Greetings from the ATL
Welcome to everything that is outrageous, obnoxious, stroke-inducing and highly annoying about this sprawling pit bull of a city.As a huddled native Atlantan - born and raised well before the population reached 1 million, I've become a stranger in my own hometown. I am shocked, nay, appalled by what I see daily.
This is not a nostalgic elegy of the "good old days," but a litany of outrage, and my suggestions for what can be done before the decline of this Rapidly declining Romanesque Empire.
I'll start with everybody's favorite Atlanta nightmare: TRAFFIC
My solution: STAGGER WORK HOURS, AND GIVE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO SET THEIR OWN SCHEDULES. The old paradigm of 9-5 office hours is archaic. That extends beyond Atlanta to the American workforce.
- Most people would jump at the chance to work 7-3, or night owls like me, would gladly take a 10-7 shift, etc., thus eliminating the soul-crushing rush hours
- Friday afternoon. Am I the only person in the city who works until 5:30 around here? The mid-afternoon traffic on Friday is astonishing
- Work from home - One day, or afternoon, would help traffic, improve morale, and would help move companies from hourly time-card approach to one where productivity matters, whatever time the individual chooses.
A well reasoned plan, which may be its biggest flaw! Currently the leaders and "experts" in the metro area are asking taxpayers to fill the transportation coffers in order to perpetuate the insanity. As if this is the solution to the cornucopia of Neanderthal NASCAR wannabes who choke every street with no regard for life or limb! Your solution cost no money, and in fact will actually save some, so I am afraid it will be as doomed as the idea of updating the power grid! Outrage rules!!!!
ReplyDeleteOA, a good sense blog. If you could get people to do it, great! - Dave
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, nobody would do it, because it's too logical for our anachronistic world
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