Tom Davis: “Tyranny In The Legislative State”
By Tom Davis
My first year as a senator in the South Carolina General Assembly confirmed for me why I decided to seek public office in the first place – our state’s government is badly structured, badly managed and badly in need of reform. I believe this now more than ever.
What I no longer believe, however, is that I should frame my concerns diplomatically in order to avoid “offending anyone” in Columbia. It is clear to me now that the legislature is almost entirely to blame for our high unemployment rate, our low graduation rate and our declining prosperity as a state.
I campaigned on changing this failed system, as did many others. But in spite of the best efforts of a growing group of reformers in Columbia, change didn’t happen this year, and the public deserves to know why.
This year’s budget fiasco provides the perfect opportunity to explain that.
As I write this, the South Carolina Supreme Court is deliberating over who has the authority to spend $700 million in federal stimulus dollars – Gov. Sanford or the legislature. The governor wants to put the money toward our state’s massive debt; the legislature simply wants to spend it.
In other states, governors run the executive branch – implementing the laws passed by the legislative body. Not so in South Carolina, where the legislature passes the laws and then dictates how they are executed through a complex system of provisos.
If legislators don’t agree with the governor – even on decisions the governor has the authority to make – lawmakers simply change the law and do it their way. For example, a few powerful legislators didn’t like the way Gov. Sanford administered security for the State House grounds, so they passed a law creating a brand-new Capitol Police Force run entirely by legislators.
Similarly, legislators were horrified when Gov. Sanford decided to use his portion of the federal stimulus money to pay down debt – even though this represented less than a tenth of the $8 billion our state is receiving.
And so they passed a law that stripped the governor’s power over that money, and then they spent it.
That decision will likely be upheld by the state’s Supreme Court, which relies on and lobbies lawmakers for its funding and whose members are elected by the legislature.
I am not attacking the Court’s integrity, but the undeniable fact is that lawmakers totally control the structure, makeup and funding of the courts that interpret our laws.
Essentially, in addition to having the traditional powers of a legislature, the South Carolina General Assembly also effectively controls the execution and interpretation of our laws.
In the Federalist Papers, James Madison said: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
And that’s precisely what we have in South Carolina – legislative tyranny. As John Stuart Mill noted in one of his early essays, “Parliament can act as a tyrant just as much as a King can.”
In defiance of that tyranny, I joined thirteen other Senators this year in voting against a budget that will grow government and create new programs that we do not need and cannot afford. Such irresponsible spending is bad policy in the best of economic times, but it frankly borders on the immoral when families are losing their savings, their jobs and their homes.
No business or household could function if it were run like our state – and yet so much of this flawed process remains hidden from public view.
In fact, a recent report from the SC Policy Council revealed that more than a third of our state’s budget – about $7 billion – is funded with fees and fines, and spent on projects that are not examined or publicly debated. I asked for a review of those funds to see where we could achieve savings, but my request was put on a shelf and ignored.
The bottom line is that our structurally flawed system breeds inefficiency at best and corruption at worst. Citizens have far too little say in how our state is run and how their dollars are spent – which, given our legislature’s uber-dominance, is not surprising. As Aristotle knew, the defining characteristic of a tyranny is the placing of the interests of a small group over the best interests of the general population.
Powerful legislative leaders simply close the door on the public (and the rest of the people’s elected representatives) and craft budgets that keep their pet projects alive and power intact.
Some of us proposed a budget that would have cut spending, paid down debt and funded necessary government programs (including education at its highest level ever), but ultimately only 13 senators voted to support our fiscally responsible budget.
The public is tired of putting more money into state government (especially in these hard economic times) and getting the same unsatisfactory results.
South Carolinians deserve a true representative democracy, one in which the governor they elect implements our laws and an independent judiciary interprets our laws.
If we ever want to prosper as a state, the tyranny of the legislature must be broken, and that means substantive restructuring that provides for a true separation of powers.
Frankly, such structural reform will be harder to achieve in South Carolina than in any other state. That’s because here, before the people can ever cast a vote on amending our state’s constitution, the proposed amendment must be approved by a two-thirds vote in the House and the Senate. But I want my constituents, my colleagues and my opponents to understand that I intend to lead that fight.
Every day that we let the tyranny of the legislature go unchecked and unchallenged, prosperity gets a little further out of reach and true representative democracy is eroded. But real change is possible if citizens fully engage in the cause.
