TheState.com: Letters

IN FOCUS: Winning Boeing

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:58 EST

Working together should catch on

Once in a while, the course of events is such that the obvious could become axiomatic. A case in point is the manner in which South Carolina governmental elements functioned in the successful pursuit of a high stakes objective, the securing of the new Boeing assembly line for the North Charleston area.

Although congratulations are richly deserved by all concerned, a question appears to be in order. If all state agencies were to show a similar initiative and a will to cooperate in achieving lower stakes objectives (e.g., turning in top daily job performances), might not the state soon be hovering around the top of the socioeconomic pole, instead of rattling around somewhere near the bottom?

BOB A McILWAIN

Columbia

ETC.: Sen. Graham, Five Points and more

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:57 EST

Sen. Graham and the new political class

With all due respect to the folks who have written lately with opinions of Sen. Lindsey Graham, some lauding for his "bipartisan views" and others castigating him for being a poor Republican, I think those good people just don't understand the core issue. Sen. Graham, is neither Republican or Democrat. What he advances is his position as a prince of the political class, America's new aristocracy. When one looks at the issues that have generated the most comment about Sen. Graham in his home state in the last few years, all have the same common denominator, a huge transfer of power to the political class. Cap and trade will give the government unprecedented power to pick winners and losers as President Obama did when he put his constituency of unsecured debt holders of the auto companies ahead of the secured bond holders.

Under cap and trade those kinds of government dictates will be commonplace. If state Sen. John Courson is really concerned about national security as he claims to be in his defense of his fellow career politician, let him instead lobby for a carbon tax. It is efficient, it is effective and it is transparent. The only problem is it doesn't transfer any power to the new aristocracy.

ED BAXLEY

Camden

Sunday's letters to the editor

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:49 EST

Virtue should drive health care reform

People will argue differently, but I believe that the main issue in health care reform is whether we want 50 million uninsured Americans covered by health insurance.

The argument that it will cost us dearly is wrong, because we already pay dearly for the health care of the uninsured, although indirectly. Remember, hospitals can't turn people away because they can't pay. So those costs are passed on in other ways. The care to the uninsured is inadequate and inefficient. It is morally distasteful that we would not want to provide reasonable health insurance to all.

The argument that health care reform gets the government into health care is wrong because the government is already in health care. Our government already regulates the health insurance industry, although poorly. It allows the industry great advantages, such as antitrust exemptions and the ability to cherry pick enrollees. The government provides services through Medicare and Medicaid. Those services are provided more fairly and more efficiently than those provided by the health insurance industry. Reform would allow fairer regulation and further services and efficiency.

Where is the Christian ideal of charity in this debate? Is it stuck in the closet with people's "Sunday dress," only to be the topic of a Sunday sermon?

Friday's letters to the editor

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:41 EST

Elections capture today, not 2010

Tuesday's elections say a lot about today, but not much about the 2010 elections.

Exit polls reveal in Virginia and New York the majority of the people said they were not voting on the current Democratic administration but were voting for state politicians they believed would better serve them and their needs now.

In New Jersey, more than 50 percent of the people voted against the Republican winner Chris Christie, who received only 48.8 percent of the vote. New Jersey folks are unhappy and appear to be slated to remain that way for a while since the majority of them voted against the winner.

In Virginia the Republican winner said he no longer believed in the conservative dissertation he wrote stating that women should not work outside the home, etc., and he convinced voters he would work for local issues. Also, his Democratic opponent did not claim to be an Obama Democrat.

Thursday's letters to the editor

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:47 EST

Troubling times may loom for Obama

Big Republican wins in the New Jersey and Virginia governor's races could spell real trouble for the Democrats in the 2010 election. When a Republican can win in a blue state such as New Jersey, that speaks with a very loud voice. Republican Chris Christie won the governor's race, overcoming a huge edge incumbent Jon Corzine had in campaign funds and multiple visits by President Obama to rally Democrats.

The state of Virginia had been going over to the Democrats' side in a big way over the past several years with wins in the U.S. Senate and the previous governor's race, but now with the victory of Republican Bob McDonnell for governor, dark clouds are beginning to form over the Democrats and the Obama administration. Next year's elections could be interesting.

