / Associated Press","type":"author","byline":"File photo / Associated Press","slug":"file-photo-associated-press"}]},"subtitle":"Bert Lance: A life in photos","width":500,"caption":"Bert Lance testifies before the Senate Government Affairs Committee in a standing-room-only courtroom in 1977. (Associated Press)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ULDYRMGKWIL4YSK4GRPKYY2PA.jpg","height":285,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ULDYRMGKWIL4YSK4GRPKYY2PA.jpg?auth=93e3a1e32dce6193568fde1ccd0acb93edc75523217ccb406929f00f0cee84ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-jimmy-carter-brought-fiscal-discipline-to-georgia-and-the-white-house/TPNJJKXQ4ZBLJA7LL5MTVM6X2E/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2025-01-02T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Jimmy Carter brought fiscal discipline to Georgia and the White House"},"first_publish_date":"2025-01-02T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-02T11:00:16.473Z","_id":"TPNJJKXQ4ZBLJA7LL5MTVM6X2E","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"93e3a1e32dce6193568fde1ccd0acb93edc75523217ccb406929f00f0cee84ce"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"File photo / Associated Press","type":"author","byline":"File photo / Associated Press","slug":"file-photo-associated-press"}]},"subtitle":"Bert Lance: A life in photos","width":500,"caption":"Bert Lance testifies before the Senate Government Affairs Committee in a standing-room-only courtroom in 1977. (Associated Press)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ULDYRMGKWIL4YSK4GRPKYY2PA.jpg","height":285,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ULDYRMGKWIL4YSK4GRPKYY2PA.jpg?auth=93e3a1e32dce6193568fde1ccd0acb93edc75523217ccb406929f00f0cee84ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"TFNYFVQTNBE7VJRTVUI3Q3EKGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096346},"type":"text","content":"Over the coming days, much will be written about Jimmy Carter’s presidency. Sure to draw attention is one of his first acts as president<b>: </b>his issue of unconditional amnesty to men who refused military service during the Vietnam War."},{"_id":"4OCUQWCZAFG6HD7UT6BZEITEAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096347},"type":"text","content":"On the day after his death, a former Carter staffer <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/30/jimmy-carter-career-legacy-reflection-most-successful\">wrote</a> that “that powerful and politically brave gesture was a step toward healing a country that was polarized in so many ways during the Johnson and Nixon years.” Others, surely, will disagree."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7958e99cc38c106ca1d6429f6d882dedaa3c32657c063993f092f91742d679de"},"caption":"David Kieran","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"David Kieran","width":3024,"_id":"IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_YFHqaPrei5V_8qmC0U8VYrx3rQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/B6Yi7W13OFoa1CXRhHPVFUg5XFA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"David Kieran.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"G6ORYB45GBE2BD74XMRRNIG4HU"},"created_date":"2024-12-31T15:11:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-31T15:11:42Z","alignment":"right","height":4032,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IMCNUM36WZF4NKY7F4K5SL56AE.jpg?auth=7958e99cc38c106ca1d6429f6d882dedaa3c32657c063993f092f91742d679de&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"A2RLHGY52RH6BM6QAYMQWFFLMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735758174206},"type":"text","content":"Debating the wisdom of this act requires understanding just how divided the nation was over the issue and how that debate was never only a legal question; at its core, it turned on questions about the legitimacy of the Vietnam War, the nature of patriotism, and the rights and obligations of citizens in a democracy. Understanding the debate’s contours helps us evaluate Carter’s decision and appreciate its lessons."},{"_id":"WKOUT4OLX5ABXIPDBQABCETQ2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On Christmas Eve 1972, as U.S. involvement in Vietnam was approaching its end, the <a href=\"https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1972/12/24/93430928.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0\">New York Times</a> reported that “a sizeable number of citizens have fled their country or gone underground rather than fight in a war that they deemed to be unjust.” The article estimated that “there may be as many as 60,000 in Canada alone.” Draft resistance rendered these men federal fugitives. If they were <a href=\"https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/uscode/uscode1976-01105/uscode1976-011050a009/uscode1976-011050a009.pdf\">indicted and convicted</a>, they faced up to five years in a federal prison and a $10,000 fine. Who these men were, and what should be done with them preoccupied Americans. Did they deserve forgiveness? If so, what kind, and how should it be administered? What would forgiving them say about the Vietnam War and the nation that had fought it?"},{"_id":"CHL7NXQGYND2ZOCUNW3RP5DUSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096351},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"President Richard M. Nixon’s Vice President Spiro Agnew, for example,<a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1970/10/24/archives/agnew-calls-lindsay-a-conglomerate.html\"> declared that he</a> “wouldn’t trade one of the fine young men [he’d] met in Vietnam for a whole jailfull” of resisters. A Wisconsin voter <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/09/archives/wisconsin-victory-gives-mcgovern-boost-at-home.html\">viewed amnesty in simple terms</a>: “The law is the law. It’s just like robbing banks.” In contrast, <a href=\"https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1973/02/01/79837838.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0\">an activist</a> in favor of amnesty “unilaterally reject[ed] the position that somehow these resisters are criminals. We see them as victims of the war. The question of criminality should turn on those who got us into the war.” A Gold Star mother <a href=\"https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1974/04/16/148807502.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0\">argued</a> that “If I am to believe that my son sacrificed his life for a higher ideal … then let me believe that he died so that some other mother’s son, somewhere, might now come home.” A disabled veteran asked “Why should they now be given another chance? Can I be given another chance? If amnesty is granted, every guy who fought in Vietnam will look like a goddamned idiot.”"},{"_id":"AVHFFPACPFA6PEEC6W5XABEFRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096352},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Equally significant was the question of how the nation should respond to the problem. Should resisters live forever in exile, and, if so, did that represent the purging of insufficiently patriotic citizens or the loss of a generation of potentially talented men? Would the FBI and the military really keep cases open for years, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1969/02/13/archives/in-the-nation-the-cost-of-conscience.html\" target=\"_blank\">raising the specter</a> of “repeated prosecutions and jailings for offenses long past?” Could the United States ever fight another major war if potential soldiers could expect to be <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1974/03/14/archives/amnesty-called-peril-to-morale-special-to-the-new-york-times-a.html\" target=\"_blank\">forgiven if they refused induction</a>? Would an amnesty program amount to an <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1972/02/20/archives/to-forgive-or-not-to-forgive-dissenters-amnesty.html\" target=\"_blank\">admission that the war itself had been a mistake</a>, “a gigantic war crime?” The superintendent of West Point <a href=\"https://emuweb.usahec.org/alma/multimedia/1711679/20184880MNBT1036346789F237235I001.pdf\">feared</a> that “whatever decision is made will have a significant effect on citizens and soldiers during any future wartime period.”"},{"_id":"MQLTYZJ75VHLTBJVAL44NM4WVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096353},"type":"text","content":"Small wonder, then, that earlier attempts to resolve the issue floundered. Legislators <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/30/archives/amnesty-for-draft-resisters-is-expected-to-be-divisive-political-is.html\">could never agree</a> on what kind of legislation would meet the need, and what conditions, if any, should be attached to it. As president, Gerald Ford created a conditional clemency program, <a href=\"https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/the-fords/gerald-r-ford/key-speeches-and-writings-gerald-r-ford\">telling the nation</a> that he was “throw[ing] the weight of my Presidency into the scales of justice on the side of leniency and mercy.” Unsurprisingly, many Americans disapproved. One homemaker wrote that she had been sleepless and that “the idea of you wanting to give amnesty to men … who cowardly could not face the reality of war positively makes me ill.” Another voter took the opposite view: “Now that you have pardoned Nixon … you must now pardon, unconditionally, those draft resisters who are living in exile.” Nor did the program work as he had hoped. Fewer than 1 in 6 draft resisters participated. Many were offended by the notion that they had anything to apologize for."},{"_id":"MAYBTCQVZNGVDCDVZWVWEAJN2Y","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"AY6QC3FFHJBSNEJ2ZRC7AJVQAM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Full coverage of Jimmy Carter's death","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/"},{"_id":"LZFPHD6XZFCKRADEJ5ZRAKCM6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s willingness to grant an unconditional amnesty thus emerged as the only viable resolution. Candidate Carter told the Washington Post, “I think it’s time to get the Vietnamese War over with.... I’d just like to tell the young folks ... just come back home, the whole thing’s over.” Carter kept his promise, <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/pardon/apply-vietnam-era-pardon\">pardoning draft resisters</a> on the first day of his presidency. Reaction to the act was <a href=\"https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/01/23/75029184.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0\">mixed</a>. The pro-amnesty group Project Safe Return argued that it was insufficient because it did not pardon men who deserted after joining the military. A World War I veteran and parent of two Vietnam veterans <a href=\"https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1977/01/28/75035150.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0\">declared it</a> “inconceivable that his first act would be to dishonor not only my sons but the many thousands of loyal Americans who fought.”"},{"_id":"63BTKRLIPJGIBJSCVGUNHGG3IM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735758174213},"type":"text","content":"Controversial though it was, Carter’s decision was the best one available. Other efforts had failed, and doing nothing would only prolong this aspect of the war’s hardships. It resolved some questions: Parents would not die without ever seeing their children again, men could return to the United States or seek education and employment without fear of prosecution, and the country would not witness hundreds of trials. Of course, it left other questions open, and perhaps raised new ones. The debate over the Vietnam War’s history and legacy has hardly abated."},{"_id":"FE4RUBLFTJFKLMBIHVEZ4A2NAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735758174214},"type":"text","content":"But Carter’s decision was, in the end, the right one. It is also a reminder that in divisive times, our nation has benefited from leaders whose signal traits were compassion and mercy. Those of us living in similarly divisive times would do well to reflect on that aspect of Jimmy Carter’s legacy, in the hope that it may help guide us forward."},{"_id":"ROKVO75FG5CGLII3HW2FH373IM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735663096358},"type":"text","content":"<i>David Kieran is the Colonel Richard R. Hallock Distinguished University Chair of Military History at Columbus State University and the author of </i>Forever Vietnam: How a Divisive War Changed American Public Memory."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":" Doing nothing would have only prolonged the Vietnam War’s hardships."},"description":{"basic":"Doing nothing would have only prolonged the Vietnam War’s hardships."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"36cfda77415651b76d606dddca66004557df43ac84f0350820a223a784d7c9e7"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"ccompton@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Curtis Compton","type":"author","byline":"Curtis Compton"}]},"subtitle":"carter","width":2400,"caption":"Former President Jimmy Carter surveys the scene of his home town on Main Street from the platform of the Plains train depot, which served as his Presidential Campaign Headquarters in 1976, during the 18th Annual Plains Peanut Festival on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, in Plains. 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The performative polymath offered a deeply personal and candid exploration of his recent medical ordeal in Atlanta, all while employing his signature humor and uncanny impersonations."},{"_id":"TLYM7YF3KNA7LOEW6A2BFQNJP4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"Y4KAH7BFYFEB7MZURFDL5332QY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Jamie Foxx, in Netflix special, said a stroke almost killed him in Atlanta","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/jamie-foxx-in-netflix-special-said-a-stroke-almost-killed-him-in-atlanta/BZWZSGS7J5HZTP5YSMQW3OHLRQ/"},{"_id":"LCSSS3ZSTJB33G5K26WQ27IDBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400874},"type":"text","content":"Viewers might not have anticipated the performance’s revivalistic undertone, though. Foxx’s stand-up sometimes felt less like a comedy special and more like a traditional Southern testimony service — an altar call wrapped in laughter and lived experience. Through his blend of vulnerability, tear-jerking appreciation for his family and medical team, and reflections on his renewed emphasis on faith, Foxx invited his audience to something more than entertainment. He took them to church."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e026b5392e1a2e1112533ae9568cccf4bad06af5ef2173b8f2584691fa411b17"},"caption":"Jonathan Lee Walton","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jonathan Lee Walton","width":2082,"_id":"IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/GRNJqLm1mQOD55ABWngZ8rfN1pk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/GRNJqLm1mQOD55ABWngZ8rfN1pk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/GRNJqLm1mQOD55ABWngZ8rfN1pk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/pAWnnwKeDJuUAUF6rbbBDQtzFIU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Jonathan Lee Walton.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6J7XVXDA2FFBJIH73Q3SXSLMZ4"},"created_date":"2024-12-30T01:02:44Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-30T01:02:44Z","alignment":"right","height":3065,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IDILTDWNQRE6JKBSKRS56NW5PA.jpeg?auth=e026b5392e1a2e1112533ae9568cccf4bad06af5ef2173b8f2584691fa411b17&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QR7VJTT2QBFXVHSSIU5J6GKARE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400875},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As a scholar of religion and someone whose life has been shaped by African American rhetorical cultures, Foxx’s performance felt natural. There has always been a fine line between the presumed sacred and secular in Black performance and vernacular. Some scholars describe the Black church as the first Black theater: a transformative space where moral imaginations are expanded and congregants enter alternative worlds of possibility and hope. Here, narratives of joy, lament, despair and triumph are stitched into a quilt of tragicomic exuberance."},{"_id":"NO5VQ2F5FNEKFB4I6DKIOG5REE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400876},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/dubois_01.asp\" target=\"_blank\">W.E.B. Du Bois’ classic description</a> of the Black preacher as a leader, orator and idealist finds resonance in the likes of Black comedians and singers. Performers such as Foxx embody these qualities, often occupying roles that usher audiences into transcendent spaces where they can voice their hopes, dreams and disappointments. From Ma Rainey to Fantasia, Little Richard to Richard Pryor, these performers — like Black preachers — create moments where people leave, as classic gospel singers might shout, “Willing to run on and see what the end’s gonna be.”"},{"_id":"H25EENEJXFEFDJQIBJMDSF4CHM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"UU342GCGLBBCJE3GIDYD3XPLOY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"‘I was gone for 20 days’: Jamie Foxx details Atlanta health scare","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/celebrities/i-was-gone-for-20-days-jamie-foxx-details-atlanta-health-scare/BZDD3Y6BXFHU3IT6ASOHXQPV2A/"},{"_id":"S57VHXQZZBBPHKJWDMOO4SQYZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400877},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This was the beauty and brilliance of Foxx’s Netflix performance. He used his health scare and recovery to entertain and challenge. For his fellow Generation Xers, of which I am one, Foxx’s story was a wake-up call to confront the illusions of ego and invincibility as our “robes of flesh” begin to decay. Foxx asked us to reconsider our priorities: to reevaluate the glorification of money, status and individual accomplishments and, instead, elevate friendships, family and communities of faith."},{"_id":"KX7EYOJWCFB6RA5RYRGIGE4TM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400878},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Foxx is not alone in his renewed focus on faith following a health scare. Surveys reveal that individuals battling illness often turn to spiritual categories and rituals to make sense of their diagnosis. According to a <a href=\"https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/coping/day-to-day/faith-and-spirituality/spirituality-hp-pdq\">National Cancer Institute study</a>, 77% of patients believe physicians should consider their spiritual needs, and 37% want doctors to address religious beliefs more frequently."},{"_id":"IL5HDUZ4EZG6ZL6TF7266XVX6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400879},"type":"text","content":"This phenomenon, often called the “foxhole effect,” refers to the saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” Evidence suggests that life-threatening illnesses amplify religious commitment and spiritual concern. Public health surveys of the general population rarely capture this religious fervor because it emerges most intensely in times of crisis. This underscores the importance of integrating faith and health in both religious and medical contexts."},{"_id":"FHJIC4UCSNC6TGM4DVQ6QJQ4VU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400880},"type":"text","content":"These are not merely “faith claims.” <a href=\"https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/regularly-attending-religious-services-associated-with-lower-risk-of-deaths-of-despair/\">Research from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University</a> shows that individuals who regularly participate in faith communities are more likely to be socially and civically engaged, express gratitude and volunteer. They are also less likely to suffer from depression, alienation and loneliness."},{"_id":"I2HEZFOWUZAZJGJ6ZPVHLWGYJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400881},"type":"text","content":"Jamie Foxx’s performance, whether intentionally or not, tapped into these truths. By expressing unbridled gratitude for life, the love of his family and the significance of his faith, Foxx might have done something far greater than entertain. He challenged a society obsessed with celebrity, individuality and invincibility to reevaluate its altar of worship. In an age in which “me, myself and I” often take precedence, Foxx pointed us back to the enduring power of connection and community."},{"_id":"NWHOTUM4DBDGVMPBS2EIB7AQNM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"TNOT2L7WBZDZPKKMS4NJ33BHC4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The year in Black culture, according to UATL reporter Gavin Godfrey","url":"https://www.ajc.com/black-atlanta-culture/the-year-in-black-culture-according-to-uatl-reporter-gavin-godfrey/ARKX2FYJHBHLXNQDV7J373QHRE/"},{"_id":"Z56GMY6IQZF2PMK3IOK5GK5BQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735520400882},"type":"text","content":"Perhaps this was the greatest lesson from “What Had Happened Was.” Through his storytelling, Foxx reminded us that the true measure of a life is not found in accolades or fame but in the grace we extend, the love we nurture and the faith we carry. And if Foxx’s performance teaches us to replace our false gods with these enduring virtues, then he will have left us, as the old preachers say, “standing on higher ground.”"},{"_id":"FBJUP3W3HVG5VMTFC2TG4SWFRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735521339098},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.jonathanlwalton.com_&d=DwMGaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=iMImxmjmvesnzHWOW8MdoDlpOM303AYP-uU8K6AmjSI&m=waabhpzQz-A6oAwNiUoRBBee2f0kMzURuBp4_6XiGbO0oSDD-yVpEg-ZnTwvCymE&s=CU_MWrplNd9cOvA5fReTMUNdqx3QJj-mTLP6ZuzimI8&e=\"><i>Jonathan Lee Walton</i></a><i><u>,</u></i><i> an Atlanta native and Morehouse College graduate, is the president of Princeton Theological Seminary. A scholar of religion and American culture, he is the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Lens-Love-Reading-Bible-World/dp/0664263542/ref=asc_df_0664263542?mcid=3654ddf4b56d3a24b67d186c6fdfff95&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693321386814&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12922474919084238517&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010952&hvtargid=pla-569400136062&psc=1\" target=\"_blank\"><i>A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World</i></a><i>” and “</i><a href=\"https://nyupress.org/9780814794524/watch-this/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism</i></a><i>.”</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His stand-up sometimes felt less like a comedy special and more like a traditional Southern testimony service."},"description":{"basic":"His stand-up sometimes felt less like a comedy special and more like a traditional Southern testimony service."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a378c3d8ee723c70220210a2ac152f8810b3c72bf67b2f6a9ec62616053ec6db"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"ENTER-VID-FOXX-WHAT-HAPPENED-REVIEW-2-MCT","width":3000,"caption":"Jamie Foxx at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta performing his new Netflix stand-up special “What Had Happened Was...” (Parrish Lewis/Netflix/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LNRCKYX3QTHKCWSWXOUPFDXZMM.jpg","height":2002,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LNRCKYX3QTHKCWSWXOUPFDXZMM.jpg?auth=a378c3d8ee723c70220210a2ac152f8810b3c72bf67b2f6a9ec62616053ec6db&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-foxhole-effect-and-jamie-foxxs-revival-on-netflix/TZEF4B2IXNF4ZGIWS4D42HECAE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-31T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jonathan Lee Walton","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The foxhole effect: Jamie Foxx’s revival on Netflix"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-31T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-31T11:00:07.111Z","_id":"TZEF4B2IXNF4ZGIWS4D42HECAE","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"a378c3d8ee723c70220210a2ac152f8810b3c72bf67b2f6a9ec62616053ec6db"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"ENTER-VID-FOXX-WHAT-HAPPENED-REVIEW-2-MCT","width":3000,"caption":"Jamie Foxx at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta performing his new Netflix stand-up special “What Had Happened Was...” (Parrish Lewis/Netflix/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/LNRCKYX3QTHKCWSWXOUPFDXZMM.jpg","height":2002,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/LNRCKYX3QTHKCWSWXOUPFDXZMM.jpg?auth=a378c3d8ee723c70220210a2ac152f8810b3c72bf67b2f6a9ec62616053ec6db&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"VUKAW2WGKBGVVJ3G6SYUK5NBWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812626},"type":"text","content":"The accolades for President Jimmy Carter have touched on some of the truly important things he did as president and in the 44 years since he returned to Plains, Georgia."},{"_id":"P746ICB3BJFVZJP6QZTCUMGBSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812627},"type":"text","content":"I had a chance to see some of his daily challenges and opportunities. It was intriguing to watch <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/us-news/jimmy-carter-president-dead-b8a5f926\" target=\"_blank\">the life of a polymath</a>, someone interested in everything and becoming an expert in so many fields — from farming to nuclear physics, writing, woodworking, fly-fishing, geography, theology and global health."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"c24822f212a391b6aae32b284ed5c2d39d44aa19b7e916284108ec4cfda479dc"},"caption":"William \"Bill\" Foege","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author","byline":"contributed"}]},"subtitle":"William \"Bill\" Foege","width":552,"creditIPTC":"contributed","_id":"4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","owner":"andre.jackson@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/S0lMfhpuIKgTcACm_xqyS0QEi-o=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Dr. Bill Foege.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"F42GHCSYWJA5DFQ7XOBGOXTWXU"},"created_date":"2023-05-11T19:03:32Z","last_updated_date":"2023-05-11T19:03:32Z","alignment":"right","height":768,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg?auth=c24822f212a391b6aae32b284ed5c2d39d44aa19b7e916284108ec4cfda479dc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"CLU5WWVCRZEOTDVNIQJW53BHGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812628},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When he asked me to become <a href=\"https://sph.emory.edu/departments/gh/fellows/foege/bill-foege/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">executive director of the Carter Center</a>, his side of the bargain was that he would become interested in global health. Interested was an understatement. He went from interest to expert. A request for information on onchocerciasis (river blindness) led to a second request the next day for more information. Then he went from interest to expert to activist."},{"_id":"3PRA2BUURRH5XCJO7MXEVGLN4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812629},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Having Carter, as a politician, become interested in global health changed the field. He would meet with heads of state and with their cabinets and discuss an array of neglected diseases and possible solutions. If the head of state became interested, both the minister of health and the minister of finance would become interested. Carter demonstrated that improvements in public health require the input of politicians working with public health experts. Today, several dozen neglected diseases have their own programs at the <a href=\"https://www.taskforce.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Task Force for Global Health</a> in Atlanta and at the <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Carter Center</a>."},{"_id":"IRV6KI7QEVG4LEY4W7ASIDZTPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":306,"comment":"Gowan "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812630},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"He inspired African leaders to engage in health projects. Jerry Rawlings, as head of state in Ghana, toured the country, giving demonstrations on how to <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5953361/\" target=\"_blank\">avoid Guinea worm</a> and how to <a href=\"https://www.delreport.com/tag/jerry-rawlings/?q=hunger-numbers-stubbornly-high-for-three-consecutive-years-as-global-crises-deepen-united-nations-un-report&pr=310553&lang=en\" target=\"_blank\">improve nutrition</a> with corn that contained all the essential amino acids. Gen. Mahamane Touré in Mali and Gen. Yakubu Gowon in Nigeria, both heads of state, also became active health workers."},{"_id":"B4UOY6LHJVFFVPMVR4LPBJHJSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":19,"comment":","},{"pos":28,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812631},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter and his wife Rosalynn worked as a team. At meetings, Rosalynn Carter would keep notes, which he would use when he wrote in his journal. He kept precise notes on the people they met and subjects discussed. Mrs. Carter was not only the scribe but also the corrector if he said something she regarded as incorrect. I can still hear her saying, “Jimmy, you know that is not how it happened!” And he would accept her correction."},{"_id":"UCOWU64BKFFG7KQSI4RD3P3C2E","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"HJBVUCQG4VH4TDSWFTNIFRENEI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Remembering Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/"},{"_id":"PHMJZUKQWJDVXAUPE6HJ4S3LTY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812632},"type":"text","content":"Some of my minor observations remain most vivid. President Carter never wasted a minute. Most of us, if faced with 10 minutes free before an event, waste those minutes. Not Carter. He would read the list in his mind of things that needed to be done and make a phone call, dictate a note or ask a question."},{"_id":"X54ESCUVNZCSLL2PBK2M45M6WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812633},"type":"text","content":"Such use of every minute adds up in a century of living, but he combined this with technological developments that allowed him to do things impossible for even the best organized polymath in the past. Not held to the limitations of a quill and ink, he could write as much in a year as Shakespeare did in a lifetime, authoring <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/news/publications/carter_books/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">more than 30 books</a> in his <i>spare </i>time. He could visit and study as many cultures in a year as Marco Polo did in a lifetime, and he could be exposed to as much information in a year as Aristotle in a century. His functional life expectancy far exceeded his chronological life expectancy."},{"_id":"IEGYL544P5EUDH7DE7OVTUPF6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812634},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s time efficiency was evident in his trips to Africa. His staff would be exhausted from activities that started with breakfast meetings and went until after dinner. The Carters, however, would have already gone running and birding by that first breakfast meeting. And, at the end of the day, they would multitask, practicing theology and linguistics by reading the Bible in Spanish."},{"_id":"V6K7SH5MTNEWVLJSNOFVZTB3RY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812635},"type":"text","content":"President Carter revealed to me that his ability to speak without notes was the result of a trick he had learned. He would make an outline on a 3x5 card and place it in his pocket as insurance if needed, but he would visualize what was on that card as he spoke."},{"_id":"TQKU2KEZSZFB7IQJHG6BGQB2UM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812636},"type":"text","content":"One example: On a ride from a New York hotel to the United Nations, where he was about to give a talk on child survival, he asked if there was anything I wanted him to say. I mentioned three things — all of which he elaborated on as he spoke, without notes."},{"_id":"KDV3O36M3ZH2LC75Y6AY6PSZ2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812637},"type":"text","content":"He might have been the most competitive person I have known. Even a practical joke would be met with an escalation. And that provided much satisfaction in the daily work environment."},{"_id":"DDUP7HQR75DSXAXDTM73YCJR4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812638},"type":"text","content":"Despite the frequent press coverage of Carter’s activities, some things were never the subject of reports. After leaving the Carter Center, he invited me to Plains for a planning session to outline future global health activities. His upper lip was swollen, and he dismissed my questioning by saying he had hit it. I later discovered he had been cutting the church lawn on a riding mower and ducked when a tree limb snapped back, hitting his upper lip on the steering wheel. I didn’t think the world would believe an ex-president was taking his turn to mow the church lawn with no publicity. But I learned that when Jimmy Carter was cutting grass, Rosalynn Carter was inside the church cleaning the bathrooms."},{"_id":"YZW45D6IPJATNHKMN6KO4XEDWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812639},"type":"text","content":"The world would never know."},{"_id":"4WGZ32E4YBGNZJE2W4REE57X2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589812640},"type":"text","content":"How could we have been so fortunate as to have this humble leadership for a great country?"},{"_id":"UICOKNK3PZHHLD2HSLHKNK6GNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735593185986},"type":"text","content":"<i>William H. Foege is a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a physician and epidemiologist whose global health contributions led to the eradication of smallpox in the late 1970s. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His curiosity knew no bounds. Nor did his commitment to a better world."},"description":{"basic":"His curiosity knew no bounds. Nor did his commitment to a better world."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"c4dce5f473f54093d65ac81a8bbc2f5d494a7990e278fba1ec14c450ffe32d55"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"Carter Center/Louise Gubb","name":"The Carter Center","type":"author","byline":"The Carter Center","slug":"the-carter-center"}]},"subtitle":"Photos: Jimmy Carter’s presidency","width":3939,"caption":"Jimmy Carter consoles a young patient having a Guinea worm removed from her body in Savelugu, Ghana, in February 2007. 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(Courtesy of The Carter Center)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EQP4K2JDCCVBPOT75MVISJNYO4.jpg","height":2616,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EQP4K2JDCCVBPOT75MVISJNYO4.jpg?auth=c4dce5f473f54093d65ac81a8bbc2f5d494a7990e278fba1ec14c450ffe32d55&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"YSG65W7TIJDMBOUBWKQBZOUPPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420291},"type":"text","content":"On arriving in Atlanta at the beginning of 2011, I got an immediate sense of the energy of former President Jimmy Carter."},{"_id":"JBCN4YWEDJHH3KU3PPRNGYJ46E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420292},"type":"text","content":"A friend invited me to attend the quarterly meeting of the Carter Center’s Board of Councilors."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"969ce35a1d3e174ae86df53008275b6fb34c19390c56d5ffb75f74cf05aaadfa"},"caption":"Kevin Riley, former AJC editor","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Kevin Riley","width":874,"_id":"E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/VJedpR7kb2gDK13_mhLMCcBqQhs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/VJedpR7kb2gDK13_mhLMCcBqQhs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/VJedpR7kb2gDK13_mhLMCcBqQhs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/OE2G0aTGCILZMJWkWooQuXXXkGE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Kevin Riley.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"NLCYNOWCC5GZBA2S2H2ACUKZGU"},"created_date":"2024-12-30T20:10:57Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-30T20:10:57Z","alignment":"right","height":1062,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/E4VOURLZTFBPJPHZ7NEB5JFHQ4.jpg?auth=969ce35a1d3e174ae86df53008275b6fb34c19390c56d5ffb75f74cf05aaadfa&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"P73PYX5AWZB4FHHM6643Z7CN7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420293},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"My friend held out the possibility of meeting Carter, who he said often mingled with the crowd at the pre-meeting, early morning coffee hour. The board is a group of Atlanta and Georgia leaders who serve as advisers and advocates for the center’s work."},{"_id":"2NQC2XDWPFAZHDWBHO227SKUGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420294},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Of course, I leaped at the chance to meet a former president, something I’d never done."},{"_id":"JTOS67YCHZHWXIIRG5V6LFOGME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420295},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As it turned out, I was introduced to Carter, who immediately declared himself a loyal reader of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He made a point of welcoming me to Georgia; I tried to avoid spilling my coffee."},{"_id":"VGSHSIUC3RG4HJCG3HLFFGSSB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420296},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As the formal meeting began, I settled into a seat near the back of the room, looking forward to calling my mother, a Carter fan. But he had a surprise for me."},{"_id":"7RBB7FN6XFA23L2YDNDJLYDMTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420297},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In his remarks near the conclusion of the meeting, the man who’d negotiated the Camp David Accords offered his opinion on recent developments in the Middle East. He made clear that he believed the deal he’d brokered wasn’t being honored. He said he’d written an opinion piece about it but was having trouble getting American newspapers to publish it because his views weren’t popular."},{"_id":"R3UEDPKQSRGPRGVEKB5MZHK2KQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420298},"type":"text","content":"“The editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is here today,” he said. He told the crowd he didn’t know if we’d publish his piece."},{"_id":"CR2P3LUOJJC5PFVFNIL7PHRYCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420299},"type":"text","content":"My satisfying sense of accomplishment had been turned on me. A former president had called me out before a crowd."},{"_id":"F7SOEIT3QZGIFK3XGXLVSJSQ5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420300},"type":"text","content":"As the meeting came to a close, I lingered and then slowly made my way to the stage. I spotted what I assumed to be Secret Service agents and figured I shouldn’t hurry to the front or move too quickly."},{"_id":"LL7ZGTIZRRHSXCAREKAFH5RILE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420301},"type":"text","content":"I got Carter’s attention."},{"_id":"2QJDNILMZFE7VHSF6Y354L3OLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420302},"type":"text","content":"“Mr. President, I haven’t seen that op-ed,” I said. “But I promise you I will read it, and we’ll consider publishing it.”"},{"_id":"WRVYJKDLVNB7LMOCKLIULLHXQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420303},"type":"text","content":"It seemed like the least I could do."},{"_id":"WYCXWURMSJH4XBGTJNKJNSX3VY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420304},"type":"text","content":"(We would later publish a piece by Carter on the issue.)"},{"_id":"N5MEFH2OSNAJTGFQPSQF6ZWXHI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PSVISBSXZVFIPHF5JSASP6ZGEY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Jimmy Carter pays tribute to reporter who exposed election fraud","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/jimmy-carter-pays-tribute-reporter-who-exposed-election-fraud/IvUl8ydqLUV7Tgu7mB3qGI/"},{"_id":"QJX7WCBEEFFJJEHH47CJOU4CDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420305},"type":"text","content":"That was my first encounter with Carter, who died Sunday at 100. But he seemed determined to make sure it wouldn’t be my last."},{"_id":"LGGW5O4YQVC6NPCCHBINDBDLP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420306},"type":"text","content":"By the time I got to my car after that meeting, I had an email from Carter with his opinion piece attached. By the time I got to the office, I had an invitation to dinner with Rosalynn and him."},{"_id":"CD34TFBLS5FSRJXK3I5PKVTQJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420307},"type":"text","content":"Both emails were signed “Jimmy.”"},{"_id":"P2SBIDOLTZCEHEEXN43FICTQJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420308},"type":"text","content":"After months of trying to schedule the dinner — I’m sure it was Carter’s calendar that was the challenge — I showed up later that year at the former first couple’s Carter Center apartment. He’d encouraged me to bring along several of my colleagues."},{"_id":"P62DFHEBXJEKPKEX2VOZE7ZUTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420309},"type":"text","content":"Carter gave us a tour of his apartment, a modest and comfortable space. Some things were in disarray because of a visit from a grandson. He even showed us his bedroom."},{"_id":"5VTYGMVXP5G7RNXLDZNEL5HCYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420310},"type":"text","content":"Dinner conversation was comfortable, cordial, unassuming and friendly. There seemed to be no subject with which Carters were unfamiliar, and they offered well-developed opinions and unique perspectives. A few things stood out from the notes I made immediately afterward:"},{"_id":"JI5AXVG7BJCCLK6RUWDGMXQPFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420311},"type":"text","content":"Carter spoke with passion about the challenges in the Middle East. It was remarkable to hear him refer to world figures in the way a person talks about intimate friends. His concerns and hopes for the region were personal and sincere."},{"_id":"HYM5H5ZQE5FRFG6PPBN2IQGRHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420312},"type":"text","content":"He expressed disappointment in the United States’ election system, citing particularly the dangers of so much money being spent by candidates and their supporters. He made a point of noting that the <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/peace/democracy/us-elections.html\" target=\"_blank\">Carter Center</a>, which had gained international status for monitoring elections, would not, if asked, monitor an election in our country because of the rules and practices we follow. (I have recalled this part of the conversation often; Carter anticipated the problems we’d encounter with elections well before it became an issue in 2020.)"},{"_id":"QFGQPEEVHRATZG3GRTD27PFSKY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"VIYNACD2F5EX7MFCAVHFFNB3FA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Kevin Riley visits Jimmy Carter's Sunday school class","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/opinion/seeking-order-when-mister-jimmy-teaches/IY6uz4l4vJtL6W0gEbfbDI/"},{"_id":"4HTP7EDOKVFTZPLAFI4SEBPHJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420313},"type":"text","content":"I asked Carter whether he thought it was possible for a president to be truly successful, given the endless demands of the job, and the complications of the world — and the need to respond almost perfectly to all of them."},{"_id":"V6GN6TAMR5FJLJNYIEHEJRQVZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420314},"type":"text","content":"“I don’t know,” he said."},{"_id":"X7LCIU6SVBHW5PTOVTY4MW7BSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420315},"type":"text","content":"He said he believed it was possible for him to have been successful, but that he didn’t know if that was still true."},{"_id":"F5QAW6JS5FHPFKL7FJOTX2JSEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420316},"type":"text","content":"With the realities of modern politics, bold moves are hard to make, he said. He referenced his decision to <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/12/29/1161146405/president-jimmy-carter-legacy-panama\" target=\"_blank\">give up control of the Panama Canal</a> as an example of something that took great political will."},{"_id":"BNDLCMHWGZF5TLWLUZ4QASNWAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420317},"type":"text","content":"I got to see Carter on other occasions, including in his time visiting with students at Emory University. He had a tradition of meeting with the school’s first-year students."},{"_id":"VCMRXP37VBAR5CXRJSWPZDULOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420318},"type":"text","content":"When I sat in on a journalism class he visited in 2012, I observed as he offered unique insights into how the media work — and how it affected his political life."},{"_id":"ZQU7KMHUYNF75B72GMGMQLUOXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420319},"type":"text","content":"On that occasion, Carter told the story of his first campaign for public office, when he ran for the Georgia state Senate in 1962. Carter explained to students that the Supreme Court had outlawed Georgia’s “county unit” system, basing its ruling on the principle of “one-man, one-vote.”"},{"_id":"MWD6AAYLUJBCNMFBXHLSPVR3NU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":70,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420320},"type":"text","content":"Carter told of an Atlanta Journal reporter saving his political career when the <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/politics/jimmy-carter/little-known-history-jimmy-carter-stolen-georgia-election/85-5cb57de2-8549-4bad-b02b-64d2285852ae\" target=\"_blank\">journalist exposed voter fraud in Quitman County</a>, which <a href=\"https://millercenter.org/president/carter/life-before-the-presidency\" target=\"_blank\">overturned a primary race</a> in Carter’s favor."},{"_id":"W4DPEXFIKNEE5IWUUOMMIYMZ7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420321},"type":"text","content":"That example of the good work journalism can do was followed by his analysis of current state of media."},{"_id":"WVUPK3SKD5AWRBLFT6PXBYRS3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420322},"type":"text","content":"When Carter was president, he noted, he played to morning newspapers and the 6 p.m. network news. Today’s immediate and constant coverage requires a president to respond and react more quickly — and with less information and consideration."},{"_id":"4HIQVXRKPJAWZCKQ5I4B4J6FM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420323},"type":"text","content":"But it was a trip to Plains in 2015 that remains a personal highlight for me."},{"_id":"EEIOG7AI5BDJDKU7AXTJ7DTBGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420324},"type":"text","content":"At that time, Carter was getting a lot of attention for attending and teaching Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church."},{"_id":"7K3HM4BB3VGN5I4DOTTZ4K25MM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420325},"type":"text","content":"We’d written about it, as had many other news outlets."},{"_id":"P45NKPBPMZBFFBHHWKH3WZDRQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420326},"type":"text","content":"I couldn’t resist the chance to see it for myself."},{"_id":"QHKNJJSDANDPPIDV4XUT7VLCRU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420327},"type":"text","content":"A crowd lined up early in the morning (seats were first-come, first-serve) and was shepherded into the church. Among the highlights that day was the attendees’ rendition of “Happy Birthday;” Carter had celebrated his 91st the day before."},{"_id":"56BRTPAA2FCEDJJBSE2YMLQ5GQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420328},"type":"text","content":"After Carter’s class and the service — and two passes of the collection plate — Carter and his wife made themselves available for pictures."},{"_id":"V4QJWML52BFLNF473IM3OMXVAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420329},"type":"text","content":"Of course, I felt like I had to get one to mark the occasion."},{"_id":"3IBBV6SAUNBTPMCL3W4J7HT2UA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735589420330},"type":"text","content":"As always, Carter greeted me enthusiastically. And he reminded me that he read The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that morning, as he did every day."},{"_id":"OF6UQHTVKRGJJL6LKMCLAACHFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735590261620},"type":"text","content":"<i>Kevin Riley was the editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 2011 to 2023.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"I leaped at the chance to meet a former president. And that started a decade-long relationship."},"description":{"basic":"I leaped at the chance to meet a former president. And that started a decade-long relationship."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"87840ea55ee4bc897eff37a8565b8809b6a44dbc2fe750b57447bb3cca642348"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Hendren","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ben Hendren","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Flowers, candles and peanuts line the sign at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta,Georgia after the death of the former president.","width":6776,"caption":"Flowers adorn the sign in front of the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta on Dec. 30. (Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/26RJ7XNMHXWOX6FROWIEPGBHP4.jpg","height":4520,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/26RJ7XNMHXWOX6FROWIEPGBHP4.jpg?auth=87840ea55ee4bc897eff37a8565b8809b6a44dbc2fe750b57447bb3cca642348&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-time-jimmy-carter-called-me-out-in-front-of-a-crowd/6GV7SZ7FEZAOXAYV64NE2YPL4I/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-31T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a3449a59-7307-4185-8ec0-ba9525f45b11.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"kriley@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajceditor/"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"kriley@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/ajceditor/"}],"name":"Kevin Riley","description":"Kevin Riley is the editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.","_id":"kevin-riley","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Riley","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a3449a59-7307-4185-8ec0-ba9525f45b11.png","role":"Editor-at-large","education":[],"longBio":"Kevin Riley is the former Editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a position he was named to in January 2011. Kevin is a long-time employee of Cox Enterprises and began his career in 1983 at the Dayton Daily News while a student at the University of Dayton. \n\nDuring his time in Atlanta, he has emphasized the newspaper’s investigative journalism. The newspaper was named a finalist for The Pulitzer Prize in 2017. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has also been recognized with two Emmy awards for broadcast projects related to its investigative reporting during Kevin’s tenure.\n\nKevin is an award-winning podcaster, receiving the American Bar Association’s prestigious Silver Gavel Award in 2018. His podcast, which was part of the AJC’s popular “Breakdown” series, recounted his experience as a jury foreman in a Fulton County double-murder case. He testified before U.S. House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law in 2019 on the importance of local journalism, and the impact that social media and the large tech companies are having on it. He is also a regular guest on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s “Political Rewind.”","org":"ajc","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/ajceditor/","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Kevin Riley is the editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.","type":"author","expertise":"1","firstName":"Kevin","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-2161","_id":"kevin-riley","last_updated_date":"2024-07-25T19:03:02.522Z","bio_page":"/staff/kevin-riley/","byline":"Kevin Riley","email":"kriley@ajc.com","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"/staff/kevin-riley/"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The time Jimmy Carter called me out in front of a crowd"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-31T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-03T12:53:01.586Z","_id":"6GV7SZ7FEZAOXAYV64NE2YPL4I","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"87840ea55ee4bc897eff37a8565b8809b6a44dbc2fe750b57447bb3cca642348"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Hendren","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ben Hendren","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Flowers, candles and peanuts line the sign at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta,Georgia after the death of the former president.","width":6776,"caption":"Flowers adorn the sign in front of the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta on Dec. 30. (Ben Hendren for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/26RJ7XNMHXWOX6FROWIEPGBHP4.jpg","height":4520,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/26RJ7XNMHXWOX6FROWIEPGBHP4.jpg?auth=87840ea55ee4bc897eff37a8565b8809b6a44dbc2fe750b57447bb3cca642348&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"A3WE7HZESBEUFFETYDVMLOQVBM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981873},"type":"text","content":"When former President Jimmy Carter died Sunday, the world lost a luminary figure. Carter was a man whose life and servant leadership resonate deeply with the age-old Jewish mystical tradition of the <a href=\"https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/837699/jewish/Who-Are-the-36-Hidden-Tzadikim.htm\" target=\"_blank\">36 righteous men</a>."},{"_id":"MGX5LZWTS5GRNCFBEVOX4R5M3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735588673922},"type":"text","content":"According to this belief, extraordinary individuals walk among us, holding back the darkness that threatens to engulf humanity. I believe that this elite group of remarkable people included the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and Carter, a man who embodied the essence of righteousness, serving as a moral compass in turbulent times."},{"_id":"W6PV7IPUAFCPZHHR4YNV7VYTRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":34,"comment":"Georgia, "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981874},"type":"text","content":"Born in the small town of Plains, Carter’s journey from humble beginnings to the highest office in the land is nothing short of incredible. His upbringing on a peanut farm instilled in him a sense of hard work and community, values that would shape his political career and presidency."},{"_id":"GGYMDE7X7ZEMRKF2TSOZKDQVNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735588673924},"type":"text","content":"Yet, he was more than just a politician; he was a statesman whom I greatly admired. Carter understood the importance of elected office, and he knew that leadership is not merely a position of power but a call to service."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08"},"caption":"John Eaves","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"bda47fee-994a-11ea-9ad2-27c8c00e8173","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"Rebecca Breyer","type":"author","byline":"Rebecca Breyer","slug":"rebecca-breyer"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia 2020: Where 7th District Democratic candidates stand on the issues","width":700,"first_publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","_id":"RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","comments":[],"keywords":["politicsajc","isabetai","ga-government.ajc","georgia-news.ajc"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","takenOn":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/I3nfdg_Ib-b5z3G-aIHRYmT1KEA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p11/AJC/2020/05/18/Images/eaves.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"IESXFUZHINFCREG2EANYRQE77Q"},"created_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","alignment":"right","publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","height":700,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg?auth=4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"RK5JF2XFSJHJ3LIWHD2ZPVMBMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981875},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As an 18-year-old freshman at Morehouse College, I cast my first vote in a presidential election in 1980 for Carter, a choice that felt deeply personal. My uncle, Reginald Eaves, the former commissioner of Public Safety in Atlanta, knew Carter on a first-name basis, adding a layer of connection to this extraordinary man. This personal relationship, albeit indirect, made me feel as if I was part of something larger than myself — a movement toward a better, more equitable society."},{"_id":"7HDFHYP62VB4VHP6AKOU7POQ44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":214,"comment":" Arab oil embargo"},{"pos":305,"comment":" in 1979"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981876},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter’s presidency, from 1977 to 1981, was marred by economic challenges and political strife. As a teen in 1979, I witnessed the inconvenience of long lines at the gas stations with fuel being rationed during the energy crisis and the futility of the U.S. government in resolving the Iran hostage crisis. "},{"_id":"7IHCTH2ATJGXHMWO2NPZ72SSHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Through these turbulent times, however, Carter’s time in office was marked by integrity and honesty. His commitment to peace was most evident in his role as a mediator in the Camp David Accords, in which he convened diplomatic talks between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, resulting in a peace agreement in the Middle East."},{"_id":"TGN642FG2ZGLJBOPD2WOLC5KIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Here was a leader who recognized that diplomacy and dialogue could bridge even the widest chasms of conflict, earning him a <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2002/carter/facts/\" target=\"_blank\">Nobel Peace Prize in 2002</a>."},{"_id":"ANG664C6VZAEZHG6YWCEXEZRDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981877},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"However, what truly set Carter apart was not his achievements during his presidency but the profound impact of his postpresidential life. Though many former presidents retreat into the shadows of their legacies, Carter stepped into the light, embodying the very principles he espoused while in office. "},{"_id":"GNOEOJFOMZHLTGRQEQZF66DGPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"His postpresidency work with Habitat for Humanity is one of the most significant aspects of his legacy. Building homes for those in need is more than just a charitable endeavor; it is a testament to his belief that every individual deserves dignity and a place to call home."},{"_id":"SXYNVZFHXFBZXMGLAI5NJQNT74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981878},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter’s commitment to humanitarian efforts extended beyond the shores of the United States to the global community. "},{"_id":"NSMN3PULNRGMJIQGFY3WSRFIEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"His tireless work to <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/health/guinea_worm/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">eradicate guinea worm disease</a> and <a href=\"https://www.cartercenter.org/health/malaria_control/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">malaria</a> in West Africa showcased his dedication to alleviating human suffering. He spent years mobilizing resources, raising awareness and rallying communities around the world to address these preventable diseases. His passion for service was not limited to grand gestures; it was woven into the fabric of his daily life."},{"_id":"NK3RTL4RWZBS7LFF6CE3JBUIJY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KKR3HQQ2KVE43BNC7OUEFZH4TY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The AJC: Remembering Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/"},{"_id":"ERCEWB4IHNHDHFMLJSAT2SGJ34","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981879},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s accessibility and approachability as a former president are rare qualities in political figures. "},{"_id":"T3IKMJU7QVARHPVHJVA55F3VUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"He became a fixture at <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/video/news/politics/jimmy-carter/atlanta-braves-reflect-on-jimmy-carters-life/85-177c5707-c79a-434e-aaab-3f71fc5451c1\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Braves baseball games</a>, kissed wife Rosalynn on “<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_wq6HHU09s\" target=\"_blank\">kiss cam</a>” at Atlanta Hawks games, famously sat in the economy section on commercial flights and regularly taught Sunday School at his church in Plains. These acts of humility bridged the gap between the role of a former president and the everyday citizen, reminding us that leaders, too, are human. "},{"_id":"CRQAALCBIREC3B6W2AOWLHN3NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In an era of political division, his example serves as a blueprint for how public officials should conduct themselves: grounded in compassion, empathy and a commitment to the greater good."},{"_id":"KTZ4BEPZVZELFEY2YOOPV6BSQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981880},"type":"text","content":"As I reflect on Carter’s legacy, it is essential to recognize that his impact extends beyond the confines of American politics. He inspired generations of leaders and citizens alike to embody the values of service, integrity and moral courage. In a world often plagued by cynicism and disillusionment, Carter’s life reminds us of the power of hope and the potential for positive change."},{"_id":"6ZC7YZMDZBBGJANOM2HM3K7HKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579981881},"type":"text","content":"I mourn the loss of President Carter, but I celebrate the indelible mark he left on the world. He showed us that righteousness is not defined by public accolades or grand achievements but by the quiet, steadfast commitment to making the world a better place for all. "},{"_id":"CWM3RO4MINFRDEY5P55ITV5AGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In many ways, he was one of those 36 righteous men, a beacon of light in dark times, holding back despair through his unwavering dedication to service."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"His passion for service was not limited to grand gestures; it was woven into the fabric of his daily life."},"description":{"basic":"His passion for service was not limited to grand gestures; it was woven into the fabric of his daily life."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"b36bb407092ce276a365b9b093d4039d1b52f313337863b0fa24fcb0a32dfd10"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Bazemore","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Obit Jimmy Carter A Life","width":2865,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school on Sept. 22, 2009, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. (John Bazemore/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JIQKN5H52PU6EMOY65GXU3B74Y.jpg","height":1910,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JIQKN5H52PU6EMOY65GXU3B74Y.jpg?auth=b36bb407092ce276a365b9b093d4039d1b52f313337863b0fa24fcb0a32dfd10&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-jimmy-carter-was-proof-that-the-righteous-walk-among-us/YK5AG4E775C3NGRFU5FT7MUKHM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-30T19:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"John Eaves","description":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","_id":"jheaves","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Eaves","image":"","role":"Contributing columnist","education":[],"longBio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, county government.","firstName":"John","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"H.","_id":"jheaves","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-05-22T11:53:54.103Z","byline":"John H. Eaves","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Jimmy Carter was proof that the righteous walk among us "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-30T19:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-30T20:09:41.886Z","_id":"YK5AG4E775C3NGRFU5FT7MUKHM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"b36bb407092ce276a365b9b093d4039d1b52f313337863b0fa24fcb0a32dfd10"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Bazemore","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Obit Jimmy Carter A Life","width":2865,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school on Sept. 22, 2009, at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. (John Bazemore/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/JIQKN5H52PU6EMOY65GXU3B74Y.jpg","height":1910,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/JIQKN5H52PU6EMOY65GXU3B74Y.jpg?auth=b36bb407092ce276a365b9b093d4039d1b52f313337863b0fa24fcb0a32dfd10&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"EQJ7GS4LAREUHM566XB2UGMSEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466773},"type":"text","content":"The state of Georgia, the nation and the world lost a remarkable human being Sunday night."},{"_id":"DULTPYUBRND4XI6UMX5TTHB64M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466774},"type":"text","content":"President James Earl Carter Jr., whose improbable rise from peanut farmer to president, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/\" target=\"_blank\">died at 100</a>, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/rosalynn-carter-obituary/\" target=\"_blank\">joining his beloved Rosalynn</a>."},{"_id":"FEZ3EIJK6FFKLAOO5SL4XSOUHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466775},"type":"text","content":"America’s 39th president leaves behind a legacy of service, honor and decency."},{"_id":"W2VKYBIC4JDLHJRKBJ4QBW44VE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466776},"type":"text","content":"Before he was president, Jimmy Carter served the people of Georgia. He took office under the Gold Dome in 1971, declaring, “I believe I know our people of this state as well as anyone could. Based on this knowledge of Georgians; north and south, rural and urban, liberal and conservative, I say to you quite frankly, that the time of racial discrimination is over.”"},{"_id":"KK5ZPLWPPJBENM4ZBWVA23Z2PQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466777},"type":"text","content":"President Carter always led with character."},{"_id":"7NMLADJAMZFKHINQCOY6FW4TCE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466778},"type":"text","content":"Though critics and the history books might quibble with his policy decisions or the effectiveness of his presidency, no one can challenge Carter’s tireless commitment to leaving the world a better place for the next generation."},{"_id":"VCCPOEFA7VAKDI5QFBWVLDBEBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466779},"type":"text","content":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has covered Carter’s life and legacy for two-thirds of a century, from the peanut farms of Plains, to the Georgia state Senate, to the Governor’s Mansion to the White House and the world stage. We have had a front-row seat to the entirety of his remarkable life. The <a href=\"https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-jimmy-carter-p/119151145/\" target=\"_blank\">earliest known mention of Carter</a> in our coverage was in 1938, when he was barely a teenager."},{"_id":"QIK6PGQKTVAFBDX6BIFLI5IRDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466780},"type":"text","content":"As his years advanced and his health declined, our team documented Carter’s dignified final days, redefining the humanity of hospice care, cherishing his time with his beloved bride of 77 years and celebrating his 100th birthday."},{"_id":"VOAT43URJZBBBCAAILO5C6NJ64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466781},"type":"text","content":"After The AJC broke the news of the president’s death, reporters, editors, photographers and producers came together to call sources, write updates, craft headlines — all to get the news to our audiences urgently and comprehensively. In the coming days and weeks, our team will continue to shed light on the ways that Carter mattered to Georgia, to America and to the world."},{"_id":"4ZN56O22P5FNLH4MEEAAVHWM5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466782},"type":"text","content":"As the world mourns, we have compiled decades of in-depth coverage of President Carter’s life and his legacy for our subscribers."},{"_id":"CJ6ALTA745GAVDQ6GBNT3WOZ4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466783},"type":"text","content":"AJC readers will find:"},{"_id":"DW6CVPHZBFAVBCG6Q43XD4SBAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466784},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/small-southwest-georgia-town-where-former-president-lived-says-goodbye/V5PXK3VB4BAMTPWAECYFEHHY5U/\">Dispatches from the President’s hometown of Plains</a>"},{"_id":"JLXSS6RIQFG7TE5CWHKSHDFN4A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466785},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/at-carter-center-atlantans-bring-peanuts-flowers-to-mourn-passing-of-an-era/RHQIQBZU6FCJHPVL6BKEL33E4M/\">Tributes from across Atlanta and Georgia</a>"},{"_id":"GCENX75XLZHPHCJOJOG327G55A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466786},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/jon-meacham-jimmy-carter-was-a-big-part-of-americas-soul/OCHIJDQK7NCFHB3JGMOJEDEWTA/\">Exclusive commentary from presidential historian Jon Meacham</a>"},{"_id":"BWPE5KS26JENTBGZ3TI6HTBKXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466787},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/atlanta-editorial-cartoonist-set-the-standard-for-jimmy-carter/FW6TVV4SPNAZBODMS7OJ5KPF74/\">Decades of cartoons, including from Pulitzer Prize-winner Mike Luckovich</a>"},{"_id":"I4IQHKDGIFCK7PK7JXSB3IZJWY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466788},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jimmy-carter-georgia-roots-global-legacy/id1356662668?i=1000682063401\">A special edition of the Politically Georgia Podcast</a>"},{"_id":"VQB6E7JXZBAVHDH5MSYQJVF7EA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466789},"type":"text","content":"And, as the president takes his final journey across the country, from Plains to Atlanta to Washington, where he will lie in state in the Capitol before returning home again, our reporters will be there to document it all."},{"_id":"JYQKJZ76JVFP5JA353RJN5BALI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735579466790},"type":"text","content":"We hope you will join us as we honor the life and times of America’s 39th president."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has covered Carter’s life and legacy for two-thirds of a century."},"description":{"basic":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has covered Carter’s life and legacy for two-thirds of a century."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta 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For 13 tense days, Carter mediated, cajoled and refused to give up."},{"_id":"VZGACXRXN5AFHL2YUHJ7RXXRZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918815},"type":"text","content":"When the <a href=\"https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/camp-david\" target=\"_blank\">Camp David Accords</a> were finally signed, Carter had not just brokered peace between two nations — he had reminded the world that even the deepest divides can be bridged when we recognize what connects us: the universal longing for safety, dignity and peace."},{"_id":"N25SMQ2Z4FHILJSY4PW6JROOW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812217},"type":"text","content":"Carter, who <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/\" target=\"_blank\">died Sunday at age 100</a>, dedicated his life to this belief. Whether fostering international peace or fighting disease and poverty through the Carter Center, he demonstrated that justice and compassion grow when shared."},{"_id":"7AI2AJOYOBFKJCEHRO7Q6RQOZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918817},"type":"text","content":"Yet today, his example feels distant. Tribalism — the belief that “we” and “they” are fundamentally different — has blinded us to this truth. Across debates on immigration, gun violence and racial justice, tribalism convinces us that one group’s gain must come at another’s expense."},{"_id":"HVOFHKIRCRA4VMA5RBZZNWZLD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918818},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s life offers a powerful reminder to reject these false gulfs and see each other, first and foremost, as human."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Jerstad Photographics LP","address":{"locality":"San Antonio","region":"Texas"},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"c9f945afdce38f062ec6860bf74f72e73094b097dd00945fd8b1e33ed9e218b6"},"caption":"Sean Viña","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Robin Jerstad","type":"author","byline":"Robin Jerstad"}]},"subtitle":"Sean Viña","width":2400,"_id":"XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/WdFcH5nMKY62CVVmY9CfsqaMZT0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":["faculty","uiw"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/WdFcH5nMKY62CVVmY9CfsqaMZT0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","takenOn":"2024-08-20T00:00:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/WdFcH5nMKY62CVVmY9CfsqaMZT0=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/QIx8_1CCyKpjvl5EvdwXlYMXZak=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Sean Viña.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FQNCQUTOAZGWVPWZO7LJXEN6PM"},"created_date":"2024-12-30T14:38:16Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-30T14:38:16Z","alignment":"right","height":3600,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XL4A3XPXF5HCRHT2V5FAJAI2SE.jpg?auth=c9f945afdce38f062ec6860bf74f72e73094b097dd00945fd8b1e33ed9e218b6&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"HAQEVAFH2VHGXHE3GAD6O2UNHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812219},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<b>The false gulfs tribalism creates</b>"},{"_id":"6XUUNIRDUBEIHH2BDWDY6KB7XI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812220},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Tribalism persuades us to apply principles selectively, depending on whose humanity we’re willing to see."},{"_id":"UDSSRWVMSJAUJH4PT7LWBF2R4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918822},"type":"text","content":"Conservatives passionately defend Israel’s sovereignty but balk at the idea of Black Americans pursuing autonomy to address centuries of systemic racism. Liberals champion Palestinian liberation but often struggle to extend the same empathy to rural white communities, whose struggles are complicated by perceptions of privilege."},{"_id":"LZFO4LEXQ5C3BJR2NSUWS6Z3RM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812221},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"These inconsistencies reveal how tribalism distorts universal values, creating false gulfs where common ground should exist. Beneath the surface, our desires are not so different: safety, dignity and the chance to thrive."},{"_id":"D4WXXZR34JAW3M4F73SGNZNEIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918824},"type":"text","content":"The challenge is to see past the boundaries tribalism creates and recognize the shared values that connect us."},{"_id":"7RF3LWLJZFDMDKQELPM6A4THJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812222},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At the southern border, for example, imagine a mother fleeing violence, clutching her child as she dreams of safety. Tribalism erases this human story, reducing her to a caricature: an invader to some; a victim to others. Both narratives dehumanize her, ignoring her simple desire to protect her family."},{"_id":"PJXZ6AN6U5A4FFGXI6EKELRGIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918826},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s reflections on human rights remind us that freedom from fear and freedom from want are not privileges. They are universal rights."},{"_id":"KICG66TDDFETDPE5JM3OODT77U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918827},"type":"text","content":"Immigration isn’t just a political issue; it’s a human one. Recognizing this doesn’t erase our identities — it deepens them by connecting us to the humanity behind them."},{"_id":"7WI6PISYHZBB7FORZ4ZLQJE2JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812223},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The same dynamic plays out in debates over gun violence. A father in rural Kentucky keeps his gun close, worried about intruders. A mother in Chicago organizes against gun violence after losing her son. Both wake each morning with the same prayer: let my family be safe tonight."},{"_id":"CZLG2REUKRAPZPUOYJML4VBROU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918829},"type":"text","content":"Yet tribalism turns their shared desire for safety into a battlefield, where compromise feels like betrayal. Carter once said, “We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.” On gun violence, this means recognizing that safety is a universal need, even if the methods to achieve it differ."},{"_id":"C676A4WBMZBJJOC6Q322GVIGM4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LJCYE6TNR5DE7PKI65IEGAWFLU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Remembering Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/"},{"_id":"T4OTXSR55FBEPPKXSHWZCZ4UX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735576090213},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s Camp David Accords remind us that even entrenched conflicts can be bridged by focusing on shared humanity."},{"_id":"JSXZZY6V4BHUTA4ZR3ROHTITLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918832},"type":"text","content":"Israelis seek recognition and safety as a sovereign Jewish state, while Palestinians seek dignity, security and an independent homeland. But because of tribal narratives that frame these goals as mutually exclusive, we’ve stopped seeing the other side as human, and peace becomes impossible."},{"_id":"6G4EDCRCDZEN7IKPPJRQWW532M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918833},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s success at Camp David wasn’t just a diplomatic triumph. It was also a moral one."},{"_id":"VLVE5O2QXNFFJEEW5CK7HF3EXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918834},"type":"text","content":"He proved that peace begins with empathy, with the courage to see the other side not as an enemy but as a partner in the pursuit of justice."},{"_id":"IF5HWW3RB5DGHPBCI626NSUAQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812225},"type":"text","content":"<b>Carter’s final lesson</b>"},{"_id":"L4FZX7L6PFBJJAWTYTIDF5AKXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812226},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s life was a testament to the power of humility and compassion. He saw the divisions to which we cling for what they are: illusions that blind us to our shared humanity."},{"_id":"WDIK4UJUMFFWLEOTPU2CW44Q6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918837},"type":"text","content":"A mother at the border, a father grieving in Chicago, a family in Gaza — Carter saw them all as deserving of dignity, safety and peace."},{"_id":"EEBBHO76FREKLJLYKMIIM4AKLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812227},"type":"text","content":"As we reflect on his legacy, we must ask ourselves: Are we brave enough to see each other as Carter did — not as enemies, but as partners in the pursuit of peace?"},{"_id":"YCWZ4AIUWBBKNLOSM7PCEB6TFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735578918839},"type":"text","content":"If we can reject the false gulfs tribalism creates, we might finally find the justice and dignity we all seek."},{"_id":"7XMNH3LN4BCQRDISRYGPUZAQJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735575812228},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sean M. Viña is an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"He demonstrated that justice and compassion grow when shared."},"description":{"basic":"He demonstrated that justice and compassion grow when shared."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"98abdc11d39ffb9830d1a7cd900517c709602a2909c0c778125d7d6a06677aff"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Uncredited","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"AP Was There Camp David Peace Agreement Jimmy Carter","width":3000,"caption":"In this photo provided by the White House, the principals in the Middle East Summit, from left, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, meet on Sept. 6, 1978, at Camp David in Maryland. 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The recent Netflix film released by Tyler Perry, “The Six Triple Eight,” tells a “Hidden Figures”-style account of the groundbreaking work of the World War II 6888th Central Post Directory Battalion. Filmed partly in Atlanta, Perry’s movie highlights how this unit, the first comprised entirely of Black women serving overseas in World War II, overcame significant odds because of wartime, racism and discrimination to uplift the morale of American soldiers and loved ones. These challenges are all too familiar."},{"_id":"TZHROPQBZJCLTMFIIGRJB74CCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":560,"comment":"*"},{"pos":569,"comment":"*"},{"pos":898,"comment":"("},{"pos":902,"comment":")"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035128},"type":"text","content":"Black women to this day uplift this nation in the face of so many who hate us. The hate is systemic and yet very personal. Fighting for our own well-being and that of our entire democracy is grueling. The women depicted in Perry’s film worked in Europe in February with no heat. They worked in a dilapidated facility that was infested with vermin. The unit worked around the clock to create a processing system that in part still exists. We now work with lower pay for the same job, under unrealistic and inhumane expectations — that we often meet in spite of damage to our own health — and we work with ongoing health disparities, to name a few common obstacles. The women in the 6888th delivered. They surpassed the far too low expectations set for them and implemented a solution ahead of schedule. Today, despite similar odds, Black women still deliver. And the National Council of Negro Women NCNW is their voice."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"cmatthews0906@gmail.com","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"97acb1c27a6f9ab47aa5ff57105dc3b94558a74d18c92fbda221054392ab7857"},"caption":"Shavon Arline-Bradley","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Charles Matthews","type":"author","byline":"Charles Matthews"}]},"subtitle":"Shavon Arline-Bradley","width":3889,"_id":"AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/mbqSWt7P5zcfNhLwE4uKBqfCe3o=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/mbqSWt7P5zcfNhLwE4uKBqfCe3o=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","takenOn":"2023-06-13T00:00:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/mbqSWt7P5zcfNhLwE4uKBqfCe3o=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/395w38jAzMGv6eS9D2NURa4qVYI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Shavon Arline-Bradley.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"KFQP2SOBZRAZJLQHYQWB6UHYUU"},"created_date":"2024-12-27T20:58:30Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-27T20:58:30Z","alignment":"right","height":3335,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AQEBBNNCOBGJTIRTAG2FOF4P4I.jpg?auth=97acb1c27a6f9ab47aa5ff57105dc3b94558a74d18c92fbda221054392ab7857&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"3H3INS7E4RHURM5PP2I7TGILRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035129},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In the movie, Oprah Winfrey plays educator, activist and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. Though depicted briefly in this new release, Bethune, founder and then-president of NCNW, was the catalyst for the creation and deployment of this Black women’s unit — and for ongoing decades of impactful contributions by Black women in America."},{"_id":"KHT72XFA4JH2BLH64PUIVIYE7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":79,"comment":"(WAC) "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035130},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Bethune was a member of the advisory board that created the Women’s Army Corps in WWII, and she served as assistant director of the WAC. In that role, she lobbied for desegregation of the WAC and for an official overseas mission to be granted to the 6888th Battalion."},{"_id":"K6SPZX5PQNCJLB4UEEYONVB7QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035131},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On the day of the film’s release, NCNW hosted a virtual watch party with almost 1,000 families from across the country."},{"_id":"LZQKUUJLUBGZ5HCWC7GS3MYY7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035132},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Since its founding in 1935, NCNW has engaged with multiple U.S. presidents on foreign and domestic affairs, including Presidents Harry S. Truman and Bill Clinton. Bethune was the first Black woman to lead a federal agency as the director of the Office of Minority Affairs of the National Youth Administration under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She also created Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet” of federal agency leads. The organization also has a long-standing presence of leadership with the United Nations and has created partnerships with women in multiple African nations including Ghana, South Africa and Kenya."},{"_id":"CLQ3SEXPZJB27KTJUEY66X62RA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035133},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"NCNW was led by Dorothy I. Height for more than 50 years. She and NCNW were original members of the “Big Six” leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. (Southern Christian Leadership Conference), John Lewis (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), Roy Wilkins (NAACP) and Whitney Young (National Urban League). Height, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, was a key organizer of the 1963 March on Washington."},{"_id":"B7COIQ2VEBAL5JBVASX37ECYGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035134},"type":"text","content":"NCNW, known as the “organization of organizations,” connects more than 2 million women and men. Our mission is to lead, advocate for and empower women of African descent, their families and communities."},{"_id":"6YBG3QSTKNC7BI5XSBQWG7YC2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":318,"comment":"coverage "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035135},"type":"text","content":"Today, NCNW continues to have the ear of the White House and President Joe Biden. I recently returned from Angola as <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/NCNW633/posts/pfbid033Um8V3CqonFN98JvzHXG5BVTt7e9jRMn4CwbXiyJxHPfL4e7H7jy5RouxxTckgXTl?rdid=Nf89oirncFIrRJ07&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fp%2F19rzh7DAm6%2F\" target=\"_blank\">part of a special delegation</a> that traveled with Biden to advance further collaboration in Africa and advance Black communities globally. I proudly led the effort toward getting <a href=\"https://ncnw.org/civil-rights-groups-applaud-medicaid-update-to-cover-anti-obesity-medications/\" target=\"_blank\">anti-obesity medication covered under Medicare</a>. I continue to push for this to become law to help alleviate the health disparity with obesity."},{"_id":"LB4OTQIB6FCO3EGLE5COYWOLV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035136},"type":"text","content":"In 2025, our priorities include continuing the fight for equal pay for Black women, protecting the Affordable Care Act, justice for missing and murdered Black women and girls, and sustaining Black history in schools. We will ensure stories like that of the Six Triple Eight and the impact of Black contributions continue to be told."},{"_id":"YMAA5W2DMZF2PLLH7NDMAHK6YE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035137},"type":"text","content":"<i>Shavon Arline-Bradley is president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Negro Women Inc.</i>"},{"_id":"UJ2JRGG3AJCMDFIMJLEFGKGSZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035138},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"VMFYU7476JB3BLXX4Y5GMASUMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735333035139},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Tyler Perry’s new movie tells the story of how Black women persevere through hate and racism to make this country better for all."},"description":{"basic":"Tyler Perry’s new movie tells the story of how Black women persevere through hate and racism to make this country better for 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I think we think we do, but the next thing you know it’s the 20th of January, and we are still on the couch covered in milk and stale crumbs of the ghosts of Christmas cookies past. Our blue jeans are nowhere near close to fitting better, which makes no sense because we all bought a gym membership. (Sadly, for the gym to do its job, you are required to actually darken the door and hop on a machine. As Sturgill Simpson sings, “Life ain’t fair, and the world is mean.” Indeed, Mr. Simpson.)"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d"},"caption":"Corey Ryan Forrester, comedian from Chickamauga, Ga., and opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Corey Ryan Forrester","width":681,"_id":"FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/UEQTY_IVoEGdMUSYzruSdOAXw9g=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Corey Ryan Forrester.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"IQS5OE7XK5DL5HX7Y7NN64N56A"},"created_date":"2024-08-16T20:55:39Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:25:09Z","alignment":"right","height":681,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg?auth=35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"HXLOB6GU4FDQXF2KYKT2IUCWH4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725250},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It’s one of the few stupid traits we all share equally: Thinking that a different year on the calendar actually means something. You might be saying, “Oh no, I’ve always known resolutions were dumb!” But I bet at least once in your life you’ve said or thought “lord have mercy, I can’t wait for this year to be over!” As if that last page on the calendar is a dam holding back all your hopes and dreams, and the new year will let them bust through. I hate to tell you this, but no. All the things that sucked about 2024 (and, lord, was there a lot) are still gonna be there in full suck mode in 2025, the only difference is that the cute dog-of-the-day calendar you forgot you bought last year is now fire kindling."},{"_id":"UDF67A2TDJHKNCME3QWWQKHYRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725251},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Your boss? Still a jerk. Your house? Still needs a new roof. Your mortgage? Still reliant on you tolerating said jerk boss. One thing that will change in 2025 is who runs the country, so at least we have that to look forward to/pull our hair out about. What a transition it will be, too! We are going from an elderly white man who has been in hiding for months until it came time to pardon some truly awful people to an elderly white man who saved some time by just putting the awful people he knows in his Cabinet. What could go wrong?"},{"_id":"BLDNQRPLBNESXGLJGDTM4ZNPBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725252},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I haven’t made a resolution in quite some time because I got sick of failing and beating myself up over it. I decided it would be better to just remain a bag of trash without all the pretense and stakes. This year, I think I’m gonna change all that. No, I’m not going to vow to lose weight (though, surely to god, I finally will!), and I’m not going to give up nicotine. I’m going to take the next step in my mental health journey and do something I should’ve done a long time ago: I’m going to stop looking at the news on Elon Musk’s virulent message board."},{"_id":"4OLDFP6S4JAZBOQ3N4T7HER2HI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725253},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Don’t get me wrong folks, I don’t really care for any version of social media out there, but, unfortunately for me, it’s an occupational hazard. As a comedian, if I want my work to be seen, I have to post it on social media. To even get work, I have to maintain a near daily presence on most of the popular apps. Wanna know how you’ll know if I hit the lottery or my stories get turned into a Hollywood franchise? You’ll never see my fat butt again! Well, not on social media at least. I’m sure there will be pictures surface of me being escorted out of an Applebees for drinking too many cocktails and screaming “I’m king of the world!” from atop a high-top."},{"_id":"2HGIDOOYWJDJVODEY66OA7UGTA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725254},"type":"text","content":"The idea of social media as a place to keep up with your friends and family is great, but that’s not what it is anymore. At least not on X. It seems that a large percentage of the users think that everything, and I mean everything, needs to be a debate. You liked that new Superman trailer? Idiot. Batman is better and is going to come beat you up."},{"_id":"OM7NAVJAGZAR5JM2KIUWSA7Q5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725255},"type":"text","content":"That type of binary thinking is not limited to superficial things like movies, and it grows exponentially more vitriolic when it comes to news and politics. Used to be when you heard the news, it was from a respected journalist or broadcaster. The facts were reported, and you could determine how you felt about it. Nowadays, opinions are presented as fact, and our country’s “leaders” are being influenced by people I wouldn’t trust to watch my dog while I went to get beer from the gas station."},{"_id":"QKSFH34YRVCWJIBNX2UTEVT7AM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725256},"type":"text","content":"The other day I saw a sitting congressman get called out by an X user called (and I’m not making this up) Catturd. Not only that, but ol’ Catturd was supported by other sitting congressmen."},{"_id":"SRBXPW3GDVDXTFFEN62SPHRWTQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725257},"type":"text","content":"If you didn’t understand that last paragraph, congrats, you are on the internet an appropriate amount of time! If you did understand it, then you know all too well that you and I need to log off and go to the woods — or touch grass, as the kids say."},{"_id":"W4CF6TYQ7VAHZJLGOG63MWX4TE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735324725258},"type":"text","content":"So, this year, I’m making a resolution, and I hope you’ll join me: In 2025, let’s all resolve to stop giving stupid people attention. Maybe we will alleviate our constant depression. Or, at the very least, we will have more time to bake."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"This year, I’m making one resolution, and I hope you’ll join me."},"description":{"basic":"This year, I’m making one resolution, and I hope you’ll join me."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"sp-holidayguide"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"5a3eb814f54c60b17240a7cef55d4e74a0e13214d7a0865471f187d893ac768a"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Yuki Iwamura","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"New Year Crystal New York","width":8192,"caption":"The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball on Dec. 27 in New York. 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(Yuki Iwamura/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PWFLRZ524Z6A4HEDMD6VL74LAI.jpg","height":5464,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PWFLRZ524Z6A4HEDMD6VL74LAI.jpg?auth=5a3eb814f54c60b17240a7cef55d4e74a0e13214d7a0865471f187d893ac768a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"FVQSOQ47NVA53DVJDJ6X3N336Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228954},"type":"text","content":"When President Jimmy Carter helped forge an unlikely peace deal between Israel and Egypt at Camp David in 1978, Atlanta newspaper editorial cartoonist Clifford “Baldy” Baldowski sketched a panel that is now preserved at the Carter Presidential Library."},{"_id":"HXV6K7OAFZHH7GGPZFLHRMEXYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228955},"type":"text","content":"The drawing depicts Carter walking with Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Menachem Begin of Israel under a row of portraits of former presidents who gaze on the three with astonishment. The caption: “Jimmy Carter did WHAT?”"},{"_id":"UF4LYQQ7HFE2XENXM3GOV5CE7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228956},"type":"text","content":"The president wrote Baldowski a letter thanking him for the cartoon, Baldowski’s obituary noted."},{"_id":"EFCTQCFLRBC2TNXBFH2WDGGIZE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"AG2RUD5KJREMXECVEMAVPYPDJE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Mike Luckovich cartoon tribute to Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter: 'Eternal reunion'","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/mike-luckovich-blog/1229-mike-luckovich-eternal-reunion/FDEZRX4DXJBJXAGY4GD4MCATGM/"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e46cb4c25150175bd8b9a18c44ffe2941a469943196d4e8d06be060b1d0dd62a"},"caption":"This cartoon by Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski was published Sept. 19, 1978, in The Atlanta Constitution after Jimmy Carter helped forge the Camp David Accords — the peace agreement signed by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in 1979.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","licensable":false,"alt_text":"Cartoon by Baldy, published Sept. 19, 1978, The Atlanta Constitution.","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski, The Atlanta Constitution","type":"author","byline":"Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski, The Atlanta Constitution"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter cartoons by Baldy","width":1253,"_id":"YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/fzgLYIIcB2krzLcy-wtn6VJPgGY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","owner":"brian.oshea@ajc.com","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/fzgLYIIcB2krzLcy-wtn6VJPgGY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/fzgLYIIcB2krzLcy-wtn6VJPgGY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/yNSZXg_kt_K3xgAjinL0Keg1ghU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG","version":2,"originalName":"baldy-jimmy-carter-camp-david.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"MTAILKBOCNAQDDQCD7ZRMZO46U"},"created_date":"2021-09-21T16:37:24Z","last_updated_date":"2021-10-13T21:09:05Z","height":860,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YLAWLSCQQJDG5HMVKKYYSQW5HY.JPG?auth=e46cb4c25150175bd8b9a18c44ffe2941a469943196d4e8d06be060b1d0dd62a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"MRYBU5CYUVAHDNFJIYB4NQFDW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228958},"type":"text","content":"As a nationally known editorial cartoonist working in Carter’s home state, Baldowski had a head start on the national press in sketching Carter, beginning with Carter’s unsuccessful<b> </b>campaign for governor in 1966."},{"_id":"66CPFADA5VHM5ASCDAKCWFKDDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228959},"type":"text","content":"Baldowski told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1976 that his caricatures of Carter evolved from a country boy and peanut farmer from Plains — images the national press often focused on — to something “obviously urbane” with better hair."},{"_id":"CWBMTMCNWZDVPLNDXIRKBDQAG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228960},"type":"text","content":"“His smile … is blinding. His hair is cut in the mod layer fashion,” Baldowski said. “The total Jimmy Carter is fashioned from an Ipana (toothpaste) ad, the hair spray and tremendous confidence which he styled all by himself.”"},{"_id":"UETX4SNX3RG35HGGG4SWBIXVEI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"RITL7VTUPJBC5BCQOLJ57P66PE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Teeth and peanuts: How other cartoonists drew Jimmy Carter during 1976 campaign","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/editorial-cartoonists-had-field-day-with-candidate-jimmy-carter-especially-with-his-smile/OV6X6WWIFFAELJWJIUIJ2S6VT4/"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"ab23433ab00ca28cea2b610737a4cc0cbf0365b256e68256690c7bee52c3cd80"},"caption":"A 1976 caricature of then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter by Baldy. 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This cartoon was published in May 1976.","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski, The Atlanta Constitution","type":"author","byline":"Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski, The Atlanta Constitution"}]},"subtitle":"Jimmy Carter cartoons by Baldy","width":554,"_id":"PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/cxRt4OT9WJ0ypf3Ihuxn20sqZ-4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG","owner":"brian.oshea@ajc.com","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/cxRt4OT9WJ0ypf3Ihuxn20sqZ-4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/cxRt4OT9WJ0ypf3Ihuxn20sqZ-4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/0PiuQTJJqnhazhr1WtoeALN7xI8=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG","version":2,"originalName":"baldy-caricature-erickson-article-1976.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"SJZSW4RNYVH4TIZXABFRT2DKUY"},"created_date":"2021-09-21T16:27:30Z","last_updated_date":"2021-10-13T21:10:16Z","height":688,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/PTPGVF4ZOFEBFLMJNLUDAKENM4.JPG?auth=ab23433ab00ca28cea2b610737a4cc0cbf0365b256e68256690c7bee52c3cd80&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"2UYWHLUORJEWFGQE6QVTQWBOHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228962},"type":"text","content":"The toothpaste’s advertising slogan said in part, “Ipana for the Smile of Beauty.” Baldy’s reference, however, may have been to the toothpaste’s advertising mascot, Bucky Beaver, whose smile showed two large beaver teeth, according to the Bucky Beaver & Friends website, <a href=\"http://www.buckybeaver.ca/\">http://www.buckybeaver.ca/</a>."},{"_id":"EHFCY4MFJRE73HWC2D4AVZTOLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228963},"type":"text","content":"The smile in this Baldy caricature below from 1970 when Carter was running for governor looked a bit more like Bucky Beaver."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"4db2be568fb657e0b07d51271dcf5e9eee22703612e5c99d58d5bea6c761115d"},"caption":"A 1970 caricature of then-gubernatorial candidate Jimmy Carter by Cliff Baldowski. (Cliff Baldowski / The Atlanta Constitution)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HM5ZOI6OMJBWNOA6XIPHRPBVIU.JPG","licensable":false,"alt_text":"A 1970 caricature of then-candidate Jimmy Carter by Baldy. 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This Sept. 6, 1978, Baldy cartoon, sketched during the start of the talks, suggested the process was a little shaky."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"1a2fb78c8d18aa4c6c4ea55f37fe7fd7a4456dca09d2c4ecd839f3ac7cf25c1c"},"caption":"Baldowski followed the 1978 Camp David Accords — the peace agreement between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. 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seemed a long shot for president, and Baldy depicted the lonely former governor hitchhiking on an empty highway in an early cartoon."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"d2d581401a1f5cf663c65dbc3605b9f6534996d67a0edb94d61d5210593bab42"},"caption":"This cartoon was published, with skepticism about the road ahead for Carter, in 1974 after The Atlanta Constitution reported that Carter was planning to run for president.