Politics

‘Real News From The Blaze:’ Have We Found A Conservative Utopia?

Do you live in a city that leans toward nanny-statism? Perhaps you need a move to Sandy Springs,Georgia, an Atlanta suburb that has become a test case for pro-business conservative living. The town is an example of what would happen if you privatize EVERYTHING. Road repair, emergency call centers, permit services, city engineers–nearly everything but the education system, police and fire departments are outsourced to private firms. With local governments in budget crises and public sector unions in defense across the country, the balance sheet of Sandy Springs is in the black. The New York Times reports on the influences of one of Sandy Springs’s founders and architect-in-chief Oliver W. Porter:

After an election in 2004, both houses of Georgia’s legislature were controlled by Republicans for the first time since Reconstruction.

“It was like a dog that’s been chasing a train for years and finally catches it,” Mr. Porter says. “The question was, What do I do with it now?”

As a fan of Ronald Reagan and the economist Friedrich Hayek, Mr. Porter came naturally to the notion that Sandy Springs could push “the model” to its nth degree. His philosophical inclinations were formed by a life spent in private enterprise, and cemented by a visit to Weston, Fla., a town that had begun as a series of gated communities.

Porter went on to say that he sees Sandy Springs as a model for cities around the country facing bankruptcy. City Manager John F. McDonough joined “Real News” Monday to discuss the allocation of government services Sandy Springs, and how existing cities in crisis can move toward the the Sandy Springs model:

Comments (44)

  • Gershom
    Posted on July 3, 2012 at 6:35pm

    Nice job! It’s about time someone did the right thing! Hopefully the Left will NOT do anything about it. I am dirt poor. I have to live in a progressive sewer. The people who live around me are mostly felons and mentally ill. The only thing that keeps me sane is God Himself. This place is hell. I am still itching because of bedbugs. Believe me, you don’t want to live here. Be glad you don’t have to live like me.

    Report Post »  
  • blair152
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:34pm

    Great story. I’d take a conservative utopia over a liberal utopia any day.

    Report Post »  
  • Marv Fox
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 6:36pm

    If someone has found a utopia to live in, three cheers for him. I have little trust for utopias of any variety. I tend to want the logical things in life. I want the smallest government that is practicle and constitutional, low taxes, the least government interference, the most available opportunities in society for those willing to take them, charity for those who need help, and representatives who represent their states citizens while completely ignoring the power ambitions of their political party.
    The definition of our Republic is its Constitution: all other definitions are false or incomplete.
    Redefining our Republic as “our democracy” is false!
    Marvin E. Fox

    Report Post »  
  • VHVila
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:30pm

    I have expounded this approach to life together as citizens for the last 25 years, at least. The more self reliant a community becomes, the more prosperous! This applies to individuals, cities, counties, and states as well. The only responsibility the Federals government should have is securing our borders, national defense, and maybe the highway system.

    Report Post » VHVila  
    • neonvito
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:33pm

      securing our borders is NOT happening….defense is good now but being gutted…and “I‘m from the government and i’m here to help you”….and this specimen clown in the white house has shoved this monstrosity obamacare down our throats with 6000 IRS attack dogs to insure all are coming along…Remember RUBY RIDGE….WACO TX…why not use the ATF to enforce this strangulation?

      Report Post » neonvito  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 10:33am

    If there are conservative utopias out there. Shut up about them. The country-killing Commie Democrats will invade like the cockroaches they are to cheapen and degrade the area, like everything else they touch.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:48am

      The Definition of A Problem contains the Implication of The Solution… but The Solution is not The Answer to All Problems.

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Mr Sanders
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:41pm

      Can’t place your head in the sand in fear? If the principles and economic theories are sound and most are willing to stand up for the community as a whole…. there should be enough antiseptic to keep ‘encroachment’ at bay. Nonetheless, these systems need to be tested from time to time to make sure its on the right track and/or get a tune-up. ;-)

      Report Post » Mr Sanders  
  • lqtm
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:43am

    What this article fails to acknowledge is that Sandy Springs was a unique city to begin with. It has several Fortune 500 companies headquartered there, and an average family income of $169,815 according to a 2008 census. Furthermore, 3.1% of the population lived below the poverty line to begin with. Without needing to provide to as many poverty-stricken families, who typically use more public services, Sandy Springs can more easily keep taxes at a lower, sustainable level. Wow what an accomplishment. Also, while this article says that all services have been privatized, police, fire/EMS, and schools have not.