They are the ones who will ultimately empower the reformers who have stood for change and are now eager to deliver it.
Editor’s note: Tom Davis represents Beaufort County in the S.C. Senate. Prior to his service in the Senate, he served as Gov. Mark Sanford’s Chief of Staff.
Comments
By HammerheadSC on June 4th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Tom, thanks for the great article. Wish you the best.
By Jack on June 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Well stated Sen. Davis. You’ve had my support from the beginning and this public statement of your position, and that of our current legislative leaders is representative of why you have my support.
Our established press corp unfortunately does not comprehend our utterly corrupt system, or willingly supports the powerful to maintain their own status and access to the powerful. At any rate, they have repeatedly abdicated their normal roll to factually report the actions of government and it’s impact on the citizens.
Will Folks and the few bloggers who have the nerve to stand up to the powerful and tell it like it is are now stepping up to fill the void left by this disintegration of the media. Harrell, McConnell, Leatherman and Cooper have clearly shown that they place their power and their self interests above the best interests of the citizens of South Carolina. 2010 is the time to move true reform forward in SC.
Keep up the great work guys!
By Statesman on June 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Whether we like it or not, the federal law that appropriated the money also detailed how it could be spent. It doesn’t take much to understand that. That battle should have been fought in Congress, not between the Governor, Legislature, and Supreme Court. The Court will rule against the Governor.
By Another opinion on June 4th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Mr. Davis: If you didn’t already know, our state government is controlled by the State’s Consitution. I suggest if you want more power for the governor then you have it changed. If you cannot, either focus your efforts on doing something positive for the state or you, Senator Ryberg and Gov. Sanford, among other state politicans, can all moved back to the states where you are from or were born. Or, you can switch to the liberterian party which already funds your and Gov. Sanford’s political efforts. I think your idea of government is more closely aligned with Howard Rich’s, the Cato Insitute’s and their beloved liberterian party. There is nothing wrong with belonging to that party but there is something wrong with claiming to be a republican when you are most definitely not. The RINO lable is not just for republicans who do not embrace certain republican’s creiteria but for anybody claiming to be something they are not.
By Liberty for me on June 4th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
We only need one reform…SECESSION!
By Drooling Thurmond on June 4th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
waaaaaaaa. You politicians are such douchebags. You parade around when the cameras are on (or in this case you get a free pass from FITS) claiming to be all about reform but once you get in office, you could care less about actually fixing the problems. It’s all about getting re-elected. It’s easy to rail against the machine when you know there’s no chance of anything ever actually changing.
I’ve got a foolproof way to change the way government works in SC….TERM LIMITS!
By Nathan Earle on June 4th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
“Statesman” and “Another opinion”, above, obviously subscribe to the same set of principles that animate the General Assembly: make sure that no one can tell who voted for what. If you’re not ashamed of your opinion, use your name.
Senator Davis has taken a good, courageous, and noble stand in favor of checks and balances and true republican (and not just “Republican”) government. One branch of government is completely out of hand, and it certainly is not the executive branch.
By TaxMan on June 4th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Mark Sanford gave birth ~ and the baby is Tom Davis….
By Cooter Brown on June 4th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Remember 1876– We needs anotha redemshun in SC!!!
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~york/hampton.html
By Palmetto Pulse on June 4th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Sen. Davis fought tirelessly this Session trying to advance principles of smarter government – I watched it with my own eyes. He, and a few others were repetitively shot down by the establishment. I’m afraid that even if we put reformers into power, there’s still a majority pushing ahead with the same ole, same ole. Stupid is as stupid does, ma’am!
At some point, those change agents will get tired of being shot down and just give up I suppose. I think the state would be well served if Sen. Davis would consider fighting from the outside.
By CNSYD on June 4th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Damn, this guy is brilliant! Just there one year and he has all the answers. WAIT! I see now, he is just channeling his daddy Markie Mark.
By Charleston Law Schooler on June 4th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
CNSYD,
I saw Tom Davis at the constitutional law forum held in Charleston last February. He was one of three panelists; the other two were former Gov. Riley and former Gov. Hodges, and he was by far the best presenter. And a read of his post on this site shows you why.