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OMPLZQ4YZ5D7ZGFDBUK773HV7Q.JPG","licensable":false,"alt_text":"Jimmy Carter cartoons by Baldy","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Clifford\"Baldy\" Baldowski, The 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he pulled off the win, Baldy showed in mid-1976 that Carter’s campaign was gaining momentum."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"4b6b8b29cc7ff6b810e98abf5b5ac4881bbd1f38f71e601d595f7f71d8f02ee6"},"caption":"This came out as the presidential primary in Georgia was held in early May. 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Lance, the Georgia banker who became Carter’s budget director, is pictured below in this cartoon published in November 1976. Carter ran as an outsider and brought with him a reputation for reorganizing government and fiscal responsibility."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7641a61c5a660d946ca4094a8d643b7a8e4bd2030f4188d842151fd4e846c591"},"caption":"Jimmy Carter came to Washington with a reputation for cutting through bureaucracy after his successful run as governor of Georgia. 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Carter had recently been retired from the presidency by voters. The Atlanta Constitution reported that the restaurant owner asked Carter to autograph the mural. “With a black magic marker handed to him by Baldowski, he printed a simple ‘Jimmy Carter’ beside his caricature,” the writer noted."},{"_id":"VPBJXAN655GXBKIB7TDXBIZONI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228995},"type":"text","content":"Baldy’s cartoons were reprinted in other newspapers and also appeared in Time, Newsweek and U.S. News and World Report. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1964 and received a Sigma Delta Chi journalism award in 1959 for a cartoon about desegregation of schools, according to the <a href=\"https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/clifford-baldy-baldowski-1917-1999\" target=\"_blank\">New Georgia Encyclopedia</a>."},{"_id":"AACXLIGPQNGX7CAUSITXVDOARE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"WMGK4T5UDVHKJDHIJQXQ4OXHNU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Many of Clifford Baldowski's cartoons are archived at the University of Georgia Libraries","url":"http://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL008CHB.xml"},{"_id":"FB5UEXEHUJGFFC3ODE5XA3BR2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228997},"type":"text","content":"READ MORE"},{"_id":"QVCCFXK2ZJGSXBLZJTK3ACJF74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228998},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/obituaries/obituary-of-baldy-atlanta-constitution-editorial-cartoonist-clifford-baldowski/OBNJJ7XUZRDARCCXGCXAXJTLMU/\" target=\"_blank\">Obituary of Baldy - Atlanta Constitution editorial cartoonist Clifford Baldowski</a>"},{"_id":"AYX4J7ZF5JEKBDRYLFTHVPAJY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554228999},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"http://sclfind.libs.uga.edu/sclfind/view?docId=ead/RBRL008CHB.xml\" target=\"_blank\">Biography of Clifford Baldowski from the University of Georgia libraries</a>"},{"_id":"OQ2R6PP375EVLH6WZR6AN4VXPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735554229000},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/clifford-baldy-baldowski-1917-1999\" target=\"_blank\">Article about Baldy from the New Georgia Encyclopedia</a>"},{"_id":"THWBBPUH4FHAPFCMIH3WP43M6I","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1735554229001},"type":"divider"},{"_id":"56YKHP6YS5HTRKC46DPGNSGVPI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"3BPRSLJYRVHMHCXVCUWI4KASTM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"More AJC coverage of Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter/"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Atlanta Constitution's Clifford \"Baldy\" Baldowski got a headstart on national press in caricatures of Jimmy Carter."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/news/georgia-news","parent":{"default":"/news"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/news","name":"Georgia News","description":"This page does not 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On Labor Day 1976, the traditional kickoff of the fall campaign, Jimmy Carter stood in front of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Little White House in Warm Springs, Ga., where the 32nd president had died in April 1945. As he opened the final months of the race against Gerald R. Ford, Carter was offering himself as a dynamic Democratic alternative to a staid Republican president."},{"_id":"T7HQM7PFFZFDRO5CNQAHXYWZNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"To Carter, FDR’s 1932 opponent, Herbert Hoover, had been “a decent and well-intentioned man who sincerely believed that there was nothing our government could or should do to attack the terrible economic and social ills of our nation… . But Roosevelt knew our country could be better, and with bold and forceful action he restored confidence in our economic system, he put our nation back to work, and he unified our people.”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"eb09acadfd6dac7b9ec83f5f8623122bae9209f33863dc36e6b4e642c58ef1fc"},"caption":"Jon Meacham","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jon Meacham","width":740,"_id":"ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/f9Lpunv8pVl-LLhbdE6ARgZCgVU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/f9Lpunv8pVl-LLhbdE6ARgZCgVU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/f9Lpunv8pVl-LLhbdE6ARgZCgVU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/O_oGnGRQEU-3CnYW6jqXm08yCv4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jon Meacham.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FYMHGAGYGRAQPAX7RSKTWJABXM"},"created_date":"2024-12-29T21:42:25Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-29T21:42:25Z","alignment":"right","height":494,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZLNDAQJJ55CBPME25VKGALJLGY.jpg?auth=eb09acadfd6dac7b9ec83f5f8623122bae9209f33863dc36e6b4e642c58ef1fc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"XWZ4ASNJ6ZEOBGQSSGBCQPYWWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Jimmy Carter was inviting America to see him as an heir of FDR, and now, as the nation marks the death of the 39th president, it is illuminating to consider how Carter envisioned not only the presidency but the nation he led. “The Presidency is not merely an administrative office,” <a href=\"https://honorscollege.uark.edu/academics/honors-college-seminars/retro-readings/retro-readings-presidential-speeches-sp-2022.php\" target=\"_blank\">Roosevelt said in 1932</a>. “It is more than an engineering job, efficient or inefficient. It is pre-eminently a place of moral leadership.”"},{"_id":"DH2HLBO4V5EI3C5KWMQ5A6QR44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Farmer, naval officer, nuclear engineer, Christian and politician, President Carter would prove both engineer and moral leader, and his understanding of the country was at once technical and theological — a reminder that presidents have both practical and pastoral roles to play in the life of the nation. “Ours was the first society openly to define itself in terms of both spirituality and of human liberty,” <a href=\"https://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/carter.asp\" target=\"_blank\">he said in his inaugural address</a>. “It is that unique self- definition which has given us an exceptional appeal, but it also imposes on us a special obligation, to take on those moral duties which, when assumed, seem invariably to be in our own best interests.”"},{"_id":"Z4Q5WANOBZDZZPQPPOVGFIT2BA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"He would pick up the theme in the summer of 1979, when he addressed the country on what he called the nation’s “crisis of confidence.” In those remarks from the Oval Office, Carter spoke of America not as an abstraction or a clinical polity, but as a true body politic — a congregation, if you will. The loss of faith in the future, <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/carter-crisis/\" target=\"_blank\">Carter said</a>, “strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will.”"},{"_id":"TFLK5MV5ZFDKJJYAH62QEUP64U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"JCSUWKSRZBDARP5B6GJD7UPJ7M"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Remembering Jimmy Carter","url":"https://www.ajc.com/jimmy-carter-obituary/"},{"_id":"QFKP2EQLFFGO7LXNOOGFDMUBNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And what did he mean by “soul”? In Hebrew and in Greek, “soul” can be translated as “breath” or “life,” and suggests that the soul is the essence of who we are. In 2019, <a href=\"https://www.lifestories.org/interviews/jimmy-carter2\" target=\"_blank\">I asked President Carter</a> to <a href=\"https://www.lifestories.org/attachment/en/65946ce4179a0efae9038462/TextOneColumnWithFile/61e836d55a97ef5863770dc6\" target=\"_blank\">define the best elements of the soul of America</a>. “Well, the best parts are when we treat people as equals,” he replied, “and I would say that equality of treatment of people is the foundation for the [United Nations’] Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Between African Americans and white people, between men and women, between the downtrodden and those who have everything. And one of the essences of human rights is that if there’s an obvious disparity between opportunities for people, it’s to make everybody have basically the same opportunity for advancement.”"},{"_id":"EA3RLBOGXJAP7CTU2MBVPUB3MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"And the worst element? “Inequality,” Carter said. “When we start thinking that white people are better than Black or men are better than women, or that people like me whose ancestors came over here a long time ago [are better than] people who are just trying to become citizens … . I think that inequality is the worst thing about our country when it happens and it’s happened a lot lately.”"},{"_id":"YWYIRPJSENE2NFU2T57IRGOW24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As Emerson once remarked, there is properly no history, only biography, and Carter’s personal experience informed his understanding of the country, particularly on questions of race. Born into the Jim Crow South, Carter lived the tragedy of segregation — yet also saw the possibilities of progress. “In many ways I was very fortunate as a future presidential candidate because I lived in a community that had about 55 farm families,” Carter recalled. “My father was the only white one, so I grew up completely surrounded by African Americans … . All my playmates were Black kids. And my mother was a registered nurse and she was gone a lot, nursing in the community. So African American women taught me the basic rudiments of society and the proper way to act towards other people.”"},{"_id":"O5N7YU6VZRHJJPZFIYF2AHCMNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Then, while serving in the Navy, he experienced the post-1948 desegregation of the military firsthand. “I was in a submarine when Harry Truman ordained as commander and chief that the end of racial discrimination had come in the armed services and the civil service. So I was very lucky to see the ravages of racial discrimination when it was very heavily imposed in the community where I lived, and also to see the ease of change when Harry Truman ordained that it be brought about on ships and the army.”"},{"_id":"J7723DFUCFCHZNIWUY23FN73EE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"BVCK6CGK35DJ7BU67H5S77453I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: A timeline of Carter's accomplishments","url":"https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/timeline-ten-jimmy-carter-major-accomplishments/A8MLxDeXpkFJpE90qJyeUM/"},{"_id":"VGWWJAD3ZZHHFLXFV6V5N5N4KE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s was a great and consequential life — a life devoted to the highest of American ideals, the fulfillment of the promise of the Declaration of Independence at home and abroad. At Warm Springs, where the 1976 general-election campaign began, FDR had drafted a Jefferson Day speech he was scheduled to give on April 13, 1945. In it, Roosevelt was to say that America must embrace the future “with strong and active faith.”"},{"_id":"VZO7AP7VAJHGBLTVFVR6DQJIRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"He did not live to deliver that address. But Jimmy Carter, for one, did move forward in just that way. And so must we."},{"_id":"LBQF463VBZAWNDHYI235COYVRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jon Meacham holds the Rogers Chair in the American Presidency at Vanderbilt University. He is the author, most recently, of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/s?k=and+there+was+light&hvadid=241915739971&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9010952&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12483266952119251939&hvtargid=kwd-362981045&hydadcr=24656_10400585&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_3iwfwczpqk_e\" target=\"_blank\"><i>And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle</i></a><i>.”</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Carter’s was a great and consequential life — a life devoted to the highest of American ideals. His understanding of the country was at once technical and theological."},"description":{"basic":"Carter’s was a great and consequential life — a life devoted to the highest of American ideals. His understanding of the country was at once technical and theological."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta 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Jimmy Carter's hometown celebrated his last birthday"},"type":"video","promo_items":{"basic":{"credits":{},"width":1920,"type":"image","url":"https://d1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net/12-30-2024/t_625c96af39294fa6aece3d3837519caa_name_s3___ajc_arc_photo_integration_Freelancer_AJCN100_017a.JPG","height":1080,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fd1fegwn2wjh0cs.cloudfront.net%2F12-30-2024%2Ft_625c96af39294fa6aece3d3837519caa_name_s3___ajc_arc_photo_integration_Freelancer_AJCN100_017a.JPG?auth=8dc2a4864f46b1750f58b816b50dc8b46fa253405417e93991a1865e9179e6bd&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/jon-meacham-jimmy-carter-was-a-big-part-of-americas-soul/OCHIJDQK7NCFHB3JGMOJEDEWTA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-30T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jon 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"},{"_id":"44SMMR6BNNCWRIOWG6BRDWJS4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450603},"type":"text","content":"He was our president to be sure, but he was so much more."},{"_id":"KNWBGZ64YNADPMLQKT6FTGOTLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450604},"type":"text","content":"It is too often said of a man or woman that he or she changed the world. Carter is among the very few who did, in fact, change the world. And he is even rarer in that he actually left the place better for his goodness and vigor."},{"_id":"XK2EAM2IAJCNPDKIUKG4BEMYCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450605},"type":"text","content":"In many ways, Jimmy Carter was the Best American."},{"_id":"Z3LDOCEEJNGX3OGZ7YGWSDBDQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450606},"type":"text","content":"Consider the traits that describe the best of what it is to be an American: independence, tenacity, generosity, frugality, competence, honesty, fidelity, ambition, courage."},{"_id":"BPG4B644QJDLDLREJE63GX4KEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450607},"type":"text","content":"All resided deeply in Carter."},{"_id":"F7DMDDAPNFEOTN4OA3BBBPQD3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450608},"type":"text","content":"Many of these qualities were on display in the White House, although a few of them — honesty, frugality and tenacity in particular — did him no political favors. Remember the “malaise speech” when Carter chided Americans to rally around the idea of civic duty and sacrifice?"},{"_id":"AP5UN53NIVEDXHMTMODO22QYA4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450609},"type":"text","content":"Yet, if you watch that speech from the perspective of the 21st Century it’s impossible to escape the realization that no one knew better than he what was ahead — the decline of civic life, the frailty of the environment, the threats to American democracy that remain no less urgent."},{"_id":"7JC4A6SJ45CBLB2DMAVIXWYTJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450610},"type":"text","content":"Carter was the president we needed in 1976. He understood us. He knew our pain from suffering years of a calamitous war in Vietnam. He understood what it meant for a family to struggle in a stagnating economy. He knew we no longer trusted Washington. He took our side."},{"_id":"T5E7HB7PTZDRVCTNOSWS3THDHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450611},"type":"text","content":"He was a populist to be sure, but his brand of populism was at its core a proclamation of decency. He promised to never lie and to lead a government as good as the American people."},{"_id":"MELG2VDWMFCEJOOX7KUASZ3L3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450612},"type":"text","content":"The jeans, big smile and promises now seem so very quaint."},{"_id":"2TK4WEW4CFG27NEZM2W2JI6OFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450613},"type":"text","content":"You can debate Carter’s success in the White House, but no one doubts the success of his post presidency. Children in Africa no longer are plagued by rapacious Guinea worms or river blindness. Farmers in poor countries cultivate better, more nourishing and sustainable crops. Democracies around the world are stronger thanks to the scrutiny of the Carter Center."},{"_id":"VYPE2BBHNFA2DCWIDE4ROKQ6YA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450614},"type":"text","content":"The only firsthand experience millions of people around the world know of America is the generosity Carter has shown them. For this Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."},{"_id":"GJLSHZ5EGREQFBZCFSV4JATE3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450615},"type":"text","content":"Before we get too far, it’s important to note that it’s difficult to describe Carter’s legacy without making it clear that Rosalynn Carter was his partner — even if the word “partner” seems inadequate. It was hard to know where Jimmy ended and Rosalynn began."},{"_id":"NOEPUHZWZNHX3KW3U3EHD32LLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450616},"type":"text","content":"Jimmy Carter was shaped in a rural, mostly Black American community in the racist South. Most of his playmates and role models in the small hamlet of Archery — near Plains — were Black."},{"_id":"4H44PQIJSFE23AJNOJWWXFH3WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450617},"type":"text","content":"Carter dedicated the first poem in his book of poetry, “Always a Reckoning,” to Rachel Clark, a Black woman who descended from slaves owned by his ancestors."},{"_id":"WYMTMGQCRRFZ3NWZ44BJ44THIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450618},"type":"text","content":"She and her husband, Jack, lived on a small tenant farm near Carter’s childhood home. As a boy, Carter often slept at their house. He and Rachel often walked together, most often to go fishing."},{"_id":"W22KUQU3QFDPFAI5QYQZGMWSFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450619},"type":"text","content":"<i>“These journeys gave us ample time to talk —</i>"},{"_id":"CMKS7N7EE5BABGW3QNGWUCZR2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450620},"type":"text","content":"<i>or rather, I would listen to her words,</i>"},{"_id":"LB6SROPFONA2NCPVUYCZZJRCHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450621},"type":"text","content":"<i>as she would think a while, and then hold forth</i>"},{"_id":"653NB7ABERDTRCJGERQFX25PE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450622},"type":"text","content":"<i>about God’s holy way: how, when we deal</i>"},{"_id":"V6QZZ2RVJJGP3FMYEZM7LPCYOM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450623},"type":"text","content":"<i>with Nature, we are stewards of the earth,</i>"},{"_id":"ZW5W6N3NQVF4DDFHU3ZJAEMJBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450624},"type":"text","content":"<i>she said that blessings bring on debts to pay,</i>"},{"_id":"4ZGGK57A2VFNBF5NE7COTOYKBM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450625},"type":"text","content":"<i>describe the duties of a man and wife,</i>"},{"_id":"XKFSQTRX7FA6PMIQXSLJAH3PPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450626},"type":"text","content":"<i>and say the brave and strongest need not fight.”</i>"},{"_id":"PQJARB5V2BEFPKSYAZ45GQ3MEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450627},"type":"text","content":"His father, James Earl Carter Sr., adhered to the Southern segregationist norm; his mother, Lillian, decidedly did not. She treated Black people with respect and as equals. It is difficult today to fully grasp what it meant in the segregated Georgia of the 1920s and 1930s to offer the front door to Black neighbors."},{"_id":"P6PZD4LIPFCVFAZJWYSVYI6A44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450628},"type":"text","content":"Carter learned young to judge people by what they did rather than who they were. “In fact, the final judgment of people I knew was based on their own character and achievements, and not on their race,” he wrote in “An Hour Before Daylight,” his autobiographical account of his childhood."},{"_id":"FJHWH72LBNANFEPQ36YACKCU3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450629},"type":"text","content":"Young Carter’s attitudes about race set him apart, particularly as he served in the desegregated Navy. Back in Plains, he refused to join a White Citizens Council, a decision that produced racist signs in his yard. In 1962, when Carter decided to go into politics, his progressive stance on race raised suspicions among his white neighbors."},{"_id":"5G4MCGM5Y5D7HD5HYSFTBBUUCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450630},"type":"text","content":"Even so, in an election tainted with voter fraud — a few dead folks were among the voters for his opponent in nearby Quitman County — Carter persisted and prevailed. He won his state senate race after taking his case to court and the intervention of the state Democratic Party. (It must be said that great reporting by the brilliant John Pennington of The Atlanta Journal may have salvaged Carter’s fledgling career. The newspaper detailed the shady dealings of elections officials in Carter’s district.)"},{"_id":"6LSE5LCM4VDMFGLUZ6O63RLAXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450631},"type":"text","content":"It is hard to overstate what Carter’s election as governor in 1970 meant for Georgia’s standing among Southern states. He succeeded Lester Maddox, a staunch supporter of states rights and segregation."},{"_id":"D4FP4GQOJFAERKZRWNZBATBZYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450632},"type":"text","content":"Carter made it clear a new day had come in his 1971 inaugural address:"},{"_id":"Y3NNMMEHQFDEFJ3SG3OJYR47KU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450633},"type":"text","content":"“I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he said. “Our people have already made this major and difficult decision, but we cannot underestimate the challenge of hundreds of minor decisions yet to be made."},{"_id":"NHUB6EWBIFAUNJQFPN3J4QZ2IE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450634},"type":"text","content":"“Our inherent human charity and our religious beliefs will be taxed to the limit. No poor, rural, weak, or Black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job or simple justice.”"},{"_id":"CSY3QSZUJ5HGVCZEDANEUOP5NQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450635},"type":"text","content":"These words came less than a decade after Alabama Gov. George Wallace offered a different message at his inauguration: “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”"},{"_id":"SJGYB2ML7ZDJ3DJEISY23PT37Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450636},"type":"text","content":"Carter projected moderation, decency and a relative progressiveness that helped Atlanta flourish as a business and cultural center in the early 1970s."},{"_id":"IUBRWUUWYNESXEX6BVE475HBRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450637},"type":"text","content":"He expanded the number of Black and female state employees, judges and board members. He placed portraits of Martin Luther King Jr. and two other prominent black Georgians in the capitol building, even as the Ku Klux Klan simmered outside the Gold Dome."},{"_id":"Y5RNGNGGIJCRXF3J7E5PJFT6LI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450638},"type":"text","content":"Carter was perhaps Georgia’s most consequential governor. He dramatically reshaped and simplified state government — an accomplishment he later replicated in the White House."},{"_id":"PDBP5A5HTVFSXNFPCZ2D3EV36E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450639},"type":"text","content":"Yet, Carter also practiced a form of Southern realpolitik that comforted conservatives and sometimes alienated liberals. He supported a constitutional amendment to ban busing. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Georgia’s death penalty law in 1972, Carter approved measures to overcome the court’s ruling to reinstitute executions."},{"_id":"RNJODYEJCFFAXDCIZ2UR2A7U4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450640},"type":"text","content":"Later, Carter regretted his support of the death penalty. “If I had to do that over again I would certainly be much more forceful in taking actions what would have prohibited the death penalty,” he said in a 2013 interview. “In complete honesty, when I was governor I was not nearly as concerned about the unfairness of the application of the death penalty as I am now."},{"_id":"HRFS4WTWBZFRJPHDTCWLXHPCAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450641},"type":"text","content":"“I know much more now,” he reflected. “I didn’t see the injustice of it as I do now.”"},{"_id":"PNKINFM64BHXNMB4F55A37D3OQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450642},"type":"text","content":"Carter’s view of the world expanded in his post presidency."},{"_id":"KT7T4LNNBJDSDAFL5XZE77ZTQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450643},"type":"text","content":"A year after his defeat, he founded the Carter Presidential Center, which included an apartment with a Murphy bed for the former First Couple. His causes and energy seemed endless. Until late in life, he picked up a hammer for Habitat for Humanity International."},{"_id":"TIRDV3DBZVDKBCQZ2VAZM2SDAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450644},"type":"text","content":"He taught at Emory University and freelanced as diplomat — often to the great irritation of his successors in the Oval Office."},{"_id":"LN4UXSVGEVE65C2WATVIYOOCX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450645},"type":"text","content":"He caused considerable heartburn when he very publicly condemned the plans of both President Bushes to invade Iraq. He went further than merely advocating against military action: he used his status to engage in foreign policy, enraging many who believe he had overstepped."},{"_id":"NID23QUVXVAMVCDFH3EX7Y2HDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450646},"type":"text","content":"Yet, he seemed immune to criticism, and stood his ground in the firestorm prompted by his book that compared Israel to racist South Africa."},{"_id":"WDFSLYPSERHC3G547NDGPQ62PA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450647},"type":"text","content":"His post presidency eclipsed his days in the White House, which often has been dismissed as mediocre at best. This assessment seemed validated by his ugly loss to Ronald Reagan after just one term."},{"_id":"OQJWC3KU2RHTHJRNTE7MID43PU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450648},"type":"text","content":"Yet, given the level of difficulty that confronted Carter, this assessment seems unfair. “People wondered if he was cursed, by a dismal economy, poor relationship with Congress and a nightmarish standoff over 52 Americans held hostage by Iran,” said Lesley Stahl, the “60 Minutes” correspondent as she introduced a Carter interview in recent years."},{"_id":"FG7ANFEH75FZ5PGEYZBHTWMPAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450649},"type":"text","content":"Without doubt he was a busy president: He pardoned Vietnam draft dodgers, made peace between Israel and Egypt and ratified the Panama Canal treaty. He countered Soviet aggression with a military buildup and, despite a bad case of stagflation, presided over respectable economic growth."},{"_id":"FNZCZM6PAJH43C7XZLNWMD2PE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450650},"type":"text","content":"Despite his being depicted as a raging liberal, he was fiscally tight and added less to the national debt than the Republicans who succeeded him."},{"_id":"Q4YBPCUKPVHFRCW762R3YHMP5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450651},"type":"text","content":"Nevertheless, his civil image led detractors to label him a wimp."},{"_id":"M3QEKYDH7VGUHIDVPKDFJOALRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450652},"type":"text","content":"Really? He was a brick wall when it came to policies he opposed or the good old boy tactics that still rule Washington. When a bunch of Democratic Pennsylvania congressmen threatened to block Carter’s agenda if he didn’t appoint their pick for U.S. attorney, he shut them down. “I told them, in a nice way, to go to hell,” he wrote in his diary."},{"_id":"NL7B436H5JHQJCRRTPZS6DKVAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450653},"type":"text","content":"When he was asked what he thought about Sen. Edward Kennedy’s threat to run against him, Carter didn’t mince words. “Kennedy runs, I’ll whip his ass,” Carter said."},{"_id":"PI3C4DN7YVB5HCHGLXYXTHYASM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450654},"type":"text","content":"Years later, he relished in noting that he did indeed whip his ass."},{"_id":"NT4F3C4SR5GI7GOFM5PV3LUS5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450655},"type":"text","content":"Despite the successes, Carter-era images generally include long lines at the gas stations, high interest rates and American hostages."},{"_id":"VTHFOB2L7VBGRCSZI6PXEPU47I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450656},"type":"text","content":"These things and more led Americans to reject Carter. Maybe he expected too much of us. Asking us to live happily with 55 mph speed limits to conserve fuel may have been a bridge too far."},{"_id":"3BF6EPZDDVCWBKNKAFN5YFQRZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450657},"type":"text","content":"Even so, Americans never came to really dislike Carter. Early in Reagan’s administration, a White House aide suggested that the new president invite Carter for a meal. “Ultimately, while the American people overwhelmingly rejected President Carter,” the aide wrote, “they continue to like Jimmy Carter personally.”"},{"_id":"LLT3SDIAHBBPPIH3GHUCI5C4SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450658},"type":"text","content":"We liked him, even though he never seemed fully satisfied with us. Maybe Carter expected too much of us because he expected so much of himself."},{"_id":"PHR5LXPKFBGQRFCKIIR5IHG42Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450659},"type":"text","content":"Late in life, he reflected on what should be expected of us all. “Each of us has a responsibility to take our own talent and ability and our own life and use it in order to exemplify the finest elements of morality and ethical standards,” he told a Sunday school class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains in his last years."},{"_id":"K6QED4X2XRGD3IY63OXGOQWGIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450660},"type":"text","content":"Not long after Carter graduated from the Naval Academy in 1946, he interviewed with Admiral Hyman Rickover, a famous and fierce figure whom Carter admired."},{"_id":"KUNFXS5UPBHBNN3UWPK3VQLH5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450661},"type":"text","content":"“Where did you come in your class in the Naval Academy?” the admiral demanded."},{"_id":"ZHUA6MJDHVH2BGFIYAY6RXTGRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450662},"type":"text","content":"“Sir, I came 59th in a class of 840,” Carter answered with pride."},{"_id":"2JOLWA4KRRA73C3GBYL657D6LA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450663},"type":"text","content":"“Did you do your best?” the admiral asked sternly."},{"_id":"52SPHTSPRRBFLCDURTLAY45F5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450664},"type":"text","content":"“No, sir, I didn’t always do my best.”"},{"_id":"FKBKJVW3RZFPJLM656P66L73EE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450665},"type":"text","content":"“Why not?!”"},{"_id":"PMEBLOLGBVEGLPRLHSIQFUJHJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450666},"type":"text","content":"Carter had no answer."},{"_id":"TAARIN767JECNKTUV6GWHACBRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450667},"type":"text","content":"The question haunted him. He spent the rest of his life searching for an answer."},{"_id":"PXF62LWPLFHNZB36NKKIXYWVK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450668},"type":"text","content":"In that search, he defined for us all what it means to do your best."},{"_id":"TIYQBDKYFVGETJFNEAGJ4YVMEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1643736450669},"type":"text","content":"<i>Bert L. Roughton, for the Editorial Board.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"President Jimmy Carter's expectations made him influential decades beyond his four years in office and far beyond U.S. borders."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"jimmy carter"},{"text":"obits legacy"},{"text":"natworld.ajc"},{"text":"newsroom-free"},{"text":"georgia-news.ajc"},{"text":"politics.ajc"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"clonedChildren":[{"referent":{"id":"WVNEJKSTZFHH3EESO6NC5RRSSI"},"type":"reference"}],"basic":[],"clonedFromParent":[{"referent":{"id":"P365OFRYJ5ASRHSFX35ERJWOYI"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"0f82b2e2fe9b6d1a4c414e6df2b610bc0730c80bc00187c91c87a17a2bda4505"},"credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://author-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub/ajc/dd680975-8e23-4fd8-b69a-7101ef326460.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"jspink1"}],"org":"Atlanta","social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"john.spink@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/JohnSpinkAJC/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/johnjspink"},{"site":"youtube","url":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtvtlUebyaE0Mw1UnEu8q-w"},{"site":"instagram","url":"jspink1"}],"name":"John Spink ","description":"John Spink is a multi-platform photojournalist with the breaking news team. 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"},{"name":"Winner of the 2015 Photo of the Year - AP Georgia Associated Press Media Editors Awards."},{"name":"Member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning staff of The Kansas City Times & Star awarded for Local Spot News Reporting for the Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse"}],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5425","location":"Atlanta","middleName":"J","_id":"john-spink","status":false}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8"}]},"subtitle":"Photos: Jimmy Carter’s presidency","width":1519,"caption":"President Jimmy Carter expected much from Americans, and more from himself. (John Spink / Shot for the Kansas City Times)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q7P6MIHV2BCLDOZUORRFZS634M.jpg","height":1139,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Q7P6MIHV2BCLDOZUORRFZS634M.jpg?auth=0f82b2e2fe9b6d1a4c414e6df2b610bc0730c80bc00187c91c87a17a2bda4505&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"DS2XNFGM5BETZA2ZUEA2AHU4XE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":328,"comment":" and"},{"pos":394,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210181},"type":"text","content":"In an era when division often dominates the national dialogue, sports — and especially college football — stand as a unifying force that bridges cultural, social, economic and political divides. At the heart of this is Peach Bowl Inc., an Atlanta-based organization that hosts the <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/index.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl</a>, the <a href=\"https://aflackickoffgame.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Aflac Kickoff Game</a>, the <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/sports/southern-company-peach-bowl-challenge\" target=\"_blank\">Southern Company Peach Bowl Challenge</a> charity golf tournament and operates <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/sports/dodd-trophy\" target=\"_blank\">The Dodd Trophy</a>, presented by PNC Bank."},{"_id":"RPJSIDESL5F65FQ3LDW25DYGUQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-13T19:58:35.652Z","start":37,"end":39,"text":"took the \"s\" off playoff in link","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734118210182},"type":"text","content":"This season, in the first year of the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/college-football-playoffs-first-12-team-bracket-is-set-with-oregon-no-1-and-smu-in-alabama-out/PRKJ7YQJQZCMJDL4ND6ZNUCYSQ/\" target=\"_blank\">expanded 12-team College Football Playoff</a>, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl will host two of the nation’s top teams to compete on Jan. 1 in its first-ever CFP quarterfinal, leading up to the national championship in Atlanta. And to open the season, it hosted Clemson and Georgia, two playoff teams, in the Aflac Kickoff Game."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7a423efe293b087232dd96d8cd4f37d138ecb22e1b062f6a2708370058943977"},"caption":"Percy Vaughn","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Percy Vaughn","width":286,"_id":"MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/33A1RLluPlOwdGKUuW32tVQz52M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/33A1RLluPlOwdGKUuW32tVQz52M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/33A1RLluPlOwdGKUuW32tVQz52M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/DhDHeN--DbgFiBmh_rI_MQ_0jXA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Percy Vaughn Headshot.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"CFDANJXUUBFRVPE73NJZPZXO3U"},"created_date":"2024-12-13T19:31:27Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T19:31:27Z","alignment":"right","height":361,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MLQS3TRMABFQ7I45FX2XTC7VZI.jpg?auth=7a423efe293b087232dd96d8cd4f37d138ecb22e1b062f6a2708370058943977&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"E7IPLAZHQRGU7PD3NAETB4W3EQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210183},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Additionally, Peach Bowl Inc. was the original recruiter and founding sponsor that helped bring the <a href=\"https://www.cfbhall.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame</a> to Atlanta and has <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/peach-bowl-contributes-million-college-football-hall-fame/oLtjYvDRukNe3BbLRAnj7M/\" target=\"_blank\">invested $13 million into the facility</a>. Needless to say, Peach Bowl Inc. has played a massive role in establishing Atlanta as the “Capital of College Football.”"},{"_id":"NYIYSIAZCVD6HFFUT5SBHDXQ7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":318,"comment":"local "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210184},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"With this recognition comes influence, and Peach Bowl Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Stokan has embraced the unifying power of football not only to stand apart from other bowl organizations and deliver thrilling matchups on the field but also to create profound, positive change off the field for our community."},{"_id":"N4ALFCOFT5H3TCHQKAV2YOOA4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210185},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Through donating more than <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/news/2024/11/12/general-peach-bowl-inc-leads-all-bowls-in-charitable-giving-commits-2-million-for-2024-25-college-football-season.aspx#:~:text=Since%202002%2C%20Peach%20Bowl%2C%20Inc,scholarship%20to%20organizations%20in%20need.\" target=\"_blank\">$65 million in charity and scholarships since 2002</a>, Peach Bowl Inc. has earned its title as college football’s most charitable bowl organization. In fact, for the past 18 consecutive years, the bowl has surpassed $1 million in charitable giving. For 2024, it pledged $2 million to a wide array of initiatives, including disaster relief, education and pediatric health care, standing as the largest donation by any bowl game in the country."},{"_id":"GZX4RSPAIZHHNMB4QPAM3NL6ZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210186},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As fans gather to cheer for their favorite teams, the Peach Bowl reminds us that football is more than a game; it’s a platform for compassion, community and connection. The bowl’s unparalleled philanthropic efforts are proof that, through football, we can find common ground and rally around a shared mission of going beyond what happens on the field to drive meaningful impact in our communities."},{"_id":"QO5ENMUAEVFDPBTCDUV6TBWFHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210187},"type":"text","content":"The Peach Bowl was <a href=\"https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2022/12/31/history-peach-bowl/\" target=\"_blank\">created in 1968</a> as a fundraiser for the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation, so its involvement in philanthropy goes all the way back to its beginning and is a part of its mission. A commitment to scholarship, charity and using football for the greater good in our community is what truly drives our hometown bowl game."},{"_id":"YLKCUBSDQBGONMTGOSH7KKKIC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-13T20:02:15.300Z","start":134,"end":136,"text":"lowercase \"the\" in link","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734118210188},"type":"text","content":"The bowl’s impact is perhaps most visible in its fight against childhood cancer through the Peach Bowl LegACy Fund. Established with a <a href=\"https://www.choa.org/about-us/newsroom/childrens-healthcare-of-atlanta-receives-20-million-from-peach-bowl-to-fight-childhood-cancer\" target=\"_blank\">$20 million gift to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta</a> in 2019 — the largest single donation in bowl history — the fund honors the life of Anna Charles “AC” Hollis, the daughter of Peach Bowl Inc. Vice President of Sales Benji Hollis. AC died from leukemia in 2018. This initiative focuses on funding the most promising clinical drug trials for children, offering hope and new treatment options to families in need."},{"_id":"QSM53EMQMJHEBCRZL2NGYPPTPY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MS63NV74EJGANCHTLXBH2QZ2BI"},"alignment":"right","type":"raw_html","content":"<CustomInfoBox id=\"NEJ2BE6DBNHDHKEN27Q3VXPTIA\" />"},{"_id":"MZTRGSSTI5H6NHKAAOVWPW2NHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210189},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Through its <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/news/2024/8/29/general-game-on-peach-bowls-touchdowns-for-childrens-campaign-kicks-off.aspx#:~:text=The%20season%2Dlong%20campaign%20provides,touchdown%20during%20the%20regular%20season.\" target=\"_blank\">Touchdowns for Children’s program</a>, fans also play a role in this mission, giving them the opportunity to pledge a donation based on how many touchdowns their team scores throughout a season. Over the past eight seasons, this initiative has raised nearly $3.8 million for patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, including $1.9 million in matching funds contributed by Peach Bowl Inc."},{"_id":"EXVGZS2C2RFO7KQDHQZJB57VPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210190},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Through the original $20 million gift and the additional $3.8 million in donations, Peach Bowl Inc. is now funding 14 clinical trials in five hospitals across four states in an effort to eradicate childhood cancer."},{"_id":"NMP2BBTNWRAT3OVNU7UVNITQQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210191},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The bowl exemplifies its commitment to education, community and compassion through impactful initiatives and partnerships. Its collaboration with the <a href=\"https://cfp-foundation.org/the-makeover-project\" target=\"_blank\">College Football Playoff Foundation’s Extra Yard Makeover</a> initiative provided funds to upgrade media and technology centers at eight underserved metro Atlanta schools, and a 2017 partnership funded a $2 million, three-year early childhood literacy initiative, equipping 1,500 Atlanta Public School teachers with enhanced literacy instruction methods for 25,000 students."},{"_id":"UK6DOCIY4ZD7HEAYLZR5S7MUNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210192},"type":"text","content":"The bowl also supports education through its <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/news/2020/12/31/general-chick-fil-a-peach-bowl-honors-john-lewis-legacy-with-scholarship.aspx\" target=\"_blank\">John Lewis Legacy of Courage Scholarship</a>, which has $8.9 million in <a href=\"https://chick-fil-apeachbowl.com/sports/2022/9/14/the-john-lewis-legacy-of-courage-scholarship-endowed-by-the-chick-fil-a-peach-bowl.aspx#:~:text=In%202021%2C%20the%20endowment%20program,from%20the%20communities%20he%20served.\" target=\"_blank\">endowment assets</a> across 35 universities for Georgia students from Title 1 high schools."},{"_id":"F6DSTP3HTVBYJOFJHLPSZ7U4R4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":131,"comment":" and"},{"pos":200,"comment":","},{"pos":305,"comment":" showcasing "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-13T20:05:30.033Z","start":21,"end":23,"text":"added peach here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-13T20:17:39.618Z","start":403,"end":404,"text":"slightly restructured this graf","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734118210193},"type":"text","content":"Beyond education, the Peach Bowl extends its reach to crisis relief, contributing to efforts after the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, as well as after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Helene and Milton — including a recent donation of $500,000 to aid Southeastern communities affected by Helene and Milton.These actions showcase its commitment to fostering hope and resilience nationwide."},{"_id":"X4VITO3Q4FDTNHSCZAWCG542YU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210194},"type":"text","content":"Football can change lives, and the Peach Bowl is driven to do what it can to help people in need. It shows us that football has the power to unite and provides an example of how a bowl game can create a deep-set tie to its community. Whether it’s rallying fans to support childhood cancer research, helping schools create better learning environments or providing relief to disaster victims, the Peach Bowl turns moments of collective passion into meaningful impact."},{"_id":"SVQ4VAHINVGHVL35SISLGOFXSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210195},"type":"text","content":"Football might be just a game, but Peach Bowl Inc. and Stokan recognize the sport’s ability to bring people together and create positive change in people’s lives through football. Its impact will long outlive the memory of the game and will create a legacy we can all embrace and be proud to call a part of the Atlanta community."},{"_id":"2QUPY3CCLRCT7GFBLPBWOGQAXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734118210196},"type":"text","content":"<i>Percy Vaughn, the vice president of Southern region operations for Kia America, was chairman of Peach Bowl Inc. from 2015 to 2018.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Through football, we find common ground and rally around a shared mission of driving meaningful impact in our communities."},"description":{"basic":"Through football, we find common ground and rally around a shared mission of driving meaningful impact in our communities."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"2fe8242e0974ea5b670b60812ea40f6f29f16e0a26d8cdf6caafbc70c7db8928"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Peach Bowl - Ole Miss vs Penn State","width":5392,"caption":"Fans attend the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 30, 2023, in Atlanta. Ole Miss won 38-25 over Penn State. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3GTHKY4FMP4MAZTXHMPPDOM5HI.jpg","height":3592,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3GTHKY4FMP4MAZTXHMPPDOM5HI.jpg?auth=2fe8242e0974ea5b670b60812ea40f6f29f16e0a26d8cdf6caafbc70c7db8928&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-peach-bowl-is-more-than-a-football-game/G3DYLOPVNRDNPH6C2WRPU5BODI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-27T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Percy Vaughn","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The Peach Bowl is more than a football game"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-27T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-27T13:55:25.908Z","_id":"G3DYLOPVNRDNPH6C2WRPU5BODI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"2fe8242e0974ea5b670b60812ea40f6f29f16e0a26d8cdf6caafbc70c7db8928"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Peach Bowl - Ole Miss vs Penn State","width":5392,"caption":"Fans attend the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 30, 2023, in Atlanta. Ole Miss won 38-25 over Penn State. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3GTHKY4FMP4MAZTXHMPPDOM5HI.jpg","height":3592,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3GTHKY4FMP4MAZTXHMPPDOM5HI.jpg?auth=2fe8242e0974ea5b670b60812ea40f6f29f16e0a26d8cdf6caafbc70c7db8928&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"HYFXAYWTSBGGDHM6QNM3MIF4EI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860820},"type":"text","content":"NCAA sports are Big Business, wholly dependent on college athlete performance. In December 2023, the NCAA reported 2022 revenue of almost $17.5 billion in its Division I Athletics Finances research. More than the NBA or MLB. Second only to the NFL."},{"_id":"I7JHJ6N55FAOTBLPCB4WAHICPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860821},"type":"text","content":"Still, the NCAA insists — in court and Congress — that college athletes be denied the same employee status as students selling popcorn at games."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"6da998dce721b635d56f42e0f110a3097b28e6588ed6655f45e89f024b112661"},"caption":"Paul L. McDonald, lawyer","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Paul L. McDonald","width":750,"_id":"WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/HEzaiyb_A2V3t9GXloZh2yHeb6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/HEzaiyb_A2V3t9GXloZh2yHeb6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/HEzaiyb_A2V3t9GXloZh2yHeb6M=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/fNf0UlxT9v30t8xdmIDELhot3vY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Paul L. McDonald.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"MSLVNZODMZCTLG7MJK7TTX4R2I"},"created_date":"2024-12-24T15:58:50Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-24T15:58:50Z","alignment":"right","height":497,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WGMITNS7SBHTJADL5PV3Z3T7AM.jpg?auth=6da998dce721b635d56f42e0f110a3097b28e6588ed6655f45e89f024b112661&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ICPJ34VS2ZE6ZOP4MINXSJFRQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860823},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In court, the NCAA compares college athletes to prison labor under the 13th Amendment “slavery exception” discussed in <a href=\"https://www.netflix.com/title/80091741\">Ava DuVernay’s Netflix documentary “13th.”</a>"},{"_id":"SIE7PAXPJJBZZMZGHHGYU264M4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860824},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I’m not kidding."},{"_id":"SZYRZUYERJA2PM2Q4TFFQC7THE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860825},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Read the case cited by the NCAA: <a href=\"https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/974/806/437621/\">Vanskike v. Peters</a>."},{"_id":"GBZZB2LAQJBL7ME5ORKEXAUF6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860826},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Third Circuit did, and it issued a <a href=\"https://casetext.com/case/johnson-v-natl-collegiate-athletic-assn-4\" target=\"_blank\">stunning rebuke in Johnson v NCAA</a>: “We disagree with [the] comparison of college athletes to prisoners and refuse to equate a prisoner’s involuntary servitude, as authorized by the Thirteenth Amendment, to ‘the long-standing tradition’ of amateurism in college athletics.”"},{"_id":"XTLZUIDXM5BB7MS7JY5TOFTHMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860827},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It turns out that <a href=\"https://southpark.cc.com/video-clips/444m6e/south-park-stu-dent-ath-o-leets\">Comedy Central’s<i> </i>South Park plantation satire “Stu-dent ATH-O-LEETS”</a> accurately depicts the NCAA’s argument. It’s a racist argument, and NCAA President Charlie Baker must be held accountable."},{"_id":"VJPGXZQJKJD3XDFTX2ZPNC64I4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860828},"type":"text","content":"In Congress, the NCAA says college athletes must be denied employee status “to keep them students,” suggesting students are not — and should not be — college employees."},{"_id":"WJ2MS3U3HFGZLEHNGJ6NMX4NRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860829},"type":"text","content":"But that is a lie."},{"_id":"5ROUOMNJCZB7VPGZHSHVYQXDU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860830},"type":"text","content":"For more than 50 years, students have been employed and paid hourly on a minimum wage scale in work study-style programs — including students on academic scholarship. There are student employees in campus offices, libraries and dining halls — and, again, at NCAA games. Benefits to families are significant. Hourly pay is fungible “walking-around” money that can be spent on anything — not just academic expenses, as scholarship funds are delimited. Hourly pay provides money that otherwise must come out of parents’ pockets."},{"_id":"XUM2QDA3F5B7FODZSAVA5VUVQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860831},"type":"text","content":"The lawsuit Johnson v. NCAA maintains college athletes meet employee criteria under the Fair Labor Standards Act more than students in work-study-style programs."},{"_id":"S2ZGA2WA3RD5XGGKGB3XMZJG6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":235,"comment":"–"},{"pos":276,"comment":","},{"pos":294,"comment":"–"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860832},"type":"text","content":"The most important student employee criterion is degree of control by college supervisors. The more control, the more likely an employee. This criterion precludes employee status for activities listed in student-run group directories — publications, social clubs, drama, bands and club sports — because, by definition, colleges lack supervisory control of student-run groups. The benchmark is work study-style programs, and, by comparison, college athletes are far more controlled by NCAA bureaucracies."},{"_id":"GRFBCHN6JNFI7FVKHGSZU2AVYI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860833},"type":"text","content":"The kicker: Under NCAA Division I bylaws, college athletes must keep time sheets, just like students in work-study-style programs."},{"_id":"A3BIV53BV5FH5FBD42O6HZGDT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":74,"comment":" work study-style "}],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860834},"type":"text","content":"So, what could be the objection to folding college athletes into existing programs on par with existing student employees?"},{"_id":"V2FHGQTYYFGDPM53Z5ZAAI6L64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860835},"type":"text","content":"Objection cannot be a compliance “parade of horribles” never noted in decades of work-study-style programs. For example, student employment by colleges is exempt from FICA taxes."},{"_id":"5TJK4KRS6FAXPGLLVOPUKXZTP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":187,"comment":"–"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860836},"type":"text","content":"Objection cannot be affordability. There are no complaints that work-study-style pay, on a minimum wage scale, is unaffordable. On the other hand, colleges are overpaying athletic staff — and overspending on athletic facility amenities – because college athlete labor has been free."},{"_id":"CWQZY6HZRNCEPAW6WXWOENSES4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860837},"type":"text","content":"In lieu of adding reasonable hourly pay for college athletes to budgets, colleges could maintain budget neutrality, at no extra cost, by reallocating a fraction of the combined, highest salaries of athletic staff. Former Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh was on board, stating at <a href=\"https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-jim-harbaugh-ncaa-player-compensation-wolverines-big-ten\">the 2023 Big Ten Championship media call</a>: “Who could be against the players being compensated for what they do? At least even minimum wage…. I would take less money for the players to have a share.”"},{"_id":"33PB5IUBHVFIPGWYV27M5BGW6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860838},"type":"text","content":"And remember, 2022 NCAA Division I revenue was almost $17.5 billion, i.e., pro league levels. Like pro leagues, richer college programs could provide financial assistance to smaller programs akin to “luxury taxes” or NBA subsidies to the WNBA."},{"_id":"ENIVDQ7GCBEWZJHV3PRIZLPEWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860839},"type":"text","content":"Objection cannot be the spurious claim that athlete employees could be “fired” for dropping a pass or missing a shot. The NCAA well knows its employment contract would prohibit such “firing,” just like NCAA Division I bylaws prohibit reduction or cancellation of a scholarship “[o]n the basis of a student-athlete’s athletics ability, performance or contribution to a team’s success.”"},{"_id":"M4SJV4SKRJA5LG5IPVRHEIPU4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860840},"type":"text","content":"Moreover, the Johnson case is fair to all college athletes."},{"_id":"LSSONV22BVGQPNTC2B6GVONXWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":46,"comment":"–"},{"pos":303,"comment":"–"}],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860841},"type":"text","content":"The case values all men’s and women’s sports — not just football and basketball. It recognizes that, by law, degree of profitability is irrelevant to employee status. For example, in-house legal, human resources, purchasing, records, information technology and maintenance departments are “nonrevenue” — as are work-study-style jobs."},{"_id":"RBC6ZHO345EZZBBWB2O3APVHGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860842},"type":"text","content":"“Johnson base pay” for all, based on standardized hours of NCAA Countable Athletically Related Activities (20 hours per week), addresses pay disparities attributable to separate name, image and likeness (NIL) sponsorships and revenue sharing offered to fewer athletes, based on individual and sport popularity."},{"_id":"B53Y4IL4DBG7HCF3ZAO43INPJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":337,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860843},"type":"text","content":"For Congress, denying college athletes the same student employee status as students selling popcorn at games should be a nonstarter. Not only because such NCAA-lobbied legislation is premised on the NCAA’s racist “slavery exception” argument and the “keep them students” lie contradicted by decades of work-study-style programs, but also because it violates equal protection under the Constitution, which prohibits the government from treating students differently in this manner."},{"_id":"KTSEGD6MLRBPDD6VNKG7A7OQHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860844},"type":"text","content":"When the NCAA, spurred on by legislatures and courts, finally permitted college athletes to exercise NIL rights, colleges acknowledged that athletes should have the same rights enjoyed by other students."},{"_id":"GK727K2PUZAUJNQDFNVGTZRA4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860845},"type":"text","content":"College athletes should have the same student employee rights, too, and the Constitution requires it of any NCAA legislation."},{"_id":"RI5L3PANTBBMVN2BWZEDFHNFSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735057860846},"type":"text","content":"<i>Paul L. McDonald is co-counsel for the college athlete plaintiffs in Johnson v. NCAA and was named by Sports Illustrated as one of </i><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.si.com/college/2023/02/27/most-influential-black-figures-coaches-college-football__;!!JZyed81S!gVdqPbJEzbNIZXqfdQyK7DusCQ4RWDX_g09TyNcFKjKw1ij6CWwhUGEacXknBwhURh8Kvg-okb6upy9xrA$\"><i>the 20 Most Influential Black Figures in College Football</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The NCAA’s bogus argument uses slave labor to object to athlete employee status."},"description":{"basic":"The NCAA’s bogus argument uses slave labor to object to athlete employee status."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"0fde75b85b7b34c6cacf8823439bb70efd926f2c3452cc2bcb4184e3b34b44f1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"IVAN KONON","type":"author","byline":"IVAN KONON"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia State football","width":2400,"caption":"Georgia State's Freddie Brock picks up yardage against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 30 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. Brock ran for 71 yards in GSU's 48-27 loss. (Ivan Konon/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RFENDA57QZHZNBRGX4VUHTX6GA.JPG","height":1600,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RFENDA57QZHZNBRGX4VUHTX6GA.JPG?auth=0fde75b85b7b34c6cacf8823439bb70efd926f2c3452cc2bcb4184e3b34b44f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-college-athletes-should-have-employee-rights-like-students-selling-popcorn/OQ6TQ5Q4QBHTDGS3PYUGZ7NUQU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-27T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Paul L. McDonald","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"College athletes should have employee rights like students selling popcorn"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-27T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-27T10:00:07.326Z","_id":"OQ6TQ5Q4QBHTDGS3PYUGZ7NUQU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"0fde75b85b7b34c6cacf8823439bb70efd926f2c3452cc2bcb4184e3b34b44f1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"IVAN KONON","type":"author","byline":"IVAN KONON"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia State football","width":2400,"caption":"Georgia State's Freddie Brock picks up yardage against Coastal Carolina on Nov. 30 at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. Brock ran for 71 yards in GSU's 48-27 loss. (Ivan Konon/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RFENDA57QZHZNBRGX4VUHTX6GA.JPG","height":1600,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RFENDA57QZHZNBRGX4VUHTX6GA.JPG?auth=0fde75b85b7b34c6cacf8823439bb70efd926f2c3452cc2bcb4184e3b34b44f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"GPLXWNJZGVBCJM4RWZDTGNPFXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424417},"type":"text","content":"I’m a fervent opponent of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s intended nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services. I have derided Kennedy as a <a href=\"https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/robert-kennedy-jr-donald-trump-endorsement-conspiracy-theories-20240828.html\">conspiracy theorist</a> whose <a href=\"https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/12/17/why-universities-must-speak-out-against-rfk-jr/\">false statements</a> on vaccines — and <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2024/11/15/rfk-jr-views-conspiracies-false-claims/\">many other medical matters</a> — pose a dire threat to our well-being. I hope the Senate doesn’t confirm him."},{"_id":"GK5CLRASRFA2JDATDBJYVT6PNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424418},"type":"text","content":"But just because Kennedy is wrong about so many things doesn’t mean he’s wrong about everything. And on one issue, he is absolutely right: We shouldn’t allow drug companies to advertise on our airwaves."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Kielinski Photographers, LLC","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829"},"caption":"Jonathan Zimmerman","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"KYLE KIELINSKI","type":"author","byline":"KYLE KIELINSKI"}]},"subtitle":"Jonathan Zimmerman","width":5000,"_id":"ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","takenOn":"2022-08-25T18:47:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vQSchqz7DKor3QmaILzAVY8xYDs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jonathan Zimmerman.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BX3GLTE2GNFNDPYQU7MZGEODJM"},"created_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","last_updated_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","alignment":"right","height":3333,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg?auth=007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"57FATM7WJJFOJN6DX73UCFYVE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424420},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As <a href=\"https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1793144103800361050\">Kennedy has noted</a>, the United States is one of only two countries — New Zealand is the other — that allows the pharmaceutical industry to advertise directly to consumers. Drug companies spend a billion dollars a month asking you to “ask your doctor” to prescribe their wares."},{"_id":"6763DSZXS5CSJCIDNAW5YQYQ2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424421},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And too often, you ask for a drug that you probably don’t need. In a <a href=\"https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2801060\">recent study</a>, researchers found that drugs with the lowest clinical benefit drew the most advertising."},{"_id":"QL5EO3K4OFEE3HPVSCBKI4IX4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424422},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"That’s what you’d expect. Imagine you’re a drug company, and you have a product that might not work very well. How can you get people to take it? Push it on television and social media, of course."},{"_id":"4Z2CIICSDBB77IQP3JHNAET3HE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424423},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Food and Drug Administration is supposed to make sure that advertising of pharmaceuticals — including their side effects — is accurate. But fewer than 100 people work for the two arms of the agency that are charged with regulating advertisements."},{"_id":"44R7DN53WRFXFCBGZMCJEJVMC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424424},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When it determines that an ad for a drug is inaccurate, the FDA sends a warning letter to its manufacturer. Between 2019 and 2014, <a href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/tv-drug-ads-direct-to-consumer-advertising/\">it sent just 32 such letters</a> — an average of about six per year."},{"_id":"JNXFBHOZOVEFNNPYYI5IY7F64M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424425},"type":"text","content":"That means companies can misrepresent their products without much worry that they’ll be called to the carpet. Sometimes their claims minimize the dangers of a medication, like <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/business/21vioxx.html\">the ads for the painkiller Vioxx</a> that played down its risks of causing heart attacks and strokes."},{"_id":"DAHQKMIJMRAEXCHTW6JTFSRXGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424426},"type":"text","content":"More commonly, though, the ads exaggerate what the drug can do. After his wife died of lung cancer a few years ago, insurance executive Mark Jablow turned on his television to see <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/09/opinion/cancer-drug-ads-vs-cancer-drug-reality.html\" target=\"_blank\">an advertisement for a drug</a> she had taken. “A chance to live longer,” it declared."},{"_id":"WUC7HJWM6VCCZL5GZXKB26N35M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424427},"type":"text","content":"What it didn’t say was that just one in five patients with stage 4 cancer — his wife’s diagnosis — showed any measurable response to the drug. And among all patients, the median increase in life expectancy — compared with standard chemotherapy — was just three months."},{"_id":"6KRGEDXF35DAPG3B4LPPTPEWUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424428},"type":"text","content":"Even when the advertisements are honest about the product, meanwhile, consumers have a hard time evaluating them. And if you think otherwise, well, ask your doctor."},{"_id":"4TIS62CTC5G2JDIBOIWJYRGHSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424429},"type":"text","content":"Two-thirds of physicians in a <a href=\"https://www.fda.gov/files/drugs/published/Patient-and-Physician-Attitudes-and-Behaviors-Associated-With-DTC-Promotion-of-Prescription-Drugs-Final-Report.pdf\">2004 survey</a> said patients confused the risks and benefits of advertised drugs. And consumer research bears that out. <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10571712/\">In a 1999 study</a>, 43% of respondents said that only “completely safe” drugs could be advertised; another 22% said that ads for drugs with serious side effects were banned."},{"_id":"B7D66CTKEJGMTBZFICUEOSF7HI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424430},"type":"text","content":"Both statements are false, of course: Companies must list side effects precisely because their products aren’t completely safe. If people can’t make sense of that, how can they decide whether a given drug is right for them?"},{"_id":"J7DWU3HPU5GKFHSYK47VYOJSXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424431},"type":"text","content":"The pharmaceutical companies will tell you that advertising helps consumers make “<a href=\"https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8057755_To_Inform_or_Persuade_Direct-to-Consumer_Advertising_of_Prescription_Drugs\" target=\"_blank\">informed choices</a>.” But the goal of the companies isn’t to inform us; it’s to share whatever information will get us to choose a product."},{"_id":"7WHIBDE225FLVI2DJ2BOGNIMG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424432},"type":"text","content":"Watch any television pitch for weight-loss and diabetes drugs — which spent $1 billion on advertising in 2023 — and you’ll see what I mean. Smiling people dance in the streets, delighted that they shed some pounds. What’s not to like?"},{"_id":"RG3DODJ53ZAHLN4LSLFWLUY6WI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424433},"type":"text","content":"But on social media, especially, paid influencers tout weight-loss drugs without noting the side effects that TV ads mention. And the FDA has been slow to respond, issuing <a href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/tiktokers-put-consumers-at-risk-as-drug-ads-go-unchecked-by-fda\">only seven letters of warning</a> against sponsored drug-related posts since 2017."},{"_id":"2CQX2GEDHVF7JHVVIWTRXHMU6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424434},"type":"text","content":"So long as the ads remain legal, the FDA needs to step up its enforcement. But a better solution would be to prohibit direct-to-consumer drug ads entirely, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wants us to do."},{"_id":"GZP7XLUBRNEAHLBJRYYJIOOQWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424435},"type":"text","content":"It’s not clear whether Kennedy would have the <a href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/rfks-plan-to-take-on-big-pharma/\">legal authority to ban the ads</a> if he becomes HHS secretary. And, again, I hope the Senate rejects him for the post."},{"_id":"OJLCLSG56BG5JEEYXET63P26DQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424436},"type":"text","content":"But I also hope the issue comes up during his confirmation hearings and that it receives the airing it deserves. Kennedy is wrong about vaccines, <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fluoride-in-water-health/\">water fluoridation</a> and dozens of other subjects. But on pharmaceutical advertising, he’s 100% correct. Let’s hope the nation takes note of that."},{"_id":"JHCLME5BCJEYNDNGLFOIVJRY7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1735058424437},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Whose-America-Culture-Public-Schools/dp/0674018605\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Whose America? Culture Wars in the Public Schools</i></a><i>” and </i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jonathan-Zimmerman/author/B001HCZ9CY?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true\" target=\"_blank\"><i>eight other books</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Pharmaceutical ads often exaggerate drug benefits and drive up the price of health care."},"description":{"basic":"Pharmaceutical ads often exaggerate drug benefits and drive up the price of health care."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-one-thing-rfk-gets-right/6CZN67WJIBFXFCIR3DDTCG2KYE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-26T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jonathan Zimmerman","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"One thing RFK gets right"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-26T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-26T10:00:06.846Z","_id":"6CZN67WJIBFXFCIR3DDTCG2KYE"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"AF5U5IGB6VGKRHGK6XGKKLGGR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654105},"type":"text","content":"It’s traditional at the end of the year to reflect on all the moments — good or bad — that made the year memorable."},{"_id":"BDVTWR75GFGV3CHTK6JNM73HHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654106},"type":"text","content":"I habitually think deeply about the past and often include those reflections in my columns. When I write about moments in the present that are rooted in the past, readers sometimes tell me to “move on” or “get over it.” But I like to give readers context."},{"_id":"KONSTQZVXBDLFHZB7VPZMX5MOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654107},"type":"text","content":"And sometimes looking back can be a good thing. Sankofa, a word derived from the people of Ghana, literally means to “go back and get it.” As a principle, it means allowing the past to inform the future."},{"_id":"VY44GRQ6UVB3FCBNHWDZDLID54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654108},"type":"text","content":"Since this is my last column of 2024, I decided to employ the principle of sankofa and the marketing of Spotify and offer readers Real Life Wrapped: the top 5 most engaging columns of 2024."},{"_id":"N5RN4QGLKVBNXG3ZVOXKFD3O2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654109},"type":"text","content":"Spotify Wrapped, which reportedly used AI to compile its year-end lists of listeners’ most loved music, has delivered some questionable results this year."},{"_id":"ZOAHFIPSTBA6BPP2EB5VDOS2HI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654110},"type":"text","content":"In my personal lineup of top 5 artists, only two — Khruangbin and Chenayder — were accurate. I had no idea who Laura Karpman was until I looked her up and learned she was the soundtrack composer for “American Fiction,” an album I listened to for a few hours after I saw the film. Weird."},{"_id":"3HQRWQRN75BWHIZCRTQR643G64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654111},"type":"text","content":"So in compiling Real Life Wrapped, I relied not only on AI but also on my own eyes to determine which Real Life columns struck a chord with readers this year. Some of those stories have evolved … and yes, just like Spotify Wrapped, there are some wild cards."},{"_id":"3BLZWRCFDFBLVIXKVN3MOZWLKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654112},"type":"text","content":"I was not surprised to see that my <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/opinion-the-aim-isnt-just-to-disqualify-willis-its-to-discredit-her/D5SDMKNKOREAFO2DECCNSTKCP4/\" target=\"_blank\">February column on Fani Willis</a>, district attorney of Fulton County, topped the list. I’m even less surprised that this news from the past has come around again to the present."},{"_id":"6MHV5BBDGVG4LKDT4MYHG322QU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654113},"type":"text","content":"Last week, the Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis from continuing the election interference case against Donald Trump and his codefendants. Back in February, I wrote about my conflicting feelings on Willis’ decision to engage in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to work on the case."},{"_id":"EBW3GGIKHBF4FOWTP36QK7T67A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734992783493},"type":"text","content":"Those feelings stand, but watching the hearings unfold<b> </b>earlier this year, I knew we could end up exactly where we are now — with Willis disqualified and no easily identifiable prosecutor willing or able to take on the case. Willis plans to appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, but I feel pretty clear on how that will turn out. Maybe the high court will prove me wrong."},{"_id":"HNA2ILZZEZFQTKD4BR3R5OQTEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654115},"type":"text","content":"An outlier among the top 5 columns featured a <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/rhone-goats-gone-wild-other-issues-plague-atlanta-neighborhood/Z4OJ7IYUMJAN3NDWDRXEI7XALI/\" target=\"_blank\">runaway goat in southwest Atlanta</a>. Residents of the Kings Forest subdivision asked for my help in getting the city to respond to their claims that a neighbor planned to turn his residential home into a cultural event center. They also didn’t like his<b> </b>goats roaming around the area."},{"_id":"G6QHDY7AVJFMXBWQ6DITUP3GXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654116},"type":"text","content":"Writing that column earned me threats of a lawsuit from the homeowner/business owner. But more interesting was the lack of response from the city departments I contacted for information on zoning and code violations — the same lack of response residents had been getting for years. Residents told me in November the neighbor missed a court date for code violations the city had issued, so I’m sure this isn’t the end of the goat story."},{"_id":"24CW73ZOVZCK3CZQ2BENW35NGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654117},"type":"text","content":"In another surprise twist, my column about a<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/opinion-dekalb-school-cafe-is-a-lesson-in-building-community-culture/XJGGOBHGSZGB3IGIARE757KBMM/\" target=\"_blank\"> converted trailer at a school in DeKalb County</a> generated interest among readers. Dunaire Elementary in Stone Mountain struggled to overcome setbacks in 2011, but the school has since evolved into a haven for children from 29 different countries at a time when American concerns about immigration are at an all-time high."},{"_id":"6DS2UVKEMFECPP44IVDFDHJHDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654118},"type":"text","content":"Justine Robinson, a part-time school counselor, rallied supporters to repurpose a trailer into a resource center for students and parents and all seems to be going well for the Dunaire Dolphins."},{"_id":"N3T7MVSLJNAVHFBJFEHTJAZLXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654119},"type":"text","content":"As concerns about the presidential election ramped up, so did conversations about leaving the country. In October,<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-one-third-of-americans-are-ready-to-flee-the-country-we-should-be-concerned/DDGNNRP35VHRLH25INDZORUBNM/\" target=\"_blank\"> I wrote about Americans who have left</a> and their motivations. A dozen or so readers emailed to ask me for information on how to leave or said they were also in the process of leaving the U.S."},{"_id":"6MX3J2635RC4VCHMOD7IC3T5VI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654120},"type":"text","content":"I’m no expert on relocating abroad, so I referred those readers to Jen Barnett, who I interviewed for the column. Barnett, an Emory alum who moved from Alabama to Mexico in April, is cofounder of Expatsi, a company that helps Americans research and prepare to move abroad. In the weeks before and after the election, tens of thousands of people took the company’s screening test to match themselves with countries that would be a good fit."},{"_id":"AD7CAW27LBCUHFIGWSQSUQ2HWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654121},"type":"text","content":"Moving abroad isn’t an easy decision and doing research doesn’t mean a person will take action, but history has shown that moving out of the country (or even across the country) has long been a form of resistance in America."},{"_id":"AHUIQCGBLRBUPCF7R26PHEUBOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654122},"type":"text","content":"Coming in at number 5 on the list of the most engaging Real Life columns of the year is a <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/rhone-riding-out-hurricane-helene-is-no-time-for-cynicism/DXL5O567D5HBFMASL2N32PMRXI/\" target=\"_blank\">September column on Hurricane Helene</a>."},{"_id":"W32R2CXHQVCA3K75C6XYY63VWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654123},"type":"text","content":"In preparing for the impending storm, meteorologists and climate scientists compared Hurricane Helene to Hurricane Irma in 2017.<b> </b>My column invited readers to consider what happens when you ignore warnings from people who know more than you do about extreme weather and climate change."},{"_id":"XIRLJNBBORAV7JE3CKVRY6VEIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654124},"type":"text","content":"Hurricane Irma taught me a lot about preparing for Hurricane Helene in 2024 and that was yet another example of how lessons from the past can have a positive impact on the future."},{"_id":"CD23VGK3YZF7NPEXDX4HOUZJGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654125},"type":"text","content":"From Donald Trump’s return to the White House to the possibility of a bird flu pandemic, we already have opportunities coming in 2025 to learn from the past. Let’s not waste that knowledge."},{"_id":"K5TQGX3R6NBITK5KTXSS2YTBD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734973654126},"type":"text","content":"Happy holidays and sankofa!"},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734960662794},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":""},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"UATL"},{"text":"opinion"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"27572fd195506662d3993fecaebe8d253e14e127f0aad95e25277998022b4137"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Fani Willis","width":3300,"caption":"As Fani Willis enters her second term, Georgia Court of Appeals disqualified Willis and her office from pursuing charges against Trump and 14 co-defendants. 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A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","_id":"nedra-rhone","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Rhone","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/98f2f50c-d4da-49ae-9bde-27e4311ab5ad.png","role":"Lifestyle Columnist","education":[{"name":"University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor's degree in Economics"},{"name":"Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism"}],"longBio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta. She has written about style, entertainment, personal finance and the environment for the AJC. Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. 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(Arvin Temkar / AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/Q4VQ7WEIKWMICZ4B6I7IARQSCA.jpg","height":2201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Q4VQ7WEIKWMICZ4B6I7IARQSCA.jpg?auth=27572fd195506662d3993fecaebe8d253e14e127f0aad95e25277998022b4137&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"GXA47FMPAND4TDL43SNFI2AH2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325139},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta has weathered a lot over the past 120 years. On our best days, we’ve been united in celebrating Olympic-sized victories for our region. On our best days, we’ve jointly envisioned a city reunited by a 22-mile emerald necklace. On our best days, we’ve collectively welcomed the world to get a taste of the culture that influences everything."},{"_id":"A2VYS3R6OVANXBEX3VAXHPK2KA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":110,"comment":" man-made"},{"pos":415,"comment":","}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T18:25:14.078Z","start":119,"end":121,"text":"use gender-neutral language, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734632325140},"type":"text","content":"Even at our lowest points as a region, we have found ways to unite. In the face of our faults, we have removed human-made barriers that blocked the road to housing equity. Atlantans have cleaned polluted rivers. United, we’ve clung to the arc of the moral universe, willing it toward the justice the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed for us. Many of us continue to unite daily to restore access to food, education and health care in places where those basic rights have been stripped away by policies etched in our grimmest moments."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"AISLINN RAIN PHOTOGRAPHY","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a3d728f746a4269e77e310081c591bf32005ed83051f0397506c69850c6d5ab5"},"caption":"Milton J. Little Jr.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"AISLINN RAIN WREN","type":"author","byline":"AISLINN RAIN WREN"}]},"subtitle":"Milton J. Little Jr.","width":4842,"_id":"N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/1cmXCVr0BBypZxfKPgtnnhanCko=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":["adult","blazer","face","happy","head","headshot","male","man","milton","pc","person","sitting","smile","uwga staff"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/1cmXCVr0BBypZxfKPgtnnhanCko=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","takenOn":"2022-04-25T11:11:15Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/1cmXCVr0BBypZxfKPgtnnhanCko=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/aA95WUxjaopLA3C3Jr68hhil3AI=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Milton Little.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"47VSK3DMOVGOHKXBMQRBPH6OU4"},"created_date":"2024-12-19T18:05:09Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-19T18:05:09Z","alignment":"right","height":7263,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/N76RCTUYKNCBNDFILOFOI2X22I.jpeg?auth=a3d728f746a4269e77e310081c591bf32005ed83051f0397506c69850c6d5ab5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"RVPGVJZS5ZHX5FJ255HVMBNOHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T18:27:20.924Z","start":511,"end":513,"text":"added comma here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734632325142},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In fact, it was during a low point for our city that the seed for United Way of Greater Atlanta was planted. It was 1905 and the temperatures had plummeted as an ice storm was making its way through Georgia. With the city frozen and fearful, divided by an icy reality, one man decided to act. He set out to help his neighbors, one doorstep delivery at a time. The lone knocks of <a href=\"https://ahc.galileo.usg.edu/repositories/2/resources/276\" target=\"_blank\">Joseph Logan</a> combined into what became movement and, later, a nonprofit. <a href=\"https://www.atlantadowntown.com/article/united-way-of-metropolitan-atlanta-announces-new-name-change\" target=\"_blank\">Associated Charities</a> became a uniting force for philanthropy, and that spirit of advocacy and action continues <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/about-us/\" target=\"_blank\">120 years later</a> as the <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/\" target=\"_blank\">United Way of Greater Atlanta</a>."},{"_id":"AFJCUCJTI5C25IHGQ2TQWLJLRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325143},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Over 120 years, our organization has weathered many divisive issues and eras. Today, my inbox regularly contains emails speaking to the amplified tensions that often await us at family dinner tables this time of year. One thing I can say with certainty as we begin a new year, is that <i>united</i> is the way forward. United Way has long been the place to find the collective will that’s required to make lasting change. It provides a table where people can put aside their differences and individual interests to tackle our shared concerns."},{"_id":"7UFC2HCC6FHWBI7HHTQVMYISYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":16,"comment":"the "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T18:29:54.640Z","start":19,"end":21,"text":"uppercase T, per AJC style","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734632325144},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"An excerpt from The Atlanta Constitution in 1909 speaks to that long-standing role. First Presbyterian Pastor Walter Lee Lingle was quoted saying, “The truth is, if we will open our eyes we will see more on every side than we can do. We will be simply overwhelmed. If we want to overtake this work, we must go at it in a systematic and rational way. The Associated Charities helps us in our endeavors … It searches out the cause of him we know not.”"},{"_id":"NKUBAQW7EZCBBKC6RIA6CHTNRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":127,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325145},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Since Logan’s days, we’ve been presented with example after example of one ordinary citizen who identified a need and believed a collective effort had the power to address that issue."},{"_id":"MASQSP2FLBE6DLL2U3377AYTMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325146},"type":"text","content":"It was an Atlanta corporation’s donation of telephones in the late 1990s that <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/about-211/\" target=\"_blank\">started 211</a>, now a nationwide helpline connecting families with critical resources."},{"_id":"KXUXX6HKPREF5CQRFTEFSSKFKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325147},"type":"text","content":"It was two community champions who launched our <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/impact-network/african-american-partnership/\" target=\"_blank\">African American Partnership</a> in 2000, which annually unites more than 1,000 members to improve educational and career outcomes."},{"_id":"Z4NJQHU6PNCUVJNJIRXEKXEF2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":624,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325148},"type":"text","content":"It was a small group of early career leaders who came together to start our <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/impact-network/young-professional-leaders/\" target=\"_blank\">Young Professional Leaders</a> group which raises money to remove educational barriers for our community’s littlest learners. And it was the foresight and passion of women like Johnnetta B. Cole, Ann Stallard and Anne Kaiser that established the Women’s Leadership initiative in 1999. These remarkable leaders saw the potential of uniting women to drive transformative change through collective giving and advocacy. Today, <a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/impact-network/women-united/\" target=\"_blank\">Women United</a> builds on their vision, empowering women across Greater Atlanta to address critical issues such as education, health and economic stability."},{"_id":"2GTG7BDADRFZRMIHATUILQFFRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":428,"comment":"Child-Well Being Index "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T18:35:51.505Z","start":450,"end":452,"text":"moved placement of hyphen","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734632325149},"type":"text","content":"I continue to see that pioneering thinking throughout our region. I was recently inspired by a trip to <a href=\"https://fcsinnovationacademy.fultonschools.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Fulton County Schools’ Innovation Academy</a>, where students were carving out time to address the issue of food scarcity. Together, they were devoting a week to understanding the challenges and identifying solutions. As I shared the many ways our organization is working to understand and address this pressing need through our Child Well-Being Index, I was blown away by the sophisticated questions the students presented and their determination to see change."},{"_id":"GUUBEXN5XNAIVJCRNM2H4MGRUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":339,"comment":"north star "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T18:37:46.888Z","start":349,"end":351,"text":"capitalize, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734632325150},"type":"text","content":"This city, <a href=\"https://www.atlantahistorycenter.com/blog/preserving-atlanta-history-the-zero-milepost/\" target=\"_blank\">once known as Terminus</a>, has been the starting place for so many united movements that promise to carry us to a more equitable, opportunity-filled future. When I was 8 years old, my mother told me, “Whatever you decide to do in the world, make sure you’re helping somebody.” Like Joseph Logan, that desire to serve has become my North Star even in the darkest times and it’s the message that lights my path as we embark on our 120th year of serving Greater Atlanta."},{"_id":"6YWJF7QJDFDNBMBHMIWHTVU324","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325151},"type":"text","content":"We’ve achieved so much together over the past 120 years, but there’s still so much to do. The challenges we face require us to unite and act with the same spirit of generosity that began with Logan’s doorstep deliveries."},{"_id":"3Z6FMQAIP5G3FO27VP5POATVKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325152},"type":"text","content":"Community support is essential to ensure we can continue this work for the next 120 years. Together, we can build a Greater Atlanta where every family thrives and every child has the opportunity to succeed."},{"_id":"IIWBHRLLWFHWLD73T7QY2T63EA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325153},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://unitedwayatlanta.org/givealil/?utm_source=tv&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=seed_eoy_2024\" target=\"_blank\">Join us</a> to keep the movement alive. United, we can create lasting change."},{"_id":"GXA47FMPAND4TDL43SNFI2AH2I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734632325154},"type":"text","content":"<i>Milton J. Little Jr. is president and chief executive officer of United Way of Greater Atlanta.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We’ve collectively welcomed the world to get a taste of the culture that influences everything."},"description":{"basic":"We’ve collectively welcomed the world to get a taste of the culture that influences everything."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"8d8c73b33e3dcda09412ae71b948744cce86e538402888c04a2405e5a50b58cb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Runners take to Hartsfield-Jackson runway for 5K race\r","width":7372,"caption":"Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders encourage runners in the Oct. 8, 2022, Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. About 2,000 runners participated in the race, which is an AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifying event and raises money for the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program and United Way of Greater Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2022)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AGQH4ZUDKPASMQOVCKMUZG2QZI.JPG","height":4917,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AGQH4ZUDKPASMQOVCKMUZG2QZI.JPG?auth=8d8c73b33e3dcda09412ae71b948744cce86e538402888c04a2405e5a50b58cb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-building-a-greater-atlanta-together/PJA5OO2UY5BOPFQXDWUWQ2OCJ4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-24T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Milton J. Little Jr.","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"120 years united: Building a greater Atlanta together"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-24T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-24T11:00:15.415Z","_id":"PJA5OO2UY5BOPFQXDWUWQ2OCJ4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"8d8c73b33e3dcda09412ae71b948744cce86e538402888c04a2405e5a50b58cb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Runners take to Hartsfield-Jackson runway for 5K race\r","width":7372,"caption":"Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders encourage runners in the Oct. 8, 2022, Mayor’s 5K on the 5th Runway at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. About 2,000 runners participated in the race, which is an AJC Peachtree Road Race qualifying event and raises money for the Mayor’s Youth Scholarship Program and United Way of Greater Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC 2022)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AGQH4ZUDKPASMQOVCKMUZG2QZI.JPG","height":4917,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AGQH4ZUDKPASMQOVCKMUZG2QZI.JPG?auth=8d8c73b33e3dcda09412ae71b948744cce86e538402888c04a2405e5a50b58cb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"23EHF7KUIVEP7ERAHZTPFH5M74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734621300950},"type":"text","content":"The holiday season is a time to be thankful and grateful for all of our blessings. Today, we’re looking at some of the things that make us proud to live and work in Georgia."},{"level":4,"_id":"S3TRHKUYW5HLJAU4WX6XHHFUMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523170},"type":"header","content":"Andrew Morse"},{"_id":"3SGD7YRSFFBA3KRTBBCVZ57RZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523171},"type":"text","content":"For a music lover, moving to Georgia is a little like arriving at the Pearly Gates."},{"_id":"SBZJHT3BUZF7RPZBYADZSCODVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523172},"type":"text","content":"If there were a Mount Rushmore of American music, I’d have a hard time arguing that anyone deserves to be emblazoned in granite more than <a href=\"https://visitmacon.org/music/little-richard/\" target=\"_blank\">Little Richard</a>, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/blog/buzz/that-memorable-day-spent-with-james-brown/Ma84gjC9EUmAMf4N2dPrkK/\" target=\"_blank\">James Brown</a>, <a href=\"https://visitmacon.org/music/otis-redding/\" target=\"_blank\">Otis Redding</a> and <a href=\"https://exploregeorgia.org/albany/arts-culture/music/ray-charles-plaza\" target=\"_blank\">Ray Charles</a>."},{"_id":"BYZ4PFHOTJFAFEOB5BDERVVM3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523173},"type":"text","content":"We have those four Georgians to thank for the rock ‘n’ roll, modern country and rap genres that to this day ring out across this city and this state. I’m grateful for one of America’s truly special music scenes."},{"_id":"6FT5CDA6DNDFDKAPE6LWRY672Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":215,"comment":"’ve got"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734980189292},"type":"text","content":"Here in Atlanta, we have iconic venues like the <a href=\"https://www.foxtheatre.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Fox</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.tabernacleatl.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Tabernacle</a> and soulful spots like <a href=\"https://eddiesattic.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Eddie’s Attic</a> and <a href=\"https://www.blindwilliesblues.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Blind Willie’s</a>, and you can find live music any night of the week. If you want to catch a major act, we have State Farm Arena and the Benz. The Atlanta Symphony, down the street from <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/ajc-moves-to-new-atlanta-office-in-the-heart-of-the-city/CJRXU426VNF63PU7Q7GQQKHFF4/\" target=\"_blank\">The AJC’s new home</a>, is second to none."},{"_id":"M2A6ZPSOTJD6LPG33MGVUUOKJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523175},"type":"text","content":"And don’t get me going on <a href=\"https://www.visitathensga.com/music/athens-music-walk-of-fame/\" target=\"_blank\">Athens</a> — home to REM, the B-52s and the one and only <a href=\"https://liveforlivemusic.com/features/panic-in-the-streets-anniversary-widespread-panic/\" target=\"_blank\">Widespread Panic</a>."},{"_id":"XOQZNOONJJHTPIWJQ5BW67JXWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523176},"type":"text","content":"I hit major music highlights this year, from an intimate shows at Eddie’s Attic to Big Bunny’s extravaganza at State Farm. I was lucky to spend some time in Macon. Jessica Walden took me on a tour of <a href=\"https://www.spin.com/2023/01/capricorn-records-rise-fall-southern-rock/\" target=\"_blank\">Capricorn Records</a>, where the legendary <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/the-allman-brothers-through-the-years/NQQqZXJpcunP9YvXkohH8L/\" target=\"_blank\">Allman Brothers Band</a> recorded. And I got to check out the <a href=\"https://www.otisreddingfoundation.org/visit\" target=\"_blank\">Otis Redding Museum</a> with the force of nature that is <a href=\"https://www.otisreddingfoundation.org/theteam\" target=\"_blank\">Karla Redding-Andrews</a>. Sitting behind <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/aajc-122823-lil-baby/KUD4OT5F45GXTIDZKKJMOPJW7I/\" target=\"_blank\">Lil Baby</a> at a Hawks game was as Atlanta is it gets. And let’s not forget that our own <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/grammy-awards-2024-killer-mike-sweeps-rap-awards-more-atlanta-winners/3XWMETSMTFEUVCL3MCB3EHZIWE/\" target=\"_blank\">Killer Mike cleaned up at the Grammys</a>."},{"_id":"BN6Z5YB5K5HQJGDSMLPUS2DC7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523177},"type":"text","content":"I couldn’t be more thankful for the substance and soul of one of America’s great music meccas.<i> — Andrew Morse is president and publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</i>"},{"level":4,"_id":"TGXIDRZBLBGGFC5645WUKUSK4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734724557164},"type":"header","content":"Geoff Duncan"},{"_id":"Z66UZWIOMFFJJEHM4P2G5OQYYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734724557165},"type":"text","content":"For Georgians, there is a lot to be grateful for this holiday season. We live in an amazing state with a bright future on many fronts, including college football. For the first time in many (too many) years, both the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/georgia-bulldogs-headlines/\" target=\"_blank\">University of Georgia</a> and <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/ken-sugiura/georgia-techs-8-overtime-defeat-reveals-a-new-reality-in-rivalry-with-georgia/22YWPC2HR5B4BBH64BUTRMXRDE/\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia Tech</a> football programs are headed in the right direction."},{"_id":"TCCVGV36BRGWHB6Z2LEMTJRLZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734724557166},"type":"text","content":"Georgia fans are well versed in the euphoric sensation of success. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is just starting to reacquaint itself with that feeling. The metrics used to gauge their successes might be different on the surface, but they are alike at their core."},{"_id":"74OHAWNDNNGRZLP4RFY6DLEF2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734724557167},"type":"text","content":"Under the steadfast leadership of Brent Key, the Georgia Tech football team is now competitive every time they walk on the field, including against the Bulldogs."