By Michael Mumper
Thinking in non-partisan ways is not so easy in Georgia. It may not be anywhere.
So I’d like to bring attention from time-to-time to people who think beyond party lines in defense of their principles.
Senator Thompson
I’d like to call out Georgia State Senator Curt Thompson (D-District 5), who voted for HR 1162. This legislation is largely seen as a Republican-led initiative, and Thompson is a Democrat.
Because it recently passed both houses of our state’s General Assembly, this resolution will go before voters this fall to decide whether the state of Georgia should have the power to authorize charter schools. Even, potentially, over the objection of local school boards.
But I bring attention to Senator Thompson not because he voted for HR 1162. Rather, because:
The truth is that I support the creation of charter schools because I think it makes sense to allow greater choice within the public schools. This is especially true when the child, the parents, or both want a more specialized institution; whether it has a focus on math, science, the performing arts, music, or just has a single sex student body. - Senator Curt Thompson
- he thought outside traditional party lines
- he brought together a convincing collection of facts to support his thinking
- he courageously and publicly published the thoughts that led to his vote
Which also happen to be consistent with how he’s voted in the past.
AtlCrossroads is not meant to be an advocating website. While I do have leanings on some issues, I care much more about the process of how we, as citizens, get involved in policy issues, how we educate ourselves, form an opinion, and take action.
I don’t track any particular legislator’s votes on every issue, but on this issue at least, Senator Thompson’s thought process is a model for how we citizens can develop our own thinking on issues that matter.
Click this link to read more of Senator Thompson’s thoughts on HR 1162.
Michael Mumper
See Michael Mumper’s bio in the About Us section above.
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