Henry's Healthy Water Supply

The mussels in Florida waters are like mine canaries. Their role in the 'water for humans' debate provides proof and confirmation that governments are not good stewards of our natural resources.

The profit-minded drive for unmanaged development has placed North Georgia in a precarious situation. A majority of people saw it coming years ago. We have known about the 17-year lawsuit between Georgia, Florida and Alabama. We have watched clear cutting. We have seen population grow and congestion multiply. Every school system in the Metro area is hosting trailer parks.

We have heard our fearless leaders proclaim, "It's just growing pains." What will their spin be when statewide or region-wide sanctions and redistribution of water rolls over us? Will Henry County's water supply continue to be reported as 'healthy?' Other than blaming some outside force and bemoaning the situation, will any of them accept responsibility for their own role in creating the problem?

The anti-everything crowd, to which county commissioners have accused me of belonging, are dismissed by state and local authorities. But the calls for prudence are now making sense. State & local governments have never wanted to manage so-called economic development. However, they have never had a plan for both short-term profit as well as protecting natural resources.

We have regarded water resources in the same way some view the threat of terrorism. So long as I am not affected today, so long as "staff" tells me we are ok, so long as I can get a press release (or a campaign contribution) from a new development I will go along with anything, praying I am out of office before calamity strikes.