},{"_id":"SNLHDXLXVREK5DYGY44IUWIZ4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734724557168},"type":"text","content":"For the first time in a long time, both Bulldog fans and Yellow Jacket fans will have grateful hearts at season’s end. <i>— Geoff Duncan is a former Georgia lieutenant governor and a contributor to AJC opinion.</i>"},{"_id":"GYQ67KMHUNH3BN4YE4U3HGOVQI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"5DRWJCVVH5H3JGMDFJRDPEIHX4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The late Atlanta sportswriter Furman Bisher wrote an annual 'I'm Thankful' column","url":"https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/holiday/furman-bisher-thankful/GhsSnkAxF2wPWjBRTvtBGO/"},{"level":4,"_id":"TLZ7NEZ2MZAAVIFXVUM2IBSSUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927731},"type":"header","content":"Meagan Hanson"},{"_id":"VKETCDPJ5RHLXKSEWV5TJ46CYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927732},"type":"text","content":"When AJC opinion contributors were asked to write about something Georgians can be grateful for, my mind immediately went to food. The Atlanta and Savannah food scenes continue to hold national attention, but there are many notable staples outside the metro areas that deserve recognition."},{"_id":"AKGXXWC7N5GQJNIH2TUP56STAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927733},"type":"text","content":"Oakwood Cafe in Dalton has some of the best Southern cooking north of Interstate 20. A friendly staff serves a delicious meal that won’t break the bank. Trust me when I say make sure you get yourself a biscuit. Or two."},{"_id":"XASYRFC5FZH3VISQANKVGNU3G4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927734},"type":"text","content":"The first time I went to Blue Willow Inn Restaurant in Social Circle, I knew it was somewhere I could take my grandma. That’s quite the compliment! With its Greek Revival columns and Southern charm, the stately restaurant welcomes guests with open arms and a buffet-style brunch. Fans have been waiting for the restaurant’s reopening after an extensive renovation, and we hope that will happen in early 2025."},{"_id":"Z42GKM6LLBH7TMTUA7B3D5G3MI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-23T18:41:17.489Z","start":35,"end":47,"text":"Added since the other restaurants include the city","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734972927735},"type":"text","content":"Locals brag about Brown Dog Eatery in Carrolton, especially its perfectly cooked salmon and duck fat fries. It has a unique feel with a vibrant menu; it had me at “Cheerwine BBQ sauce.”"},{"_id":"XGTLZK3YXVBABGA53JVAUL5JBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":22,"comment":" in Perry, Georgia"},{"pos":203,"comment":"wild number"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-23T18:46:13.321Z","start":232,"end":246,"text":"is my edit correct?","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734972927736},"type":"text","content":"At Oil Lamp Restaurant, a classic meat-and-three, cafeteria-style lunch in Perry, I leaned into my Southern roots, ordering fried catfish and the best mashed potatoes and gravy I have ever had. It has a wild number of pie options, including my favorite, coconut cream."},{"_id":"ZXTLJYNLYBDY5DALD4N5GRNEGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":50,"comment":"KD’'s"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927737},"type":"text","content":"I recently met some folks for a business lunch at KD’s Cafe & Catering in Waycross. I don’t think a crumb was left on anyone’s plate. Everything was super tasty, and the staff was fun."},{"_id":"OVV2VOOT3ZB6NGCEENVOEPOZGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927738},"type":"text","content":"Finally, I cannot go to St. Simons Island without eating at Crabdaddy’s. But there’s a curveball: It has a filet mignon that rivals the best steakhouses in Atlanta. The menu says the bread pudding serves two, but you won’t want to share."},{"_id":"NZDDZA75ZNCSXFQQWFSEH2DGZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927739},"type":"text","content":"From Rabun Gap to St. Marys, Georgia is blessed to have good food at every turn.<i> — Meagan Hanson, an AJC contributor and executive director of Georgians for Lawsuit Reform, represented the Brookhaven area in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.</i>"},{"_id":"LVMHTDYYHNCZPA746S52VMI2QQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"B2BQKUS74BDYTE5ZYCSLPA7ZLM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Special page from writer Celestine Sibley: Christmas means love. A young reader's question, and the columnist's answer","url":"https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/holiday/celestine-sibley-christmas-means-love/yVJshnKtaTLPjCiVtNy20O/"},{"level":4,"_id":"ACAN4VAWRZHA5ABNMYCJ4AEXME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734972927740},"type":"header","content":"Josh Levs"},{"_id":"NRKD2KCWNRBPFK5H3PNZ7NEOL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734621300953},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta is a fantastic place to create — a career, a project (like a <a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\">podcast, hint hint</a>), a movement and more. So I’m happy to see that the city kept its ranking as <a href=\"https://www.startupblink.com/startup-ecosystem/atlanta-ga-us\">Startup Blink’s</a> “11th-best startup ecosystem in The United States.” (And remains in the top 30 worldwide.)"},{"_id":"MECR2DDB2NCBTIHTRCETKJXA4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734621300954},"type":"text","content":"That creativity shows up in new restaurants and stores and hangouts too. So it should be no surprise that Atlanta was just rated <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/atlanta-best-city-christmas-2024-wallet-hub/85-d567e6fd-e716-4674-9bea-4a3615dd546f\">No. 1 </a>on <a href=\"https://wallethub.com/edu/best-places-for-christmas/41924\">WalletHub’s</a> “most festive and affordable cities for Christmas celebrations.” I don’t have to be an official Christmas celebrator to feel the pride!"},{"_id":"NJMIQ6MZT5H4HCT7GUGSCZ4XV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734621300955},"type":"text","content":"Of course, it’s not just the metro Atlanta area doing all this. Georgia is a beautiful state filled with people creating wonderful experiences every day. My family and I are always discovering new adventures here. A highlight this year: a <a href=\"https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/845826509795828779?source_impression_id=p3_1734565857_P37V615EoFJA90rw\">hideaway in Townsend</a>, where dolphins swam right up to the house. — <i>Josh Levs, the host of </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\"><i>They Stand Corrected</i></a><i>, the </i><a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-stand-corrected/id1739637144\"><i>podcast</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"http://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\"><i>newsletter</i></a><i> fact-checking the media, is a frequent contributor to AJC Opinion.</i>"},{"_id":"QQ4IYXZJNBEJDFYBSFHJ6TX6FQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"V4O6QHTHMRGGLNRXJDYLE4RU6E"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"This holiday season, let’s give each other grace","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/this-holiday-season-lets-give-each-other-grace/BANL6SAGLNEOLLWSPNTWYJ5R2Y/"},{"level":4,"_id":"EN7GYDQUJVABFPQX2HZZXZ6H2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381650},"type":"header","content":"Jamie Riley"},{"_id":"7PGDE6XYSVBNPM7W6SDE2OQTIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381651},"type":"text","content":"Though I’m new to Georgia, I already hate the traffic. That’s why I’m especially grateful for the growing bicycling infrastructure in and around the city."},{"_id":"FLEXAS33OBDWXGGLSX562VKB3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381652},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta has been scorned for its lack of bicycle infrastructure, but it now has more than 100 miles of bike lanes. Bicycling advocacy group <a href=\"https://atlanta.urbanize.city/post/new-downtown-atl-bike-lanes-among-nations-best\">People for Bikes named the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Cycle Track</a>, finished just last year, as one of the best new bike lanes in the country."},{"_id":"C74IC5YFQFHSVEP6ILUL2HEUP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381653},"type":"text","content":"Though drivers often grumble about road space being dedicated to two-wheel traffic, studies have shown that a robust and safe bicycle infrastructure <a href=\"https://www.planetizen.com/news/2024/10/132237-over-and-over-studies-show-bike-lanes-dont-cause-congestion#:~:text=Congestion%20%7C%20Planetizen%20News-,Over%20and%20Over%2C%20Studies%20Show%20Bike%20Lanes%20Don't%20Cause,more%20revenue%20to%20local%20businesses.\">doesn’t cause congestion</a>. And in urban areas, bicycle lanes either <a href=\"https://www.kittelson.com/ideas/myth-busters-are-bike-lanes-bad-for-business/\">increase or don’t affect revenue for nearby businesses</a>."},{"_id":"7UQOZSR7PVCGJJ6LBHLLKHKRVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381654},"type":"text","content":"I’ll admit I was afraid bicycling in Atlanta before I moved here. (Though I had four serious car-involved crashes in the years I rode my bike to work in Washington, D.C., I much preferred biking to driving.) But good planning and awareness make for safe riding."},{"_id":"CKTCL6FVLNCXJDAPLCUZNPHGZ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734733381655},"type":"text","content":"So thanks, Atlanta, for <a href=\"https://felt.com/explore/bicycle-lanes-city-atlanta-georgia\">all the great bike lanes</a>. <i>— Jamie Riley is The AJC’s opinion editor.</i>"},{"level":4,"_id":"52FYTMSNDFDCXGDU4W2XWEQ5J4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523187},"type":"header","content":"Corey Ryan Forrester"},{"_id":"RBGUHMYGBFDMNEXXMUQ4IUIKFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523188},"type":"text","content":"The best things in life are free, and the second-best things in life can be purchased pretty cheap on the side of the road in Georgia."},{"_id":"AIK7MGRZZBENXLIPL5U53OYYWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734980189322},"type":"text","content":"I, of course, am talking about <a href=\"https://hardyfarmspeanuts.com/\" target=\"_blank\">boiled peanuts</a>. I don’t know if they were <a href=\"https://medium.com/@mauricioboston/experience-the-southern-tradition-of-georgia-boiled-peanuts-78d461c53d13#:~:text=Georgia%20boiled%20peanuts%20are%20a,balance%20of%20firmness%20and%20softness.\" target=\"_blank\">invented in Georgia</a>, and, frankly, I don’t care, because there is no denying we perfected them. A Yankee might turn his snooty little nose up at the sheer mention of boiled peanuts, but that’s because they think culinary masterpieces require white tablecloths and wine older than their second wives."},{"_id":"EWVA7V7G5BGO7BUEIEI26XQLAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":112,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523189},"type":"text","content":"The boiled peanut is a simplistic marvel, and perhaps the only outwardly trashy redneck snack that is also heart healthy."},{"_id":"JDCZFNUXIZA5NAPPRG2PBCVLT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734980189324},"type":"text","content":"I don’t mean the ones at the gas station by the way, though those will do in a pinch. I mean “P-Nuts” from a stand on the side of a road sold alongside other phonetically spelled things like “jelliez” and “maters.” The kind that come from a drum that has been perpetually boiling since the Carter administration and that smells like Louisiana and your Mamaw’s house at the same time."},{"_id":"JFIXMJMA7JGZRN6U73XVT7MQ2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":133,"comment":", Ga"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734980189325},"type":"text","content":"(Boiled P-Nut stands are also a unit of measurement. For example, Panama City, Florida, is about 17 boiled P-Nut stands from Valdosta.)"},{"_id":"P3S24SP5CVGXBPLT6JTW7OG2NI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734732523190},"type":"text","content":"In a world where our traditions and culture are under constant threat of removal, I am thankful for the one constant in my life: my beloved boiled P-Nuts. Throw in a crisp fountain Coke and, brother, I might as well be playing checkers in heaven. <i>— Corey Ryan Forrester is a comedian and AJC contributor.</i>"},{"_id":"TVVLGURBRBAP7HR6I4JEPP63FQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"BFWE6MHYVBHSJJ6TO7HESVASYY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A tree hugger gives thanks for Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and nature’s other gifts","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/a-tree-hugger-gives-thanks-for-natures-gifts/GQJ3YLGVSNHXDLW23M75GGEWSI/"},{"_id":"RKHANFZOBNF6DAPS4CIOB2LEW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734621300956},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"AJC staff and contributors are grateful for good food, an abundance of music, creativity and, of course, P-Nuts."},"description":{"basic":"AJC staff and contributors are grateful for good food, an abundance of music, creativity and, of course, P-Nuts."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"ajc top news"},{"text":"georgia-news.ajc"},{"text":"sp-holidayguide"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"ddd1043adffeb642b6c57ef156d39a06a6b5a18e359887eeb27d5b542831bbb8"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a6653941-0730-464b-901a-2b66ac141170.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"name":"Mike Luckovich","description":"Mike Luckovich is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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He has become the poster child of what a self-made American success story is supposed to look like. Rocketeer, technologist, engineer and serial entrepreneur all wrapped up into one gregarious package. At <a href=\"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rockefeller-rich-elon-musks-wealth-180019563.html\" target=\"_blank\">$440 billion in net worth</a>, he stands on the world’s stage of wealth and opulence all by himself as the <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/real-time-billionaires/#734d37a23d78\" target=\"_blank\">wealthiest human alive</a>."},{"_id":"NY27ZKWDRZAUZPKOJ5QW5NT57E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Musk’s latest endeavor, the <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/opinion/musk-and-ramaswamy-the-doge-plan-to-reform-government-supreme-court-guidance-end-executive-power-grab-fa51c020\" target=\"_blank\">Department of Government Efficiency</a> (DOGE), is a breath of fresh air for a federal government whose debt continues to hit new highs, and it should be a perfect fit for his eccentric skill set. His sharp elbows and extra-large brain cells will hopefully break through the brick wall of insanity on our government’s reckless spending problem."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"handout","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8"},"source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"T4RB6LHAOBHYTGPYW7WVPZ4RIU","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Geoff Duncan","type":"author","byline":"Geoff Duncan"}]},"subtitle":"Geoff Duncan","width":205,"_id":"KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/W4zUPTmEzIxDXLV_F1BkXCXlJyo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Geoff Duncan.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"BDPBYL2HFJFDBIW666YNGNJWFU"},"created_date":"2024-07-15T17:59:33Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-15T18:14:33Z","alignment":"right","height":154,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg?auth=aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"46DXWQJ67VEWPHUNAWBSANCXBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"With good ideas often come unintended consequences, and Musk is no exception. What started as an isolated patriotic journey into cutting wasteful government spending is starting to look like an outright power grab. Consider last week’s <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/biden-signs-bill-that-averts-a-government-shutdown-and-brings-a-close-to-days-of-washington-upheaval/WKFVDGA3BBDFZPG2662O4KIG5E/\" target=\"_blank\">near-government shutdown drama</a> to see the latest example of this growing dynamic."},{"_id":"BBSGDRNCQ5EVXP262BRUQ56POQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":3,"comment":"only ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It took only a <a href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-latest-tantrum-shows-184155659.html\" target=\"_blank\">microburst of 41 under-informed posts on X</a> in a relatively short period of time from a government newbie to grind the wheels of progress to a halt. Musk’s ill-timed entry into the legislative process had hints of <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22-spExLgMo\" target=\"_blank\">Cousin Eddie’s awkward confidence around the Christmas dinner table</a> in the 1989 hit “<a href=\"https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/\" target=\"_blank\">National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation</a>.”"},{"_id":"WUALAP3GLJBRLA6RRFYDCIA3WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":178,"comment":"only ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For those who missed it, here’s a recap: An imperfect but mutually agreed upon bipartisan spending bill blessed by President-elect Donald Trump was torpedoed by Musk in what can be only explained as a test flight of his newfound political power. Bull, meet China shop. Eventually, a last-minute compromise avoided a government shutdown, but not without undue drama."},{"_id":"YMW6UI2H25BJHD5IMO6BCT4UQY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Other recent examples of Musk’s heavy public hand have shown up on the X test range in the form of attempting to influence Cabinet picks, energy policy and artificial intelligence industry guardrails, to name just a few."},{"_id":"2QRDQSZSFRBPRCKQZ6YA4HLOYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":12,"comment":"-","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"So the multibillion-dollar question is, what was Musk’s real motivation for buying Twitter (which he renamed X), business or personal? His creditors and investors are hoping it was for business, but it’s becoming apparent that it might have been personal, too. It’s hard to make a business case for one of the world’s largest social media platforms intentionally augmenting reality by sharing its owner’s latest and greatest personal and half-baked thoughts on the modern-day front page above the proverbial fold 24/7."},{"_id":"2VTTIDQBS5BKZNSOLA72RGUSSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It’s estimated that <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/09/01/musk-twitter-investors-underwater/\" target=\"_blank\">X has lost an eye-popping 80%</a> of its total value since Musk took the company private. This cratering valuation doesn’t seem to bother Musk as much as it does the investment bankers still on the hook for the extra cash needed to close the deal."},{"_id":"XBJBA2HDM5CZVDKYYOW2XMY63M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"date":"","replies":[],"pos":394,"comment":"only ","type":"insert","user":"","email":""}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"If you remove the investment banker opinions from the conversation, the Twitter acquisition has been wildly successful for Musk by most modern standards. His followers on the platform have swelled to <a href=\"https://x.com/elonmusk?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor\" target=\"_blank\">nearly 210 million</a> since the acquisition, and he has undeniably become one of the most powerful influencers in the galaxy on virtually every contemporary subject, literally. Most impressive, he had to put up only an estimated 10% of his net worth to consummate the transaction. You would be hard pressed to find someone not willing to make the same low-risk, high-return investment every day of the week and twice on Sunday."},{"_id":"ELFTJVL3IRGH7JBAJSDMN3JV4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Musk has quickly made up for lost time operating inside the political ecosystem. This time last year, the world was still trying to figure out whether he was a Democrat or a Republican. It didn’t even seem likely he would lend his support to a specific candidate. Fast forward a few months, and his critics describe him as “<a href=\"https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/president-musk-donald-trump-spending-bill-rcna185083\" target=\"_blank\">President Musk</a>.” Even artificial intelligence couldn’t have predicted the absolute strength of his grip on the political process and his virtual board of directors seat with the incoming president."},{"_id":"ACTENUSHH5DY7GR7M7T2DRH54A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"So now what? That will depend on where Musk wants to aim his new toy: political power. The jury is still out if Musk is riding an epic wave or a Trojan horse. My prediction is that if he focuses on DOGE’s efforts, he will be highly successful and well revered. Alternatively, if he aims at shock-jock style politics for personal pleasure, he will break a lot of glass, and his political flame will quickly be extinguished — by Trump."},{"_id":"TKV7PF4UGVE2HM3EULYJTTLECA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":""}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Focusing on government efficiency could make him revered."},"description":{"basic":"Focusing on government efficiency could make him revered."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"webview"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/geoff-duncan-how-elon-musk-can-be-wildly-successful-in-government/IIUYDNDMTVBIJNL765TG7VYDB4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-23T20:18:10.282Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Geoff Duncan","description":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","_id":"gduncan","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Duncan","image":"","role":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, government. \n","firstName":"Geoff","books":[{"publisher":"Forefront Books","title":"GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party","url":"https://www.amazon.com/GOP-2-0-Election-Americas-Conservative/dp/1637630131"}],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"_id":"gduncan","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T18:40:55.146Z","byline":"Geoff Duncan","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Elon Musk can be wildly successful in government — or flame out"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-23T20:18:10.282Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-30T16:02:30.678Z","_id":"IIUYDNDMTVBIJNL765TG7VYDB4"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"5CLSA7TOZBA53H6T2LELDWI5M4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840637},"type":"text","content":"Families soon will be gathering around tables to celebrate the winter holidays, and families of mixed political affiliation might be a bit wary. I’ve had more than one conversation with friends who are struggling with what to do about relatives who might not be of the same political persuasion. MSNBC’s Joy Reid even suggested <a href=\"https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/3228813/democrats-choose-politics-over-family/\" target=\"_blank\">cutting off family members</a> who voted differently."},{"_id":"4S2PT7I5FRAQHHDMW63JO4PULA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840638},"type":"text","content":"I think that’s the wrong approach."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d"},"caption":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","width":1000,"_id":"EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/dKV7lzuHrd3SkIR-51QEcVAXusU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Carolyn-Bourdeaux.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RSYL2KAMU5C6NEIKPEQUANWMHQ"},"created_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","alignment":"right","height":1000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg?auth=2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"AVS3C4562JEHZI6B654UNEOHUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":140,"comment":"who were "},{"pos":240,"comment":"now-President-elect "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840640},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I know many of my Democratic friends feel betrayed, and I don’t want to diminish that. I was recently visiting some friends who are gay and discouraged about going home to North Carolina to break bread with family members who had voted for Donald Trump. These friends love their family and are loved in return, but they find it hard to square that someone who loves them would vote (as they see it) against their ability to be married and live normal lives."},{"_id":"RH2CW5AKYNFXVDQURKUOKDTJNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840641},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Before my Republican friends start sniggering about snowflake Democrats, I’d just point out that many in their party lost their minds when Trump lost in 2020. Elections do reflect real differences in values and beliefs about who we are as a country and the way forward."},{"_id":"4WYB54G2DNHORHDMR3ETUK6NSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840642},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"However, in this spirit of the season, I suggest that it’s time to give everyone a little grace and to remind each other that you love them."},{"_id":"SJJ64RIP5NAYFNYGBIOMCDRC3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840643},"type":"text","content":"We live in an era of “<a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.ipr.northwestern.edu/documents/working-papers/2021/wp-21-27.pdf__;!!JZyed81S!jTDc1LKhNaLt-l3h_O9xK9wGPLqn6m3kGcWBFQowf6jBxvdRrTgQS-Siw2GyWgFhPfQfQumIdVWz8wdADUI$\">affective polarization</a>” — people not only disagree with someone from a different party but also ascribe evil intent to them personally. As I wrapped up my time in Congress, I was stunned when a usually pretty normal Democratic friend asked me, “Can you name me one Republican I shouldn’t spit in front of when they walk past me?”"},{"_id":"6BXVJJDP4BHQTEY3B5UBYRK3NM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840644},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The vitriol can, of course, be equally fierce on the Republican side. Even after leaving office, I was threatened by a local Republican activist who followed me out of a public meeting and promised to “lock me up in Gitmo” for “corruption.” I have met people in the community who wouldn’t look me in the eye or shake my hand."},{"_id":"PCREHWIMJRF23ML62KNRMBPT5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840645},"type":"text","content":"But, really, this is not most people."},{"_id":"B3XXKVKJM5AU3AJYFH67C726DI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PNJENZRFLVGCDFC3R6URS7QDBU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"If you want a debate at the holiday table, is it dressing or stuffing?","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/dressing-vs-stuffing-where-does-georgia-side-on-this-defining-thanksgiving-question/EBOXF33D5NEPZL5F63XBOEVE2U/"},{"_id":"IIUUEW4AXJHITNYT2FCV4RQ2UA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840646},"type":"text","content":"I was visiting with family over Thanksgiving and saw my uncle Steve’s truck with a tiny, discrete Trump-Vance sticker on the corner of the bumper. I imagine he put on a small one knowing that his niece is a former Democratic Member of Congress. We have kept it civil over the years (mostly), but one conversation always sticks in my mind."},{"_id":"XVNNIXSWXJCTRBK6CSR7EXJ67U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840647},"type":"text","content":"For many years, Uncle Steve drove a truck delivering automobile parts to repair shops. But his truck was clipped from behind at a high speed and flipped over, leaving him with a broken back. Through no fault of his own, he couldn’t work and his employer laid him off."},{"_id":"HEYA564O4ZFWLMBX3HYUMKMQGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734957534778},"type":"text","content":"He continued to collect modest workers’ compensation, but buying private health insurance was prohibitively expensive and the state he lived in had not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. He went for four years without health insurance, eking by with the help of various public health clinics until he was eventually able to get Social Security disability insurance and Medicare."},{"_id":"3MW3FVH6N5AC3IVEZNYDNLT2FY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840648},"type":"text","content":"I knew he voted Republican, and one day I couldn’t help myself. I told him: Steve, you’ve struggled to get health care and you need health insurance! Democrats are going to make sure you have health insurance. I don’t need health insurance. I have a good employer-based plan. Really, I’m voting Democratic for you!"},{"_id":"OIWW5TBBFRAXFJLLW7QWYVRTSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840649},"type":"text","content":"Steve thought about this and then replied: Carolyn, you have a young son, and if this country keeps spending like it is, it’s going to be bankrupt by the time he is an adult. I’ll be long gone — I don’t need the budget balanced, but I know Republicans will keep federal spending in check so we’ll have a strong country. I am voting Republican for you and your son!"},{"_id":"VNHYASGNYVESBIIR6M6JSDUGPA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"3RXNXB5QDZDPNHTUO2LY2SKJEM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Patricia Murphy: The election is over. It’s time to start living life again. Maybe get a horse","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/patricia-murphy-the-election-is-over-time-to-start-living-again/IEAYZYIPCBFW3LD3WGYOSU66CA/"},{"_id":"ZBAOC4RFNNH4BPEYL6S6OOLANE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840650},"type":"text","content":"Every Christmas, my father used to read to my family the O. Henry story “The Gift of the Magi,” which tells of a young husband and wife who each sacrificed the thing that they held most dear to buy a Christmas present for the other. To my father, this was the essential spirit of the Christian holiday."},{"_id":"7PE75RNOSNENTOBTJZKPJEAOAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840651},"type":"text","content":"I’ve always thought of my conversation with Steve as a kind of rough political equivalent. We can quarrel about policy (and we do), but if we are at least starting from a point of caring about one another and, in a certain sense, being willing to sacrifice for the good of one another, surely we can figure things out."},{"_id":"F62MDUTPJ5CD7FZVFYJ6JHO4WY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840652},"type":"text","content":"So don’t cut your family off for how they voted. Most of our family members, our fellow countrymen and women and, yes, even most of our elected officials of both parties are acting in good faith as they see it. Maybe try to understand it. Maybe talk about where you are coming from. Or maybe just have a drink and watch a football game together."},{"_id":"D2G3BC5R3BB6LOZWP3N53J6TIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709840653},"type":"text","content":"As <a href=\"https://www.thehenryford.org/explore/blog/the-better-angels-of-our-nature-president-lincoln%E2%80%99s-first-inaugural-address\" target=\"_blank\">President Abraham Lincoln said so beautifully</a>, in a time much harder than our own: “Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory … will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”"},{"_id":"DIYW3AKK25AWZH6EN6VR4SFWW4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"UJA5Z3LQCBEENCUYPEWLST4E3A"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Athens-area Santa Claus returns to spreads Christmas spirit after taking a needed break for cancer treatment","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/georgia-santa-resumes-role-at-symphony-visits-hospital-after-cancer-treatment/2JOJROI3BVCFBM6KLBU2XUTKFQ/"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"When we break bread with family members whose politics are different, we should remember that most of us are acting in good faith."},"description":{"basic":"When we break bread with family members whose politics are different, we should remember that most of us are acting in good faith."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"97d67fdd2f56549b09cad903f419f50c2ddeea8b3235db7c06639b4016ae1c0b"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Despite some hurricane damage, real Christmas trees aplenty this season","width":5405,"caption":"Michelle Stell smiles as she chats with other staff members Dec. 4 at Tradition Trees’ Chamblee lot in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/G6JUNJXHDFIYHGDZGAFMUEVCX4.jpg","height":3706,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/G6JUNJXHDFIYHGDZGAFMUEVCX4.jpg?auth=97d67fdd2f56549b09cad903f419f50c2ddeea8b3235db7c06639b4016ae1c0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/this-holiday-season-lets-give-each-other-grace/BANL6SAGLNEOLLWSPNTWYJ5R2Y/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-23T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","description":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","_id":"cbourdeaux","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Bourdeaux","image":"","role":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. 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(Hyosub Shin/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/G6JUNJXHDFIYHGDZGAFMUEVCX4.jpg","height":3706,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/G6JUNJXHDFIYHGDZGAFMUEVCX4.jpg?auth=97d67fdd2f56549b09cad903f419f50c2ddeea8b3235db7c06639b4016ae1c0b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"7G2SK5SCAJDOTF2Q6FWJ5XKAYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312567},"type":"text","content":"We have one year to save our tax system from getting worse for 88% of Georgia taxpayers."},{"_id":"QYFHCXQLUFCTHGYOMGXVSMTXBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312568},"type":"text","content":"On Dec. 31, 2025, the tax cuts signed into law by then-President Donald Trump as part of the landmark <a href=\"https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/WH_CuttingTaxesForAmericanWorkers_Feb2018.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017</a> will expire, causing tax burdens to rise for most Americans."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"auth":{"1":"5e1ba742c75dd0454aa53ef3a76b083588160faf9702e548388ddf48446076e5"},"source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author","byline":"Photo contributed by the candidate"}]},"subtitle":"Buddy Carter","width":335,"_id":"J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/yluwmTF-O1aSoWkyFi2uheGRqnI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/yluwmTF-O1aSoWkyFi2uheGRqnI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/yluwmTF-O1aSoWkyFi2uheGRqnI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/me62Zb4z5L8mNNzW9Hbh0PqWozA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"BuddyCarter.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"3EVTC7T3VZE43BJPEWYOQDJ3EU"},"created_date":"2024-01-26T20:11:27Z","last_updated_date":"2024-01-26T20:11:28Z","alignment":"right","height":410,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/J4A7NU6YPJB65JQGHCAE3BLVXU.jpg?auth=5e1ba742c75dd0454aa53ef3a76b083588160faf9702e548388ddf48446076e5&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JLNLBJBAHFBJDCVD2G2YRAVLPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312570},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1/text\" target=\"_blank\">Passage of this bill</a> was one of the proudest votes I took as a member of Congress. For the first time in more than 30 years, we were able to provide relief for individuals and enable our job creators to invest more into middle-class and working-class families. This bill leveled the playing field for all Americans, allowing people to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks. Among the provisions was an increase in the standard tax deduction, an expanded child tax credit, a cut to small businesses’ tax burden and lower rates for low- and middle-income Americans."},{"_id":"DZL3ISKTM5H5XGRFHIBY2PRJ2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312571},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The impact on our economy has been undeniably positive. From <a href=\"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q\" target=\"_blank\">2018 to 2019, real wages rose 4.9%</a>, the fastest growth in 20 years. During this time, we had the <a href=\"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/poverty-awareness-month.html\" target=\"_blank\">lowest poverty rates in history</a>. Unemployment rates for <a href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/05/16/recent-labor-market-conditions-for-black-workers/#:~:text=The%20latest%20data%20shows%20that,percent%20from%202000%20to%202015.\" target=\"_blank\">African Americans</a>, <a href=\"https://www.statista.com/statistics/194154/unemployment-rate-of-hispanic-americans-in-the-us-since-1990/#:~:text=U.S.%20Hispanic%20Americans%20%2D%20unemployment%20rate%201990%2D2023&text=In%202023%2C%20the%20unemployment%20rate,and%20can%20be%20found%20here.\" target=\"_blank\">Hispanic workers</a> and <a href=\"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SCND16O\" target=\"_blank\">those without a college degree</a> fell to historic lows. On top of that, <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/economy/trump-obama-jobs-comparison/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Trump’s economy produced 5 million jobs</a>, affording more people the opportunity to earn a living here in America. It benefited those at the bottom most, too: The bottom 10% of earners saw a 50% higher wage growth than those in the top 10% as a <a href=\"https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/feb/03/donald-trump/earnings-bottom-rising-faster-top-mixed-data-behin/\" target=\"_blank\">result of these policies</a>."},{"_id":"ZOZNS2QL6BBNRHE53WXV3ULJKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312572},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The contrast between Trump’s roaring economy and President Joe Biden’s whimpering one is stark."},{"_id":"ZJY7KMRDEVB5ZM6TDTBSCOIEUI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":73,"comment":"that "},{"pos":169,"comment":"["},{"pos":174,"comment":"]"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312573},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Every single day in my office, we receive calls from families telling us they cannot afford their basic living expenses. To use one constituent’s words, “I can’t afford (gas) to go to work, but I can’t afford not to go to work.” Forget a rock and a hard place; this is the intersection of Bidenomics and Bidenflation."},{"_id":"NMTMIAFURNC5DAJISRGRWLDEVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312574},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It’s no surprise that 40% of Americans say <a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-inflation-changes-holiday-shopping-and-how-to-save-money/\" target=\"_blank\">inflation is impacting their holiday season</a>. Nothing says “Christmas spirit” like penny pinching so Uncle Sam can continue to spend like a drunken elf."},{"_id":"CEELAKEUPRCPBL46SOVQSK3UAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312575},"type":"text","content":"If Biden’s economy is this bad with Trump’s tax cuts still in place, imagine how much worse it would be if that lifeline were stripped away."},{"_id":"AOZWYLMNSFCNVMDOK5GVGIYWIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312576},"type":"text","content":"There is no good time for your tax rate to go up, but with our current cost-of-living crisis, this burden will result in many parents forgoing gas and groceries to line the federal government’s wallet."},{"_id":"3U4JNSHMXZA2LFU72SNYD2PPPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312577},"type":"text","content":"That might sound extreme, but it’s reality. A family of four making Georgia’s median income — <a href=\"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEHOINUSGAA646N\" target=\"_blank\">$74,632 a year</a> — will see a $1,515 tax increase, which is the equivalent of eight weeks of groceries."},{"_id":"MIAAWQMKU5C57HWJHLN5PU67MA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312578},"type":"text","content":"If I have a choice between providing my constituents with the means to eat and providing the government with the means to spend, I’m picking my constituents every single time. All members of Congress — Republican, Democratic or independent — who claim to represent their district’s best interests should do the same."},{"_id":"LUIHUTNWDVFPXJ74KB5UOPM3GE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312579},"type":"text","content":"Trump was reelected with a mandate to undo the harm caused by the most radically, dangerously liberal administration in history. The people want economic prosperity, and that is why we sent Trump back to the White House."},{"_id":"YVIWCOKWQFABJO473EZ3OZRURM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312580},"type":"text","content":"The first step in restoring economic prosperity is ensuring that the progress we have made is not undone thanks to partisan politics."},{"_id":"7JFELPWHS5HXHGQZ6LMJ6Z2AI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312581},"type":"text","content":"I am calling on Congress to prioritize protecting Trump’s tax cuts as part of our 2025 agenda so that all families can keep the money they earned and continue putting food on the table."},{"_id":"ME5KUPYZFRD4NI2WHD53K3JRSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734626312582},"type":"text","content":"<i>Buddy Carter, a Republican, represents coastal Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"If I have a choice between providing my constituents with the means to eat and providing the government with the means to spend, I’ll pick my constituents every time."},"description":{"basic":"If I have a choice between providing my constituents with the means to eat and providing the government with the means to spend, I’ll pick my constituents every time."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"3a4500075524f20958c5aed9d95b3425c13fef52126b6d3582bd0bd0e9ff006d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Evan Vucci","type":"author","byline":"Evan Vucci"}]},"subtitle":"trump","width":4286,"caption":"President Donald Trump shakes hands with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, as Vice President Mike Pence watches, during an event after the passage of the \"Tax Cut and Jobs Act Bill\" on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HTAE6XFYLZB6PJDQEQ76WMA65U.jpg","height":3113,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HTAE6XFYLZB6PJDQEQ76WMA65U.jpg?auth=3a4500075524f20958c5aed9d95b3425c13fef52126b6d3582bd0bd0e9ff006d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-congress-must-save-trumps-tax-cuts/AMJPTPJBXZE4VPQTN74QP52W5U/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-23T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Buddy Carter","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Congress must save Trump’s tax cuts"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-23T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-26T17:25:56.293Z","_id":"AMJPTPJBXZE4VPQTN74QP52W5U","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"3a4500075524f20958c5aed9d95b3425c13fef52126b6d3582bd0bd0e9ff006d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Evan Vucci","type":"author","byline":"Evan Vucci"}]},"subtitle":"trump","width":4286,"caption":"President Donald Trump shakes hands with House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, as Vice President Mike Pence watches, during an event after the passage of the \"Tax Cut and Jobs Act Bill\" on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HTAE6XFYLZB6PJDQEQ76WMA65U.jpg","height":3113,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HTAE6XFYLZB6PJDQEQ76WMA65U.jpg?auth=3a4500075524f20958c5aed9d95b3425c13fef52126b6d3582bd0bd0e9ff006d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"GIGKR4NH3FEDJJHK5FUEO2YRJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120137},"type":"text","content":"Time is running out to save the Okefenokee."},{"_id":"JJRTXNKZCVFTBFMMK5H2GOWNAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":88,"comment":"Georgia "},{"pos":122,"comment":"– "},{"pos":213,"comment":" legislature"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-20T21:19:42.020Z","start":235,"end":237,"text":"uppercase when referring to specific state's legislature, even if the state is dropped, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734727445886},"type":"text","content":"Protecting the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in far Southeastern Georgia could be Gov. Brian Kemp’s greatest legacy — if he acts now. He has a choice: Continue to remain silent about the threat or demand the Legislature act to save the swamp."},{"_id":"VYUB7ICPOZAWBEQTKURI56BHDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":111,"comment":" non-protected"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734729207564},"type":"text","content":"The beloved Okefenokee Swamp is under threat from mining interests who want to dig titanium sands from private, nonprotected land on Trail Ridge along the swamp’s eastern border."},{"_id":"JQM5TCUQLNAKRGFSPFGISK2NEI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120140},"type":"text","content":"We were in this spot almost 30 years ago when DuPont, a chemical company, sought to mine Trail Ridge. The federal government stepped in to oppose the mining, and DuPont eventually donated its land and looked elsewhere for its titanium dioxide, a whitening agent used in toothpaste."},{"_id":"2OH5ME5C4VHWPFDZGQJJ2HOUOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120141},"type":"text","content":"But back then, the Okefenokee had Georgia’s governor on its side. Kemp, though, has been largely silent about the swamp."},{"_id":"CBBTKC7FNNEB7CSFNKCN23DHDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120142},"type":"text","content":"We cannot depend on the federal government to save us this time."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9cea0f355896471b3df19a26e51a0e84a1527bcb5dc47f3e531bae4386de379b"},"caption":"The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. (Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge/Facebook)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Facebook/Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge","type":"author","byline":"Facebook/Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge"}]},"subtitle":"Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge","width":960,"_id":"3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Z2pgTVxlBZKWN8Rktng1SqZZ0pE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","owner":"nicole.williams@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Z2pgTVxlBZKWN8Rktng1SqZZ0pE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Z2pgTVxlBZKWN8Rktng1SqZZ0pE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/ydEmlgBsVANwdKpjwYlJcXvZOH8=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"RTXTKD2QC2HYVEAX557XTEBOYY.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"D4TZ6B7WDVCJHE4GFDQL2QS4Y4"},"created_date":"2022-11-16T04:36:53Z","last_updated_date":"2022-11-16T04:36:53Z","height":640,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3WAN3AM2QNFFLG23ATOUVBC5JA.jpg?auth=9cea0f355896471b3df19a26e51a0e84a1527bcb5dc47f3e531bae4386de379b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LXVUDOYXMVCIDJ6WZFRQIZ3BOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120144},"type":"text","content":"Two federal agencies — the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior — are trying to save Georgia’s ecological wonder. Fish and Wildlife is seeking to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/okefenokee-expansion-plan-questioned-during-public-meeting/RMTWL7OLCRDYTKLD6TBKAAOHUQ/\" target=\"_blank\">expand the park’s boundaries by 22,000 acres</a>. Doing so would allow the service to explore voluntary conservation, including acquisition, to protect the Okefenokee’s “globally significant freshwater wetland system and wildlife habitat,” as the agency’s website says,"},{"_id":"UKE572IP3JDPBFXTHXFMSSESCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120145},"type":"text","content":"Meanwhile, the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/okefenokee-refuge-will-be-nominated-as-a-world-heritage-site/H24DGHEYCRH5FE4VBR66P7WDGM/\" target=\"_blank\">Department of the Interior announced Friday</a> that it is <a href=\"https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/okefenokee-national-wildlife-refuge-be-nominated-join-unesco-world-heritage-list\" target=\"_blank\">nominating the refuge as a UNESCO World Heritage site</a>, placing it among the ranks of the Acropolis, Babylon and the Great Wall of China."},{"_id":"4NTQXWWRURGIRCH3LMOWV3DBAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120146},"type":"text","content":"But there might not be time for either."},{"_id":"QREK2WUOMZBF7HVT66JZG3BTEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120147},"type":"text","content":"Any day now, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division is expected to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/okefenokee-refuge-floats-expansion-on-land-tabbed-for-twin-pines-mine/UZ5H5PN6B5BQPGOZN767OSTXY4/\" target=\"_blank\">release its decision</a> on Twin Pines’ mining permit. More than 200,000 people <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/not-now-not-ever-public-tells-officials-to-stop-okefenokee-mine/5CACOOZADZEHJGAWRABU32ICRE/\" target=\"_blank\">pleaded with the EPD</a> in a public comment period to deny the permit. Sen. Jon Ossoff <a href=\"https://www.eenews.net/articles/ossoff-dicaprio-urge-georgia-to-reject-mine-near-okefenokee-refuge/\" target=\"_blank\">asked the EPD to deny the permit</a> and <a href=\"https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-senator-backs-federal-expansion-okefenokee-wildlife-refuge/3KVQB6SPBRFPVM34SXSX6WOIZA/\" target=\"_blank\">supports the Fish and Wildlife expansion</a>. Local governments want the Okefenokee protected."},{"_id":"4DKTFQ6Q3FE25OTGLWRH64FIBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120148},"type":"text","content":"And the incoming Trump administration could stamp out either effort. In fact, it was the Trump administration’s <a href=\"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/21/2020-02500/the-navigable-waters-protection-rule-definition-of-waters-of-the-united-states\" target=\"_blank\">2019 Navigable Waters Protection Rule</a>, which removed federal protections from many wetlands, tributaries and ponds, that opened the door for Twin Pines to apply for a mining permit. The Biden administration tried to reclaim oversight, but the company sued. A settlement left the decision to the state."},{"_id":"Z7CJK6N2KFDBZBYF4JZY55SCJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120149},"type":"text","content":"Twin Pines, the Alabama mining company with a <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/investigations/string-of-environmental-violations-raises-concerns-about-firm-linked-to-okefenokee-mine-project/HBPFQKRF2VEXDNNVFX57UHFVCQ/\" target=\"_blank\">spotty environmental record</a> that wants to mine Trail Ridge, has said its operations will not adversely affect the swamp, citing environmental impact studies it commissioned. The EPD agreed."},{"_id":"25JGLSNSERDKFJUD3URZU3GARM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120150},"type":"text","content":"Conservationists and scientists don’t."},{"_id":"HAYYG6I5NZBGPHPK7QGFJCCU4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120151},"type":"text","content":"The Fish and Wildlife Service said it is “concerned with mining-induced changes to surface and groundwater that could result in lowered groundwater levels in Okefenokee Swamp. We believe reduced water availability will negatively impact habitat for federally listed and at-risk fish and wildlife species.”"},{"_id":"HPSMI6DIBVETVKWN6ZQ7SUGBDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":27,"comment":"that "},{"pos":274,"comment":"-"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120152},"type":"text","content":"Georgia Conservancy claims portions of the proposed mine site drain surface water directly into the swamp. Changes in groundwater flow could lower the water table in the area, having a deleterious effect on wetlands near and in the swamp. The nonprofit also said wildfires — a grave danger to the timber stands that border the refuge — would likely increase because of reduced groundwater levels."},{"_id":"V5AO4LLATVDCFOHRQJEI7SMX5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120153},"type":"text","content":"Georgia Rivers noted that mining to a depth of even 50 feet would alter water flows away from the swamp, lowering the water table within the swamp and exposing critical irreplaceable peat deposits that store volumes of carbon."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a3a149366587571eac482dcf7fc8e9ba2efcca9ce7b5f2fd0bc9f94d677f1d26"},"caption":"A baby alligator hatches in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. (Courtesy)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Public domain/NASA","type":"author","byline":"Public domain/NASA"}]},"subtitle":"wild georgia","width":3000,"_id":"FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/NmgB1fJFFn7rDM8qsOK7lqA0Brs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","owner":"holly.steel@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/NmgB1fJFFn7rDM8qsOK7lqA0Brs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","takenOn":"2015-08-18T08:51:04Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/NmgB1fJFFn7rDM8qsOK7lqA0Brs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/y3_2y5xZA-1CMZlvu0nk3zyxYxY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Alligator baby.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"DOC7THGIR5AQBINRED7RE6EDJI"},"created_date":"2024-08-22T12:20:19Z","last_updated_date":"2024-08-22T12:20:19Z","height":2000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FTIEQ2HRDFD4JHKS3CIM2DG6PA.jpg?auth=a3a149366587571eac482dcf7fc8e9ba2efcca9ce7b5f2fd0bc9f94d677f1d26&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"EN5QZ7ZMMBGGRIB3B2QCVYYPTA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120155},"type":"text","content":"For three sessions now, the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/the-fight-over-a-mine-planned-on-the-okefenokee-swamps-edge-may-have-only-just-begun/5UJMY6PHQFBMXE6TFVHLYKJHJU/\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia Legislature has failed to protect the Okefenokee</a>. Last year, legislators failed to advance two bills that would have put a moratorium on or banned mining permits near the Okefenokee. It’s frankly embarrassing that Georgia is shrugging off an existential threat to the magnificent Okefenokee Swamp."},{"_id":"GDGMLQKCZZC2LOB4P4F3HJOFMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120156},"type":"text","content":"One of the main sticking points for legislators is private property rights. The Okefenokee’s 400,000 acres are surrounded by privately owned land. Many of the owners of that land could seek mining permits of their own or seek compensation for the mineral rights to their land."},{"_id":"IWOTSCCNY5GFPLODQW4KGGWLYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":80,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120157},"type":"text","content":"In March, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he thinks there is a solution that protects the private property rights of landowners near the Okefenokee that also protects the Okefenokee."},{"_id":"2IYDES4S4RCG7CEEF4LPXZGVHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120158},"type":"text","content":"Another issue for legislators and local elected officials is the 400 high-paying jobs the mine would create in a county of 4,000 people. That is obviously a game-changer for a lot of people. And though we understand the allure of those new jobs, no one can deny that the swamp is a moneymaker."},{"_id":"WEAPODJLMJCKNHO2I7SEYM27EI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120159},"type":"text","content":"The Okefenokee, largely through tourism and recreation, supports more than 750 local jobs and drives an annual economic output of about $65 million in just the four counties surrounding it."},{"_id":"B7DPZNUEHJGL3GYHLJ7DZQ55QY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LDQ7MW3IIVELFFTEW3JVU2SZYI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Where is it? A guide to visiting the Okefenokee Swamp","url":"https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/plan-your-trip-guide-the-okefenokee-swamp/Nz1GmOxouazur5yyScSi9H/"},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution","address":{"locality":"St. Marys","region":"GA"},"auth":{"1":"169450194762ce32befd8ffa81b31fe617cd1f28c8bcd0d5fdbcc2de7e1e9f4a"},"caption":"The St. Marys River. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)","source":{"system":"AJC Freelancer","name":"AJC Freelancer","edit_url":"","source_type":"wires","source_id":"s3://ajc-arc-photo-integration/Freelancer/032424 OKEFENOKEE HS82.jpg","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":["65f1c5983ecf2c28b6c789d3"],"seo_keywords":["AJC Freelancer"]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Wires","subtitle":"Okefenokee fight","width":6048,"_id":"BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/4r9tZe7_8R_LwK_ZqgxJfyyHp6s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","iptc_source":"AJC","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"65f1c5983ecf2c28b6c789d3","keywords":["environment","mine","AJC Freelancer","Okefenokee Swamp","St. Marys River"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/4r9tZe7_8R_LwK_ZqgxJfyyHp6s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","takenOn":"2024-03-20T14:52:58Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/4r9tZe7_8R_LwK_ZqgxJfyyHp6s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Hix-jhldDrQXz9aRQ5t27YNR5XE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"s3://ajc-arc-photo-integration/Freelancer/032424 OKEFENOKEE HS82.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"3IQ74GHGTBG5LJA6SXB7PLCAV4","iptc_title":"staff"},"created_date":"2024-03-20T18:59:05Z","last_updated_date":"2024-03-27T18:54:37Z","slug":"aajc 032424 okefenokee fight","height":4024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/BOIUEMFNWR23FALGTAH5Y5WQ5U.jpg?auth=169450194762ce32befd8ffa81b31fe617cd1f28c8bcd0d5fdbcc2de7e1e9f4a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"AANMB4MNV5C75AN3SC6JYADNWM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120161},"type":"text","content":"It’s no wonder why people from all over the world — more than 600,000 people a year — visit the Okefenokee. It’s one of the last remaining blackwater swamps of its size."},{"_id":"VF2KS3OC7BGZNILU76EGLQWZ7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120162},"type":"text","content":"The swamp’s “size and exceptional ecological integrity” make it uniquely important. “Subtropical swamps of this size are rarely found in good ecological condition (because they are in areas with pleasant climates, and therefore heavily impacted by development,” as Cyril Kormos, the executive director of Wild Heritage, which helped prepare the UNESCO nomination, said. The Okefenokee was affected by “logging and some canal building a century ago, but has largely recovered and is in excellent condition,” he noted."},{"_id":"L6FHY55EOJGGLBEKYI7P6CDI3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120163},"type":"text","content":"And the flora and fauna within the swamp include endangered and threatened species."},{"_id":"7GSHGM72ZJDYPOTXFCA6HJ6DUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":263,"comment":"Okefenokee "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-20T21:27:31.607Z","start":195,"end":197,"text":"added \"to\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734727120164},"type":"text","content":"The Okefenokee is home to more than 850 species of plants, 48 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, 39 species of fish and 90 species of reptiles and amphibians, plus invertebrates, according to Kim Bednarek, executive director of the Okefenokee Swamp Park & Adventures."},{"_id":"OBOW4PCTSJG4JNLSKKAIPOER6Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120165},"type":"text","content":"The reptiles and amphibians in the swamp are “particularly impressive, with numbers rarely seen in a temperate or subtropical ecosystem, including 58 reptile species, 32 amphibian species, and an important population of American alligators, which are recovering from near-extinction in the wild. The ONWR acts as a refuge for several threatened species, including red-cockaded woodpeckers, Eastern indigo snakes, and wood storks,” Bednarek said."},{"_id":"PL6DVBMOCZBZRFBPKUCUKOLKJE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"QFMFRVZIX5DMXFDUKE6GQTPBKI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Wild Georgia: A tree hugger gives thanks for nature's gifts","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/a-tree-hugger-gives-thanks-for-natures-gifts/GQJ3YLGVSNHXDLW23M75GGEWSI/"},{"_id":"VF64UCJBN5DMLH54YO2BPZVT24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120166},"type":"text","content":"In an <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/georgia-governor-and-speaker-must-preserve-singular-wonder-of-the-okefenokee/JSFIZKSKPFAKHH33C2SKCIZXBQ/\" target=\"_blank\">editorial in March</a>, we asked the governor to pause any mining permits on or near Trail Ridge to allow time for “the Legislature, conservation groups and private foundations to save and preserve the swamp, a sprawling 400,000-acre natural wonder.”"},{"_id":"2PV3MB4TFBEJTCAQHLJKQY53B4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120167},"type":"text","content":"But the Okefenokee can wait no longer."},{"_id":"IMJZMMFQJNCLPMRV45PDSTF6HA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120168},"type":"text","content":"Now, before it’s too late, Kemp and the Legislature must protect the Okefenokee. As soon as the Legislature convenes on Jan. 13, legislators should get a bill to Kemp’s desk to sign — even if it’s the moratorium bill that failed last year."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"2024 Atlanta Journal-Constitution","address":{"locality":"Folkston","region":"GA"},"auth":{"1":"52b2a3a456973af024c2c1a187eea9330322d8bf866bf3660a36d80af990501f"},"caption":"The Okefenokee, largely through tourism and recreation, supports more than 750 local jobs and drives an annual economic output of about $65 million in just the four counties surrounding it. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2024)","source":{"system":"AJC Freelancer","name":"AJC Freelancer","edit_url":"","source_type":"wires","source_id":"s3://ajc-arc-photo-integration/Freelancer/032424 OKEFENOKEE HS73.jpg","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":["65f1c5983ecf2c28b6c789d3"],"seo_keywords":["AJC Freelancer"]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Wires","subtitle":"Okefenokee fight","width":5504,"_id":"E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ZPQpN6pLd6gPH8mG8F2ox774YBU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","iptc_source":"AJC","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"65f1c5983ecf2c28b6c789d3","keywords":["environment","mine","minerals","AJC Freelancer","Okefenokee Swamp"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ZPQpN6pLd6gPH8mG8F2ox774YBU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","takenOn":"2024-03-19T18:24:29Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ZPQpN6pLd6gPH8mG8F2ox774YBU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/detYX7rjdl5sR2T3WfPFG90Zz4U=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"s3://ajc-arc-photo-integration/Freelancer/032424 OKEFENOKEE HS73.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"FR4BEZGPS5ACRDVPNKD74IAHVI","iptc_title":"staff"},"created_date":"2024-03-20T02:29:23Z","last_updated_date":"2024-03-29T04:54:42Z","slug":"aajc 032424 okefenokee fight","height":3722,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/E56J24FDD5N4JOFMR4TACVBKEU.jpg?auth=52b2a3a456973af024c2c1a187eea9330322d8bf866bf3660a36d80af990501f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"7KCSP6EZIVGCRGRSZAWG6GCP7Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120170},"type":"text","content":"But a permanent solution is needed. “A conservation solution that will preserve the Okefenokee’s ecological integrity and biodiversity requires land protection in perpetuity,” Bednarek wrote. “Ideally, this would align with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposal for expansion of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Boundary to include Trail Ridge with the intention to enable voluntary actions to protect hydrological integrity, conserve wetlands and key wildlife habitat, and create fuel reduction zones to help protect neighboring properties.”"},{"_id":"SJYCKC73EZDI5E4HDRCUFGOAEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120171},"type":"text","content":"Unless the Okefenokee and its surroundings are protected by state or federal law, we will be in this position again and again. We shouldn’t have to count on the federal government or rely on philanthropists to reward companies who continually put short-term gains over preserving the Okefenokee."},{"_id":"HXBBGYFTD5HCZMIVI2UUT6IIIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120172},"type":"text","content":"The governor and the Legislature have a once-in-forever chance to save Georgia’s most important natural resource."},{"_id":"MUTWDBHMZRGEDGUQGTVVRBXOQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734727120173},"type":"text","content":"If they fail now, it might just be gone forever."},{"_id":"32452VKGAFEGPMTG2YQYZ3BQYM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"55SSBVGITBDJNGAQJ7FEURCSWI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"From 2023: New project to explore history of Okefenokee’s Black conservationists","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/new-project-to-explore-history-of-okefenokees-black-conservationists/4K64LGPRBNEUDB2GSW5XH5TD5U/"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Georgia’s governor and state Legislature have one last chance to save our beloved swamp."},"description":{"basic":"Georgia’s governor and state Legislature have one last chance to save our beloved swamp."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"080f264a0974d2830db78809d07c3053f09ac0fa1d3fe825b6603d1c3fe0abd3"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a6653941-0730-464b-901a-2b66ac141170.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"name":"Mike Luckovich","description":"Mike Luckovich is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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Kemp, it’s now or never for the Okefenokee"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-22T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2025-01-14T14:12:14.754Z","_id":"GM767GY52BEM7GCNTMOH5MFAVA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"080f264a0974d2830db78809d07c3053f09ac0fa1d3fe825b6603d1c3fe0abd3"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a6653941-0730-464b-901a-2b66ac141170.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"mike.luckovich@ajc.com"},{"site":"facebook","url":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/mluckovichajc"}],"name":"Mike Luckovich","description":"Mike Luckovich is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has twice been recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, in 1995 and 2006. He was a Pulitzer finalist in 1986. Mike joined The Atlanta Constitution staff in 1989, and he rarely cleans his office. ","_id":"mike-luckovich","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Luckovich","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/a6653941-0730-464b-901a-2b66ac141170.jpg","role":"Editorial Cartoonist","education":[],"longBio":"Mike Luckovich is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has twice been recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, in 1995 and 2006. He was a Pulitzer finalist in 1986. Mike joined The Atlanta Constitution staff in 1989, and he almost never cleans his office. ","org":"ajc","facebook":"https://www.facebook.com/mikeluckovichajc/","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Mike Luckovich is the award-winning editorial cartoonist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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Jean Carroll case. Trump was found liable for $88 million <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db\">in damages for defamation</a> and sexual assault."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. 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Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"K2TVIPEPNRCJVNXE6ETS4VI334"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"UXAZHAU66FBJTDLXZZEGNCEIRQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545618},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"What makes the settlement so stunning is that Trump is notorious for filing defamation lawsuits against anyone and everyone who opposes him, speaks against him or reports on him. He’s been doing it for decades, though he’s usually unsuccessful in the courts. Most of his suits are thrown out as frivolous or dismissed by the presiding judges."},{"_id":"RALU3TLT4RBI5FK6Y3WEIGTZQI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545619},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Not this time. Instead of defending its journalist, another powerful media conglomerate has bent its knee to Trump."},{"_id":"IOHLP634GZC57HBLGMQ6FHTHNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545620},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For ABC/Disney to settle for such a large sum and do so publicly sends a chilling message to journalists writ large. ABC threw a <a href=\"https://www.foxnews.com/media/abc-inks-new-deal-george-stephanopoulos-anchor-cost-network-millions-trump-defamation-suit\" target=\"_blank\">credible journalist</a> under the proverbial bus for repeating what a <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/07/19/trump-carroll-judge-rape/\" target=\"_blank\">federal judge said was the truth</a>. As <a href=\"https://x.com/PENamerica/status/1869461223718498745\" target=\"_blank\">PEN America Director Katie Blakenship said</a>, “It sends a message to be quiet. It sends a message to err on the side of caution.”"},{"_id":"FR7IBNJMXFGFBFXZ6BXT7XGZ74","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545621},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I agree."},{"_id":"6GQU7USNCZHF3KBFVYIMHIGXFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545622},"type":"text","content":"Now it feels as if the media are powerless to fight back, to stand our ground, to honor the core principles set at our nation’s founding of freedom of speech and a free press. There can be no doubt: Powerful forces are at play. Disney-ABC settled, according to the New York Times, allegedly because the <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/18/business/media/disney-trump-abc-lawsuit.html\" target=\"_blank\">company feared retribution in Florida</a> and elsewhere once Trump takes office."},{"_id":"6G3D2FA4QJD2BJUZMLY2YZD7AY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545623},"type":"text","content":"This comes after what many considered a very damming reversal of reporting on Trump by prominent MSNBC “Morning Joe” show hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski. The <a href=\"https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/why-did-joe-and-mika-really-visit-mar-a-lago?srsltid=AfmBOooB8K80v-kM7buOVJ5YHyhZOltJiZKbxruxQ17DsWGzJXXH3d-7\" target=\"_blank\">pair announced they had made the trek to Mar-a-Lago</a> to establish an open dialogue with Trump after the 2024 election. Scarborough and Brzezinski, both repeatedly attacked by Trump, had been among Trump’s harshest critics."},{"_id":"RZJWUJRG6BG65MRDBO6ACJJQ4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545624},"type":"text","content":"Worse still: On Tuesday, <a href=\"https://time.com/7202925/trump-sues-des-moines-register-ann-selzer-poll-election-interference/\" target=\"_blank\">Trump sued famed Iowa pollster Ann Selzer</a> and the Des Moines Register newspaper for a <a href=\"https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/iowa-poll/2024/11/02/iowa-poll-kamala-harris-leads-donald-trump-2024-presidential-race/75354033007/\" target=\"_blank\">campaign poll Selzer released</a> just weeks before the 2024 election showing Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump in Iowa. Of course, the poll was a snapshot in time, and Trump won Iowa handily. The lawsuit, filed in state court in Polk County, <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-files-suit-iowa-pollster-ann-selzer-des-moines-register-newspap-rcna184494\" target=\"_blank\">claimed</a> “Selzer’s polling ‘miss’ was not an astonishing coincidence — it was intentional.”"},{"_id":"4C74YIXUQVDS3MA6ZOX7FER5DA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545625},"type":"text","content":"Also this week, Trump’s allies in the House Republican majority <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/18/politics/jan-6-house-gop-trump-liz-cheney\" target=\"_blank\">released a report</a> suggesting former congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming should be criminally prosecuted for her role in the official January 6 House Select Committee investigation. Trump had earlier <a href=\"https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/12/18/congress/trump-jabs-at-cheney-00195030\" target=\"_blank\">posted the same sentiment on social media</a>."},{"_id":"TCGTFE7GGREW3LBOYLVMWQUUVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545626},"type":"text","content":"This is where we are, and it will not get better."},{"_id":"LAEINOYR2NCMJNALGNLERCSWKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545627},"type":"text","content":"There are few people, if any, in the incoming Trump administration who will restrain him. Trump is appointing only loyalists to his Cabinet and key positions. He is not going to repeat the mistake he made in his first term in appointing qualified Republicans — Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley, Gen. Jim Mattis or Gen. John Kelly — who would stand guard against corruption and authoritarianism. There will be no guardrails to stop Trump from acting on his worst instincts and cravings for vengeance."},{"_id":"ZHL2BANX5RGCDJFM4G44RAVO7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545628},"type":"text","content":"So, the question for the media is how do we honor and protect our proper role?"},{"_id":"DGNIME4NAVBZBOW33LIUAVTXQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545629},"type":"text","content":"1. As Tim Snyder’s “<a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Twenty-Lessons-Twentieth-Century/dp/0804190119\" target=\"_blank\">On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century</a>” warns us: Do not obey in advance, as it appears some are already doing. The press must remain free, it must have access, and it must be protected by the courts."},{"_id":"KGKGRELWPFAQ3J5THGQPB4BDGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545630},"type":"text","content":"2. Stand up for truth with reliable, relatable and provable facts."},{"_id":"SDC2DGXYSBC5VNWQY42S7H5NFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545631},"type":"text","content":"3. Do not “both-sides” the truth. It is either dawn or midnight. It cannot be both. Tell the truth. Report the truth, and do not give false equivalence to what is not the same. If it is raining and Democrats say it is raining, there is no need to quote a Republican who claims it is not."},{"_id":"CW5Y4PJHPRETDIWPHQRED2JXEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545632},"type":"text","content":"4. News editors, corporate media leaders, editorial boards, executive producers and reporters must decide now if they are going to stand with truth — and with the Constitution."},{"_id":"ANWGSPGALZHZVPCDGLNYT2I6LY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545633},"type":"text","content":"5. Finally, media companies must back their reporters, just as CNN did when <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/2018/11/07/665497382/white-house-revokes-press-pass-of-cnns-jim-acosta\" target=\"_blank\">Trump revoked White House Reporter Jim Acosta’s press pass</a> in 2020. CNN <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/16/media/cnn-trump-lawsuit-hearing/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">took him to court and won</a>."},{"_id":"ZN6FXEED7ZHGHIDV4XGVAIFQWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734709545634},"type":"text","content":"We must be willing to be reviled, assailed, attacked and even jailed for speaking and reporting the facts over the next four years. Will we? Time will tell."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The media must commit to reporting the facts, despite the president-elect’s promise of retribution."},"description":{"basic":"The media must commit to reporting the facts, despite the president-elect’s promise of retribution."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-trump-goes-after-the-free-press-with-little-pushback-from-the-press/TKCGROKEENFHVGWUP5OYQYHLEI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-20T16:55:10.224Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","firstName":"Sophia","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"A.","_id":"snelson","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-30T00:46:40.034Z","byline":"Sophia A. Nelson","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Trump goes after the free press, with little pushback from the press"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-20T16:55:10.224Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-20T16:55:10.367Z","_id":"TKCGROKEENFHVGWUP5OYQYHLEI"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"Z4QGKSL5DNHD5A4Z72ZCDC5HXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192791},"type":"text","content":"More than 20 years ago, the Atlanta Beltline entered the public realm from <a href=\"https://ryangravel.com/beltline/\" target=\"_blank\">Ryan Gravel’s master’s thesis</a> about orienting density and development around an existing rail corridor. Gravel sent his map and summary to me, then-chairperson of the Atlanta City Council Transportation Committee."},{"_id":"7IOTPHWXBFCDJESUSD4JZ2SUHE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192792},"type":"text","content":"That began a multiyear public discussion on what might be possible along the corridor and how to overcome obstacles and objections that come with any public project of this scope. The Beltline was birthed through a public engagement process to give the vision details and build grassroots support for the project. It was not, like the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/streetcar-first-year/\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Streetcar</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/blog/commuting/atlanta-transit-supporters-speak-out-for-two-projects/P6KbVIKOruDCuC5tyzWr7H/\" target=\"_blank\">Emory transit line</a>, part of the project list developed by the “Atlanta Way” under the direction of the elite philanthropic and corporate community that usually determines major civic investment projects."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"2705bef9df076e3f9c70b2e2c7645aa05a08357029c64c118ad5b02b1d2edf17"},"caption":"Cathy Woolard","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"db4a0ae8-da3c-11e7-846f-e033b75c6809","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2017-12-06T04:20:58Z","credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"Curtis Compton","name":"ccompton@ajc.com","type":"author","byline":"ccompton@ajc.com","slug":"ccompton-ajc-com"}]},"subtitle":"Photos: Atlanta voters choose city’s next mayor","width":2000,"first_publish_date":"2017-12-06T04:20:58Z","_id":"FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/37wLIlwa_rDOFI9LGwIaVXxvGaM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","comments":[],"keywords":["atlanta-news-metro.ajc","intown atlanta"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/37wLIlwa_rDOFI9LGwIaVXxvGaM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","takenOn":"2017-12-06T04:20:58Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/37wLIlwa_rDOFI9LGwIaVXxvGaM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/C-V2kH3yIN1kDG9ab4U9WD5rmIk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p8/AJC/2017/12/05/Images/120617%20elx%20atl%20mayor%20CC28.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[{"headlines":{"basic":"Bottoms claims Atlanta mayoral victory; Norwood seeks recount"},"_id":"MK5F7MZ4RHZZMGZ7EEMGZL4ABQ"}],"_id":"2ZDXWFYMBFF4LNJL6F6QCFPRUM"},"created_date":"2020-06-26T17:06:26Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-26T17:06:26Z","alignment":"right","publish_date":"2017-12-06T04:20:58Z","height":1631,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FH6KBDS2ZV6MJQNIPZBK66VWLQ.jpg?auth=2705bef9df076e3f9c70b2e2c7645aa05a08357029c64c118ad5b02b1d2edf17&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"2Q2UH2MZNZCITE6PTHANTX2S2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192793},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"To be clear, the Atlanta Beltline was conceived as a transit project. The idea was to orient density along the vacant corridor, connect neighborhoods around the city via light rail/streetcar/fixed rail transit and connect to MARTA at the four compass points (Lindberg, Inman Park, West End and Bankhead), out of automobile traffic and on the existing rail corridor. Early corridor alignment and vehicle studies were done to prepare applications for federal funding for the transit project. One of the earliest and most critical issues was creating enough density to support transit. We solved that issue by engaging neighborhoods to rezone land along both sides of the corridor to <a href=\"https://a-us.storyblok.com/f/1020195/b9aa919741/2020-09-24_subarea-9-master-plan-update.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">transit-oriented density</a>, and we see the results in the new corridor developments today."},{"_id":"AVAU76BH2RFMTGUGFFTV6YJZVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192794},"alignment":"right","type":"text","content":"To be eligible for federal funds, a transit project goes through a series of steps and studies to determine the appropriate alignment or location of a transit line, ensure viability and solve issues that arise during public engagement. The studies need to be professional and objective and are subject to intense scrutiny given the small pot of money that too many transit projects compete to receive."},{"_id":"XXJGWDS2AFAUVERF7PQJPR2IXI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192795},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Atlanta Streetcar was an <a href=\"https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/atlanta-streetcar-grand-plans-and-failed-ambitions/\" target=\"_blank\">albatross from beginning</a>. It clogged important downtown street arteries, frustrated businesses disrupted during construction, brought unsightly overhead wires to historic neighborhoods, and cost a fortune to build and operate. Opening day of the Atlanta Streetcar brought what was likely its highest ridership as supporters beat the drum of their success, which quickly turned to yet another embarrassing financial and public relations fiasco for Atlanta."},{"_id":"B25I62TP5BFWLKR3AA6LU7RVVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192796},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Those of us who were working on the Atlanta Beltline knew that the Atlanta Streetcar would fail for lack of connection to anything meaningful for riders. We also knew that its ultimate failure would reflect poorly on Atlanta Beltline transit and might make transit on the Beltline more difficult to complete."},{"_id":"SPPK7FE4LFCYVKCB2FA332RHFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192797},"type":"text","content":"Fast forward to today and what we predicted has come true. <a href=\"https://roughdraftatlanta.com/2024/10/10/time-for-a-new-transit-plan-on-the-atlanta-beltline/\" target=\"_blank\">Ridership on the Atlanta Streetcar</a> is virtually nonexistent and costs us a lot of money to <a href=\"https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/atlanta-streetcar-grand-plans-and-failed-ambitions/\" target=\"_blank\">operate this train to nowhere</a>. No real leadership has stepped forward to say what needs to be said: the Atlanta Streetcar is too expensive, was poorly conceived and should never have happened. Many operate under the belief that we can’t receive funding for transit on the Atlanta Beltline unless it is part of the extension of the Atlanta Streetcar."},{"_id":"JCX2XK3Y2JEK5LTQWQJMLWT6BU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192798},"type":"text","content":"Well folks, it’s time to put on our big girl pants and do something bold."},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"UEMVADDTGBBGHMDBW3IUT4OOOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192799},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"U244C4BYIJC5ZJWQMIF4QXHNAQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192799},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Mothball the streetcar. Give up. Stop. Save it for later if it makes sense to restart. Do not extend this folly to the Beltline."},{"_id":"XYVCF7NIJNASZGHCOQRD5RHMZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192800},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Stop studying the studies. The density needed to provide riders exists in the Northeast and Southeast corridors and is rapidly being built in the Southwest and Northwest corridors. The alignment is there, and the need for fixed rail is studied and established and doesn’t need to be revisited until our “<a href=\"https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2020/06/26/a-walk-together-the-atlanta-way.html\" target=\"_blank\">Atlanta Way</a>” leaders get the results they want, which is no transit on the Beltline."},{"_id":"CG7RM7GUK5BWDIBQOG6VAXNMKY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192801},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Solicit bids to design and build transit on the Atlanta Beltline now. Other cities have figured out how to build transit lines quickly and with reasonable budgets. We should push to build all of it at once — not like squeezing toothpaste out of the tube, one painful mile at a time. Engaging a company to design and build (and perhaps operate, if MARTA can’t get out of its own way and get it done) will introduce the competition in pricing and timing that this project needs to succeed in our lifetime."}]},{"_id":"NLEBENYLZBG2NM3RMFOU6SKZV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":93,"comment":"public safety training center"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734448192802},"type":"text","content":"The “Atlanta Way” brought us the Atlanta Streetcar, the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center on land long designated as much-needed parkland, and the sale of the Atlanta Civic Center and other land that could and should be used to provide housing more affordable for Atlanta’s legacy residents and workforce. Perhaps we should try something different. Let the “Atlanta Way” stand for innovation, solutions to climate change and income inequality and honor citizen engagement with completion of projects long promised and consistently denied."},{"_id":"Z36FPPQSZZFRRHNWUVJHJ7J44U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734453859100},"type":"text","content":"<i>Cathy Woolard, a former chairwoman of the Fulton County Election Board, served on the Atlanta City Council from 1998 to 2004, including as president from 2002 to 2004.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Mass transit on the beloved multiuse corridor is possible — if we get out of our own way."},"description":{"basic":"Mass transit on the beloved multiuse corridor is possible — if we get out of our own way."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"bd66f0d58b78894c811ece82927a643af91e3883977a75b0e387e155966e4bbb"},"alt_text":"Atlanta Beltline Marketplace partners with Atlanta Indie Market for Small Business Saturday at three different locations along the Beltline, including under the John Lewis Freedom Parkway Bridge. (Erin Sintos/Atlanta Beltline)","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Erin Sintos","type":"author","byline":"Erin Sintos"}]},"subtitle":"Atlanta Beltline Marketplace","width":5276,"caption":"People shop the Atlanta Indie Market on Small Business Saturday under the John Lewis Freedom Parkway Bridge along the Beltline. (Erin Sintos/Atlanta Beltline)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"b2bd3169-cc5c-491b-92f3-aff2c9fe37fc"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S6D3DNOOHRFNBI4XUO5JM54HGM.jpg","height":3518,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S6D3DNOOHRFNBI4XUO5JM54HGM.jpg?auth=bd66f0d58b78894c811ece82927a643af91e3883977a75b0e387e155966e4bbb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-honor-the-beltlines-grassroots-beginnings/BQGWZ3K5CVBDLAGFEUFHAOPNPM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Cathy Woolard","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Honor the Beltline’s grassroots beginnings"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-20T16:01:21.105Z","_id":"BQGWZ3K5CVBDLAGFEUFHAOPNPM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"bd66f0d58b78894c811ece82927a643af91e3883977a75b0e387e155966e4bbb"},"alt_text":"Atlanta Beltline Marketplace partners with Atlanta Indie Market for Small Business Saturday at three different locations along the Beltline, including under the John Lewis Freedom Parkway Bridge. (Erin Sintos/Atlanta Beltline)","credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Erin Sintos","type":"author","byline":"Erin Sintos"}]},"subtitle":"Atlanta Beltline Marketplace","width":5276,"caption":"People shop the Atlanta Indie Market on Small Business Saturday under the John Lewis Freedom Parkway Bridge along the Beltline. (Erin Sintos/Atlanta Beltline)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"b2bd3169-cc5c-491b-92f3-aff2c9fe37fc"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/S6D3DNOOHRFNBI4XUO5JM54HGM.jpg","height":3518,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/S6D3DNOOHRFNBI4XUO5JM54HGM.jpg?auth=bd66f0d58b78894c811ece82927a643af91e3883977a75b0e387e155966e4bbb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"CHAOEBOJJRD3BLQQIAYATOO7TY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940687},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta is a city of reinvention — a place where dreams rise from the ashes, fueled by faith, creativity and action. From the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of justice to the global influence of Atlanta’s hip-hop culture, this city has long been a beacon of transformation."},{"_id":"AHKKKY677RGWPASMU4T4I5GWAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940688},"type":"text","content":"Yet, even as Atlanta has grown and thrived, some communities remain overlooked, carrying the weight of systemic neglect. Reconstruction — deliberate, compassionate and forward-looking — is not just necessary; it’s the continuation of Atlanta’s enduring story."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14d4b335eb980dea22cfd7c325eebc32b9c5620e19cbe806c13f4783ab39140a"},"caption":"Atlanta-based rapper Lecrae says he questioned his faith in the years leading up to his current album and book. (Courtesy of Alex Harper)","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Alex Harper","type":"author","byline":"Alex Harper"}]},"subtitle":"Lecrae","width":500,"_id":"ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/m3YENBQbjKUBTQByLoGOfyoxwEE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","owner":"melissa.ruggieri@ajc.com","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/m3YENBQbjKUBTQByLoGOfyoxwEE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/m3YENBQbjKUBTQByLoGOfyoxwEE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/1_eBqPH-YS3foLRjbuY7a4hSASw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Lecrae 2.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"34RFG3JKV5CJFHEDFQEPJJNJGU"},"created_date":"2020-09-14T18:30:41Z","last_updated_date":"2020-09-14T18:30:41Z","alignment":"right","height":680,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZODG7CMQ3BGYBKGKDV33MVLZPI.jpg?auth=14d4b335eb980dea22cfd7c325eebc32b9c5620e19cbe806c13f4783ab39140a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"DKDSV3Q7MZHLBCHX3VYBZJCZGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940689},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Reconstruction begins with recognizing the value of every person and place, no matter how forgotten or underestimated they may seem. I know this because my story began in those same circumstances. Growing up in an environment where many would have written me off, I was surrounded by people who chose to invest in me. Teachers, mentors and organizations planted seeds of hope in my life, nurturing my creativity and potential. Their faith in my future shaped who I am today — a business owner, artist and advocate for change."},{"_id":"RWI4FPM76RH43P5S2F77HL6KBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":517,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940690},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"That belief in transformation fuels my work across the city, from helping establish Peace Preparatory Academy in English Avenue to serving as an ambassador for change in Grove Park. These neighborhoods, long defined by their challenges, hold incredible potential. Peace Prep provides children and families with not just education but an environment where dignity and opportunity take root. Meanwhile, in Grove Park, I’ve seen the power of collective action to reimagine what a community can be when residents, leaders and organizations come together with a shared vision for growth."},{"_id":"BKRPKUZUP5CGXGSHJCSRJEB6A4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"HRENEU625RBRXOF7V3ZCKKRLQE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Grammy-winner Lecrae says he is now the most content he's ever been","url":"https://www.ajc.com/things-to-do/georgia-entertainment-scene/grammy-winning-lecrae-now-the-most-content-i-have-probably-been-in-my-life/GGWQ3OKFXNDBJDFDZWWKKMKYAM/"},{"_id":"TSCZ3YFDSJGX7MOKIB5AYH5XZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":129,"comment":"that "},{"pos":232,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940691},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Reconstructing Atlanta isn’t just about physical change; it’s about creating spaces where people can thrive. It’s about ensuring children grow up in neighborhoods where they feel seen and supported, where schools nurture their gifts and where families have access to the resources they need to succeed. It’s about building an infrastructure of care and opportunity, one that empowers residents to lead and shape their communities."},{"_id":"VXLV4J6STBBEVB44IDSFCXY2WA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940692},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This work requires faith — not only in a spiritual sense but in the conviction that every investment in people and places has the power to create something beautiful. King’s concept of the “beloved community” speaks directly to this idea. Reconstruction isn’t about returning to what was but building something new, rooted in love, justice and mutual respect. It’s about planting seeds in fertile soil, watering them with mentorship and letting them grow under the sunlight of opportunity."},{"_id":"2LAAD6ERQVHHPGHS4QRRUFJ3YY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940693},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta’s artists have long been architects of this vision. Figures like T.I. and Killer Mike are reconstructing the city in their own ways, channeling their success into investments that uplift communities. T.I.’s commitment to affordable housing and Killer Mike’s work in economic empowerment show how creativity and advocacy can transform neighborhoods. Their efforts remind us that reconstruction is a collective process — one that requires everyone to bring their unique gifts to the table."},{"_id":"WNE4CFP2RJEUNAACDSILMHVGEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940694},"type":"text","content":"As someone who draws inspiration from both faith and hip-hop culture, I see reconstruction as an extension of my purpose. Whether through music, mentorship or community leadership, I aim to plant seeds of hope that will grow into lasting change. The neighborhoods I work in are filled with people whose potential is waiting to be unlocked. When we invest in these communities, we’re not just repairing what’s been broken; we’re building something entirely new."},{"_id":"PM4UUW6YWBE7ZBQTVLW24WWQFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":236,"comment":" that"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940695},"type":"text","content":"Reconstruction is a long-term commitment. It’s about more than quick fixes or temporary solutions — it’s about laying a foundation for generations to come. It requires listening to the voices of those who’ve been overlooked and ensuring progress doesn’t come at the expense of the people who’ve called these neighborhoods home. It’s about balancing development with dignity and equity."},{"_id":"EKG5XPQIIRFVNA256Y6F2O43WU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":91,"comment":"civil rights movement "},{"pos":437,"comment":","}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-18T17:53:32.770Z","start":112,"end":114,"text":"capitalize when referring to specific push, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734542940696},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta’s history is one of resilience and renewal. From the ashes of the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, this city has always found a way to rebuild stronger and more united. Today, we have an opportunity to continue that legacy by reconstructing the neighborhoods that have been left behind. With faith, creativity and action, we can create a city where every child has a chance to thrive, every family has a place to call home and every neighborhood reflects the strength and beauty of its people."},{"_id":"4FIPYWAKENABRNS66TBRTLGJJE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KKZK3ZXIVJHDJHY36UHSJZNXQM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Photos: Lecrae plays the Tabernacle in 2014","url":"https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/music/photos-christian-rapper-lecrae-plays-the-tabernacle/VbsCucmklRWCO2pw9Vt29H/"},{"_id":"2JUMZAU36ZCIXCODYD5CUAREOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940697},"type":"text","content":"I’m committed to this vision, not just as an advocate but as someone who has lived it. I’ve seen what can happen when people believe in the potential of a single life or a single neighborhood. Reconstruction is possible — it’s happening right now in places like Peace Prep and Grove Park. Together, we can build an Atlanta that lives up to its promise, where transformation isn’t just an idea but a reality. Let’s keep planting seeds of hope and watch them grow into something extraordinary."},{"_id":"TDXWGZZGGNFHJBPU7FQG7B6EBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940698},"type":"text","content":"<i>Lecrae is an Atlanta-based rapper. He is a member of the board of Invest Atlanta and Peace Preparatory Academy, which he helped found.</i>"},{"_id":"W3NNWEMQBVCSFOIDD6KW6OFDXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734542940699},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":" I’ve seen what can happen when people believe in the potential of a single life or a single neighborhood. Together, we can build a city that lives up to its promise."},"description":{"basic":"I’ve seen what can happen when people believe in the potential of a single life or a single neighborhood. Together, we can build a city that lives up to its promise."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a88248a18aeb5e1f4d7fade9b43d4bf91abe74c7161f20ada7a7a86bdadcaa3d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"width":3300,"caption":"The Midtown Atlanta skyline in May. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KMRDB6XFYDPIONRJCSRH5BZRXU.jpg","height":2550,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KMRDB6XFYDPIONRJCSRH5BZRXU.jpg?auth=a88248a18aeb5e1f4d7fade9b43d4bf91abe74c7161f20ada7a7a86bdadcaa3d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-reconstructing-atlanta-through-faith-and-renewal/GJM3T5QWIJBXDNYMLJLBMX5TMI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Lecrae","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Reconstructing Atlanta: A vision of faith and renewal"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:07.784Z","_id":"GJM3T5QWIJBXDNYMLJLBMX5TMI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"a88248a18aeb5e1f4d7fade9b43d4bf91abe74c7161f20ada7a7a86bdadcaa3d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"width":3300,"caption":"The Midtown Atlanta skyline in May. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KMRDB6XFYDPIONRJCSRH5BZRXU.jpg","height":2550,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KMRDB6XFYDPIONRJCSRH5BZRXU.jpg?auth=a88248a18aeb5e1f4d7fade9b43d4bf91abe74c7161f20ada7a7a86bdadcaa3d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MDBSYB5OLRDSVIZJDBQSWSX6SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362650},"type":"text","content":"This year, millions of people will celebrate Christmas amid nightmarish conditions because of rising levels of Islamist terrorism and repression. But you wouldn’t know it from most national media."},{"_id":"F6BPAWCPBFFWBLCQ3X3RITFHOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T20:50:52.217Z","start":34,"end":36,"text":"offset with commas","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362651},"type":"text","content":"Through my <a href=\"https://joshlevs.com/subscribe-to-podcast/\">podcast</a> and <a href=\"http://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\">newsletter</a>, They Stand Corrected, I track how big media fail to deliver the truth. Often, they report things without fact-checking and refuse to correct errors. (Some of the worst examples are “nominees” in the <a href=\"http://mediafailawards.com/\">Media Fail Awards</a>.) They also fail by ignoring crucial stories."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e"},"caption":"Josh Levs, opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"4HD3CCQAQNEKVJ6BM5UKP7ONVA","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Josh Levs","width":1007,"_id":"AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Wj-q9_UXl7EjVaK8A3OcCqrQQVk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","version":4,"originalName":"Levs-full-2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RCG2WAZKEFGWFMR4MUDP4POT5I"},"created_date":"2024-09-23T14:50:57Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:27:35Z","alignment":"right","height":1342,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg?auth=59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ET4UGSUUBZDVHK37CTUH2C3KJQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":51,"comment":" (ACN)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T20:52:29.786Z","start":50,"end":52,"text":"removed acronym following first reference","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-19T20:54:28.255Z","start":407,"end":409,"text":"took itals off name of report and put in quotation marks","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362652},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need issued a <a href=\"https://acnuk.org/pf-edition-2024/#findings\">report</a> this year on 18 countries in which “the faithful are suffering because of state authoritarianism or attacks from extremists.” In most, it found, suffering among Christians (not just Catholics) is on the rise. “The increase in religiously-motivated harassment against Christians is higher than it has even been.” The report is titled: “Persecuted and Forgotten?”"