    So, you silly geese, stop pretending that privatization of every aspect of every community in the US would have the same results. What you are reading is just a well-sponsored attempt to convince people like you to support privatization by saying “LOOK LOOK IT WORKS!” when it’s really all a very expensive facade. Vote Romney for president, tools.

    Report Post »  
    • michael48
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 9:28am

      mindless rant but you’re making excellant progress toward meaningless..carry on comrade…serfdom suits you well…. lqtm..have a “hoax and chains day”…

      Report Post »  
    • Mr Sanders
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 11:59am

      @LQTM
      “..Sandy Springs was a unique city to begin with.”
      - Has a history of sound governing principles, zoning; cool!
      It has several Fortune 500 companies headquartered there, and an average family income of $169,815 according to a 2008 census.”
      - They created an environment conducive for business & jobs – nice!
      ” 3.1% of the population lived below the poverty line to begin with.” -WOW!
      “Without needing to provide to as many poverty-stricken families, who typically use more public services, Sandy Springs can more easily keep taxes at a lower, sustainable level.”
      -So most everyone is gainfully employed – great!
      “Also, while this article says that all services have been privatized, police, fire/EMS, and schools have not.” Police & Fire I think you want to be jurisdictional – need to rethink the schools though.
      “…support privatization by saying “LOOK LOOK IT WORKS!” when it’s really all a very expensive facade.”
      - Sounds like this city/suburb has an amazing recipe for success!

      Sandy Springs has low overhead and fixed contracts for all services; knows what it will spend ad knows HOW MUCH it can help up others struggling. Its Planning/Zoning dept may have done its job right, ergo, stable tax environment. Over the longrun, brought in key companies to support jobs & growth, attract families, create a safe community, whereby everyone benefits….

      Something wrong with that?

      Report Post » Mr Sanders  
    • Here_It_Comes
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:24pm

      They specifically mentioned in the video that the schools, fire, and police are still public institutions, you mindless tool. I hope you are enjoying all that sand around your head.

      Report Post »  
    • gramma b
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:27pm

      I’ve been thinking about the phrase “poverty stricken.” In many — maybe even most — cases, poverty doesn’t “strike.” It is chosen by people making one stupid decision after another.

      Report Post »  
    • Hollywood
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:46pm

      I’ll bet you pay little Income tax, and are probably from a welfare family/foodstamps etc. If not, I guess you just like sending other peoples’ money.Spend your own FOOL, not mine.

      Report Post » Hollywood  
  • aggiebrewer
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:37am

    How can they go to that much trouble and allow the govt run schools to continue as they always have.
    The hand that rocks the cradle….

    Report Post »  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:29am

    This is the problem with republicans – they are crowing about adding a new layer of government over these people (just because it is privatized). I live in an unincorporated town and we lack NOTHING. We are all very happy not having city cops harassing us, not having a fight over who is mayor or on city counsel, and not having garbage workers going on strike. There are no turf wars here because we won’t cede our turf to politicians. Wake up, conservatives! You aren’t really conservative if you love more government! You are just a liberal who loves businesses. Half good, half bad.

    Report Post »  
  • HKS
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:03am

    Now that would never work on a large scale here, it’s logical and makes to much sense. Besides that, it works and if history is any judge,people in this country steer away from that. The problem is people, In China their all Chinese and here that concept doesn’t mean the same thing.

    Report Post » HKS  
  • Ron Staiger
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:00am

    If you privatize most of public works in a town, where will all the lackeys go? My God, privatized public works employees held accountable for their performance? Heresy! What will the politicians spend all our tax money on- oh, that’s right, the teachers union.

    Report Post »  
  • Diane TX
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 1:08am

    But, but the Progressives say – Only the government running everything works. They also say that private business is evil because they’re always trying to make a profit.

    Report Post »  
    • MRMANN
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 5:29am

      Yes, progressives say private business is evil because it makes a profit. Yet they’re pro-government, an entity that gouges the taxpayer and is rife with corruption & inefficiency. I can’t follow their “logic,” which concludes that government, & not private business, is more desirable. Being a progressive takes way too much blind faith, if you ask me.

      Report Post »  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:59am

    Local Conservative Utopia? Hardly. Note to self next elections. Do what I did this election.
    Study the candidates closely and vote early.
    Don’t waste your vote or time by listening to the heap being piled, even if it is in your favor.
    Sadly, even the ones that are throwing Crap at them from your side may be getting the Crap from their own back yards.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 2:13am

      LOL :) Nothing worthwhile is easy!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 7:25am

      @Searchingforthelight
      “Do what I did this election. Study the candidates closely and vote early.”

      So will you be studying all the candidates, or just the two that the mainstream media tells you to?