OTTIS J. SMITH JR.

Lexington

Wednesday's letters to the editor

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:46 EST

Health care plan too expensive

When Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the final version of the House health care bill last week, she called it groundbreaking legislation that will have a positive impact on all of us for many years to come.

She is correct that it will have a long-lasting impact, but I disagree that it will be positive.

According to her numbers, the bill will cost taxpayers $894 billion. That means that each person in the United States would be responsible for $2,900. A family of six like mine would be responsible for $17,400. All of this to insure 36 million people, which equals roughly 11 percent of our population.

I agree that we need to help those uninsured people, but I do not accept that it should cost so much. There has to be a better solution that will not bankrupt each of us. It is becoming obvious that we will have to force our representatives to find it.

Tuesday's letters to the editor

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:49 EST

Government-run programs are clunkers

The final costs for the "cash for clunkers" program are now known. The government-sponsored program cost the taxpayers $24,000 for each car "traded in." This is more than five times the allowed trade-in.

Did anyone in their right mind believe that this program would be any different than any other program run by a bunch of bureaucrats? Only idiots would want Washington to run health care or anything else. The profit margin for health care insurance providers is estimated to be 3 percent. Does this debate have any validity at all? Why do so many people fail to understand this?

WAYNE HALL

Leesville

Don't forget children who need extra help

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:50 EST

I saw in The State the plans for the $40 million renovations to Riverbanks Zoo. Good for the zoo; good for all of us. Our family loves the zoo.

We have been members for years, probably since our oldest, Cooper, was born. I remember strolling him around as a baby and holding him up to see the animals. Since Cooper has cerebral palsy, he was late to start walking. When he was 3, we would go to the zoo on early mornings when it was less crowded and turn him loose with his walker. He had wide-open spaces to maneuver and, by then, knew the way to the animals he wanted to see. Now, his sister Laura is 3 years old, and they enjoy feeding the giraffes and riding the train together. Only now, Cooper is walking alongside his sister, with no aides.

EdVenture is another community asset that government and private sources have chosen to invest in for our children, helping us keep up with neighboring states as a vibrant, family-friendly place to live.

However, South Carolina is woefully behind neighboring states in what we provide to our children with special needs. The increase in the diagnosis of autism alone is staggering, yet Easter Seals has closed its doors, and Providence Northeast no longer provides pediatric therapy.

Where are the increasing numbers of children turning for their therapies? Only a few centers remain. In addition, the number of therapy visits allowed by private insurance or Medicaid is well below a number that could provide any meaningful change for the child. For families covered under the state insurance plan, it's 20 visits per year. For Medicaid, it's 1.5 hours per week.

IN FOCUS: Sen. Lindsey Graham

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:52 EDT

Graham's future lies with Democrats

An Oct. 26 front-page article quoted Sen. Lindsey Graham as saying, "I don't want to be in a party that's consistently losing market share."

Please, Sen. Graham, the Republican Party is losing "market share" for only one reason, and that is because of Democrats in Republican clothing like yourself. You and Arlen Specter are cut from the same cloth. You are interested only in a long-term political future paid for by voters/taxpayers. It doesn't make any difference which party you belong to as long you stay fat, dumb and happy in Washington.

Well, your time is coming, and you can be assured of one thing: If you do get re-elected, it won't be by independents and Republicans; it will be by liberal Democrats, because that's the only ticket you're going to be running on.

BILL DIELLO

ETC.: Sanford, self-help & more

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:08 EDT

Sanford saga came absent consequences

Since the Federal Aviation Authority revoked the too-far-flying Northwest pilots' licenses, passengers can now board with renewed assurances of ethics carrying some weight and consequences arriving on time.

We in South Carolina should copy that flight plan. Our disoriented pilot, Gov. Mark Sanford, violated vital leadership essentials by forsaking his fiduciary responsibility for five days and accruing many taboo miles, absconding security clearance regulations, grounding required communication with the public and staff, plus committing other offenses indicative of a self-serving, integrity-lacking character soon to be revealed by the Ethics Commission. Sanford engaged in heated, illicit activities, but four months later faces no fire.