},{"_id":"CQXZZGHTINDVVHEHFRD2CGZ3QM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362653},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"“Militant Islam was responsible for the increased persecution in all six African countries reviewed,” ACN reported. Also, “Mass migration of Christian communities, triggered by militant Islamist attacks, has destabilized and disenfranchised them, raising questions about the long-term survival of the Church in key regions.” Other nations in the report include China, North Korea and <a href=\"https://www.csis.org/analysis/deteriorating-religious-freedom-conditions-nicaragua\">Nicaragua</a>, where governments are cracking down on religious freedom."},{"_id":"K373EHRFFRC5ZJBWGLJQ4RLA4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362654},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Open Doors, which works with persecuted Christians worldwide, has issued similar warnings. Its 2023 figures <a href=\"https://www.opendoorsus.org/en-US/persecution/persecution-trends/\">showed</a> Nigeria to be most dangerous, home to 82% of <i>known</i> killings of 5,000 Christians worldwide that year. About 15,000 churches and other Christian properties were attacked globally, and nearly 300,000 people were displaced."},{"_id":"FIJIQRW57JALJMS7VVY2OP6YVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":357,"comment":"that "},{"pos":462,"comment":" Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T21:03:11.494Z","start":496,"end":498,"text":"only use \"Congo\" when referring to the democratic republic of congo, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362655},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Catholic News Agency <a href=\"https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/260003/persecution-of-christians-worldwide-has-gotten-worse-papal-charity-report-says\">reported</a> that in <a href=\"https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/nigeria-genocide-emergency-january-2024\" target=\"_blank\">Nigeria</a>, bandits have been “operating with impunity under a largely Muslim-controlled federal government.” And in Burkina Faso, many Christians were among more than 150 people <a href=\"https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/259953/islamic-terrorists-massacre-150-in-burkina-faso\">massacred</a> by Islamic terrorists in an October attack. The Middle East Media Research Institute, which <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/rogue-fbi-translator-clemson-grad-married-isis-terrorist/KN5ULno62tYdfgt476tNJN/\">monitors violent extremism</a>, reported the Islamic State Central Africa Province <a href=\"https://www.memri.org/jttm/islamic-state-central-africa-province-iscap-we-killed-over-60-christians-beheading-northeastern\">claimed</a> to have “killed over 60 Christians by beheading” in the Congo."},{"_id":"6BUNSLNLINDGVAJEFCHDAGYQIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362656},"type":"text","content":"For a sign of just how little attention all this is getting, look no further than CBN, the Christian Broadcasting Network. In November, anchor Wendy Griffith <a href=\"https://cbn.com/video/shows/christian-world-news-christians-danger-november-1-2024\">interviewed</a> Jeff King, president of International Christian Concern, about ongoing events in Nigeria. “It’s largely unreported — this is the first I’m hearing about it,” she said. “It’s so underreported it’s crazy,” he concurred."},{"_id":"AUL5WBETXJHPDHP5J2N6KFIGOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T20:57:16.606Z","start":2,"end":4,"text":"put name of podcast in quotation marks","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362657},"type":"text","content":"On “<a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/show/7cWhNlG8aS2MUNFntryVnW\">They Stand Corrected</a>,” I often point out the media’s obsession with Israel, leading to all kinds of journalistic fiascoes. Many mainstream news organizations have succumbed to an antisemitic movement aimed at depicting the tiny Jewish state in the worst possible light. So perhaps it should be no surprise that, when I went looking for reports about attacks on Christians in Africa and many other places over the past year in the biggest outlets, virtually nothing showed up. But there were stories of Christians suffering as a result of Israel’s effort to end Islamist terrorist attacks. NPR for example (my old stomping grounds) reported on Christians in Lebanon who <i>supported</i> a Hamas terrorist killed by Israel. Somehow that was worth spotlighting, but massive numbers of Christians attacked by Islamist terrorists are not."},{"_id":"KQCZ4QBAENHQDHTMWRJBTBDJEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":647,"comment":"decision makers "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T20:59:42.180Z","start":662,"end":664,"text":"hyphenate, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362658},"type":"text","content":"Anat Sultan-Dadon, Israeli consul general to the Southeastern United States, brought this up <a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-17-the-weaponization-of-polls/id1739637144\">in an interview</a> with me. Of course, Israel’s war against Hamas following the <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/video-joshs-october-7-speech\">Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist massacres</a> should be covered “because Israel is on the front line of fighting a radical Islamist ideology that is a threat to the entire free world,” she said. “But are other issues around the world not worthy of attention? Is the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and Africa and so many places around the world — is that not worthy of being covered?” The media has a role in shaping policies and determining which issues get the attention of decision-makers, she added."},{"_id":"T2WFT3LPBJFCBFSBQFWLHNHUDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":206,"comment":"18-year-old "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T21:00:31.811Z","start":217,"end":219,"text":"only hyphenate as a compound modifier, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1734629362659},"type":"text","content":"The threat of Islamist terrorism is spreading and must be addressed. In Germany this year, three teens who glorified the Islamic State were <a href=\"https://www.dw.com/en/germany-3-teens-held-over-suspected-islamist-attack-plans/a-68800624\">arrested</a> for allegedly planning attacks on churches. In Idaho, an 18 year old who allegedly “pledged his allegiance to ISIS” planned to attack people at churches using knives and firearms. He was arrested, and authorities thwarted “a truly horrific plan,” FBI Director Christopher Wray <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/idaho-man-arrested-attempting-provide-material-support-isis\">announced.</a>"},{"_id":"W5WIQVD7UBGNZASJPARU6PZJJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":97,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362660},"type":"text","content":"This week, media will give lip service to Christians, wishing them a merry Christmas. Let’s hope in the year ahead, news leaders do much more than that, demanding greater action to fight Islamist terrorism, keeping churchgoers protected and showing persecuted Christians everywhere that they’re not forgotten."},{"_id":"TJYJIMD6QNCA5LOHGHWLAUPZTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734629362661},"type":"text","content":"<i>Josh Levs, the host of </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\"><i>They Stand Corrected</i></a><i>, the </i><a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-stand-corrected/id1739637144\"><i>podcast</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"http://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\"><i>newsletter</i></a><i> fact-checking the media, is a frequent contributor to AJC Opinion. Find him at </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/\"><i>joshlevs.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Religious persecution across the globe goes widely underreported."},"description":{"basic":"Religious persecution across the globe goes widely underreported."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"eee39e3408ea9278b013c96a8c9579f27ae4a2dd29b21e395353fa033d779ccb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Audu Marte/AFP","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"WORLD-NEWS-NIGERIA-CLASHES-GET","width":1600,"caption":"Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (center) arrives at the Airforce Base in Maiduguri on Dec. 11, 2023. Nigeria has been the site of persecution against Christians. (Audu Marte/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/56JPHO4GVHO2BYTOILVOEYK72Q.jpg","height":1067,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/56JPHO4GVHO2BYTOILVOEYK72Q.jpg?auth=eee39e3408ea9278b013c96a8c9579f27ae4a2dd29b21e395353fa033d779ccb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-big-media-are-ignoring-attacks-on-christians/TB5TBV2ILJGWPCBDREBEBIAYPU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Josh Levs","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Big media are ignoring attacks on Christians "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-20T11:00:09.64Z","_id":"TB5TBV2ILJGWPCBDREBEBIAYPU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"eee39e3408ea9278b013c96a8c9579f27ae4a2dd29b21e395353fa033d779ccb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Audu Marte/AFP","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"WORLD-NEWS-NIGERIA-CLASHES-GET","width":1600,"caption":"Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (center) arrives at the Airforce Base in Maiduguri on Dec. 11, 2023. Nigeria has been the site of persecution against Christians. (Audu Marte/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/56JPHO4GVHO2BYTOILVOEYK72Q.jpg","height":1067,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/56JPHO4GVHO2BYTOILVOEYK72Q.jpg?auth=eee39e3408ea9278b013c96a8c9579f27ae4a2dd29b21e395353fa033d779ccb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"2AUTDQJZBRF7PCPQYKIGJ3GLX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696434},"type":"text","content":"We often herald the holiday season as a time of joy, togetherness and celebration. Yet, for families with an incarcerated father, this time of year can be a stark reminder of absence, loss and disconnection."},{"_id":"TVLGQLBL4FHMTO3R7MNRI5KDRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696435},"type":"text","content":"The reality is that incarceration doesn’t just confine individuals — it ripples outward, profoundly affecting children, families and entire communities. During the holidays, these ripples become waves that can overwhelm the people left trying to hold everything together."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"f17999ceb370621cb0c1b796e40d7708bbff9c731316dbc4b19b3813aedbeb03"},"caption":"Kenneth Braswell","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Kenneth Braswell","width":1728,"_id":"76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Pzu3lJXzcagF4QNW7KdbKjO9xfE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[""],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Pzu3lJXzcagF4QNW7KdbKjO9xfE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Pzu3lJXzcagF4QNW7KdbKjO9xfE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/JrNINYJ9y_gzH-TfUd3tqRztw2A=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"ceo-1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RIKPPBKDAJCBRPTREGMBT6456Q"},"created_date":"2024-06-10T18:13:50Z","last_updated_date":"2024-06-10T18:13:50Z","alignment":"right","height":1908,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/76P6XX4LNBAYZF4A4WJROH3FR4.jpg?auth=f17999ceb370621cb0c1b796e40d7708bbff9c731316dbc4b19b3813aedbeb03&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"2KG7KHHO45BQFBD4WGTLJADPM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696437},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The statistics paint a sobering picture. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, approximately <a href=\"https://bjs.ojp.gov/content/pub/pdf/iptc.pdf\">92% of incarcerated parents are fathers</a>. The Pew Charitable Trusts reports that <a href=\"https://www.pewtrusts.org/-/media/3975EB366428437FADA60843AA02C2FC.ashx#:~:text=2.7%20million%20children%20have%20a,percent)%20have%20an%20incarcerated%20parent.\">1 in 9 Black children has a parent in prison, compared with 1 in 57 white children</a>, highlighting the disproportionate impact of mass incarceration on Black families."},{"_id":"MZEEESTFV5HHVORNRCYYX4UXGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696438},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For these children, the absence of fathers during the holidays isn’t just a logistic void; it’s an emotional chasm."},{"_id":"AMDCLH7UUJCKNGBPNZ6MJF5WMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775453},"type":"text","content":"Research from the National Resource Center on Children and Families of the Incarcerated shows that <a href=\"https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/hidden-consequences-impact-incarceration-dependent-children\">children with incarcerated parents are at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, and poor academic performance</a>. The holiday season — a time typically filled with memories and traditions — can magnify these challenges, creating feelings of isolation and sadness that linger long after the celebrations have ended."},{"_id":"WLOENMDEBNG7PKOT4YODTJTXJE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ELN4PEFTRBCIDB6YG5ZXM3OMDU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A Christmas message for Georgia’s youth aging out of foster care","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-a-christmas-message-for-georgias-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care/SLAT3JQRYVHC7HMCKQPAIEUA64/"},{"_id":"K2HR47USO5DSLG4ZJLRRYC6UPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696439},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The length of time a father is incarcerated also adds to the weight of this issue."},{"_id":"5M6JKOE2FBHLLJSKETOR2PYPE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775455},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.sentencingproject.org/\">The Sentencing Project</a> estimates that the average sentence length for incarcerated individuals in state prisons is nearly 10 years, with many fathers missing critical milestones in their children’s lives. Birthdays, graduations and family gatherings are lost to the cold walls of prison cells, and the holidays are a particularly cruel reminder of the distance between fathers and their families. For many children, the absence becomes normalized, creating a cycle of emotional detachment and fractured relationships that can take years, if not generations, to repair."},{"_id":"3ZYAVHLMG5BSRNAFIBQWFOOXIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696440},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This issue is compounded by the stigma that society places on incarcerated individuals and their families. The incarcerated father is often viewed as undeserving of sympathy, and the family left behind frequently bears the brunt of societal judgment. This stigma isolates families further, discouraging them from seeking support and making an already difficult situation even more dire. During the holidays, this isolation is especially painful, as families grapple with how to explain an absent father’s absence while shielding their children from feelings of shame."},{"_id":"YLFVMGWHNNGMXHYFVEFHONTIBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696441},"type":"text","content":"What’s often overlooked in these discussions is the humanity of incarcerated fathers."},{"_id":"WE6YID3DCJEAJCDY3EXBI6JVAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775458},"type":"text","content":"While their actions may have led to their imprisonment, they remain fathers who love and long for their children. Programs that facilitate gift-giving from incarcerated parents to their children (like Fathers Incorporated’s Home for the Holidads and the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree initiative) underscore the potential for connection even behind bars. Such efforts remind us that rehabilitation and reconnection should be as central to the conversation as punishment."},{"_id":"T2QZMJPB4ZGUNCUMUANPTMNXZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696442},"type":"text","content":"The impact of incarceration during the holidays goes far beyond the prison walls. It touches the hearts of children, the strength of families and the fabric of our communities. We cannot afford to let these families feel forgotten. Healing starts with recognition and compassion."},{"_id":"SSSMUFJJTFFSNN3UBCTETAZFCQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"VUSF6AZ4S5EBBEPHTNJFOO57HE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Cobb County Jail program teaches young fathers job and life skills","url":"https://www.ajc.com/neighborhoods/cobb/cobb-county-jail-program-teaches-young-fathers-job-life-skills/M6IQR3UUD5DZZH2GNEQFVFHEAA/"},{"_id":"5RJS7SEXTFFOBMB2BOLKINAHPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696443},"type":"text","content":"We must confront the urgency of this issue with awareness and action."},{"_id":"VOOULWGR4NGU5NFOK4V5A6INKM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775462},"type":"text","content":"Human service agencies, especially those working with fathers and families, need to prioritize incarcerated fathers in their programming and outreach. The holidays present a unique opportunity to bridge gaps, repair relationships and emotionally support struggling families. Creating pathways for incarcerated fathers to maintain meaningful connections with their children is not just an act of kindness — it’s an investment in the next generation’s well-being."},{"_id":"XHFBAEGIEJFV7H34GSLIAL24TU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696444},"type":"text","content":"Families also play a critical role."},{"_id":"Q3SQWCMKAVHTFE6X3NOQMJ7WTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775464},"type":"text","content":"Supporting an incarcerated family member during the holidays doesn’t have to mean excusing their past actions; it can mean choosing hope over despair. A simple letter, a phone call or a visit can remind them that they are still part of a family and have a role to play. For children, maintaining a connection to their father can make an immeasurable difference in how the children see themselves and their future."},{"_id":"7MQLEFOH4JDQPGDY5EXT3UJ3Y4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6QAUOIRQGNFN5AQVQNO52GJVDI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Opinion: Inhumanity rules at Georgia’s prisons. But does anyone care?","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/torpy-inhumanity-rules-at-georgias-prisons-but-does-anyone-care/4MY4YTBEHBHWTH2T4H77OVPRDY/"},{"_id":"6RH6HBI7IJC5JMX3TZ24ANRZ7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696445},"type":"text","content":"As we prepare to celebrate this holiday season, let’s not forget the families who face it with an empty chair at the table. Let’s challenge systems that perpetuate disconnection and urge them to embrace the humanity of fathers striving to stay connected to their children, even from behind bars. The true spirit of the holidays lies in compassion, in reaching out to the overlooked and the forgotten."},{"_id":"JJN56XEY7FDWZL7YWC6V4WHRI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734563775466},"type":"text","content":"Together, we can make a difference, one family at a time."},{"_id":"CQEDU2PUYRGXNH6QE2TMKSW64U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444696446},"type":"text","content":"<i>Kenneth Braswell, chief executive officer of Fathers Incorporated, leads efforts to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen families nationwide. With extensive experience in community development and father engagement, he drives impactful initiatives and policies. Learn more at</i><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.fathersincorporated.com/__;!!JZyed81S!hCPJnsh5G0yI0BD64cAlXN_5VAzMgdxDXlJ2W3kgpjDfkCqye49ymbWr7mh6YWiacVWtX04dZ6sKuRO55AM$\"><i> </i></a><a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/www.fathersincorporated.com/__;!!JZyed81S!hCPJnsh5G0yI0BD64cAlXN_5VAzMgdxDXlJ2W3kgpjDfkCqye49ymbWr7mh6YWiacVWtX04dZ6sKuRO55AM$\"><i>www.fathersincorporated.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Incarcerated fathers and their children often don’t feel the joy and togetherness that brighten winter celebrations."},"description":{"basic":"The reality is that incarceration doesn’t just confine individuals — it ripples outward, profoundly affecting children, families and entire communities."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a48c064471a60b246e5969bbed5022ac1b212a69e0aead5d41c452ee7e1234e1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Armando L. Sanchez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"LIFE-JAIL-LITERARY-SPACE-1-TB","width":3000,"caption":"Before visiting his incarcerated father, a toddler stacks blocks in the early literacy play space inside a Cook County Jail waiting area in 2022 in Cook County, Illinois. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NAWCNLWHYMFCBKBFEAVM7PJEMM.jpg","height":2000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NAWCNLWHYMFCBKBFEAVM7PJEMM.jpg?auth=a48c064471a60b246e5969bbed5022ac1b212a69e0aead5d41c452ee7e1234e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-forgotten-families-in-the-holiday-season/QCMRQNYVPVD6JDYAZKVKDKA25A/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-19T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Kenneth Braswell","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Forgotten families in the holiday season "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-19T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-19T11:00:15.901Z","_id":"QCMRQNYVPVD6JDYAZKVKDKA25A","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"a48c064471a60b246e5969bbed5022ac1b212a69e0aead5d41c452ee7e1234e1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Armando L. Sanchez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"LIFE-JAIL-LITERARY-SPACE-1-TB","width":3000,"caption":"Before visiting his incarcerated father, a toddler stacks blocks in the early literacy play space inside a Cook County Jail waiting area in 2022 in Cook County, Illinois. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NAWCNLWHYMFCBKBFEAVM7PJEMM.jpg","height":2000,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NAWCNLWHYMFCBKBFEAVM7PJEMM.jpg?auth=a48c064471a60b246e5969bbed5022ac1b212a69e0aead5d41c452ee7e1234e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UBJYSNRORNCVTHLNOKRLB5BCOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170679},"type":"text","content":"What has happened to college athletics? Well, perhaps I should be more specific? What has happened to the big sports in Division I — football and basketball?"},{"_id":"FDV47TTOMJHILERBB7ZLNUGIEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170680},"type":"text","content":"Of course, the bottom line starts and ends with the money. Quite frankly, I don’t know how average people can afford to go to games or to buy the entertainment packages to watch on television. I can’t, but I sure love to watch the game on network television when they’re available."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9b71b92a2e4752c4a004e14f85234c378ce844c54ffd9455d561134b7e7ec069"},"caption":"Perry Rettig, AJC community contributor","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Perry Rettig","width":800,"creditIPTC":"contributed","_id":"QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/7R6OZDwqO-D2wGOMgc-rzv4MRQ8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","owner":"andre.jackson@coxinc.com","comments":[],"keywords":["perry rettig"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/7R6OZDwqO-D2wGOMgc-rzv4MRQ8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","takenOn":"2020-01-29T00:00:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/7R6OZDwqO-D2wGOMgc-rzv4MRQ8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/rR3b-lBrB97AgfEvJSx264hY0pY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"PERRY RETTIG PHOTO.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"NDB5DNY37JG3NOWIDLDMS756E4","iptc_title":"Opinion Editor"},"created_date":"2020-10-30T21:24:36Z","last_updated_date":"2020-10-30T21:24:36Z","alignment":"right","slug":"PERRY RETTIG PHOTO","height":1285,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QEJXGAFZT5FNNPZJ2LEPN2VQQU.jpg?auth=9b71b92a2e4752c4a004e14f85234c378ce844c54ffd9455d561134b7e7ec069&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SQO5WNULSJG7VGSNODUHJFWH4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170681},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I played some ball, and I was a volunteer assistant football coach in Division III years ago. I watch the game for the beauty of well-executed plays and to see how strategies unfold throughout the game — to see how teams adapt, and the skill and strength of the athletes. I represent Division III on an NCAA committee in Indianapolis."},{"_id":"DSZFE3RZWVG3LFH6O6SI67EEXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":81,"comment":"starred"},{"pos":105,"comment":", played Division I football for Wisconsin"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170682},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Darryl Sims starred in Division I football at the University of Wisconsin, played four seasons in the NFL and now serves as an athletic director at Division III University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. As a member of the NCAA Constitution committee, he explained that the NCAA was formed in significant part to help student-athletes keep on track to earn their degrees. The NCAA helps to maintain equity as much as possible and level the playing field."},{"_id":"O56MTSMLR5CWDOSVCCZAHKVR5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170683},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It continues to govern and to manage its rules and regulations. He warned, however, “The NCAA is dangerously close to losing its usefulness and relevance at the Division I level.”"},{"_id":"ZO3ONMLX6RCNDF6SNCKGSHGQBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170684},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"A large number of Division I athletes receive scholarship money to play, and oftentimes it’s a full ride. No Division III student-athletes receive scholarship money, by rule. That has always been a pretty sweet deal to me — to get full college tuition plus room and board to play ball. Of course, without a doubt, they put in extensive hours, blood, sweat and tears to earn those scholarships."},{"_id":"PLD3UBAFJJEPZMWGC26PNLBHYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170685},"type":"text","content":"With ticket sales and television rights, Division I schools are raking in the money. It’s truly beyond comprehension. Do you think it will moderate? Neither do I."},{"_id":"6MXV5DUARFBCNDQ6UD4U4D3LSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170686},"type":"text","content":"A confluence of events has recently created this Wild West in big-time college athletics. The athletes have seen all this money and have said, “What about us?” Even more so, the big athletic conference commissioners have said, “Greed is good.” And the NCAA leaders have sat on the sidelines and said, “Who do you think you are? We’re the NCAA.”"},{"_id":"PT2NPDUFGREUHPBGJKTA7NQ2EA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170687},"type":"text","content":"Those commissioners told the NCAA exactly who they are. “You’re nothing. We don’t need you. You can come along for the ride.”"},{"_id":"ZNICXXMEKZAAZG6K6VLLOWPBNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170688},"type":"text","content":"What happened? Follow the money."},{"_id":"CLHTLLNTOVCMXJKLX6D76GS6YM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"The NCAA gets most of its revenue from Final Four Basketball tournament TV and marketing rights and the NCAA men’s basketball tournament."}],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170689},"type":"text","content":"The NCAA gets most of its revenue from its tournament fees and broadcast licensing. That revenue supports all three divisions. And it’s big money. The big athletic conferences get much of their football revenue from television, and that money is colossal."},{"_id":"IV3QJNXPVBF5NPU375R7JUITDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170690},"type":"text","content":"The big-time athletic conference commissioners have been afraid of competition for that money. They don’t want smaller conferences competing for these dollars. They collapsed conferences into the “<a href=\"https://thewire.signingdaysports.com/articles/what-is-the-power-5/\" target=\"_blank\">Power Five</a>” — the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC. Smaller conferences are choked out — they just can’t compete."},{"_id":"RKO6F532INEEBDP2HRSJB2PMDI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170691},"type":"text","content":"This conference realignment isn’t over. Does anyone believe it will stay at the Power Five? Will conferences even exist in five years? The plan continues to unfold."},{"_id":"32HVL4QWNJA4PHMVAIKAPGSP7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":45,"comment":"they"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170692},"type":"text","content":"With TV money heavy in their pockets, schools can actually start giving some money to the athletes. They created this huge unlimited pot of money called NIL — for name, image and likeness rights — that can pay the athletes to play for them. A University of Georgia quarterback is set to receive <a href=\"https://www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness/nil-news/ugas-carson-beck-lands-tasty-nil-deal-with-chipotle\" target=\"_blank\">$1.9 million in NIL money</a> this year. A University of Colorado quarterback <a href=\"https://www.sportskeeda.com/college-football/news-6-2-million-nil-valued-shedeur-sanders-drops-legendary-clip-lucrative-new-york-tour#:~:text=Shedeur%20Sanders%2C%20the%20star%20quarterback,his%20signature%20swagger%20and%20style.\" target=\"_blank\">received $6.2 million</a>. (It probably helps to have a <a href=\"https://www.si.com/college/colorado/prime-s-island/deion-sanders-has-dad-moment-explaining-shedeur-s-heart-for-ungrateful-castaway\" target=\"_blank\">famous dad</a>.) These kids still get their full ride scholarship on top of it."},{"_id":"6ZZ2STNA6BGILAIUR2JG5WISZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":175,"comment":"Now the big schools can get athletes from other schools, including those smaller schools without the financial wherewithal, to transfer to get more NIL money."}],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170694},"type":"text","content":"These Power Five commissioners have created another avenue to crush the competition for schools with less money. It is a mechanism that supports the NIL: <a href=\"https://www.scarecruiting.com/sports-recruiting-blog/the-transfer-portal-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly\" target=\"_blank\">the transfer portal</a>. <a href=\"http://money.now/\" target=\"_blank\">Now</a> the big schools can use NIL money to lure athletes to transfer, which hurts smaller schools that don’t have the financial wherewithal."},{"_id":"JM5SRIYWAVEB3KFPMEPJSDBTJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170695},"type":"text","content":"Athletics is supposed to be about competition, but this chokes out competition. The NCAA is powerless because it refused to adapt. The best teams adapt, and the NCAA did not. Doesn’t this all seem crazy?"},{"_id":"XLJV4EPB5BH3XD4F5DIVFZHSPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734452121636},"type":"text","content":"The big universities now hire general managers to keep on top of NIL. The beast always needs more though. So now these universities are asking their student bodies to <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nil-college-boosters-67da0dc7cc98f6508915b36d629c99ec\" target=\"_blank\">pay additional fees</a> to offset costs. I wonder what they are naming these fees."},{"_id":"ESO235EDPZGURGFDV577RIFHG4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170697},"type":"text","content":"Is this happening at the small Division III level? Nope."},{"_id":"C3PANK3U7FCFRKSZO6ELMPSAD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734452121638},"type":"text","content":"Sponsors aren’t knocking on the doors of these student-athletes. DIII athletes don’t get scholarships, but they might get T-shirts or a couple of hundred dollars a year, if they’re lucky. The NCAA and Division III sports continue with their original integrity."},{"_id":"BAEDFJLPYNFN7P5452VFCGCKUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170698},"type":"text","content":"Former Division III baseball player Blake Bolen told me, “The NIL doesn’t have a real impact at the DIII level. DIII players transfer for more playing time, not money.” Bolen believes a cap on how much individual athletes can receive from NIL would make the system more competitive."},{"_id":"IPV7MLQXMRD63HO6EQGFGCK3PY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170699},"type":"text","content":"Piedmont University Athletic Director and <a href=\"https://piedmontlions.com/staff-directory/jim-peeples/130#:~:text=Jim%20Peeples%20enters%20his%2010th,the%20team%20to%20360%20wins.\" target=\"_blank\">former baseball coach Jim Peeples</a> told me that athletes can receive more money in NIL than they would through the Major League Baseball draft. Some athletes might stay in college longer because of it."},{"_id":"5SYQ4IJCIBBI3OCGV7CCXEMFKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170700},"type":"text","content":"Does all this money affect high school athletic programs? Absolutely."},{"_id":"UG2EO5TSBRBSBE2ST4454GFNJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734452121642},"type":"text","content":"These universities dangle big NIL money. Anecdotal reports tell me that some of these kids start getting an attitude with their high school coaches because of it. Bolen explained that when colleges come recruiting, the athletes will ask them how much they can receive in NIL support."},{"_id":"MH6SSQNIVJEPHIMYRLFAZVF7JQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170701},"type":"text","content":"Without a system of checks and balances by the stoic NCAA, the free market runs amok at the Division I level."},{"_id":"C6XUQTBYI5BFNPDCT3CBWE7LKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170702},"type":"text","content":"I can’t afford game tickets, so I’ll have to watch from afar."},{"_id":"5DFDLAGVRNBH3P6NC2WG46TFLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734445170703},"type":"text","content":"<i>Perry Rettig is a distinguished professor and former vice president at Piedmont University. He has spent more than 40 years as an educator, including stints as a public schoolteacher and principal.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"When players get big money from TV, conference commissioners hold all the power."},"description":{"basic":"When players get big money from TV, conference commissioners hold all the power."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"f1cba6351dd95ef68f64f51d7ba7421bf07fa1ec2beb5adeeb79f1a4bc88f2cb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Conor Dillon/UGAAA","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Conor Dillon","type":"author","byline":"Conor Dillon"}]},"subtitle":"uga for ajc","width":3761,"caption":"Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada (rear) at an Aug. 1 practice session in Athens. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2O23WIUA6FAO5NAAEQW7QKNR64.jpg","height":2507,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2O23WIUA6FAO5NAAEQW7QKNR64.jpg?auth=f1cba6351dd95ef68f64f51d7ba7421bf07fa1ec2beb5adeeb79f1a4bc88f2cb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-college-football-money-is-too-influential-for-a-feckless-ncaa/O4BGCBNNU5CDNIJJUA74XIPVEM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-18T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Perry Rettig","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"College football money is too influential for a feckless NCAA"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-18T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-18T11:00:14.335Z","_id":"O4BGCBNNU5CDNIJJUA74XIPVEM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"f1cba6351dd95ef68f64f51d7ba7421bf07fa1ec2beb5adeeb79f1a4bc88f2cb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Conor Dillon/UGAAA","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Conor Dillon","type":"author","byline":"Conor Dillon"}]},"subtitle":"uga for ajc","width":3761,"caption":"Georgia quarterback Jaden Rashada (rear) at an Aug. 1 practice session in Athens. (Conor Dillon/UGAAA)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2O23WIUA6FAO5NAAEQW7QKNR64.jpg","height":2507,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2O23WIUA6FAO5NAAEQW7QKNR64.jpg?auth=f1cba6351dd95ef68f64f51d7ba7421bf07fa1ec2beb5adeeb79f1a4bc88f2cb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"FZFVQ5WUMVEQ5IKGYJLSFGEGGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110638},"type":"text","content":"Growing up in rural Georgia, Jenny Mitchell was 10 years old when she began using <a href=\"https://firstamendment.law.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-06-06-Amended-Verified-Complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">chemical relaxers to straighten her hair</a>. Her mother relaxed Mitchell’s hair at home for years, using a product called “Just for Me,” which came in a brightly colored box with flowers and photos of smiling little girls with long, lush ponytails or a head full of perfect corkscrew curls."},{"_id":"WQ33ZWDVUZBAJP4HLRORXDGXM4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110639},"type":"text","content":"Mitchell and her mother never expected that inside that box, along with a cassette tape that played a catchy theme song, were products made with chemicals so caustic and harmful that decades later, scientific research would link them to uterine, ovarian and breast cancers in many of the women who had used them as children."},{"_id":"RUJOGSU3P5DDVCZAQQU4YR5PTY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110640},"type":"text","content":"“These products never said: ‘Hey, may cause cancer,’” Mitchell said in an interview with The New York Times. “Millions of African American women have used this product. We have to shine the light and hold these people accountable.”"},{"_id":"FSJLT5PF7RD2VF5JAQ4V6KREEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110641},"type":"text","content":"Mitchell was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 28. She had a hysterectomy in 2018. Now she is the lead plaintiff in a class-action multidistrict litigation with about 9,000 other women nationwide seeking relief from makers of chemical relaxers who allegedly knew or should have known their products were harmful to women’s health. The case was consolidated in Illinois."},{"_id":"VWJQWGO3WVAY7OAK7NJJBJBYGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110642},"type":"text","content":"Last week, the litigation hit close to home when the Georgia Supreme Court agreed to review the case of Kiara Burroughs, another Georgia woman who says she developed uterine fibroids and related health problems as a result of using hair relaxers for 19 years, starting in 1995 when she was 6 years old."},{"_id":"ATMSMOZ52JDXTFBHZ3XOJOYJBI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KVKWXVARARFAHL4OCMBFTY5DIQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Too late to sue? Ga. high court to decide time limit on hair relaxer health claims","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/georgia-high-court-to-decide-time-limit-on-hair-relaxer-claims/VM3N4XS7I5BGTAVJQAVAXJWFIM/"},{"_id":"75ZX32X3AZDN7BBJKMPA3JMC7M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110643},"type":"text","content":"The court is deciding if Burroughs’ lawsuit, filed in 2022, is outside of the allowable time frame for product liability claims. Georgia law generally allows 10 years from “first sale for use or consumption of the personal property causing or otherwise bringing about the injury.”"},{"_id":"NDO4PTQUPNGZJJZZ7VZNTZNQ4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110644},"type":"text","content":"But Burroughs’ attorneys said that aspect of the product liability law has never been addressed in chronic exposure cases by Georgia’s highest court. The decision could set a precedent for more than 270 cases that have been filed statewide in recent weeks."},{"_id":"GFHA5EM43FDUTJLIFF2XGAAQUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110645},"type":"text","content":"I’m no legal expert but cases like Burroughs must be allowed to move forward."},{"_id":"W4LBM45G7BDDRIDAKGFYQOATY4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734467842274},"type":"text","content":"Burroughs, at ages 6 through 16, had no way of knowing the product she was using would lead to harm over time. Even if manufacturers had included consumer warnings on their products, which they did not, it would take time for impacts on reproductive health to be revealed."},{"_id":"SIDTX6MT5ZDRBLRKUE6464NZRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110647},"type":"text","content":"Burroughs’ story is likely relatable to many Black women, about 89-95% of whom have used a chemical relaxer to straighten their hair at least once. The dangerous chemicals in hair relaxers permanently alter the protein bonds of hair to transform it from tightly coiled and curly textures to straight."},{"_id":"TH5HT34YTZAQ3DIQDZDLF64S7U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110648},"type":"text","content":"I got my first relaxer at age 12 and kept getting it retouched for 18 years. When I made the decision to stop relaxing my hair, it was specifically for health reasons. I didn’t have studies but I had my own experience as evidence of harm — a scalp infection resulting from a relaxer induced chemical burn that left me with scarring alopecia."},{"_id":"3CRQDNIB3JFVXJ3KLTTTIZBLRE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"GKKZ27TD5ZCY5GUIZ5CSLIA6KI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"I started using hair relaxers at age 8. Like many Black women, I paid a price","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/i-started-using-hair-relaxers-at-age-8-like-many-black-women-i-paid-a-price/SHNVRPPNPZD4DISNED3K3AOMGY/"},{"_id":"63B6LJWAZRCFFBUPZFU5WLSE3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110649},"type":"text","content":"Black women may straighten their hair for different reasons, but one element that surfaces time and again in their decision is the desire to reduce yet another physical marker that leads to discrimination or scrutiny at school, at work, in our neighborhoods and sometimes in our own homes."},{"_id":"EYOACIVVDZFJTFTQJLGRMXCOAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110650},"type":"text","content":"Having a hairstyle that conformed to European standards of beauty was how earlier generations forged an identity for themselves in places where they were not fully represented. They passed this legacy to subsequent generations, even as many of them suspected these hair relaxers were causing physical and emotional damage."},{"_id":"C3MLJW36YVDINFQ7LGCOVBAQDY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OJ5QQRM5IRDC5BKHMZZPDM4Y44"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"OPINION: With hairstyles, live and let live","url":"https://www.ajc.com/life/opinion-with-hairstyles-live-and-let-live/WL7K4PP3OREQFFZ5ZG46USYSYA/"},{"_id":"FLKWE4NTRFA5BPTS6ZOAE27BFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110651},"type":"text","content":"Though first invented in the early 1900s, hair relaxers came into widespread use during the late 1950s. Only three generations of Black women have consistently used these products and only in recent years have those women been the focus of research that explores the connection between prolonged use of hair relaxers and serious health concerns."},{"_id":"OTROO6XVWZDM5A575GM7PN5SGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110652},"type":"text","content":"Scientific research is rarely focused on the health concerns of Black women but several studies have begun to connect the dots between relaxer use and health outcomes. Recent <a href=\"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935123020327\">research from Boston University</a> found that women who used relaxers more than twice a year for more than five years had a 50% increase in uterine cancer risk."},{"_id":"JVS46U3XAVEPJHU5NBXUWHONEQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"SEHEIGHECNGO3L56KKBQT6K37I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Black women exposed to toxic chemicals in hair products, study shows","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/national/black-women-exposed-toxic-chemicals-hair-products-study-shows/UhxMCOZ2tinhDYtJO15OaL/"},{"_id":"5S22P6NQGNGKRBLVADJY7QK3LE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110653},"type":"text","content":"Chemicals used in relaxers such as formaldehyde, phthalates and parabens are carcinogenic, or endocrine disrupters that interfere with hormones in the body. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to these chemicals are connected to cancers, preterm births, and other illnesses. About 84% of these harmful chemicals do not appear on product labels."},{"_id":"BHVHAHH26JHG7AQG3VXIDCC3HE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110654},"type":"text","content":"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which has oversight over product safety, relies on manufacturers to make sure products conform to safety standards. The burden often falls on consumers to demonstrate evidence that products are harmful to their health."},{"_id":"YIJDPPLYZZDJ5KESFF7MRICMYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110655},"type":"text","content":"It’s too easy for manufacturers to avoid accountability. Other consumer products such as tobacco, baby powder and baby food, all come to mind."},{"_id":"M5MMLA2SCBF4BKGHEQH253T2BY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110656},"type":"text","content":"Allowing the Burroughs case to move forward in Georgia doesn’t just help Black women, it sends a message to all Georgians that we can stand up to companies that sacrifice our well-being for profits."},{"_id":"QWNWC2E5LFBJNBNEJCFWAROTPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734444110657},"type":"text","content":"And there shouldn’t be a time limit on that kind of lesson."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734408693216},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Mitchell was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 28. Now she is the lead plaintiff in a class action of women nationwide seeking relief from makers of chemical relaxers."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"UATL"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"opinion-healthcare"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"local government"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"5d7f6211bd6b3bc416b1432f50359317c80f8859b73ccfb14a4f129481f7bc99"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"KFF Health News","type":"author","byline":"KFF Health News"}]},"subtitle":"Black Women Weigh Emerging Risks of Hair Straighteners","width":1356,"caption":"A beautician washes a relaxer out of a client’s hair at a salon in Atlanta. Social and economic pressures have long compelled Black girls and women to straighten their hair. But mounting evidence suggests chemical hair straighteners could be a health hazard. 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Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. A graduate of Columbia University School of Journalism, she enjoys writing about the people, places and events that define metro Atlanta.","expertise":"2,7,16","author_type":"Staff","firstName":"Nedra","twitter":"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc","books":[],"podcasts":[],"awards":[],"custom_ajc_phone":"404-526-5465","custom_ajc_website":"ajc","_id":"nedra-rhone","last_updated_date":"2024-08-01T19:40:05.320Z","byline":"Nedra Rhone","email":"nedra.rhone@ajc.com","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"RHONE: Standing up to hair relaxer companies necessary for consumer safety"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-18T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-18T10:00:12.227Z","_id":"WYSNMEE65VGZ7PE6S7DAPBQWKQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"5d7f6211bd6b3bc416b1432f50359317c80f8859b73ccfb14a4f129481f7bc99"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"KFF Health News","type":"author","byline":"KFF Health News"}]},"subtitle":"Black Women Weigh Emerging Risks of Hair Straighteners","width":1356,"caption":"A beautician washes a relaxer out of a client’s hair at a salon in Atlanta. Social and economic pressures have long compelled Black girls and women to straighten their hair. But mounting evidence suggests chemical hair straighteners could be a health hazard. (Kara Nelson/KFF Health News)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MBKO4XYWTNGEVNJ2FZ763YY3WI.jpg","height":904,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MBKO4XYWTNGEVNJ2FZ763YY3WI.jpg?auth=5d7f6211bd6b3bc416b1432f50359317c80f8859b73ccfb14a4f129481f7bc99&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"BUS2S4MNB5HA7LUX6PTBTEHBVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"ORIGINAL HED: Beyond tariffs, Georgia business must talk about factories and jobs"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994216},"type":"text","content":""},{"_id":"DIP46UAOEVFOJFKCIALIJS3ZQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"Original deck: International investment in the Peach State is about far more than imports."}],"comments":[],"_id":1734390548057},"type":"text","content":""},{"_id":"4DLIL7T3HREBJDF7EUEVTF65U4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734390548058},"type":"text","content":"President-elect <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/12/business/trump-toy-prices-tariffs-inflation/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Donald Trump’s anticipated tariff hikes</a>, alongside rollbacks of Biden administration industrial programs, are likely to create new obstacles for local business and challenge Georgia’s bid to further internationalize its economy."},{"_id":"P654FPVNPNFWJIJPWHSQYK2MOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994217},"type":"text","content":"Trade duties are at the top of the list for the new administration. Trump has said his first executive orders would include aggressive new levies on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, Georgia’s biggest trade partners."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"474dd4b60c0db76f05ba7137ac2b61ec7f75b6fa422ce02965cf118950f63526"},"caption":"Matthew Miller","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"FanYongheng","type":"author","byline":"FanYongheng"}]},"subtitle":"Matthew Miller","width":860,"_id":"L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/IVToEfn6diQjPROHQt7FZ6PgycE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/IVToEfn6diQjPROHQt7FZ6PgycE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/IVToEfn6diQjPROHQt7FZ6PgycE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/dtuD4rvjIukGO5axS3W_CoO23yA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG","version":0,"originalName":"Matthew Miller.JPG","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"UEGC2XXAGNE7JAHFR4ESWJAVV4"},"created_date":"2024-12-13T16:07:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T16:07:42Z","alignment":"right","height":964,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/L5UKUFUMSZE5LANUJVEGXLIZVE.JPG?auth=474dd4b60c0db76f05ba7137ac2b61ec7f75b6fa422ce02965cf118950f63526&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"RAA7DGBEUBBZ5JZTN4PINBNN2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994218},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Trump administration also will <a href=\"https://www.fastmarkets.com/insights/inflation-reduction-act-in-focus-in-trump-presidency-andrea-hotter/\" target=\"_blank\">likely seek to unravel</a> President Joe Biden’s signature legislation: the Inflation Reduction Act, which authorizes nearly $400 billion in clean energy tax breaks and funding, directly affecting Georgia’s emerging solar and electric vehicle businesses."},{"_id":"JDXDOEQ2H5BIZOU74Q72FRSWMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994219},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Home Depot, Georgia’s leading public company, and Hyundai Motor Group, which is building a $7.6 billion electric vehicle plant in Bryan County, are in the crosshairs. Rivian Automotive, which is slated to receive nearly <a href=\"https://www.utilitydive.com/news/rivian-energy-department-loan-georgia-plant/734084/\" target=\"_blank\">$6 billion in conditional federal loans</a> to restart construction of its plant east of Atlanta, might see attempts to halt its funding."},{"_id":"EBWFUZ2Z6ZFILM6JITLR6M2IDQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994220},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Georgia firms have started taking action, redeploying their supply chains and ramping up imports ahead of the planned tariff hikes. Companies also are lobbying for modest duty increases and exemptions, or carve-outs, for their own firms or sectors."},{"_id":"EJ4IES2NDJBGTADNMBULMO6X5Q","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MW57KZ65VZFL5FKKF7GQAWQINQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Small business owners brace for Trump's proposed tariffs","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/small-business-owners-brace-for-trumps-proposed-tariffs/LETITO4LQJBGPOIBWXUZUAZOFY/"},{"_id":"LUOPBB6RFRCYPHVNZXAWQ47UME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994221},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But more needs to be done. Georgia business must now communicate loudly and effectively, in the public square and with elected leaders, about the importance of foreign trade and investment for jobs and the economic health of local communities. Overseas companies cannot afford to remain silent either."},{"_id":"T6N5ETAXFZA6XLJ2FGROLRRXLY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994222},"type":"text","content":"The Peach State economy has increasingly internationalized over the last decade, with <a href=\"https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=AP130-2-02&title=2024-georgia-agriculture-outlook\" target=\"_blank\">farmers exporting more poultry and cotton overseas</a>, even as global automakers and aerospace manufacturers move to set up shop here."},{"_id":"KLFDXONP35AW5M5KWODNPEK34Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994223},"type":"text","content":"Global trade has skyrocketed. Total overseas trade amounted to a <a href=\"https://georgia.org/international/trade/annual-trade-report\" target=\"_blank\">record $186.76 billion last year</a>, with exports of $49.9 billion, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development. The state’s three biggest export markets were Canada, Mexico and China, which collectively accounted for $16.7 billion, or one-third of the total."},{"_id":"HPKKITSTZZDMNJUILAMBSVDR4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994224},"type":"text","content":"Foreign direct investment also is powering a bigger share of the state’s economy. For the fiscal year ended June 30, foreign direct investment in Georgia amounted to $5.94 billion, or 29% of all investment tracked by the Georgia Department of Economic Development. These projects are slated to create 8,105 jobs. South Korea alone was responsible for 20 projects, accounting for more than $3.1 billion in direct investment."},{"_id":"4X2IE3VPCZC5TGSABYCOR2D3QI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994225},"type":"text","content":"For Georgia business, the aggressive tariffs proposed by Trump now pose the biggest headache, particularly price hikes on Chinese goods. <a href=\"https://georgia.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/2023_trade_report_-_24it462_9.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">China remains the state’s leading trading partner</a>, with imports of $17.5 billion in 2023. Trump promised during the campaign to raise tariffs on Chinese imports to 60%. Fifty economists polled by Reuters News <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/trump-unleash-nearly-40-tariffs-china-early-2025-hitting-growth-2024-11-20/\" target=\"_blank\">expected tariffs to jump 38% next year</a>."},{"_id":"6C6ILTPAGJH2HPZUSQRLKVVY5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994226},"type":"text","content":"“There certainly will be an impact,” Ted Decker, Home Depot’s chief executive, <a href=\"https://www.cnbc.com/2024/11/26/how-president-elect-trump-may-impact-investors-in-these-8-market-sectors.html\" target=\"_blank\">told analysts recently</a>. The <a href=\"https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/trump-tariff-proposals-could-cost-americans-78-billion-annual-spending\" target=\"_blank\">National Retail Federation</a> calculated that a 10% rise in universal tariffs with a targeted 60% tariff on Chinese goods would lead to more expensive apparel, toys and household appliances for consumers."},{"_id":"IPJ4B7EMMVASZAVHDMCUZ3EJ4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994227},"type":"text","content":"But tariffs aren’t the only worry. Trump’s promise to “rescind” all unspent Inflation Reduction Act funding and his <a href=\"https://breakingdefense.com/2024/12/trumps-threat-to-abandon-chips-act-horrific-idea-raimundo-says/\" target=\"_blank\">attacks on the CHIPS and Science Act</a> present a separate challenge, particularly for the state’s ongoing drive to make e-mobility and clean energy central to the local economy. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary, has called the Inflation Reduction Act a “<a href=\"https://www.ntu.org/publications/detail/treasury-secretary-pick-scott-bessent-may-rein-in-the-inflation-reduction-acts-climate-bonanza\" target=\"_blank\">doomsday machine for the budget</a>.”"},{"_id":"N4LQ7UDVAVFB3LIU6SMRRNJMCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994228},"type":"text","content":"Among the projects that benefit from federal support is Rivian Automotive, which is slated to employ 7,500 workers and produce 400,000 vehicles by 2032. In August, Seoul-based QCells’ integrated solar manufacturing project in Cartersville secured a $1.45 billion loan guarantee, leading to 6,755 direct and indirect jobs."},{"_id":"42JLMQWHYVBU3KFWJVC77RLBSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994229},"type":"text","content":"South Korea’s Absolics, a SK Group unit, also received approval this year for government investment of $75 million to build a $300 million plant for semiconductor packaging in Covington, producing 200 manufacturing and research and development jobs."},{"_id":"6QBQONTXBJBP7INPUTJBC5RVQI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"HXLMAMMHYNBJZEHM6WCQPULRQA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Trump promised big tariffs on 3 nations. What it would mean for Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/trump-promised-big-tariffs-on-3-nations-what-it-would-mean-for-georgia/3HECZTUULBBFTCZM57NB5NJ7RY/"},{"_id":"O7QAWQDEGFBGBGNZVNFKKRM2FE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994230},"type":"text","content":"U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has talked of revoking the Rivian loan. Trump also said he would “<a href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/05/trump-inflation-reduction-act-00177493\" target=\"_blank\">rescind all unspent funds</a>” from the Inflation Reduction Act and halt the $7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle buyers provided in the act. That may impact demand from Hyundai Motor Group’s Metaplant America, Georgia’s biggest-ever investment project, which is receiving $2.1 billion in state and local tax breaks and incentives."},{"_id":"2WLQTO7RH5FWVN25ULPTDOQUCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994231},"type":"text","content":"In the first Trump administration, Georgia companies managed tariffs by pushing costs up their supply chains and lobbying for exemptions. Washington provided help for lost trade, with Georgia farmers receiving an average $42,500 in tariff relief. This time, the costs could be greater."},{"_id":"BDW2NYKPFFGKRFM2FT3IER65TI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734384555492},"type":"text","content":"Higher tariffs on Mexican-made car parts, for example, increase not only the price of new automobiles but also car repairs on Piedmont Circle. “If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer,” <a href=\"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pass-those-tariff-costs-back-190017675.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGZ3vyxGj_wcFfKZ4X6-7thRWEUTlc4kp-l8gtiWb3NjRiK-Ng50YWYmqQ2gsu_7X9AiifEb_xTaSdBewHufCzpOtvyZc5ONB3W7up_jDz8bgOYXQQy6SzZHhkiFZNkpMypDxapSV-bns10HLB08DldcOLEzEWt2CfRY33wblWlw\" target=\"_blank\">AutoZone CEO Philip Daniele explained</a> earlier this year. The industrial policy, tax breaks and incentives that are transforming Georgia’s economy also must be acknowledged."},{"_id":"ODIOSOJ2JFCPXBYDRAD266KNPY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"JP2WAYOPIRBAVGGA74JYQPJJWU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Here’s the logic behind Trump’s high tariffs and why most economists say it won’t work","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/trump-says-high-tariffs-are-good-what-do-the-experts-say/Z24WONURUZCBHGX3WMECNEXDAU/"},{"_id":"CH7A6YDFSZBIFLF2VOMJXGG5GE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":340,"comment":"communicatiosns "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994233},"type":"text","content":"That makes it critical for Georgia companies and business leaders to talk plainly and directly about the importance of global trade and investment to the Peach State economy. A simple playbook starts with mobilizing local business chambers and community groups to stress what’s at stake for Georgia: investment and jobs. Core messaging and communications with media, influencers and elected officials in county, state and federal governments must be improved. That might provide a bigger opening for business leaders to work more effectively with the Trump administration, ensuring Georgia’s economic interests are incorporated in Trump administration planning."},{"_id":"2Z6OJ62TERDYFCRGYYX6KXUZHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734105994234},"type":"text","content":"For Georgia to remain Open for Business, Georgia’s companies must safeguard business and secure the state’s strengthening relationship with international markets."},{"_id":"VGLXIDIQNFDLTKF7MA6H7QKQW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734384555495},"type":"text","content":"<i>Matthew Miller is a senior adviser at the Foote Group, a strategic communications firm advising U.S. and Chinese multinational corporations on cross-border issues. He earlier worked as an Asia-based international journalist for nearly two decades.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Tariffs, other policy changes could cost Peach State factories and jobs."},"description":{"basic":"For Georgia business, the aggressive tariffs proposed by Trump now pose the biggest headache."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-beyond-tariffs-georgia-business-must-talk-about-factories-and-jobs/7XKGVVQXV5CATBDAYZ6LYCOM3U/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-17T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Matthew Miller","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Business leaders need to shout how vital international trade is to Georgia "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-17T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-17T11:00:08.999Z","_id":"7XKGVVQXV5CATBDAYZ6LYCOM3U"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"ZKVNYVE7ARAU5CPIO5ELJ22WOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":265,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525506},"type":"text","content":"For thousands of Atlantans living with <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/life/understanding-sickle-cell-disease/KLF6QVTQKUJOPN7BWZZQGWKLN4/\" target=\"_blank\">sickle cell disease</a> — a condition that disproportionately affects Black individuals — daily life means enduring episodic excruciating pain described as “razor blades” slicing through their veins, frequent emergency room visits and stigma, such as being unfairly seen as drug-seeking. Though many health care providers work tirelessly to provide equitable care, systemic challenges and medical mistrust remain significant obstacles. Addressing these issues requires collaboration between patients and providers to achieve better outcomes."},{"_id":"DTBBQRNRPVCABCHU5ZKX3LFS3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525507},"type":"text","content":"As a student and advocate for health equity, I’ve been deeply moved by sickle cell warriors’ stories and feel inspired to shed light on their challenges."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"1c11a4e982e38b275909c5979a8fbd43004c173a459e85ccafc57c52f025f172"},"caption":"Krishna Patel","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Krishna Patel","width":5251,"_id":"3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/Rjo9fx6hzXUpndV9-2DDfac0njg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/Rjo9fx6hzXUpndV9-2DDfac0njg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/Rjo9fx6hzXUpndV9-2DDfac0njg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/eZfvQCuR8ffwIiTbGFSsWTaDIZE=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Krishna Patel.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"B6UJ5OD5UJCLLANRFIUASXHDUQ"},"created_date":"2024-12-13T16:49:52Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T16:49:52Z","alignment":"right","height":3851,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3BW36ERKPBHLFAPA2BH7DEWVHM.jpeg?auth=1c11a4e982e38b275909c5979a8fbd43004c173a459e85ccafc57c52f025f172&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"level":4,"_id":"IGQ6DHFG4VFEJCI7TYDD4WGTW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525508},"alignment":"left","type":"header","content":"Gene therapy: Hope and barriers"},{"_id":"EXGFPG4LYVG3JOOFP6W2OHUGC4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":61,"comment":"CASGEVY™ (CRISPR/Cas9) "},{"pos":72,"comment":" LYFGENIA™ (LentiGlobin)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525509},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-gene-therapies-treat-patients-sickle-cell-disease\" target=\"_blank\">Food and Drug Administration’s December 2023 approval</a> of Casgevy and Lyfgenia <a href=\"https://www.synthego.com/crispr-sickle-cell-disease\" target=\"_blank\">gene-editing therapies</a> sparked cautious optimism within the sickle cell community. These <a href=\"https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/gene-therapies-sickle-cell-disease\" target=\"_blank\">therapies reprogram patients’ blood stem cells</a> to alleviate red blood cell sickling, offering a potential one-time cure to patients 12 years and older. However, at <a href=\"https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/crispr-sickle-cell-price-millions-gene-therapy-vertex-bluebird/702066/\" target=\"_blank\">$2.2 million to $3.1 million per dose</a>, they remain inaccessible to many."},{"_id":"QSNZJ666SNEY3CNNSNXNCZUJIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525510},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/cgt\" target=\"_blank\">Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model</a> aims to expand access to these costly cell and gene therapies to Medicaid beneficiaries, who make up nearly 60% of those with sickle cell disease. This <a href=\"https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-takes-next-steps-increase-access-sickle-cell-disease-treatments#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20more,than%2020%20years%20on%20average.\" target=\"_blank\">voluntary outcomes-based model</a>, launching in 2025, shifts financial risks to manufacturers if the therapy fails. If implemented effectively, the access model could revolutionize sickle cell disease care while saving the state billions in health care costs."},{"_id":"AJZDFD7FXZARJA56FM2I3NUFHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525511},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"However, those not covered by Medicaid or states that choose not to participate remain excluded, highlighting the need for more diverse, inclusive solutions."},{"level":4,"_id":"NJIJLSRP6VCUJJ5DQVA3F3LHSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525512},"alignment":"left","type":"header","content":"Trust and skepticism"},{"_id":"PS4XM7VKJJBCRIRSP7Q2JQSSGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525513},"type":"text","content":"Access isn’t just about affordability; it’s also about trust. Some sickle cell warriors remain skeptical of gene therapy because of unknown long-term risks. “We just don’t know enough; there’s no long-term data,” said Keecilon Wright, a longtime warrior."},{"_id":"KJ42YF555JFSBHMCERVXP24FE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525514},"type":"text","content":"“Why are we always the guinea pigs?” lamented Blaze Eppinger. This skepticism is deeply rooted in historical injustices, including the <a href=\"https://www.tuskegee.edu/about-us/centers-of-excellence/bioethics-center/about-the-usphs-syphilis-study\" target=\"_blank\">Tuskegee Syphilis Study</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/family-of-henrietta-lacks-whose-cells-were-taken-for-medical-advancement-settles-with-company-that-profited\" target=\"_blank\">exploitation of Henrietta Lacks’ HeLa cells</a>, which have sown seeds of mistrust between Black communities and the health care system."},{"_id":"C7Y52F6SYFAX7JZQLGUG66TW24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525515},"type":"text","content":"Personal experiences of neglect also fuel doubt. “Even at the pharmacy, I feel judged for just picking up my medications,” said Kadeem Harrison, describing how <a href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2017/09/18/sickle-cell-pain-treatment/\" target=\"_blank\">seeking pain relief often feels like a battle for dignity</a>."},{"_id":"VHL627DKXBHORLJVNL7CS2BJIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525516},"type":"text","content":"These concerns are not only valid but also reflective of the systemic challenges that have persisted for generations. To address these concerns, progress is being made to ensure the safety and efficacy of gene therapies."},{"_id":"SUPHTBXWYBFZRPHFG22SI5N3GI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":235,"comment":" CASGEVY™"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525517},"type":"text","content":"This month, at the <a href=\"https://news.vrtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/vertex-presents-positive-long-term-data-casgevytm-0\" target=\"_blank\">66th American Society of Hematology</a> annual meeting, the two manufacturers shared updated <a href=\"https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/bluebird-bio-presents-long-term-data-lyfgenia-gene-therapy-scd\" target=\"_blank\">long-term data</a> from their respective gene therapy trials. Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics presented findings for Casgevy demonstrating that 93% of patients were free of vaso-occlusive crises for an average period of more than 2.5 years, with some patients maintaining freedom for up to 4.7 years."},{"_id":"E5YPBL5B2BBSFMJE3YYNQKYTCA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"4AMJJZ6CKVHETIDAX5OFECWGU4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: New holistic center offers alternative therapy to help ease sickle cell patients' pain","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/new-holistic-center-offers-alternative-therapy-to-help-ease-sickle-cell-pain/DGO3SG3Z5ZFELAPGUK7RECQLBM/"},{"_id":"SGFJAYB2DZCZJDZAGTLLMDJBHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734110496524},"type":"text","content":"Likewise, Bluebird Bio’s LYFGENIA™ demonstrated that 94.7% of patients had complete resolution of severe vaso-occlusive crises, with this improvement sustained for a median of 3.5 years, with some patients followed for over 9 years — the longest duration of follow-up reported for any gene therapy in sickle cell disease."},{"_id":"HLI2ENN7W5HGFNOBZAMM3VXKJ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525519},"type":"text","content":"The data is promising; however, patients should openly discuss treatment options with health care providers. For that, trust is essential."},{"_id":"MS26P4KE55AYLLYT2GZHM7WCYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525520},"type":"text","content":"Building trust requires culturally competent care, transparent communication and awareness of systemic racism and unconscious bias. Vivien Sheehan, director of Sickle Cell Translational Research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, emphasized the importance of empathy and open dialogue between physicians and patients. Only through mutual effort can trust be rebuilt and innovative treatments such as gene therapy be embraced."},{"level":4,"_id":"GE5TV37SQJF3RBPQMGJUUURV2A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525521},"type":"header","content":"Atlanta’s role"},{"_id":"YCD6HGC6OJCJ7KDDIFFUHJLVFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":263,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525522},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta is uniquely positioned to lead the fight against sickle cell disease. A $16 million initiative at the <a href=\"https://gra.org/page/1081/solve_sickle_cell_initiative.html\" target=\"_blank\">Georgia Research Alliance</a> promotes collaboration among top medical institutions to advance treatments. <a href=\"https://www.gradyhealth.org/care-treatment/sickle-cell-treatment/\" target=\"_blank\">Grady Health System</a> offers 24-hour care for adults and <a href=\"https://www.choa.org/medical-services/cancer-and-blood-disorders/blood-disorders/sickle-cell-disease\" target=\"_blank\">Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta</a> operates the nation’s largest pediatric sickle cell program. The <a href=\"https://www.sicklecellga.org/\" target=\"_blank\">Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia</a> is making strides with initiatives including the <a href=\"https://www.sicklecellsanctuary.com/\" target=\"_blank\">Sickle Cell Sanctuary</a>, which provides free, holistic services addressing medical and emotional needs for warriors without insurance. Additionally, the foundation, in partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine, offers <a href=\"https://www.sicklecellga.org/providertraining\" target=\"_blank\">culturally competent provider training</a> to health care professionals."},{"level":4,"_id":"DL6TA3ALPRB77E57KR57GJICYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525523},"type":"header","content":"Empowering warriors"},{"_id":"M73ZMAG53ZBZFJLD2QQMMEZPAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525524},"type":"text","content":"Sickle cell warriors also play a critical role in advocating for their health. Organizations, including the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georgia, provide tools to help patients take charge of their care, with initiatives like <a href=\"https://www.sicklecellga.org/camp\" target=\"_blank\">Camp New Hope</a> offering children with sickle cell disease opportunities to connect with mentors and gain confidence in managing their condition."},{"level":4,"_id":"B4QAWNRZHJH6ZKS72VAMS5WWPI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525525},"type":"header","content":"A call to action"},{"_id":"IHSZ3R2C4ZGLFAFZWH5G7IHVO4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734108525526},"type":"text","content":"True progress requires systemic change and collaboration between patients, health care workers and communities. Atlanta has the resources, leadership and responsibility to ensure that hope for a better future becomes a reality."},{"_id":"6U6QG5MQDBEG3FNMA64I7V2NQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734110496533},"type":"text","content":"<i>Krishna Patel, who holds a degree in regenerative bioscience from the University of Georgia, is a research specialist at Emory University.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Research into sickle cell disease offers hope to patients."},"description":{"basic":"Research into sickle cell disease offers hope to patients."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"sp-pulse"},{"text":"pulsewell"},{"text":"ajcpulse"},{"text":"health"},{"text":"health-wellness.ajc"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"119725ddafe657829f3c23f1843e3abb068d878be76572dc2971845acbe8495b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Sickle Cell Sanctuary opens in Atlanta\r ","width":8192,"caption":"Yolanda Banks, director of the Sickle Cell Wellness Center, sets up a massage chair for patient Kadeem Harrison. The Sickle Cell Sanctuary is the nation’s first holistic care center and will serve thousands of Georgians with sickle cell disease, a painful, chronic blood disorder. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QCCZZZJDQY7UUINFHIL3BB6TCI.jpg","height":5464,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QCCZZZJDQY7UUINFHIL3BB6TCI.jpg?auth=119725ddafe657829f3c23f1843e3abb068d878be76572dc2971845acbe8495b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-gene-therapy-equity-and-trust-in-atlantas-sickle-cell-fight/JSQYMIGOKBBF5HLJ7GJ3ZRG5VQ/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-16T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Krishna Patel","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Gene therapy, equity and trust in Atlanta’s sickle cell fight"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-16T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-16T15:56:47.384Z","_id":"JSQYMIGOKBBF5HLJ7GJ3ZRG5VQ","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"119725ddafe657829f3c23f1843e3abb068d878be76572dc2971845acbe8495b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Sickle Cell Sanctuary opens in Atlanta\r ","width":8192,"caption":"Yolanda Banks, director of the Sickle Cell Wellness Center, sets up a massage chair for patient Kadeem Harrison. The Sickle Cell Sanctuary is the nation’s first holistic care center and will serve thousands of Georgians with sickle cell disease, a painful, chronic blood disorder. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2024)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QCCZZZJDQY7UUINFHIL3BB6TCI.jpg","height":5464,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QCCZZZJDQY7UUINFHIL3BB6TCI.jpg?auth=119725ddafe657829f3c23f1843e3abb068d878be76572dc2971845acbe8495b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"3BLRTVHDPVBTZE325ODEI2VONU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866368},"type":"text","content":"Friends and neighbors, the holiday season is in full swing — or Christmas season, if that’s what you prefer, though, seriously, no one cares — and that means one thing: Time to suckle at the teat of capitalism for the last time in 2024 before drying your mouth for a few days before returning to its welcoming bosom once more to return all those air fryers. (Seriously, y’all. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOb8Y9QqONE\" target=\"_blank\">Stop buying air fryers</a>. Everyone’s got one already. If you think you don’t, check to see if your oven has a convection mode. Same thing. You’re welcome.)"},{"_id":"DH4YB3JR6ZCXNPQT3FKCGUXUXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866369},"type":"text","content":"The holidays are complicated. Some folk anticipate the season all year because busy schedules or distance keeps them from the ones they love, and they wish for nothing more than to fellowship with family and friends alike. For others, the holidays are a dreadful time made tolerable only by imbibing copious amounts of alcohol. The alcohol numbs the pain, though, ironically, it is often the root of that pain. I know I can’t smell a shot of Jim Beam without getting flashbacks of my Uncle Keith, his face aglow with the reflection of Mamaw’s Christmas lights, being hauled in by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations for holding illegal dog fights in his neighbor’s garage. Dog fights are bad enough, but, for god’s sake, they were corgis! Oh memories."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d"},"caption":"Corey Ryan Forrester, comedian from Chickamauga, Ga., and opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Corey Ryan Forrester","width":681,"_id":"FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/OvBJ206mA5K8IPCgrGy9B_fOAjg=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/UEQTY_IVoEGdMUSYzruSdOAXw9g=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Corey Ryan Forrester.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"CTEFK4LKPJAVRABNTNTSPFBWLM"},"created_date":"2024-08-16T20:55:39Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:25:09Z","alignment":"right","height":681,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FJ7E436XHZFQPPHDSERJDQ4ISI.jpg?auth=35e7e107675776691463ee080c41256b22f7bbd33c9c2f2543ee13c0aa2ced4d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"IQPGKEJLXRGKPAZAAUDEYJLLDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866371},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I suppose I shouldn’t say “the holidays” are complicated because the holidays are fairy tales leveraged by greeting card companies marking card stock up 500% and home decor conglomerates selling every version of Jesus, Santa and the Grinch under the sun. It’s <i>families </i>that are complicated. The holidays are just the dates we’ve scheduled to torture each other, if only to death."},{"_id":"4IU4N2SUUZD3DJA2VPNA76HP64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866372},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The holidays are even difficult on those “perfect” families we all know. Sure, they may not have to hide all the knives and jewelry when that one cousin shows up, but I assure you that one has nearly had a stroke trying to determine which color stand mixer they should buy for that one aunt Christ himself couldn’t please. Did you know there are more heart attacks this time of year? Sure are! Your ticker can take all the beer and bratwurst you throw at it in July, but one look at an Early Black Friday Sale catalog after your last rent check bounced will cause that same heart to explode."},{"_id":"TWL7NIIFWJG4DLAIEZZ47A6GBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866373},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For the record, I adore Christmas! The cheesy movies, the cadre of clay villages adorning the shelves, the medley of winter scents rising from each room’s designated candle and the food — my lord, the food."},{"_id":"QM5ZE264PVHDBKTHFO5QIE2QAQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"HNHL6GIOBBHZVJPEZH45SKFNIE"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Deborah Y. Cohn: That nasty gift was no accident","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-that-nasty-gift-was-no-accident/RR5GPBQVLRFLFBJUDODRL67JTY/"},{"_id":"FQQQFUFHSNC3RCCKYHBDOVBYPE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"A7FVQTBSS5BN5NTTSWZR74H5MM"},"alignment":"right","type":"raw_html","content":"<CustomInfoBox id=\"KECPGEOOLZF3LFXOH7OOVGVVSM\" />"},{"_id":"HCEWPHM4KFCRHIB2S2G7HCOSDU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734352442950},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But whether you love or hate Christmas, worrying about gifts can get a person down? Is political divisiveness affecting your purchasing decisions? Well, fret not, because ol’ Corey Cringle has the gift guide for you!"},{"_id":"UPYH7M6X4NFDRCCKUZM7PK36WM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866376},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Looking to buy for that MAGA uin your life? You know the guy. Can’t see through his back window because of all the bumper stickers. Burned his Nike socks in protest. Loves people open-carrying (unless they are Black). This year, don’t get him something he wants; give him something that needs: A dictionary so he can look up what a tariff is."},{"_id":"LJQKGHA36BG7LGQ3PYTQ7U4OTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866377},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Got a super liberal aunt who spends half her day reposting “resister” memes about how good President-elect Donald Trump is going to look in an orange jumpsuit and the other half talking about how the Democrats can still save us all? She’s delusional. But that works out for you. Just tell her you donated money in her name to <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkX1WP9RDZo\" target=\"_blank\">the Human Fund</a>, and she’ll forget all about it the next time she sees a “<a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/us/politics/covfefe-trump-twitter.html\" target=\"_blank\">Covfefe</a>” joke and laughs herself sick over something that wasn’t even funny seven years ago."},{"_id":"YSEKOGSP6NBDTM2YYSWUWR5OSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866378},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Often times, these two people are married and the resulting child is an amalgamation of the parents’ worst traits. They claim to be fiscally conservative but socially liberal. This is coded speak for what they really are: a Joe Rogan-addicted aspiring tech-bro. Screen shot a picture of a Monkey NFT and say you won it in an underground crypto auction. Sound ridiculous? It is, but Rogan’s people are required to pretend like it all makes sense."},{"_id":"MLL55WAVKFFMLPDFIPANA3KBSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866379},"type":"text","content":"Perhaps the hardest person to buy for: the undecided voter. They are afraid to say out loud what they know in their hearts to be true for fear someone will judge them. You’ll see them at your parents’ party or your spouse’s parents’ party — or maybe both. The solution? Do not get these people a gift. Tell them that one Christmas party feels too traditional, and the other feels too light. If there were just some mythical third Christmas party, then maybe you could do a gift exchange. Heck, you might even agree with these folks a bit. The two-party Christmas system <i>is </i>inherently flawed. Each is run buy a set of grandparents who complain about the other grandparents, and none of them understand why their grandkids don’t like them. But one party is a lot of fun (until the cleanup begins), and at the other, well, everyone’s drunk when you arrive and no one is sharing the whiskey."},{"_id":"FNYVRT56PFARBBEQ22YLJ47RLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734347866380},"type":"text","content":"I hope this helps. I know I didn’t cover spouses, but, if you married someone, you ought to know what to get. Unless your spouse is that supposed undecided voter. Then just get them help."},{"_id":"S5YDR4B54FCBZKHAVXSE6XSNNM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"BLKBSTQS2FDL3GRONWAHIX64F4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: UATL's 2024 Black culture holiday gift guide","url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/uatls-2024-black-culture-holiday-gift-guide/G672IWGBFBHA7GOSWAC6J5AGSM/"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Presents for the family can be tough when politics gets involved."},"description":{"basic":"Presents for the family can be tough when politics gets involved."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"6dcc35dc6567ef1950e630acfa3bbcfa2be78f92054e05584e1f87ae4b200368"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"LIFE-FAM-CHRISTMAS-FIGHTS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Family holidays aren't always this festive. (Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MHEEVXQU7MOXXYEHG5XT77ZO6M.jpg","height":1217,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MHEEVXQU7MOXXYEHG5XT77ZO6M.jpg?auth=6dcc35dc6567ef1950e630acfa3bbcfa2be78f92054e05584e1f87ae4b200368&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-corey-cringles-gift-guide-presents-for-family-can-be-political-challenge/LQ7HQARETZD6RPTDA6QKBVFMBM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-16T10:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/76e9ea48-60d4-4f11-aab9-52a585f4c842.jpg"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Corey Forrester","description":"Corey Ryan Forrester is a comedian from Chickamauga, Ga. He is the co-author of “The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin’ Dixie Outta the Dark” and “Round Here and Over Yonder: A Front Porch Travel Guide by Two Progressive Hillbillies (Yes, That’s a Thing.),” and a co-host of the podcasts “wellRED” and “Puttin’ On Airs.” ","_id":"crforrester","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Forrester","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/76e9ea48-60d4-4f11-aab9-52a585f4c842.jpg","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Corey Ryan Forrester is a comedian from Chickamauga, Ga. He is the co-author of “The Liberal Redneck Manifesto: Draggin’ Dixie Outta the Dark” and “Round Here and Over Yonder: A Front Porch Travel Guide by Two Progressive Hillbillies (Yes, That’s a Thing.),” and a co-host of the podcasts “wellRED” and “Puttin’ On Airs.” ","firstName":"Corey","books":[{"publisher":"","title":"","url":""}],"podcasts":[{"name":"","download_url":"","url":""}],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"Ryan","_id":"crforrester","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-17T22:01:54.001Z","byline":"Corey Ryan Forrester","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Corey Cringle’s gift guide for holidays"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-16T10:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-16T12:35:32.945Z","_id":"LQ7HQARETZD6RPTDA6QKBVFMBM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"6dcc35dc6567ef1950e630acfa3bbcfa2be78f92054e05584e1f87ae4b200368"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"LIFE-FAM-CHRISTMAS-FIGHTS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Family holidays aren't always this festive. (Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MHEEVXQU7MOXXYEHG5XT77ZO6M.jpg","height":1217,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MHEEVXQU7MOXXYEHG5XT77ZO6M.jpg?auth=6dcc35dc6567ef1950e630acfa3bbcfa2be78f92054e05584e1f87ae4b200368&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"6MV3HDMSFVGDBMNBTKA3F2KUPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478373},"type":"text","content":"It’s that time of the year again when families get excited to gather around the Christmas tree, celebrate the birth of our savior and exchange gifts."},{"_id":"YN7KTOLKONAJLH46UIMNHVKVVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478374},"type":"text","content":"But for Georgia’s 700 young adults who age out of foster care each year, this can be a particularly emotional time of year."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"11f52efb1cb79bb6d457e9117403902ab98b5cbb1dbfa11881433bbb5b93d8a1"},"caption":"Richard L. Jackson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Rick Jackson","width":2412,"_id":"DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/j7DyvUeu53NDQtIwYM4hmLEwoBc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/j7DyvUeu53NDQtIwYM4hmLEwoBc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","takenOn":"2020-10-07T17:14:46Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/j7DyvUeu53NDQtIwYM4hmLEwoBc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/aIeqH5iZk2XvyPZRU8M8NkTiWEU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Rick Jackson.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"MMRZABCBFBFOVKE4JNKEFSF4RI"},"created_date":"2024-12-10T19:44:25Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-10T19:44:25Z","alignment":"right","height":3618,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DYYMRAWDTNEBXFXY6CNJ7IOGSE.jpg?auth=11f52efb1cb79bb6d457e9117403902ab98b5cbb1dbfa11881433bbb5b93d8a1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"DCKSFVQC55FABPQ7Z7L4BBBHBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478375},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I know, I have been there."},{"_id":"IIEWUCMRGJANPFPIQKIMAV6VQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478376},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I like to reach out to foster kids and those leaving the foster care system at Christmas because, like them, I, too, once felt confused, sad, angry and scared. They need to know that they are not alone in feeling that way."},{"_id":"G52LZ6VM6VB6TDA2NVA6IPCINA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478377},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Let me tell you my own story to help those leaving foster care and trying to make it on their own. It’s a simple message: No matter how tough your life has been, you do not have to be a victim."},{"_id":"HQ3YAN7GJVFSFMUXLFH6L4BYQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478378},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I grew up without a father. He left when I was just 9 months old. My mother, though kind, struggled with alcoholism and couldn’t hold a job for very long. This led to me being neglected. We moved from one government housing project around Atlanta to another, and I attended 13 different schools."},{"_id":"3OEEO4GOCBFVZJZNURQ2VKTEYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478379},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At age 13, I entered foster care after spending days alone at home fending for myself. During the next five years, I lived in an orphanage and three foster homes before aging out at age 18. I also have vivid memories of spending Christmas at the Methodist Children’s Home in Decatur and a kind stranger leaving a Christmas card and gift of $100 under my door to cheer me up."},{"_id":"POPVG6Q6HRB2JGKX5WDYCLYDP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478380},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But like many foster kids, I wondered: What did I do wrong to be alone? Why can’t my mom or dad take care of me? Who will look after me? What does my future hold? Will I ever be reunited with my family? Will anyone love and care about me?"},{"_id":"5CYUVJKQBBAPVNGR43OFUNQ3YU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"},{"_id":"33WCEJVX5ZAJ5CQL6C5XPOVIFM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"62XIXRMVBBCWXBUT4XKGWJBGW4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Read about Rick Jackson's story in the AJC special \"The Self-Made Philanthropist\"","url":"http://specials.myajc.com/self-made-philanthropist/"},{"_id":"3NFWAAQIKRBBBOY2NMSFE3JLNM","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"M2CAEYOHCNAWZNIL62HKAMPSRY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Kimberly Offutt: 700 Georgia teens age out of foster care each year. We all can help.","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-700-georgia-teens-age-out-of-foster-care-each-year-you-can-help/3PNRQUMM2VHILAX7GF3BXIRMQI/"},{"_id":"RATIZJTPS5FCRDS2UFUS5FPJKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478381},"type":"text","content":"To those leaving the foster care system or even those still in it, please know you are not alone. None of this is your fault. You did not choose your circumstances. I am here to tell you that you can get through this. Life will get better."},{"_id":"6FNW2R5CMRGE3NMOSHL6LERKOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478382},"type":"text","content":"Since my time in foster care, I learned that sometimes our biological parents are unable to provide the love and stability we need. Early on, I chose to adopt God as my father, a source of unconditional and unending love who became my anchor in darkest times."},{"_id":"TA4MFVW7LBCVTAPWHHVAJG5QSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478383},"type":"text","content":"No matter your past, you have the power to change your future. You can break the cycle. You can make better choices. You can succeed. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise."},{"_id":"YLODJ6KLXNADLF5ZU7VBAXDCJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478384},"type":"text","content":"This commitment to yourself can open doors you never imagined. Surround yourself with good, positive people who will uplift and support you. Ask for help when you need it — there are people who will guide you if they see your determination to succeed."},{"_id":"TBPSHR37IVGE5N4DQROCXAHUQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478385},"type":"text","content":"Don’t let anyone convince you that you’re a victim of the world. Yes, life has been unfair — especially to kids who have wound up in foster care. But you’re not powerless. By taking ownership of your choices, you become the driver of your own life. Many people doubted me, and I faced rejection. But I refused to see myself as a “professional victim.” Instead, I took control and proved that I could rise above my circumstances."},{"_id":"QLCJKUVCQVG57MB5THTUFLKZNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478386},"type":"text","content":"That’s probably why, through hard work and determination, I was able to go to college, start a business and wound up where I am today."},{"_id":"UEWGMVUM5NB4JEOXP6CDNTU5VQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478387},"type":"text","content":"You have within you the seeds of greatness. Speak words of encouragement to yourself to drown out negativity:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"HBHYZDW43JAPVC6Q6YP6DI2Q4E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478388},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"VEDPJ57SXFH6HFK6OKRHSWHPGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478388},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"If you can dream it, you can achieve it."},{"_id":"F4PVHLZLA5HTTMVKWBZGFW6L4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478389},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Failure is not a person; it’s just an event."},{"_id":"HINNK6ULYNGL7HRDDC5SVHVUGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478390},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Learn from your setbacks; they’re opportunities to grow."},{"_id":"TYG5RWPOJJGBJO52MVJHZRB2IA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478391},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Avoid negative people and seek those who believe in your potential."},{"_id":"YX23PTT7BRF2DPVNTR7EI5ECEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":0,"comment":"· "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478392},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"It’s not about how you fall; it’s about how you get back up."}]},{"_id":"4TI2OCIYIRBXHDITXXPCKLJNN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478393},"type":"text","content":"I survived foster care and built a successful life, and so can you. Define what success means to you, believe in yourself, and stay focused. You’ll achieve it. Above all, remember this: Never, never, never give up hope."},{"_id":"ACPAE2TWFNEUZBSTOQSESTV6AQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478394},"type":"text","content":"It’s my ultimate Christmas wish for my fellow foster care alumni."},{"_id":"6C2RXS7IGJDZ5H3L3M7LRWHNRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733845478395},"type":"text","content":"<i>Richard L. Jackson, the chairman and chief executive officer of Jackson Healthcare in Alpharetta, is the chairman of FaithBridge Foster Care and chairman of Fostering Success Act, a new foster care tax credit that enables taxpayers to aid young adults aging out of the state foster care system.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Never give up hope. Life will get better. I know because I was there."},"description":{"basic":"Never give up hope. Life will get better. I know because I was there."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"2caee498d6b0c7657ffb759f8be8215a693bc4f407e63673559f8a646f3d18e8"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Spink","type":"author","byline":"John Spink"}]},"subtitle":"0011472414","width":3872,"caption":"A 2010 display of 500 life-sized photos and messages from the children depicted at Woodruff Park in Atlanta. (John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QAGII7VKPVCABOH35DCHPGAUYQ.JPG","height":2364,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QAGII7VKPVCABOH35DCHPGAUYQ.JPG?auth=2caee498d6b0c7657ffb759f8be8215a693bc4f407e63673559f8a646f3d18e8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-a-christmas-message-for-georgias-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care/SLAT3JQRYVHC7HMCKQPAIEUA64/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-15T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Richard L. 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(John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QAGII7VKPVCABOH35DCHPGAUYQ.JPG","height":2364,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QAGII7VKPVCABOH35DCHPGAUYQ.JPG?auth=2caee498d6b0c7657ffb759f8be8215a693bc4f407e63673559f8a646f3d18e8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"3JRUICPDV5CBJKWXSEHK6RMBP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560770},"type":"text","content":"How much does social media influence elections and voting? I organized a team to find out."},{"_id":"MPH6DFMT2JGWNEOFV5OOBLGAE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":75,"comment":"4 to 6"}],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560771},"type":"text","content":"On the day of and the days surrounding last month’s election, from Nov. 4-6, a <a href=\"https://www.cc.gatech.edu/news/partnership-fights-election-misinformation-honors-legacy-freedom-summer\" target=\"_blank\">team of 60 social media monitors</a> assembled on the Georgia Tech campus to track and respond to online issues that could negatively affect the Fulton County election. The goal was to identify material that risked disenfranchising voters, endangered people in the community or restricted the free flow of accurate political information."},{"_id":"7DRUF423ARC4BKR7MU5AF3DJMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734102054073},"type":"text","content":"The team included Georgia Tech students along with community members recruited by our partner, social impact consultancy The BLK+Cross. It was managed by Amanda Meng, a research faculty member in Georgia Tech’s School of Computer Science."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"5d1c2879385148b47fe7dbb1bcad4d2e133233362214b69fa71291fc44bf0f8b"},"caption":"Michael Best","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Michael Best","width":300,"_id":"WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/hpSZfV3QAgmL6aFw5Lp-14jCyWE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/hpSZfV3QAgmL6aFw5Lp-14jCyWE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/hpSZfV3QAgmL6aFw5Lp-14jCyWE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/QMurSwBeREbtEFHKfEpkusoPWRA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Michael Best.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"IURWKTO3GFB33MBM4KSXLU3LRU"},"created_date":"2024-12-13T14:21:18Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T14:21:18Z","alignment":"right","height":300,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WHEOKQFOMNBFXBBFRBRIPVDLBI.jpg?auth=5d1c2879385148b47fe7dbb1bcad4d2e133233362214b69fa71291fc44bf0f8b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"L4KALVCNTFD4LCL7JH5I3EUZEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560772},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Our team read nearly 30,000 carefully curated posts downloaded from X, Facebook, Truth Social, Instagram and TikTok. An artificial intelligence system created by Georgia Tech students helped classify and respond to the very high volume of online material. Team members reviewed the content using a social media tracking tool that has been under development by my team over the past decade."},{"_id":"ROTLU6AXFBERLKMEFJWQIXXAJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734102054076},"type":"text","content":"From this collection of social media posts, we created 187 incidents arising from serious material we felt deserved fact-checking and response. Thirty incidents were escalated to our field community partners, independent nonpartisan election observers and other stakeholders who could take positive action."},{"_id":"G5MJ3NHALFBRLGRVZB7Q2L2WYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560773},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"My takeaway from this experience: Online political discourse that centered on Fulton County elections was a cesspool of lies and hate negatively impacting our politics and community."