|
S.C. Statehouse
Report
Sunday, July 2, 2006
VIEW: http://www.statehousereport.com/columns/06.0702.fourth.htm
Fourth
of July means a lot to South Carolinians
By
Andy Brack
Publisher
SC Statehouse Report
 JULY
2, 2006 - Perhaps the best thing about America's Fourth of
July holiday is that it gives us all a chance to be purely
American for a day and to celebrate it fully.
Like Thanksgiving, Independence Day is a purely American
holiday. It's a day of fun, sun, fireworks, cold drinks, grilled
foods, companionship, family and friends. But it's more. It's
a way for Americans to rejoice in their freedom and pay tribute
to those who have fought and died to preserve it.
Just about everyone has favorite July 4th memories. A few
years back on Sullivan's Island after a great dinner with
friends, we went to the center of the island to watch fireworks.
As they were going on, you could see fireworks from Mount
Pleasant in one direction and Isle of Palms in another. All
around, Americans were celebrating being American.
Another favorite was in 1990 at the Gilbert Peach Festival
as 87-year-old Strom Thurmond and then-Gov. Carroll Campbell
mounted horses to participate in an annual parade. While both
were politicking for re-election, it seemed the Fourth of
July was more than being Republican or Democratic - - it was
about being American.
Other people have similar memories and thoughts about our
national holiday:
For Columbia public relations executive Bud Ferillo, "The
original 4th was a moment of great courage and a leap of faith.
At once the colonial leaders were embarking on a bloody revolution
and a risky experiment in democracy, and their deeds remain
today most worthy of remembrance and celebration."
Charleston political consultant Phil Noble notes, "It
was a 'revolution' -- not just an interesting discussion or
small changes -- - but a full blown REVOLUTION of big ideas,
big hopes and big dreams. Where are our big ideas and big
hopes today?" Citing the state motto, he added, "Dum
Spiro Spero -- While I breathe, I hope."
|
FEEDBACK
POLICY
We
encourage your feedback. If you'd like to respond to
something in SC Statehouse Report, please
send us an e-mail. We reserve the right to edit for
length and clarity. One submission allowed per month.
Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint.
Please keep your comment to 250 words or less:
feedback@statehousereport.com
|
S.C. Chamber of Commerce President Hunter Howard remembers
a unique July 4th when he was a boy. He watched adults dig
a sand pit on an island off the coast:
"They would put red and black ants into the pit; then,
they would bet on who would win -- which ant would get out
first. That ant pit actually reminds me of where we are as
Americans and South Carolinians in the global economy,"
Howard noted. "We need to focus on raising this state's
per capita economy and educating our children to ensure we
are winners in the new economy. Only by being the world leader
can we continue to celebrate the sacrifices others have made
to ensure our freedom."
For State Sen. Larry Martin, R-Pickens, the Fourth of July
means reflection and appreciation. In particular, he warmly
remembers how his family spent holidays with neighbors in
the 1960s: "The Dacusville Community of Pickens County
came together for several years to cook some of the best pit-cooked
barbecue in our area of the state. The Dacusville school facilities
served as the site for the event, and an array of games and
activities for the children and youth was provided. I never
attempted to climb the greasy pole, but I vividly remember
admiring those that did."
It's a family affair also for State Rep. Vida Miller, D-Georgetown,
who has been going to a "Friends and Family Cookout"
for more than 40 years: "Hamburgers, hotdogs and homemade
ice cream are still the main fare. We have great memories
of four generations of wonderful friends and family members.
The tradition is still going of celebrating knowing and loving
each other and honoring our freedom."
Martin's neighbor, Blue Ridge Electrical Cooperative President
Charles Dalton, vividly recalls a 1997 holiday in Boston when
his family watched Furman graduate Keith Lockhart conduct
the Boston Pops as fireworks filled the skies: "Nothing
can compare to that display. The entire sky became bright
with fireworks. The clapping and shouts of the people, the
flags being waved by children and adults, we truly felt so
proud of our country. For that brief period, there were over
200,000 people with something very much in common, a love
for THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. What a grand 4th of July
celebration!"
Let's hope we can remember the spirit of the Fourth of July
every day of the year. Be safe.
Andy Brack's new book of commentary, Bugging
the Palmettos, is available for $15.00. Click
here for more.
Recent commentary
7/2: Identify
theft
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
 The
best way to get South Carolina news is to augment your morning
paper and TV show with SC Clips, a daily executive
news summary compiled from more than 30 state newspaper and
TV sources. It's delivered every business day and is packed
with news of statewide impact, politics, business and more.
Subscriptions are affordable at $30 per month -- and less
for business subscribers. More: SC
Clips.
6/19:
Decent wages, more needed
To the editor:
None of the tax rate would be so hard if we got paid a decent
wage. Property personal income on a vehicle is outrageous.
You have to drive a substandard car that breaks down on every
curb. If you happen to be able to afford a half decent one,
the property tax you surely can't afford.
Most states do something we can see with the money they take
in. S.C. does nothing for the low-income people, as far as
fixing up houses for the elderly.
-- Mary Mack, St. George, S.C.
6/19: Better attitude needed on education
To the editor:
Enjoyed your article summary of the problems of education
in our state. (Commentary,
6/18) We need more discussion, no doubt.
Think about it for a minute. My bet is that at least one quarter
of the young people starting high school in any state haven't
a clue why they have to go to school; my bet is that their
reply would be....."It's a state law".
