Let’s face it: Everybody hates political correctness. Or, at least, everybody says they hate political correctness. According to Webster, PC is an adjective:

conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated

With the whole advent of such widespread hatred toward the whole idea of PC culture, it would seem to me that it is more PC to be un-PC.

But there’s a little bit of a problem I have. With such widespread hatred toward PC, it’s difficult to believe that the popular perception of PC is quite as narrow as Webster’s definition. After all, I’ve heard plenty of loudmouth smart asses proclaim their hatred of PC, but still refuse to say the “n” word. So, is Webster wrong, or is this just an instance of a popular misperception?

The broader definition of PC would more likely refer to the avoidance of offending anybody — who cares about political sensibilities! Therefore, it’s not only un-PC to use the “n” word. It’s also un-PC to use the “f” word, especially on television.

I’ve been thinking for a while that there should probably be more words to describe such phenomena:

• Calling things as mundane as the “f” word “un-PC”
• Claiming to be “so not PC,” even if the “n” word is avoided at all costs
• Pointlessly breaking a taboo except to prove how un-PC you are

… and so on.

My favorite idea comes from a New Yorker cartoon, where a couple of folks who are dressed in the sort of garb you’d expect PC-conscious folks to wear, are declaring, “We’re trying to come up with a less offensive term for ‘political correctness.’”

In any case, as long as we stick to the dictionary definition, the following passage from my Organizational Communication textbook probably wouldn’t fall under the category of PC (though I disagree — this is so PC):

An overall culture includes a number of social communities, which are groups of people who live within a dominant culture yet also belong to another social group or groups. For many years social groups that were distinct from mainstream culture were called subcultures. However, the prefix sub connotes inferiority, as if subcultures are somehow less than “real cultures” (Samovar & Porter, 2001). The terms co-culture, social group, and social community are used now to describe groups of people who hold dual membership in the dominant culture and one or more particular groups within it.

Co-culture: that is so punk.

It would probably be a bit more honest and simple to say that PC language is sometimes ridiculous and annoying, but sometimes it is not. Likewise, overtly un-PC language is sometimes ridiculous and annoying, but sometimes it’s just lame but funny. In any case, it’s still fun to hear PC horror stories.

Update #3: I spent half the day at the legislature yesterday only to find out I was really tilting at windmills. Thanks to all others among you who gave your time to call, email, show up at the gold dome. Chambers knows that there are citizens lobbying for MARTA, so she can’t bully MARTA into removing lobbyists like she’s done before.

There are two bills that are crucial for MARTA’s operational finances: SB 114 and SB 115. SB 114 limits the MARTA sales tax so that only 55% of it can go toward operations. To be honest, that limit should really be set at 75% for better bus and rail service. Without SB 114, that limit will be set back at 50%. SB 115 gives MARTA the additional flexibility to utilize interest income to go toward operations. SB 115 should be a no-brainer, and it would only be fair to give MARTA that sort of flexibility. Chambers does not yet seem convinced.

As noted in the first update, Chambers has set out to review MARTA’s financial documents thoroughly. Even before reviewing those documents (and after speaking with her in person) it appears she already has some preconceived notions about what she’ll find in there. She’s interested in working with anyone who will help her dig through the information, but she still seems disinterested in approaching MARTA with anything other than an attitude of conflict.

To be even more honest, it would only be fair if roadbuilders were given the same level of scrutiny that MARTA is receiving at this point.

In the meantime, we’ll be downtown again on Thursday to lobby for SB 150. This bill enables the development of streetcar systems wherever they turn out to be economically viable and backed by public-private partnerships. The only senator to vote against it was Douglas. Douglas was also the same senator who questioned the whole idea of the MARTA sales tax at the Senate Transportation Committee meeting, which is moronic when you consider that those taxes were enacted with popular support at the polls. His stand on transportation issues makes me curious about his campaign finances.