},{"_id":"QDE2J6YENVFX3KE7UTDYZLFD6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560774},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The incidents we identified and escalated were often things that are now familiar to Fulton County voters, though we were, at times, first to flag the concerns. For instance, we spent a lot of time tracking complaints from poll observers who were initially denied access to election offices during the extended absentee ballot drop-off period. On election day, we were busy with multiple made-up bomb threats menacing polling locations."},{"_id":"XU3EOOM3YRBCBNJDFTJ3QPDHZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560775},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Sadly, to track and escalate these meaningful incidents, our team had to wade through an overwhelming quantity of online posts promoting hate and lies."},{"_id":"6RHKRIBHJJG7XDSN3VLFPRMYAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734102054080},"type":"text","content":"To demonstrate the shabby state of our online political discourse, I recently read through 50 posts randomly selected from the content we monitored. They included a lot of disproved claims about the 2020 election — “Fulton County has 300,000 missing ballots” — and the current election — “(fraudulently marked ballots) still in boxes in some van in Fulton County.” There was plenty of vitriol toward the county generally — “Fulton County is a stain on the map of this great country” or “Fulton County had been a hotbed of evil greed since the days of the carpetbaggers!” And we found hostility directed against our elected officials — “Fani Willis should resign and start preparing for the full force of the law to come down on her” — along with the occasional racist remark against county residents that I will not quote here."},{"_id":"COFNCTCVBZEJ7OXXR2HXNY34JM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560776},"type":"text","content":"A particularly unpleasant and unfortunately representative post was an online video on X featuring a man claiming to have moved from Haiti to the United States with several Georgia driver’s licenses that he used to vote in multiple counties across the state, including in Fulton County. The Georgia secretary of state called the video “an example of targeted disinformation we’ve seen this election.”"},{"_id":"YAB3NVHPKVENBG6TYSFZNDNJJY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"7BMSPJEURZDGLEGCMX4HOXECHY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Fulton County election monitors call the county’s work ‘orderly’ and ‘organized’","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/how-fulton-countys-election-is-monitored-as-georgia-early-voting-is-underway/6NQL2G6PORGL3OIKXTFWJD3AZA/"},{"_id":"J4OYNPINIVEYLEOP6SBBT6N74U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560777},"type":"text","content":"Uncritically consuming this array of hate and disinformation can lead to bad decision-making at the ballot box. In computer science, we put it this way: “Garbage in, garbage out.”"},{"_id":"CI7DVF6CDNEV5HVJ5OJE72W2JU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560778},"type":"text","content":"So what can be done?"},{"_id":"IJC3PRT465B4HDTYS3OC5WNAAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734102054085},"type":"text","content":"First, social media platforms must improve their algorithms and moderation, though free speech principles mean we will never thoroughly sanitize our online political discourse. In addition, we all must strengthen our media literacy: our ability to select trusted information sources online, advocate against those circulating disinformation and hateful content and inoculate ourselves against such content we receive nonetheless."},{"_id":"75VZD5EQ5BEXHOKLFMLAVAL2LQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560779},"type":"text","content":"At Georgia Tech, we are researching social and technical methods to enhance our media capacities and improve our social media platforms. At the same time, with The BLK+Cross and other partners, we continue to develop literacy-building programs and storytelling methods that help us better understand our local communities and boost camaraderie, even when we might disagree politically."},{"_id":"6GT4M7M75VG7LL35NHNCEVO2QI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734102054087},"type":"text","content":"Thoughtful use of social media — both posting and reading — can help us have an informed citizenry, which is sorely needed for a functioning democracy."},{"_id":"7ZX5AP724VCBNCC7NRETMXUHNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734099560780},"type":"text","content":"<i>Michael L. Best is professor of international affairs and interactive computing and executive director of the Institute for People and Technology at Georgia Tech. He has worked globally on election monitoring for more than 15 years.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"I organized a group to study online comments about the election. What we found was stunning."},"description":{"basic":"I organized a group to study online comments about the election. What we found was stunning."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"384203d940be4f11d0a79beeeb3a3531e1c20e77a92c9f871586d41406332857"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"John Spink/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Spink","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Voting","width":6000,"caption":"Voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5 at the Don And Mary Ellen Harp Student Center in Atlanta. (John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/D3IG4UD726GKVTELUKHSU2MF5I.jpg","height":3925,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/D3IG4UD726GKVTELUKHSU2MF5I.jpg?auth=384203d940be4f11d0a79beeeb3a3531e1c20e77a92c9f871586d41406332857&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-social-media-about-fulton-countys-election-was-a-cesspool-of-lies/UAIP2B6TNFBHPJ3ZHN4BVY4I2A/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-13T15:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Michael L. Best","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Social media about Fulton County’s election was a cesspool of lies"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-13T15:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T15:08:08.772Z","_id":"UAIP2B6TNFBHPJ3ZHN4BVY4I2A","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"384203d940be4f11d0a79beeeb3a3531e1c20e77a92c9f871586d41406332857"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"John Spink/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"John Spink","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Voting","width":6000,"caption":"Voters cast their ballots on Nov. 5 at the Don And Mary Ellen Harp Student Center in Atlanta. (John Spink/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/D3IG4UD726GKVTELUKHSU2MF5I.jpg","height":3925,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/D3IG4UD726GKVTELUKHSU2MF5I.jpg?auth=384203d940be4f11d0a79beeeb3a3531e1c20e77a92c9f871586d41406332857&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"4NWOYG5AARHEXPB4T437OXBYR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943041},"type":"text","content":"Let’s start with the easy part: Luigi Mangione is accused of committing an evil and despicable act in allegedly gunning down UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson in New York last week. The online fans who have <a href=\"https://www.wired.com/story/internet-culture-luigi-mangione-major-shift-fandom/\">praised Mangione </a>should be ashamed of themselves."},{"_id":"G2CNHISI5ZECVIJZSLOBPMLKIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943042},"type":"text","content":"That includes an English and cinema studies professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where Mangione graduated in 2020. In social media posts that she has since retracted, <a href=\"https://www.thedp.com/article/2024/12/penn-condemns-professor-comment-luigi-mangione\">Julia Alekseyeva called Mangione</a> the “icon we all need and deserve” and said she had “never been prouder” to teach at Penn."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Kielinski Photographers, LLC","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829"},"caption":"Jonathan Zimmerman","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"KYLE KIELINSKI","type":"author","byline":"KYLE KIELINSKI"}]},"subtitle":"Jonathan Zimmerman","width":5000,"_id":"ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","takenOn":"2022-08-25T18:47:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/LEh68S22b2yXXe_uq98Yu_B4s2c=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/vQSchqz7DKor3QmaILzAVY8xYDs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jonathan Zimmerman.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"W3QR56X7YJAJ7AD5SSDWK62YLI"},"created_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","last_updated_date":"2024-09-20T15:00:12Z","alignment":"right","height":3333,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZSI4JVNYZFAP7D3BZZMY6IWB3A.jpg?auth=007bb0ee536084753ce93c983f228505f10efaf0289abfbf740b9e0bf4628829&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"6G26AEXDHFFJDG2PL6LYBMUA6E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943044},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I teach at Penn, too, and I was mortified by Alekseyeva’s remarks. But I do think Mangione deserves credit for identifying a huge problem at elite universities, which he confronted — and tried to correct — when he was a student here."},{"_id":"6VWCKJTAXFA43HEPIV6EPT3ZVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943045},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I’m talking about our culture of competition, which makes every student activity into a war of all against all. Many clubs require students to submit applications or undergo interviews before they can join."},{"_id":"A4AJX3GWBNG6TPNZHEIDQDFNRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943046},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Not Luigi Mangione. As a sophomore in Penn’s school of engineering, he started a student organization devoted to video game production. But unlike most other clubs, it took all comers."},{"_id":"ZCQ2YBTW5VEIDERUDTFKZYJ46E","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"DDH6XVWYRNGK5HHICTQ4JQDLOM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Delay, deny and the savage rage toward the U.S. health care system","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-the-savage-rage-toward-the-us-health-care-system/SFTMVIMS2BHDRBF6B5BUXAG6RE/"},{"_id":"SRGTXMFQQVGDJOFKRQ5BEYT7QE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943047},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"“We discussed if we would seem more legitimate with an application, but that’s not the environment we’re going for,” he <a href=\"https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/10/how-students-passionate-about-game-development-are-working-against-penns-competitive-club-culture\">told the campus newspaper</a> in 2017. “Our goal is to have fun and learn.”"},{"_id":"SBZO2KVW3ZA43NC2OXPZXKTC3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943048},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Another member of the club praised its “inclusive attitude,” which created a different vibe than many other student groups. “Everybody joined because they want to make cool games, not because they want to pad their resumes,” <a href=\"https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/10/how-students-passionate-about-game-development-are-working-against-penns-competitive-club-culture\">he said</a>. “If it was to have those interview style applications with enormous Google forms, it wouldn’t be the same. It’d be a job.”"},{"_id":"IFJABSBPFVFQDAEUIU5T3DL2GM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943049},"type":"text","content":"That’s precisely how Penn students have come to see most extracurricular activity: as a job. And that makes them into stressed-out cynics, whose prime goal is to win — at any cost — rather than to have fun and learn."},{"_id":"EOXJNG2LERC7FAGQSJDO6U6UQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943050},"type":"text","content":"A few years ago, a student told my class that she had tried out for the Alzheimer’s Buddies Club, which sent students to visit dementia patients in nearby hospitals, but was rejected. She said applicants to the club had to submit essays and resumes, and people who made the “first cut” were then interviewed by an officer in the organization."},{"_id":"6KUXG6ZWCNE2TEIEZOJKIEY5AM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943051},"type":"text","content":"I was appalled. It’s a free country, I told the class, and if the students wanted to restrict membership that was their own business. But if they wanted Penn’s imprimatur — and its financial support — they should have to take anyone who was interested."},{"_id":"K6VWWRUMYVCCFNZ6SFMPCWVC3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943052},"type":"text","content":"The room went quiet, and everyone avoided my gaze. Finally, a brave student spoke up. “If they did that, nobody would want to join,” he admitted."},{"_id":"F2JANQ6RZJGITP4K56FQZTKMRM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943053},"type":"text","content":"There you have it. Forget the heartfelt essay about Grandpa’s descent into dementia, or the resume noting that you had visited nursing homes in high school. Everything of value is competitive. And without the competition, there’s no value at all."},{"_id":"F55SEVTON5DSPITWYMZG5QWRTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943054},"type":"text","content":"You can find the same pattern across elite higher education. “My roommate was wait-listed to volunteer at a homeless shelter,” a student wrote in <a href=\"https://www.theunofficialguide.net/articles/comping-faq\">the Unofficial Guide to Harvard</a>. “Some girl on my floor got cut from a Zumba class. It’s brutal.”"},{"_id":"5MS5LVPKBNGYNPSE2ML2EZ4JFA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PL54R4FUPBFURBQ47RX3RWJ3WU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia physician recounts his own difficulties with health insurance","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/georgia-physician-recounts-his-own-difficulties-with-health-insurance/JIOJJXQBPZBPTMS2WDNSZBKY24/"},{"_id":"Z3OTWPXNJJFFDBHX7BOK6NOBVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943055},"type":"text","content":"Indeed it is. And it’s deeply corrosive to the well-being of our students."},{"_id":"RJGYB733BRCT3KSE7XNX4SEZ3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943056},"type":"text","content":"To get into an elite university, they have to submit a long list of extracurricular pursuits that supposedly illustrate their “passions” as well as their “leadership.”"},{"_id":"FRKC47AJJJDD3A7QV7TYVEYRKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":36,"comment":"extra-curriculars "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943057},"type":"text","content":"And when they arrive on campus, the extracurriculars become a blood sport. “Not all of you will make it in,” <a href=\"https://www.theunofficialguide.net/articles/comping-faq\">Harvard’s Unofficial Guide warns</a>. “Let the Hunger Games begin!”"},{"_id":"7IOC4P4SNNEZ5PW46LYDNXQLNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943058},"type":"text","content":"It’s time for us to put an end to them, by prohibiting competitive admissions for funded student groups. Our message should be clear: you can establish your silly tests and interviews, but not on our dime. It’s not good for you, and we won’t support it."},{"_id":"SS5O6TBVW5B5HLJCCTBBIUUC6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":287,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943059},"type":"text","content":"Mangione didn’t support it, either. By welcoming everyone, his video game group was “working against Penn’s competitive club culture,” as <a href=\"https://www.thedp.com/article/2017/10/how-students-passionate-about-game-development-are-working-against-penns-competitive-club-culture\">the campus paper reported</a>. But we can’t rely on students to resist that culture on their own. Instead, we should require clubs to follow the example Mangione set in 2017."},{"_id":"WR6OF4DXPRAAXJYSXY2NGPUBMY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MVS2QCGZ7JCCJLLKRY7JNPHGG4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia ACA health insurance shoppers have a few extra days to sign up","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/georgia-aca-health-insurance-shoppers-have-a-few-extra-days-to-sign-up/5OKI6TXWDBFUFBF4XT5FMH2BFA/"},{"_id":"BMCGBHND75B7VPBWODMMUJUXQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943060},"type":"text","content":"To repeat: Nothing can excuse Mangione’s alleged crime. He’s a <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/09/nyregion/united-healthcare-ceo-shooting-luigi-mangione.html\" target=\"_blank\">scion of privilege</a>, who stands accused of a depraved murder, not a populist hero. But we shouldn’t let his terrible wrong blind us to what he got right."},{"_id":"L4OJVX6HVFENLMAHAESSL32ODE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943061},"type":"text","content":"We have made our students miserable by pitting them against each other. And when college becomes the Hunger Games, everyone loses."},{"_id":"MVTSYKEHFBAYFALY75CZILPZ6A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734098943062},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of “</i><a href=\"https://www.amazon.com/Amateur-Hour-History-College-Teaching-ebook/dp/B084Q383FG\" target=\"_blank\"><i>The Amateur Hour: A History of College Teaching in America</i></a><i>” and eight other books.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The Penn graduate took on the deeply corrosive competitive culture on campus. "},"description":{"basic":"Opinion: Nothing can excuse Luigi Mangione’s alleged crime. But we shouldn’t let his terrible wrong blind us to what he got right."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/education/college","parent":{"default":"/education"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/education","name":"Higher Education","description":"","_id":"/education/college","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/education","default":"/education","BottomNav":null,"SectionMap":"/","ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"","site_title":"Higher Education"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Higher Education"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Higher Education","_id":"/education/college","ancestors":{"AmpNav":["/"],"default":["/"],"BottomNav":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"SectionMap":1034,"ComposerNav":2002}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./education/college","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"georgia education"},{"text":"school-news.ajc"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"8debd5c97fe3591ba3c3c004f9315269de3c979b5274456aebcfbe1c00cb4feb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Janet Klingbeil","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed","width":2667,"caption":"Luigi Mangione, a suspect in a New York City fatal shooting, is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Dec. 10 in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Janet Klingbeil/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZNHDC42IHN6M3JCBJGMUXXQZEQ.jpg","height":1778,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZNHDC42IHN6M3JCBJGMUXXQZEQ.jpg?auth=8debd5c97fe3591ba3c3c004f9315269de3c979b5274456aebcfbe1c00cb4feb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-one-thing-luigi-mangione-got-right/JLLQA2TD6ZDPRM6TFAV6BAWE7M/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-13T14:15:09.261Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jonathan Zimmerman","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"One thing Luigi Mangione got right"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-13T14:15:09.261Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T18:26:33.752Z","_id":"JLLQA2TD6ZDPRM6TFAV6BAWE7M","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"8debd5c97fe3591ba3c3c004f9315269de3c979b5274456aebcfbe1c00cb4feb"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"AP","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Janet Klingbeil","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed","width":2667,"caption":"Luigi Mangione, a suspect in a New York City fatal shooting, is taken into the Blair County Courthouse on Dec. 10 in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Janet Klingbeil/AP)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"425c44eb-5b03-4ce5-89fa-69e74b50003b"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ZNHDC42IHN6M3JCBJGMUXXQZEQ.jpg","height":1778,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ZNHDC42IHN6M3JCBJGMUXXQZEQ.jpg?auth=8debd5c97fe3591ba3c3c004f9315269de3c979b5274456aebcfbe1c00cb4feb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"WD2W3XTX5JGKLAGAC64TIRMYVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678135},"type":"text","content":"Raise your hand if you have ever been cruising down any major thoroughfare in metro Atlanta and been suddenly blinded by the searing white headlights of an oncoming car."},{"_id":"3CPECPENTZCMRJACV4PH7X3JRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678136},"type":"text","content":"Or maybe the car was behind you and the steady beam from the headlights cast a dazzling glare in your rearview and side mirrors."},{"_id":"4MBW7VCZ2VBODL2RGAY7ILGCD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678137},"type":"text","content":"There is so much to complain about when driving in Atlanta, but the onslaught of cars with high beams blazing on city streets has reached epic proportions."},{"_id":"TNO7UHULARCQXHBFBRSJGO75S4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678138},"type":"text","content":"Last week, while I was driving down Briarcliff Road, a car sped around a curve, its headlights at full blast, leaving me blind for several seconds. Later the same week, I drove a half-mile down Ponce de Leon Ave. with one hand alternately covering my rearview mirror and side mirror to block the blinding light from the headlights of the car behind me."},{"_id":"RS7EGHEEKFDARMTPGRQXNLRNTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678139},"type":"text","content":"I thought maybe I was imagining things, but I’m not. Neither are you. Headlight brightness has almost doubled in the last decade, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Industry experts say the change is partly due to the introduction of light-emitting diodes, which are now standard in most newer cars."},{"_id":"Y47ORD6B2BBG5HWV52V3RPQUXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678141},"type":"text","content":"LED lights are praised for their efficiency but their white or blue light feels like a lighthouse beacon Illuminating the road compared to the warmer, more sepia-toned halogen lights that were the headlight standard for decades."},{"_id":"KIIJIGK3ANDJ7F74X5ZL23QMW4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678142},"type":"text","content":"As one frustrated driver pointed out: We are now caught in a vicious cycle in which drivers of new cars with LED headlights that shine as brightly as high beams force drivers of older cars to turn on their high beams rather than end up driving blind."},{"_id":"LUSFWWCLVJFATFWL2HE63X7T7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678143},"type":"text","content":"“With sunspots in my vision from dazzling beams in my side mirrors and oncoming traffic a couple of thousand feet away, I now have to run high beams like everyone else,” said one driver traveling on I-20 from Austin to Atlanta last year."},{"_id":"P6LCKQAFTFETBO3GS6KSBBLDAQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"4C2MHYQZTZHB3MNTJSFPNW3KJA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Gridlock Guy: Getting the ‘too bright’ out of headlights and a question on hazards","url":"https://www.ajc.com/atlanta-traffic/gridlock-guy-getting-the-too-bright-out-of-headlights-and-a-question-on-hazards/IPLORZ2LMNCTFLOQ6T3FLTSMHI/"},{"_id":"RFMCKV536NB5DPBYV4TAVHPSU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678144},"type":"text","content":"If you can’t beat ‘em, I guess you can join ‘em, but that’s how we ended up with too many bright headlights in the big city."},{"_id":"2LEPKDZSSBHNFIQJCF3YWLWGQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678145},"type":"text","content":"In case anyone is confused, high beams are intended for use on unlit and rural roads. When another car approaches from the opposite direction, it is not just a courtesy to dim your high beams, it’s the law."},{"_id":"MXT7PEH2NBEUVCP7SHWAFZK5FY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734019564138},"type":"text","content":"State regulations call for dimming high beams within 500 feet of oncoming traffic. If you are following another car, you should dim them within 200 feet."},{"_id":"74YD4A6RHBC7PEDV2CYB7L44EE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678146},"type":"text","content":"Some may be driving with high beams without realizing it. Control panels aren’t always intuitive, making it difficult to distinguish between the symbols for high beams and low beams. Hint: it’s generally the headlight symbol with the straight lines."},{"_id":"H4GH27KMNFGH7G54AZ6NSAYY3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678147},"type":"text","content":"For drivers with high beam assist headlights, which automatically adjust from high beam to low beam in the face of oncoming traffic, this should be less of an issue, but only if the feature is properly activated."},{"_id":"3EN3VQ3W5JBZPJJ4Z4MMRDCV54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678148},"type":"text","content":"High beam assist generally engages at speeds over 25 mph, so anyone who wants to use their high beams at lower speeds would have to switch to manual mode. That could be another reason there are so many drivers with high beams on local roads, even when their cars are equipped with an auto-dimming function."},{"_id":"M7SSYKQIZZHGTNWEZWVCVLOAMI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678149},"type":"text","content":"The amount of glare can also be a function of a car’s height or alignment, condition, and size of the headlights — all of which can make headlights seem brighter than they are. But while there is an incentive to increase headlight brightness — more light improves night driving — there is less incentive to do anything about glare."},{"_id":"7LRQOKTXTZFBFNIGQMI2IRWJ24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678150},"type":"text","content":"It’s hard to isolate glare as the sole or primary cause of an accident, and less data on the downsides of glare means less action from federal regulators in addressing the thousands of driver complaints about headlights that are too bright."},{"_id":"W5PT7GQ6VRHQNDX3BIDFZ43IP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678151},"type":"text","content":"One 2022 study estimated that glare from the high-beam headlights of oncoming traffic at night accounts for 12% to 15% of all traffic accidents."},{"_id":"2CST2IOP75D5PHZNN77D33AWQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678152},"type":"text","content":"That same year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates automotive safety, approved adaptive driving beams which offer better road illumination while reducing glare to oncoming drivers."},{"_id":"N2Z22XAQDBCRRLQGOCFC77KB5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678153},"type":"text","content":"The technology uses LED capabilities to shift a swath of light away from oncoming cars, putting them in a shadow that reduces glare. Drivers in approaching traffic avoid the blinding bright light, but the rest of the road remains illuminated."},{"_id":"IKB2HHB5URDTBA4JXG65ZUZB5A","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"TAEVZIL3UVC4RMPRDKSOP44VCI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Don’t ignore these common eye health problems","url":"https://www.ajc.com/life/aging-in-atlanta/dont-ignore-these-common-eye-problems/CTHOJIOIT5H75EXZQVIANSG3AQ/"},{"_id":"7UAVVQBVXBEZJEDYCDUF3FZTLE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678154},"type":"text","content":"Though some car brands are equipped with ADB technology, most manufacturers have not yet enabled the software in the U.S., because regulations are unclear for a feature that qualifies as both high beam and low beam. It could take years before ADB technology becomes a standard feature here."},{"_id":"G53HCB26RJGDVCR74FLAUWGSAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678155},"type":"text","content":"Even when it does, drivers frustrated by bright headlights still may not find much relief. While ADB technology works with high beams; those super bright low-beam LEDs will still shine as bright as ever."},{"_id":"QRKWWR5ZSVE77DNGFVWL6GJESM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678157},"type":"text","content":"We’ve come a long way from the early days when cars didn’t have any headlights at all, and people just avoided driving at night."},{"_id":"QRKWWR5ZSVE77DNGFVWL6GJESM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678157},"type":"text","content":"In the question of which is the greater hazard, limited vision on the road or limited vision due to glare, the auto industry has answered with wider, brighter lights."},{"_id":"TFNQK2QWXBBJDNCFGC7LWVTSSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1734019564151},"type":"text","content":"But in the race to address one concern, they only seem to have created another and have lagged far behind in finding a solution."},{"_id":"QRKWWR5ZSVE77DNGFVWL6GJESM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733971678157},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Headlight brightness has almost doubled in the last decade, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"UATL"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"cf17d3c53f63b24293eb8df8122fa265e35372dc64e0300a260c94f921c54055"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"JOHN SPINK / AJC","name":"JOHN SPINK / AJC","type":"author","byline":"JOHN SPINK / AJC","slug":"john-spink-ajc"}]},"subtitle":"Why does it feel like headlights are getting brighter?","width":4587,"caption":"Does it feel like the headlights are getting brighter? 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You're not imagining things. Headlight brightness has almost doubled in the past decade and Atlanta drivers are complaining about the glare. JOHN SPINK /JSPINK@AJC.COM","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/3T47664K6N3D2YQ2GYZBDBLXG4.jpg","height":2520,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/3T47664K6N3D2YQ2GYZBDBLXG4.jpg?auth=cf17d3c53f63b24293eb8df8122fa265e35372dc64e0300a260c94f921c54055&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MJZCA26FLJD2RJVTJORFMX3MH4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303435},"type":"text","content":"In our tight-knit Holly Springs community, a neighbor took to our group chat to ask if anyone knew why police were constantly patrolling our typically safe streets. The notably increased presence of patrol cars in October raised alarm bells that danger lurked in our midst."},{"_id":"CO2WJW3WIJGC7NAHP33BFQPWOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303436},"type":"text","content":"I could have responded with a well-worn Taylor Swift lyric: It’s me, hi. I’m the problem. It’s me."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"fd0f663ceec1d207a1c65b0f60b904733bf81b608b148865eb739f57d7ec2978"},"caption":"Scot Turner","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Scot Turner","width":3008,"_id":"ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/7fOVwbffJO3udpEzpSHPz2PajRk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/7fOVwbffJO3udpEzpSHPz2PajRk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/7fOVwbffJO3udpEzpSHPz2PajRk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/mQYGSfOuUIUqL94oMtSswyXaAJs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Scot Turner (2).jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2S6U4DGVFNDH3CKLNR2557RJCU"},"created_date":"2024-12-11T22:36:39Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-11T22:36:39Z","alignment":"right","height":4512,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ETY7WTL3CJEODCMGFZHYXXSU3E.jpg?auth=fd0f663ceec1d207a1c65b0f60b904733bf81b608b148865eb739f57d7ec2978&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LCVBKMCMPNBY7OOVK4HPI4K2LU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303438},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The police were keeping an eye out for me — a service for which my family and I are deeply grateful — because of a handful of death threats against me sent through texts and calls. One angry man told me he was targeting me. Another said I’d never see them coming. Sure, it seems far-fetched, but a husband and father can’t take chances."},{"_id":"2XRR2BLNOBEZFCQ4PPPG2STGOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303439},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"These threats stemmed from an invisible army angry that I <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/georgia-hand-count-ballots-election-board-lawsuit-a9b997bbdd0f801e5904ffc965eb4a57\" target=\"_blank\">sued the state to stop implementation of last-minute election rule changes</a> by only three State Election Board members. They believed, incorrectly it turned out, that my suit would hurt President-elect Donald Trump’s chances in Georgia’s election."},{"_id":"LVQONMDFKJH3DBNDBJTOGCXLFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303440},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I won the lawsuit, and Trump won the state."},{"_id":"2MTXYJLAFVHUPC3UXBR6R6ZZFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303441},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"During my <a href=\"https://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/member.aspx?Member=842&Session=25&Member=842&Session=25\" target=\"_blank\">eight-year tenure in the state House</a>, I became known as one of the most conservative Republicans, a designation that didn’t always win friends with those in leadership at the time. I believe in and fight for limited government and reining in the administrative state."},{"_id":"XCADO4U4EJF4NFIUPIXQBC4V4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303442},"type":"text","content":"Those conservative principles are what drove my decision to sue the State Election Board over election rule changes it implemented in the months leading up to the election. Federal case law prevents rule changes close to an election for obvious reasons: They can create confusion and chaos among election administrators."},{"_id":"BMWP7H472VB4XKIVUW5MFAF6VU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ANQHYSA7JVG3PJKQIW4BW3SN24"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia Supreme Court rejects Republican effort to restore last-minute election rules","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-supreme-court-rejects-republican-effort-to-restore-last-minute-election-rules/XXAPHD43KJDAVO4HCWBUMSV4ZU/"},{"_id":"2C6E4EW5Y5AEDIK7W2CTKHY3A4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303444},"type":"text","content":"The suit resulted in a Fulton County court <a href=\"https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/10/16/slate-of-georgia-state-election-board-rules-swept-aside-by-fulton-judge/\" target=\"_blank\">tossing all of the recent rule changes</a> and a unanimous state Supreme Court keeping our victory in place while the appeal is pending. The rules that the court struck down included requirements to hand count ballots at the end of the night — a change that would have drastically slowed results and increased opportunities for human error. Another change raised concerns that it might embolden local election board members to refuse to certify election results, a move that would have empowered local election board members of either party to potentially reject their counties’ votes. It was a shortsighted move by these fellow Republicans who didn’t consider that most Georgia voters live in high-population counties controlled by Democrats."},{"_id":"44A36JIC6VEALCLSIF27HLUVAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303445},"type":"text","content":"My objection, however, had nothing to do with the substance or merits of the rule changes. As a conservative, I believe that unelected boards have no authority to pass rules that go beyond what our constitutionally elected officials put into law. State statutes, including the broadly popular SB 202 passed in 2021, clearly lay out how lawmakers want our elections administered. Three unelected people should not be allowed to seize lawmaking authority from our legislators to alter or expand our laws."},{"_id":"GRUIW3GFIRGJZMB6NC43U7Z4EI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303446},"type":"text","content":"If State Election Board members see a need for updates to our election laws, they have the opportunity in the 2025 legislative session to make recommendations to our elected representatives to pass a bill. The legislative committee process would allow local election officials to testify on how the changes would impact their operations, such as the need for time to train and implement the changes in a way that is uniform and minimizes the chances for errors, which would erode voter confidence. The hand recount requirement pushed by the SEB, for example, would require a significant increase in personnel and man-hours across roughly 2,300 polling locations, a massive burden the board tried to implement with just a few weeks to prepare."},{"_id":"AYIMEDL5VBHJRB5RQX5F6MR2LI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303447},"type":"text","content":"Trump won Georgia by a margin that’s huge compared to 2020′s 11,780 votes, but it was still one of the closest margins in the country. Yet everyone accepted the results, meaning the SEB rules were completely unnecessary."},{"_id":"MU5UIOWFVZABREJKKKDZFIQMBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303448},"type":"text","content":"That’s the irony of the Trump supporters’ attack on me over the lawsuit. By preventing last-minute changes from an unelected body, our court victory strengthened the credibility of Trump’s win in Georgia."},{"_id":"WJGTDI76RNBNHD4OCM6KHL45SU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303449},"type":"text","content":"We have an election system that’s working and has the faith of our citizens, with rules written by legislators we elect, overseen by a secretary of state we elect and administered by county officials answerable to commissioners we elect locally."},{"_id":"LEHHOWPAM5B4HB4QNSHFQLHJGE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303450},"type":"text","content":"In the upcoming legislative session, the General Assembly should seize the chance to stick up for its own authority as the democratically elected lawmakers of our state and rein in unelected and unaccountable boards trying to usurp that duty."},{"_id":"W5PNBHS6RNH3FJE5WTENRLZE2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733956303451},"type":"text","content":"<i>Scott Turner is the founder, chairman and executive director of Eternal Vigilance Action.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Our court victory strengthened the credibility of the Trump win in Georgia."},"description":{"basic":"Our court victory strengthened the credibility of the Trump win in Georgia."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"64f1319e961f4118780576d14e4468ad4420254c971809e515e6e07412f0492f"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Hyosub Shin/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"State Election Board taking up voter eligibility and investigations","width":6192,"caption":"Executive Director Mike Coan (third from left) speaks at an Oct. 8 meeting of the State Election Board at the Capitol in Atlanta. 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Now, through the <a href=\"http://mediafailawards.com/\">Media Fail Awards</a>, a project of my podcast <a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\">They Stand Corrected</a>, people are voting for the worst media failures of the year — and it’s a sadly tough competition."},{"_id":"EPZGGJ7JEVDSRLAHIAKX7JPSAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594656},"type":"text","content":"One nominee is a network that <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/does-america-stand-for-truth\">chose not to fact check</a> candidates at the disastrous debate in Atlanta between President Joe Biden and now-President-elect Donald Trump, even as Trump spewed extreme, nonsensical lies. Another nominee is a network that ran what it called a “fact check” but was <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/cnns-bonkers-lie-about-the-idf-and\">the exact opposite</a> of what’s true, vilifying Israel. A third nominee, once considered the nation’s “newspaper of record,” acknowledged to me that it <a href=\"https://open.spotify.com/episode/1l7dWJNZyQ2GveCNVaqkoR?go=1&sp_cid=385d4b22bf72a77ce1ad0bc8d9b4bd81&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=a03b6abc72cc4c66\">refuses to correct</a> some things that are wrong. A fourth is a news agency that <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/news-network-punishes-journalism\">publicly condemned</a> its own anchor for attempting to do actual journalism."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e"},"caption":"Josh Levs, opinion contributor to the AJC.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"4HD3CCQAQNEKVJ6BM5UKP7ONVA","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Josh Levs","width":1007,"_id":"AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/nHUbP0f1gIkxyZrqARP60GVi0FE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Wj-q9_UXl7EjVaK8A3OcCqrQQVk=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg","version":4,"originalName":"Levs-full-2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2UKGZLZ2Z5CIVMCHBTJLEXMZEE"},"created_date":"2024-09-23T14:50:57Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-05T20:27:35Z","alignment":"right","height":1342,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/AXHNF77CMRF37C273TUOF4AZ7Y.jpg?auth=59533b920b5d04d6ef541a19e1eb6e80a28fa99f70f1c167247894d89aba1b4e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"FASSMB6DYREODKZYWSL4Q7I4SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594657},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The list of “epic fails” goes on, with examples so extreme that they should be studied in journalism schools for decades. If only they were surprising. Instead, they have become commonplace."},{"_id":"WXDQNXVFPBGV5HQLPPCFTDJV5E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594658},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Since I launched <a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-stand-corrected/id1739637144\">They Stand Corrected</a> and its accompanying <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\">newsletter</a> earlier this year, I’ve been inundated with <a href=\"https://form.jotform.com/240654108502145\">requests from listeners</a> to fact-check reports from all the big national outlets. Many of these requests are like calls coming from “inside the house.” Reporters, editors, producers and others reach out confidentially, asking me to highlight their employers’ journalistic fiascoes. Their bosses won’t listen to complaints internally, so they’re effectively becoming whistleblowers."},{"_id":"PDHSXXV4HNDMFHPOGPF5R5EKFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594659},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Facing a daily onslaught of deepfakes and “alternative facts,” people desperately need <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/they-stand-corrected-the-new-podcast\">trustworthy sources of information</a>. The news media should serve that role, focusing at all times on truth. As I explain on the show, truth requires two things: facts plus context."},{"_id":"QRJEMECK3BFWPGQ3ON32ACVEGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594660},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I spent <a href=\"https://joshlevs.com/about-josh-levs/\">two decades</a> with NPR and CNN, where I was an on-air fact checker and tried to chip away at the onslaught of lies a little at a time. But that kind of work should not be an exception; it should be the rule. It’s what journalism should focus on primarily. Instead, driven by a desperate desire for eyes, ears and clicks, national news agencies have been churning out headlines, hot takes and “<a href=\"https://joshlevs.com/episode-20-ending-open-mic-nights/\">open mic nights</a>” for people with uninformed “opinions.”"},{"_id":"6ENKJ76EGJAJ3PW7QWGGEBIBFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594661},"type":"text","content":"In recent years, this failure has bifurcated. Right-wing networks and websites have largely been overtaken by lies supporting far-right movements. But so-called “mainstream” outlets have also been overtaken by lies supporting far-left movements. The clearest evidence is the bigoted coverage of Israel, which is leading the global fight against Islamist terrorism."},{"_id":"APF6YPQUZNBKXDM3NBFB2ISEV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594662},"type":"text","content":"Some episodes of They Stand Corrected have focused on rules inside these news agencies that <a href=\"https://www.newsweek.com/mainstream-media-biased-against-israel-i-know-i-was-part-it-opinion-1898058\">institutionalize</a> anti-Israel bias. Listeners told me that they were skeptical this is the case — until they listened and realized that standards and practices enforcing this bias have been clear all along. Convincing people to see antidemocratic Islamist governments as a “good guy” and the only tiny democracy in the Middle East as a Jewish “bad guy” is as antidemocratic as it gets."},{"_id":"DRM4MT75FZDB5KOK3TQS4GB72I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594663},"type":"text","content":"Right-wing and mainstream news organizations go after each other, but fail to clean up their own messes. Take the CNN anchor who called Fox News a “<a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-11-whitewashing-al-jazeera/id1739637144\">B.S. factory</a>” — without using the initialism. That would be fine if CNN weren’t also spewing <a href=\"https://theystandcorrected.substack.com/p/cnns-bonkers-lie-about-the-idf-and\">bonkers lies</a> straight out of the playbook of Hamas, an Islamist terrorist organization bent on slaughtering civilians."},{"_id":"H7XDVWDYCZGDJBO33ELTD2GEOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594664},"type":"text","content":"The movements that led to the insurrection at the Capitol nearly four years ago and the violent “protests” on college campuses are, in fact, very similar. They’re ideological efforts laying the groundwork for fascism to take root — whether a far-right Christian nationalist version or an Islamist version. And each of these efforts is helped by the media."},{"_id":"RCRHZUWVHNFDFCLDSVBM77RMWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594665},"type":"text","content":"Fortunately, most Americans oppose both of these extremes. And they’re increasingly left with nowhere to turn. Listeners tell me all the time that they’re fed up with big media."},{"_id":"ZLMMDA7YVJHFXDNXQ5G2FK6BP4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594666},"type":"text","content":"It’s time for those news agencies to evict people who have infiltrated their operations to push antidemocratic agendas. It’s time to ensure that everything they put out, across all platforms, has been thoroughly fact checked. It’s time to commit to what New York Times owner Adolph Ochs called for in 1896: “to give the news impartially, without fear or favor, regardless of party, sect, or interests involved.” Perhaps ironically, the Times is itself a leading contender for two categories in the Media Fail Awards."},{"_id":"BZR6CAFWFBCVZGGZOKWPAQI3WI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594667},"type":"text","content":"The message of these awards is clear: It’s a dishonor just to be nominated. Let this be a wake-up call."},{"_id":"3EX2CRJJ35F75MCQ4LWPNFQ6UU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939594668},"type":"text","content":"<i>Josh Levs, a frequent contributor to AJC Opinion, is host of </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/the-podcast\"><i>They Stand Corrected</i></a><i>, the </i><a href=\"https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/they-stand-corrected/id1739637144\"><i>podcast</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"http://theystandcorrected.substack.com/\"><i>newsletter</i></a><i> fact-checking the media. Find him at </i><a href=\"http://joshlevs.com/\"><i>joshlevs.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Facing a daily onslaught of deepfakes and ‘alternative facts,’ people desperately need trustworthy sources of information. "},"description":{"basic":"Facing a daily onslaught of deepfakes and “alternative facts,” people desperately need trustworthy sources of information."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"9892e3f36d2fd7e333b8a0d6e3bb74ef8e46b8a4b57789e715493dfec2ce30b2"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"062824 debate","width":4895,"caption":"Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off during their first presidential debate on June 27 at at CNN in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6F4J25RASEU4AXSDEOOBNOHKCY.JPG","height":3263,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6F4J25RASEU4AXSDEOOBNOHKCY.JPG?auth=9892e3f36d2fd7e333b8a0d6e3bb74ef8e46b8a4b57789e715493dfec2ce30b2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-crucial-message-of-the-media-fail-awards/ZZSLEYWXQ5BKNNUIECZHNVT7IM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-12T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Josh Levs","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The crucial message of the Media Fail Awards"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-12T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-12T12:53:56.263Z","_id":"ZZSLEYWXQ5BKNNUIECZHNVT7IM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"9892e3f36d2fd7e333b8a0d6e3bb74ef8e46b8a4b57789e715493dfec2ce30b2"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"062824 debate","width":4895,"caption":"Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off during their first presidential debate on June 27 at at CNN in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6F4J25RASEU4AXSDEOOBNOHKCY.JPG","height":3263,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6F4J25RASEU4AXSDEOOBNOHKCY.JPG?auth=9892e3f36d2fd7e333b8a0d6e3bb74ef8e46b8a4b57789e715493dfec2ce30b2&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"AVP24ITPCVATNKGP4U6STEACHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465267},"type":"text","content":"On Friday, the Senate Special Committee on the Protection of Women’s Sports will hold its final hearing. This panel of lawmakers intends to put forward legislation that would ban transgender students from playing on sports teams or using locker rooms with other students who share their gender identity. As pediatricians who care deeply for children and adolescents of all gender identities, we must speak out in opposition to this legislation which would certainly cause harm to our patients."},{"_id":"BYNW6I2YNJEP3HTVSO7W4CHTJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":189,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465268},"type":"text","content":"According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children engaged in sports develop motor skills that facilitate physical activity throughout their lives, have improved academic performance and foster critical life skills, including self-regulation, goal setting and teamwork. Additionally, participation in sports enhances self-esteem and protects against feelings of hopelessness and suicidality. These benefits associated with sports participation should be available to all children and adolescents regardless of a child’s sex or gender identity."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"e1fb5639b90cc09767354d6be2ef40753b5a62d8235b1c1484ccc20054ca7b7f"},"caption":"Cassie Grimsley Ackerley","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7VN2Q7LU5BAUXI4G4BK7UXN7UM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Cassie Grimsley 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Rutledge.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"ESLQZVGQ2BC45LX2RZPJQVASMQ"},"created_date":"2024-12-11T22:12:03Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-11T22:12:03Z","alignment":"right","height":180,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/Z5JXUUA4ERC4DPIFUXDO4ORLKM.png?auth=6c11930515cca6acd2bf67a690086e2a2d841035b31c9dfdad96d75bbfe79370&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"HYT6AQETTZE2XPJBEVIAZCQRX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"We must also consider the potential risks associated with sports participation, including bullying, and how these risks would be exacerbated if this legislation were enacted. Let’s consider that a transgender girl in middle school is now legally forced to play on the boys’ soccer team. In every aspect of her life, she has been seen and accepted as a girl by her family, friends, teachers and her teammates on the girls’ soccer team. Now, she will be the only female playing on the boys’ team and forced to change in the boys’ locker room. The potential for physical and sexual assault and psychological harm is tremendous in this scenario. Laws that ban transgender sports participation are often touted as legislation that protects cisgender youth, but in reality, they increase the risk of harm to transgender children and adolescents."},{"_id":"DRYOD3PEGJC4HL6XQOLHBP7ULE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"ZE4LN5RBIJEU5IWQH72EFET5TE"},"alignment":"left","type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: After Trump's win, local trans community is afraid for the future","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/issues/after-trumps-election-win-local-trans-community-is-afraid-for-their-future/TTNCMD3NHBBDZFCRIW46AJCEL4/"},{"_id":"DAXZM7RWTRHTDKTQG3D7XTXXOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465271},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In 2019, a <a href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31061223/\" target=\"_blank\">survey involving transgender and nonbinary U.S. adolescents</a> in grades 7-12 identified a higher risk of sexual assault among transgender and nonbinary youth impacted by restroom and locker room restrictions compared with youth without restrictions. Also, transgender girls were twice as likely to be sexually assaulted in this setting. These restrictive laws that discriminate against gender diverse youth are not just ill-conceived and unnecessary, they are also dangerous and increase the risk of harm to youth who are already vulnerable to peer victimization."},{"_id":"PWNJ65HE3VFIVARDJNX4YZUJKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":534,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-11T19:39:28.748Z","start":321,"end":323,"text":"added comma here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733939465272},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Laws intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports are solutions to a problem that does not exist. In 2022, the Republican governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, <a href=\"https://governor.utah.gov/press/gov-cox-why-im-vetoing-hb11/\" target=\"_blank\">vetoed a bill that would ban transgender students</a> in kindergarten through 12th grade from participating in sports aligned with their gender identity, citing that he found only four transgender students participating in high school sports throughout the state of Utah and only one who played girls’ sports. In a letter explaining his decision, Cox acknowledged these transgender athletes were not dominating in sports or taking scholarships from cisgender athletes. He also recognized the mental health burden experienced by many transgender young people and the need for these students to find connection and acceptance."},{"_id":"TMXZAITZHRGAFBG3CPS76V33KE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":345,"comment":" that"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465273},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The concern that transgender women possess an “athletic advantage” compared to cisgender women has stemmed from a few highly publicized cases involving competition at elite sporting levels. Notably, in a <a href=\"https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-12784-009\" target=\"_blank\">2017 systematic review of studies</a> focused on sports and the participation of transgender people, there were no consistent findings to suggest transgender athletes had an advantage at any stage of their medical transition. Yet, despite these findings and the rarity of a transgender athlete excelling to the level of elite sports competition, these few examples have been used to stoke fear and mistrust of transgender people."},{"_id":"ZVQJDAILBVE73CA2JLF34YGTJE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-11T19:41:23.827Z","start":167,"end":169,"text":"offset with em dashes","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733939465274},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In truth, differences in height and body sizes might be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on the sport involved. For example, professional gymnast Simone Biles — at 4 feet, 8 inches tall — and professional basketball player Brittney Griner — at 6 feet, 9 inches tall — have markedly different heights, and yet, both are considered elite athletes in their respective sports and have earned Olympic gold medals. There are variations among athletes’ bodies regardless of sex and gender, and policing these differences is likely to result in more gender stereotyping and discrimination. Lawmakers are capitalizing on these concerns for political gain, and they are unfairly imposing extreme and far-reaching sports bans that would impact children as young as kindergartners."},{"_id":"2OOHHQZQDRHHFD7W7YGOH7GRXE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"6Q4QSYL6V5HTHI3Z7GMLOFP66A"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Georgia House speaker talks 2025 agenda, from transgender rights to Medicaid expansion","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/georgia-house-speaker-talks-2025-agenda-from-trans-rights-to-medicaid-expansion/537AGQLTUVDQTPHG2T6VJZFWCI/"},{"_id":"VAY2KCEXHFEHPMAKIX7KGOMANE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":626,"comment":","},{"pos":713,"comment":" that"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465276},"type":"text","content":"Numerous medical and psychological associations oppose legal bans that would prohibit transgender athletes from participating on sports teams with others who share their gender identity, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association. In a <a href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9271330/\" target=\"_blank\">2022 survey</a> involving 103 pediatric providers from all 50 states, nearly every provider believed that legislation preventing sports participation by transgender youth was likely to worsen discrimination and stigmatization, negatively impact their physical safety and increase their mental health burden. Importantly, every provider surveyed believed this type of legislation should be stopped."},{"_id":"JADCPFLDJJBMDHGGUH3J5G54GU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465277},"type":"text","content":"As pediatricians, we oppose any law that restricts the rights of transgender people to play on sports teams and use facilities with others who share their gender identity based on peer-reviewed research demonstrating the potential harms associated with these types of restrictions. We implore leaders in our state to champion greater access to sports participation for all youth. Transgender and nonbinary youth and their families are valued members of our communities in Georgia and should not be targeted to advance an uninformed political agenda."},{"_id":"SYXTCIODU5HUFBZIQREJMMM3Q4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733939465278},"type":"text","content":"<i>Cassie Grimsley Ackerley is an internal medicine and pediatrics physician and infectious diseases specialist in Atlanta. Chelsea Marion is a pediatrician in Atlanta. Ronnye Rutledge is an internal medicine and pediatric hospitalist in Atlanta.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Laws intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in sports are solutions to a problem that does not exist. "},"description":{"basic":"Participation in sports enhances self-esteem and protects against feelings of hopelessness and suicidality."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"475aa870203908b7fe5b1732f5080c5c81518dd5eac0651a25c25ce66c343112"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Leg coverage for day 39\r","width":3300,"caption":"Advocates for transgender rights gather on March 26 at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/43525J6BUKDKTFISQXOO2GE3NA.JPG","height":2201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/43525J6BUKDKTFISQXOO2GE3NA.JPG?auth=475aa870203908b7fe5b1732f5080c5c81518dd5eac0651a25c25ce66c343112&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-we-are-pediatricians-we-oppose-banning-transgender-youth-from-sports/4WUTWRYXFVDODLMCP6UHBUIERU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-12T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Cassie Grimsley Ackerley","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Chelsea Marion","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Ronnye Rutledge","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"We are pediatricians. We oppose banning transgender youth from sports."},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-12T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-12T11:00:17.354Z","_id":"4WUTWRYXFVDODLMCP6UHBUIERU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"475aa870203908b7fe5b1732f5080c5c81518dd5eac0651a25c25ce66c343112"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar/AJC","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Leg coverage for day 39\r","width":3300,"caption":"Advocates for transgender rights gather on March 26 at the Capitol in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/43525J6BUKDKTFISQXOO2GE3NA.JPG","height":2201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/43525J6BUKDKTFISQXOO2GE3NA.JPG?auth=475aa870203908b7fe5b1732f5080c5c81518dd5eac0651a25c25ce66c343112&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"UAKVZ3RX7VGHJNA3Z4RA2SKZAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478337},"type":"text","content":"Sixty years ago today, the <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/ceremony-speech/\" target=\"_blank\">Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. accepted</a> his <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/summary/\" target=\"_blank\">Nobel Peace Prize</a> in Oslo, Norway. Now, we must help honor MLK’s vision by staying on the path of peace and justice. These virtues feed each other. Propelling peace results in more justice and vice versa."},{"_id":"P2LWGBFPN5DJBCYUKRN7GHCRYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478338},"type":"text","content":"King is the world’s most often-referenced Nobel laureate. Tragically, in his birth city, his legacy is often ignored. In history’s most published book, we learn “a prophet is honored everywhere except in his hometown.” Does anyone wonder why King and former President Jimmy Carter, two of the world’s most respected Nobel Peace Prize laureates and peacemakers, are not honored in a very large way at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest? This would boost tourism, the world’s biggest peace industry."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"431503f82c42cc4c986c18a5e505e6fed9daa650717556b121659329b5f6fbe8"},"caption":"John R. Naugle","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"John R. Naugle","width":1024,"_id":"WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/pRnXnBX773kCZL7-Q4YIKWnAnyo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/pRnXnBX773kCZL7-Q4YIKWnAnyo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/pRnXnBX773kCZL7-Q4YIKWnAnyo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/cXwna1Ki-ue6KNlfTVzEDK-E8JQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"1.John.R.Naugle.file.image.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"V7QVPV4IMBCXXLWALLGUMHI6XY"},"created_date":"2024-12-09T17:38:11Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T17:38:11Z","alignment":"right","height":1360,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WMXMH3J56ZFHBGNXLWMDN4FB6Y.jpg?auth=431503f82c42cc4c986c18a5e505e6fed9daa650717556b121659329b5f6fbe8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SPUDWX2Z45AXPECELBLE3Q7RNY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478339},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Carter, the <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2002/summary/\" target=\"_blank\">2002 Nobel Peace laureate</a> and our nation’s <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/30/politics/jimmy-carter-presidents-what-matters/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">most productive former president</a>, honored King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, <a href=\"https://globalpeacegarden.org/\" target=\"_blank\">when he proclaimed</a>: “The efforts of Martin and Coretta, although not appreciated even at the highest level of government, have changed America.”.”"},{"_id":"OG7LKIO2NBGDVGZF5UBEHYXCXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478340},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King united the global peace movement by linking the East and West. Propelling a new era of transformation, he became the world’s most recognized and accomplished protégé of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of India, the world’s biggest democracy. King delivered an <a href=\"https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/CountryNews/10571_GANDHI_150_birth_anniv_celebrations_2018-19.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">emphatic lesson and warning</a>:"},{"_id":"V5EJRPWJOVESXD33HMRTU3TLEY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478341},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"“Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk.”"},{"_id":"6LJB74LVFREZTI4SOVTWYQAFUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478342},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"King, the brother of our global family, is Atlanta’s native son. Let us not take him for granted. Remember, by his authority here in the capital of the Bible Belt, we also became a birthplace and mecca for Southern hospitality. We are a beautiful international city that welcomes strangers like good Samaritans. Most of us aspire to love everyone, even those who might not be like us or who might even hate us. King showed us how to love those who are different or would be against us."},{"_id":"WSE2NDQ5UZBZ7HLSGZJHM4HN2E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478343},"type":"text","content":"King referenced this in <a href=\"https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/acceptance-speech/\" target=\"_blank\">his Nobel Peace Prize speech</a>. He said: “I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life.… This Hindu-Moslem-Christian-Jewish-Buddhist belief about ultimate reality.… Let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”"},{"_id":"H2N3WYBTLVBCVPJBVFF3GWQLAA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478346},"type":"text","content":"Celebrating King’s achievements inspires the next generation to continue striving for peace, justice and equality, which fosters a sense of responsibility and hope among youth. Active and responsible citizens make great cities, states and nations."},{"_id":"QTE5KVLSSVHS5C4CEK34HUKHK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478347},"type":"text","content":"King’s Nobel Peace Prize especially recognized his unwavering commitment to his dream of a brighter future. Celebrating him reinforces the importance of peaceful approaches to social change. Those who nurture peace and justice support his dream. What is the dream? We are the dream! We become the dream as we unite to ensure his teachings remain relevant."},{"_id":"OXKU44CU3VB7DGJFGU6LZKN4SM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478348},"type":"text","content":"Promoting peace and justice brings significant societal and spiritual rewards. Also essential are the economic rewards. Tourism builds peace by connecting people from different cultures. Through tourism, we can better appreciate our commonalities and learn from our differences. Those who promote travel and tourism are vital peacebuilders. Imagine what could happen if King’s birthplace were branded with the virtue of peace, for which he lived and died."},{"_id":"ZZD6L6ENEFCEZG4K46ZHVS3VZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478350},"type":"text","content":"Citizens of Atlanta, in this wonderful 60th anniversary year of King’s Nobel Peace Prize, can we get up and stand up for peace and justice? As individuals, our brother still shows us how. Can you hear King also teaching his own city how to be great? “Everybody can be great ... because anybody can serve.”"},{"_id":"3QI2VM3X7FA4XOKA2B7XARRWLI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733764478352},"type":"text","content":"Atlanta must fully honor King’s enduring legacy and reaffirm its commitment to his vision of a just and peaceful society."},{"_id":"ML3JOPGEHFGERNPXCOA6EUYN4Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733853268017},"type":"text","content":"<i>John R. Naugle is a member of the </i><a href=\"https://gandhifoundation.us/contact-us/\"><i>Gandhi Foundation USA’s board of directors</i></a><i> and the author of “The Declaration of Peace Millennium (Years 2000-3000).”</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Atlanta has long been the home for peace. We must celebrate and continue it."},"description":{"basic":"Atlanta has long been the home for peace. We must celebrate and continue it."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"870e74ce8362cbe703602f869add558ed6f9f0727557fc9267a30845cdea1c4a"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"King family to lay wreath","width":3200,"caption":"Bernice A. King (left), daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other family members hold a wreath-laying ceremony at The King Center Freedom Plaza on April 4 to mark 56 years since the civil rights leader's death. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QEGNO4G3WOHLVH762HLSN6FBIY.JPG","height":2279,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QEGNO4G3WOHLVH762HLSN6FBIY.JPG?auth=870e74ce8362cbe703602f869add558ed6f9f0727557fc9267a30845cdea1c4a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-honor-martin-luther-kings-path-of-peace-and-justice/H4DY2EKORZDMRPSIEKDPHIXKFI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-11T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"John R. Naugle","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Honor King by staying on the path of peace and justice"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-11T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-11T11:14:30.892Z","_id":"H4DY2EKORZDMRPSIEKDPHIXKFI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"870e74ce8362cbe703602f869add558ed6f9f0727557fc9267a30845cdea1c4a"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"HYOSUB SHIN / AJC","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"King family to lay wreath","width":3200,"caption":"Bernice A. King (left), daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other family members hold a wreath-laying ceremony at The King Center Freedom Plaza on April 4 to mark 56 years since the civil rights leader's death. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QEGNO4G3WOHLVH762HLSN6FBIY.JPG","height":2279,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QEGNO4G3WOHLVH762HLSN6FBIY.JPG?auth=870e74ce8362cbe703602f869add558ed6f9f0727557fc9267a30845cdea1c4a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"BVVWUX2R2FAPROSDVGNXPQ4XSE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733852545322},"type":"text","content":"The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to what is before us in 2025 and beyond. For this writer, that is the state of downtown and, to some extent, Atlanta as a whole."},{"_id":"PHUHITG3J5D5ZIKUZOMVGBISZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":208,"comment":" (ADID)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T18:03:37.910Z","start":207,"end":209,"text":"removed acronym following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733852545323},"type":"text","content":"For more than 80 years, <a href=\"https://www.atlantadowntown.com/cap\" target=\"_blank\">Central Atlanta Progress</a> has concerned itself with the health and welfare of this community. Before the Olympics, we incubated the creation of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District in 1995 to assist in these endeavors. As a collective of organizations that represent business and community interests, we work every day on the “product” of Atlanta and lean in on the collaborative efforts of others to make our city better. Sometimes we are very visible with our work, but we often prefer to operate behind the scenes as we approach some of Atlanta’s biggest and most vexing issues."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613"},"caption":"A.J. Robinson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"A.J. Robinson","width":6000,"_id":"XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","takenOn":"2023-12-11T10:13:10Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/q533cHjFpFwsUkwZ3SJUA2Waw5o=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"AJRobinson_Headshot_2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4NIVYUJM5ZF7RL3H2SMZ5NLNNU"},"created_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","alignment":"right","height":4000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg?auth=9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"7KCH2MMCMZAENKHYRHLJ7SFOVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":170,"comment":"“"},{"pos":184,"comment":"”"},{"pos":394,"comment":"Covid-era "},{"pos":880,"comment":"pre-Covid "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T18:08:08.013Z","start":978,"end":980,"text":"offset with em dashes","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-10T18:10:33.195Z","start":405,"end":407,"text":"uppercase COVID, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733852545324},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The five years since the coronavirus came into our lives have been extremely challenging for the urban cores of most cities. Atlanta is no exception. The well-documented work-from-home trend has <a href=\"https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/all-topics/community-development/downtown-downturn-covid-shock-to-brick-and-mortar\" target=\"_blank\">not been kind to central city areas</a> that have older office building stocks, the least appreciated in a shrinking market. Nor has it been kind to the nation’s homeless population, especially now that COVID-era federal assistance programs are no longer available. Despite what one might encounter on our streets, Atlanta has performed much better than other peer cities in <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/atlanta-end-homelessness-executive-order\" target=\"_blank\">caring for our homeless population</a>. Meanwhile, and with a particular eye toward the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-united/atlanta-will-host-six-matches-in-club-world-cup/7JHIHNGG5VFBJJ6C3M6RILCF2U/\" target=\"_blank\">2026 World Cup games</a>, we have so much to be thankful for, including other big events coming to metro Atlanta in football, basketball and soccer, to name just a few. Also, almost all convention and tourist business has returned to pre-COVID levels. Hats off to all those involved in these efforts as they are — and will — continue to pay big dividends to Georgia and Atlanta."},{"_id":"4JEB7ZTWMJBBBGWGXJKCHRDIMY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":655,"comment":"thes "},{"pos":767,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T18:12:49.971Z","start":325,"end":327,"text":"added \"affordable\" before housing","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-10T18:14:05.520Z","start":425,"end":427,"text":"lowercase the Stitch, per AJC style","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733852545325},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At the same time, and despite a rather difficult real estate financing environment, we have some game-changing private and public projects underway that will help reshape the look, feel and economic prowess of Atlanta. These include the ambitious and futuristic<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/centennial-yards-expands-with-apartments-hotels-entertainment-offices-come-later/72RKPX43URA3ZIQ5XATUKLHT7I/\" target=\"_blank\"> Centennial Yards South Downtown developments</a>; the conversion of <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/development-team-chosen-to-convert-2-peachtree-into-affordable-housing/667EN4M4EJH2HM3EUX3M2YZFM4/\" target=\"_blank\">2 Peachtree to affordable housing</a>; a more than <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjZWu16APCI\" target=\"_blank\">$100 million makeover of Georgia State’s campus</a>; and <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/a-stitch-and-more-3-parks-have-been-suggested-above-atlanta-highways/W5IFZZ5U7REPTLEJ6X47HTW4WU/\" target=\"_blank\">development of the Stitch</a>, a transformational “cap” covering a section of the Connector creating an urban green space with interconnected parks and plazas in the heart of downtown. When Atlanta is represented in the media, it is the downtown skyline that is the most visible part of our city and our state. We at CAP celebrate this, knowing our skyline is where first and lasting impressions are made. With that type of exposure, we must all recognize its branding importance to our collective economic prosperity."},{"_id":"3LZGRU2AFRDDBCAHYSDYOQY5XI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733852545326},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Mayor Andre Dickens’ administration has recently jumped in with a historic <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-city-council-oks-120m-in-bonds-for-downtown-makeover/OPI5TOX4BVBMHOY47HXSSFKVBM/\" target=\"_blank\">$120 million downtown infrastructure bond</a> and another <a href=\"https://atlanta.capitalbnews.org/housing-public-safety-dickens/\" target=\"_blank\">$60 million homeless opportunity bond</a>."},{"_id":"G2GXFM4UPBE45H2UUAQ7Q6HAVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733853445840},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"All of these public and private investments are once-in-a-generation endeavors that will no doubt contribute to Atlanta’s growth on the same scale as development around Centennial Park, Atlantic Station and even the Beltline."},{"_id":"QQQ2UMF3NFEFXGQD346DF2K45Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733852545328},"type":"text","content":"I am often asked how is downtown really doing, usually in a tone that suggests sympathy for a losing cause. (As Mark Twain once said, “the news of my death has been greatly exaggerated.”) We are doing just fine, thank you very much, but we can always use a helping hand and more understanding of the great potential and opportunity that lies ahead."},{"_id":"H757KCO53VAGRM3A6NUAQ4VP7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733852545329},"type":"text","content":"As 2025 nears, we welcome your support and appreciation for all the things that need our attention. Many use adjectives such as revitalization, renewal and reimagination when describing a theme for our downtown’s future. For those of us who are here on a daily mission, we suggest “rediscovering” downtown as the most meaningful way you can assist us in our work. Through rediscovery, you will perhaps become more aware of the importance and role of downtown in our past and present environments, and you will, no doubt, care just a bit more about its future. With a newfound understanding of downtown’s critical part of Atlanta’s complex identity, we can build a better future together."},{"_id":"LCO57EZ74ZHMPBZVF2PMLURMII","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733853445843},"type":"text","content":"<i>A.J. Robinson is president of </i><a href=\"https://www.atlantadowntown.com/cap\"><i>Central Atlanta Progress</i></a><i> and Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, two nonprofits working to build a 21st-century downtown Atlanta as the heart of the region.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Rediscovering what makes the city great can help it continue to grow and shine."},"description":{"basic":"Rediscovering what makes the city great can help it continue to grow and shine."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-future-of-downtown-atlanta-depends-on-you/GQWMJJQ4PFBLJCW2US7QRZNX3I/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-11T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"A.J. Robinson","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The future of downtown Atlanta depends on you"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-11T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-11T11:00:00.605Z","_id":"GQWMJJQ4PFBLJCW2US7QRZNX3I","firstInlineImage":{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613"},"caption":"A.J. Robinson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"A.J. Robinson","width":6000,"_id":"XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","takenOn":"2023-12-11T10:13:10Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/q533cHjFpFwsUkwZ3SJUA2Waw5o=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"AJRobinson_Headshot_2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4NIVYUJM5ZF7RL3H2SMZ5NLNNU"},"created_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","alignment":"right","height":4000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg?auth=9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},"teaseImageObject":{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613"},"caption":"A.J. Robinson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"A.J. Robinson","width":6000,"_id":"XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","takenOn":"2023-12-11T10:13:10Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/5n54qVOHvd71v69Mf33x0SXHZ4Y=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/q533cHjFpFwsUkwZ3SJUA2Waw5o=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"AJRobinson_Headshot_2024.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4NIVYUJM5ZF7RL3H2SMZ5NLNNU"},"created_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-10T17:44:55Z","alignment":"right","height":4000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XEH52XMRTZB3PL4BK64MX4LHXM.jpg?auth=9a9054513d643be53d05ce1f880040d94b7c1d42484890cd904a01d698a77613&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"4Z47CJAPF5BYXBVPGHFIHJXDQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514518},"type":"text","content":"On a windy weekday in early December, a couple hovered near the door of Nourish + Bloom, the new 24-hour contactless food market in southwest Atlanta."},{"_id":"YWQ2PWWL2ZDURMKD7NA5LNZ36Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":138,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514519},"type":"text","content":"They were having trouble getting inside, so I offered to help. Entry requires scanning a QR code, downloading the app, creating an account and entering payment information to generate another QR code that allows access to the market and shopping."},{"_id":"JKLWUNEY3RE55BBLRRRGBA4K7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":138,"comment":"Dr. "},{"pos":146,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514520},"type":"text","content":"Curiosity had brought the three of us to this triangle of streets in historic Cascade Heights formed by Cascade Road SW, Benjamin E. Mays Drive SW and Beecher Road SW — where the nearest options for groceries are the Cascade Food Mart and the Family Dollar across the street."},{"_id":"EA5I6ZZJL5HLTIPE3UDAWVFW7I","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"LLCCRGTGVNHZFBJK3VGF4YV4CA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"OPINION: Coffee shops are nice perks; good grocery stores are essential","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-coffee-shops-are-nice-perks-good-grocery-stores-are-essential/WBRRHTWSJVEEVBOYEWSGUCMU4E/"},{"_id":"FKDMTOVNM5FWJG4UF5WFPWZTME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514521},"type":"text","content":"A few weeks earlier, the city of Atlanta had announced the grand opening of Nourish + Bloom, a micro market designed to improve access to fresh food in areas that have struggled to attract a major supermarket."},{"_id":"X4ZS5CJP5NASZKHF3UIPBSA2EM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":181,"comment":"President "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:29:52.007Z","start":190,"end":192,"text":"lowercase titles unless they are before person's name, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514522},"type":"text","content":"Last spring, councilwoman Marci Collier Overstreet said she had been lobbying for seven years to secure funding for a grocery store in southwest Atlanta. Eloisa Klementich, CEO and president of Invest Atlanta, the city’s instrument for economic development, said the city has invited grocery stores to underserved areas of Atlanta but grocers have been resistant. The city has since announced plans for<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlantas-25m-plan-to-fight-food-deserts/OITU2LBGJNAYHGUXTNE35L2LKQ/\" target=\"_blank\"> community markets in some neighborhoods.</a>"},{"_id":"6VBEAYGNPBA2PFMWBLYYQSJ4E4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514524},"type":"text","content":"Nourish + Bloom, a concept that first launched in Fayetteville in 2022, is billed as the first city-supported, AI-powered grocery store. Founders Jilea and Jamie Hemmings appeared on Shark Tank in 2023. They left the show without an offer but did gain a $600,000 Economic Opportunity Fund Food Access Grant to bring market locations to Cascade Heights and Pittsburgh Yards."},{"_id":"HU5IBB3C2FHEJL5HUUR4YKTAQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514525},"type":"text","content":"Supporters of the business have said it offers greater food access in food scarce neighborhoods while minimizing high costs of labor and operations — only one person (or none) staff the stores."},{"_id":"3MNDM4X7WVBJNBJ3B5TKCYSA7U","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"YLY3IXON2NDEJEUHNF4WLSKKPM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta’s $2.5M plan to fight ‘food deserts’","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlantas-25m-plan-to-fight-food-deserts/OITU2LBGJNAYHGUXTNE35L2LKQ/"},{"_id":"QVVEVC6AIJDFLPILFAZE7FNCWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":175,"comment":" (the store does accept SNAP benefits as a form of payment)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:39:55.575Z","start":174,"end":176,"text":"noting out reference to SNAP benefits here as it is mentioned further down in story","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514526},"type":"text","content":"Critics have said the prices are too high, the potential for theft is too great and the people most in need of food may not have cellphones or credit cards to enter the stores."},{"_id":"3USYRDUWPJASDO6LH7TUZ4XMOM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514527},"type":"text","content":"I’m not ready to give up on the concept yet. All too often we attribute the existence of food deserts to characteristics of the people or the places where they are located without considering the industry practices that got us to this point."},{"_id":"OR4NOREEGBHHFADQTUWQB7SARQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":9,"comment":"1950′s "},{"pos":22,"comment":"1980′s "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:31:48.114Z","start":15,"end":17,"text":"no apostrophe, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-10T19:32:29.291Z","start":409,"end":411,"text":"added comma here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514528},"type":"text","content":"From the 1950s to the 1980s, Americans did more than half their grocery shopping at independent stores while the big chains only accounted for about 25% of grocery sales. Independent stores were often the most innovative — the first to offer enhancements such as self-service and loyalty programs, which big chains then scrambled to replicate. Back then there was enough market share to go around, with healthy competition between chains and independent stores for grocery dollars."},{"_id":"4ANRNZ52SRDGPOIIGA44J5MGHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":14,"comment":"Regan "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:59:18.842Z","start":19,"end":21,"text":"fixed spelling of reagan","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514529},"type":"text","content":"But under the Reagan administration, <a href=\"https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/food-deserts-robinson-patman/680765/\" target=\"_blank\">a midcentury antitrust law that banned grocery suppliers from giving pricing deals to retailers</a> (and banned retailers from asking for them) lost its teeth. Big chains swooped in demanding favorable pricing from suppliers while also gobbling up smaller grocers."},{"_id":"YNKOMSYJFFFYNKWUXM5FFU5KIA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514530},"type":"text","content":"The independent stores that remained struggled to pay higher rates passed on to them by the grocery suppliers who sought to minimize their losses."},{"_id":"KG3VDB62JNGF7BW7JLAGL5CZDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514531},"type":"text","content":"All of this coincides with the proliferation of food deserts in urban and rural areas."},{"_id":"H6MOVD5O35HKRHMGTY273GBAAI","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"T5A2HRQBNRHITK3BZIHYULZKGM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"OPINION: An Atlanta neighborhood becomes a food desert overnight","url":"https://www.ajc.com/life/opinion-an-atlanta-neighborhood-becomes-a-food-desert-overnight/EGM2GZ7365GAPN3F5UNXNRTYQA/"},{"_id":"DZKX3E2CLFGVJOCA4IVYTYY6N4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514532},"type":"text","content":"But concepts like Nourish + Bloom signal a return to the spirit of innovation that once fueled independent grocery stores in the battle against the big guys."},{"_id":"SJBJBXPT5BGHHO4JZCNGVRCZCE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T20:41:42.460Z","start":166,"end":168,"text":"seeing both audobon forest and audubon forest in spellings online; Audobon Forest is cq, per dan klepal","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514534},"type":"text","content":"I managed to enter Nourish + Bloom with the app generated code and held the door for the couple, Annita Bridges and Robert Alexander, recent retirees who relocated to Audobon Forest from Oklahoma City about a year ago."},{"_id":"E2AWZWKQCBEXXDY2N5CWDUJVEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514535},"type":"text","content":"Once we were inside, I scanned my phone again to enter through a gate and into the market. I tried to scan for Bridges as well, but the gate flashed red and closed. Craning their necks to view inside, the couple waited in the small entryway while I entered the market to examine what was on the shelves. I asked them what they thought of food access in their neighborhood."},{"_id":"YWEBJSVX2JGP5CJXRJBDCIYH3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":102,"comment":"four "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:37:54.203Z","start":106,"end":108,"text":"use figures for distances, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733834514537},"type":"text","content":"“I would like to see a better variety of fresh produce,” said Bridges, who mostly shops at the Publix 4 miles down the road."},{"_id":"IW6IKZA4PVAUXM4MYB6XQ6GNHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":196,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733841670872},"type":"text","content":"Alexander thought Nourish + Bloom represented the convenience store of the future. He figured it was small enough that food would have to be replenished regularly, a factor that would help ensure the foods are fresh."},{"_id":"CNF5CQKGBFGKTM5WBW3RFZVFHQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733841670873},"type":"text","content":"The shelves were filled with a range of grocery staples from oranges and bacon to cereal and milk. A section of prepared foods included sandwiches and grab-and-go meals such as jerk chicken bowls."},{"_id":"CM2FFENCKRFCXJECQIDZWMMLZU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514540},"type":"text","content":"The brands were the same ones you would find in the big supermarkets and as expected, when I did a price comparison on a few items, the prices were higher at Nourish + Bloom. The juice I purchased costs $6 at the manufacturer’s retail store. Nourish + Bloom charges the same. At Kroger, the juice is $4.29 and at Walmart it costs $3.88."},{"_id":"6MCYOGBPPBH5BDNMUZOQAUVQ4I","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"H4LH5ONVGZEG3KDVFQY4ASPDMM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"OPINION: One grocery store closes and a food desert reopens","url":"https://www.ajc.com/life/opinion-one-grocery-store-closes-and-a-food-desert-reopens/AQPLGBPOJBFG3HSHA6CGFA7DNE/"},{"_id":"Y47ZO7H4SZGKHGFC7OOMRD5OAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514542},"type":"text","content":"Nourish + Bloom does accept SNAP benefits but anyone trying to stretch their food budget may find it hard to justify spending more for items they can get cheaper at the big stores, even if those stores are not conveniently located."},{"_id":"STUHKQCDOJEZDP4DFVESFAOZ2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514543},"type":"text","content":"As more locations open, I hope Nourish + Bloom will find a way to do what so many other independent grocers have not managed to do — survive long enough for bigger grocers to view them as worthy competitors."},{"_id":"MPAG556A5RBUDDXGQO3B23OYFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733834514544},"type":"text","content":"If profit-hungry supermarkets see a small independent store thriving in an underserved neighborhood, they might also see some value in returning to the places they have long neglected."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":66,"comment":" and"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-10T19:41:21.641Z","start":31,"end":33,"text":"formatted websites","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733801366710},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>), find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"A visit to southwest Atlanta's Nourish + Bloom, a contactless micro market designed to improve access to fresh food in areas struggling to attract a supermarket."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta 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(Nedra Rhone/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4GM74BUEPVH6DCDI2IMPEKARRA.jpeg","height":3024,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4GM74BUEPVH6DCDI2IMPEKARRA.jpeg?auth=12a2702de9a7319e0e066121e7359cff5189296479837f62e523714723b4a0bb&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"BWJOTMDYWFFAPALBHXJVSMEKGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169168},"type":"text","content":"The <a href=\"https://www.steinwaymovers.com/industry-insight/how-many-times-does-the-average-person-move-in-a-lifetime#:~:text=So%20how%20many%20times%20does,11.7%20times%20in%20their%20lifetime.\">average American moves</a> about a dozen times. With each move comes a chance for an audit. Are we downsizing or expanding? Is it time for a new couch? Should we refurbish great-grandma’s old china cabinet?"},{"_id":"WP2QFGK7DRH6VFYW247KFUO664","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169169},"type":"text","content":"Just as moving is an important yet rare event, U.S. tax policy often operates the same way. There have been <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/largest-tax-cuts-hikes-biden-trump-tax-proposals/\">only 15 significant tax reforms</a> since 1940, but, come 2025, President-elect Donald Trump and an incoming Republican majority in both houses of Congress will have to reform our tax code again when Trump’s 2017 tax cuts expire."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"3895ce04af393505b6ada85d5fdd46da20ecf8461dd8131fa70631014a0ff7ff"},"caption":"Daniel Bunn","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Daniel Bunn","width":1000,"_id":"WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/xd8FGSBjzUkiAapa0aMFuwHXocY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/xd8FGSBjzUkiAapa0aMFuwHXocY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/xd8FGSBjzUkiAapa0aMFuwHXocY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/3m2VRpsg9o4cHF2eXS7jWOyrDXs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png","version":0,"originalName":"Daniel Bunn.png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"O7VM72Q3SBEBPKAYSM6HIW7UBI"},"created_date":"2024-12-05T16:11:06Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T16:11:06Z","alignment":"right","height":1000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WIS3R3XFZNHSZCQ2K333C4HG6A.png?auth=3895ce04af393505b6ada85d5fdd46da20ecf8461dd8131fa70631014a0ff7ff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"QMTBLM6ZEZBQLJQG73W33KPZYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169171},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As we prepare for the tax code’s “move,” it’s time to start cleaning out the proverbial attic of our messy system."},{"_id":"WTZNVGA37JBITJ4IE3QYOSD5A4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169172},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Before we decide what should stay and what should go in the tax code, let’s first look at what house we moved to in 2017."},{"_id":"3XH6N7QD7JDMPHATYNNBTCOTJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":26,"comment":"(TJCA) "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169173},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/taxedu/glossary/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/\">The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act</a><i> </i>was a generational rewrite of our tax code. It lowered income tax rates, increased the standard deduction, doubled the child tax credit, drastically reduced corporate tax rates and transformed how we tax multinational corporations. All the changes had to fit within a 10-year budget window, and, to comply with those requirements, many of the corporate provisions were made permanent while the individual tax cuts were put on a path to expire, or “sunset.”"},{"_id":"WWTXYMC6LFFJXB46SOBOPD6OWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":471,"comment":"OECD "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169174},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The goal of the tax law, <a href=\"https://waysandmeans.house.gov/2017/11/02/chairman-brady-introduces-tax-cuts-jobs-act/\">according to its advocates</a>, was to boost economic growth, simplify the tax code and make us more competitive against other countries. Though all were achieved to varying degrees, to say the global economy has changed drastically since then would be an understatement. Our <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/remote-work-statistics/\">workforce looks different</a>, the economy is still <a href=\"https://abcnews.go.com/538/vibes-americans-perception-economy-completely-changed/story?id=111211869\">feeling the lingering effects of the pandemic</a> and countries across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/global/corporate-tax-rates-by-country-2023/#:~:text=Notable%20Corporate%20Tax%20Rate%20Changes%20in%202023&text=Seven%20countries%20across%20four%20continents,corporate%20tax%20rates%20in%202023.\">have also cut taxes</a> (or, in some cases, <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/eu/digital-tax-europe-2020/\">increased them on U.S. companies</a> that buy and sell overseas)."},{"_id":"YGPYFWO65RBDJE35IZT4C5GAJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":101,"comment":"TCJA"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169175},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"And despite its achievements in making tax filing simpler for most workers, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act left us with a <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/testimony/federal-tax-complexity-costs-reform/\">complicated tax system, which has only gotten more complicated</a> in the Biden era."},{"_id":"WKEFVK4QVJGMLHKWONBFALEZIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169176},"type":"text","content":"Republicans have offered mixed signals on where they want to move. <a href=\"https://buchanan.house.gov/2023/2/tcjapa-118\">In Congress,</a> 73 House Republicans have endorsed staying put, saying we should make the TCJA permanent. On the campaign trail, <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/donald-trump-tax-plan-2024/\">Trump called for</a> extending it but repealing some of its biggest pay-fors, including the <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-salt-deduction-cap-10000-tax-cuts-jobs-act-reversal/\">$10,000 cap placed on state and local tax deductions</a>, something many Republicans oppose."},{"_id":"QKUKKSL2H5GDPNKVZE7AHAY2LQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169177},"type":"text","content":"In other words, there is not yet a clear consensus. Instead of a blanket approach, we should take stock of each provision and decide what should go, what should stay and what should be reformed."},{"_id":"K2ERTFHQ45EGTCEZB2TR4IMAN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169178},"type":"text","content":"First, let’s decide where we want to live. Growth, simplicity and neutrality should be the bedrock of any tax code, and many features of the TCJA achieved that. The <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/global/2023-international-tax-competitiveness-index/\">corporate rate is now much more competitive</a>, so calls to reverse that should be <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/trump-harris-corporate-tax-proposals/\">off the table</a>. The law’s provisions for individuals and families resulted in <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/tax-calculator-tcja-expiration/\">higher after-tax incomes</a> for many while simplifying the <a href=\"https://www.jct.gov/publications/2018/jcx-32r-18/\">tax filing process by making the standard deduction more valuable than itemizing</a>."},{"_id":"HDBUGPULRJB6FK5KMAEHJQOIVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":288,"comment":"(R&D) "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169179},"type":"text","content":"Next, we should be honest about what worked and what didn’t in the TCJA. The law made great strides toward improving the treatment of business investment by allowing <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-expensing/\">full expensing</a> — though only temporarily and for only some assets — but it made the treatment of research and development worse. Full expensing for all investment, including R&D, should be made permanent. Full expensing removes barriers that hinder companies’ ability to invest and expand and, <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-permanent/\">if made permanent</a>, would lead to sustained job creation and economic growth."},{"_id":"H2ODOURJHRHHHCDWXO5JBAYFSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169180},"type":"text","content":"Third, Congress must declutter by removing the most complicated additions to the tax code, including <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/inflation-reduction-act-green-energy-tax-credits-analysis/\">preferential energy credits</a> and a new <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/book-minimum-tax-analysis/\">corporate minimum tax</a> superstructure that found their way into the tax code two years ago."