Across Georgia, politicians attack students’ personal freedoms

    As many of you know, I attend city council meetings on a regular basis. I feel it is my responsibility as an active member in this community to attend these meetings, as well as participate in the decision-making process in this city.  And, I must say, as I began to attend these meetings last year, I was quite lonesome.  But, as the weeks have turned into months, I have seen a change in this student body. 
    What started off as one person coming along with me eventually turned into two.  Then that two turned into four, and like a snowball tumbling down a hill, the numbers continued to grow. 
    Last night, I counted a total of eighteen concerned students in attendance of the meeting.  I can personally say, the change in attitude towards student participation in the decision making process of this city is looking more and more promising everyday.  Especially when, after the city council meeting, a large group of students entered into a debate with one of the council members about the new ordinance that limits the amount of unrelated students that reside in one house. 
    I can honestly tell you, I was proud.
    But, as one of the individuals who was discussing the issue with the council member asked a question, my pride quickly got usurped by a slight feeling of anxiety.  I have no problem telling you that the question asked, as well as the answer, rattled my belief in the American system a little.  The question was one that any worried student might ask at a time like this.  It was, “Is it even legal or right for a government to be able to tell you how you can live in your own house?”  The council member reflected a little, and then answered with a simple “Well they can.” 
    To put it bluntly, he was right. 
    In the current era of local politics, a government can tell you how you can live in your own house, even if you own the property.  This has shown to be true all over Georgia, from the neighborhoods of Athens to the coast of St. Simon’s.  Over and over, Georgians have seen ordinances put into place that state almost the exact thing that the one currently being discussed in Milledgeville says.     
    People have been told how they can park their cars, all the way up to how many refrigerators they can have in their house.  This has proven, time and time again, to be at least quasi-legal, if only at a local level.
    Personally, this bothers me.  As a moderate citizen, I appreciate my privacy, as well as my rights.  I grew up being taught that I have the right to own my property and to do whatever I need to, within the legal boundaries, to pursue my personal happiness.  If my happiness stems from living with four friends and going to school full-time, then so be it.  The concept that people have been granted the right to alter the legal boundaries of communities to fit their personal wants bothers me a little.  Just as I hope it bothers the students here at GCSU.
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Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 29 2006. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry