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WRONG-PARTY TOWN
When Rep. Doug McKillip runs for re-election in two
years, he'U be running in a newly drawn Republican-majority
district, instead of his present heavily Democratic district.
Democrats won't be able to exact their revenge for McKillip's
blatant betrayal, though it remains to be seen whether local
Republicans will prefer him over one of their own. Republicans
will be drawing the new legislative districts, and you can be
sure they will dilute Democratic voting wherever they find it,
as they have already done by splitting Athens-Clarke County
into two rural, heavily Republican Senatorial districts. By the
time Republican Representative Doug McKillip runs again. Five
Points voters will probably find themselves in a state-represen
tative district that includes a healthy swath of Oconee County.
Our state is fast heading back to being a one-party state, as
it was for so many years under the Democrats, when all elec
tions were decided in the white-only Democratic primary, effec
tively blocking blacks and Republicans from participator in
politics. We're just about back to that now, with the real action
in the Republican primaries, and Democrats—including African
Americans—increasingly ineffective in the General Election, as
they are in the legislature. «
To make matters worse, these Republicans in control are
largely the suburban type who disdain cities, public schools,
transportation other than SUVs, taxes, environmental protec
tion, a living wage, equal rights and universal health care.
And of course many of these
Athens, our oasis, is
under attack—from
the inside and from
the outside.
Republicans used to be
Democrats, so the party label is
not as important as what they
stand for.
You could say that Doug
McKillip is right, and that
• we all ought to become
Republicans, including the entire black caucus in the legisla
ture, to remove the stigma that automatically excludes us from
participation. But when a party has so clearly identified itself
as the party of the privileged and is so intent on steering our
state away from equality for all that party should be opposed,
even when it holds the vast majority of power.
During much of the previous century African Americans
and (mainly urban) Republicans—abetted by a minority of
moderate Democrats—kept alive the hope that Georgia would
outgrow its racist, big-business bias and evolve into a state
where government provides for the good of all. There were
brief moments when that hope came closer to realization, but
on the whole our state government has consistently been sub
servient to the interests of large corporations, and our people
have been deprived of the equality and educational opportu
nity essential to democracy.
That's why places tike Athens are invigorating oases in the
desert of corporate domination that passes for conservatism ;
and holds sway over most of the rest of the state.
That's why we've got to be more careful in holdiqg on to
our progressive base here in Athens. We took it for granted
this time around, and we allowed the electioh of a mayor who
threw in with the local conservatives, who now have her ear.
Having seen how easy it is to operate under the radar in our
"non-partisan'' system, you can bet they'll be back and gun
ning for commission seats in the next election. We fought for
20 years to elect a progressive mayor and commission; it could
be gone in two years if we repeat this year's sorry showing.
We need to do a better job of defining for ourselves and for
the voters just what it means to be progressive (liberal, moder
ate) in Athens-Clarke County, as opposed to being non-pro
gressive (conservative, radical). We need to develop an agenda,
a list of goals for our community that progressives support
Once we accomplish that we can do away with labels like
"progressive," just as we have done away with Democratic and
Republican locally. If we define our goals, we can hold candi
dates and elected officials to those goals instead of allowing
the vague wishy-washiness of the recent mayoral election.
Mainly, we've got to be constantly aware that our Athens,
our oasis, is under attack—from the inside and from the
outside—by those who would prefer that our town be just like
every other dull, auto-centric, gated suburban community in
the state, and they will do everything in their power to cut the
juice that lights our city on a hill
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Pete McCommons editordfiagpoie.com
THIS WEEK’S
NEWS & FEATURES
City Dope 5
Athens News and Views
Another Athens politician has become a Republican, and, no, the Dope's not being sarcastic
Comment . 9
Waiting for Change
Waiting for "Superman” has few ideas for how our existing public schools might be improved
ARTS & EVENTS
Theatre Notes 10
Looking Toward the 2011 Season
Most theatre companies wilt pick up their seasons again m January
Movie Pick 19
Mumblecore in Space
Monsters is easily the most impressive cinematic achievement of the year
^USiC
Low Yo Yo Stuff 25
The Beloved Downtown Record Store Returns
Building a non virtual web of music lovers for 16 years and counting.
The Dream Lives On 23
The 2nd Annual Tribute Concert for Jon Guthrie
The Athens music scene comes together to honor the memory of a young musician taken too soon
COVER DESIGN by Kelly Ruberto
featuring a graphic rendering by Kevan
Wi&ams illustrating potential future
development (green roofs) in and around
downtown (see Athens Rising, p 8>
- •••••'• * - • i; ’
LETTERS
4
HILTON VALENTINE
21
CITY DOPE
5
THREATS & PROMISES
23
CITY PAGES
6
JON GUTHRIE TRIBUTE . ...
23
CAPITOL IMPACT
7
RECORD REVIEWS .
24
ATHENS RISING
8
LOW YOYO STUFF
25
COMMENT
9
THE CALENDAR'
26
BULLETIN BOARD
32
THEATRE NOTES
10
ART AROUND TOWN
33
THE READER
11
COMICS
34
HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE
12
REALITY CHECK
.35
MOVIE DOPE
18
CLASSIFIEDS
36
MOVIE PICK
19
UGA OBSERVATORY
38
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DECEMBER 15,2010 FLAGPOLE.COM 3
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