},{"_id":"3QPSNSG5AVCMJHWH3MOA67X7YM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169181},"type":"text","content":"And policymakers must decide how long they want to live in this new home. For the sake of the economy, we should be aiming for the long game; therefore, it’s crucial to contend with how these tax changes affect our <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/2025-tax-reform-options-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act/\">multitrillion-dollar deficits</a> and how they will grow the economy. Full expensing and neutral corporate policies generate a good amount of growth relative to their costs. But if we want to continue to pay down our debts while remaining globally competitive, lawmakers should go further — on the individual side and on the corporate side. Unnecessary preferences, including the state and local tax deduction, <a href=\"https://taxfoundation.org/blog/salt-deduction-cap-design-options/\">should be eliminated entirely</a>. Business taxation is still a mess, with separate regimes for corporations, partnerships and sole proprietorships. This is an opportunity for great simplification."},{"_id":"VXOVRELO65A6JHGTR7EYKFWK4U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169182},"type":"text","content":"America handed Republicans control of the White House and Congress, and together they will have to decide the future of our tax code. For the sake of our economy, moves toward growth must win the day."},{"_id":"ATCXILM6OZBSFFJWQSHVITHYFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733415169183},"type":"text","content":"<i>Daniel Bunn is president and chief executive officer of the Tax Foundation in Washington, D.C.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Growth, simplicity and neutrality should be the bedrock of any tax code."},"description":{"basic":"Growth, simplicity and neutrality should be the bedrock of any tax code."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"78ca05eefc0ee78f7a11d91ad5d67abf12fd3c8095c722372539b57b32f6c1ce"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"NYT","name":"ZACH GIBSON","type":"author","byline":"ZACH GIBSON","slug":"zach-gibson"}]},"subtitle":"After chaotic start, Republicans make their mark in Congress","width":720,"caption":"House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sign an enrollment for the conference report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 21, 2017.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EQJHPNYDOM7Q3L22YWFDKBKGYI.jpg","height":480,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EQJHPNYDOM7Q3L22YWFDKBKGYI.jpg?auth=78ca05eefc0ee78f7a11d91ad5d67abf12fd3c8095c722372539b57b32f6c1ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-republicans-have-a-chance-to-empty-the-attic-in-upcoming-tax-debate/R56E6G2NPRDEHHLKIZFYVHHPG4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-10T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Daniel Bunn","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Republicans have a chance to empty the attic in upcoming tax debate"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-10T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T18:27:19.798Z","_id":"R56E6G2NPRDEHHLKIZFYVHHPG4","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"78ca05eefc0ee78f7a11d91ad5d67abf12fd3c8095c722372539b57b32f6c1ce"},"credits":{"by":[{"affiliation":"NYT","name":"ZACH GIBSON","type":"author","byline":"ZACH GIBSON","slug":"zach-gibson"}]},"subtitle":"After chaotic start, Republicans make their mark in Congress","width":720,"caption":"House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sign an enrollment for the conference report to H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 21, 2017.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EQJHPNYDOM7Q3L22YWFDKBKGYI.jpg","height":480,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EQJHPNYDOM7Q3L22YWFDKBKGYI.jpg?auth=78ca05eefc0ee78f7a11d91ad5d67abf12fd3c8095c722372539b57b32f6c1ce&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"WIMRNCR3WVA4HJCVXKFJTU5DCQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983160},"type":"text","content":"<i>“What questions can I answer for you about your anesthesia?”</i>"},{"_id":"6LFKV5W36NBTPOOEB6WMEGS744","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983161},"type":"text","content":"I ask patients this question thousands of times a year, at the end of every history and physical I do prior to bringing them to the operating room. I phrase it this way for a very specific reason (versus asking them, <i>“Do you have any questions about your anesthesia?”</i>) because I want people to know that questions are in fact the expectation, not the exception. And so, in my nearly two decades as a practicing anesthesiologist, I’ve answered a lot of questions."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"auth":{"1":"a583fed796c3d6fb2e7e4648bd7194b0387de5a7fe58156d0140d87d8366b46c"},"caption":"Dr. Michelle Au","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author","byline":"Photo contributed by the candidate"}]},"subtitle":"Michelle Au","width":800,"_id":"FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/PX0HdVZhS-PKEXYqRwATDNLKeSw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/PX0HdVZhS-PKEXYqRwATDNLKeSw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/PX0HdVZhS-PKEXYqRwATDNLKeSw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/RixqEdvT96wwNcNd9J59892ajZw=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"MichelleAu.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"TTD4GLGTAZFNBOUV37YG4NR7IQ"},"created_date":"2024-01-26T20:09:17Z","last_updated_date":"2024-01-26T20:09:18Z","alignment":"right","height":1082,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/FJUA42ALNZA7LKKKBVOJ5XA3P4.jpg?auth=a583fed796c3d6fb2e7e4648bd7194b0387de5a7fe58156d0140d87d8366b46c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LI65APCLA5G73CKNNWKIA5PUHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983162},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Patients want to know what medications I plan to use and how much I plan to administer. They ask about my equipment, what size of tube I intend to use to intubate their trachea, what I plan to do about their pain, how long they will be in the recovery room before their family can come back to see them. They ask me whether they will need blood transfusions or urinary catheters or about complications they experienced during previous surgeries. They ask me what I will do if their heart stops beating during surgery and whether or when we will start CPR or defibrillate them if that happens."},{"_id":"HA65MSLLFVGWXFHT6A3RJ52AFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983163},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I love it when patients ask questions. It shows me they are engaged in their care, and for the most part I can answer with some certainty, even if sometimes the answer starts with the lawyerly caveat, <i>“Well, it depends.”</i> Taking care of patients and their families guided by science, clinical best practices and simple human connection is what doctors do best, and answering those questions is part of that care."},{"_id":"TGSKURJT5JA6TM2TNX5JJKCMLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983164},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But one question I get asked more and more by patients is one I have a difficult time answering confidently. And the question posed, regardless of the urgency of the surgery, and regardless of how vital anesthesia care is a part of it, is: <i>“Will my insurance cover it?”</i>"},{"_id":"RW273WTEFBCIXCSEAFLZUFOHSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983165},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The recent death of Brian Thompson, chief executive of the nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, has <a href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/12/06/nx-s1-5217736/brian-thompson-unitedhealthcare-ceo-social-media\">unmasked a dark and savage rage in our country</a> toward the health care system and the multibillion dollar entities we pay to cover that care when we need it most."},{"_id":"WHGUOUQL7BCEJHYCZZYPTB7GVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983166},"type":"text","content":"It has been reported that the bullet casings used in the fatal shooting were lettered with the words <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-murder-words-written-on-shell-casings/\">“DELAY” and “DENY,”</a> phraseology commonly used to describe cases in which insurance coverage for medical care is refused. And the public response to this killing has been shocking even for those of us exposed to the grinding frustration of the health insurance landscape daily."},{"_id":"34B3RIK7HFEPVNKYPLEEOPFDQE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"J5ET766VZVEF3IN6D2J2F4MCWM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: Man arrested with weapon 'consistent with' gun in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO, police say","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/man-arrested-with-weapon-consistent-with-gun-in-killing-of-unitedhealthcare-ceo-police-say/KTXJFIZEZVDPTKG5YJ22CVZCQY/"},{"_id":"MORLAY4NMNDY7DGG5BZRWRAGSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983167},"type":"text","content":"Across the internet we’ve seen <a href=\"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/07/brian-thompson-unitedhealthcare\">exhibitions of unrestrained glee and gallows humor</a>, many implying this type of public execution was justified for the leader of a company many hold responsible for inflicting mass harm and suffering in a country where families are routinely bankrupted by health care expenses. Though photos of the suspected shooter have been made public and the search (as of this writing) is ongoing, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/07/nyregion/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-suspect.html\">some view the suspected murderer as something of a folk hero</a>, cheering his escape and encouraging those who might have further information not to come forward. "},{"_id":"3BA5WY46F5FGBIICHJOMOUN57M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This has particular relevance here in metro Atlanta, which the <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/reports-suspect-in-unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-death-took-bus-from-atlanta-to-nyc/ZUMGLKCKG5DGNOSYNJDKBTLH7U/\">New York Police Department is now investigating</a> as the gunman’s possible point of origin days before the shooting. New York Police announced Monday that a suspect had been arrested after being spotted at a fast-food restaurant in Pennsylvania."},{"_id":"A2OO72BPAFFGBGMRMO3FKIBC3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983168},"type":"text","content":"I want to be clear: Celebrating a brazen act of cold-blooded murder is unacceptable. Full stop."},{"_id":"MNSUFRKSMBGMJDNZWLMDQAEL64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983169},"type":"text","content":"But I think the public response, even in an age where social media has become increasingly vicious, has revealed something deeper about the simmering fury Americans feel in this moment, watching profits being prioritized over people and <a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/elon-musk-277-million-trump-republican-candidates-donations/\">multibillionaires are leveraging their wealth into political influence</a> at the highest levels. Overlay onto that the environment of health care, one of the most personal aspects of all of our lives, and you might start to see something like the near-mythic ethos being constructed, where an unknown assailant guns down a father of two in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world, evades capture and is celebrated for it."},{"_id":"RFCT34CD55FI3C2YYCLHEELF3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983170},"type":"text","content":"As a doctor, I take care of patients the best way I know how, the best way I was taught to do. And in my ideal world, none of the choices I make in the course of that care would be influenced by insurance coverage concerns. We would use the treatments research has demonstrated work best, not just those insurance has demonstrated it will usually pay for. Whether I provide anesthesia would be determined by patient safety, comfort and preference, not be dictated by cost concerns. We would practice medicine based on what the patient needs, <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/05/health/anthem-blue-cross-blue-shield-anesthesia-claim-limits/index.html\">not what an insurance company has determined is enough</a>."},{"_id":"LLPV4VTGYNGGZPVBIKPCXSESSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983171},"type":"text","content":"After more than two decades of clinical practice, I am not naive to the intractable mess of the current American health care system, nor do I believe there to be an easy or painless fix. But I listen to the questions, and I hear what I am unable to answer. "},{"_id":"E2SK2H6DYZEMVD3YHUVAZPZ2ZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I carry with me hundreds of stories of patients who have delayed, forgone or refused care because of concerns that the care will bankrupt their families. I have seen my colleagues at the hospital brought to tears of frustration because our insurance landscape precludes the care they took an oath to provide. And I have seen the preventable suffering that results and the rage that cultivates over time."},{"_id":"Q6I4KWHNF5G5FNW3RK454FGNV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983172},"type":"text","content":"<i>Will my insurance cover it?</i>"},{"_id":"O5BNTRVG2JF65ONIK7HQDK236M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983173},"type":"text","content":"“It should.”"},{"_id":"IU36FP26Q5A43FD65N4TMCHBXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983174},"type":"text","content":"It’s the best answer I can give."},{"_id":"MXBEM5GVWZE37DQ6EYGHMQXOAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763983175},"type":"text","content":"<i>Dr. Michelle Au is a practicing anesthesiologist in metro Atlanta and a member of the Georgia House of Representatives.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Public response to an insurance executive’s killing has revealed the simmering fury Americans feel watching profits being prioritized over people."},"description":{"basic":"Public response to an insurance executive’s killing has revealed the simmering fury Americans feel watching profits being prioritized over people."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-savage-rage-toward-the-us-health-care-system/SFTMVIMS2BHDRBF6B5BUXAG6RE/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T18:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Michelle Au","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Delay, deny and the savage rage toward the U.S. health care system"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T18:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T20:46:11.721Z","_id":"SFTMVIMS2BHDRBF6B5BUXAG6RE"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"2BSRYX6V3VE2JCAMTVTRZBT2CU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153312},"type":"text","content":"Two and a half years ago, after filing a 56-count RICO indictment against 28 defendants, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis held a news conference. <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/fulton-da-casts-young-thug-indictment-as-victory-against-violent-crime/52GAMULUVBCHRPOPETJJHRG6AU/\">There she claimed</a>, “It does not matter what your notoriety is, what your fame is. If you come to Fulton County, Georgia, and you commit crimes … you are going to become a target and a focus of this district attorney’s office.” The target of the press gathering and assertions about fame: Grammy-winner Jeffery Williams, a celebrated rapper who performs as Young Thug and who founded a music label uplifting artists from the South Fulton neighborhood where he was raised."},{"_id":"G67VMSGNS5GU3AKFCOTGABIOYQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"EHJKQPMKLZEP3AM556UAF4BBEA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Young Thug trial: Here’s what went wrong for Fulton prosecutors","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/young-thug-trial-heres-what-went-wrong-for-fulton-prosecutors/7SC2JZC4DZEM5PLRQ2Q2LXATPQ/"},{"_id":"63QLGCTBYVF7TARXVR6Y5QWSK4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153313},"type":"text","content":"Willis’ publicity tour didn’t end there. At another news conference, she pronounced “<a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJHwqaa5AcM&t=1041s\">I’m a fan of RICO</a>” and <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/georgia-da-fani-willis-says-rap-lyrics-will-continue-used-criminal-cas-rcna45680\">proudly defended</a> the <a href=\"https://www.wsj.com/articles/young-thug-gunna-music-industry-law-11667332005\">widely-criticized</a> use of creative expression as evidence, which is opposed by leaders such as <a href=\"https://www.theroot.com/stacey-abrams-voices-concerns-about-rap-lyrics-being-us-1849390179\">Stacey Abrams</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/resolution-urge-limitations-on-rap-lyrics-criminal-trials/85-ab00ff11-b91f-4758-8512-58ae456d0670\">Atlanta City Council</a>. In a <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/01/09/fani-willis-fulton-county-georgia-trump-investigation/\">glowing national profile</a>, Willis said her office brought “more RICO indictments in the last 18 months, 20 months, than were probably done in the last 10 years.”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"847062dfb9d4821f19e775a3c9c9d7aa1bfc5cfb160adc155a12c312837a4d18"},"caption":"Adewale Oduye","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Adewale Oduye","width":2574,"_id":"QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/sirhI26y87jMQDG25SFLcXLg420=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/sirhI26y87jMQDG25SFLcXLg420=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/sirhI26y87jMQDG25SFLcXLg420=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/K1o8qjAByORXPgYLWR6dzJ-LtLg=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png","version":0,"originalName":"Adewale Oduye (2).png","mime_type":"image/png","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"TDQ4FXBJ5FDH3JZUQCTHCKU3LQ"},"created_date":"2024-12-09T16:36:24Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T16:36:24Z","alignment":"right","height":1716,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/QW252GICERGYVOG7FK6TSUDTJE.png?auth=847062dfb9d4821f19e775a3c9c9d7aa1bfc5cfb160adc155a12c312837a4d18&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"3591f032d22aca1c63caf8f23f123257fdb711ba3e74ac8906199443f4c977d7"},"caption":"Willie “Prophet” Stiggers","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Willie “Prophet” Stiggers","width":2250,"_id":"A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/iVjGH7WhprVsVbLL0bn4h0s2wq4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/iVjGH7WhprVsVbLL0bn4h0s2wq4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/iVjGH7WhprVsVbLL0bn4h0s2wq4=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/J3HiUxwjMZDtmd4lozcrr2tHQbQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"ProphetHeadshot (1).jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"4PXJDFI2CFD6THKORDGY2TNOSI"},"created_date":"2024-12-09T16:49:44Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T16:49:44Z","alignment":"right","height":2250,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/A3UJHW2IYRATND6HSRRZYDK6SA.jpeg?auth=3591f032d22aca1c63caf8f23f123257fdb711ba3e74ac8906199443f4c977d7&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"NO7XGDXZENETNIBGQI3FFH5IRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733763872623},"type":"text","content":"But as the YSL case transformed into the longest trial in Georgia history, even casual observers knew something was off. Now, following the acquittal of the remaining two codefendants in the primary case, the trial has ended in humiliation. Given the case’s apparent weakness, it’s fair to argue fame and notoriety were among the most important elements in getting charged."},{"_id":"JLJ6YX5Q5VCUFGOWLB2W3O2RVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153315},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"With so much effort by the DA’s office to celebrate the expansive use of RICO and creative expression against artists, we should reflect on the financial and human costs now that it’s over. Though the Nathan Wade fiasco generated the most negative attention around Willis’ spending, Willis also invested untold millions into this failed YSL case at a time of <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/fulton-approves-tighter-budget-for-2024/ZA6BA3R4IJA73DE7KQIJ374IEM/\">budget tightening</a>, <a href=\"https://www.acluga.org/en/press-releases/aclu-reaches-settlement-lawsuit-seeking-reduce-population-fulton-county-jail#:~:text=ATLANTA%20%E2%80%93%20The%20American%20Civil%20Liberties,County%20Superior%20Court%20Chief%20Judge\">civil rights lawsuits against her office</a> and <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/fulton-continues-hiring-to-reduce-court-case-backlog/LBAOGJNHGBGF3L5JBJMPSKD6KI/\">staggering case backlogs</a> in the Fulton County courts."},{"_id":"WVCZIZPQAVAALNHSM6YLZHVX5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153316},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Then there’s the 16 jurors who had their lives and careers put on hold for more than a year. There are also the defendants who sat without bond in a facility whose <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-finds-conditions-fulton-county-jail-georgia-violate-constitution-and\">conditions were described as “abhorrent” and “unconstitutional”</a> by the U.S. Department of Justice last month. In fact, both remaining defendants were stabbed during the trial, with the latest incident occurring two days before the not guilty verdict. Finally, innocent Black children needlessly experienced fatherless homes for years, only to see their fathers return home on time-served plea deals and not guilty verdicts. Willis might be embarrassed, but Georgians should be outraged."},{"_id":"NX43XHPNFJGC5DTRLS6RS6I4RE","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"H3NWQ4UINZA37CQKMXSHZC544A"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"YSL juror: ‘There wasn’t a smoking gun’ in lengthy Atlanta gang trial","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/ysl-juror-there-wasnt-a-smoking-gun-in-lengthy-atlanta-gang-trial/BNPSHTUHBFGPTCDMSUNJNNOAVM/"},{"_id":"HIT5OEOU5NGX3HEYVOSYBDTDWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153317},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The goal for prosecutors shouldn’t be about winning. It should be about getting it right. One of us served earlier in our career as a prosecutor in Los Angeles, <a href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/news/black-prosecutor-called-racism-d-120031022.html\">where officers swore they found drugs and a gun under a man’s couch</a>. The photos, however, told a different story. The officers stuck to their claims until confronted with the evidence. When this obvious contradiction was flagged to superiors, the instruction was to pursue a plea deal so our office would not upset the Sheriff’s Department. Sometimes the system doesn’t care about the truth — it just wants convictions."},{"_id":"HJE2BGTTRJA65MMYSDA6FCGGTA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153318},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The YSL case should serve as a reminder: Justice is about seeking the truth. Sometimes, hearing “not guilty” is exactly what we need to realize the system must do better."},{"_id":"I7CHNESVFZCPRJPR6EWZU6DGHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153319},"type":"text","content":"Unfortunately, it’s unclear if the Fulton District Attorney’s office has learned its lesson. Remarkably, even after acquittal and time-served plea deals for other defendants, the state is <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/fulton-prosecutors-seek-trial-for-5-more-ysl-defendants/E4YSCUJORNDSDKVDCKIK2IDFZI/\">poised to try the remaining five defendants</a> who were severed from the main case beginning in February. In these situations, it’s imperative for legislators to restrain prosecutorial overreach to protect innocent Georgians and taxpayers."},{"_id":"OQ2TC2XJNFEG7OHHXHEA7DXYBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153320},"type":"text","content":"Naturally, some worthy ideas are a tougher sell than others. For example, there might be resistance to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/fulton-county-district-attorney-fani-willis-use-of-georgias-anti-racketeering-law-is-under-scrutiny/SILCXS5SEBAUBAXRHTLX6NAZFE/\">adjusting Georgia’s RICO statute</a> to prevent continued prosecutorial overreach. However, there are other proposals that are common sense, and in a time of sharp division, genuinely bipartisan."},{"_id":"VE5OKOJJYVCATLTUYTD454BISI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153321},"type":"text","content":"One such bill instituting an <a href=\"https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/bipartisan-group-of-ga-lawmakers-want-to-ban-artistic-expression-used-as-evidence\" target=\"_blank\">elevated test</a> when prosecutors attempt to treat artistic expression like literal confession earned bipartisan sponsorship in Georgia last year. Given the fierce criticism Willis faces from Republicans, one might assume this legislation was an “anti-Willis” bill. In reality, this proposed state law is identical to federal legislation introduced by Rep. Hank Johnson and cosponsored by Rep. Nikema Williams, both Georgia Democrats."},{"_id":"MCNBJ773JBBFXNKFWMTPOJO5FU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KKBYBPZZWZA7ZIJCYN3U73MN7U"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"After ending Georgia's lengthy YSL trial, prosecutors may try 5 more defendants","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/fulton-prosecutors-seek-trial-for-5-more-ysl-defendants/E4YSCUJORNDSDKVDCKIK2IDFZI/"},{"_id":"KZOF6UNWXJBFNJ42CMVL2ZZAGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153322},"type":"text","content":"In the interests of free speech, protecting Georgia’s taxpayers and creative economy, and curtailing the excesses of rogue DAs, Republican leaders in the state Senate and House of Representatives should strongly consider adopting this law in the upcoming session. Granted, it would not erase this very expensive lesson for taxpayers, jurors and the acquitted defendants, but at least some good will have come from this long, painful ordeal."},{"_id":"JE5UZ6IINJGHXPQYZZOMAQZ55A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733756153323},"type":"text","content":"<i>Adewale Oduye was a prosecutor with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for 12 years. Willie “Prophet” Stiggers is chief executive officer and president of the Black Music Action Coalition.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The case should serve as a reminder: justice is about seeking the truth. The system must do better."},"description":{"basic":"As the YSL case transformed into the longest trial in Georgia history, even casual observers knew something was off."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"ea9d17e9576304fea506f0b17bb544e6c1c3fe05aac70d0456642b2f39a01f8b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Former co-defendant testifies against Young Thug and others","width":5131,"caption":"Atlanta rapper Young Thug looks at the key witness Antonio Sledge entering the courtroom on Sept. 4 at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2V5NTZ4NJ5ZOLC6TQSS3LTUX6Y.JPG","height":3421,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2V5NTZ4NJ5ZOLC6TQSS3LTUX6Y.JPG?auth=ea9d17e9576304fea506f0b17bb544e6c1c3fe05aac70d0456642b2f39a01f8b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-ysl-trials-long-wasteful-lesson-in-prosecutorial-overreach/3SA2ZPZ375ERJITTBUYVDSEDMI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T17:04:46.897Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Adewale Oduye","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Willie “Prophet” Stiggers","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The YSL trial’s long, wasteful lesson in prosecutorial overreach"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T17:04:46.897Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T19:09:54.999Z","_id":"3SA2ZPZ375ERJITTBUYVDSEDMI","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"ea9d17e9576304fea506f0b17bb544e6c1c3fe05aac70d0456642b2f39a01f8b"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Miguel Martinez","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Former co-defendant testifies against Young Thug and others","width":5131,"caption":"Atlanta rapper Young Thug looks at the key witness Antonio Sledge entering the courtroom on Sept. 4 at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/2V5NTZ4NJ5ZOLC6TQSS3LTUX6Y.JPG","height":3421,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/2V5NTZ4NJ5ZOLC6TQSS3LTUX6Y.JPG?auth=ea9d17e9576304fea506f0b17bb544e6c1c3fe05aac70d0456642b2f39a01f8b&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"WHGNI4FZH5FWZP2G3L6F5KCIOY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253558},"type":"text","content":"Whether it’s politics or everyday life, nothing is as bad or as good as it seems, goes the old saying. Some days are harder than others to buy into this notion, but here goes."},{"_id":"7FCQXHFRB5H6TL72PQ6WVFB5YQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253559},"type":"text","content":"On the surface, Republicans have everything to cheer about, and Democrats are standing hopelessly flat-footed after last month’s election. Starting Jan. 20, a Republican trifecta in the White House and both chambers of Congress will chart the course for 350 million Americans for at least the next two years — a course that hopefully rights the ship but doesn’t wreck the car."},{"copyright":"handout","syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8"},"caption":"Geoff Duncan","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"T4RB6LHAOBHYTGPYW7WVPZ4RIU","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Geoff Duncan","type":"author","byline":"Geoff Duncan"}]},"additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/3E9Cbp5q33JngUlDFk9neB2Rkiw=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/W4zUPTmEzIxDXLV_F1BkXCXlJyo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","version":2,"originalName":"Geoff Duncan.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"NEBJ3EUJENA5NPCMLKTLP5MHBA"},"last_updated_date":"2024-07-15T18:14:33Z","height":154,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg","subtitle":"Geoff Duncan","width":205,"_id":"KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI","created_date":"2024-07-15T17:59:33Z","alignment":"right","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KYCIIM56VZCBRCNA42L3I4J2LI.jpg?auth=aef469a6d51e598489558d4d6b72fe195e1d7e3b69261ffe7730edaccc4cd2c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"X334FFZ46JDYZO4U2JACK7SEJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253561},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Yet a deeper dive reveals a more balanced situation for both major political parties."},{"_id":"PWCQCKZCV5HB5E4OGRKIFSIFKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253562},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On the positive side of the ledger, Republicans are poised to renew the 2017 tax cuts that represented the marquee legislative accomplishment of the first Trump term. Even with <a href=\"https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=H\" target=\"_blank\">one of the narrowest historical margins in the lower chamber</a> (Republicans have 220 seats, Democrats 215), tax cuts should be enough of a unifier to keep all factions of the GOP under the same tent."},{"_id":"ZAURT2FIV5BZ5KHWGJ3Q3Y5TKI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253563},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Without action, almost everyone in America faces higher taxes at the end of 2025. For Republicans, nothing says America better than apple pie and tax cuts."},{"_id":"3J5XBGIOEBFOPARNIVH6MREQBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":82,"comment":" (DOGE)"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253564},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"From there, the outlook gets murkier. Take the Department of Government Efficiency, to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. With a national debt topping $36 trillion, it’s difficult to argue that the federal government isn’t bloated and needs significant pruning on multiple branches, pun intended."},{"_id":"G73VRIT2SJFC7CGBIYGBVL5DNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253565},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But can two men without any constitutional authority take the steps to change the unsustainable trajectory of our nation’s debt crisis, all without touching the so-called “third rails” of politics — Medicare and Social Security — that make up <a href=\"https://www.federalbudgetinpictures.com/where-does-all-the-money-go/#:~:text=In%202023%2C%20major%20entitlement%20programs,percent%20of%20all%20federal%20spending.\">more than half</a> the federal budget? If Musk can start by finding a fraction of the <a href=\"https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/doge-can-find-2-trillion-spending-cuts-musk-wants-savings-could-take-while\">$2 trillion</a> he has vowed to cut, it would represent progress."},{"_id":"3B3CDCWLU5AMTGGKRUCGOVUGIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253566},"type":"text","content":"For Democrats, the positives come in different shapes and sizes than Republicans. As they chart a new course, levelheaded Democrats finally have a substantive reason to push back on their party’s deep systemic dive to the left. Case and point: the Harris campaign’s inability to respond to the ad about her support for taxpayer-funded surgery for transgender prisoners swung the race dramatically in President-elect Donald Trump’s favor, <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/07/us/politics/trump-win-election-harris.html\">according to analysis</a> from a pro-Harris super PAC."},{"_id":"43RLLK5SSBDGJPMP63BEJQ5T5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253567},"type":"text","content":"My personal sense after a monthslong journey on the Democratic campaign trail for Vice President Kamala Harris is that most voters within arm’s reach of the middle want their elected leaders to strike a balance between respecting an issue and overcompensating for it. The far-left tail has been wagging the Democratic dog for a while now, and it finally caught up to them."},{"_id":"M7ZPLDQNQNCLZGQ56ENWGS5OSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253568},"type":"text","content":"Another awkward positive for Democrats comes by a willingness to quickly admit a mistake, like the southern border, and make the necessary adjustments. For more than three years, President Joe Biden did little to acknowledge — let alone address — the border crisis. By June 2024, when he finally signed an executive order shutting down asylum requests, it was too late for his party’s political prospects."},{"_id":"SCXK67LAKZFJXMH4SPDPQ6LLLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253569},"type":"text","content":"The left wing grumbled and even threatened to sue — “A ban on asylum is illegal just as it was when Trump unsuccessfully tried it” <a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/biden-asylum-migration-immigration-mexico-border-dec5f83b468b5795479bf1f5e49799d5\">warned the ACLU</a> — but the data don’t lie. By the fall, migrant border crossings had declined by <a href=\"https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/10/01/migrant-encounters-at-u-s-mexico-border-have-fallen-sharply-in-2024/\">77 percent</a>."},{"_id":"SLPHKYNXKFAYZA6QSE6OAN4SHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253570},"type":"text","content":"A similar approach could be taken on inflation and Afghanistan, two other policy areas where the Biden administration erred and the American public shuddered."},{"_id":"K3SRME7BLJAGRLLSKEMEONFSYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253571},"type":"text","content":"Though the negative headlines around Democrats read more like a missing person’s report involving a rudderless ship without a motor, they will eventually find a direction and a leader. The finger-pointing should eventually lead to a healthy tug-of-war inside the party, which should create a healthy counterweight to Trump’s party."},{"_id":"3XLFBRPFNBBWPMZUH2LZUFFHFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253572},"type":"text","content":"With the good always comes the equalizing effects of the bad. "},{"_id":"KBPYXLD6HBCB5LWN57PWYWP7GI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Despite the small margin of victory, Donald Trump made a euphoric laundry list of promises on the campaign trail — promises that will come due in time. It doesn’t take extra brandy in your eggnog to realize inflation won’t “<a href=\"https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-tariffs-taxes-immigration-federal-reserve-a18de763fcc01557258c7f33cab375ed\">vanish completely</a>,” Russia and Ukraine won’t reach an “<a href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-calls-ceasefire-ukraine-russia-zelenskyy-meeting/\">immediate ceasefire</a>” and mass deportations will not stabilize our broken immigration system. "},{"_id":"JZT5VS45BNAT7AMDUKFD2EFU4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":276,"comment":" (DNI)"},{"pos":277,"comment":"especially given Tulsi Gabbard’s, Trump’s choice to be the next director of national intelligence (DNI), previous praise of the now-deposed despot."}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The stunning fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime adds another complex chapter to a to-do list that lengthens by the day — especially given the <a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5029519-tulsi-gabbard-capitol-hill-syria/\" target=\"_blank\">praise</a> given to the now-deposed despot by Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s choice to be the next director of national intelligence."},{"_id":"GX77GQYELJEYFK3O563YRGUZSY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733761253573},"type":"text","content":"It’s hard to argue with the scoreboard, which has Republicans up by a few touchdowns early. Don’t be surprised if in two years from now, when political gravity reasserts itself, the game looks a lot closer."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Republicans seem to have everything to cheer, but Democrats will regroup. "},"description":{"basic":"Republicans seem to have everything to cheer, but Democrats will regroup."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/geoff-duncan-republicans-appear-to-be-winning-but-its-a-close-game/GM27BNEN25A5BCOJBOP7UFJSSY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T16:21:13.06Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Geoff Duncan","description":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","_id":"gduncan","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Duncan","image":"","role":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"An AJC contributor, Geoff Duncan served as Georgia’s lieutenant governor from 2019 to 2023. He is a former professional baseball player and the author of “GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party.” He is also a contributor to CNN.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, government. \n","firstName":"Geoff","books":[{"publisher":"Forefront Books","title":"GOP 2.0: How the 2020 Election Can Lead to a Better Way Forward for America’s Conservative Party","url":"https://www.amazon.com/GOP-2-0-Election-Americas-Conservative/dp/1637630131"}],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"_id":"gduncan","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-07-16T18:40:55.146Z","byline":"Geoff Duncan","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Republicans appear to be winning. But it’s a close game."},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T16:21:13.06Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T16:51:08.616Z","_id":"GM27BNEN25A5BCOJBOP7UFJSSY"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"YMEOIPPZXBDOLKOXXLKSYNMCEI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148187},"type":"text","content":"We’ve all been there. You open a beautifully wrapped present only to find a dud. Or worse — you’re personally offended by what’s inside."},{"_id":"TKKTP2ZMWJGLBPAGTIV4677T5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148188},"type":"text","content":"After the initial awkwardness, you wonder, “Why did they think I would like this?”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"4c8c60dd51d2ddd01395c27590b1dcf72bc9f8d0b819c6a255d5b1a5ca6265ff"},"caption":"Deborah Y. Cohn","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Deborah Y. Cohn","width":250,"_id":"RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/9sFlAI0kQO8wkSGr8T0rtnq82BQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/9sFlAI0kQO8wkSGr8T0rtnq82BQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/9sFlAI0kQO8wkSGr8T0rtnq82BQ=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/urr70sDBZEzKEwhrN6pwZa6Fp74=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Deborah Y. Cohn.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"PXJTSBRFUJAIZHW63WD2EBFTYE"},"created_date":"2024-12-02T19:41:02Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T19:41:02Z","alignment":"right","height":250,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RGHTOD3O25GOVK2HPMQOTQ2MD4.jpg?auth=4c8c60dd51d2ddd01395c27590b1dcf72bc9f8d0b819c6a255d5b1a5ca6265ff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"TIXPT6U2GZGVNFSHE2W65UBK2U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148190},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"If you ever experienced this, you are not alone. Most of us view gifts as an expression of love and connection, so when we receive an inexplicable gift, we hope the other person just made a mistake. Unfortunately, as a consumer behavior researcher, I am here to tell you otherwise."},{"_id":"LBFUX4NDENAKZM26WBMLAGMUDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148191},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I have spent years studying what drives people’s gift purchases, and here is the hard truth: Some people intentionally give painful, mean-spirited gifts."},{"_id":"Z5SYSN46TZDNLOTF7PRZVDMKRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148192},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"My research into these gifts was inspired by a joke my father played on me as a child. He presented me with a gift: a box in a box in a box. With each unboxing, the packages grew smaller as my excitement grew larger. When, at last, I reached the final box, I was crushed. It was empty."},{"_id":"3PSRRKL4RVB25NSUITZWDWCQZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":42,"comment":"Fool’s "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-11T18:35:08.879Z","start":48,"end":50,"text":"fools' - per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"},{"date":"2024-12-11T18:35:35.547Z","start":226,"end":228,"text":"added comma here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733940148193},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In my father’s defense, this was an April Fools’ Day prank. But on other occasions, bad gifts can damage more than just the relationship between the giver and recipient. They have implications for companies and retailers, too."},{"_id":"BJOXGUW7RNDP5JJYDWQG7XFGSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-11T18:36:07.895Z","start":8,"end":10,"text":"changed one in three to 1 in 3, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733940148194},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In 2023, <a href=\"https://civicscience.com/expected-holiday-gift-returns-up-47-this-year-led-by-gen-z/\">nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults</a> returned holiday gifts — a 47% increase from the previous year. Undoubtedly, this was bad news for retailers which, on average, incur around<a href=\"https://nrf.com/research/2023-consumer-returns-retail-industry\"> $145 million in returned products</a> for every $1 billion in sales. For online sales, that number is even higher, clocking in at around $247 billion."},{"_id":"JEKRCUX5KNBU7J4IYKN3T3SVUQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148195},"type":"text","content":"Unwanted gifts are costly in every sense of the word. But understanding why people choose to give us painful gift experiences can take away some of the sting."},{"_id":"AAH7MY5Z3ZE5HI33K7FC75D4TY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148196},"type":"text","content":"In 2016, I published <a href=\"https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161201112542.htm\">in-depth research</a> into the consumer psychology behind ill-intended gifts. As it turns out, being on the receiving end of these items is a shared experience. Whether I was interviewing couples or analyzing messages in online forums, consumers revealed one cringeworthy present after the next."},{"_id":"6H4JL2W6SNAWTEC6QGNA55QIBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148197},"type":"text","content":"Ultimately, they fell into five categories:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"LYOAXRZIYNFTDGZWCUWDL2M344","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"6NKSP2WTBNDI5P5USW2GNHQ7BU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Threats to your self-concept: Items given as personal affronts. This included a woman who gifted her childless daughter-in-law a pregnancy test for Christmas."},{"_id":"6EM7KLMRQBDZVMZJAGY6J5TQHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"To-you-for-me: Selfish purchases that benefit the giver more than the recipient. One husband gave his wife a big-screen television for her birthday, just in time for the Super Bowl. She had no plans of watching the game, however."},{"_id":"6FSH7NVEHNFAJPFSKY5BSUMVKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Aggressive: Petty and often passive-aggressive gifts meant to offend. For Mother’s Day, a man purchased a lawn furniture set for his wife. When she asked him to return it, he bought her more of that “ugly” furniture for her birthday. Unsurprisingly, the couple got divorced soon after."},{"_id":"RLHFM3OB7NBURLIK5RDHQDBO6Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Obligatory: Intended simply to check a box. These gifts are not usually malicious but are given with little thought."},{"_id":"YRTQRPLMXZBUNEMIATRLW67VGQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Competitive: Intended to “outgift” everyone else. Think about the grandparents who buy their grandchild an over-the-top present that Mom and Dad vetoed."}]},{"_id":"YZUDWJJ725EMVFQCKH3YQZYMBU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148199},"type":"text","content":"Naturally, bad gifts can fall into multiple categories. Selfish presents can also be confrontational, and antagonistic ones can be competitive."},{"_id":"25LLNVM2F5GX5EZFHL7WL6AP5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148200},"type":"text","content":"If you find yourself on the receiving end of a painful, ill-intended gift this holiday season, you still have options. Of course, you can give it to someone who would appreciate it, donate it to charity or store it in the closet and forget about it. When all else fails, you might even be able to return it to the store and get something you want."},{"_id":"5HD3WTJAGVAOZDAQXPVC5HRY2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148201},"type":"text","content":"Most important, avoid playing into the giver’s hand and providing them with the satisfaction of knowing you hated their bad present. That’s what they want."},{"_id":"4KKB5K4D3BHNRICKLU223QLI44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733940148202},"type":"text","content":"<i>Deborah Y. Cohn is a marketing professor at the New York Institute of Technology.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Sometimes a bad gift is just poor planning, but sometimes it’s intended to hurt."},"description":{"basic":"Sometimes a bad gift is just poor planning, but sometimes it’s intended to hurt."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"6fc48608094ce22c8cbc97be167958aa9aead7c4f88fe168609fa049cbdc1c55"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-DALLAS-INSPIRING-STORIES-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Unwanted gifts are costly in every sense of the word. But understanding why people choose to give us painful gift experiences can take away some of the sting (Dreamstime/TNS 2023)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WLNQS4THN4EJJ5NLGVB3EHZKLI.jpg","height":1376,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WLNQS4THN4EJJ5NLGVB3EHZKLI.jpg?auth=6fc48608094ce22c8cbc97be167958aa9aead7c4f88fe168609fa049cbdc1c55&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-that-nasty-gift-was-no-accident/RR5GPBQVLRFLFBJUDODRL67JTY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Deborah Y. Cohn","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"That nasty gift was no accident"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:05.039Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-11T18:39:41.113Z","_id":"RR5GPBQVLRFLFBJUDODRL67JTY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"6fc48608094ce22c8cbc97be167958aa9aead7c4f88fe168609fa049cbdc1c55"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-DALLAS-INSPIRING-STORIES-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"Unwanted gifts are costly in every sense of the word. But understanding why people choose to give us painful gift experiences can take away some of the sting (Dreamstime/TNS 2023)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WLNQS4THN4EJJ5NLGVB3EHZKLI.jpg","height":1376,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WLNQS4THN4EJJ5NLGVB3EHZKLI.jpg?auth=6fc48608094ce22c8cbc97be167958aa9aead7c4f88fe168609fa049cbdc1c55&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"7MUBC56IUVFK7NVTYP4MUBQ6KE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080669},"type":"text","content":"Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are expected to head a new government agency for efficiency in the upcoming Trump administration, poked the bear on time changes recently when Musk suggested ending the twice-a-year adjustment of our clocks — and our sleep — might save money. Ramaswamy agreed. We already know where President-elect Donald Trump stands on this issue. Maybe the stars are aligning for something to be done about this. Finally!"},{"_id":"7B2QW7LO5VEA5O5VP26RDIHKPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080670},"type":"text","content":"I tried to tackle this once before."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"copyright":"Dash Photography 2013","address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"35bf93ff01a4b3cdddc2fd3d3aa848e9f25d72e5f5cdaa215caa185cf31a4809"},"caption":"Wes Cantrell","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author","byline":"contributed"}]},"subtitle":"Wes Cantrell","width":2529,"creditIPTC":"contributed","_id":"T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/L-QC1ULwP419WpvW8bTK8jL52HE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","owner":"andre.jackson@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/L-QC1ULwP419WpvW8bTK8jL52HE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","takenOn":"2014-01-14T00:00:00Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/L-QC1ULwP419WpvW8bTK8jL52HE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/PltM_xeVao60YAekkAUWay05OwU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"cantrell-wes-870.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"FJCTKO37JZDKJPGHNDTIQGSJS4"},"created_date":"2023-02-27T21:14:55Z","last_updated_date":"2023-02-27T21:14:55Z","alignment":"right","height":2961,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/T4E5DNGTWJBIFBC6PQHAWJUKJM.jpg?auth=35bf93ff01a4b3cdddc2fd3d3aa848e9f25d72e5f5cdaa215caa185cf31a4809&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"HIEV5CQYIVEIFEHCWVIU3FTY5Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080672},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When I was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2014, I never anticipated becoming involved in the debate over time change. I have always despised the twice-a-year ritual of shifting clocks between standard time and daylight saving time. It’s a human-made adjustment that artificially disrupts the creator’s design. Though I prefer the longer daylight hours of daylight saving time, my hope is for Georgia to be able pick one and stick with it — no more back-and-forth."},{"_id":"B6XOGRUFJRAY7HSDGWGUN43DJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080673},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"After four years of crazy legislative maneuvering, I was able to <a href=\"https://www.kgw.com/article/news/nation-world/daylight-saving-time-permanent-where-all-50-states-stand/507-76c26507-2847-434e-b6c1-7eb4b740704a#:~:text=Georgia,Georgia's%20bill%20to%20take%20effect.\" target=\"_blank\">pass a bill in 2021</a> that will <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/politics/permanent-daylight-saving-time-bill-signed-into-law-in-georgia/DOPFBXICMZEMRN6VKND3DVZROY/\" target=\"_blank\">move Georgia to permanent daylight saving time</a> should Congress give us the authority to do so."},{"_id":"6UYP7WKGFFGGXC44337X6ZWFOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080674},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The ritual of springing forward and falling back in the United States <a href=\"https://www.colorado.edu/coloradan/2022/11/07/history-daylight-saving-time\" target=\"_blank\">began in World War I in 1918 as a way to conserve energy</a>. It ended after the war but returned in World War II. States made their own decisions on their clocks, resulting in confusion. "},{"_id":"KKA7NPZLZZBFNPLPTCTJEI6M2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"To fix this, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 standardized daylight saving time’s start and end dates, and it allowed states to opt out. Over time, Americans’ preference for evening daylight led to two extensions of daylight saving time, which now lasts nearly eight months of the year, leaving just four months of standard time."},{"_id":"YZ3D55C3CRHNXPD3UBTXSB675Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080675},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"What began as a wartime measure to save energy has evolved into a deeply entrenched practice. Yet the debate over its value persists. Are springing forward and falling back worth it, or should we abandon time change entirely?"},{"_id":"A26T2FTVOZFBTDDSEPQEV2Q7WQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080676},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The disruption caused by time changes is undeniable. <a href=\"https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/why-daylight-saving-time-could-increase-your-heart-attack-risk#:~:text=Heart%20attacks%20occur%20most%20often,risk%20may%20be%20further%20elevated.&text=Research%20shows%20a%2024%20percent,other%20Mondays%20throughout%20the%20year.\" target=\"_blank\">Heart attacks rise 24%</a> and <a href=\"https://www.charbonnetlawfirm.com/car-accidents/daylight-saving-time-car-accidents/\" target=\"_blank\">fatal car accidents increase 6%</a> in the week after springing forward, and <a href=\"https://www.drakelawgroup.com/post/the-impact-of-shorter-days-on-pedestrian-accident-rates#:~:text=As%20daylight%20hours%20diminish%2C%20the,earlier%20onset%20of%20evening%20darkness.\" target=\"_blank\">pedestrian accidents spike after falling back</a> because of darker evenings. Educators report that <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/02/health/time-change-baby-children-sleep-wellness/index.html#:~:text=In%20addition%2C%20you%20can%20take,within%20one%20to%20two%20weeks.\" target=\"_blank\">children take two weeks</a> to adjust to time changes."},{"_id":"ZEE72NPYI5G3HFBYJOCWIGDILI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080677},"type":"text","content":"Because almost everyone hates time change, the debate has mainly shifted to which system to adopt: standard time or daylight saving time."},{"_id":"YBYJL5WIINEDJC7V4DGDJKMWT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080678},"type":"text","content":"Permanent standard time aligns most closely with the natural solar day, making it the healthier option for our biological clocks. Advocates argue it would reduce sleep disorders & improve mental health. It’s also the simplest change to implement, as states already have the authority to do this."},{"_id":"ZUCUJBA6FBAUHM74FZBI5EU3QQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"However, permanent standard time would mean darker evenings, curtailing after-work activities and potentially harming businesses reliant on evening commerce."},{"_id":"GFWY7SEDWFFXVAAHLNB4WAG5UA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"OWI74EDPE5DAJIV6A2MKPSALBQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Watch: Wish daylight saving time was permanent? Legislators do, too.","url":"https://www.ajc.com/life/wish-daylight-saving-time-was-permanent-georgia-legislators-do-too/Z64UPSA3Q7RR4DOFDNSPSVLXFM/"},{"_id":"TTI3OG4TZVEU7EBVO36JKVIN24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080679},"type":"text","content":"Permanent daylight saving time extends evening daylight, encouraging outdoor activities, reducing crime and boosting the economy. Supporters argue it improves public health, with more daylight reducing seasonal depression and increasing opportunities for exercise. "},{"_id":"2CMIZAWYN5A6DK3Y7ZLC74ALD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"However, critics warn that darker mornings — especially in winter — could be dangerous for schoolchildren and commuters, while the misalignment with the natural solar day might cause health issues."},{"_id":"WIJP2LL7OZFRVHZOPLVMK6JX2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080680},"type":"text","content":"In my informal social media survey of more than 1,000 people, 90% support eliminating time change. When asked to choose, 70% preferred permanent daylight saving time. This mirrors national surveys, where it is more popular than standard time."},{"_id":"L5AZNIXUKVC47PIOHRZZJAMDCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080681},"type":"text","content":"I am with the majority on this. I prefer permanent daylight saving time but would be happy to move to permanent standard time to eliminate time change."},{"_id":"FWUH5HKR2RAIXAMBJO6NFRLYSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080682},"type":"text","content":"Adopting permanent daylight saving time would result in later sunrises during winter but extend evening daylight. For example, in Atlanta, under year-round daylight saving time, the earliest sunset would occur at 6:28 p.m. The latest would be 8:52 p.m. On the other hand, the earliest sunrise would be 6:26 a.m. and the latest 8:43 a.m. "},{"_id":"S6VNXKEYJVD73CAFVTKZTBEUHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Year-round daylight saving time would also require the least adjustment, as we already spend eight months in daylight saving time."},{"_id":"S2GT3QCZJVGRXAV4OPVDV47SSA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080683},"type":"text","content":"Momentum is building for change. At least 23 states have passed legislation to stick with one or the other, most favoring permanent daylight saving time. Twenty-three others are considering similar measures. In the Southeast, almost every state has passed legislation similar to ours. The trend line is moving toward a permanent solution."},{"_id":"3J3SRCAIAVD7LD6R4GKHCYZY4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080684},"type":"text","content":"The century-old practice of shifting clocks no longer serves its original purpose. Most Georgians agree it’s time to stop the clock changes, but the debate over standard time vs. daylight saving time remains. Whatever path is chosen, the ultimate goal should be to end the biannual disruption and establish a consistent time system that prioritizes health, safety and societal well-being."},{"_id":"V6DLBDAYMBEJ3HJZOHIAPX43HA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080685},"type":"text","content":"For me, the choice is clear: Let’s embrace the daylight and adopt daylight saving time year-round."},{"_id":"FLIJ2JWUJBAUJF34QGIBZ6ECQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080686},"type":"text","content":"Bipartisan legislation has been repeatedly introduced in both the <a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/582\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. Senate</a> and the <a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1561\" target=\"_blank\">U.S. House</a>. The saying “It would take an act of Congress” is literally true in this case! "},{"_id":"LS3YLU4UCJF5ZO3JIYDG2XNR2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"I have reached out to both our senators and my congressman to support this measure. If this issue is important to you, I suggest you do the same."},{"_id":"YMVL32TDYNAKVLZIEERNCL7EUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528080687},"type":"text","content":"<i>Wes Cantrell is the associate pastor of administration at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, where he has served for the past 19 years. From 2015 to 2022, he represented District 22 in the Georgia House of Representatives, where he chaired the Small Business Development Committee and served on the Education, Juvenile Justice and Energy committees.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"We should pick daylight saving time or standard time and stick with it."},"description":{"basic":"We should pick daylight saving time or standard time and stick with it."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-its-about-time-to-stop-springing-forward-and-falling-back/CU4B7HLMEBERHFNRK4ORXW7CPI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Wes Cantrell","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"It’s about time to stop springing forward and falling back"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-13T15:43:02.484Z","_id":"CU4B7HLMEBERHFNRK4ORXW7CPI"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"XE2QIWCBEVDE7G47VISDX6X4OY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738806},"type":"text","content":"Last week, the Senate reconvened a lame duck session that began on Nov. 12 and should conclude Dec. 20. President Joe Biden, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Judiciary Committee Chair Richard Durbin, D-Ill., have pledged to confirm the accomplished, centrist nominees Biden selected before former President Donald Trump secured the 2024 election. Here is how Democrats can respect their promise."},{"_id":"ITDYSHMOENB3TD3FFVX5QADN24","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On Nov. 21, when the Senate departed for Thanksgiving recess, it had appointed one justice, 45 circuit and 173 district court jurists. They are well qualified, mainstream and diverse in terms of experience, ideology, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation. Then, four circuit nominees awaited confirmation votes, and 12 more district nominees, including <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/biden-taps-federal-prosecutor-to-replace-atlanta-judge/GMCKPKN7XRB4VNP3YRODKCKC5E/\" target=\"_blank\">Northern District of Georgia nominee Tiffany Johnson</a>, waited for confirmation ballots. Two other trial-level nominees awaited committee reports and confirmation votes. In his first term, Trump appointed three highly conservative justices, 54 analogous circuit and 174 relatively similar district judges. In the Republican-called lame duck session after Biden clearly won the presidency, Trump appointed 13 circuit and district jurists. Thus, to keep adding balance, senators must confirm Biden nominees."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"6b5796fb98787dea3dd3b21146a19b2b5524e04a1a9fb138fe51200b101db649"},"caption":"Carl Tobias","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Carl Tobias","width":645,"_id":"ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/rmMfMODTQxTfs7zFqiVFuQ1oUmE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/rmMfMODTQxTfs7zFqiVFuQ1oUmE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/rmMfMODTQxTfs7zFqiVFuQ1oUmE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/HbrJQYKPZhQfJYrR7RD5KCu8NwA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Carl Tobias.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"ECRNVMMUZRG73BHLRN32ODRNXI"},"created_date":"2024-05-29T18:43:04Z","last_updated_date":"2024-09-09T01:49:42Z","alignment":"right","height":300,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/ITJFZKNGVJFWNCGSIR3RGKSOZ4.jpg?auth=6b5796fb98787dea3dd3b21146a19b2b5524e04a1a9fb138fe51200b101db649&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"DFNDPIKY2NB7NKCUUVR2TEHESU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738809},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"When he and the upper chamber opened the lame-duck session, they remained on track to eclipse Trump’s judges. The initial week, senators easily confirmed April Perry, who had long served as assistant U.S. Attorney, to Illinois’ Northern District, and Jonathan Hawley, who practiced tort law for years, to Illinois’ Central District. The Senate panel set a ballot for Ryan Park, the well qualified, mainstream North Carolina solicitor general, Biden’s masterful Fourth Circuit nominee, approving him 11-10."},{"_id":"TA6NMRAV5RBY7AHKLHGUD5KOQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738810},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In the session’s next week, Republicans began to obstruct more nominees by demanding roll-call ballots, which traditionally proceeded with unanimous consent. This meant numerous votes delayed recessing until midnight. That Tuesday, the Senate appointed two district nominees Republicans characterized as controversial. Mustafa Kasubhai was a U.S. Oregon District magistrate judge for six years and a Lane County Circuit jurist for 11 and the nation’s initial Muslim federal judge. Sarah Russell was the Civil Justice Clinic director and a professor in the Quinnipiac Law School over many years following assistant federal public defender service."},{"_id":"B6UROALIGZA6DMTTRK3CWZ445A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738811},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On Wednesday of that week, the chamber appointed a pair of nominees whom Republican senators deemed more controversial. One is Rebecca Pennell, who served on the Washington Court of Appeals for eight years and was a federal defender for 16. The other is Amir Ali, who recently was Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic director for Harvard Law School and the MacArthur Justice Center executive director. The panel also held a smooth hearing for two recent California district nominees. Ben Cheeks is a U.S. magistrate judge and was a criminal defense practitioner. Serena Murillo has been a prominent Los Angeles County Superior Court judge for 10 years and was a California prosecutor before this service."},{"_id":"RBC2INYXOZD3VB4R7E3XF5CEB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738812},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On Thursday of that week, each party’s leaders reached a “deal” on selection. The GOP vowed to refrain from blocking district nominees if Democrats halted attempts to confirm four appellate prospects. The majority leader’s staffer said, “The trade was four circuit nominees — all lacking the votes to get confirmed — for more than triple the number of additional [district court] judges.” However, many people who supported Biden’s appointments efforts roundly castigated the deal. They argued it was unfair to the circuit nominees who had endured grueling, inappropriate and trick questions from Republican committee members, and waited protracted times for confirmation votes they had earned. Some observers also contended the agreement was counterproductive, as the circuit and district nominees could all have won confirmation."},{"_id":"EWHITCEV75G45IOVA2M3ZTBTKQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738813},"type":"text","content":"Regardless of whether the Senate leaders or the deal’s critics have better arguments, the conundrum has a felicitous remedy that satisfies the deal’s apparent requirements. Biden and Democrats might promptly retract the four contested appellate nominations, substitute other candidates and marshal confirmation of them and the trial level nominees by the session’s end. The quickest course of action is elevating new candidates who are rigorous, highly qualified Trump or Biden district confirmees to the four appellate vacancies. For instance, Biden might easily name his Maine District confirmee Stacey Neumann or Trump appointee Lance Walker to Maine’s First Circuit opening; his plentiful New Jersey District appointees for that state’s Third Circuit vacancy; Trump North Carolina trial level appointees Kenneth Bell or Richard Myers to its Fourth Circuit opening; and Trump Tennessee district court appointees for Tennessee’s Sixth Circuit vacancy. The judiciary panel also can readily expedite nominee hearings, discussions and votes, while Schumer could rapidly conduct floor debates and cloture and confirmation ballots."},{"_id":"3V4U3WS4AJDANE2Z5MMSPNQAJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738814},"type":"text","content":"This action is crucial to ensuring appropriate political balance in federal courts. Biden solemnly pledged to efficaciously restore that, and he honored this vow by suggesting and confirming numerous well-qualified, mainstream, diverse circuit and trial level nominees. By robustly pressing to confirm many nominees in the lame-duck session’s remainder, Biden and senators can fill myriad empty posts with strong jurists who promptly, inexpensively and fairly decide cases."},{"_id":"DQFH2KFUT5H4RALZKNGTLZBNBI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733412738815},"type":"text","content":"<i>Carl Tobias is the University of Richmond Williams Chair in Law.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Northern District of Georgia judicial nominee Tiffany Johnson is among those awaiting a vote in the upper chamber."},"description":{"basic":"Northern District of Georgia judicial nominee Tiffany Johnson is among those awaiting a vote in the upper chamber."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"963799567311efe3e1bc8ba4c3ea8bf2c8c42800d1af0e258a893bd04cd6b503"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TEXAS-SHAKENBABY-EXONERATION-DMT","width":734,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RF5C5K3NFJOQKVKCATCRD5PAUU.jpg","height":431,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RF5C5K3NFJOQKVKCATCRD5PAUU.jpg?auth=963799567311efe3e1bc8ba4c3ea8bf2c8c42800d1af0e258a893bd04cd6b503&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-senate-should-keep-confirming-judges/VMD2GQU3NBDWDAVYABI6VD5FHA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Carl Tobias","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Senate: Keep confirming judges in this lame-duck session"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-09T11:00:09.914Z","_id":"VMD2GQU3NBDWDAVYABI6VD5FHA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"963799567311efe3e1bc8ba4c3ea8bf2c8c42800d1af0e258a893bd04cd6b503"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-TEXAS-SHAKENBABY-EXONERATION-DMT","width":734,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RF5C5K3NFJOQKVKCATCRD5PAUU.jpg","height":431,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RF5C5K3NFJOQKVKCATCRD5PAUU.jpg?auth=963799567311efe3e1bc8ba4c3ea8bf2c8c42800d1af0e258a893bd04cd6b503&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"FHQAPNU7RJDJBFZAMH4X6KW77Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854812},"type":"text","content":"A friend who recently suffered a loss shared a powerful metaphor: Grief is like a fingerprint — uniquely personal, yet still part of our shared human experience. Over the past several months, we have learned the truth of this. We grieve differently, each finding a path through a heartbreak no family should ever face, but, in doing, so we have grown closer. We’ve realized that we need one another more than ever, which is why we have remained somewhat private as we navigate these painful waters."},{"_id":"EDWE3LXLING35NMHAKLEF7FCDA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":45,"comment":"in "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854813},"type":"text","content":"Our daughter, Sophia Lekiachvili, was killed eight months ago in a high-speed, single-car crash. She was 18 and a student at Lakeside High School in DeKalb County."},{"_id":"327DX6OTBBGT3GWQ2KBDEXILNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733683752529},"type":"text","content":"Now that<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/teen-driver-friends-parents-indicted-in-crash-that-killed-lakeside-student/MUT2N7NTVNHUBPJRDXFPDRMUVI/\" target=\"_blank\"> indictments have been issued</a> by DeKalb District Attorney Sherry Boston’s office against the driver and parents of another teen, we feel it is the right time to share a few lessons we’ve learned, hoping they might help others."},{"_id":"U6YOZDKFRJFWZODHXDJIFGK2GE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854816},"type":"text","content":"About 10 years ago, one of us, Akaki, lost a younger brother. At the time, Akaki’s parents gently shared that, though they understood his pain, losing a child was a suffering on an entirely different level. He didn’t grasp what they meant until the day we lost Sophie. Losing parents or grandparents is heartbreaking, but it is a sorrow rooted in the past. Losing a child, by contrast, tears away an unwritten future filled with hopes and milestones that will never come. Our minds are mercifully wired not to fathom such immeasurable pain until we’re forced to face it."},{"_id":"2IXIASDE3BDMFOAPSQEQOMNRMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854817},"type":"text","content":"Because it’s so difficult for others to comprehend, we’ve found ourselves sharing very little of our grief. Surprisingly, what helps most isn’t constant sympathy or deep conversations; it’s the everyday, normal interactions with people who treat us with gentle kindness, without focusing on our loss. These moments are a balm, allowing our weary hearts a bit of rest before we return to our private tears."},{"_id":"DP2W7L4IJ5COXO7R6KLFATEJGI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854818},"type":"text","content":"We also appreciate that just as no one can truly understand our sorrow, we cannot fully understand the heartbreak others carry from losing a child. Sophie had grown into a remarkable young adult — kind, thoughtful and on the brink of an exciting future we longed to share with her. For those who lose an infant, a toddler or an adult child who leaves behind a family, the emotions take a different shape. Our experiences differ, but the common thread is that no family should have to endure such unimaginable loss. By acknowledging and respecting the uniqueness of each person’s sorrow, we extend empathy and compassion, even when words fail us."},{"_id":"3CFDGKW7TVDPHNFEDA3LQDPHSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854819},"type":"text","content":"In the busy rush of daily life, it’s easy to miss how blessed we are to have friends, neighbors and a caring community, especially when social media and the news so often highlight division. In the aftermath of our tragedy, we found ourselves stunned, unable to speak and unwilling to see anyone for days. It was then that our community, school, friends and neighbors quietly stepped forward. They tidied our yard in preparation for visiting family, arranged the details for Sophie’s memorial service and gently offered help while respecting our feelings."},{"_id":"DBGGMI3VWZEXBHCYI43IDFQN7A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":152,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854820},"type":"text","content":"This outpouring of support has continued. People contributed in ways both seen and unseen: Some stood beside us, others worked quietly in the background and many acted without expecting recognition. Several families recently asked if they could put up Christmas lights in our yard, knowing we might not have the heart to do it ourselves. Time and again, we were reminded of humanity’s best qualities: kindness, resilience and reliability."},{"_id":"CJRYFC5WNJA7XMGB46KTSRSUTM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854821},"type":"text","content":"We need to find ways to recognize and appreciate these everyday gifts. That unassuming neighbor across the street might one day be your pillar of strength. Let us celebrate the goodness around us, making it part of our daily routine to see, cherish and nurture the bonds that hold us together."},{"_id":"GBBO4ME2VBELTP4EKDSWWJJN3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-07T01:18:58.151Z","start":235,"end":237,"text":"fyi: I got a Cox Enterprises warning page when I clicked on the link in this graph","user":"Ronald Jones","email":"Ronald.Jones@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733528854822},"type":"text","content":"Much of the pain we carry is that this — a high-speed crash involving teenagers and alcohol — was preventable. In seeking a way to honor Sophie’s memory, we channeled our grief into constructive action. We founded <a href=\"https://drivesmartproject.org/\" target=\"_blank\">DriveSmartProject.org</a> to offer free driver education to teenagers and to research how young people make decisions behind the wheel. Our hope is that understanding these patterns could help shape safer policies and regulations, protecting other families from the heartbreak we’ve endured."},{"_id":"BITC55TZEZHNJFWHBVT3JDGPXA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"WZF7LC2QDJD7NBWIK3RSPRYB2E"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Bill Nigut: Can we come together after this contentious election?","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/opinion-can-we-come-together-after-this-contentious-election/XNPOCR5OINHKBAKIDPCP7CMB7I/"},{"_id":"3LHEF3X2LFDV7E36HZH72XJJPQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854823},"type":"text","content":"We knew education alone would not bring true justice. Individuals who criminally contributed to the accident had to be held accountable to prevent similar tragedies. We initially believed we would have to pursue this challenge on our own, convinced that no one would match our level of commitment. We delved into the legal landscape as best we could, consulting multiple attorneys to chart a way forward."},{"_id":"3F7U3ANCNRBXFHOIFJRSZW6UAU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854824},"type":"text","content":"Then came our first meeting with Assistant District Attorney Jordan Riser, and everything changed. We saw firsthand that the DA’s office was treating Sophie’s case with the gravity and care it deserved. Instead of feeling isolated and overwhelmed, we felt relieved and assured. This was no longer a solitary struggle; they were taking ownership."},{"_id":"2YTG7AWKDZAVXM2FNBUKI6ZWUQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":420,"comment":"be "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854825},"type":"text","content":"The day before a grand jury convened on Dec. 4, Boston brought in her entire team to meet with us. In that single gesture, we understood that everyone involved recognized the significance of this case. It wasn’t just about one family’s tragedy; it was about doing right by the victim, protecting our community and setting a precedent for the future. Their unwavering dedication assured us that justice would be not only sought but also earnestly pursued with compassion and integrity."},{"_id":"LIY5FEGTFBG2LIX6SBASAWPBXE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854826},"type":"text","content":"Children naturally test boundaries — they explore, make mistakes and learn along the path to adulthood. We know their full maturity emerges gradually, often not until their early to mid-20s, and it’s our responsibility as a community to provide a safe environment that allows them to grow safely without cutting off their sense of curiosity. In today’s world, where teens communicate in ways that are sometimes hard to grasp, and where the lines between physical and virtual spaces blur, striking the right balance between granting freedom and ensuring safety can feel like an uphill battle."},{"_id":"247W5IP4MRHTHICAPNK3MSNMDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854827},"type":"text","content":"No single approach or set of rules will fit every family, every neighborhood or every situation. There is no perfect formula, especially without the benefit of hindsight. Still, we can acknowledge that our roles as adults are interconnected. As young people move among different environments, they gather subtle lessons from each encounter, individual and place they pass through. If we can find even a basic common ground — some shared understanding of our collective responsibility — we give them more than a measure of security; we give them the best chance to grow and thrive. In doing so, we honor not just Sophie’s memory but also the potential carried by every young life entrusted to us."},{"_id":"TJTBHQL2RFFLNEW7RBPV5UEG44","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"UJFR5FO5BVGWJFMYK3K6XFLL2Y"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Patricia Murphy: The election is over. It’s time to start living life again","url":"https://www.ajc.com/politics/patricia-murphy-the-election-is-over-time-to-start-living-again/IEAYZYIPCBFW3LD3WGYOSU66CA/"},{"_id":"3PWQDM5VFRAFDCVQ2OA5TB7IIQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854828},"type":"text","content":"We would give anything for a time machine, but there are no do-overs in life. Sophie’s last Christmas wish was simple and wise: to spend more time together as a family before she left for college. We treasured extra family dinners and walks in the park, never imagining how soon she would leave us for good. Now we know that these quiet moments matter more than anything else. Work can wait. Messages can wait. Life’s busywork pales before the chance to sit together, talk, laugh and truly connect."},{"_id":"CBV5JQRZSBBBHIBBNVLH7KPKWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854829},"type":"text","content":"If there’s one legacy Sophie leaves behind, it’s this gentle reminder: Treasure every moment you have with the people you love. Turn away from the things that pull you apart. Make time for family dinners, board games and long, meandering strolls. Reach out to friends and neighbors. Truly see one another. We only have so many tomorrows, so let’s appreciate the gift of togetherness while we still can. By doing so, we honor Sophie’s memory and every loved one who has taught us how precious each shared moment truly is."},{"_id":"42XYREMWHRHFRPTU3KAXVSBVBE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733528854830},"type":"text","content":"<i>Akaki and Karolina Lekiachvili are the parents of Sophie Lekiachvili.</i>"},{"_id":"FFSUVFTC25FLXLTGVKDKGP5T6Y","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"H3Z7U3EWIZE4LOLETFWBH2CQ5A"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"‘Party house’ parents share blame for Lakeside student’s death, DA says","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/teen-driver-friends-parents-indicted-in-crash-that-killed-lakeside-student/MUT2N7NTVNHUBPJRDXFPDRMUVI/"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"After our daughter died in a preventable car crash, my family learned to lean on each other and to appreciate the grace of those who surround us."},"description":{"basic":"After my daughter died in a preventable car crash, my family learned to lean on each other and to appreciate the grace of those who surround us."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta 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walk.","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4JAOI2VB2FCKLBM5QLM3MTGGYQ.jpg","height":1814,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4JAOI2VB2FCKLBM5QLM3MTGGYQ.jpg?auth=974c66a61643ca90a7b922271a87d6c001a810d2570fb197d46b7e5acc8ea32a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"O4BWWRAA3VFE7P3YZBLC5Y7EVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959405},"type":"text","content":"A proposal for a data center near the Beltline was just <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-council-member-drops-plan-for-data-center-after-public-outcry/KRG6M4ZZHBDWFDAN6YRASSLCYU/\" target=\"_blank\">tabled by the Atlanta City Council</a>, but data centers continue to sprout up all around town. This is a trend that could have a major negative impact on small electric consumers, especially Georgia Power customers, and the reliability of the statewide electric network."},{"_id":"Q2PEGWY4GJAUFCO3ETS3UNPC4E","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"C454RVHR3RDKNAWEMBRXIIQUWI"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"A ‘tsunami’ of data centers is coming. Why that wave is hitting Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/follow-the-power-atlanta-becomes-darling-of-data-center-industry/K32OT4CVDRCIDPVV7DVZS3KUR4/"},{"_id":"SIJM3VXAB5DHFHLSRRLTNY3EPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959406},"type":"text","content":"New data center construction will <a href=\"https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/AI-poised-to-drive-160-increase-in-power-demand\" target=\"_blank\">dramatically increase demand for electricity</a>, with new individual projects requiring <a href=\"https://www.crn.com/news/data-center/2024/novva-data-centers-announces-300-mw-arizona-facility\" target=\"_blank\">300 megawatts or greater of electric power</a>. That’s an enormous load for a single customer and a tremendous burden on existing electric generation resources."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"163e5e49015bf763d0f865b7e198ab4dddcfc21c249fc758ebb616598feb0da4"},"caption":"Robert Baker","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"EUFUB37ZJREEHJAL5SEXT2GW2I","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Robert B. Baker","width":106,"_id":"EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/nGrgjat9HSDqjEqcYyXBIApfimM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/nGrgjat9HSDqjEqcYyXBIApfimM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/nGrgjat9HSDqjEqcYyXBIApfimM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/YXtKCJECq9pFQlgdy48Yld86R3M=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"Robert B. Baker.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"AF4ZRIXYAFF27IXACUQGRVC6I4"},"created_date":"2024-12-05T14:07:06Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T14:07:28Z","alignment":"right","height":142,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EQFZJQCYQBG5JDIQ7QIDATRRTU.jpg?auth=163e5e49015bf763d0f865b7e198ab4dddcfc21c249fc758ebb616598feb0da4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"LEWXX5DVXBB2JIS6KYB2R2IN54","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959407},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Georgia Power is planning to serve these large-load customers with <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/follow-the-power-atlanta-becomes-darling-of-data-center-industry/K32OT4CVDRCIDPVV7DVZS3KUR4/\" target=\"_blank\">3,600 MWs of new generation</a> that will cost billions of dollars to build. In its <a href=\"https://www.georgiapower.com/about/company/filings/irp.html\" target=\"_blank\">most recent integrated resource plan</a>, Georgia Power requested and was granted permission by the Public Service Commission to build three new natural gas combustion turbines to help meet the massive electric generation required to serve new data centers."},{"_id":"TRTGALZ4PJHY5MMUAEIUZUEXAI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959408},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Data centers have two critical demands: <a href=\"https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/12/02/georgia-power-says-data-center-growth-will-cause-electricity-demands-to-triple-in-next-decade/\" target=\"_blank\">abundant electric power</a> on redundant circuits and access to <a href=\"https://ampo.org/atlanta-installs-fiber-for-smart-city-corridor/\" target=\"_blank\">major interstate fiber-optic networks</a>. Both are found in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Data center developers will come here without tax incentives or discounted electric power because there are few other viable locations for siting data centers in the United States."},{"_id":"3ILUYMDRE5EVDPF6YRGC6MV6CI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959409},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Being a major data center hub doesn’t provide any direct or indirect benefits to Atlanta or Georgia residents."},{"_id":"OXECP2UEMBAIPNSP223R7GRDRA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"R5WVJFWO3NH5RIENN3L552PRKU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Atlanta council member drops plan for data center after public pushback","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/atlanta-council-member-drops-plan-for-data-center-after-public-outcry/KRG6M4ZZHBDWFDAN6YRASSLCYU/"},{"_id":"LOEKUW4EGFE65FRGZSTRNH2PJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733502407920},"type":"text","content":"Data centers <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewleahey/2024/08/13/tax-breaks-for-data-centers-bring-few-jobs/\" target=\"_blank\">do not provide numerous high-paying jobs</a>. Instead, they create minimal technical service positions to maintain the thousands of servers in a data center."},{"_id":"FINNH7KWMBBK5KLU7O2QXP4M5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733502407921},"type":"text","content":"Being inundated with data centers doesn’t mean internet customers will see any noticeable improvement in service, unless reducing your search time by 1/10,000th of a second is critical to you or your business."},{"_id":"U4XIN6LW7RGMXAHTRTCHAHZOPA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733502407922},"type":"text","content":"A high concentration of large data centers <a href=\"https://www.utilitydive.com/news/data-center-grid-reliability-residential-cost-aps-load-growth/732480/\" target=\"_blank\">jeopardizes the overall reliability and efficiency</a> of the entire Georgia electric network because of the demand placed on electric generation and transmission resources. This enormous electrical demand also will adversely affect new manufacturing projects coming to Georgia because they will compete with data centers to get available electric generation to serve their respective projects."},{"_id":"XTHQ4OXCTFHLXDTKZQU2LOAUXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959410},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"As large-load customers served by Georgia Power, data centers are likely to get 80% to 90% of their electric power demand under <a href=\"https://www.powermag.com/blog/ratepayers-first-the-economic-case-against-nuclears-data-center-dreams/\" target=\"_blank\">marginal rate tariffs</a>. Marginal tariffs are different from standard base tariffs because capital costs are not included in marginal tariffs, but base tariffs include capital cost recovery. Residential and small commercial customers get their electric service on base tariffs."},{"_id":"MPW7EBK4DFBCLBV7LSA4CDPVS4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"IW5MJBMXQRCUNHQ6AD6SGSOELQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia’s data center campuses keep getting larger as more join the fray","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/a-proposed-data-center-near-macon-would-be-larger-than-the-mall-of-georgia/QIOM5PHZ4FAH5OS2HHOGB4VDPI/"},{"_id":"GSKOKNKGYVFIRN7XTQS5JC4M64","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959411},"type":"text","content":"Getting electric service on a marginal rate is an enormous cost savings for large-load customers and shifts capital cost recovery for generation onto residential and small commercial customers. Instead of paying <a href=\"https://psc.ga.gov/utilities/electric/residential-rate-survey/\" target=\"_blank\">approximately 18 cents per kilowatt-hour</a> like an average residential customer, large-load customers on marginal tariffs pay approximately 3 to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour."},{"_id":"N6RNRV7WEJHQBPKZZSHOUXIELE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":144,"comment":"rate "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959412},"type":"text","content":"Over the past year, Georgia Power’s residential and small commercial customers have seen <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/profits-at-georgia-power-parent-southern-company-soar-as-ratepayers-feel-pain-of-rate-hikes/C5LYWKQOHBB4FITIVSR3TXVS3Y/\" target=\"_blank\">electric rate increases</a> of more than 30%, the greatest increase in Georgia history. What Georgia Power doesn’t tell its customers is that the construction of 3,600 MWs or more of new generation to serve data centers will not be paid by the data centers if they are served by marginal rate tariffs."},{"_id":"3FHPY3KBIZF5PDVDLYIGRU65O4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959413},"type":"text","content":"Georgia will see no real benefits by building more data centers. Continued construction of new data centers will jeopardize the reliability of electric service, dramatically increase ratepayer exposure to more rate increases and drive away job-creating manufacturing projects competing for a share of the available electric load."},{"_id":"IQZIY2E3N5G2XOCLN6V447HMBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959414},"type":"text","content":"New data center development should not be stopped by government regulation, but they also should not be subsidized by tax incentives or discounted electrical rates. Data center developers should be responsible for the new generation costs they are creating and not shift this financial burden onto other customers, including small businesses and residents."},{"_id":"A5ALPZ73O5EVFFZ2WTSG7KRZ3M","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MQWVJWRRMZFURIIXBNVZFDQUPM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"New details revealed about Microsoft’s $1.8B data center near Atlanta","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/business/new-details-revealed-about-microsofts-18b-data-center-near-atlanta/X7FTPDSJGNAZVNF34XSHTPXS2Y/"},{"_id":"ZJVOX2AVBNCB5GWNJWWEPALNVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733502407928},"type":"text","content":"When Georgians are struggling with record-high electric bills and disconnection levels, now is not the time to exacerbate the problem by creating more upward pressure on rates by building new generation and infrastructure to serve speculative data center projects."},{"_id":"6GCCQ5UGEBD63DOW65WE5HHP3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733402959415},"type":"text","content":"<i>Robert Baker was a served on the Georgia Public Service Commission for 18 years and has been practicing in utility regulation for 34 years.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"They bring few jobs and use a lot of energy. "},"description":{"basic":"Georgia is on its way to becoming a data center hub. How does this benefit Georgians? Short answer: it doesn't."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1e9d690769f826a70b1bbbf30055d26d6faf1cbc44f655eda556734f2c82e7b1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Microsoft Folo","width":8082,"caption":"A Quality Technology Services data center under construction in 2023 in the Howell Station neighborhood of Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OAQDOR7HFI2GQQ66EOZ4BKONTY.JPG","height":5391,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OAQDOR7HFI2GQQ66EOZ4BKONTY.JPG?auth=1e9d690769f826a70b1bbbf30055d26d6faf1cbc44f655eda556734f2c82e7b1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-data-centers-will-drive-up-electric-rates-for-georgians/QVFJCW76MVBSBBEWIGTGYHOZUM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-06T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Robert Baker","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Data centers will drive up electric rates for Georgians"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-06T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-06T16:29:25.335Z","_id":"QVFJCW76MVBSBBEWIGTGYHOZUM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"1e9d690769f826a70b1bbbf30055d26d6faf1cbc44f655eda556734f2c82e7b1"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Microsoft Folo","width":8082,"caption":"A Quality Technology Services data center under construction in 2023 in the Howell Station neighborhood of Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/OAQDOR7HFI2GQQ66EOZ4BKONTY.JPG","height":5391,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/OAQDOR7HFI2GQQ66EOZ4BKONTY.JPG?auth=1e9d690769f826a70b1bbbf30055d26d6faf1cbc44f655eda556734f2c82e7b1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"43LJ7QKA3FAEXACCDI46IWEMXM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723147},"type":"text","content":"The past few months have not been kind to the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Aside from all the <a href=\"https://oig.justice.gov/reports/department-justice-top-management-and-performance-challenges-2023/strategic-management#:~:text=Among%20the%20significant%20recurring%20issues,cost%20and%20quality%20of%20inmate\">internal challenges</a>, the BOP claims it does not have the resources to <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqwvjvDaWPY&t=1s\">fully implement the First Step Act (FSA)</a>. The <a href=\"https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45558\">FSA requires</a> BOP to place inmates (BOP calls them adults in custody) who earn time credits into prerelease custody, i.e. to residential reentry centers or home confinement. BOP asserts it doesn’t have enough residential reentry centers to house and oversee the adults in custody who are required to be placed in the community under the FSA. This is simply false. Not only is there available space, but if more space is needed, it is available."},{"_id":"266TSO3X5BE2LGU3M6BBNNT4N4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723148},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp\">Residential reentry centers are contracted residential facilities</a> that provide a structured, supervised environment that supports returning citizens in their transition back to the community as they near their release dates. These centers help ensure people are prepared to be successful in the community by providing employment counseling, job placement, financial management assistance, medical and mental health support, and other programs and services. The BOP contracts for and provides oversight over <a href=\"https://www.bop.gov/about/facilities/residential_reentry_management_centers.jsp\">154 individual reentry center locations</a> across the United States. These facilities are also responsible for the monitoring of individuals who are placed on home confinement under the custody of the BOP."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2126401345069ff0e319dcca36b893b22ac8f67617030dcde8623b5d56d531c8"},"caption":"Jon Gustin, former BOP","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jon Gustin","width":633,"_id":"XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/BFxsEFBScjUe3RgEOqo67Dj365s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/BFxsEFBScjUe3RgEOqo67Dj365s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/BFxsEFBScjUe3RgEOqo67Dj365s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/2baMBm2k6kBK7WxX8iQcU5tSF1c=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jon Gustin.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"Z6IKS5FOOJBHFKDYCRCZ7ZKY6M"},"created_date":"2024-12-05T14:13:26Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T14:13:26Z","alignment":"right","height":466,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/XYMP67HD2RHQBCPL3L6BBZ4KSA.jpg?auth=2126401345069ff0e319dcca36b893b22ac8f67617030dcde8623b5d56d531c8&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"8163c7c7ad43f91fae98a9ba13d441e0f5f3dbc9aa8fc815680733cc65d587f1"},"caption":"Hugh Hurwitz","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Hugh Hurwitz","width":528,"_id":"73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/rH6Bc6diUmcilkMy8MC-aXzrk_s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/rH6Bc6diUmcilkMy8MC-aXzrk_s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/rH6Bc6diUmcilkMy8MC-aXzrk_s=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/QpX352iuiFfQtpCOlo5_HqrHWzo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Hugh Hurwitz (2).jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"REKPEPWGLRHNLPB2GJQMUIV3GM"},"created_date":"2024-12-05T14:15:14Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T14:15:14Z","alignment":"right","height":480,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/73LM64QHJ5ERJKMP5I7NWUIB54.jpg?auth=8163c7c7ad43f91fae98a9ba13d441e0f5f3dbc9aa8fc815680733cc65d587f1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"D5M5Z4XCPBGOLO7C5E7FOLVVR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The First Step Act requires the BOP to ensure there is sufficient space for eligible adults in prerelease custody. Specifically, the FSA states: “<a href=\"https://www.congress.gov/115/plaws/publ391/PLAW-115publ391.pdf\">The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall ensure there is sufficient prerelease custody capacity to accommodate all eligible prisoners.</a>” The BOP was not given the latitude under the law to not have sufficient space. Shall means must."},{"_id":"3AWIU7LO75EZ3EXXUBHNA2WWFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723150},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.bop.gov/about/statistics/docs/bop_fact_sheet.pdf?v=2.0.6\">BOP’s website</a> shows that as of Nov. 7, the population of these facilities was 8,325 in reentry centers and 5,015 on home confinement. BOP reported that it has <a href=\"https://apple.news/AcoEekQawRiij3Jak0B_DXw\">10,553 contracted RRC beds and approximately 4,000</a> “beds” under contract for home confinement."},{"_id":"J7IRFBPEVZH6JIYO32CQ4WGHJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723151},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Based on this data, BOP clearly has existing space in reentry centers (more than 2000 empty beds — 20% of the contracted capacity). BOP’s Office of Public Affairs, however, has stated that much of the available capacity is not in areas where it has a need for additional beds. BOP tried making this argument in court and lost. <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2024/06/30/bop-ordered-to-transfer-prisoner-home-after-first-step-miscalculation/\">In a recent case</a>, the BOP had delayed a reentry placement because there was no space available near his home. The court ruled that lack of bed space is not an excuse for not placing someone in prerelease custody in accordance with the FSA."},{"_id":"XR7RLSZEOZFB7J5U7RZH5254PU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723152},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Even if BOP does lack space where it is needed, there actually is capacity in existing reentry center contracts that BOP is not taking advantage of. Discussions with numerous RRC providers indicates that it has additional capacity available in these programs to house more people in prerelease custody. The BOP simply needs to request a contract modification, and those facilities with space will gladly agree to the terms."},{"_id":"ZP2ZQBQVQBDMDINAEOHWZPSG3Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723153},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"On the home confinement side, it appears BOP has exceeded the contractual capacity of its contracts. But there is flexibility built into the system that BOP is not reporting. This is leading to a false narrative, and ultimately to individuals being prevented from receiving the needed assistance in transitioning to the community. Home confinement, unlike reentry space, is not limited by physical barriers such as size of facility and local restrictions. Individuals who have a place to reside in the community feasibly could be placed on home confinement if they meet the legal requirements contained in the First Step Act and other relevant laws."},{"_id":"ELMCN6IHYVBNTGSHO4BMPWUNJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723154},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.acquisition.gov/far/subpart-16.5\">BOP contracts</a> allow for a minimum guaranteed number of beds and a maximum estimated number of beds. The key being that the maximum number is an estimate and can be adjusted by <a href=\"https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-6\">contract modification</a>. BOP’s long-standing practice was that these estimates could be exceeded by as much as 20% without contract modification. Clearly that is what it has done with home confinement space. But again, every provider questioned for this article is ready and willing to modify their contracts to increase the maximum number of home confinement beds."