I remember him saying at the forum that he was a freshman senator, but also that he had served on Gov. Sanford’s staff. Just now I looked up his senate bio and it says this:
Biography:DAVIS, Thomas C. [R]-(Dist. No. 46, Beaufort Co.)–Attorney; residing at 502 Scott Street, Beaufort, South Carolina; b. May 31, 1960, in New Brunswick, New Jersey; s. G. Thomas and Yvonne C. Davis; g. Furman University, B.A., 1982, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, Ulmer Medal; g. University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 1985, Order of the Coif, highest honors; m. January 5, 1985, Reid Lawrence Davis, three children, Elizabeth, Grace and Claire; admitted to South Carolina Bar, 1985; practiced law at Harvey & Battey, P.A., 1985-present; former member of Board of Directors for Historic Beaufort Foundation, Greater Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort County Planning Board, Lowcountry Council of Governments, Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority and South Carolina States Ports Authority; co-managed Mark Sanford’s 2002 and 2006 gubernatorial campaigns; served in Gov. Sanford’s administration as senior policy advisor, co-chief of staff, deputy chief of staff and chief of staff; chaired the bi-state Jasper Port negotiating committee.
Now, Davis may not have all the answers, CNSYD, as you suggest, but this much is clear: the guy is way smarter than you are and much more knowledgeable about state government.
By beatnik on June 4th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
CNSYD stands for: Crosby, Nash, Stills, Young and Dumbass. Go Davis!
By Gen. Longstreet on June 4th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Is this guy Tom Davis any kin to that old billygoat Jefferson Davis?
By Brian on June 4th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
What Tom Davis or Mark Sanford do not understand is that South Carolinians want reform and most of us agree that the legislature has too much power in our state. I think Tom and Mark are the absolute worst people to be selling this idea though because their intentions are not genuine. Their brand of politics is too far to the right and most of the legislature and citizens can not trust them when it comes to reforming our government. Their antics have been childish and inconsequential.
How productive is it for Governor Sanford to veto everything that comes his way knowing that the legislature has the votes to override when they sent it to him in the first place. If we had a governor that knew how to sit down in a meeting and debate and compromise on issues this may not be the case. However, his ideology trumps any shred of pragmatism in his body and my fear is that Mr. Davis is nothing more than Mark Sanford’s Mini Me.
The structure of government is South Carolina is broken and the Governor should have more power but I for one am happy as hell this power was not there during the Mark Sanford years. How can you design a structure for government that does not allow a crazy ass libertarian to hijack the state? Find one and I am on board.
By Toyota Kawaski on June 4th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Boy that is a great article from the gov office wah wah wah
By CNSYD on June 4th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Charleston Law Schooler, You probably would be impressed with Obama or Bill Clinton if they were on a panel with those other two. Thanks for the bio. Another Yankee carpetbagger who is trying to education all us poor dumb SC boys. What the matter, he couldn’t get into an SC law school? He fits right in with Ryberg and Markie Mark.
By CNSYD on June 4th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
beatnik= Been Educated At The No Intelligence Koolaid stand.
By Eric on June 4th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
A lot of haters here. These “libertarians” that y’all complain about are of the same mold that drafted the constitution of the United States. The same constitution that has allowed for America to prosper to much over the past 200 years.
By CNSYD on June 4th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Eric, the no government libertarians want one thing…pay no taxes but get benefits. Lets get rid of all that government. You know things like the Army, Navy and Air Force. Who wants the NSA, FBI or CIA. All they do is snoop in our business. We don’t need the FAA. The airplanes can just control themselves. The FDA? We know the drug companies only have our well being at heart. Why look how much better our financial system is after we got rid of all that pesky regulation.
By me on June 4th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
By Nathan Earle :
those 2 really are incredibly stupid arnt they? No wonder the republican party died if thats the type of people that are in it.
By Fashizzle on June 4th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
CNSYD…your assessment is ignorant and flat wrong. There are certain core functions of government (i.e. national defense) that are clearly enshrined in the Constitution as federal powers. Libertarians are far from anarchists. They simply believe in maximizing individual liberty while keeping government firmly constrained within its constitutional boundaries.
By newzjunkie on June 4th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
@Brian: Well said!!!!
By Rafe Hollister on June 4th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
While I have tremendous respect for Tom Davis, he may have maxed out politically. A true statesman knows when to hold ‘em or fold ‘em—-and believe it or not it’s time for Tom, Greg Ryberg, Mick Mulvaney et.al.
to fold ‘em—get over it—you lost—move on to another project.
