As the general manager of a small chain of newspapers, my business touches every business, large and small, in nine counties. I see, first hand, the struggles of business owners and their employees. I know it is poor governance and lack of ethical decision making that is holding our state back. There are solutions that will turn our economy around and get people back into Georgia businesses, buying the goods and services that will make our economy thrive.
Tax incentives for small business and for big business, when they give us a true return on our investment, are good, but now tax incentives are the norm both nationally and globally. For Georgia to move our economy forward we must legislate in a way to improve the systems that must be strong for business to grow.
Georgia’s rankings on educational achievement are at the bottom and our dropout rate is excessive. Because of this, the thing we are now becoming known for is being number one in the percentage of our population in the correctional system. Law enforcement has been reduced to unsafe levels and our population is in the top ten most unhealthy. Business in Georgia is struggling and unemployment is high.
Although we made great strides when we appointed a new Speaker in the House, the lack of ethical leadership in the Lieutenant Governor’s office will continue to hold Georgia’s economy back. New leadership is clearly needed for Georgia.