},{"_id":"RKURBESXHZFIZJLUGPQUEYXIOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723155},"type":"text","content":"Prerelease custody space is currently available in the residential reentry centers, and additional reentry centers and home confinement space can quickly be provided on modification of the contracts by the BOP. The BOP must comply with the law, and in doing so assist individuals with needed transitional services to help them succeed in society upon release. Budgetary restrictions cannot be allowed to be used as an excuse for not complying with the law. In fact, it is <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2024/08/25/the-high-price-of-minimum-security-federal-prisoners/\">cheaper to place individuals in the community than to keep them in prison</a>, so complying with the FSA should actually save BOP money."},{"_id":"PR2RDJIAWRCVLNDYVFTS7MDZN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723156},"type":"text","content":"It is time BOP follow the law and help people transition back home. It only makes our communities safer, as the law intended."},{"_id":"GFAZKCID2NE5FAAIQW6M3VLDAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733407723157},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jon Gustin has more than 24 years of experience working with the BOP with more than 20 years in oversight of the BOP community-based programs. He retired as the administrator for the Residential Reentry Management Branch and was responsible for all community-based programs nationwide. He is the chief marketing officer at </i><a href=\"https://tracktechllc.com/\"><i>TRACKtech and </i></a><i>a member of the International Community Justice Association and the American Correctional Association. Hugh Hurwitz held multiple positions in the Bureau of Prisons, including acting director and assistant director for reentry services. He was a federal procurement attorney and chief of procurement for three different federal agencies. He now consults in prison management, reentry and reform, organizational change and other areas. He is a member of the Council on Criminal Justice.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The bureau’s claims that it doesn’t just aren’t right, and it might be violating the First Step Act. "},"description":{"basic":"The bureau’s claims that it doesn’t just aren’t right, and it might be violating the First Step Act."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"d94520177a6950841831947c4ee325bc7bc322a413736452f1cd35eec43198e4"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Warden at Atlanta federal prison suddenly retires","width":2048,"caption":"A federal prison in Atlanta holds low-risk inmates. (David Barnes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WBSRPA3RNQJGW6XDD4VZQZXOY4.jpg","height":1367,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WBSRPA3RNQJGW6XDD4VZQZXOY4.jpg?auth=d94520177a6950841831947c4ee325bc7bc322a413736452f1cd35eec43198e4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-bureau-of-prisons-has-plenty-of-open-beds-for-reentry/NTGEKKWQ5REKNDELM4KHWQLGZU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-06T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jon Gustin","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Hugh Hurwitz","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The Bureau of Prisons has plenty of open beds for reentry "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-06T11:00:00Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-06T11:00:08.534Z","_id":"NTGEKKWQ5REKNDELM4KHWQLGZU","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"d94520177a6950841831947c4ee325bc7bc322a413736452f1cd35eec43198e4"},"credits":{},"subtitle":"Warden at Atlanta federal prison suddenly retires","width":2048,"caption":"A federal prison in Atlanta holds low-risk inmates. (David Barnes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/WBSRPA3RNQJGW6XDD4VZQZXOY4.jpg","height":1367,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/WBSRPA3RNQJGW6XDD4VZQZXOY4.jpg?auth=d94520177a6950841831947c4ee325bc7bc322a413736452f1cd35eec43198e4&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"EJWGJHGO4JDHZNGFHYDGMT2YRE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063883},"type":"text","content":"The old-boys network is at it again."},{"_id":"JBDL6CTOPFFS5J5OSSMCA3CIWU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733417078115},"type":"text","content":"That’s the only explanation for President-elect Donald Trump choosing <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/pete-hegseth-secretary-of-defense/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary</a>. "},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62"},"caption":"Sophia A. Nelson","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"related_content":{"derivative_of":[{"referent":{"id":"Y2KF6KMTWJCWBMRW4HWPQMZINY","type":"image"},"type":"reference"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"modifiedAt":"2023-11-22T16:00:52.072Z","allowAll":false,"description":"AJC","restrictions":[{"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","modifiedAt":"2020-02-12T01:18:34.479Z","name":"AJCOnly","description":"","modifiedBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","websites":[{"siteId":"ajc","type":"site"}],"id":"e9eadc36-8bc3-48a6-b3d2-b679aeb668e4","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"},{"name":"story"},{"name":"video"}],"enabled":true}],"mode":"custom","organizationId":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","archived":false,"createdAt":"2020-02-12T01:19:14.302Z","createdBy":"Surendra.nuthi@ajc.com","organization":{"name":"ajc","id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a"},"organization_id":"579ed38b-edd8-4ffe-8415-12690f0cae5a","name":"AJC","modifiedBy":"Surendra.Nuthi@ajc.com","id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019","category":"staff","subcategory":"","contentTypes":[{"name":"image"}]},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","geo":{},"licensable":false,"credits":{"by":[{"name":"handout","type":"author","byline":"handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sophia A. Nelson","width":1865,"_id":"7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/26NsKWGnQ49TNOnUN8e8oe8Pr1E=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/R6QPDFuw211nCADSK5VLqFZ4udQ=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg","version":3,"originalName":"S1 1 of 1.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"43QVVXJNGZG2TC2P2LZVKVKJ7M"},"created_date":"2024-05-30T22:29:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-05-30T22:31:04Z","alignment":"right","height":1399,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7ENNMJKOFZGPXMB65OGMEDC54Y.jpg?auth=14b99c9a45b5c02200ee88274448150e35c651f9ad48b0f703ead3b9be2cad62&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"OGLDHUN5GBC4NLL3XSATOQSBWY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733418188211},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Now it’s up to the Senate to do its job and properly vet this intended nominee, just as it should all others."},{"_id":"LJKL3TU7ZFAR3JF26QGIAECSQQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733417078119},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"U.S. senators are among the most powerful in this country. To be a senator, one of 100, is to hold one of the most vaunted and coveted offices in our constitutional system of governance."},{"_id":"YPTQ25YNRNDAHPAPXM4VAMLRS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063884},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Like its precursor, the storied Roman Senate of old, each senator has power in his or her own right to move, block or delay legislation. A motivated senator can block appointments and funds, and filibuster until he or she drops on the Senate floor. Senators also have another unique superpower granted under Article II, Section II of the Constitution:"},{"_id":"JL5UP7J46VDG7DH36D6AFCHI44","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063885},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"<i>He [the president] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law.”</i>"},{"_id":"CQSUOBEWLFHTRBQNCXYA47SQTY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063886},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Come Jan. 3, the Senate will be led by Republicans. Will they honor their sworn oath? Or will they fold and allow President-elect Donald Trump’s <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/12/04/pete-hegseth-trump-defense-secretary/\" target=\"_blank\">troubled Cabinet nominees</a> get through unexamined? That remains to be seen."},{"_id":"LQ3G4OBY2RB3RIPRRCORX7JJOQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063887},"type":"text","content":"Case in point: Hegseth, a former National Guard officer who has been accused of sexual assault, excessive alcohol consumption and mismanagement at previous jobs. Hegseth has pledged that if he is given the top Defense job, he will not drink anymore. And, more interesting, he had his mother go on national television to defend him."},{"_id":"RWEETRHQYZHDXEL2TVNZSWNCIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., one of just 26 female senators, called the allegations against Hegseth a “side issue” while lauding his ability to lead the Defense Department. <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/pete-hegseth-meeting-republican-senators-brush-misconduct-allegations-rcna182569\" target=\"_blank\">Lummis said</a>: “Again, they’re throwing disparaging remarks at someone who has earned a great deal of credibility. Are soldiers sometimes wild childs? Yeah, that can happen.” When asked whether the allegations concerned her, she said, “It is very clear ... at a time when Americans are losing confidence in their own military, in our ability to project strength around the world, that Pete Hegseth is the answer to that concern.”"},{"_id":"N6RYYC5KWRGSDNWCXOYOA5M7JU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063889},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5020569-lindsey-graham-pete-hegseth-allegations/\" target=\"_blank\">Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina</a>, who will likely be the judiciary chairman in this new Senate, said, “Some of these articles are very disturbing. He obviously has a chance to defend himself here, but you know some of this stuff is going to be difficult.… Time will tell.”"},{"_id":"YVNLTTVMCRC4HK4C2YAAE63DCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063890},"type":"text","content":"Graham seems to be in the know <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.cnn.com/2024/12/03/politics/hegseth-trump-allies-nomination__;!!JZyed81S!l1BiZ1UAbCHMawWywEZRrBv9v6QtYAyo3DJbJUnR3zAEdeeYcUb8ec5kJ_vXwuAYkU4yp2i1tbVUU4EPQCz8bg$\">as reports started surfacing Tuesday</a> that <a href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-considers-replacing-pete-hegseth-embattled-secretary-defense-pic-rcna182777\" target=\"_blank\">Trump is “teetering” on Hegseth</a> and has started talking with none other than his old nemesis, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, for the Defense job. (It’s probably no coincidence that DeSantis has the power to appoint a replacement for Trump’s pick for secretary of State, Sen. Marco Rubio. Many are suggesting Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, should fill Rubio’s seat.)"},{"_id":"3WUKOZRJDNEZDF3YZECTRDYH5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063891},"type":"text","content":"What bothers me — and millions of women, women of color and members of marginalized communities — is the way that Trump’s intended nominees have been given a pass time and time again for jobs that are of such national and international consequences. No one in the private sector would hire Hegseth with these allegations swirling around him. So, why is he a viable candidate to run the world’s largest military fighting force and the military-industrial complex?"},{"_id":"Q6WH53ZELJH2VOXV6R2RLPKPGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063894},"type":"text","content":"Trump intends to stack his Cabinet with white billionaires and unqualified cronies. Never has any president-elect of any party announced such an array of controversial Cabinet picks, most with suspect character or qualification issues — or both."},{"_id":"GVLWFXP5Z5C5DCU2NVS6NNVYIY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063895},"type":"text","content":"Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a <a href=\"https://www.ernst.senate.gov/priorities/veterans\" target=\"_blank\">combat veteran</a> and <a href=\"https://people.com/politics/joni-ernst-didnt-want-gloss-over-surviving-rape-domestic-abuse/\" target=\"_blank\">sexual assault survivor</a>, said earlier this week she planned to have a “<a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/05/hegseth-pentagon-nomination-sexual-assault/\" target=\"_blank\">frank and thorough conversation</a>” with Hegseth about the accusations against him. My Senate sources tell me that Ernst’s views will be determinative for many of her Republican colleagues as to whether or not they will support him. On Wednesday, Ernst said on Fox & Friends she was <a href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2024/12/05/hegseth-cabinet-nomination-key-gop-sen-joni-ernst-isnt-ready-to-back-hegseth/\" target=\"_blank\">not yet a “yes” on Hegseth</a>, and that the process would continue.  "},{"_id":"3VFEUR4WIRB3LNX3Z3355GYGKU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733329063896},"type":"text","content":"For me, however, and many of the 74 million Americans who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris and the 90 million who did not bother to cast a vote this cycle, the bigger issue is not who the nominee ultimately is, but whether the Senate does its job without party loyalty or partisan considerations when it comes to the respective nominees’ qualifications to serve."},{"_id":"B4MXNMK425BFVMLUSBDZNIJSZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Come Jan. 20, that is the duty of the Senate, the only real check Trump’s crony impulses standing between this republic continuing or ultimately falling apart."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Pete Hegseth is but a symptom of the old-boys network, which allows lets unfit people to advance to positions they’re not qualified to hold."},"description":{"basic":"Pete Hegseth is but a symptom of the old-boys network, which allows lets unfit people to advance to positions they're not qualified to hold."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-a-wild-child-rises-and-maybe-falls/XILEQHNQ4NGVNIDWXELTNNZNJM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-05T22:19:03.21Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Sophia Nelson","description":"Sophia A. Nelson is the author of “Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama” and “E Pluribus One: Reclaiming our Founders’ Vision for a United America.” She is a former GOP counsel for the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee and the founder of the Childless Chicks PAC.","_id":"snelson","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Nelson","image":"","education":[],"longBio":"","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Sophia A. 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Nelson","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"A ‘wild child’ rises — and maybe falls "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-05T22:19:03.21Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T22:19:03.373Z","_id":"XILEQHNQ4NGVNIDWXELTNNZNJM"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"Y7QRRJSDWNG2TJQ3CVJ54VGEB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149134},"type":"text","content":"Call it a Black woman’s intuition, but I couldn’t shake a weird feeling I had on the morning of Nov. 5."},{"_id":"AVIYCCTEO5EABD6PYKHFL3CJIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149135},"type":"text","content":"My internal struggle wasn’t that I didn’t want Vice President Kamala Harris to win the presidency, but that I knew the United States wasn’t mature or knowledgeable enough to understand its foundational — and Constitutional — philosophy on humanity."},{"_id":"MK7FDUOJFJGXHPPDL6FGMZT3PI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149136},"type":"text","content":"That Tuesday night was like anti-Christmas Eve. There had already been what I’d call psychological warfare in the form of social media memes: Black people being re-enslaved if former President Donald Trump won, and jokes suggesting we prepare for plantation life, as if we were going to be rounded up like Russian counterrevolutionaries."},{"_id":"Y3I4MDPUY5H5HGSTHC6ROZUREE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733413860192},"type":"text","content":"It was as if Blackness was a clear indication of enemy status, and we would soon be used for America’s capitalistic gain, again. I went to sleep half-afraid I’d wake up to a 21st century Civil War."},{"_id":"PE65EPXF7BH77JZNZSS2QHTXFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149137},"type":"text","content":"As a descendant of enslaved Africans in the U.S., I already live in a world where I’m regularly reminded of the country’s ancestral hierarchical system. My brother and I, the first generation in our lineage born outside of <a href=\"https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/what.htm#:~:text=Jim%20Crow%20was%20the%20name,of%20rigid%20anti%2Dblack%20laws.\">Jim Crow</a>, have been able to set forth realities our grandparents would have been shamed for dreaming. We had been freed from our predestined futures as a potential coal miner and maid."},{"_id":"5CHE2HTYVBF7BFOTXOOFWZHULE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149138},"type":"text","content":"But those ambitions were emotionally set on pause Nov. 6, when an eerie silence echoed throughout the streets, even in a congested city like New York. The boroughs hadn’t been that quiet since <a href=\"https://observer.com/2020/09/photos-of-nycs-quiet-streets-capture-the-citys-transformation-under-covid-19/\">March 2020</a>."},{"referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1733493242893}},"provider":"","id":"VBUNRNYHD72OHMC6VL22MC6MAM","type":"image","resized_obj":{}},"_id":"VBUNRNYHD72OHMC6VL22MC6MAM","type":"reference"},{"_id":"GJTA7JGU4VFTFCUBBQGS4JHX5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149139},"type":"text","content":"Once again, I felt, the U.S. couldn’t atone for its perpetual racism — both subconscious and overt — and its blatant misogyny. It was all masked under the guise of economics and other emotionally manipulative excuses voters (and those who chose to abstain from voting) made about a Black and South Asian woman candidate."},{"_id":"MMUR6PM2FRFDDJCMPBM2Z52G4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149140},"type":"text","content":"Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance won both the electorate and popular vote, a week before I was set to relocate from New York City to Atlanta for a new job opportunity reporting on Black culture. The professional change couldn’t have been timelier, but the transition from the North to below the Mason-Dixon Line, after a racially contentious election, was not lost on me."},{"_id":"2GJH2NR3ZZHY3BWHO4F5J6P5O4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149141},"type":"text","content":"During the campaign, Trump and his sycophants railed against various ethnic and religious American communities: Black people, groups of Latinos, Jews, Middle Easterners, Asians and Pacific Islanders, and other immigrants. He also seemed combative to anyone opposing the oncoming MAGA regime and appeared to have plans to further marginalize those dissenters."},{"_id":"HYJYGOKOLFDEPND672DEZ3Z2HE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149142},"type":"text","content":"Now here I was, preparing to drive into the alleged belly of the beast of cultural and intellectual xenophobia, alone."},{"_id":"U4RDT7INFBDTLKIN7IYJ3NVLQM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149143},"type":"text","content":"Ahead of my 14-hour drive, I was beyond anxious leaving Harlem, a historic and ethnically diverse neighborhood in Manhattan. I’d grown accustomed to feeling safe in my skin, being part of a community of people who shared similar lived experiences and could empathize with my Appalachian roots, even if they had never set foot near a coal mine."},{"_id":"4B2UDUFPZRAOBEDQJQG55YJOVY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149144},"type":"text","content":"For the first time in more than a decade, I would be living outside a metropolitan area that always felt crowded, no matter where I was. I’d have enough fresh air and space to really catch my breath, but I’d also leave behind a city where neighbors abundantly held compassion for cultures unlike their own."},{"_id":"BAUZXIAW5FGUPPG46KTWIPB55E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733413860202},"type":"text","content":"New Yorkers understood the power of an American melting pot. We celebrated differences and championed for variety. Together, we had reclaimed the American dream."},{"_id":"2VHZUM2YOND5JIRU572SYXW6WE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733418944046},"type":"text","content":"With the exception of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, <a href=\"https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P\">every other Southern state</a> voted in favor of Trump’s divisive rhetoric. In Georgia, a state in the <a href=\"https://eji.org/report/transatlantic-slave-trade/deep-south/\">Deep South</a> and my soon-to-be new home — a region in which I’ve never lived — 83% of statewide counties either agreed with or were willing to overlook Trump’s tyrannical, white nationalist speech."},{"_id":"TCBGBTKGNNFIPE6J6FH5U35EUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733418944047},"type":"text","content":"“Maybe you don’t like what Donald Trump says sometimes; maybe you don’t agree with it. But you know what, you always know what he’s thinking,” former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said during a <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/live/HysDMs2a-iM?si=KQ49gBOfSXBgDEGL\">Trump-Vance campaign rally</a> in October."},{"_id":"M6ZPB5HSVNGRFNA7TXE7WDPQWI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149145},"type":"text","content":"Delaying the trip wouldn’t work in my favor. It would only add to my angst and trepidation of possibly making some wild discovery of anti-Black behavior or propaganda, especially after a campaign in which hateful rhetoric was consistently spewed at those not deemed American enough."},{"subtype":"twitter","referent":{"referent_properties":{"additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1733493242904}},"provider":"https://publish.x.com/oembed?url=","service":"oembed","id":"https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1823379465914741234","type":"twitter"},"_id":"2U2S7KIGMVAQDDULJHTYWG6VFQ","raw_oembed":{"author_name":"Trump War Room","cache_age":"3153600000","provider_url":"https://twitter.com","type":"twitter","version":"1.0","url":"https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1823379465914741234","author_url":"https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom","width":550,"html":"<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Import the third world<br><br>Become the third world <a href=\"https://t.co/MVawiHQSpm\">pic.twitter.com/MVawiHQSpm</a></p>— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) <a href=\"https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1823379465914741234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n","_id":"https://x.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1823379465914741234","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1733493242904},"provider_name":"Twitter","height":null},"type":"oembed_response"},{"_id":"TOOTNSOTDVHMVKWWEQQUUNQ7U4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149148},"type":"text","content":"Specifically, I’d be settling into <a href=\"https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/spaldingcountygeorgia/POP060210\">Spalding County</a>, where the median family income in 2022 was around $57,000, 19% of the population lived in poverty (the national poverty rate that year was 11.5%), and less than 20% had anything above a high school education."},{"_id":"BBYPQYOCFBD3HAXHY6AIAZDNEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149149},"type":"text","content":"Opting for a route that would avoid traffic and offer scenic views after crossing the bridge from New York into New Jersey, I took Interstate 81 through Pennsylvania, where I was immediately greeted with my first Trump-Vance bumper sticker. It wasn’t the South, but Stroudsburg seemingly echoed MAGA talking points geared towards small-town folks who perhaps felt cast aside by so-called elites."},{"_id":"HUZXDSDWRZAC3HUG7Z23CR4DTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149150},"type":"text","content":"I felt eyes linger on me when I stopped for gas, but I felt an entire culture shift when a Black father and son left the station’s convenience store. A white gaze seemingly followed them during that short but treacherous walk to their car. Collectively, it was as if our Blackness had somehow disrupted a rusty, archaic fog meant to uphold cultural ignorance."},{"_id":"D2X4FIEJ65CUZGZU2Y3POQKONQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149151},"type":"text","content":"Passing into Maryland carried more weight than previous trips, where I dealt with the surreal presence of the official barrier separating the North from the South. This trip, though, felt like it could have echoed the subconscious of <a href=\"https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p1535.html\">Harriet Tubman</a>, asking herself if she was sure she wanted to go back."},{"_id":"34BUFXCR4RGOXCURSJZ2FUGAII","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149152},"type":"text","content":"Signs kept warning drivers that the state line was approaching in two miles, one mile, half a mile, and then I saw what I consider to be America’s Berlin Wall: the <a href=\"https://www.risingsunmd.org/department/division.php?structureid=51\">Mason-Dixon Line</a>. In my case, the reminder was in the form of a sign hanging on an overpass, like a greeting to the Upside Down of “Stranger Things.” There was no way to avoid the demarcation of legal slavery<b>, </b>America’s greatest sin, whether you took that highway or other routes."},{"_id":"ZIZ2S3MCCJCMXLGHQDAQ56GV5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149153},"type":"text","content":"It was a true indication that America’s past haunted its present. Even after passing a momentous town like <a href=\"https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/gettysburg\">Gettysburg</a>, the turning point of the Civil War, the Mason-Dixon ghost lingered in its aftermath as if I had traveled back in time."},{"copyright":"","syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"8ddec4cb38ad6aae334ea320716c272d12c38e63bafc115a5c78943bcb3df866"},"caption":"","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"editor_note":"","type":"image","licensable":false,"alt_text":"","credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"courtesy of brooke Howard","type":"author","byline":"courtesy of brooke Howard"}]},"creditIPTC":"","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/D8HJF2Wb5wb26Xhj8PNdEzXNSVs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","owner":"brooke.howard@ajc.com","iptc_source":"","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"","keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/D8HJF2Wb5wb26Xhj8PNdEzXNSVs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/D8HJF2Wb5wb26Xhj8PNdEzXNSVs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/cb4LQEkzYdjtrBFLncyi7cqMCEs=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","version":0,"usage_instructions":"","originalName":"IMG_1881 (1).jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"P6BAYROFFFDSNLP5YRRL4VJHLA","iptc_title":""},"last_updated_date":"2024-12-04T21:31:53Z","slug":"","height":1463,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg","subtitle":"A photo taken in Maryland of Brooke Howard's November drive to Atlanta.","width":896,"location":"","_id":"DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE","created_date":"2024-12-04T21:31:53Z","status":"","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DCHBBRAB2ZEARC342LRQOAEUBE.jpg?auth=8ddec4cb38ad6aae334ea320716c272d12c38e63bafc115a5c78943bcb3df866&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"N276EVYP7RALFCA325PCXAZEHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149154},"type":"text","content":"After passing through central Virginia, and fearfully remembering the Trump-emboldened Nazi rally that rattled the University of Virginia (<a href=\"https://uvamagazine.org/articles/new_task_force_prioritizes_racial_equity_and_speed\">my alma mater</a>) and <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/local/this-not-charlottesville/0V7Un6QSTUUY7CLoZFLccJ/\">Charlottesville</a> in August 2017, I steered towards cities and larger towns. Again, I was a Black woman about to venture south of the Virginia border alone, for the first time. Sticking mainly to areas with larger populations helped me maintain a little more confidence and security."},{"_id":"N4F2IF7O2VDKNIY7YF2PIN3N2M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149155},"type":"text","content":"The rest of the drive carried on without incident. I enjoyed cruising down the highway, transitioning from listening to music from hip-hop collectives The Diplomats and Ruff Ryders, to solo acts like David Banner and Travis Porter. I was beginning to feel ready for a new adventure in a new city, optimistic about the impending lifestyle change, cultural differences and the people I’d meet."},{"_id":"NTFLTPIVFNFNBIBLDJWXRQ7RQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149156},"type":"text","content":"Once I got to Spalding County, Georgia, I was immediately greeted by a Confederate cemetery and reflection area."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"cffa9a9f317757d3961bdb2b355a938ca00480bf6260ca21ee06b4d5f681cb99"},"caption":"","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"courtesy of Brooke Howard","type":"author","byline":"courtesy of Brooke Howard"}]},"subtitle":"Entrance to the Stonewall Cemetery in Spalding County, Georgia.","width":4032,"_id":"NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ySaR6EQmPizUSQfm5fTSq_sI7vM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","owner":"brooke.howard@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ySaR6EQmPizUSQfm5fTSq_sI7vM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ySaR6EQmPizUSQfm5fTSq_sI7vM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/eDo7x0-JaCF_G3xTYYBm2evrE8E=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"IMG_1688 (1).jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"ZOYEZEFUA5DGFAF63SXJWFURWA"},"created_date":"2024-12-04T21:37:06Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-04T21:37:06Z","height":3024,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/NBGFQED3PFCRTFCLJMRLKJBLYM.jpg?auth=cffa9a9f317757d3961bdb2b355a938ca00480bf6260ca21ee06b4d5f681cb99&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"O6HSKCPW3VHLROX5TRN6YGQC2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149157},"type":"text","content":"“No act of injustice, no failure of duty, no shadow of wrong has left a blot upon these souls or a stain upon these memories,” a memorial dedicated in 1922 by a chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy read."},{"_id":"TWGTMZ7LAFDWRJHK6DAL2JXOIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149158},"type":"text","content":"“Our tribute of gratitude, reverence, and love to the soldiers of the Confederate States of America,” read an additional UDC memorial, resurrected in 1909. “In everlasting remembrance of the heroic deeds, sublime self-sacrifice and undying devotion to duty and country, of Spalding County’s Confederate Soldiers."},{"_id":"J6AHIAZS4RG5ZGFPO4DZNYHKCI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149159},"type":"text","content":"“Their mausoleum is our heart, their fame hath deathless bloom; time is their watchful sentinel, and glory guards their tomb,” it continued."},{"copyright":"","syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"dca33b7b01df0d8f2dd4e03983f1f5bb0f0af76b5c6b5380a0d82e801bfca15c"},"caption":"A photo of a Confederate cemetery taken by UATL reporter Brooke Howard during her November 2024 drive to Atlanta from New York City.","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"editor_note":"","type":"image","licensable":false,"alt_text":"","credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Brooke Howard","type":"author","byline":"Brooke Howard"}]},"creditIPTC":"","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/eCoVQDig-0qJ8-sTmUePB-eEOFM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","owner":"mike.jordan@ajc.com","iptc_source":"","comments":[],"iptc_job_identifier":"","keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/eCoVQDig-0qJ8-sTmUePB-eEOFM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/eCoVQDig-0qJ8-sTmUePB-eEOFM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/jYJE7GOe4RCCQgp5kBVgL3G_6AY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","version":0,"usage_instructions":"","originalName":"IMG_1695.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"3WEJ2PFBBJCZNN725ST6EDA53Y","iptc_title":""},"last_updated_date":"2024-12-04T20:50:51Z","slug":"","height":3024,"image_type":"photograph","owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg","subtitle":"Why I moved to the Old South after a racially volatile election","width":4032,"location":"","_id":"DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ","created_date":"2024-12-04T20:50:51Z","status":"","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DQKVMG66CFAUFIT57JIX4SXTIQ.jpg?auth=dca33b7b01df0d8f2dd4e03983f1f5bb0f0af76b5c6b5380a0d82e801bfca15c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JYHRTK2H3ZB77H65J2GCBKUJCA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149160},"type":"text","content":"There was a major parkway named for <a href=\"https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/robert-e-lee\">Robert E. Lee</a>, as if the Virginia rebel had some other history outside of being the lead Confederate commander of the Civil War."},{"_id":"WGWIX7RGURCKVLN3JLPEE7YUS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149161},"type":"text","content":"Residents flew multiple Trump flags and banners in their front yards. Every trip to Walmart for quick household necessities resulted in a buffet of pro-Confederacy signs, like the driver who decked out his Jeep with a “Sons of the Confederate Veterans” bumper sticker and its very visible rebel flag. And there were others who proudly displayed their political choices on their cars’ rear bumpers, as if the election had not come and gone."},{"_id":"LLSSO7RI3JB7HECH6HWTCRH6DA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149162},"type":"text","content":"The so-called “hood,” residents told me, was on the other side of the train tracks and I shouldn’t venture that way. A neighbor walking her dogs barefoot saw my New York license plate and reminded me I was “a long way from home.”"},{"_id":"MALT7O6LJ5A2BLUSEO7HY7SLBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149163},"type":"text","content":"I was no longer being suffocated by overcrowding but instead felt stifled by a lack of cultural empathy."},{"_id":"PNOZA4DARRHAVILQPSDYDK6CFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149164},"type":"text","content":"According to the 2022 census, Spalding County was ironically composed of about 37.5% Black people, almost three times the national average. That meant some of those houses I passed on those dank, dark, sunken roads, with Trump-Vance paraphernalia and an unnecessary amount of cars parked out front, possibly belonged to people who looked like me, perhaps unknowingly rooting for their own oppression. Then again, maybe they were Black people so unbothered that they didn’t bother to vote at all."},{"_id":"5SZ3KF523FEFDA4DBMD5VTL6VQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149166},"type":"text","content":"As a lover of history, I understand the importance of timely context and that we cannot erase our country’s past. Instead, we have to learn from the full scope of it, but how can we evolve if people presently champion an ideology that promotes the dehumanization of people who are Constitutionally considered equal citizens?"},{"_id":"DHH4LULCRVBO5FEF6GRWLFM7YM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733418944072},"type":"text","content":"The Confederate mindset brazenly pushes for racial and ethnic violence and assimilation. With the election of Donald Trump — not once, but twice — it has gained momentum. Trump’s running-mate, a man from the same <a href=\"https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2024/11/06/breathitt-county-reacts-to-vance\">neck of woods</a> between Kentucky and Ohio where I was raised, notoriously equated <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/18/us/politics/vance-immigration-gangs-of-new-york.html\">immigrant communities</a> to “higher crime rates” as a result of “ethnic conflict.”"},{"_id":"LJMBNVP44NAALKUWSJTXKUZXOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-05T16:12:23.838Z","start":163,"end":206,"text":"Can we add a link here for those unfamiliar?","user":"Mike Jordan","email":"Mike.Jordan@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733344149167},"type":"text","content":"A supremacist philosophy once concentrated in remote pockets of the Deep South and the fringes of society has now become mainstream, brought to the forefront like the Night Riders’ Reconstruction-era terror, to keep racialized law and order — in the name of peace."},{"_id":"VZLA4B76NNHT5PMMZZU5PF3PQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149168},"type":"text","content":"Despite my hesitation on the Southern transition, my trip from the North made me realize I had to be alert throughout. It wasn’t just the moment I crossed the Mason-Dixon Line or that I was moving to the <a href=\"https://eji.org/news/history-racial-injustice-black-families-severed-by-slavery/\">Lower South</a>; I also felt I had to look over my shoulder in places once considered <a href=\"https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2012/12/before-there-were-red-and-blue-states-there-were-free-states-and-slave-states/\">Free States</a>."},{"_id":"SPVAMUKGNZANHMLHRNKPUERBS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149169},"type":"text","content":"It was all America, and it was all part of the same system."},{"_id":"E2LQKZALTBAHTHDHDN6LDYQWJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149170},"type":"text","content":"The current political landscape has somehow transformed the 21st century into small-town USA. It’s not just the nooks and crannies of the South that I had to travel by Jim Crow-era <a href=\"https://negromotoristgreenbook.si.edu/\">Green Book</a> standards, but it visibly resonates louder in an area so economically fueled by African American enslavement."},{"_id":"Z7WONBNJRNALNFPEVCNHZ65GEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733344149171},"type":"text","content":"Despite being a Black woman in America whose diverse ancestry helped build before the country even existed, I would never be considered good enough to be the poster child of what America was philosophized to become."},{"_id":"PRX52KQWGVHLPF5NI2KTR3QQT4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733349165642},"type":"text","content":"However, my American lineage has helped me embrace my purpose as a storyteller in a nation hammered with contradictions. Regardless of the location, my fight continues for those who came before me and could never have achieved a fraction of what I’ve been able to accomplish."},{"_id":"ITW5B6LORJHWDLAYPTMPYVNPKE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-05T16:14:21.756Z","start":0,"end":64,"text":"This is an awesome ending.","user":"Mike Jordan","email":"Mike.Jordan@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733349165643},"type":"text","content":"Breaking color barriers requires breaking geographical barriers."},{"_id":"ZNQZKKR2ARCARKYWSKJJQEYZU4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":1733341602841},"type":"divider"},{"_id":"7CPSBYR5FFBWJBYF4ITL6MWTJI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733341602842},"type":"text","content":"<a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/uatl-membership/\"><i>Become a member of UATL</i></a><i> for more stories like this in our free newsletter and other membership benefits.</i>"},{"_id":"7JOEFZWJ3RETBHNHY6S5T3KSD4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733341602843},"type":"text","content":"<i>Follow </i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/itsUATL\"><i>UATL on Facebook</i></a><i>,</i><a href=\"https://x.com/itsuatl\"><i> on X</i></a><i>, </i><a href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@itsuatl\"><i>TikTok</i></a><i> and </i><a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/itsuatl/\"><i>Instagram</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Reporter Brooke Howard details disorienting drive from New York City to Atlanta to join UATL’s staff"},"description":{"basic":"Reporter Brooke Howard details disorienting drive from New York City to Atlanta to join UATL’s staff."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/uatl","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"UATL","description":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the black community","_id":"/uatl","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null},"_admin":{"alias_ids":["/uatl"]},"navigation":{"nav_title":"UATL","cohort_desktop_image":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/u9oT8sHgrFwM-4k0OVhMpmrjSEE=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/AC24LOAV3NDQNIEUSAU5NM34BM.png","cohort":"true","cohort_mobile_image":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/W7PlcNYiF7A-LGlN05rksg5tyWU=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/363YOTHREFBFBFLTN6S7XZDZ3E.png","cohort_logo_image":"/resizer/oATjbNKHc-rXeDDYGL-LcBTO-3w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/T5P2I73D6ZFABECDTUXOU2DNXE.png"},"site":{"site_url":"https://www.ajc.com/uatl/","site_keywords":null,"site_about":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the black community","primary_color":"#E23229","site_description":"UATL provides sophisticated coverage of important issues in the black community","site_title":"UATL","site_tagline":null},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"UATL","_id":"/uatl","ancestors":{"default":[],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"mobile_app":{"exclude_from_navigation":"false","webview":null,"exclude_from_web_site_navigation":null},"order":{"MainMenu2024":1007,"ComposerNav":1032}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./uatl","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/things-to-do","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Things to Do","description":"Find things to do in Atlanta, the AJC events calendar, Atlanta restaurants, Georgia festivals, things to do this weekend, Atlanta movie showtimes, festivals and concerts. 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Why?"},{"_id":"LRHWNMGDF5EOTI35BFRW7WWEYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830804},"type":"text","content":"That’s the question I keep hearing when people find out I’m moving my family out of the country ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s impending administration."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"665ac66c400d41513d564e25b181c94feb5df71807648fc3dc42b113dab698e1"},"caption":"Todd Copilevitz","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":",Todd Copilevitz","width":1440,"_id":"MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/55AsoFi4IRsoh4FZGV6ZWSaIOTs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/55AsoFi4IRsoh4FZGV6ZWSaIOTs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/55AsoFi4IRsoh4FZGV6ZWSaIOTs=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/eK9nNv5k5UeoQ-o5XQYYYP4iAw4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"todd headshot IMG_2149[20].jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"CCIJIO5ZLZFNZEVXALVFGTROMA"},"created_date":"2024-11-20T19:58:33Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-20T19:58:33Z","alignment":"right","height":1920,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/MCZL3GMTW5BD7CLQQN5P6SBOIE.jpeg?auth=665ac66c400d41513d564e25b181c94feb5df71807648fc3dc42b113dab698e1&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"SOONYNKW25A63M5GP34PJBG5EI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830805},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"It’s not that people don’t grasp the threats looming on the horizon. Or that they can’t empathize with the fears I have for my family."},{"_id":"5QLJJ3DIJNFADGI7HNA6CS4IIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830806},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I think the decision just falls outside their realm of possible responses. I get that. Most reactions are a mix of humor (“Take me with you!”) and something heavier."},{"_id":"4QWVLU6DN5ASXMOZDDE4ARRDHA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830807},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"One reader of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution poured her heart out: “Hot tears streamed down my face when I finished your letter. It felt like eight years of Trump’s tirades, threats and bigotry being washed away in a single moment.”"},{"_id":"NVQD2QIPWZAE7CS5QZTWV6AFMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830809},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But then came the gut punch:"},{"_id":"QH4A7KFUNRAB5BI5LEEAM5IEXA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830810},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"“Just because you’ve left doesn’t mean we don’t need you. Lift us up. Help us see what we don’t know. Keep writing, keep researching and keep an eye on Russia and how it affects us all.”"},{"_id":"QVZOMHT4N5A2FDQDLTOM2OIAEM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830811},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"A family friend was more direct: “You’re courageous, but this move only benefits you. Think about the people you’re leaving behind — your family and friends who need your support. Use your skills to fight for a better world, no matter the obstacles.”"},{"_id":"5EEEPJG2URBRNJ3WAO6JATWJY4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"S6E6BPK3PNHZLBHK36C2WQMQA4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Cure for postelection anxiety? Learn to live with uncertainty","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-the-cure-for-post-election-anxiety-in-georgia-embrace-uncertainty/UM4Q4ZGPNNFHJEJUWJQ6IYO2JY/"},{"_id":"WHJL5HK2FFAATPHPYUGIF2Q2NM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830813},"type":"text","content":"I can’t argue with that. He’s right."},{"_id":"GVL6UOSX7FAG3HML3J7AFVNRU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733353938320},"type":"text","content":"I am removing my family from an unfriendly government. But I’d remind him, and anyone else, that my first obligation is to my family."},{"_id":"V6RAXUHNJJAPXGN2PHFXWGYHOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830814},"type":"text","content":"I wish we had the energy to stay and fight. I really do. But we’re spent. Too damned exhausted to endure another four years of cringing at every news alert, dreading which hotheaded outburst or tweet storm will follow."},{"_id":"R6HEOHVGZBDMPBGV4BVYQCDVGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830815},"type":"text","content":"The lineup of billionaire cronies and family members filling Trump’s administration is already triggering my mental muscle memory. The instinct to protect myself and my family from the storm feels almost primal."},{"_id":"GXCFUWJIZBEJ3JE2A5G6A35GPM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830816},"type":"text","content":"And it’s not just Trump; it’s also the caustic ripple effects already coursing through society. Have you noticed how close people seem to the edge? One wrong word away from losing all restraint?"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"4XBUKPL7MRDB7EZUNX5FC5P7TQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"XPLBEN3D7JFURMYYVF4RAAPCYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"A simple dispute with a store clerk morphs into a full-blown shouting match."},{"_id":"WT25NBLI4RARXMGNIMULV3IS2Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Neighborhood social media is overflowing with paranoia, questioning the intentions of anyone who dares walk down the street or knock on a door, especially if they don’t “look” like they belong."},{"_id":"V75QLDTALNDNXLGUO2DFKYNG5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"Someone bumps into you, and suddenly it’s grounds for an explosion."},{"_id":"LQRBTXRVYRA2XGC23W544SIL4I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"And let’s not even start with the absurdity on airlines."}]},{"_id":"LDBX4AWBGRA4FIEVQXOFQEO7RY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830818},"type":"text","content":"If we’re this frayed now, what happens when the nightly news amps up its drumbeat of blame? Immigrants accused of stealing jobs. Minorities blamed for crime. It’s a powder keg waiting for a match."},{"_id":"RRVZ4BCKWVGUZNORC3OQI4VXNQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830819},"type":"text","content":"I want to live somewhere people start with a smile. Where helping someone at the grocery checkout is second nature. Where nobody’s calling city hall to report a kid’s lemonade stand for lacking a permit."},{"_id":"IX2LBZQ3AVBWZP2ZI5PI55BIIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830820},"type":"text","content":"I don’t know if I’ll find that in Northern Ireland."},{"_id":"EAOK226NIBFXTEFJD5MRZYNYVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830821},"type":"text","content":"To be honest, they still talk about U.S. politics over there. After all, when one of the world’s superpowers — the one the United Kingdom relies on most — starts showing cracks, people have questions. It usually starts with “What the heck is happening over there?” And that is typically followed by “We’re so sorry.”"},{"_id":"6MQRDW4WZRCXNEWHE2HDLWXKE4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830822},"type":"text","content":"The difference is you can have that conversation without fear of triggering someone’s intense distrust of the other side. And if it does get too heated, a quick pivot to a recent soccer (er, football) match usually does the trick."},{"_id":"VJUQ7SCTRBE7FEQDVJS4VLTNP4","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"DYPIYNE7JZBDREKDPZZQWIZGIQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Post-election angst is real. And it’s complicated – for both sides","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/health-news/post-election-emotions-have-both-democrats-and-republicans-struggling-to-process-the-outcome/UIFYG4USZJCNJJFFF4JEVMT5FU/"},{"_id":"Y7LDXK55SZHNTJDGIGOFRJXGUM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830823},"type":"text","content":"Maybe I’m seeing my experiences there through rose-colored memories. No doubt, I’ll feel the sting of what’s happening in the United States. It’s been my home for 62 years, and many in my family will remain."},{"_id":"RRUQ72ZAJBGTBHJ6I6MP25S3U4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733253830824},"type":"text","content":"But this is the life I want for my family. If that makes me selfish, so be it. At least I didn’t sell my principles over the price of a carton of eggs."},{"_id":"5FSZEII4MVCJVD3NE5ZJ7T7LMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733254147516},"type":"text","content":"<i>Todd Copilevitz, a marketing consultant, is a former reporter and columnist for The Dallas Morning News.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"I want to be somewhere where the day starts with a smile, not a social media firestorm from the president."},"description":{"basic":"Really? Why? That’s the question I keep hearing when people find out I’m moving my family out of the country ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s impending administration."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-im-moving-because-of-trump-does-that-make-me-selfish/KSSTZNLQHRHSXO5GYQFV3VSTMA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Todd Copilevitz","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"I’m moving because of Trump. Does that make me selfish?"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:18.647Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:18.647Z","_id":"KSSTZNLQHRHSXO5GYQFV3VSTMA"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"K7ZQE6B5DRBK3IGOUNEGNITL3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564062},"type":"text","content":"Last spring, I taught a course at the University of Georgia titled “Contemporary Challenges to Modern Democracy in the United States.” I had gone into the class with anxiety about the fate of our country, but I emerged with hope — a hope that has not been diminished by the reelection of former President Donald Trump."},{"_id":"5OKBFT2RJBERRD6TX5QP64BSTA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564063},"type":"text","content":"I know many Democrats are worried about autocracy: that President-elect Trump will demand Congress confirm his appointments without oversight; that he will install his sycophants in public administration; that he will commandeer the budget of the United States through impoundment and other actions to override Congress’ power of the purse; that his autocratic demands will permanently damage the democratic institutions of the country."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d"},"caption":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","width":1000,"_id":"EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/k6liiz9HEJnM4v8Q_7L8SGF_3Bo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/dKV7lzuHrd3SkIR-51QEcVAXusU=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Carolyn-Bourdeaux.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"PHXP2WFXNJAILEFDR64HRWBGUU"},"created_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","last_updated_date":"2024-07-01T17:47:11Z","alignment":"right","height":1000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/EGZWMMSOKNFRJADA2OZFQPLFLM.jpg?auth=2dc9937f576ab9ffe8ec3f6ea047093b0c53b47ea74bf0d47f651c692c90112d&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ANDGBYUMJBGULD6FQU4FQFDWHY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":255,"comment":"Letter from a Birmingham Jail "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564065},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Though there is reason to worry about what this might mean, there is nothing like spending time with young people and reflecting on our country’s founding and formative documents — the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” among others — to remind you that this country has endured real crises in the past and has real reasons to be hopeful for the future. Our founding documents are grounded in lofty ideals about freedom and human rights, but they were also written by people who were pragmatic about human nature and who had endured war and serious civil conflict."},{"_id":"QH76UYPERBBRJDYRCIKD4NDNWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":155,"comment":"?"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T17:14:47.611Z","start":152,"end":154,"text":"moved punctuation inside quotation marks","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733244564066},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Starting with the basics: Remember that high school civics class that covered checks and balances and James Madison’s idea that “ambition checks ambition?” I have good news: Despite its flaws and shortcomings, it really works."},{"_id":"LEH65I35HNGDTE7WQLMPLAUWJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":348,"comment":"of government and different "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564067},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Our institutions don’t work as smoothly as they would seem to on paper. For instance, as both parties have found, impeachment is a weak check on the power of the president. But at the same time, the Constitution sets up competing bases of power, both within the federal government and through our multilayered federalist system. Different branches and layers of government have strong incentives to guard their institutional prerogatives — and this generally kicks in, even when members of different branches of government are all in the same party. Already we are seeing this start to work."},{"_id":"C6MNSN6K3JDL5HQBKCXZQJND6U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":629,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564068},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Trump has threatened recess appointments to thwart the Senate’s power of “advice and consent” to get his Cabinet picks into position, but senators are not particularly beholden to the president. They all have their own power bases, their own electoral considerations, and their own ambitions and aspirations, whether policy-related or political. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, barely lifted an eyebrow and Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s utterly unqualified pick for attorney general, withdrew his name from consideration, declaring that he didn’t have the votes to be confirmed by the Senate. To be sure, I don’t think the Republican-controlled Senate is going to do whatever Democrats might like with appointments, but I also do not expect them to be pushovers."},{"_id":"EAUFXPLQNZG6RKTYFEOOJY7QIU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564069},"type":"text","content":"I expect the same response on the budget and the civil service. It is very unlikely that members of Congress, even fervent Trump supporters, are going to willingly cede power. Trump might try to seize some control through executive action and the courts, and he might succeed to some degree. I cannot imagine that this will not be fraught and contested even within his own coalition. Better men than he, with much more sweeping electoral mandates, in a country facing much more serious crises, have tried to assert and expand executive authority, and they also faced serious headwinds that thwarted their ambitions."},{"_id":"JQ7AYOOBGNFEZI7ALPO3JZDP7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564070},"type":"text","content":"Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who swept in with 472 to 59 electoral votes in 1932 (now <i>that </i>is a landslide), described taking on the military bureaucracy, specifically the Navy: “To change anything in the Navy is like punching a feather bed. You punch it with your right and you punch it with your left until you are finally exhausted, and then you find the damn bed just as it was before you started punching.” Roosevelt tried to pack the Supreme Court that was stalling his “New Deal” program and was defeated on that, too."},{"_id":"D5HTMJ2EFJCDJFRU6OAYHPQ23E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564072},"type":"text","content":"But could we lose our democracy entirely with future elections becoming merely shams or not even being called at all? One of the things that becomes evident in teaching about American democracy is how democracy permeates every aspect of our lives. We do in fact have the habits of heart and mind to continue these institutions; our young people do as well. It’s not that we don’t need to keep searching for ways to strengthen the virtue of civic participation and engagement, but we are not as far gone as some people seem to fear."},{"_id":"LAZQ7GB5URCXNEOWQFC5HYTTDE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564073},"type":"text","content":"We don’t even realize it, but we are very, very habituated to the processes of democracy. We are constantly voting for an endless array of different officeholders, from our school boards to city governments to counties to state legislatures to statewide officeholders. Dear heavens, in Georgia we even elect our soil conservation district supervisors, our judges, our sheriffs, our tax assessors, our agriculture commissioner — to name just a few. Further, we have many layers of government, each with its own democratically elected officials, its own revenue stream and its own independent scope of authority."},{"_id":"B5EJCPNLB5C2VC7GPXBSLPTDCY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":183,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564074},"type":"text","content":"We are suspicious of governmental abuse of power — on the left and on the right. We are constantly complaining about our taxes, our schools, our roads, our police, our public services and we are in a continual dialogue — implicit or explicit — about whether our government is serving us as it should. We are deeply accustomed to the assumption that if things get bad enough, we, as citizens, can make needed changes."},{"_id":"AWES33KOLREA7K2YT65U5MORQA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564075},"type":"text","content":"Imagine even if somehow a new Trump administration were to seize autocratic control at the national level — the wheels of democracy would keep churning at the state and local level and would create a powerful pressure for democracy to reassert itself nationally. Democracies have fallen, but American democracy is uniquely layered and multifaceted."},{"_id":"A47IQ56BHNBCFBID4MAQSUJQYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244564076},"type":"text","content":"Though I am worried about the road ahead, in this season of gratitude, I’m going to take a moment to reflect on how grateful I am to be alive at this time in this country. Yes, we are going to face chaos and hardship and struggle, and, yes, we are called to the civic virtues of fighting for our future and the country we believe in. But this struggle is nothing new. We have a new generation coming up that is every bit as committed to the project as we are. And I have faith that this crazy and messy country, this great experiment in democracy, will not only endure, it will prevail."},{"_id":"K2AYC3FL7NA27DDOVPK77U7OOI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T17:14:04.693Z","start":0,"end":1,"text":"added tagline info","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"<i>Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"This country has endured real crises in the past and has real reasons to be hopeful for the future. "},"description":{"basic":"This country has endured real crises in the past and has real reasons to be hopeful for the future."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-america-will-survive-trump-and-so-will-american-democracy/BHBFZOBMMBAVNG66SZ4FASKTX4/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","description":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","_id":"cbourdeaux","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Bourdeaux","image":"","role":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.","education":[],"longBio":"\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"Carolyn Bourdeaux is a former member of Congress from Georgia’s 7th District. She is a contributor to the AJC Opinion page.\n","firstName":"Carolyn","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"_id":"cbourdeaux","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-08-07T18:26:43.999Z","byline":"Carolyn Bourdeaux","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"America will survive Trump. And so will American democracy."},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:20.946Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:20.946Z","_id":"BHBFZOBMMBAVNG66SZ4FASKTX4"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"JQV42QJLQZD5FLCESZYFGK7R3E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762911},"type":"text","content":"In recent years, Georgia has emerged as a dynamic hub for medical innovation. With <a href=\"https://georgia.org/industries/life-sciences\">more than 4,000 life-sciences organizations</a> now located across the state, the growth of this industry has not only benefited the economy of the Peach State, but it also has fostered a spirit of entrepreneurship that promises to help make Americans of all stripes healthier."},{"_id":"LG6LESNM45EEDBYBGFUENX4PVA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762912},"type":"text","content":"Unfortunately, a shadowy undercurrent of the U.S. legal system threatens to jeopardize this medical progress. "},{"_id":"XWKGRKK7QVCFVCCC4S6GG6FPEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":41,"comment":"or TPLF, "}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Known as third-party litigation funding, the practice has allowed financial backers to anonymously direct and influence what are oftentimes spurious intellectual property lawsuits against companies that support advancements across a number of sectors, including health care, all in a bid to enrich themselves. "},{"_id":"2PPEEOPXXRCWTDZTZ57HUCQYFA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"It is past time for lawmakers to require more disclosure regarding this practice."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"61b3ff4a1e77253a19b28b359944011b0738c3bf659ee6a645a62a7d33301805"},"caption":"Tom Price, former member of Congress, former HHS secretary","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Tom Price","width":2048,"_id":"GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/nQtk8sFWbBf3qxoC3mYUWnuoGrM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/nQtk8sFWbBf3qxoC3mYUWnuoGrM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/nQtk8sFWbBf3qxoC3mYUWnuoGrM=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/BdhKy3FsppbemlJIwSpNEjBK9Yo=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Tom Price.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"3354NWPAWBHK7DUKGD54S37F6A"},"created_date":"2024-12-02T20:53:42Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T20:53:42Z","alignment":"right","height":2560,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/GLBAIBQVTJAPRFN6QYPOTU4ZBI.jpg?auth=61b3ff4a1e77253a19b28b359944011b0738c3bf659ee6a645a62a7d33301805&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"BH75537PKFG3TLPVTPXA24M3UU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":268,"comment":"TPLF "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762913},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Such arrangements have become a big business in the United States, with funders controlling <a href=\"https://www.transre.com/claims-update-third-party-litigation-funding/\">roughly $15 billion in assets</a>. Often backed by hedge funds, wealthy individuals or other entities looking for profit-making opportunities, these third-party litigation funding investors put up the money attorneys need to finance the various costs of bringing mass tort litigations in return for a healthy share of any award or out-of-court settlement."},{"_id":"77D2YI5OQZDGBLSMMPH6S6PXMA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762914},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The lack of transparency gives investors the ability to conduct their business in secret, leading to allegations that they are inappropriately influencing key case decisions, such as when to go to trial or the outlines of settlement terms. It has also spurred concerns that such arrangements could expose strategically important U.S. industries to <a href=\"https://instituteforlegalreform.com/blog/tackling-foreign-manipulation-the-urgent-need-for-reform-in-third-party-litigation-funding/\">foreign interference</a> or provide actors from abroad with access to sensitive data and trade secrets that are disclosed in the course of legal proceedings, undercutting American competitiveness and innovation."},{"_id":"W5RRR5WMEBE2HDZK6CQZZKQKEE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":111,"comment":"TPLF"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762915},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Although there are a few state courts that have instituted policies to regulate this type of litigation funding, there are no federal laws that require funders to disclose their relationships with litigants or the nature of their involvement in the lawsuits they are financing. Similarly, Georgia state law does not contain the provisions necessary to mandate the disclosure of litigation funding. "},{"_id":"XWMAIPL4NJFNDMBAAQF7UBD4IU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Fortunately, efforts to finally shed some light on the practice are increasing."},{"_id":"2YBMEIFAY5FH7EV34P45Y43ILY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":441,"comment":"TPLF"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762916},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"At the urging of companies, business groups and Republican lawmakers, the U.S. Judicial Conference’s Advisory Committee on Civil Rules has announced plans to form a subcommittee tasked with examining outside litigation financing and to study the advisability of instituting a <a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judicial-panel-examine-litigation-finance-disclosure-2024-10-10/\" target=\"_blank\">nationwide third-party litigation funding disclosure rule</a>. The chair of the committee, Florida U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg, called outside litigation funding an important issue that is “<a href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-judicial-panel-examine-litigation-finance-disclosure-2024-10-10/\">not going away</a>.”"},{"_id":"ORLK54DC5JACFN66W3LBEVLICI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762917},"type":"text","content":"Additionally, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate last year by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and John Kennedy, R-La., to tackle this issue, and two pieces of legislation were previously introduced by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. "},{"_id":"DJ6KPD5DPVHQPGKOPVQHCY3BJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":377,"comment":"TPLF"}],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Though none of <a href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/litigation-finance-industry-faces-fresh-calls-for-disclosure\">those measures</a> ultimately moved forward, U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., is proposing a <a href=\"https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/litigation-finance-industry-faces-fresh-calls-for-disclosure\" target=\"_blank\">new bill</a> that would require named parties in civil litigations to identify anyone who has the right to receive a payment based on the outcome of civil or group litigation. Parties would also have to hand over copies of agreements regarding third-party litigation financing tied to the outcome of a case, providing further situational awareness to the judges and defendants involved in these cases."},{"_id":"H6AVGTVZAJHV7AE47CFZZIZU5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":130,"comment":"TPLF"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762918},"type":"text","content":"Hopefully, leaders in Washington will come together and finally institute the reforms needed to rein in outside litigation funding. "},{"_id":"O4JA2HEZDVG4FJTTSZ5FASYAU4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"As a former member of Congress, however, I know that nothing is guaranteed on Capitol Hill. Therefore, it would be wise for Georgia’s lawmakers to take matters into their own hands and follow the lead of states such as Louisiana, where new laws that erected guardrails surrounding litigation funding were <a href=\"https://www.verisk.com/blog/louisiana-enacts-new-third-party-litigation-funding-tplf-law/\">recently enacted</a>."},{"_id":"5IG6V2HNHNDQNH5KNNUB3YF7FQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":243,"comment":"TPLF has exerted up"},{"pos":394,"comment":" TPLF"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762919},"type":"text","content":"With hedge funds and investment firms now <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/business/hedge-funds-mass-torts-litigation-finance.html\" target=\"_blank\">opening funds dedicated to litigation finance</a>, it is clear that without the adoption of common sense regulatory guidelines, we can only expect the negative influence of third-party litigation financingon our legal system to grow. Georgia legislators have a duty to protect our citizens and job creators from the excesses of outside litigation financing and should make litigation reform a top priority during the upcoming legislative session in 2025."},{"_id":"QD22UBCZLNCJ7BT6XPGTJ7T3MI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733172762920},"type":"text","content":"<i>Tom Price served as the 23rd Secretary of Health and Human Services and as a congressman for Georgia’s 6th Congressional District from 2005 to 2017.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"State law does not contain provisions to mandate the disclosure of litigation funding. Fortunately, efforts to finally shed some light on the practice are increasing."},"description":{"basic":"Sate law does not contain provisions to mandate the disclosure of litigation funding. Fortunately, efforts to finally shed some light on the practice are increasing."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"a6618fb31c17c57b551ccd4122c886dc328c0d2078b6e65b07c6ad77065c66ff"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-PHILLY-MEDICAL-MALPRACTICE-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5QZBRUMMGZDKVLLF5RZYWMD35E.jpg","height":844,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5QZBRUMMGZDKVLLF5RZYWMD35E.jpg?auth=a6618fb31c17c57b551ccd4122c886dc328c0d2078b6e65b07c6ad77065c66ff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-georgia-must-address-looming-threats-to-its-medical-community/RQQJPC7FLNALJORJHTYDNKIKGA/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Tom Price","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Georgia must address looming legal threats to its medical community "},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-05T11:00:02.55Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T18:19:46.379Z","_id":"RQQJPC7FLNALJORJHTYDNKIKGA","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"a6618fb31c17c57b551ccd4122c886dc328c0d2078b6e65b07c6ad77065c66ff"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-PHILLY-MEDICAL-MALPRACTICE-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/5QZBRUMMGZDKVLLF5RZYWMD35E.jpg","height":844,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/5QZBRUMMGZDKVLLF5RZYWMD35E.jpg?auth=a6618fb31c17c57b551ccd4122c886dc328c0d2078b6e65b07c6ad77065c66ff&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"TN6NP5PXLZHQZI5WCH74U7O6SE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507657},"type":"text","content":"I am a proud father of two children, who were raised in the city of Atlanta and educated in its public schools. I can relate to the paternal instinct to protect our children, which is an innate drive that compels parents to defend their offspring at all costs. From the moment we learn of their existence, we become their advocates and our protective instincts kick into overdrive the moment they draw their first breath."},{"_id":"O5TIO4XM6VDLVKP2OCADKRXWJU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507658},"type":"text","content":"This instinct, though noble, can sometimes lead to choices that blur the lines between personal interest and public duty. President Joe Biden’s weekend decision to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/biden-has-pardoned-his-son-hunter-what-does-that-mean/RFK4TVCVZZFWLPDA2LW34IZOHI/\" target=\"_blank\">grant a “full and unconditional” pardon</a> to his son, Hunter Biden, on <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/hunter-biden-gun-case-dismissed-after-president-joe-bidens-sweeping-pardon/JMHV57VGW5GCRCOF6H6DZVBHLA/\" target=\"_blank\">federal convictions of gun</a> and tax evasion charges stand as a glaring example of this moral ambiguity."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"workflow":{"status_code":4},"auth":{"1":"4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08"},"caption":"John Eaves","source":{"system":"Methode","source_type":"other","source_id":"bda47fee-994a-11ea-9ad2-27c8c00e8173","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","licensable":false,"display_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","credits":{"by":[{"name":"Rebecca Breyer","type":"author","byline":"Rebecca Breyer","slug":"rebecca-breyer"}]},"subtitle":"Georgia 2020: Where 7th District Democratic candidates stand on the issues","width":700,"first_publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","_id":"RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","comments":[],"keywords":["politicsajc","isabetai","ga-government.ajc","georgia-news.ajc"],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","takenOn":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/2mn7TopWAbsUrDc-_Sw9OmeoIWo=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/I3nfdg_Ib-b5z3G-aIHRYmT1KEA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"https://www.ajc.com//rw/Pub/p11/AJC/2020/05/18/Images/eaves.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"LTG5Q7NZEZBE3PTLIDBC5KCCPM"},"created_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","last_updated_date":"2020-06-30T01:32:04Z","alignment":"right","publish_date":"2020-05-18T21:01:27Z","height":700,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RP7A2OFZGKOROYPPOITSNK5Z7M.jpg?auth=4debfc24833fa2653fe9a7fb81497bc0be64213cfe68f3662e774361f1771b08&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"57OLQNHGGNCBROWPTSCKJWLYHM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507660},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Since the dawn of our republic, the power to grant pardons has been a tool wielded by U.S. presidents to uphold justice and correct injustices. "},{"_id":"G6CBM6GGSJAYDC73FNUHEPWCB4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"On his final day of office in 1794, President George Washington pardoned the leaders of the “Whiskey Rebellion” who were convicted of treason against the United States; and on Sept. 8, 1974, President Gerald Ford granted a controversial pardon of former president Richard M. Nixon to heal the wounds of the nation. "},{"_id":"7S23FXFSFBCGPEK2O4RPFJCLSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This power, enshrined in the Constitution, carries with it a profound responsibility. Though many pardons pass under the radar with little public scrutiny, President Biden’s decision is likely to be recorded as one of the most controversial in American history, primarily because it intertwines personal family loyalty with the expectations of a public office."},{"_id":"ZHTRFOUNZFCN7JALHAKUTZRBOA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507661},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Hunter Biden’s legal troubles have been a source of relentless media scrutiny and partisan attacks, transforming him into a political lightning rod. The charges against him raise legitimate concerns about accountability and the rule of law. In a country that prides itself on equal justice for all, a presidential pardon for a family member, let alone a son, raises troubling questions about privilege and fairness. "},{"_id":"ZBIITW52OZGFRFSADVGN5BJREM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Did Biden act as a father seeking to shield his son from the consequences of his actions? Did he step beyond the bounds of propriety as a public servant?"},{"_id":"XLGJ64YRZZBTLGXYMXODAH6H3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507662},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Critics of the pardon argue that it represents a blatant conflict of interest that undermines the integrity of the office. The president of the United States is a leader who governs on behalf of the people, a steward of justice who must navigate the complexities of policy and ethical governance. "},{"_id":"JGVJIKTFQZFFPOJR4SLIP7OV3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"The Washington Post noted that the president’s pardon of his son has “extraordinary breadth.” "},{"_id":"UGENODQK6VFOLG4UNK24TT5JN4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-05T15:10:26.307Z","start":152,"end":193,"text":"didn't abbreviate months or add comma after 2014 because it's a direct quote","user":"George Hanns","email":"George.Hanns@ajc.com"}]},"type":"text","content":"The pardon covers “offenses against the United States which he (Hunter Biden) has committed or may have committed or taken part in during a period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” The pardon spans nearly an 11-year period and appears to prioritize the president’s personal relationship over the principles of accountability and justice that should guide presidential actions."},{"_id":"YVNULOADGJFYHPGGK5URJJK65I","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"YCRZW7X5UJC27IFOOJPNZNDRJQ"},"alignment":"left","type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: President Biden's broken promise on pardoning his son raises questions about his legacy","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/bidens-broken-promise-on-pardoning-his-son-hunter-is-raising-new-questions-about-his-legacy/GXIT7XKLBJASTCPRLBTN2TYURE/"},{"_id":"W5GPZFETVJATVL3RKAT5XQ6TSI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507664},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This decision sets a dangerous precedent. It opens the door for future administrations to use the power of pardons for personal gain, not as a tool for justice. "},{"_id":"A3STOPFBXJDITJGKNHZOAYU65I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Imagine a future in which political leaders feel emboldened to grant pardons to friends, family or political allies without regard for the implications. The potential for abuse is alarming. "},{"_id":"FCWW7V35HVEP3BH4IOCDLQ4OVE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"What’s to stop President Donald Trump, who rewards loyalty, from issuing pardons for individuals involved in the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, or for others facing legal consequences for unethical behavior, all in the name of loyalty? "},{"_id":"NLMCFRHOVJHW7BB7HZEWQ4OVTE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"Despite <a href=\"https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/12/02/biden-hunter-pardon-president-trump-clinton/\" target=\"_blank\">President Bill Clinton pardoning his half brother</a> and <a href=\"https://protectdemocracy.org/work/understanding-trump-pardon-abuses/\" target=\"_blank\">Trump pardoning</a> his daughter’s father-in-law and a host of people in his inner circle, Biden’s pardon could very well be the catalyst for presidential pardons becoming mere instruments of political patronage. Though it might seem unfair to pin that on Biden, he campaigned on <a href=\"https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/05/biden-will-restore-americas-moral-leadership\" target=\"_blank\">restoring America’s moral leadership</a> and <a href=\"https://theconversation.com/biden-presidency-marks-a-return-to-normalcy-after-chaotic-trump-years-153441\" target=\"_blank\">returning a sense of normality</a> to the executive branch."},{"_id":"237SWAR7ZZBDZKYLTTDQCNOSZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507665},"type":"text","content":"The public’s trust is built on the belief that leaders will act in the best interests of the nation, not just their personal lives. When a president opts for family loyalty over public accountability, it risks eroding that trust. This sentiment is echoed by many Americans who feel disillusioned by a system that seems increasingly rigged for the privileged. "},{"_id":"VY7H6UZB4FDYFNYGMZZLVI3MAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"During my tenure as chairman of Fulton County, I championed criminal justice reform of the bail system and advocated for funding of the public defender’s office because of the disproportionate number of Black men and indigents in the Fulton County Jail. For every Hunter Biden, there are countless individuals facing the ramifications of their actions without the safety net of a father who is president. "},{"_id":"5OQVQENZJNAYRIBDRVQL75PEJY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"This discrepancy in treatment fosters a growing sense of injustice and resentment that could have lasting implications for political stability and public faith in the rule of law."},{"_id":"VYZ7WPWEDBHWNES35V5NQCB6SA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733321507666},"type":"text","content":"President Biden’s decision to <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/full-written-statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-his-decision-to-pardon-his-son-hunter/QYMYE7KKZ5A5BHOYIZ7BXTL4OA/\" target=\"_blank\">pardon Hunter Biden</a> transcends the realm of personal family loyalty; it is a gamble with ramifications that extend far beyond the immediate situation. As we reflect on this decision, we must ask ourselves: Do we demand a commitment to justice from our leaders? "},{"_id":"3H7MQUGRQZAEFAC3NSEDQFXSRY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"text","content":"In navigating the delicate balance between personal and public responsibility, the president’s pardon should serve as a cautionary tale about the perils of allowing family ties to overshadow the obligations of public office."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the president picked family loyalty."},"description":{"basic":"Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the president picked family loyalty."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-bidens-pardon-raises-questions-about-privilege-and-fairness/JNAGGRTQI5CCPD4LQV2HPDP2MU/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-04T14:21:05.463Z","credits":{"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":""},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":""}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":""}],"name":"John Eaves","description":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","_id":"jheaves","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Eaves","image":"","role":"Contributing columnist","education":[],"longBio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","native_app_rendering":false,"fuzzy_match":false,"affiliations":"","bio":"John H. Eaves, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributing columnist, is a former Fulton County Commission chairman and a senior instructor in the Department of Political Science at Spelman College.\n\n","expertise":"Politics, county government.","firstName":"John","books":[],"podcasts":[],"contributor":false,"awards":[],"middleName":"H.","_id":"jheaves","bio_page":"","last_updated_date":"2024-05-22T11:53:54.103Z","byline":"John H. Eaves","email":"","slug":"","status":true}},"type":"author","version":"0.5.8","url":"","slug":""}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Biden’s pardon raises questions about privilege and fairness"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-04T14:21:05.463Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T15:16:10.152Z","_id":"JNAGGRTQI5CCPD4LQV2HPDP2MU"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"EELBKLECC5ECPOFCJBPQEYZAMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559314},"type":"text","content":"Because everyone deserves the opportunity to benefit from this technological revolution, it’s critical that we make artificial intelligence education available to the community at large. As founding director of <a href=\"https://ailearning.emory.edu/\" target=\"_blank\">Emory University’s new Center for AI Learning</a>, I’ve spent countless hours beyond the campus, meeting people who might not know much about how AI works but heard it could be a game-changer. I’ve visited 22 cities across Georgia, listening to people in almost every walk of life. It’s been an education."},{"_id":"VTNRUVELT5DT3BO6KVO4JCSFYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559315},"type":"text","content":"During my visits with communities big and small, urban and rural, I noticed a palpable anxiety about AI and its potential impacts. People worry about how AI will affect their lives and the well-being of their children. They worry that by relying on these technologies in school and our everyday activities — outsourcing our thinking, so to speak — we might lose our ability to think for ourselves. I’ve even heard stories of children reprimanding their parents for using AI, claiming it’s stealing their information. This generational divide over AI is quite striking, given that younger generations are usually fearless early adopters."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"7567b58c13e0d2ba764fd8eb60dc48b3ea33bb92545f17186149762ed1558870"},"caption":"Joe Sutherland, Emory AI","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Joe Sutherland","width":728,"_id":"DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/X8rg97GAFI13LXfJJ_viNfX_hRY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/X8rg97GAFI13LXfJJ_viNfX_hRY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/X8rg97GAFI13LXfJJ_viNfX_hRY=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/Mps4m6sU3NpJuAaXyvQt4jetBG8=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Joe Sutherland - Headshot.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"DX77QLB5CZENPNBKFQZMBBA7IU"},"created_date":"2024-12-02T18:29:22Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T18:29:22Z","alignment":"right","height":918,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/DLTIEPWFVRFBBJJBNQJMMMOODE.jpg?auth=7567b58c13e0d2ba764fd8eb60dc48b3ea33bb92545f17186149762ed1558870&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"U46LRGYT6FCLPPYYTGAJIXCLZY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":613,"comment":"With the upcoming elections, people are worried about AI-generated disinformation showing their leaders or loved ones saying or doing things they never actually said or did. "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-05T18:01:33.134Z","start":786,"end":788,"text":"tweaked time element after messaging jamie, as elections have already passed","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733415609135},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Many Georgians are anxious about AI taking over their jobs — a fear that classically accompanies any technological revolution, but one which is particularly acute with AI. People are concerned about their privacy being compromised by government or companies using AI, something increasingly salient on the heels of the <a href=\"https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/national-public-data-breach-what-you-need-to-know-843686f7-06e2-4e91-8a3f-ae30b7213535\" target=\"_blank\">National Public Data breach</a>. Business owners who would otherwise be investing in these new technologies to make their operations more effective are keeping their capital on the sidelines, because they fear their investments will be regulated or become unlawful when state governments catch up. During last month’s elections, people were worried about AI-generated disinformation showing their leaders or loved ones saying or doing things they never actually said or did."},{"_id":"PWGBTVYBZNHSTE46E45HD2GLQ4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559317},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"To put it plainly, people are wondering: <i>How will this powerful new thing we don’t completely understand affect our lives, our jobs, our kids, our privacy, our values, our vote?</i>"},{"_id":"G5PO2RB7OFAG7DUV7P3BP4EWTI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559318},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Though we can allay some of these fears through public outreach and education — indeed, I’ve seen remarkable value in dispelling common misconceptions like whether AI is “conscious” (it’s not) — it is public policy that must address the bulk of the fears and concerns I heard traveling around Georgia."},{"level":5,"_id":"2W7ICSXL7FD3ZPKULB5RSGJHFQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559319},"alignment":"left","type":"header","content":"Trustworthy, safe AI and diversity of thought"},{"_id":"EVYFHVXSIFA2HEPSGA3K6HMWOU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":1080,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559320},"type":"text","content":"The laws and rules we’re now creating around AI must take people’s concerns into account, which is why I’ll be taking the lessons I’ve learned in Georgia to Washington and the new U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Consortium, of which I’m a member. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, housed in the U.S. Department of Commerce, built the consortium at President Joe Biden’s direction to develop trustworthy AI and reliable, widely accepted methods to measure its performance. With dozens of proposals on AI security and privacy before Congress and at least 40 states, the consortium’s task is to stand back from day-to-day politics and bring together many perspectives and forms of knowledge to address the general unease I’ve heard and seen. To do that, the consortium’s 200 members need, in addition to essential technical expertise, an intuitive feel for the public’s fears and concerns over AI, as well as public excitement over the opportunities. They’ll need to hear the concerns I heard traveling around Georgia: that safety and equal access are important — not only within the industry, but within the public."},{"_id":"IHFZPE6CPZEBPKQ5OSZAWX7DZI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559321},"type":"text","content":"That kind of responsiveness to public attitudes can only take place in an intellectually diverse environment. My own background in AI, along with my experience in Washington at the White House, taught me how important it is to incorporate a broad spectrum of perspectives into the consortium’s work. I was encouraged not only that two of the consortium’s five working groups deal with risk management and safety and security, but also by the wide range of backgrounds among members. Big Tech firms such as Adobe and Microsoft are part of the consortium, but they don’t dominate it. Other voices are in the room, including academics from prominent schools such as Cornell, Purdue and American University, as well as civil society nonprofits such as the Center for a New American Security and the Data & Society Research Institute. This diversity will be needed to craft the forms of governance that can balance the risks of generative AI models — like bad actors manipulating content into deepfakes — against their benefits, like improving health outcomes in areas with shortages of care providers."},{"_id":"NHHV7WL6MVA2VEICJWWBPDZ7EQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":341,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559322},"type":"text","content":"Even if the more far-fetched fears never play out, we should remember that technological power is balanced by human values, appropriate incentives, and institutional checks and balances. Although we AI leaders might dismiss the fearmongering wrought by notable tech luminaries — which often, I believe, goes too far — we must also recognize the <i>popular</i> <i>fear</i> of AI doomsday scenarios is real, even if the scenarios themselves are not."},{"_id":"RZXZLA226ZDLFMI3BA63PBWAAM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":344,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559323},"type":"text","content":"If it listens closely to these concerns, the consortium can contribute ideas to the emerging dialogue about AI regulation that have little likelihood of emerging elsewhere such as protecting the likenesses and abilities of those who have honed their personas and crafts, or defending consumers, especially younger ones, against obscene, violent and hateful synthetic content. The consortium can also offer guidance on safe public data sharing to ensure health applications work for every demographic, not just those for which we had the most data. I hope the consortium benchmarks the environmental burden of AI technologies as well, so we can be cognizant of that as the field advances."},{"_id":"5R4NMJOOSZGDLJQEMILINP7IJA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":373,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559324},"type":"text","content":"Ideally, the consortium will not issue rigid rules, but a framework that will work at the federal and state levels to set priorities for and approaches to AI governance. I’ve already found a spirit of high hope that we can produce principles useful and influential enough to provide legislators with specific recommendations on the guardrails that govern the use of AI, so everyone can confidently and comfortably use it for their own — and the greater — good."},{"_id":"7AXIKWPLUNDC3L2C64SJH2TX7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733163559325},"type":"text","content":"<i>Joe Sutherland is director of the Center for AI Learning at Emory University.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"In touring Georgia to discuss artificial intelligence, I noticed a palpable anxiety. People worry about how AI will affect their lives and the well-being of their children. "},"description":{"basic":"In touring Georgia to discuss artificial intelligence, I noticed a palpable anxiety. People worry about how AI will affect their lives and the well-being of their children."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-emerging-ai-policy-must-balance-public-hopes-and-fears-about-ai/FFZ5FPE3YNFRLHZ7NJDK6TWFLI/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Joe Sutherland","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Emerging AI policy must balance public hopes and fears about AI"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:05.565Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-05T18:03:21.222Z","_id":"FFZ5FPE3YNFRLHZ7NJDK6TWFLI"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"DTMJOBPQ5FFK5CLNV24G6KZB5U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095134},"type":"text","content":"On election day, Missouri became the 39th state in the country to legalize sports betting. Georgia remains one of the 11 that still outlaws the activity. This is shortsighted."},{"_id":"CWNPQXBGYBCGLNUPZYCBFNRUVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":353,"comment":"ing"}],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095135},"type":"text","content":"In the next seven years, Georgia will host the College Football Playoff National Championship, World Cup games, the Super Bowl and an NCAA Final Four. Our stubbornness to legalize this wildly popular activity is not only forgoing millions of dollars in tax revenue, but also propping up shady offshore betting sites that have zero protections to prevent minors from gambling, have no problem-betting resources and might not even pay winners."},{"owner":{"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"auth":{"1":"57739b87361f90aae2c55c5c0403f961ff19353bf71af4c97afe16d8588a589c"},"vanity_credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[]},"caption":"Brandon Beach","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Photo contributed by the candidate","type":"author","byline":"Photo contributed by the candidate"}]},"subtitle":"Brandon Beach","width":800,"_id":"6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/tg9-avgz5WiuNlzVwkl_UWPhBHI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","comments":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/tg9-avgz5WiuNlzVwkl_UWPhBHI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/tg9-avgz5WiuNlzVwkl_UWPhBHI=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/c5WILlwMK_zT8hANpfVJrb892yM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg","version":1,"originalName":"BrandonBeach.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"galleries":[],"_id":"SQEH66HLIFB7VMCEWLJTYO7V5I"},"created_date":"2024-01-26T20:11:05Z","last_updated_date":"2024-01-26T20:11:06Z","height":1201,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/6OEPKEHNJJCI3EZQUBVMIZA4U4.jpg?auth=57739b87361f90aae2c55c5c0403f961ff19353bf71af4c97afe16d8588a589c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ZHRJ2LATJZGMBKOLPEULPCYA7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095137},"type":"text","content":"Even though sports betting is illegal in Georgia, Google search data shows it is extremely popular. According to the search data from the past year, <a href=\"https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?geo=US&q=bovada&hl=en\">Georgia is one of the top locations</a> for people searching for the illegal and offshore casino Bovada. <a href=\"https://x.com/GeoComply/status/1858605478491943039\">GeoComply</a>, a company that conducts location checks for regulated sports betting sites in the United States, noted a more than 100% increase in Georgia-based players trying to access legal sportsbooks in other states over the same period last year. (Because legitimate online sports betting sites are committed to following the law, these access attempts are blocked while wagering remains illegal in Georgia.)"},{"_id":"KXFWVIPFWFBQBGGKRSHPQUR22U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":180,"comment":","},{"pos":426,"comment":"it "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095138},"type":"text","content":"But make no mistake, when major sports events come to Atlanta starting in 2025, millions of visitors are going to expect to be able to access their favorite sports betting websites and, unless we pass legislation during this legislative session, Georgia will be an inhospitable location to many of these rabid sports fans. That shortsightedness will not only cost the state of Georgia millions of dollars in lost revenue, but also will likely dictate whether our state is awarded future top-tier sporting events."},{"_id":"XPOJB4IDJFAR5CG66MBZ434U4M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095139},"type":"text","content":"Georgia Republicans were right to chastise Stacey Abrams for costing our economy hundreds of millions in economic activity when the MLB pulled the All-Star game over her claims about an elections and voting bill the Legislature passed in 2021. Republicans will only have ourselves to blame when FIFA, the NFL, the NCAA and others decide Georgia isn’t a fan-friendly state to locate big games because of our refusal to legalize sports betting."},{"_id":"S7VMCFKLKZBHJEKYZKSM37ZVIE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095140},"type":"text","content":"Beyond the economic implications of sports betting, the data shows that sports betting is remarkably popular with voters, particularly those that just delivered a historic victory for President-elect Donald Trump. According to research by <a href=\"https://news.asu.edu/20220304-discoveries-sports-betting-taking-pulse-200-billion-industry\">Arizona State University</a>, Latino males are the ones most often to engage in sports betting. <a href=\"https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/politics/2020-2016-exit-polls-2024-dg/\">Exit polls</a> show that in 2020, President Joe Biden won Latino males by 23 points. In 2024, Trump won them by 12 points, a 35-point shift."},{"_id":"BQWWD6N47FDLDLTUDZRKNW6ZX4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095141},"type":"text","content":"The Georgia Republican Party also placed the question of sports betting on the primary ballot this past May. Republican primary voters were asked, “Would you support a statewide vote to allow gaming in Georgia so the voters can decide this issue instead of politicians in Atlanta?” The result was overwhelming. More than 81% of voters agreed this issue should be decided by the voters through a statewide vote, so why do Republicans keep denying our base that opportunity?"},{"_id":"Y62KFAVITJBZRPM62KPKSY27ZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095142},"type":"text","content":"Time is running out. Soon, the national and international sporting community will descend on our state for some of the biggest events in sports. We can either welcome fans with safe and legal sports betting in Georgia, or we can disappoint fans and foreclose ourselves from future big sporting events. For me, the choice is easy."},{"_id":"GLYKQP7JHJC2NOWCVKQICOZMUY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733174095143},"type":"text","content":"<i>Sen. Brandon Beach serves as the chairman of the Economic Development and Tourism Committee. He represents the 21st Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee and Fulton counties.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Not legalizing it will cost the state millions in lost revenue and could dictate whether we get future top-tier sporting events."},"description":{"basic":"Not legalizing it will cost the state millions in lost revenue and could dictate whether we get future top-tier sporting events."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"70905184d61475d910bc53427aa60199025e9716d1d09565a3fb8f46ac95c83c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/c099b09f-d696-4c8f-b093-06f7245a4663.