Tom, you still have a chance to do great things but you’ll never get there by whining over missed opportunities. Try advancing issues Beaufort County cares about rather than those of a lame-duck Governor. Next year is critical for you.
By Silence Dogood on June 4th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
“It is clear to me now that the legislature is almost entirely to blame for our high unemployment rate, our low graduation rate and our declining prosperity as a state.”
Senator Davis, Amen for you brilliance and lack of grandstanding! A lot of us Southern hicks were fooled into believing that the high unemployment rate was effecuated by macro economic factors sweeping through and crushing the economies of states across the entire nation. Thank goodness we have you to explain to us that despite the fact that unemployment has gone up dramatcially in EVERY state over the past 14 months and double here (as in other states) in S.C. it just happens to be because of the legislature. I know you father Mark Sanford taught you to run campaigns – primarily through blaming government for everyting – too bad he couldn’t teach you how to run government, because he doesn’t have a clue about that either. Pack you bag (made of carpet) and head back to N.J. and screw things up there for a change. Can you imagine how much better off this state would have been if Marshall would have staid in Florida???
By CNSYD on June 4th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
Fashizzle, I intentionally overstated to bitch slap the libertarians on here to stop and think for a change. We could list thousands of functions that government performs that are not in the Constitution nor were they even envisioned when the Constitution was written. These functions are what allows the 21st century US to function. Absent many of them and you would have chaos.
By Liberty for me on June 4th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
@Brian…There is no such thing as too far to the right.
Liberty,Freedom and Old T.Jefferson will again rule this country.Soon…
Just a little revolution away…..
By Liberty for me on June 4th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
@Fashizzle…How can you say something that astute and at other times talk out your ass??? Ron Paul 2012
By marvin on June 4th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Brian, CSNYD, etc.: Some consultant is certainly earning a retainer coming up w/ the “Libertarians are crazy and anyone who wants to cut government is one of them” spin. The Republican platform clearly outlines the philosophy of lower taxes and far less government.
Problem is, “Republicans” like Bobby Harrell and Luke Rankin and Hugh Leatherman are really in favor of nothing more than preserving their power. Brian, the point of democracy is not to pick the governor you like and vest him or her with powers when it suits you. You don’t like Sanford’s philosophy? Fine! Vote him out! In a democracy, that is your option. But please let’s have no more talk of his failure to be pragmatic, when all that really means is “let’s all pretend together that we did something good for the people, when all we really did was keep things exactly the same.”
Davis has proven himself this year. He didn’t back down, and he shouldn’t have. No one in that senate ever stood up against the leadership before, or had the courage to call them out for their thieving budget practices that stifle the economy, hurt families, preserve a failed education system and take away a few more of our freedoms. Good for Senator Davis, and the other 12 who stood with him. Shame on the rest.
By Liberty for me on June 4th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
CNSYD…you are wrong and very shallow.You just cant understand how you could live without all these great government programs??.Wow..How about throwing just a little deep thought into it.There are a couple we need and they are what is constitutional..PERIOD!…
Only a socialist or a simpleton would think we could not live without the dept ed..CDC..dept of interior..homeland sec..dept agriculture..etc..etc GEE..how did we ever make it 200 years ago!!??
What a stooge
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 2:53 am
Liberty, let me make sure I understand. We don’t need the CDC because they are not in the Constitution. Lets go back to the medicine practiced in the time the Constitution was written. Bloodletting anyone? We don’t need the Ag department. We are too obese anyway. Let’s just let farmers do whatever they want. Just think of all the tobacco they could grow. More tobacco, more smoking. Then we can lower the life expectancy and not get stuck with all those old people to take care of. Get rid of the Ed. department. While we are at it lets get rid of public schools. Only the wealthy need education. All the rest of those kids should be working in sweat shops instead of being in school anyway. The list is endless!
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Liberty, you or I have about the same chance to be elected President as Ron Paul. That would be no chance. Even if his message was sound, which it isn’t, an old goofball like him is not going to get elected. He is in the same group of nuts as Nader and Kucinich. As for old Tom Jefferson, he would be too busy with his offspring with Sally Hemings.
By liz on June 5th, 2009 at 6:58 am
Mr. Davis, thank you for an insightful meaningful article showing us things we don’t see.
