Editorials

Hillary Rodham Clinton: a record of reform

Georgia water plan: nothing but empty promises

The biggest weakness of the Georgia legislature is its complete and utter inability to stop bickering and accomplish anything. Still, the legislators managed to agree on a new water plan that will be about as effective in alleviating the water shortage as was Gov. Perdue's public prayer for rain.

This plan is simply too little, far too late.

Much of the plan's criticism comes from those outside of metro Atlanta in areas such as Cartersville and Rome. Both communities have a lot to lose if metro Atlanta begins slurping away at the state water supply. The plan does nothing to regulate inter-basin transfers, essentially letting metro Atlanta drain our already strained state water supply.

This is not a problem that appeared out of thin air last year: our lawmakers were warned about this problem for decades. It is inexcusable that they are just now getting around to developing a water plan.

The water plan does contain a few good policy proposals. It fails, however, at making the state accountable for implementing these policies. Essentially, the plan lacks the necessary teeth to force any action to help conserve our water supply.

There is a solution to this problem. There is a means to both conserve our state water supply and solve the debacle that metro Atlanta finds itself in. Our lawmakers need to listen to the environmentalists who study the bodies of water in Georgia. Only then can a fair, environmentally friendly and effective solution to this problem be developed.

The Georgia Water Plan is exactly what its title implies: a plan, nothing more. It offers no promises for any real action . The Georgia legislature continues to live up to its reputation of being an ineffective, fractured and partisan body. Election cycles come and go, but the water crisis will continue until action is taken.

This publication is the voice of the students on each GHC campus. As such, it requires input from the larger college community. Please, let us know what is on your minds. E-mail us at: [email protected]