Posted on 02/20/2008 9:03:36 PM PST by SmithL
NASHVILLE — Tennessee officials are denouncing a resolution passed by the Georgia Legislature that urges a reconsideration of the boundary between the two states.
Georgia lawmakers, led by Republican state Sen. David Shafer, argue that the border was wrongly drawn in the 19th century, depriving drought-stricken Georgians of their rightful access to the plentiful water supply of the Tennessee River.
Tennessee Rep. Gerald McCormick, a Chattanooga Republican, called the resolution “silliest thing I’ve ever seen any group of Republicans do.”
“I’m embarrassed that they would embarrass the party like that,” he said. “They’re idiots.”
Congress in 1796 designated that Tennessee’s southern borders should stretch along the 35th parallel, but surveyors in 1818 missed that mark by about 1.1 miles to the south.
If the line had been drawn correctly, Georgia would have access to the Tennessee River, which has about 15 times greater flow than the one Atlanta depends on for water.
But trying to change the state lines now is “an absurd approach,” said Will Pinkston, a senior adviser to Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen.
“It’s unfortunate that Georgia didn’t plan accordingly for growth over the past couple of decades, and now is trying to rewrite 200 years of history to address their mistakes,” Pinkston said.
“Under no circumstances will Gov. Bredesen turn over Tennessee’s water to Georgia,” he said.
Critics also point out the proposal would have effects on the state line beyond just the Tennessee River near Chattanooga. Mississippi would also get a slice of Memphis — Tennessee’s largest city — and thousands of residents could have new home states.
The resolution alone can’t move the state line, which would require an agreement between the states and approval by Congress. Tennessee state Sen. Andy Berke scoffed at the rationale for the resolution.
“I can pass a resolution today that says I get to have my neighbor’s house, but that doesn’t make it so,” said Berke, a Chattanooga Democrat.
“Georgia needs to be looking at responsible solutions for how to deal with water and land-use planning, rather than irresponsible land grabs,” he said.
McCormick said there’s little for Tennessee lawmakers to do in response to the move by their counterparts in Georgia.
“Only ridicule them and laugh at them,” he said. “And that’s what we’ll be doing.”
While we’re at it, I want Alabama to reclaim the Florida panhandle.
If anyone wants New Orleans, please take it. Please! The rest of Louisiana is begging you!
Oh, great, Michigan and Ohio will again consider the land that is in southeast Michigan.
Let Georgia(crackers) have part of East Tennessee(hillbillies) and it will raise the IQs of both states
Old joke. Very old joke.
Reason why it never works is because the ethnic makeup has changed. Alaskans are becoming more like Americans everyday.
Is that banjos I hear????
Using the faulty logic of some Southerns on this board, this is just as good of a reason for either TN or GA to succeed the Union...
The united states purchased Alaska, there was no lease.
Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States in 1859, believing the United States would off-set the designs of Russia's greatest rival in the Pacific, Great Britain. The looming U.S. Civil War delayed the sale, but after the war, Secretary of State William Seward quickly took up a renewed Russian offer and on March 30, 1867, agreed to a proposal from Russian Minister in Washington, Edouard de Stoeckl, to purchase Alaska for $7.2 million. The Senate approved the treaty of purchase on April 9; President Andrew Johnson signed the treaty on May 28, and Alaska was formally transferred to the United States on October 18, 1867. This purchase ended Russia's presence in North America and ensured U.S. access to the Pacific northern rim.
If they were smart, they would make the expulsion of Memphis part of the deal and come out ahead.
You better watch that succeeding talk, because that can't lead to no good.
sure... the last time that happened, 600,000 guys died.
funny, from sombody who will not even claim their home state on the profile page. From a transplanted Pennsylvanian happy to be in Georgia.
I don’t find it at all funny, as my parents grew up in Georgia, and I was born and lived all of my life in Tennessee :P
Since I am Tennessean, this lawmaker can go pound sand, and so can you :P
Any chance that San Francisco actually belong to Japan?
I don't think it was succeeding that caused a war. More like the talk of seceding the union - which means separation. Succeeding refers to the act of achieving success. A minor difference in meanings.
Actually water hasn’t been so plentiful since the drought began. TVA is raising electric rates, in part, because the drought has cut into their hydroelectric generation.
There still is much more freedom in Alaska than most states in lower 48. I live in an unorganized borough, no prop taxes, no income or sales taxes. Translates to less govt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.