Another thing you don’t see is the fact that some residents of South Carolina are being abused by the leadership of this state. I AM> I am being abused because I know something I shouldn’t.
All law enforcement opportunities have been denied to me on apparently some powerful SC’s orders.
So fixing the budget is important Sir but the rights of the citizens are being left beside the road with all of the bickering going on.
Meanwhile I am being totally destroyed emotionally and financially by the leadership of the state of South Carolina
IT WILL NOT STAND SIR NONE OF IT
All elected people are required to get it together and get it in order by We the People.
A lot is asked of the people right now. The people expect a lot too.
That is not unreasonable.
By Grover on June 5th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Dogwood, you ignorant slut! Sure, unemployment up because there is less capital in general. Give you that. But over the last few years, the legislature took even MORE money away from real businesses that aren’t getting a break from the legislature. Then they spent it on some cock-a-mamie scheme (apologies to Gramps in heaven if I spelled that wrong) to attract jobs — and also a bunch of big breaks for special corporation. How can that not make things worse on the smaller businesses who are paying for all that?
See, dude, we can’t afford that crap in this state. Cuz — WE ARE POOR! And you don’t make poor people pay for rich people’s companies like we’ve done here. We are giving tax breaks to big companies without lowering the burden on small ones. Now, think about it, Dogwood and friends: when those rich people’s companies start to tank in a tight economy (your macro-factor effect), and we’ve all been paying to prop them up, well….there you go. What might have been a bad turn for us is ten times worse now.
And yeah, the blame is on the legislature. Hell, they control everything in the state. Who else could be responsible? Government decisions always affect the economy, and we’ve made some damn bad ones here. Senator Davis is right. Frankly, I didn’t think that guy had much gumption, but he’s surprised me. We need more legislators questioning everything, no matter what side they’re on. That’s democracy, and it’s good for us.
By elroy jetson on June 5th, 2009 at 8:32 am
That would be “Raif”
By Another opinion on June 5th, 2009 at 9:16 am
I am sorry that I left Mr. Mulvaney out of my list of non-South Carolina born politicians. I am sure there are others but I am not going to take the time to look it up now. Anyone else see a pattern of out of state influence attempting to tell us that we do not know what we are doing?
Once again, there is nothing wrong with being a liberterian if that is what you beleive in. The only problem is claiming to be a republicain when you are really not. Low taxes and small government are just two of many republican beliefs. There are many South Caroina born and raised republicans that beleive that government has a role in helping those that need help, something liberterians do not beleive in. Mark Sanford and his friends have shown time and time again they do not believe government has a role in social services to the needy and in public education.
Mark and his friends receive major funding and support from Howard Rich, the Club for Growth and the Cato Institute, all liberterian people or organizations. You do not see them getting funding from republican organization at the same level.
To all of you that want changes in South Carolina government and want the legislative branch to have less power I say thank God that our state constitution is the way it is. I say that the collective wisdom of 160 plus people in our legislative bodies, elected by the people, is much smarter than the wisdom of one person elected by the same people.
By Brandon on June 5th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Similar problem to what we have in Washington. The cure for both ills is the same. Term limits.
By WTF on June 5th, 2009 at 10:18 am
“To all of you that want changes in South Carolina government and want the legislative branch to have less power I say thank God that our state constitution is the way it is. I say that the collective wisdom of 160 plus people in our legislative bodies, elected by the people, is much smarter than the wisdom of one person elected by the same people.”
Wisdom? Those guys and gals in the legislature? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
By Gen. Longstreet on June 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Well, isn’t this a spritely debate?
By Palmetto Pulse on June 5th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Though you may not agree with Davis’ positions, methods or beliefs atleast he’s trying to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT. The mantra has been, well that’s the way it’s always been – regardless of the outcome.
A wise old man once told me that if I continued to put flour, eggs and water together I was going to continues to make pancakes – why would I expect something different? Kudos to Davis, atleast he’s trying to make something different.
And this whole nonsense of yankee born, carpetbagging infilitrating spies – we live in the United States of America. SC is not it’s own country, remember, we lost that War. GET OVER IT!
P.S. TO FAR TO THE RIGHT? Seriously? That just makes you sound uneducated.
By Silence Dogood on June 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
Grover – first and foremost I can turly appreciate the old school SNL reference.
