Atlanta Could Secede, But It Shouldn't
<p>Metropolitan Atlanta could feasibly survive on its own if it were to secede from the state of Georgia, writes Otis White. But as he explains, Atlanta would be much better off as part of the state than as its own, if only there were more cooperation.</p>
"Could Atlanta survive as a state? Sure. If it were just Fulton and DeKalb counties, the state of Atlanta would have 1.6 million people, larger than 15 states. Expand to the core five counties (adding on Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton), and it would have 3.3 million people, bigger than 21 states. With the remaining counties on the Atlanta Regional Commission, you'd have a nicely compact state of 3.9 million residents that would rank No. 25 in population."
"So, yes, we could make it on our own."
"But if we could secede, should we? No. Georgia is better off with Atlanta, and Atlanta is better off with Georgia. Our problem isn't a lack of mutual benefit; it's an absence of ideas and understanding."
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Published on Friday, October 19, 2007 in
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