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"ken.sugiura@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/ksugiuraajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"ken.sugiura@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/ksugiuraajc"}],"name":"Ken Sugiura","description":"Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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(Ken Sugiura/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UPSV367VTBES5OX3MH5B6YM5F4.jpg","height":1536,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/UPSV367VTBES5OX3MH5B6YM5F4.jpg?auth=70905184d61475d910bc53427aa60199025e9716d1d09565a3fb8f46ac95c83c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-the-georgia-swing-voters-who-helped-elect-trump-want-sports-betting/LAEF74BHPRGVXARPEABYUANFKM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Brandon Beach","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"The Georgia swing voters who helped elect Trump want sports betting"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:05.827Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:05.827Z","_id":"LAEF74BHPRGVXARPEABYUANFKM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"70905184d61475d910bc53427aa60199025e9716d1d09565a3fb8f46ac95c83c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"image":{"version":"0.5.8","url":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/c099b09f-d696-4c8f-b093-06f7245a4663.png"},"socialLinks":[{"site":"email","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"ken.sugiura@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","deprecated":true,"deprecation_msg":"Please use social_links.","url":"https://twitter.com/ksugiuraajc"}],"social_links":[{"site":"email","url":"ken.sugiura@ajc.com"},{"site":"twitter","url":"https://twitter.com/ksugiuraajc"}],"name":"Ken Sugiura","description":"Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.","_id":"ken-sugiura","additional_properties":{"original":{"lastName":"Sugiura","image":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/ajc/c099b09f-d696-4c8f-b093-06f7245a4663.png","role":"Sports columnist","education":[{"name":"University of Michigan (bachelor degrees in economics and Japanese)"}],"longBio":"Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 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(Ken Sugiura/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UPSV367VTBES5OX3MH5B6YM5F4.jpg","height":1536,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/UPSV367VTBES5OX3MH5B6YM5F4.jpg?auth=70905184d61475d910bc53427aa60199025e9716d1d09565a3fb8f46ac95c83c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"DSMQ5NAQWRFSHMKLSBMLN7BKGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T17:03:05.210Z","start":0,"end":1,"text":"filled in cutline under featured media tab","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733173444255},"type":"text","content":"Inflation brought Donald Trump back to the White House, or at least aided his reelection chances. In the United States, consumer price inflation was, in part, <a href=\"https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/09/11/the-role-of-housing-in-u-s-inflation/__;!!JZyed81S!gN7x9TVU9poD_LfXzYctPs3CP6pBoGhBcY1NLrojzPcBCyRB2zF4W_y3Y9Je404-2S5ATLe-M9mBs7AHTJYA3hAW1DTH$\">rent</a> inflation. Smart rent control laws could have kept growth in housing costs in check and curbed overall inflation."},{"_id":"HR3F3LPNOREOZLCGMMZST5JQGU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444256},"type":"text","content":"Corporate power is an important contributor to exploding rents. In Atlanta and many other cities across the country, <a href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/yieldstar-rent-increase-realpage-rent\" target=\"_blank\">software firm RealPage</a> operates as a cartel manager for property managers and owners. Landlords agree to share unit data — such as historical rents, maintenance costs, area and number of bedrooms — with the company. Using this information, RealPage produces rent recommendations for each client’s apartments, which favor higher rents over maximum occupancy. A landlord that previously aimed for 99% occupancy can make more money through higher rents and occupancy of 95% — provided a critical mass of rivals increase rents in tandem with each other. Collusion that used to be done in smoke-filled rooms is now done by rivals using a common algorithm."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"ef730b1bf6396dce41313b9c653adfed0d915c50578e0dca4ea3efcb3ca0189a"},"caption":"Brian Callaci","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Brian Callaci","width":3000,"_id":"CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/ghvVc2ThMI8u4klPooE1DcyF4kA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/ghvVc2ThMI8u4klPooE1DcyF4kA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/ghvVc2ThMI8u4klPooE1DcyF4kA=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/jVW6juQSF1XYqrhWh-cqSyNcoYY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Brian Callaci.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"42KFVNAIWRAQDEEHLSEQEARUXI"},"created_date":"2024-12-02T21:05:43Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T21:05:43Z","alignment":"right","height":3000,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/CJTOHSZMYZE7HHU4COQM7DQ4DY.jpeg?auth=ef730b1bf6396dce41313b9c653adfed0d915c50578e0dca4ea3efcb3ca0189a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"deb7cb9224a1d43b5d7ac32ec256ad5cb480fd90b1ce33614890f1f4bb0a1be3"},"caption":"Sandeep Vaheesan","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Sandeep Vaheesan","width":1200,"_id":"HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/dKrxyN0yEpMhWzU3kz9vy_4IY24=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/dKrxyN0yEpMhWzU3kz9vy_4IY24=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/dKrxyN0yEpMhWzU3kz9vy_4IY24=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/tByflhBGC6K_yj7XW1R3B1oOYGA=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Sandeep Vaheesan.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2VMJEJRLA5CUHK76LXKTCNAREM"},"created_date":"2024-12-02T21:06:21Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T21:06:21Z","alignment":"right","height":1600,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/HKTVU6B7R5ELFKRIUZGF73DDAA.jpg?auth=deb7cb9224a1d43b5d7ac32ec256ad5cb480fd90b1ce33614890f1f4bb0a1be3&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"ORR7HOW3ZRD4NFCW2QVR6IANPI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733317265159},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"RealPage allegedly <a href=\"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-realpage-residential\" target=\"_blank\">enforces its recommendations</a>. First, it makes overrides of recommended rents difficult. Property managers must seek approval of their supervisor and offer a written justification to RealPage. Second, RealPage threatens to cut off landlords who reject more than a small fraction of proposed rents. Third, RealPage employees conduct “secret shops” to ensure property managers are offering units at the recommended rents to prospective tenants."},{"_id":"NTY6634YXBAB3PL2TTVTWTFMWE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":184,"comment":"runup "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-19T17:00:56.267Z","start":189,"end":191,"text":"hyphenate, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733173444258},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The cartel’s effects on rents are significant, according to a national class action lawsuit filed by tenants. The use of RealPage by landlords coincided with an especially significant run-up of rents in Atlanta. Rents in the city rose by 80% between 2016, when RealPage was widely adopted by landlords, and 2023. The overall <a href=\"https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUURS49ASA0?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true\">consumer price index</a> in the metropolitan area <a href=\"https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUURS35CSA0?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true\" target=\"_blank\">increased by only 37%</a> during the same time."},{"_id":"HCJQANUL6JDXLG7MLHNNZT6YDU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444259},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"RealPage is now in serious legal trouble. In August, the <a href=\"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-realpage-algorithmic-pricing-scheme-harms-millions-american-renters\">Department of Justice</a>, joined by eight states, filed a civil antitrust complaint against the company. Earlier, the attorneys general of <a href=\"https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-realpage-residential\">Washington, D.C.</a>, and <a href=\"https://www.azag.gov/press-release/attorney-general-mayes-sues-realpage-and-residential-landlords-illegal-price-fixing\">Arizona</a> filed their own lawsuits. These suits are necessary and worthwhile, both to hold RealPage accountable and to remind corporations that collusion, if proved, will not be tolerated."},{"_id":"GS6QQKLVINA7LNMG5SGXNKGUEU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444260},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Antitrust lawsuits have serious limits, however. The cases against RealPage will take years to resolve and entail significant expenses by the government and law firms representing tenants. The federal government reportedly began <a href=\"https://www.propublica.org/article/yieldstar-realpage-rent-doj-investigation-antitrust\" target=\"_blank\">investigating RealPage in 2022</a>, but it filed suit only a few months ago. Even these seemingly slam-dunk antitrust cases are not certain to succeed. In the meantime, tenants will continue to overpay for housing, showing that remedying bad conduct after the fact is never easy. However, one winner is already clear: RealPage’s lawyers, who will bill at least tens of thousands of hours defending their client."},{"_id":"ELK2B7OTDBGQVP6RNA67LJT4CQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444261},"type":"text","content":"The RealPage cartel shows the public value of rent control laws. Consider a hypothetical rent control measure tied to the consumer price index: If the local CPI increased 5% in 2024, a landlord generally could not raise rents more than 5%. These laws strike a balance between protecting tenants and allowing landlords to recover their costs and make a reasonable profit."},{"_id":"ZXL2VY5VIFGOXD5XHBBEKJ5QAE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444262},"type":"text","content":"A national rent control law along these lines would have made RealPage’s scheme a nonstarter. If the CPI increased 2% in a 12-month period, landlords in general could not raise rents by more than 2%. A RealPage recommendation to raise rent 5% would be illegal under this law, unless a landlord could show a regulator that its costs rose by 5%. The incentive to collude on rents would largely vanish, and rents would follow overall inflation, instead of leading it."},{"_id":"U73YQDZDEVFYLOELUMR6SX6D2Q","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"MV7OFHFJ7FD3VDNBALLF6EPNTM"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"AJC: RealPage faces new antitrust claims from the Justice Department","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/realpage-faces-new-antitrust-claims-from-doj/JKNABMHE5RAFZCOJRSLGYRDPIQ/"},{"_id":"7THO4TAKHFA7DEMDX4QJEYD4CM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444264},"type":"text","content":"Importantly, smart rent control does more than stop collusion in its tracks. Well-designed rent control laws protect tenants against the pricing power of landlords, no matter the source, be it a small property owner seeking to take advantage of an elderly couple who cannot relocate easily, or a nationwide cartel of landlords using sophisticated software to boost their collective revenues and profits. The RealPage scandal underscores the need for strong rental market protections and illustrates that, at a macro and micro level, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."},{"_id":"DSMQ5NAQWRFSHMKLSBMLN7BKGY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733173444265},"type":"text","content":"<i>Brian Callaci is chief economist and Sandeep Vaheesan is legal director at the Open Markets Institute, an antimonopoly research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The Justice Department is suing a company that helps landlords set rents."},"description":{"basic":"The Justice Department is suing a company that helps landlords set rents."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"1b0b67cca5c5af6af9798b9c3e32738e921b07d9bf45d6d5d0e187438ed29d8a"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Spring Quarter\r","width":3300,"caption":"The use of RealPage by landlords coincided with an especially significant run-up of rents in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7EXG2L5MKJUGYF77NWDIEAHYPA.JPG","height":2200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7EXG2L5MKJUGYF77NWDIEAHYPA.JPG?auth=1b0b67cca5c5af6af9798b9c3e32738e921b07d9bf45d6d5d0e187438ed29d8a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-rent-control-is-inflation-control-and-atlanta-is-ground-zero/74YU3XSYCVANXETR23RVJDMBUM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Brian Callaci","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"},{"org":"","name":"Sandeep Vaheesan","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Rent control is inflation control, and Atlanta is ground zero"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-04T11:00:06.116Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-19T17:03:59.001Z","_id":"74YU3XSYCVANXETR23RVJDMBUM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"1b0b67cca5c5af6af9798b9c3e32738e921b07d9bf45d6d5d0e187438ed29d8a"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"arvin.temkar@ajc.com","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Arvin Temkar","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"Spring Quarter\r","width":3300,"caption":"The use of RealPage by landlords coincided with an especially significant run-up of rents in Atlanta. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/7EXG2L5MKJUGYF77NWDIEAHYPA.JPG","height":2200,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/7EXG2L5MKJUGYF77NWDIEAHYPA.JPG?auth=1b0b67cca5c5af6af9798b9c3e32738e921b07d9bf45d6d5d0e187438ed29d8a&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"LFIKN4JRQBFYDFBB6KC4VVINSQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T17:51:57.897Z","start":168,"end":170,"text":"added \"a\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733242014557},"type":"text","content":"Driving through Atlanta’s Eastside one evening in late October, I was struck by the sight of a large fir with sparkling white lights on display in the picture window of a modern-style home."},{"_id":"7PTRWOPMLZBIDHY76M736S4OUU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014558},"type":"text","content":"Was that a Christmas tree? In October? Before Halloween?"},{"_id":"KFZS4Y4CXJFVVJGP7FXAGT5YVU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014559},"type":"text","content":"My initial surprise was dulled when I noticed this phenomenon across metro Atlanta."},{"_id":"CJTPTK643VAZHNW7SNJGKVNHMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014560},"type":"text","content":"Students in Sandy Springs were wearing Santa hats to school before Thanksgiving break."},{"_id":"RTK6AGQHQJFG7FKUC5TMPSUPMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014561},"type":"text","content":"Santa was posted up at Lenox Square, taking pictures with kids almost two months before his official 24-hour gift-delivery shift."},{"_id":"RLBPKDSFYVBKPKT5SQPVNPUCMM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014562},"type":"text","content":"Days before Thanksgiving, at the Halidom, a local eatery on Moreland Avenue, giant silver Christmas bulbs at the entrance competed for space with pumpkins still leftover from Halloween."},{"_id":"FKQQXA6XTRCGBG4332C7GGNXOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014563},"type":"text","content":"Once again, Christmas had arrived early, and some Atlanta residents seemed to embrace its early onset."},{"_id":"ITBSHSEKZJHPJMWWJ2AZAXZ2ZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014564},"type":"text","content":"I was preparing to write this column about the evils of commercialism until I realized that those evils have been pushing us toward early Christmas preparations for more than 100 years."},{"_id":"F3UEIFPQE5FMTEBNKX45I4OL3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014565},"type":"text","content":"So now I’m less interested in the fact that people are decorating or shopping for Christmas earlier, and more interested in the research showing that doing so is good for our emotional well-being."},{"_id":"4WL6QL6KUJDMVCZM2CAP5DMBYQ","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PQ4HRILJTNDWZDTHZKHY2QVYVU"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Fish 104.7 switches to Christmas music on its earliest date ever","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/fish-1047-switches-to-christmas-on-its-earliest-date-ever/PVNKAUBU35HOZJGQGDXXZHVYL4/"},{"_id":"VRBYWIG2P5GLHJERQPTCLCJBDU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014566},"type":"text","content":"I’ve written plenty of stories about Christmas creep, a term coined in the 1980s, but only recently did I learn that Americans have been arguing about it for a century."},{"_id":"7C5WL4FKJ5EE5MI6CT622PLLYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014567},"type":"text","content":"Newspapers recorded early starts to the Christmas season as far back as the 1880s. In 1913, an ad from the Montag Brothers in the Atlanta Georgian encouraged retailers to stop by their Nelson Street shop to stock up on Christmas goods or risk losing business from customers shopping in early December."},{"_id":"YRX2HPQYEFBEFHE2KVI4BM7BYQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":81,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014568},"type":"text","content":"Initially, Americans were cool with early Christmas preparations, but around 1941 those attitudes shifted. That’s when Congress decided Thanksgiving should be permanently parked on the fourth Thursday in November. Previously, the country was divided, with some states still celebrating Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November. The change lengthened the Christmas shopping season and gave retailers ample time to rack up Christmas sales."},{"_id":"GWLCTUPBZNA3RE4GOJBUNCMMCU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733244408435},"type":"text","content":"The following year, Americans were urged to shop for and ship Christmas presents before Nov. 1 if they wanted loved ones stationed overseas during World War II to receive packages in time."},{"_id":"3WE6J3W7QNFPFPEILOWFRYXNPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014571},"type":"text","content":"According to <a href=\"https://contingentmagazine.org/2022/11/07/when-christmas-started-creeping/#\">extensive research by Bill Black</a>, these two events are the reason Thanksgiving lost its role as the “starting post of the holiday season.”"},{"_id":"5V672ZXCWBHU5HTNKCNT6Z3XBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":118,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014572},"type":"text","content":"Some of us are still complaining about Christmas creep — mainly those of us concerned with commercialism, Christianity or ennui evolving from too much of a good thing. But many of us now also recognize Christmas creep for what it is — just another Christmas tradition."},{"_id":"P5I47624AJGM5MJY7G3KKKU5QY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":193,"comment":"5 "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T18:04:55.749Z","start":194,"end":196,"text":"generally spell out one through nine, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733242014573},"type":"text","content":"For many years, I waited until mid-December to put up the tree and decorate my home. And I was always the person bolting to the store on the eve of Christmas Eve to buy gifts. But for the past five years or so, it has been our family tradition to put up Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving."},{"_id":"M7RMQBCUT5AOPALYNOIP33B5HM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T17:55:49.948Z","start":85,"end":87,"text":"added \"no\" here","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733244408439},"type":"text","content":"While I may be surprised when I see Christmas trees and Santa hats in October, I will no longer complain about the early arrival of the Christmas spirit for one main reason: It makes us happy."},{"_id":"ERILP4VDQVFAHMLYPBYDP2NFF4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014575},"type":"text","content":"When the tree is decorated, when the mantle is dressed and a fire is blazing in the fireplace, when the “Joy” sign in the window is illuminated and casting a soft red light throughout the living room, the entire house feels a bit warmer, a bit more joy-filled, a bit more like Christmas."},{"_id":"MMSF63UQXVG7NJIKTLRYDRPGHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":152,"comment":","}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T17:58:04.209Z","start":152,"end":154,"text":"removed commas","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733242014576},"type":"text","content":"“Christmas decorations stir up pleasant emotions and the sooner you decorate, the longer you experience the benefits,” writes author and psychotherapist <a href=\"https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/what-mentally-strong-people-dont-do/202411/why-decorating-early-for-christmas-may-make-you?amp\" target=\"_blank\">Amy Morin for Psychology Today.</a>"},{"_id":"ZPQWXGO22BCT5N2KMZFOUPSLHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014577},"type":"text","content":"Getting into the Christmas spirit by doing things like decorating, listening to Christmas music and baking cookies connects us to nostalgia that reminds us of loved ones and our childhoods. Those memories bring deeper meaning to our lives and our social bonds, Morin writes."},{"_id":"WRKHO2HEMNF7VMYOH55NXBPZFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014578},"type":"text","content":"Preparing early for Christmas can also help soothe collective anxiety, and we’ve had plenty of that lately."},{"_id":"KXA3QX3XV5EODENPAKLCSFOYHI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014579},"type":"text","content":"Though you may get a few eye rolls for blasting Christmas tunes in September or setting your reindeer on the roof in October, an early dive into Christmas can also signal to strangers that you are welcoming and open to connections. That can’t be a bad thing at a time when so many locals are experiencing feelings of loneliness."},{"_id":"L64FFSJL4ZDYBGYYIKA4VN6ZRA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"V2LBDAGI7RA65D5THJBT24PK4E"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"RHONE: How to combat the loneliness epidemic","url":"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/columnists/rhone-how-to-combat-the-loneliness-epidemic/VEHVMUKLGFA7FGYTZ3FFH4KWOI/"},{"_id":"KEBTOXSKQFDBRA47RYNA5MEDYA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733242014581},"type":"text","content":"Decorating early can help expel the winter blues and spread good vibes among friends, family and strangers. And Christmas is a time when we all feel a little more encouraged to care deeply about others; to spread love; to give gifts for the sake of giving; and to do all of those things beyond our immediate social circles."},{"_id":"GOTSZRMFM5GIHPLXGVS6SSNPYU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":94,"comment":","}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T18:04:30.010Z","start":94,"end":96,"text":"tweaked placement of commas","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733242014585},"type":"text","content":"Hundreds of years of complaints and concerns about Christmas creep haven’t changed a thing. So let’s just embrace it once and for all, and revel in the extra joy it can bring."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":67,"comment":"and "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-12-03T18:00:30.243Z","start":31,"end":33,"text":"removed www. from websites","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1733191238792},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>), find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"Was that a Christmas tree? In October? Before Halloween?"},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion/columnists","parent":{"default":"/opinion"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/opinion","name":"AJC Columnists","description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion/columnists","additional_properties":{"original":{"parent":{"AmpNav":"/opinion","default":"/opinion","MainMenu2024":"/opinion","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null,"TopNav":null,"ComposerNav":"/opinion"},"site":{"section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Articles by columnists from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"AJC Columnists"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"AJC Columnists"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"AJC Columnists","_id":"/opinion/columnists","ancestors":{"MainMenu2024":["/","/opinion"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"ComposerNav":["/opinion"]},"order":{"MainMenu2024":2002,"SectionMap":1074,"ComposerNav":2003}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion/columnists","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"},{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion/columnists","name":"AJC Columnists"},"tags":[{"text":"lifestyle"},{"text":"atlanta-news-metro.ajc"},{"text":"real life blog"},{"text":"teamdan"},{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"localnews.ajc"},{"text":"sp-holidayguide"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"OPINION"},"custom_label":{"display":true,"text":"Real Life with Nedra Rhone"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"71d170362f93dfd08f9ec24096e647402d6c751189a890cd2c427e35bdb75a8c"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Ben Gray","type":"author"}]},"width":4000,"caption":"Janelle Allayah (center), with Beltline Cosplay, cheers during the Christmas parade and tree lighting at Atlantic Station in Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. 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Previously, Rhone was a staff writer at Newsday where her first assignment was covering the devastating impact of 9/11 on the families and communities of Long Island. She later covered K-12 education for Long Island's 125 school districts and is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for her reporting on women in hip-hop. ","org":"ajc","affiliations":"The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","bio":"Nedra Rhone is a lifestyle columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution where she has been a reporter since 2006. 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(Ben Gray for the AJC)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YWT472VYVFH4FLKKSCOYPUTV6Q.JPG","height":2667,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YWT472VYVFH4FLKKSCOYPUTV6Q.JPG?auth=71d170362f93dfd08f9ec24096e647402d6c751189a890cd2c427e35bdb75a8c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"ZLUGB7KA6NDKJOKOKOJFKCOECM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604024},"type":"text","content":"To my colleagues in public health: Don’t despair."},{"_id":"P5FIW5LC7JFSNERGL5WKM6M67E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604025},"type":"text","content":"I have heard your concerns: You have spent a lifetime trying to improve health only to have it dismantled, vaccines disparaged, the foundation of public health discouraged, leaders with no public health experience and no involvement in running large institutions appointed to run our trusted institutions."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"c24822f212a391b6aae32b284ed5c2d39d44aa19b7e916284108ec4cfda479dc"},"caption":"William \"Bill\" Foege","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"contributed","type":"author","byline":"contributed"}]},"subtitle":"William \"Bill\" Foege","width":552,"creditIPTC":"contributed","_id":"4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","owner":"andre.jackson@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/PoBpQ_JOomEHdCVeeoQ36L305M8=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/S0lMfhpuIKgTcACm_xqyS0QEi-o=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Dr. Bill Foege.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"JBHJHXKHTJHY7OYJP2MZ26C56I"},"created_date":"2023-05-11T19:03:32Z","last_updated_date":"2023-05-11T19:03:32Z","alignment":"right","height":768,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/4627XPLMKVDPFEJ5XWMBA55ZZE.jpg?auth=c24822f212a391b6aae32b284ed5c2d39d44aa19b7e916284108ec4cfda479dc&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"DCVKS2YJXBA4HFB5RYT4JZZKBA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604026},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"So, what is the positive side?"},{"_id":"4CPHCJ5B5BFCZPEV7EQLAR22SY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604027},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"First, everything you have done to protect children with vaccines, to gain knowledge by <a href=\"https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/ebola-response\" target=\"_blank\">responding to Ebola</a> and <a href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0822-mpox-outbreak.html\" target=\"_blank\">other outbreaks</a>, every addition you have made to public health will continue. The children who have been vaccinated are protected, probably for life. Your efforts are not lost."},{"_id":"XKZJXRP5LNCM5ACFKI52WH4ME4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604028},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"But second, I have known every director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the past 65 years. Each one took seriously the overwhelming responsibility of eliminating premature mortality, unnecessary morbidity and compromised life quality. David Weldon, <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/trump-picks-former-congressman-dave-weldon-to-head-atlanta-based-cdc/QIXFMG4NXNHDNMP57GHB57J6AM/\" target=\"_blank\">President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for CDC director</a>, will face that same heavy responsibility. We assume he will want to succeed, and he will depend on the CDC’s entire workforce to provide the best information and support, just as it has done for every director."},{"_id":"2I7FOK3H5NAI5JXCTWB72XGXS4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604029},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Third, Weldon is medically trained. He surely understands that vaccines are the very foundation of public health. With briefings from the most knowledgeable people in the world on vaccines and interactions with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, he will learn that 3 million deaths each year are averted globally because of the smallpox vaccine, and another 3 million deaths are averted each year globally because of the measles vaccine."},{"_id":"CHFOJSP6CJHWZLBAOQ2DXQJGRI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604030},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"I have no expectation that <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/article/rfk-conspiracy-theories-fact-check.html\" target=\"_blank\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has the <a href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mzk2y41zvo\" target=\"_blank\">capacity to evaluate scientific facts</a>, so the CDC must take every opportunity to advise Weldon on public health, and especially vaccines, to support the remarkable effort of so many people who put public health above personal gain."},{"_id":"IQURJ4MFYNFUHBE5O4HJ4DQ4DI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604031},"type":"text","content":"Fourth, though some would like to isolate politicians from public health issues, the simple truth is that all of our public health work is based on political decisions and politically reviewed appropriations. We absolutely need politicians in public health and to represent us in hearings. We need politicians who are motivated to invest themselves in healthy outcomes, not just appropriations. We need a combination of public health and politics, and Weldon can, if he chooses to, bring the public health world and the political world together."},{"_id":"TTUB52XG6VEZ3A3H6VV2XIUPWA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604032},"type":"text","content":"So, my fellow public health workers, continue to give your best, using the finest science available, and never compromise your integrity. Science gets its power from being used, not simply existing. The public health community has a reputation for advancing consequential science and consequential compassion. You have been trained to solve tough problems. Accept this as a challenge, to unravel the epidemic of nonsense and to show that the health of Americans depends on coordinating with health workers globally. Weldon left medical school with the same burden placed on all physicians: “First, do no harm.” To leave the World Health Organization, as the first Trump administration tried to do, would be medical malpractice and no physician wants to be accused of that."},{"_id":"N76JV3ZDQ5FNHA7JBX3DIHQENI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":192,"comment":"are "}],"comments":[],"_id":1733174061491},"type":"text","content":"But it is not just the improvement of our health. There are also <a href=\"https://immunizationevidence.org/the-value-of-vaccines-investments-in-immunization-yield-high-returns/\" target=\"_blank\">economic benefits</a>. The United States recoups its investment in smallpox eradication every three months. Our savings thus far is180 times our investment (billions of dollars in the past 45 years) and will continue to grow forever. Our investment in the measles vaccine around the world spared us the expense of controlling measles outbreaks in this country. The reduction in measles vaccine use in other countries now requires continuous responses to measles importations. We need to constantly remind ourselves of our interdependence. We are in this together. Every place in the world is both local and global, therefore, wherever you are working in public health, it means you are working in global health, and we share the objective of global health equity."},{"_id":"2XKUFKHIY5D33IYN5FTLTLNHGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1733158851434},"type":"text","content":"We stand together in the interest of all people to advance public health. No administration can take that from us."},{"_id":"4BJSVWYTCBFRND2T2NTEUPESMU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732906604033},"type":"text","content":"<i>William H. Foege is a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He is a physician and epidemiologist whose global health contributions led to the eradication of smallpox in the late 1970s. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Robert Weldon can bring the public health world and the political world togther."},"description":{"basic":"Robert Weldon can bring the public health world and the political world together."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1094,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"3689ca47f0255fe8b0fc8f2962ad1c2ebe5f3f62289b6f555f31d9875c4e954d"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}],"by":[{"name":"Dreamstime","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-MED-NJ-MUMPS-DMT","width":1600,"caption":"The United States' investments in public health will long outlast any one administration. 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Here in Georgia, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on the values that unite us: collaboration, creativity and compassion."},{"_id":"FDVYSWJYRZDIJGQRNHZ7N7KYFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438525},"type":"text","content":"As the executive director of South Fulton Arts (SFA), I see daily how the arts embody those values. Yet, the arts are often overlooked when it comes to charitable giving. This GivingTuesday, I urge Georgians to recognize the arts not just as a source of inspiration and joy, but also as a vital force that shapes our identity, strengthens our economy and brings us closer as a community."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"a763c680bc6690283b8a99c6e3eda32727a9820b032c2a087e735f54fe1ede9c"},"caption":"Jennifer Bauer-Lyons","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Jennifer Bauer-Lyons","width":500,"_id":"G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/fUBDc2HKW3GRtcYAbALi2lv7dxc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/fUBDc2HKW3GRtcYAbALi2lv7dxc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/fUBDc2HKW3GRtcYAbALi2lv7dxc=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/9MA9GHFxRnTScOH3qY_9O0wahKM=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Jennifer Bauer-Lyons.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RXT5UHQIJBFWHOPDVMTQ7UVB5U"},"created_date":"2024-11-27T20:47:56Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-27T20:47:56Z","alignment":"right","height":767,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/G5XKXDI3VJD7RMQVVQAOEUJIQI.jpg?auth=a763c680bc6690283b8a99c6e3eda32727a9820b032c2a087e735f54fe1ede9c&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"TS5SOOEPYFGPJPTJ7WQICPTBTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438526},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The arts sector in Georgia is a powerhouse. It generates more than $49 million in local, county and state tax revenue <a href=\"https://gaarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GA_StateOfGeorgia_AEP6_OnePageSummary.pdf\">for Georgia</a>, and supports more than 10,000 jobs, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 national study conducted by Americans for the Arts and facilitated by <a href=\"https://gaarts.org/impact-of-the-arts-in-georgia/\">Georgia Council for the Arts</a>. But these numbers only scratch the surface of what the arts mean to our communities."},{"_id":"LRJEPHEFNJHOJFJ7RMVH6FNRKA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438527},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The arts foster empathy, bridge divides and inspire innovation. They provide young people with outlets for creativity and self-expression and create gathering spaces where people of all backgrounds can connect. As one South Fulton school principal recently shared, our programs at South Fulton Arts “showed my students that they have options.” That’s the kind of impact that lasts a lifetime."},{"_id":"XJLDLQPQWNCTFPGTQQZNXE7GEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438528},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Arts organizations like South Fulton Arts also serve as lifelines for communities that have historically been underserved. By providing accessible programming on a pay-what-you-can basis, we make sure everyone, regardless of income, can participate in the transformative power of the arts. This accessibility is particularly crucial in areas where the arts are often underfunded or inaccessible, ensuring no one is left out of the experience. The arts create a ripple effect that touches every aspect of life."},{"_id":"JTKNQGB5HVCZHE5NVCQFAQLHOE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438529},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"GivingTuesday matters because it encourages us to make intentional choices about how we want to shape our world. By supporting the arts, you’re supporting Georgia’s economy, fostering vibrant neighborhoods and investing in the stories that bring us together."},{"_id":"CRANGCUN7ZEDBFGX2XDWOERWWQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438530},"type":"text","content":"Imagine a world without music, murals, dance or theater. Imagine Georgia without its rich cultural tapestry. GivingTuesday reminds us that we don’t have to imagine that future. We can ensure the arts thrive with every dollar we give."},{"_id":"RGV3TADTMVBRZNODXSHTP4337E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438531},"type":"text","content":"On this special day, we have the power to elevate the voices of artists, preserve the legacy of our cultural institutions and make sure the next generation experiences the arts in all their forms. The impact of a single gift can be far-reaching, touching lives in ways we may never fully see."},{"_id":"ABMMG4MV4FCAXCHTTXLQHKOTXY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438532},"type":"text","content":"Let’s make GivingTuesday a starting point for a year-round commitment to the arts. Together, we can ensure that the arts remain a cornerstone of Georgia’s growth and a beacon of hope for all who call this state home."},{"_id":"QPEN5LY35VFYTLUVA3BJLEU5SE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732740438533},"type":"text","content":"<i>Jennifer Bauer-Lyons is executive director of South Fulton Arts.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"The arts are a vital force that shapes our identity, strengthens our economy and brings us closer as a community."},"description":{"basic":"The arts are a vital force that shapes our identity, strengthens our economy and brings us closer as a community."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1092,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"8cd3db4c3747497023f16c224b4ea945af5a299d2203adc099d1060b872ddd88"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Jenni Girtman","type":"author","byline":"Jenni Girtman"}]},"subtitle":"Aurora Theatre expands in Lawrencville","width":3000,"caption":"Aurora Theatre's new $31 million theater complex in downtown Lawrenceville under construction in March 2021. The arts support a wide variety of jobs in Georgia. (Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KTZOZFOPM5EDTEHW6W7L2XA7CI.JPG","height":2227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KTZOZFOPM5EDTEHW6W7L2XA7CI.JPG?auth=8cd3db4c3747497023f16c224b4ea945af5a299d2203adc099d1060b872ddd88&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-giving-tuesday-is-a-day-to-invest-in-the-arts-and-our-future/7SNVJFXOOJG7HODKDFTQEPQIKM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-12-02T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Jennifer Bauer-Lyons","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"GivingTuesday: A day to invest in the arts and our future"},"first_publish_date":"2024-12-02T11:00:07.587Z","last_updated_date":"2024-12-02T11:00:07.587Z","_id":"7SNVJFXOOJG7HODKDFTQEPQIKM","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"8cd3db4c3747497023f16c224b4ea945af5a299d2203adc099d1060b872ddd88"},"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Jenni Girtman","type":"author","byline":"Jenni Girtman"}]},"subtitle":"Aurora Theatre expands in Lawrencville","width":3000,"caption":"Aurora Theatre's new $31 million theater complex in downtown Lawrenceville under construction in March 2021. The arts support a wide variety of jobs in Georgia. (Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/KTZOZFOPM5EDTEHW6W7L2XA7CI.JPG","height":2227,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/KTZOZFOPM5EDTEHW6W7L2XA7CI.JPG?auth=8cd3db4c3747497023f16c224b4ea945af5a299d2203adc099d1060b872ddd88&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"A4KI5UIIVFB7POBMT6H5UAS7MQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838385},"type":"text","content":"As widely reported, this year’s hurricane season provided conclusive verification of the disastrous downside of denying climate change and delaying actions to curb it. Earth scientists estimate that Hurricane Helene’s rainfall was doubled by human-created climate disruption, causing record-breaking flood damage in the billions of dollars and costing more than 200 human lives. Scientific analysis of Hurricane Milton’s winds and rains reached similar conclusions."},{"_id":"PLL2NQNJTNFBJMQZ7HG2WYABL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838386},"type":"text","content":"These tragic events follow a decade of increasing heat-related illnesses and deaths, crop failures, alarming decline in marine fisheries and devastating forest fires, generating an average of $150 billion in annual U.S. damages according to the most recent reckoning."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"13a4e797ae9c66c70ef3e372f04c972825cb1d20daf0945ffcb678ab5b8bfe4f"},"caption":"David Kyler","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"David Kyler","width":326,"_id":"IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/_yHRrHGNH4EOJo2ClgTiWan2npk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[""],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/_yHRrHGNH4EOJo2ClgTiWan2npk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","takenOn":"2017-06-10T09:03:46Z","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/_yHRrHGNH4EOJo2ClgTiWan2npk=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/5DIHreVmSpin-ipy-IiRtBdwWi0=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"David Kyler.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"RCDKPW6SYNGKNBCAXYJZVKCMMM"},"created_date":"2024-06-28T17:07:14Z","last_updated_date":"2024-06-28T17:07:14Z","alignment":"right","height":325,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/IIHTCJ3UWZBLTFA7XHWQ5GFT4I.jpeg?auth=13a4e797ae9c66c70ef3e372f04c972825cb1d20daf0945ffcb678ab5b8bfe4f&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"3K6LSZ3DO5CB3O6UOH5C2IZJTU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838388},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In light of such trends and findings, Georgia’s policies are troubling testimony to the state’s resolute negligence by propagating the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity and subsidizing activities that increase demand for such dirty energy."},{"_id":"OTLTDZGKZRHUTHDIPWIALXU2EM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838389},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"In contrast with more responsible states that are advancing clean energy and phasing out polluting power sources releasing heat-trapping emissions, within the past two years Georgia’s Public Service Commission approved Georgia Power’s expanded — and prolonged — burning of more fossil fuels to generate electricity for decades ahead. Moreover, it did so while PSC members falsely portrayed Georgia as progressive on green energy because the state sponsors manufacturers of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles, while failing to acknowledge the dirty energy being used by industrial operations subsidized under state policies, including billions of dollars in tax credits, cheap land and low-priced electricity."},{"_id":"CZH75O2H7RDVRMNHRAYI63BL3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838390},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Thanks to state tax credits that attract energy-hungry data centers, Georgia’s self-created, dirty-energy predicaments will be accelerating."},{"_id":"MHKFFLQXW5FX3CT5YXCXFVBXXU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838391},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Most Georgia Power residential customers, who have suffered an average 30% increase in monthly bills over the past two years, are unaware that they’re helping to subsidize Georgia’s industrialization — since, under PSC-approved policies, households pay far more per kilowatt-hour of electricity than industrial customers — 67% more using the latest figures."},{"_id":"V5C6427LEBCT5B66S5YEWJLDFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838392},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Those who are aware of this unjust imbalance in energy pricing are asking why residential customers are being forced to subsidize cheap and dirty power for industries, many of which jack up property taxes despite degrading the quality of life in their communities"},{"_id":"3TG2FNK63RAIFEKCX7PG3UWRLQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":72,"comment":"“"},{"pos":102,"comment":"”"},{"pos":154,"comment":"Climate-Xchange "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-11-29T20:07:11.036Z","start":72,"end":74,"text":"formatted to full name and removed quotation marks; also styled nonprofit to Climate XChange, per their website","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1732907838393},"type":"text","content":"To help speed the transition to legitimate, much-needed clean energy, a <a href=\"https://climate-xchange.org/dashboard/\">State Climate Policy Dashboard</a> was created by the national nonprofit organization Climate XChange. The dashboard presents compelling comparisons of U.S. states in relation to their climate-action efforts. The dashboard’s profile of Georgia identifies nine important energy policies that have not been enacted, though they have been adopted by many other states."},{"_id":"GFRLD3KCHJHIPKYWDCPFOINWVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838394},"type":"text","content":"Among Georgia’s neglected climate-friendly energy policies:"},{"_id":"ILIK5QCY3VEQDMDUPD64FBYHYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838395},"type":"text","content":"· <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/clean-energy-standard\">Clean energy and renewable portfolio standards</a>;"},{"_id":"LHHSPBI6NFA5XL755N4MMQUZI4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838396},"type":"text","content":"· <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/electricity-ghg-targets\">Greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets</a>;"},{"_id":"CHSARMJNPZB5BKMEQGLPWUY3BE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":104,"comment":"."}],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838397},"type":"text","content":"· <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/clean-energy-plans\">Clean energy plans</a> (Georgia’s only plan for reducing emissions omits the power sector and is voluntary);"},{"_id":"SXTAT5G32FELNFTHTRARUBJTBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838398},"type":"text","content":"· <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/distributed-generation\">Distributed generation/solar carve-out</a>;"},{"_id":"R6HIRLOMDNAL7PIIGDFSSY67PE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838399},"type":"text","content":"· <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/energy-storage-targets\">Energy storage targets</a>;"},{"_id":"KXXIOIA4FFACJJNTLBT6WUAICE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838400},"type":"text","content":"· And <a href=\"https://www.climatepolicydashboard.org/policies/electricity/coal-phaseouts\">coal phaseouts</a>."},{"_id":"NDKHUUTVDZGVFE35REWGXZW54E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":479,"comment":" legislature"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-11-29T20:01:24.116Z","start":491,"end":493,"text":"capitalize in reference to specific state legislature even when state name is dropped, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1732909111866},"type":"text","content":"To address these policy deficiencies, key legislators should form a joint General Assembly study committee, with members from both the state Senate and House. Although the state has an ongoing study committee looking into disaster mitigation and resilience, there is a conspicuous absence of any Georgia legislative initiative exploring the escalating causes of such hardships. Rather than developing legislation that only blunts the costly adverse consequences of disasters, the Legislature should diligently seek to eliminate state policies and practices that worsen them."},{"_id":"3OI3FXRWBFGU3OMLZYTBVVK7L4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838402},"type":"text","content":"Such a study committee should seek answers to these critical questions:"},{"list_type":"unordered","_id":"UDMF5PDJ25CLNPNCU4UEFEC3CY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"type":"list","items":[{"_id":"TGTJACFAERBL7B4PKU4E4JMUYM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"What are other states doing to reduce the emission of heat-trapping gases that are the cause of rising temperatures and worsening costs/impacts of climate change?"},{"_id":"FMSSJLQ2CZG4LCIOMVU5YJ5T3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"How can state policies both reduce these causes of climate change and also prevent other damage to natural resources imposed by economic development?"},{"_id":"FOH4CZVNVFBRZH65CGTCWHTLRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":153,"comment":"– "}],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"What existing state policies and practices are working against the public interest by shifting unjust impacts of development onto citizens and taxpayers — such as charging residential customers higher electricity fees?"},{"_id":"I2UIAPSM3VFGXE6KDWVRK47U7Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"How can proposed projects and legislation be accountably reviewed and evaluated in advance to prevent collateral environmental damage and reduced quality of life?"},{"_id":"6LW7A2YI6FCKRHZRKKHOJFIMVM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[]},"block_properties":{},"type":"text","content":"What kinds of information should be gathered and reported to the public for accurately determining whether policy goals are being achieved?"}]},{"_id":"BL5QSZPLCRFADF3OC44SJT5W7E","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838404},"type":"text","content":"Based on rapidly accumulating evidence documenting the costly harms attributed to the state’s ill-conceived energy and development policies, it is time for Georgians to be granted the benefit of thoroughly examined policy measures that will help reduce environmental threats. To ensure the effectiveness of these measures, throughout policymaking decisions the public must be kept well-informed and actively engaged."},{"_id":"LPH5ZHQA7NFWJAL4NXBA7RHHSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":19,"comment":"cofounder "}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-11-29T20:04:06.711Z","start":28,"end":30,"text":"hyphenate words that indicate occupation or status, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1732909111870},"type":"text","content":"<i>David Kyler is the co-founder and director of the </i><a href=\"http://www.sustainablecoast.org/\" target=\"_blank\"><i>Center for a Sustainable Coast</i></a><i>, a donor-supported nonprofit established in 1997 to protect, restore and conserve coastal Georgia’s environment.</i>"},{"_id":"POH7GPN5UNFZPGSGHKAJHAXIGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732907838406},"type":"text","content":"<br/>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Georgia’s policies are troubling testimony to the state’s resolute negligence by propagating the use of fossil fuels."},"description":{"basic":"Georgia’s policies are troubling testimony to the state’s resolute negligence by propagating the use of fossil fuels."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1092,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"ddc8a26c634510aa02775801ddee6b4e368c435d9c26d3bc56e9fa779871e8b0"},"credits":{"by":[{"name":"Elijah Nouvelage","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"COVID-19′s hidden cost: Georgia taxpayers pay more for public-debt financing","width":5393,"caption":"Plant Scherer, a Georgia Power plant, is located near Juliette. 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(Elijah Nouvelage for the AJC 2021)","type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"AJC Freelancer","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/RHMEFWCK3DAUC2ZOYAFQDNLMRE.jpg","height":3593,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/RHMEFWCK3DAUC2ZOYAFQDNLMRE.jpg?auth=ddc8a26c634510aa02775801ddee6b4e368c435d9c26d3bc56e9fa779871e8b0&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"FHWFLAIBDVF5LGDBYPXDYZZ42M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535153},"type":"text","content":"It’s time to make shopping small a lifestyle."},{"_id":"SL5JGRWA7VHCFNS2XMFBL7RL3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535154},"type":"text","content":"With Small Business Saturday just around the corner, it’s more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a call to action and a reminder of my mantra: Support is a verb."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"3ab2d3ea8fe3aac44d4aef4e4c7a2fb6a6f4a68f3f06279d5bb7b35ff58dee27"},"caption":"Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon","width":5477,"_id":"O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/k9LIrSTT31edV4Rfyv0jhypqP3U=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/k9LIrSTT31edV4Rfyv0jhypqP3U=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/k9LIrSTT31edV4Rfyv0jhypqP3U=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/50BnKWlZmYBFrnkld19ymEGmYHY=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg","version":0,"originalName":"Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon.jpeg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"2IWCXXOHQ5EXXMYP2V5NNFZCUY"},"created_date":"2024-11-29T13:09:22Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-29T13:09:22Z","alignment":"right","height":4382,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/O3DJ4GUPQJGRTGFWR34HPZTE2Q.jpeg?auth=3ab2d3ea8fe3aac44d4aef4e4c7a2fb6a6f4a68f3f06279d5bb7b35ff58dee27&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"6N5VBMH2RFAGJDDGBUB2ZR6TNM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535155},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Small businesses are lifelines in the community — vehicles that employ and roots that anchor thriving neighborhoods. According to the <a href=\"https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Express,on%20behalf%20of%20American%20Express.\" target=\"_blank\">American Express 2022 Small Business Economic Impact Study</a>, small businesses are crucial in stimulating local economies. For every dollar spent at a small business in the United States, about 68 cents remain in the local community, showcasing the economic benefits of shopping locally."},{"_id":"WFJZOSKSZVALHLSM5MNMMS5XLA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535156},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This year has been one of the toughest for small businesses, with economic pressures and shifting consumer habits posing significant challenges. Still, small businesses across our city and region are fueled by an undeniable purpose to serve, innovate and connect."},{"_id":"54BFBMBUUFC27JKBI3PWOP5UPE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535157},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"For many entrepreneurs, starting a business isn’t just a choice; it’s a calling and it’s a purpose. It’s a response to a community’s need or a vision of something better. When I founded <a href=\"https://thevillagemarket.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Village Market</a>, it wasn’t just to create economic opportunities but to answer the call of entrepreneurs who longed for community and who lacked access to capital, mentorship and platforms to elevate. Today, that purpose remains steadfast with my retail store, <a href=\"https://thevillageretail.com/\" target=\"_blank\">The Village Retail</a>, serving as the flagship for Black brands. We are woven deeply into Atlanta’s small business fabric."},{"_id":"2X4UKZGKKVBYVCVR3PDBUQCKVI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535158},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"To sustain our communities, shopping with small businesses isn’t just about one day; it’s about shifting our spending habits and ultimately making shopping small a lifestyle. Small businesses’ success sustains our economy, reflects our values, and keeps our communities and our villages upwardly mobile."},{"_id":"QORGLI72LNAA3NGT6LAPPQADR4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535159},"type":"text","content":"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, employing 61.7 million Americans and representing 46.4% of private-sector employment, according to the<a href=\"https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-Small-Business-Economic-Profile-US.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"> U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 report</a>. We create jobs, foster innovation and provide a personal touch that larger corporations often cannot. When small businesses win, we all win."},{"_id":"MLB3EOGPLFGOLJYY453QUBPE2Q","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535160},"type":"text","content":"This Small Business Saturday, let’s commit to making support a verb. As you step out this weekend with your family and friends, please remember your spending choices have the power to create lasting change in our community."},{"_id":"CXLDGIS4GRH43DKL3J2OUPX33Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535161},"type":"text","content":"Shop intentionally by seeking out local businesses for your everyday needs, leave positive reviews that help entrepreneurs grow their reputations and share their stories to amplify their reach. Bring a friend to your favorite local shop, attend a community event they’re hosting or engage with their content online. These small acts ripple outward, fueling dreams, sustaining jobs and building pathways to generational wealth. Together, we can build prosperous communities where small businesses and the people behind them flourish."},{"_id":"HPQNAU6XTBB63HP5B7HPML5CZE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732885535162},"type":"text","content":"Let’s keep going, not just as consumers but as champions of a lifestyle that uplifts small businesses every day. Because when we make small business a priority, the entire community — the entire village — thrives."}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"Small acts ripple outward, fueling dreams, sustaining jobs and building pathways to generational wealth. 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Every major faith tradition teaches that we should help “the least of these.”"},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"4f6230fda7cc1e918680305e5910bfedd717d425dd0a6aa1e542c3e8849de3ed"},"caption":"Kevin B. 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But it <i>can </i>be done — and both parties actually agree on one of the best places to start: reining in the power of the pharmacy benefit managers."},{"_id":"C6ZSNUB2UJFVHHJUXAUY2USRYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861772},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"PBMs are middlemen in the drug supply chain. In theory, they help insurance companies negotiate bulk discounts and rebates on medicines. But in practice, PBMs have distorted the system to enrich themselves, jacking up drug prices while delivering few tangible benefits to patients."},{"_id":"64EWAS4FLNFAJOX2ZT24I6ANDM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861773},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Today, just three PBMs — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx — control 80% of prescription drug sales in America. This concentration of market power would be concerning enough on its own. But the real problem is in the incentives. PBMs make more money when drug prices are higher, not lower. They negotiate rebates from drug manufacturers, then pocket much of the savings instead of passing them on to patients at the pharmacy counter. The higher the list price, the bigger the rebate, the larger their profit."},{"_id":"HE56KIOYRZE5LBBI6K73UDE6FQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861774},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The Federal Trade Commission recently took notice of the problem. Its <a href=\"https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/09/ftc-sues-prescription-drug-middlemen-artificially-inflating-insulin-drug-prices\" target=\"_blank\">recent lawsuit</a> against these three PBMs for inflating insulin prices reveals the human cost of this broken system. And it’s not hitting all Americans equally. The same communities that have historically faced barriers to health care access — Black, Hispanic and Native Americans — are bearing the brunt of these inflated prices."},{"_id":"2FYOORPPTJCMDEVSZPCTGRJIGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861775},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The data tells the story. Diabetes, a disease requiring constant medication, is 60% more common in Black adults than in white Americans. Hispanic Americans face a nearly identical increased risk. Native Americans have the highest diabetes rates of any racial group in the country. When insulin becomes unaffordable, these communities suffer first and worst. It’s not surprising that Black Medicare beneficiaries are two times more likely to skip filling prescriptions because of cost."},{"_id":"IEM7I4555BDQ3PL3MEX5RHYKUA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861776},"type":"text","content":"This is how systemic inequities compound. A broken market mechanism leads to inflated prices, which disproportionately impact communities of color, which leads to worse health outcomes, which creates economic instability through medical debt and lost work days, which makes it even harder to afford medication. The cycle continues, transforming a market failure into a driver of racial health disparities."},{"_id":"IT7HY5EI5NDZ7HBZ53DTUYDDYE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861777},"type":"text","content":"We often talk about racism in health care as if it’s primarily about individual bias. But the PBM system shows how neutral-seeming market structures can perpetuate and deepen racial inequities. The system isn’t failing; it’s operating exactly as its incentives dictate. Those incentives just happen to be perfectly aligned against the interests of patients, particularly patients of color."},{"_id":"RVFRRRBSXRCITLF4QDVKSNVPPY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861778},"type":"text","content":"But change is within reach. Congress is poised to act, with two critical bills on the table that would rein in PBM practices and lower drug costs for Medicare patients."},{"_id":"F4WPVDEYEVCQVFPL4KSHXERSFU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861779},"type":"text","content":"These proposed reforms target the core issues driving up drug prices. One bill aims to restructure how PBMs make money, removing their incentive to steer patients toward more expensive medications. This would force PBMs to compete based on the value they provide to patients and the health care system, not on how much they can inflate prices."},{"_id":"ZTSZ5HWZCFGNTPPBCNBC4MFEGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861780},"type":"text","content":"Another crucial element of these reforms would ensure that the discounts PBMs negotiate actually reach patients. By requiring PBMs to pass along a significant portion of these savings at the pharmacy counter, we can directly reduce out-of-pocket costs for those struggling to afford their medications."},{"_id":"E42GSE5P5ZHMVDUP5ZQVFNTY3I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861781},"type":"text","content":"These bills present an opportunity to advance health equity. They would increase transparency, eliminate perverse incentives and ensure savings reach patients. For Americans of color rationing insulin or skipping cancer treatments, these changes could mean the difference between life and death."},{"_id":"JY5RNVRIXFAXTHDLN433WPR7NE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861782},"type":"text","content":"The lame-duck session of Congress is our moment. Now that the divisive election is over, PBM reform stands out as a rare bipartisan area of agreement. Both parties recognize the need to lower drug costs. By acting this year, Congress can prove our political system can still deliver for the people."},{"_id":"O4WQ5SLM3BDFTMCR5IYMSOVFXQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861783},"type":"text","content":"Of course, critics will claim regulating PBMs could “disrupt” the market. But for communities of color, the market is already broken. We need a health care system that prioritizes patient health over corporate profits."},{"_id":"FSWPSLLXTVEA7N747TGIIUX7UE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732736861784},"type":"text","content":"<i>Kevin B. Kimble is the founder and executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Global Policy Initiative.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"PBMs have distorted the system to enrich themselves, jacking up drug prices while delivering few tangible benefits to patients."},"description":{"basic":"PBMs have distorted the system to enrich themselves, jacking up drug prices while delivering few tangible benefits to patients."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1092,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"auth":{"1":"29418f0206a8e9c171e67e178b067017b775ae00187d91e43b1087cfdb5e0e10"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-MED-FDA-COLD-MEDICINES-DMT","width":2560,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YPYMC3P7KZYTJT75CTUSGYNOUA.jpg","height":1922,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YPYMC3P7KZYTJT75CTUSGYNOUA.jpg?auth=29418f0206a8e9c171e67e178b067017b775ae00187d91e43b1087cfdb5e0e10&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-pharmacy-benefit-manager-reform-could-move-us-closer-to-health-equity/JMPMMPHUTBDLDOOY62TW37OQAY/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Kevin B. Kimble","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"Pharmacy benefit manager reform could move us closer to health equity"},"first_publish_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:03.757Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:03.757Z","_id":"JMPMMPHUTBDLDOOY62TW37OQAY","teaseImageObject":{"auth":{"1":"29418f0206a8e9c171e67e178b067017b775ae00187d91e43b1087cfdb5e0e10"},"credits":{"affiliation":[{"name":"TNS","type":"author"}]},"subtitle":"US-NEWS-MED-FDA-COLD-MEDICINES-DMT","width":2560,"caption":"(Dreamstime/TNS)","taxonomy":{"tags":[{"slug":"McClatchy-Tribune"}]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"custom","name":"McClatchy Tribune","category":"wires"},"url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/YPYMC3P7KZYTJT75CTUSGYNOUA.jpg","height":1922,"resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/YPYMC3P7KZYTJT75CTUSGYNOUA.jpg?auth=29418f0206a8e9c171e67e178b067017b775ae00187d91e43b1087cfdb5e0e10&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}}},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"VUYV4OXTDNBF7KYURFV75PD634","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057208},"type":"text","content":"Legislation can change lives. Sometimes it can save them."},{"_id":"Z74U4THNX5DFVI2BPAQEA4IY5I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":211,"comment":" (ICE)"}],"comments":[{"date":"2024-11-27T19:20:48.020Z","start":210,"end":212,"text":"removed acronym following first reference, per AP","user":"Amanda DeArmon","email":"Amanda.DeArmon@ajc.com"}],"_id":1732636057209},"type":"text","content":"In May, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp <a href=\"https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/229544\">signed</a> legislation enforcing current state law when it comes to cracking down on sheriffs who do not report criminal illegal immigrants to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement by charging them with a misdemeanor."},{"owner":{"sponsored":false,"id":"ajc"},"address":{},"syndication":{},"auth":{"1":"3f0cbabe81b75c9b3b4c7fee816f6d70ff93b6b7b6c326cd0342c6fbcff35f9e"},"caption":"Frances Floresca","source":{"system":"photo center","name":"AJC","edit_url":"","source_type":"staff","additional_properties":{"editor":"photo center"}},"taxonomy":{"associated_tasks":[]},"type":"image","distributor":{"mode":"reference","reference_id":"8aec2b8c-455c-4816-903d-79fc8fdf8019"},"version":"0.10.9","url":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","licensable":false,"credits":{"affiliation":[],"by":[{"name":"Handout","type":"author","byline":"Handout"}]},"subtitle":"Frances Floresca","width":685,"_id":"UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4","additional_properties":{"fullSizeResizeUrl":"/resizer/RJtNNGh-LmBfwXZNYe-ZhKPbH80=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","owner":"jamie.riley@ajc.com","comments":[],"keywords":[],"proxyUrl":"/resizer/RJtNNGh-LmBfwXZNYe-ZhKPbH80=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","originalUrl":"https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","published":true,"resizeUrl":"/resizer/RJtNNGh-LmBfwXZNYe-ZhKPbH80=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","ingestionMethod":"manual","thumbnailResizeUrl":"/resizer/rV9b7sIDN9RtLic47HjalS3pLh4=/300x0/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-ajc/public/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg","version":0,"originalName":"Frances Floresca.jpg","mime_type":"image/jpeg","restricted":false,"template_id":594,"galleries":[],"_id":"6FO2DQJQHZET7JBO65ICABVYPU"},"created_date":"2024-11-27T18:20:24Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-27T18:20:24Z","alignment":"right","height":831,"image_type":"photograph","resized_obj":{"src":"https://www.ajc.com/resizer/v2/UHE3OGDR3JF4NCOLTUGMMJ5ZN4.jpg?auth=3f0cbabe81b75c9b3b4c7fee816f6d70ff93b6b7b6c326cd0342c6fbcff35f9e&width=1260&height=840&smart=true"}},{"_id":"JYANSH3PERBYHEMZEEEV3RZVFM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057210},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Jose Ibarra, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was convicted last week of murdering Laken Riley, a student at Augusta University’s College of Nursing, near the University of Georgia campus where she was out for a run."},{"_id":"F7MDL45UZRHIBN2LIF34JOC7YA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"7SCT56CHWVESXJFBL7JXVIUCZ4"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Watch: Jose Ibarra sentenced to life without parole","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-murder-for-the-killing-of-laken-riley/G42KOCPAUZEVBABHMB74HVDAVY/"},{"_id":"RYKHYI42BJAHRBRU6PWJH34TEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":52,"comment":"Laken "}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057211},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Lawmakers <a href=\"https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/66568\">introduced</a> the bill almost a month before Riley’s tragic death, showing that sheriffs not reporting criminal illegal aliens to ICE was already an issue in the state. Bill sponsor Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah, said the bill was drafted last year, and it was <a href=\"https://www.dailysignal.com/2024/02/28/laken-riley-georgia-house-advances-immigration-enforcement-bill-illegal-alien-murders-coed-jog-sanctuary-city/\">heard</a> twice in committee before Riley’s tragic death."},{"_id":"HOPHEZII6FHY5HH3UHNG6773BY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":84,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057212},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"If there had been earlier action on the legislation, Ibarra would have been detained and Riley might still be alive today."},{"_id":"45I3Z4N3LBHBVPHSGWFB5GTBRA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":76,"comment":"that "}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057213},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"This failure to act is particularly surprising considering the polls showed there are sheriffs that do not report criminal illegal immigrants to ICE, despite it being <a href=\"https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2022/title-42/chapter-4/article-1/section-42-4-14/#:~:text=History.,%2D14%20%2C%20enacted%20by%20Ga.\">law</a> for 18 years."},{"_id":"OLH6CECSTVFDTFG7AASVCYGFLY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":64,"comment":" (GSA)"},{"pos":173,"comment":"Laken’s "}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057214},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Last year, an informal poll by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association showed that 19 sheriffs admitted they did not report criminal illegal immigrants to ICE. A poll taken after Riley’s death showed 111 sheriffs out of 159 said they report criminal illegal immigrants to ICE, the executive director of the GSA said. Forty-eight sheriffs did not respond to it."},{"_id":"DVWU7FL7CJGT7AA35VHJYEIODA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057215},"type":"text","content":"In 2019, Georgia was home to 339,000 illegal immigrants, according to the <a href=\"https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/unauthorized-immigrant-population/state/GA\">Migration Policy.</a>"},{"_id":"M33A22LKF5BIHG2ZFPL3RARMBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057216},"type":"text","content":"Back in 2017, ICE operations targeting criminal illegal immigrants in Georgia, North and South Carolina <a href=\"https://wpde.com/news/local-and-state/ice-conducts-operations-in-south-carolina-targeting-criminal-aliens\">resulted</a> in the arrest of nearly 200 individuals. According to the ICE <a href=\"https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/library/factsheets/pdf/factsheet-fugops-atl.pdf\">website</a>, 190 of those arrested had prior criminal convictions in addition to their illegal immigrant status. Several of these individuals arrested included Mexican nationals wanted in their home country “on charges of homicide and attempted homicide,” cocaine distribution and sexual contact with a child."},{"_id":"SMCAXAETNBGM5NSNMSDXTYIMLA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"PSDCEV6JJRHMZPAV7QLATCI7NQ"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Georgia had 2nd largest surge of immigration among all states in 2023","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/georgia-had-2nd-largest-surge-of-immigration-among-all-states-in-2023/WUHWFXGWV5F73E3FDK4TGHDCJE/"},{"_id":"RJN2Y7LGRZEAPHKMYEFRPOJKEQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057217},"type":"text","content":"So how does that relate to Ibarra?"},{"_id":"X22J4F7A3NGMTA5ZM7BMWQG4MI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":204,"comment":"The chart also illustrates a correlation between the sharp rise in illegal immigration since January 2021 and a corresponding increase in national crime rates."}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057218},"type":"text","content":"A data visualization chart by <a href=\"https://datavisualizations.heritage.org/immigration/border-insecurity-and-lax-law-enforcement-lead-to-preventable-crime/index.html\">the Heritage Foundation</a> explained that Ibarra entered the United States unlawfully back in September 2022, and he was released into the country before going to New York City."},{"_id":"LBVMNURHWNFUFL7L4IVKFXFA3A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057219},"type":"text","content":"Almost a year later, in August 2023, Ibarra was <a href=\"https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/clarke-county/jose-diego-ibarra-court-documents-reveal-immigration-criminal-past-united-states/SPXOP242MNF3NPCCRCCB4DZSQU/\">charged</a> in New York with reckless endangerment of a child for driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle with a child inside. He was released from custody before ICE could issue a detainer against him."},{"_id":"ZPHTW5ZUZVEWXHKDO7IP4XB4NY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057220},"type":"text","content":"In October 2023, Jose Ibarra and his brother, Diego Ibarra, were arrested for shoplifting from a Walmart in Athens, Georgia, and they were issued only a citation before they were released. Law enforcement officers failed to act further and did not report them to ICE. The brother was also arrested a month prior for driving under the influence of alcohol without a license."},{"_id":"RWJYQLUVXBFXDBGV37POQ6DSNE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057221},"type":"text","content":"Despite his extensive criminal history, he had not been detained. He roamed around free until he killed Riley. He even <a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/uga-suspect-failed-to-notify-ice-of-his-move-to-georgia/SPUHIF7BU5EKPGRQ4TPSAAYGKU/\">failed</a> to report to ICE about his move from New York to Georgia last year."},{"_id":"W3EKMRMAZVARLCBDE4AG6RESNY","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"RRRVJWBJNBGKNN6E7XVUHR7HGA"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"UGA safety group says Laken Riley’s death was ‘100% preventable’","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/crime/university-of-georgia-parents-group-wants-more-campus-safety-measures/FQ7E7X7MNJGRTK77B7EHUDML44/"},{"_id":"ZHRGIO2BHBBUNJITUL2SRHQQSU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057222},"type":"text","content":"Criminal illegal aliens unfairly overshadow the contributions of immigrants who come here legally, as I did. In fact, they put all illegal immigrants under suspicion."},{"_id":"JCMNW3KYKNDMDNQG7W4VMDGL7I","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057223},"type":"text","content":"Had the Georgia law requiring sheriffs to report criminal illegal immigrants to ICE been enforced sooner, Riley’s life might have been spared and Ibarra would be imprisoned. Hopefully, with enforcement of current law, more lives will be spared in the state of Georgia from criminal illegal immigrants."},{"_id":"CK6JJJATZNHLVOJLXOVWUCWXDY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[{"pos":170,"comment":"o "},{"pos":250,"comment":","}],"comments":[],"_id":1732636057224},"type":"text","content":"<i>Frances Floresca is a policy analyst and reporter living in Georgia. She has been featured in the Washington Examiner, the Daily Wire and the Augusta Press. Floresca has appeared on Fox News Radio, One America News Network, Real America’s Voice, WJBF and WRDW. Her work has been cited by members of Congress, and she worked in Washington, D.C., for conservative policy organizations.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":"A bill that the governor eventually signed would have kept Jose Ibarra detained."},"description":{"basic":"A bill that lawmakers introduced to Gov. Brian Kemp almost a month before Laken Riley's murder would have kept Jose Ibarra detained."},"taxonomy":{"sections":[{"path":"/opinion","parent":{"default":"/"},"_website":"ajc","parent_id":"/","name":"Opinion","description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","_id":"/opinion","additional_properties":{"original":{"sponsor":{"sponsor_url_open_new_tab":"false","sponsor_desktop_banner":"","sponsor_mobile_banner":"","sponsor_url":""},"parent":{"AmpNav":"/","subnav_opinion":null,"TopicsBar2023":"/","BottomNav":null,"TopNavRedesign":null,"SectionMap":"/","TopNav":null,"TopicsBar":null,"ComposerNav":"/","subnav_homepage":null,"default":"/","MainMenu2024":"/","MainMenuRedesign2021":null},"site":{"site_url":"/opinion/","section_comments_enabled":"Yes","site_description":"Opinion articles from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution","site_title":"Opinion"},"navigation":{"nav_title":"Opinion"},"inactive":false,"node_type":"section","_website":"ajc","name":"Opinion","_id":"/opinion","ancestors":{"subnav_opinion":[],"TopicsBar2023":["/"],"MainMenu2024":["/"],"TopNavRedesign":[],"SectionMap":["/"],"MainMenuRedesign2021":[],"TopNav":[],"TopicsBar":[],"ComposerNav":["/"],"subnav_homepage":[]},"order":{"AmpNav":1033,"TopicsBar2023":1008,"default":1083,"MainMenu2024":1009,"SectionMap":1092,"ComposerNav":1011}}},"_website_section_id":"ajc./opinion","type":"section","version":"0.6.0"}],"primary_section":{"path":"/opinion","name":"Opinion"},"tags":[{"text":"opinion"},{"text":"teamjamie"},{"text":"opt-test"}]},"label":{"tease_label":{"display":true,"text":"Opinion"}},"related_content":{"redirect":[],"basic":[]},"type":"story","promo_items":{"basic":{"type":"reference"}},"canonical_url":"/opinion/opinion-if-we-had-enforced-our-laws-laken-riley-might-not-have-died/NBLJ6PXWAJCFPBOJQX7O4UHTIM/","canonical_website":"ajc","display_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:00Z","credits":{"by":[{"org":"","name":"Frances Floresca","additional_properties":{"original":{"author_type":""}},"type":"author"}]},"subtype":"Article","headlines":{"basic":"If we had enforced our laws, Laken Riley might not have died"},"first_publish_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:03.769Z","last_updated_date":"2024-11-29T11:00:03.769Z","_id":"NBLJ6PXWAJCFPBOJQX7O4UHTIM"},{"content_elements":[{"_id":"MFQLXNF4XBASBL34BW7XWUBA3U","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878148},"type":"text","content":"For more than 100 years, the Georgia state flower has been the Cherokee Rose. But an effort is underway to remove this designation and offer the Sweetbay Magnolia as a replacement."},{"_id":"UFEJDX3XLJBQJN5GIS5WH3JKHU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878149},"type":"text","content":"The Georgia Native Plant Society supports a plan by Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs) and Sen. Rick Williams (R- Milledgeville) to introduce legislation next year calling for the change."},{"_id":"WBIQ6G5F3FD4HAFRZ5MOBFI5E4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878150},"type":"text","content":"GNPS has said the Cherokee Rose is an invasive species which is non-native to Georgia. Supporters of the change have further said the Cherokee Rose is not an important part of Cherokee culture as it was believed to be when the resolution was passed by the Georgia Assembly in 1916."},{"_id":"GLFM3TVTB5HTJFVLL54HUWHFEU","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"GCXUIOE7JBG6DOFWQ3OJM67OLY"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"Wild Georgia: Non-native Cherokee rose loses favor as official state flower","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-news/wild-georgia-non-native-cherokee-rose-loses-favor-as-official-state-flower/AXBJUG2WCNC6LAPLJ2LR3N5F3U/"},{"_id":"CABOMDGM4ZDXTLZYZAIKTQGC5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878151},"type":"text","content":"“Georgia is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with so many beautiful native flowers,” <a href=\"https://saportareport.com/georgias-state-flower-should-be-from-georgia/thought-leadership/people-places-parks/georgia-native-plant-society/?mc_cid=669894342c&mc_eid=095fb3e43b\">Silcox said earlier this month</a>. “We deserve a state flower from Georgia!”"},{"_id":"772UGE32PZBRFFX55VTS25UHQE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878152},"type":"text","content":"Silcox seems to be speaking with a sense of urgency even though the error which led to the Cherokee Rose becoming Georgia’s state flower is not new information."},{"_id":"WX7OOEKV25CNDDNAKENUAS53ZQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878153},"type":"text","content":"In 1960, writing for the Georgia Review, Paul Tabor, an agricultural scientist from the University of Georgia, said: “According to the best available botanical knowledge, the premise of the resolution is in error. The Cherokee Rose did not have its origin in North Georgia; it is not Indigenous to the soil; it does not grow with real luxuriance in any county of the state today.”"},{"_id":"2M7DW4HD6NFDTHS3XVJZ5MVFVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878154},"type":"text","content":"He also suggested this revelation would not have much impact on the Cherokee Rose’s status as the Georgia state flower. “One can speculate on the fate of the resolution if legal action were brought against it,” he wrote. “Sentiment for the rose renders such action highly improbable.”"},{"_id":"4XRQDUPL7RDBHIUO7N4NPQ4O5A","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732594403874},"type":"text","content":"With two Georgia legislators planning to test Tabor’s speculations, sentiment for the Cherokee Rose seems to have waned. I wonder then who have been the holders of this sentiment because it doesn’t seem to be the Cherokee people."},{"_id":"NIBKNL5BJRAT7NUL2OCSRKTO3Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732594403875},"type":"text","content":"Tony Harris, a member of the GNPS and vice president of the Georgia Cherokee Community Alliance, said the Cherokee Rose does not hold any significance to Cherokee culture."},{"_id":"T3JX3CVPTJFOLP2DQUXUY6KLJM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732642416815},"type":"text","content":"“Cherokee citizens will not have an issue with removing the Cherokee Rose’s designation as the state flower,” Harris wrote in a 2023 letter to GNPS. “Not only am I passionate about the preservation of Cherokee plants but also I am passionate about educating people about the myths surrounding Cherokee culture.”"},{"_id":"33ON6UJKYZHQ3HVL4OTKE5EHKA","additional_properties":{"comments":[],"_id":"KKJNV3AS4BCMNPJROQVOSP7K4I"},"type":"interstitial_link","content":"The Cherokee Nation is reconnecting with its culture in Georgia","url":"https://www.ajc.com/news/the-cherokee-nation-is-reconnecting-with-its-culture-in-georgia/TTEHFV4G4REW5JQ7DDKJ7ELEPM/"},{"_id":"NL7IR57IGJDMVPTXHB3C7PEZEA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878158},"type":"text","content":"The story of the Cherokee Rose may soon become a cautionary tale, a lesson on what happens when myths and inaccuracies pass for historical truths. Since we recently celebrated Thanksgiving, I couldn’t help but think of the myths surrounding that holiday. Several years ago, Teen Vogue featured <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jLeBWMA0U\">six Native American girls telling us what Thanksgiving represents</a> to their families. I loved seeing a new generation reclaiming the narrative of their ancestors, followed by a symbolic upending of a tradition that is purely an American creation."},{"_id":"VDB5QOGKJVHM7DKRAV54GB2SBY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878160},"type":"text","content":"The Cherokee Rose has a long and interesting history in Georgia but its origins are in China. The flower, noted for its white petals and gold center, is believed to have first arrived in Savannah around the time of the American Revolution."},{"_id":"DQMHKYZ2WVEGRM5TRTTDMQHEMQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878161},"type":"text","content":"Some historians said the flower was named Cherokee Rose in recognition of the support native people gave to America and Britain in wars against the French. But when we talked by phone, Harris quickly debunked that claim."},{"_id":"S7SUJCIM3ZB2NPIOHGZ5GFDZVU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732628522002},"type":"text","content":"According to another legend, the Cherokee Rose was a sign Cherokee elders gave to weeping women during the forcible removal of native people from their land. As the women walked along the Trail of Tears, a Cherokee Rose bloomed in each place that a tear fell, a symbol of the strength and determination they would need to carry on in a new land."},{"_id":"7KQDXRCDY5BCHCBHFIWTTOGIAY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878164},"type":"text","content":"“There are a lot of stories and myths out there and I refer to it as being Hollywoodized,” said Harris, a Cherokee elder and a specialist in ethnobotany. “A fable sounds good when you are telling it to children and you want to keep their attention.”"},{"_id":"BXFHDOTCSRH2FAGMKGDFPFL4NQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878165},"type":"text","content":"In reality, the Cherokee Rose was an ornamental shrub. In 1828, politician, banker and botanist Stephen Elliott also hailed its practical uses after an enslaved man on his property used it to create a living fence that kept livestock out of the garden. Elliott agreed that this was a superior plant to use as hedges for its strength, durability, quick growth and beauty."},{"_id":"AB6DQTTHO5FXNAW2YFKXV6NRFY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878167},"type":"text","content":"For decades, the Cherokee Rose was used as fencing at millionaire estates in lower Georgia but, by the 1950s, it was deemed an invasive plant that needed to be controlled."},{"_id":"SCDHMJR455G53EOMFYQ5WAN3LQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732628522006},"type":"text","content":"Harris said the Sweetbay Magnolia was a fine choice for the new state flower. It grows in the garden he started years ago to teach Cherokee culture and history through the relationship to the earth and plants. The bark of the Sweetbay Magnolia was used by the Cherokee as treatment for gastrointestinal illness or to cure toothaches, he said."},{"_id":"X54GL3RZFNBHXCQ35H5UTOVA6M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732628522007},"type":"text","content":"“This (knowledge) is one generation from being lost,” Harris said. “A lot was being passed down orally but when there is an educational garden it maintains its cultural and historical significance.”"},{"_id":"TYEJYBHXGJG4LJU2YPFLFKNPFI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878155},"type":"text","content":"Appreciation for native plants is a relatively new movement, said Michael Cowan, a GNPS board member and chair of the advocacy committee. “We want people to recognize the importance of native plants, period,” he said. “We hope this will spur a conversation … hopefully school kids will learn the reasons why the state flower was changed.”"},{"_id":"MJISMRX7WJDBHNXAES2P5A6GL4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732586878169},"type":"text","content":"If Silcox and Williams succeed in moving the General Assembly to change the state flower to the Sweetbay Magnolia, the Cherokee Rose could be on its way to obscurity in Georgia. But we should never forget the lessons it has taught us about the recording and retelling of history."},{"_id":"4CEPMNHT3ZBBHOOFBCWCWE3EZM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732568264022},"type":"text","content":"<i>Read more on the Real Life blog (</i><a href=\"https://www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/\"><i>www.ajc.com/opinion/real-life-blog/</i></a><i>) and find Nedra on Facebook (</i><a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn\"><i>www.facebook.com/AJCRealLifeColumn</i></a><i>) and X (</i><a href=\"https://twitter.com/nrhoneajc\"><i>@nrhoneajc</i></a><i>) or email her at </i><a href=\"mailto:Nedra.Rhone@ajc.com\"><i>nedra.rhone@ajc.com</i></a><i>.</i>"}],"subheadlines":{"basic":""},"description":{"basic":"The Georgia state flower has been the Cherokee Rose but an effort is underway to remove this designation and offer the Sweetbay Magnolia as a 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In a polarized world, they can help us experience peace, access our inner wisdom and connect with each other."},{"_id":"ONCG7YA2YBAILIX57HFCTJQWFE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698741},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"Roughly three quarters of Americans were anxious about this year’s election. Though Trump voters generally are happy with the outcome, many Harris voters are struggling. <a href=\"https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/econTabReport_KJi77QW.pdf\">A recent poll</a> found 66% of Harris supporters weren’t just “dissatisfied” with the election but “upset” by it."},{"_id":"T7H4JLJCL5EWVIUJQHLVUOZF5M","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698742},"alignment":"left","type":"text","content":"The political chasm that has opened in the country is a reflection of how people are increasingly choosing to live in echo chambers socially and geographically. A New York Times <a href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/10/30/upshot/voters-moving-polarization.html\">report this year</a> found that Americans these days are moving to more ideologically homogeneous neighborhoods."},{"_id":"DG4DCP433ZHIFJ7THW2S5HPYV4","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698743},"type":"text","content":"This climate of “us versus them” reminds me of my childhood. My family left war-torn Vietnam to seek refuge in the United States. However, we were often greeted with racial slurs and threatened with violence."},{"_id":"2GIRRN2GJBFOVJYTQZRKFBFYYY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698744},"type":"text","content":"These adverse experiences fueled a fire inside me to change the world, which drove me to work hard and gain admission to Harvard University. Yet chronic hypervigilance, panic attacks and feelings of doom followed me there. Eventually, I sought help, and my psychiatrist explained that my childhood traumas had affected the development of my brain."},{"_id":"FTLY2ICXRBCITDBIP35IX2E2NY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698745},"type":"text","content":"Although I benefited from medication and therapy for a time, they did not address the stressors in my life or provide the healing that I wanted."},{"_id":"KC4K43CAT5GRTPLRMVRPG4RWLY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698746},"type":"text","content":"Out of necessity, I became a mind-hacker, diligently mining neuroscience to crack the code of how the brain works and make mine function better. My goal was to build a brain that could excel at Harvard and rise to the leadership roles I would later hold in management consulting and private equity investments."},{"_id":"N3XQ43Y2XNCHZKWFY6JUBUSMPU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698747},"type":"text","content":"In 2013, I returned to Philadelphia to share what I learned to help others. I started an organization called Calm Clarity that uses science to help people rewire their brains. More than 10,000 people — ranging from business executives to students from low-income neighborhoods — have used our techniques to access their inner wisdom, navigate obstacles, and positively impact their community."},{"_id":"VIRWYIMDP5D4RIN5WLUHQZONGA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698748},"type":"text","content":"The key is to discern how our inner thoughts and feelings correspond to one of three patterns of brain activation."},{"_id":"TGGMTJG3ZZGJFHLG2GXOEQAR4Y","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698749},"type":"text","content":"These three patterns govern how we experience our default mode network. Also called the “inner narrator,” the default mode network is a critical part of the brain whose function is to weave a mental model of the world and make predictions to help us navigate social interactions. Negative experiences, such as being bullied, can cause the default mode network to create a distorted mental model and narrate stories of fear and insecurity."},{"_id":"HIHNP42DARFFNBGWGLPNOIRLNA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698750},"type":"text","content":"The pattern I call Brain 1.0 focuses on self-preservation and corresponds to freeze-flee-fight-fawn survival mechanisms taking over the default mode network. Brain 1.0 is like an “Inner Godzilla,” armored up, fearful and quick to lash out."},{"_id":"RKQE3OB6MRC4XDM7PSVP5CNXLY","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698751},"type":"text","content":"Brain 2.0 uses dopamine hits to feel good or make bad feelings go away. It corresponds to the brain’s reward system taking over the default mode network, often in reaction to Brain 1.0 getting triggered. Consider it our “inner teen wolf,” dependent on the highs that come from impulsive behaviors, cravings, addictions and winning."},{"_id":"YEPLVDRQ3ZGX5HGAJ4TBN42FNU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698752},"type":"text","content":"Only in Brain 3.0 can we experience wholeness, open our minds and hearts, see the big picture, and form healthy connections. In Brain 3.0, the default mode network serves as an “inner sage,” guiding us toward well-being and emotional mastery. It is a state of brain integration. In Brain 3.0, neural pathways from the prefrontal cortex calm and regulate the threat system and the dopamine system."},{"_id":"7UBEBINAPJBCNLOXQXEGMNHPVQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698753},"type":"text","content":"Put simply, Brain 1.0 settles for surviving. Brain 2.0 fixates on feeling good. Brain 3.0 brings out our best selves."},{"_id":"VXILXBSBZRFVZBQE574ZLMMJCI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698754},"type":"text","content":"The human brain continuously adapts to experience by strengthening the neural pathways we use the most and pruning the neural pathways that go unused. This means our capacity to live peacefully depends on whether we actively cultivate and strengthen the neural pathways to peace and flourishing in Brain 3.0 — rather than those that lead to escalation and violence in Brain 1.0 and Brain 2.0."},{"_id":"GH5SZD3RMBFSPEKHN2VUTYMMZA","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698755},"type":"text","content":"So how do we get to Brain 3.0 — especially when we are surrounded by negative news as well as polarizing political commentary? We shift our default mode network by changing our pattern of brain activation."},{"_id":"W7ODBNAZIFGKPJVRKMZBCIOEGM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698756},"type":"text","content":"Three simple exercises can help boost Brain 3.0, anytime, anywhere, for free."},{"_id":"KAOU6V335VAANOZAERPJ32Q7FE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698757},"type":"text","content":"<i>Calm Your Body. </i>Breathe slowly until your lungs fully inflate and deflate. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system — our “rest-and-digest” state — and restores blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, which makes it easier to access Brain 3.0."},{"_id":"4SIELZKY2VEOVKM44ARM2OL6AE","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698758},"type":"text","content":"<i>Clear the Noise in Your Head. </i>Focus your attention on the sensations of breathing at your nostrils. At some point, your default mode network will activate and start to chatter. Greet your default mode network and observe whatever it says with curiosity and compassion. Then redirect your attention to the sensations of breathing. Practicing this regularly for five minutes strengthens your capacity to observe your default mode network without getting swept up in what it says."},{"_id":"UKJOT6HL2NF4TFKTM2IVASBVQU","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698759},"type":"text","content":"<i>Connect to Your Humanity. </i>Silently or aloud, express positive wishes to all people like this: “May all people be happy. May all people be healthy.” Add whatever wishes are meaningful to you. Visualize these wishes as golden light spreading from your heart to people across the world to support them to rise to challenges using Brain 3.0. Then take in positive wishes that people of good will are sending to you. This practice builds your sense of interconnectedness with all of humanity, opening your mind and heart to forming sincere, supportive connections."},{"_id":"JUG6PZHIANF3LE6JAAR54UJJTQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698760},"type":"text","content":"When done consistently, these exercises are powerful. Thanks to practicing mind-hacking techniques like these for decades, my brain, conditioned as it was by trauma to operate in Brain 1.0 and Brain 2.0, has become one that can help others activate and build Brain 3.0."},{"_id":"X35SLMKBZJCXZN6ZSWJN3XKVME","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698761},"type":"text","content":"Despite differences in our political views, we all want to experience well-being, flourishing and prosperity. Living and making decisions in Brain 1.0 and Brain 2.0 creates suffering, scarcity, and social division. Our capacity to experience well-being and cocreate a future where we all thrive only gets unlocked when we strengthen Brain 3.0 in ourselves and each other."},{"_id":"5MKWL32LIRAJNOBRZBT2U3EBLM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698762},"type":"text","content":"We have to acknowledge that it’s difficult to live in Brain 3.0 when leaders manipulate Brain 1.0 and Brain 2.0 to blame, shame and divide us. To genuinely prosper, we have to cultivate and elect leaders who strengthen Brain 3.0 and bring us together to cocreate solutions to our shared challenges."},{"_id":"DQ7D6E3VLFAN3DJ26Z2IIJX3RI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698763},"type":"text","content":"We all are impacted by adversity, scarcity and fear, including the stress and social strains of the recent election. However, we can choose to respond in a higher state of consciousness."},{"_id":"F3FTZNW6ZRFD3MD2UKTUKWBBBQ","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698764},"type":"text","content":"I will never forget cleaning up the gory mess that was left behind after the young man was shot."},{"_id":"SDPWIR54UBEOXPNJRC4ZGQBFSM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698765},"type":"text","content":"Let’s not allow any more brain matter to be wasted on violence and dysfunction."},{"_id":"EEZ3CXRRVNDO3EBRRZIEEXK4WI","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698766},"type":"text","content":"Let’s build our best brains for peace."},{"_id":"IZU2YIUVOVHRXD5KXRI7736FIM","additional_properties":{"inline_comments":[],"comments":[],"_id":1732735698767},"type":"text","content":"<i>Due Quach is the author of “</i><a 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