One of my bigger points here was that the S.C. economy was “flying high” so to speak, in relative terms for S.C. when the rest of the nation was doing well – S.C. was going…better than usual anyway. Now that Wall St. tanked, realestate tanked, the U.S. economy in general has tanked et cetera S.C. has become victim along with the rest of the country and world to a degree. S.C. is a poorer state and therefore we got hit harder. Tom Davis’ blame of the legislature for our unemployment is laughable at best – a year ago, when he wasn’t a member, S.C. unemplyment was less than half of what it is now – using his simpleton logic the real blame lies with him and the freshman class of the Senate and House? For the record, Tom Davis is not a simpleton, he is just giving it his best attempt at grandstanding and blaming everyone but himself here.
Also, his bosom buddy Mark Sanford even had his spokes person saying recently how unemployment was up because he couldn’t get more money for the government programs that recruit big business. Davis’ proposed “fix” for this problem is bascially the poor man paying and paving the way for big businesses (which don’t pan out in the communities best interest) as you described above.
Either way, on behalf of Dan Akyroyd and myself, thanks for the good laugh today Mr. Grover.
By Wild Man SC on June 5th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Rep. Davis,
“That decision will likely be upheld by the state’s Supreme Court, which relies on and lobbies lawmakers for its funding and whose members are elected by the legislature.
I am not attacking the Court’s integrity, but the undeniable fact is that lawmakers totally control the structure, makeup and funding of the courts that interpret our laws.”
This is the typical garbage spouted by politicians everywhere….attack the say you are not attacking. Grow a pair, and just say what you really think, the Supreme Court is filled with crooks. I am so sick of whining babies like YOU and our idiot gov. Take your reform rhetoric shove it. I am sure your next quote will be something along the lines of “I would take food out of the mouths of widows and orphans if I could just pay down a little debt.” That mentality which you and our Gov. share is not the answer. The truth is coming brother, and sooner or later this state will find a real leader that is going to nail SOB’s like you and “farmer mark” to the wall once and for all…
PS-you are not special, you are typical. Want proof? Again, grow a pair, run for Governor and see what happens…
By Jeremy Johnson on June 5th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Thank you Senator Davis. You’re doing the right thing. It’s absolutely appalling that any Republican would disagree with paying down debt. Accepting the money will only handcuff us in the end. We’ll have to keep on supporting these wasteful programs long after the fed’s money runs out.
By big govt. Republican and proud of it on June 5th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
I question all this making government smaller stuff.
So much of what the federal government does can not be duplicated in the private sector or at the state or local level. Why you simpletons do not understand this is beyond me.
The Dept. of Agriculture- yes we have to have it – who else would cut the checks to the tobacco farmers and pay farmers not to grow food ?
Homeland Security- who else could quickly rescue the hurricane victims while simultaneously wiretapping your phones and computers?
A standing army (which the silly out of date constitution forbids) how else could we fight simultaneous,undeclared wars? Also a standing army reduces the unemployment rate- which you folks never factor in .
Dept. of Education- how local teachers managed to teach prior to no child left behind is beyond me . Another vital program we can not afford to do without.
The IRS- what else could you be doing in April that would create as much stress as filling out forms you do not understand.
The Federal Reserve- how else could we go into such huge debt, without having to tax the citizens? This is the best deal ever. Even though the dollar has lost over 99 % of its value since the federal reserve was created in 1913, there is absolutely no way we could do without it.Paper money is backed by the word of our government and Obama’s and Bush’s word is good enough for me.
We need more federal programs not less and even though I haven’t a clue how to pay for it all,I trust our leaders in Washington to be financially responsible and do what is best.
Just do not raise my taxes and I will stay in the Republican party .
By elroy jetson on June 5th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Wild Man SC, he’s a Senator.
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Jeremy Johnson, You can’t run out of money when you determine how much of it is in circulation and print as necessary. As for all those debts to foreign nations. Let’s substract the cost of all the times we had to bail their ass out of being victims of aggression or natural disaster. Add in the cost of keeping the Soviets off their ass and I believe it will put us in the plus.
By Another opinion on June 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Mr. Johnson: All of this has nothing to do with paying down the debt with stimulus money. It has to do with Sanford’s inability to accept the fact the the money could not and I repeat could not be spent on debt reduction. That was not even on the table. It has to do with Sanford running for President and his gross inability to listen to anyone besides himself.
