RE: SC Newspaper Censors Criticism Of Elected Officials
Dear Editor, Recently the Summerville Journal Scene decided to work towards keeping letters to the editor positive in nature instead of allowing what was evidently seen as attempts to tear down candidates with attacks instead of writing about why to support a different candidate. It seemed evident that some of these letters were geared at attacking me which has been the modus operandi of the opposition unfortunately this year.
While I appreciate the noble idea behind the decision by the Summerville Journal Scene to attempt to keep letters to the editor in this political season positive, it is difficult to support as legitimate and accurate criticism of an incumbent or candidate may not be heard when that voice could very well carry great wisdom and insight for decision making. I therefore support a policy that allows valid critiques of a platform or candidate. I am very happy to stand on my record. To be in public service is to invite scrutiny, both warranted and not warranted. I have had my share of both.
I appreciate the supportive letters from friends and the many emails and messages of support, prayer, and encouragement. I believe the tone and nature of most of the negative letters in question speaks for itself and the readers should be allowed to decide if they want positive dialogue and smart solutions, or more of the old wedge issue political pandering from those who are bitter and offer nothing but vitriol and rhetorical platitudes. People I talk with are tired of the cancerous methods of some and ready to continue leadership in a positive direction focused on integrity, results , and smart solutions. I am happy to help lead that movement and encourage you and your friends to join me.
I feel criticism is very healthy to hear as an elected official in order to improve how I do my job for you. As such, if you have a letter criticizing me, please send it to me at byarsj@gmail.com so you can be sure I’ve heard your voice. Thank you and may God bless you and your family.
Jay Byars
Dorchester County Councilman
District 7
SIC SEZ
Hey Jay – Thanks for taking the time to respond to this issue.
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6 comments
Go ahead. Have at him, GT.
Walk the walk? Hardly!
The Incumbent Byars, posted on his Face book page(see letter above) some very interesting comments today, let’s take a closer look. “While I appreciate the noble idea behind the decision by the Summerville Journal Scene to attempt to keep letters to the editor in this political season positive…” There is nothing “noble” about CENSORSHIP. One of this great country’s founding principles was expressed in the 1st Amendment. The free flow of ideas is essential to Democracy. How gracious of the Incumbent to “support a policy that allows valid critiques of a platform or candidate. I am very happy to stand on my record.” He then characterizes these critiques as “more of the old wedge issue political pandering from those who are bitter and offer nothing but vitriol and rhetorical platitudes.” He further states “I feel criticism is very healthy to hear as an elected official in order to improve how I do my job for you. As such, if you have a letter criticizing me, please send it to me…” in a private email; a private email, not a public forum.
Shall we look at the facts? On April 4, 2014, a citizen posted two questions on the Incumbent’s Face book page: “1. Dorchester County is approved to be a Local Program Administrator (LPA) by SCDOT, which means Dorchester County can manage our own road projects. WHY HAVE YOU SPENT over $25 MILLION of the Taxpayer’s Money to a private contractor to manage INCOMPLETE and now UNFUNDED road projects?
2. Why do you want to spend the Taxpayer’s Money on “Roads in Parks” instead of repairing “the failing and horribly bumpy section(s) of road that we currently are driving on?” (Quote from your post DORCHESTER ROAD UPDATE)” These are legitimate political questions. The Incumbent immediately DELETED the questions and blocked the citizen, as well as others, from posting. (NO RESPONSE)
There have been questions posed to the Incumbent about his lack of attendance and tardiness at Council meetings and other County meetings, again, legitimate political questions. (NO RESPONSE)
There have been questions posed to the Incumbent about his support of a tax increase through the failed L.O.S.T. and the $30,000 cost to the Taxpayers for the special referendum, legitimate political questions. (NO RESPONSE)
I have seen no negative campaigning in this race; no one has claimed the Incumbent kicks his dog. These questions are about the Incumbents record and as he says “I am very happy to stand on my record.” Yet he doesn’t. He most certainly is not “walking the walk!”
Dear Informational “observers” at SPAWAR Atlantic and Post and Courier network administration,
This piece of informational “leverage” offered by Mr. Byars is another classic example of “Sic Willie Fluff”. Just look at the leadership actions being offered to the readers here. The fact that there are only 2 comments so far speaks volumes. Heck, no wonder certain information never made it out of Afghanistan or Iraq or Syria or Kiev or EXXON.
The “leadership censorship” on display is disgusting.
“…..I feel criticism is very healthy to hear as an elected official in order to improve how I do my job for you. As such, if you have a letter criticizing me, please send it to me at byarsj@gmail.com so you can be sure I’ve heard your voice…..”
So Mr. Byars would rather get an email to personally read instead of coming to the comment section on FITSNEWS to get “OPEN” feedback.? What type of elected “transparency” is that an example of…!? This “bozo” needs to start doing his job better in the comment section of Fitsnews if the SUmmerville Journal is going to whiff on its readers feedback.
….and all Sic “sez” is thanks for the feedback..?
We wonder just how many voters in Mr Byars district are SLAVES to fossil OIL at the pump……or have DIED in a foreign country for OIL ….!!!
Dear Jay Byars,
Dare to wonder why this article is not mentioned in the Post and Courier or the State or the “Baptist Association” weekly..?
Dare to wonder why Mr. Folks is wise enough to make an issue out of your plight..?
Jay, my taxpayer friend, have you EVER been to Spawar Atlantic or know why you should pick up the phone or laptop and find out…? Jay, you are NOT an idiot….just a politician. We hope that you can find the time to look at this information here… http://www.blabpredicts.com/about
If….”Blab is a pioneer in the category of Predictive Social Intelligence…” we hope you get goose bumps when you realize what your voters can PREDICT about you….@!!!
Question is…………do you understand why you should care..?
You can smile all you want too in your next meeting because the great Fitsnews chose to highlight you in their “SC matrix”…………its your fellow board members who are gonna be trembling underneath their desks when they look at you and start to realize that Blab’s unprecedented predictive patterning algorithms analyze millions of voter conversations every minute around the world to give you the most up-to-the-minute understanding of your voting audience—who they are, where they are and what they will be DEMANDING that you are talking about…..!!!
Jay, you can wipe that smile off of your face now…..if not…….you need to start THINKING……your voters are.
keeping letters to the editor positive in nature
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Rose colored glasses have a calming effect on politics – especially when the state is wallowing in corruption, and the voices calling for accountability are being treated as weeds in an otherwise healthy garden….
…a garden of squash bugs.
Every year – a new crop of squash bugs… a maelstrom cometh, yet our collective boat sinks calmly beneath the waves without a single scream of terror.
Thanks, fourth estate, for your vigilance.
That Johnson guy isn’t fired yet? Is he completely unaware of how journalism and newspapers work in this country, the free exchange of opinions and ideas? I am guessing he doesn’t want anyone criticizing Obama, and this is another example of the fascist left in action. He needs to be removed, post-haste.