In the meantime, if you are available to stop by the gold dome on Thursday to support SB 150, come on out and join the fun. While this bill is expected to pass, your support will ensure its passage and help give some momenteum for other transit-related legislation.

Update #2: It’s not really an update. It’s a reminder that the CfPT Fundraiser is tonight. SB 114 will certainly be a hot topic of discussion.

Update #1: I called Chambers’ office. The aide I spoke with on the phone gave me several points you may want to be prepared for:

1. The governor waited until the last minute to appoint the members of the MARTOC committee, so the committee did not have adequate time to consider bills adequately.
2. MARTA took a long time to produce the financial reports that were requested of them. MARTA delivered a two-foot stack of pages that Rep. Chambers intends to review thoroughly before she makes a decision. In the meantime,
3. SB 114 is tabled until the next legislative session.

My response:

1. This is a time-sensitive issue, and it can’t really wait for the next session
2. I would be willing to volunteer to help review those financial documents so that they can be reviewed both thoroughly and quickly. That way, the bill can be considered for the current legislative session.

I gave the aide my contact info. We’ll see if they accept my offer.

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Recently, Jill Chambers, Chair of MARTOC in the Georgia General Assembly, scuttled MARTA’s effort to extend the 55-45% split of sales tax revenue. The MARTA act sets a limit on 50% of sales taxes to be used for operations. Three years ago the General Assembly increased that to 55% to allow MARTA to get through the recession in sales tax receipts without more fare hikes and service cutbacks.

MARTA went back to the legislature this year to get this extended for another five years. Rep. Chambers demanded a series of financial reports in order to justify the sales tax allocation change. If the extension is not approved in the next three days then MARTA will have to prepare their 2006 budget without the extra operating money from sales taxes for next year.

MARTA delivered the reports to Rep. Chambers today. Now Representative Chambers needs to make good and allow a vote on the Sales Tax allocation change.

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***Please Call Representative Jill Chambers 404-656-3949 and ask her to allow a vote on the MARTA Sales Tax Allocation: SB 114.***

*Representative Chambers represents North DeKalb, so please contact your friends in DeKalb County and get them to contact Rep. Chambers.*

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MARTA considers fare hike, staff cuts

Under pressure from state leaders to eliminate a projected $18 million deficit next year, the MARTA board of directors is poised to propose raising one-way fares to $2.

At a Monday morning budget work session, the MARTA board also agreed to consider retiring or laying off another 130 workers. Most would be middle management employees. Since 2002, MARTA has eliminated more than 700 jobs from its work force.

Board members fretted openly about the potential public backlash and the prospect of losing seasoned experts from its staff. But they acknowledged the importance of further deficit reductions to gaining long-term support from state leaders to keep the MARTA system running.

“We don’t want to turn this battleship so fast we sink it, but we have to turn it, because we’re headed for the iceberg,” said MARTA board member J.Thomas Kilpatrick, an attorney.

The $325 million operating budget for fiscal year 2006 now being considered by the MARTA board would cut the projected deficit from $18 million to $4.4 million.

“Officially, everything’s on the table [for cuts],” said MARTA board chairman Michael Walls.

Other potential proposals for cutting the deficit include an extra $1 surcharge per ride for shuttle service to Braves games and Lakewood concerts, elimination of employer discounted fare cards and reductions in student-discount fare cards.

MARTA staff estimated that the fare hike would cut MARTA’s ridership by more than 3 million annually. The transit system now has approximately 67 million riders annually.

The MARTA board is scheduled to vote on a budget in May. Public hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled for April 19, 20 and 21.

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It’s worth noting that it would make sense for the decision makers involved here, whether that’s the MARTA Board or Jill Chambers, to ask the question, “What would happen to ridership if I make this decision? Will it go up or down?”