As far as who is to blame for the poor economy in South Carolina, all you have to do is look back some seven years ago when Sanford and his staff, including Davis if he was there at the time, cut the heart out of the Department of Commerce with a major budget reduction and staff reduction. All of this at a time when the state had started losing manufacturing jobs. Dumbest move I have seen a South Carolina governor make in over fifty years. To top it off, he could not keep a director in the job at Commerce for more than a year.
Listen, the bottom line is this. Any one individual who has kept the legislature so divided, the republian party so divided and the people of this state so divided does not deserve to be in the position he is in. He has no respect for anyone but himself. The proof was his prank when he thought it was funny to take a bunch of pigs into the statehouse and let them crap all over the floor. The building and grounds represent the people of South Carolina. It just tells me that he enjoys sh–ing on the people.
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Palmetto Pulse, when these Yankee carpetbaggers arrive they come with the notion that it is their duty to correct all the backward ways (in their view) of how we do things from speech to food to government. As the old bumper sticker says, “We don’t give a damn how you do it up North”. All these retired Yankee folk move to Hilton Head or Kiawah and have nothing to do but bitch about everything Southern. Last I checked I-95 still goes north. If it was so wonderful up there what the hell are you doing here?
By Nobody Knows on June 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
“when these Yankee carpetbaggers arrive they come with the notion that it is their duty to correct all the backward ways (in their view) of how we do things from speech to food to government.”
So, if they’d just stay out of the way we wouldn’t be 51st?
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Nobody knows, depends on the criteria. If we talk like New Yorkers, eat lox and bagels served by surly waitstaff, have politics run by wardheelers with assistance from Costa Nostra then maybe it would be 51st. But based on being genteel, mannered, eating grits, having waitstaff calling you honey, etc. maybe we would rate near the top. It is all about perspective. We love their money (payback for Reconstruction) but we have no interest in listening to their bitching.
By Nobody Knows on June 5th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
How do we rate on educational attainment, infant health, average income, childhood disease, violent crime and out-of-wedlock birth?
By Palmetto Pulse on June 5th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
CNSYD,
I am a South Carolinian, born and bred! And I think it makes us sound backwards when we are easily offended by the geographically challenged. If broken government, sprinkled with inefficiency, corruption and tyranny is something to be proud of – I may just head up 95. I could give a bamboon’s end where someone is born, as long as they serve this State well.
I got a bumper sticker too… “I wasn’t born here, but got here as soon as I could”.
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Nobody knows, you have to compare apples to apples. Find a locale that is demographically similar and make your comparison. How do you think those items rate in say Detroit?
By Nobody Knows on June 5th, 2009 at 5:27 pm
Nice comeback, Potsie. Just ignore it and maybe it’ll go away
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Palmetto Pulse, who is “offended” by what Yankees say about us? Not I. I just consider the source. You are so right. I think we need to be more like say, New Jersey. Lovely place there. Perhaps we can pile our garbage up on the streets like NYC. Or we can escalate construction costs with help of the Mafia. Been to downtown Detroit lately? Looks like Berlin after WWII. These are the people you are in awe of?
By Liberty for me on June 5th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
CNSYD..Since you love all the progrssive(socialist)agenda and think SC is so backward…why dont you go where socialism is working…Califonia,NY,NJ,Michigan…Oh wait,it has never worked in the history of man.My mistake…..This is all I will respond to because you are a waste of time and oxygen
By Nobody Knows on June 5th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
What’s your Mafia fixation?
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Liberty, until you take your blinders off you will never have the empathy necessary to help your fellow man. You will never admit it but plenty of folk helped you in your life. Some you never even realized. I spent 26+ years helping keep the Soviets off your ass. I don’t recall you saying thanks.
By CNSYD on June 5th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
Nobody Knows, No Mafia fixation, just facts. Apparently you have never drifted beyond the tourist areas of cities in the Northeast. Perhaps you have never had a building project in the Northeast where you are told what the required kickbacks are if you don’t want slowdowns on your project.
By Nobody Knows on June 7th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Sounds like the Budget and Control Board to me. Yet, you’re happy with that “family.”
By CNSYD on June 7th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
So what is your alternative to the Budget and Control Board (which is a form of checks and balances)?
By Nobody Knows on June 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
That would be…no budget and control board, sort of like the other 49 states. They seem to get along fine letting the executive branch perform the executive functions.
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