It is downright human nature that as soon as you tell someone
to do something, their immediate thought or question is "Why?"
I would offer the thought to you that the majority of young
people in school today do not know the why.
I suppose the answer to that question might be debatable by
the academic community. To me, it is simple and basic. The
reason you go to school is to prepare you for a job. Yes,
I understand the ancillary reasons such maintaining a culture
or that democracy requires an educated input. But the preparation
of a lifetime effort in something that perfectly would be
one's passion is all summarized in one word......a job.
If our teaching professionals realized this and starting from
Kindergarten brought this objective in life to early realism,
you would see a different culture. Young people can absorb
it early on........I've seen it done.
Those of us who are successful and happy in life are there
because we set a goal and sometimes many attempts of goals
until we get the right pathway. Why can not you write about
the "why," instead of the the faults of parents,
teachers, administrations, buildings, drugs, sex, legislators
and school committees? What are we suppose to stop for, to
look for, and to listen for? This is not about money. It is
about attitude.
I do commend your writings about it. Can't we sharpen the
pencil?
-- Otto Wahlrab, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
6/18: Look at ability to pay
To the editor:
The whole problem for the education system is money as everyone
speaks. We need to increase taxes on businesses who have the
ability to pay them. We need to increase sales tax or remove
all the sales tax exemptions, which are based on your ability
to pay . We have sales taxes on cars, trucks, airplanes, boats
and RVs that is based on your ability to pay; but you let
the rich have relief on the harsh tax on expensive things.
We need to remove all the property taxes on personal homes
as this IS NOT based on your ability to pay.
-- David Whetsell, Lexington ,S.C.
Recent
feedback
- 6/19: Decent
wages, more needed, Mary Mack, St. George, SC
- 6/19: Better
attitude needed on education, Otto Wahlrab, Hilton
Head Island, SC
- 6/18: Look
at ability to pay, David Whetsell, Lexington, SC
- 6/14: Wealthy
control the debate, Municipal employee, name withheld
upon request.
- 6/13: On
target, Bob Henderson, North Charleston, SC
- 6/13: Do
your homework, Ralph Bristol, Greenville, SC
- 6/12: Neanderthal
thinking, Natalie Mann, Bluffton, SC
- 6/12: Right
on property tax reform, James A. Fleming, Bennettsville,
S.C
-
Here's a "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" related to various
political news items from the past week:
Thumbs
up
Bauer. The lieutenant governor proved he has committed
supporters by turning out his base in the election. Campbell's
supporters showed they weren't as committed to the son (Mike)
as they were his dad (Carroll). Now comes the real test --
whether the tempestuous LG can beat Robert Barber in the fall.
Barber. One side says it's good to have a November
opponent with a short temper, who races cars, gets speeding
tickets and crashes planes. Others worry that the hardworking
LG will again work hard enough to keep his job. Our thought:
Barber has a better shot against Bauer than Campbell because
Bauer's got higher -- and some very public -- negatives.
TERI recipients. After waiting for awhile, TERI recipients
will start getting millions of dollars in retirement checks
soon.
Thumbs
down
Sanford. Perhaps endorsing Mike Campbell wasn't such
a good idea for the governor's wife. It exposed another chink
in the gov's armor and makes many wonder how deep his support
is.
U.S. House. Rep. Henry Brown and his cronies have
pushed through a bad bill to allow drilling off the SC coast.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
SC voters. It's pretty pitiful when only 7 percent
of registered voters turnout for statewide runoff elections.
South Carolina. The state fell two spots to 47th in
child welfare in the country in the KidsCount survey. South
Carolina can do better.
How you can subscribe to the full edition
of the report
The above version of S.C. Statehouse Report is the
free edition. Our paid version, which costs about $100 per
month, offer a weekly legislative forecast packed with information
that can keep you and your business on the cutting edge.
Notes veteran lawmaker Sen. Glenn McConnell: "Statehouse
Report gives an inside practical report of weekly problems
with and progress of legislation. It reviews the whole landscape."
In each issue of Statehouse Report, you'll get:
- Hot issue
-- an early peek at weekly commentary on something really
big. Last year, we continually beat other news organizations
in finding major trends in issues, from teacher and budget
cuts to wetlands proposals.
- Agenda -- a weekly forecast of
the coming week's floor agenda
- Radar Screen -- a behind-the-scenes
look at what's really going on in the General Assembly
- McLemore's World -- an early view
of our respected cartoonist Bill McLemore.
- Tally Sheet -- a weekly review
of all of the new bills introduced in the legislature in
everyday language
- Blogroll -- a weekly summary of
the best of South Carolina political blogs.
- Scorecard -- A Thumbs Up and Thumbs
Down of major political/policy events for the week.
- Calendar -- a weekly list of major
meetings for the House, Senate and state agencies.
- Megaphone -- a quote of the week
that you'll find illuminating.
To learn more about subscriptions, contact Andy Brack at:
brack@statehousereport.com
South Carolina Statehouse Report
Publisher: Andy Brack
Editor:
Jerry Ausband
Assistant
Editor: Betsy Brack
Phone: 843.670.3996 · Fax: 843.722.9887
Subscription or sponsorship Inquiries: info@statehousereport.com
Have an event for the SC Statehouse Report calendar?
E-mail details to: news@statehousereport.com
or fax to above number.
|