Today’s AJC has a great letter to the editor that only asks the question:

Perdue not seeing straight on driver eye tests

Gov. Sonny Perdue wants to eliminate eye tests to shorten the lines at the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety (”Perdue sees shorter lines in cutting driver eye tests,” Page One, March 19). Why stop there? If we cut driver’s exams, the lines would get shorter still. Heck, why not do away with licenses and the lines entirely?

Be serious. Most drivers currently need to take an eye exam every eight years. Let’s add some examiners and ask people to keep giving 30 minutes of their time every eight years to help protect the safety of us all.

DAVID MONDE, Atlanta

The answer is obvious. The governor’s ultimate goal is to do away with licenses. That way, once driver’s licenses become the only valid form of IDs shown at the polls, nobody would have anything to show. Therefore, the incumbents win by default!

• Citizens for Progressive Transit is hosting a viewing of the documentary “Taken for a Ride” this coming Tuesday at 6:00. More details can be found on the CfPT website. The event is featured in this week’s Creative Loafing, so tickets are selling. Get yours before the show is sold out!
• The University Singers is giving its last performance of the semester on Sunday, April 10. This will likely be my last performance with the USingers. While Dr. Raines won’t be conducting, we’re still looking at a mostly lighthearted and fun concert with Broadway showtunes, traditional Korean and Russian folktunes, and other stuff. Oh yeah, and for those who remember All-Select Chorus 1994 with Ira Pittman, we’re singing the Festival Sanctus. Some of the folks in the chorus call it the Reading Rainbow Sanctus since part of it vaguely resembles the Reading Rainbow theme song.

So just a few short days after I got back from New York, I’m ready to continue on with life. On Tuesday evening I began my journey to school in order to make it to a CKI meeting. It would have been the first meeting of the year I would have attended — I’ve maintained the whole time that I am cursed from ever attending a CKI meeting. Something always comes up!

This time, it wasn’t a self-fulfilling prophecy. As I’m rounding the corner out of the neighborhood, there’s this guy in the street telling me to stop. I stopped. I rolled down my window. He points to the street and asks me, “Is this yours?” I look down on the street and see a little yellow parakeet.

Well, to make a long story short, I’ve rescued a parakeet. Its wings were clipped when we found it, but it can still fly pretty well, so who knows if it came from my neighborhood or somewhere across town. A brief informal poll of the neighborhood revealed no one who knew the parakeet’s rightful home, so for now it’s in my room.

I’ve named it Beaker. It chirps like any other parakeet, but I call it meeping. When I first rescued it, we went out and got a cage and some food, which it started eating as soon as it was all in place — the poor bird was starving and tired! I’ve never seen a bird alternate so quickly between eating and sleeping.

In any case, what I’ve been able to gather so far: Beaker enjoys flying, listening to music (especially classical piano and celtic), and looking at mirrors.

The silence will continue for a little while longer. On Monday, I had started a statewide tour with the University Singers when I received the news of my grandmother’s passing.

The obituary can be found on Newsday:

WINTER-Lillian on March 7, 2005. Beloved wife of Seymour. Loving mother of Jeffrey (Beverly), Susan Zacherman (Joseph) and Donna Fee (Jack). Cherished grandmother of Jarrod (Molly), Joe, Avi, Sean, Jonathan, Casey and Riley. Great-grandmother of Solomon. Her humor and laughter will be deeply missed by all her loving family and friends. Graveside Services, Wednesday 2:30PM, at New Montefiore Cemetery, Pinelawn, LI. Arrangements by I.J. Morris, Inc., 46 Greenwich St., Hempstead, NY.

So Hanson stopped by to visit Ga. State the other day. After their interview on WRAS, they came out to the plaza to play a few songs, sans sound equipment. Here are a few photos of the event.

Kiss me, my brotha!

Uhh… yeah.

Three people filming for a documentary entitled “Lame.”

An anti-fan wants his Care Bear signed just for fun.

After I took the photo, he told me he hoped I wasn’t going to put it up on the Internet. With any luck, he’ll get $15 for it on eBay.