      Report Post » soybomb315  
  • Hawaii_Conservative
    Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:34am

    A Mormon temple is in that community, that has to help …. lol Seriously, I have many friends in that community that are Mormons and they tended to be ultra-conservative. Not to exclude there are many people of numerous different faiths, even Muslim, everyone help makes that town a great place to live. The only problem, I would have living there, is the homes range from $500K to $5-7mil.

    Before you slam me to the wall. There is a very strong correlation between faith and the ability to have peaceful affluent communities and neighborhoods. I believe that is what’s wrong with our nation. We as a society in general has lost faith in anything especially a belief in a supreme being.

    Report Post » Hawaii_Conservative  
  • lassiegirldawn
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:59pm

    I know we need to do something and if it works for these towns, it can work for government jobs as well.

    Report Post »  
  • Brother Winston Smith
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:12pm

    I’m confused. Why… would “the Blaze” – MS(republican)M – care? I love how FAKE-conservatives always BAIT with the word “conservative” in the headline… the SWITCH with the word “republicans” in the filtered story.

    The republican party is a LEFTIST, Central Government Planning party, like the democrat party. Hayek explained this sort of worldview with precision. Any “conservative utopia” will be built FROM THE RUBBLE THAT BECK’S REPUBLICAN/DEMOCRAT PARTY HAVE MADE OF OUT CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC.

    Brother Winston Smith  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:26pm

      I dislike the use of the Name/Word UTOPIA… for it was a Concept of Worker/Slaves servicing an Elite!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • marine249
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:28pm

      boy are we deep DEEPER thinker?

      Report Post »  
    • GoodStuff
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:38pm

      @Brother Winston Smith

      Get a life.

      Report Post »  
    • angelcat
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:11am

      Did you forget your meds today or do yu always live in an alternate reality?

      Report Post »  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:00pm

    Love the idea. I need to read more on it and share with my city council.

    Report Post » OlefromMN  
    • GrannyATL
      Posted on June 26, 2012 at 12:01am

      I live in this area and my son is a firefighter who was brought in when they started the city in 2005.

      A little history — Sandy Springs is part of Fulton County, which includes the city of Atlanta and areas south of Atlanta. Think of an hour glass with the city of Atlanta as the narrow center part. With a heavily Democrat city government and county government as well as a predominently Democrat legislature, there had been a long simmering battle over how taxes were spent. The northern part of the hourglass tended to be wealthier than the city of Atlanta and the southern half (although there is a good bit of diversity in Sandy Springs — it is not homogenous by any stretch). Property taxes were often used to build libraries and parks in much higher proportion in the southern areas than in northern areas, causing resentment. For decades the northern part of the hourglass wanted to break away from the unincorporated county and have their own cities where they could control how the area was managed.

      In 2004 the first Republican Governor was elected since the Civil War era and one of the first votes was whether Sandy Springs could become its own city. They won handily, which I believe is a main reason there was a 90+% vote on many things — people were fed up with crumbling infastructure despite their high property taxes.

      Now there are 3 new cities – Sandy Springs, Milton and Johns Creek. I believe all of them use the same private company, called “ch2m hill

      Report Post » GrannyATL  
  • Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:58pm

    Great hope. Excellant plan. And now we have a successful test case.

    Report Post » Prosecute_Constitutional_Treason_In_Washington  
  • Beckaj
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:52pm

    Could this be Atlantis?

    Report Post »  
  • cassandra
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:49pm

    if they could get rid of the union schools it would be perfect

    Report Post »  
  • socialism.rocks
    Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:40pm

    georgia takes more in federal dollars then it pays in… libertarian utopia ha ha ha

    there is not a red-state that pays its own way let alone a net producer of anything

    Report Post » socialism.rocks  
    • Steelhead
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:45pm

      conservatives dreaming about utopian societies, what have they been smoking?

      Report Post » Steelhead  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:48pm

      Thats because whites only make up 65% of Georgia…..

      Kidding!! You’re always good for a few chuckles

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • marine249
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:58pm

      Hey suck’s see your back.
      and you have your plaything steel with you

      Report Post »  
    • dblaess
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:16pm

      I guess that makes them just like the blue states, only without having to file for bancruptcy. Hope that hope and change thing, taxes to the max works out for your State.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:29pm

      All Government (Pure Socialism)… or All Privatization (Pure Libertarianism)… One Size never fits All!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Komponist-ZAH
      Posted on June 25, 2012 at 11:56pm

      This is not about Georgia, but a particular town in Georgia. Do you have any evidence that this town is somehow worse off than other, more socialist-minded towns?

      Report Post »  

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