His political career may be over – at least for the foreseeable future – but former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel still rolls right.
Specifically, to the right – which is real estate fewer and fewer Republicans seem willing to occupy with each passing year.
And while he’ll perhaps always be best remembered (ridiculed) for the cocaine bust that cost him his job in 2007, Ravenel’s personal mistakes never interfered with his consistent advocacy on behalf of the taxpayers.
He’s also been a consistent supporter of choice in the education marketplace, as evidenced by what we hope will be the first of several “Thomas’ history lessons” that he’s offering over on his Facebook page:
History is clear on this issue. Our college system (although in no small part paid for by gov’t but not run by gov’t) is the envy of the world. America is home to 17 of the top 20 institutions on the planet. On the other hand our gov’t run k-12 system is the laughing stock of the world.
From the beginning of civilization we have learned this lesson. Take two of the earliest rival nations. The ancient Greeks and Sparta. The Greeks had a free market educational system and Sparta had a state run system. The Greeks gave us mathematics, astronomy, tragedy, poetry, comedy and philosophy. Of course we all know what the Spartans gave us: the name of a lot of high school football programs!
True that.
Say what you want about T-Rav, but he handled his drug problem, his public trial and his prison sentence with tremendous class – acknowledging his addiction, getting the help he needed and accepting both responsibility for his actions as well as the punishment accompanying those actions.
He may not be filling a public office anytime soon (or ever), but you don’t have to be an elected official to make a difference in the political process.
Personally, we hope to see more of T-Rav in the arena in the months and years to come.
By Tradd February 2, 2009 at 12:41 am
I heard guy got gayed.
By BIN News Editorial Staff February 2, 2009 at 2:04 am
Wow. Two tremendously classy (not) posterpimps for voucher scams.
One convicted of criminal domestic violence and the other a convicted druggie.
We see it now. A new “grass roots” organization with a web site.
Call it: Convicted Felons for Voucher Scams.
By Just the Facts Ma'am February 2, 2009 at 7:22 am
He handled it with class? I guess that’s easy when you’re low class to begin with. Another rich kid that says I’m sorry I got caught — but you can trust me.
He and Michael Phelps should run on a ticket together.
By Cooter Brown February 2, 2009 at 7:55 am
Mista Ravenel is a gud man an’ I’m a hopin’ he’s a not finished wit publick service!, includin’ poly-ticks! He was a LYNCHED bie da alcoholic swillin, filanderin’, scalawag cronies ’cause he whooped deir arse & was a risin’ fast as a jack rabbit on, well, coke…
I thinks he’s gots more credibilitie now dan befo, especilly re-gardin’ da so-called war on drugs. Tellin’ a man wha’ he can put in his bodie is like a tellin’ him what he put in his head, wha’ he cain read! Look what dis non-issu has did to dis boy’s life! Disgustin’!
Freedum & libertie is dangerous bitness–means we can makes mistakes. I’m a hopin’ he’ll git back in da game in one was or de otha…
I’m a prayin’ fer him an’ I hope you folks is as well…
-CB
By Cadetsuperintendent February 2, 2009 at 7:57 am
Leaving aside the incorrect history (the Spartans were
Greeks, also), the implausible parallel (lessons from
Greek history apply to SC’s bureaucratic eductional
nightmare), does anyone else find it strange (or perhaps
even queer) that T-Rav’s chose to focus on a culture
that celebrates older men sodomizing young boys?
Perhaps that’s just how he rolls.
By Natasha February 2, 2009 at 8:01 am
Can you post some more pics please?
By Cooter Brown February 2, 2009 at 9:52 am
Mista Sic-
It’s a lookin’ like ye gots a lot of stone throwin’, phariacitical yokels who a readin’ yer posts.
Wonder how many ad hominem attaks we’ll see from dese fools!
Da fack it dat drug use is nonoftha bitness of da gov-mint whether it’s a Ravenel or enie one else, ‘cluding ol’ Cooter who stills his spirits on da familie farm– my still, my land, my corn licker.
Feds an’ deir war on drugs can kiss ol’ Cooter’s hind quarters!
-CB
By Brandon February 2, 2009 at 10:59 am
The sooner he get’s back in the saddle the better. We need the help.
By baker February 2, 2009 at 11:25 am
Personal attacks aside, one problem here is “T-Rav”‘s logic on education isn’t so sound. Higher eduction and K-12 education are two extremely different systems. There are a number of factors that make “choice” for higher education a very different proposition than private school “choice” for K-12 education:
**Transportation is such a key issue in getting young kids to school and can be a barrier to so-called choice. With higher education, the vast majority of students have their own wheels. Or, as 18-year-olds (or older), they can simply move into a dorm on the campus they choose to attend and then walk to class (I don’t guess Hammond Academy has dorms for 9-year-olds). So, unlike kids and families in the K-12 system, transportation generally isn’t a barrier in choosing a college.
**Since college students are 18 or older and are independent, they can leave home and “choose” among a vast array of colleges or universities. A kid from Sumter can leave home and go to Clemson or PC or, for that matter, the University of Hawaii. That’s a very, very different scenario from the small town with only one or two private schools for K-12ers.
**In the higher ed system, the public schools are actually allowed to COMPETE, too. That is, they can turn down students who don’t fit their admission profile. So, whereas Rosewood Elementary School isn’t allowed to turn away students who live in that school zone — regardless of grades, test scores, parental involvement, desire to even be there — Clemson University can reject applicants who have lousy grades and SATs. This allows the public institutions to shape their academic atmosphere the same way their private competitors do….in a way K-12 public schools aren’t allowed.
**Money — Public colleges and universities, like their private counterparts, have huge fundraising operations. If they lose students through competition, they can make that up by going to their donors. They can also make their schools more attractive (i.e. competitive) by raising money to have top-notch facilities, professors, special programs, etc. There really is no similar fundraising mechanism in the K-12 system. Which isn’t to say that are public school districts don’t spend lots of money — only pointing out that they have far less control over their fundraising and spending, which obviously has implications for this concept of choice and competition.
By baker February 2, 2009 at 11:35 am
I didn’t mean to say “are public school districts….”
OUR public school district. Sorry about that.
By Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo February 2, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Actually the analogy makes pretty good sense. Vouchers will help pave the way towards a system with a few exceptional schools (i.e., America) and a lot of poor ones (i.e., the third world). Like America’s relation to the third world, the good schools will tend to drain what little talent remains in the poor schools leaving them even worse off than before.
I’m not saying that’s good or bad. (maybe there really is no hope for the corridor of shame, et al). I just wish voucher folks would call it like it is.
By Natasha February 2, 2009 at 2:33 pm
You know not to keep a girl waiting, come on Sic! I need some eye candy this afternoon… :)
By ethel krabitz February 2, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Thomas Ravenel, like many politicians, is immature, self- centered, and seemingly oblivious to how others perceive his personality.
However, I do agree with his politics and would vote for him again.
Hopefully, his recent experience has given him some much needed maturity and self-awareness.
By Pasquale Pellicoro February 23, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Pasquale Pellicoro
http://www.charleston.net/photos/2007/sep/05/3050/