You Get What You Pay For
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1/3/2013
I guess if there is one positive thing to say about Augusta is that it is very affordable. Housing in incredibly cheap... but beware.. you get what you pay for. There is a reason why Augusta is so cheap: people don't want to live there! It's the basic principle of economics: supply and demand. In fact, despite the cheap prices, the population of Augusta has been stagnant for nearly 20 years.
Maybe this is why:
1. Crime is very high. For a medium sized city, the crime in Augusta rivals that of much bigger cities and certain parts of town appear to have been completely taken over by gangs.
2. Schools are awful. If you have to live in Augusta, you better be able to afford private school (so you see even though housing is cheap, you pay in other ways). There are a few magnet schools which are touted by all of the local so-called leaders, but they are not representative of the system as a whole, and getting into one is like winning the lottery, and even they are average at best.
3. Extreme Boredom. Augusta is the kind of place where entertainment is hanging out at the local mall. That is about all there is to do for young people, or go to the movies, and even when it comes to that you have subpar theaters to choose from. The downtown area looks like a ghost town and their Riverwalk is rundown and frequented by thugs and criminals.
4. Ghetto. Ghetto. Ghetto. These three words best describe most of Augusta. It's like the whole town just gave up on itself decades ago. They try to spruce up for the once a year Masters tournament.. but even that is a half-hearted attempt confined to areas right around the golf course. Other areas of town resemble third world conditions. When a house catches fire in Augusta, it is just allowed to sit there and rot for years until it eventually caves in on itself. And you see this all of town.
5. Dysfunctional Government. Basically idiots are in charge of the place. Most of them cannot even speak correct intelligible English. Racial politics rule. I have never seen a city so racially divided in my life.It's like they are still fighting the civil war down there.
6. Incompetence Galore. You can forget getting good service at any restaurant or retail store or anywhere else in Augusta for that matter. The awful education system, coupled with a general lazy attitude has resulted in a culture of extreme incompetence. After living in Augusta for 3 years, I dont think we once had a meal out at a restaurant that was not screwed up in some way.
7. Crude and Rude Locals. Forget Southern Hospitality, most Augustans are crude and rude and do not know how to behave in public. Think of an entire town of 200,000 populated by the Honey Boo Boo family. You cannot go see a movie in Augusta without it being interrupted by an extra soundtrack. We attended several concerts and invariably they were disrupted by a drunk redneck getting into a fight or just yelling and being obnoxious.
8. Cultural wasteland. If you are looking for Culture in Augusta.. look elsewhere.
I could go on.. but I think you get the picture. Like I said, Augusta is a cheap place to live, but just remember that you get what you pay for.
Aaron | ,