The Georgia File

The Challenge of Good Growth

Toward the end of Fintan O’Toole’s book We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Modern Ireland, the author tells the story of an Irish taoiseach (prime minister) marveling at the efficiency of China’s autocratic rule during a period when the Emerald…

Legalizing Medical Cannabis

It took around a decade for Allen Peake’s vision to become reality in Georgia, but because of his commitment to Georgians who have serious health conditions, patients now have legal access to medical cannabis. A conservative Republican and wildly successful…

A Focus on Literacy

In 2006, Rhonda Mathieson of Atlanta needed lifesaving surgery. She later discovered that she shared something special in common with her neurosurgeon, Dr. Steven Wray. Mathieson, now retired as chief financial officer of the High Museum, serves as a board…

Gold Dome Needs a Shine

Let me start with the disclaimer that I love the Georgia Capitol, with its Indiana limestone exterior, the pink Georgia marble on its inner walls, and its dome gilded with Dahlonega gold. It’s where I worked for nearly five years…

A Win in Name Only

Georgia Democrats learned a painful lesson of “be careful what you wish for.” Plaintiffs aligned with Democratic groups successfully sued the state of Georgia on claims that the state legislative and congressional maps…

Keep the Film Tax Credit

Fans of Netflix’s Ozark know about the dramatic performances of stars Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in the thrilling series. They’ve probably never heard of Mike Neal, a small businessman in Savannah, but they’ve enjoyed his work too. As a marine…