While a concerned Delta attendant demanded an answer, in the Sanford saga we know of no crew member who acted accordingly. Instead, Sen. Tom Davis, for example, followed his misguided captain's course rather than serve as a true steward. Thus a new emergency mask standard emerged of friends first, constituents far second.

Red alert to all voters: Expect a repeat catastrophe. Gubernatorial candidates, like clamoring children getting the scoop on their next year's teachers' expectations and weaknesses, can envision with impunity first-class flights and wild abandonment on our time and dime.

Letters to the editor

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:52 EDT

Council has proven it's fiscally inept

I read that Columbia City Council voted to spend $150,000 on a study so the city can run more efficiently. Council members Belinda Gergel and Kirk Finlay voted against this, Daniel Rickenmann was absent, and all others voted in favor.

Council members already know the city has more employees than it can afford and needs to reduce its work force. It appears they just do not have the guts to do the fiscally correct thing. So they want to waste more money on another study.

With city revenues dropping more this year - and I hope things get better soon, but that is not a given - City Council may have to adopt a top-down approach. Fund the essential first: police, fire, water/sewer, trash/garbage. Do not even think of cutting these ever again. While it will hurt, everything else must be funded after the core city functions are fully funded.

This council has proven its fiscal insanity in the past by losing nearly $25 million in reserves and passing budgets year after year without knowing how much money was coming in and going out. And now they're considering borrowing $150 million for projects in two special tax districts for Innovista and North Columbia when the local real estate market is still shrinking.

Friday's Letters to the Editor

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:36 EDT

Are things still not getting done, senator?

In his column Thursday ("Get S.C. moving again"), Sen. Vincent Sheheen attacked the leadership of South Carolina, and Gov. Mark Sanford specifically, on so many issues that space limits the ability to address each one.

His overriding point seems to be: "For almost 10 years, our state has suffered through ineffective state leadership, aggravated by an unwieldy, antiquated government structure. The result has been a lost decade for our beloved state".

Leadership goes beyond one or two individuals and rests with the entire legislative body, where Sen. Sheheen has served, in either the House or Senate, for the bulk of his "lost decade."

It is rather inconvenient for Sen. Sheheen that the Boeing announcement ran the same day as his column. Not a bad job for amateur Commerce secretary Joe Taylor. I wonder if Sen. Sheheen would like to change his stance on having economic development professionals running the Department of Commerce rather than "political buddies."

Private health insurers don’t operate in free market

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:09 EDT

Private health insurers don't operate in free market

A letter last week ("Nurse supports changes in system," Oct. 19) complained that the free market system has not worked for health care, singling out insurance companies' practice of requiring "pre-authorization." My first question is, when have private health insurers operated in a free market?

Insurance premiums shoot up because Medicare and Medicaid, which account for 45 percent of all health care payments, set the rate of reimbursement to hospitals and physicians artificially low. Because hospitals and physicians cannot increase what they charge the government, they must increase their rates in the so-called "private market" to make up the difference.

Physicians barely break even under Medicare and Medicaid. Without the private market subsidy, most physicians couldn't even afford to practice medicine. Without private insurers, massive tax increases would have to be assessed on the middle class to keep Medicare and Medicaid afloat. Private insurers don't always get it right, but it is simply incorrect and naive to suggest they operate in a free market.

If the government eventually takes over health care, you might not have to get permission from an insurance company for your procedure. But under a single-payer system, you won't be able to get permission from anyone for costly end-of-life procedures or new drugs, because there won't be enough money to pay for them. The concept is called "rationing," and every government-run health care program in the world has had to resort to rationing and price fixing to control costs.

Thursday's Letters to the Editor

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:06 EDT

S.C would benefit from climate bill

I recently had the opportunity to visit our nation's capital, joining the National Wildlife Federation and S.C. Wildlife Federation to ask our members of Congress to support clean energy and climate legislation. It's a historic moment, and a unique opportunity to revitalize all parts of South Carolina's economy - not just maintaining our current prosperity but raising up people and communities in desperate need of new opportunities.

Clean energy already has created thousands of jobs in South Carolina, but we've only scratched the surface of its potential. Within just a decade of its passage, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act could create nearly 25,000 new jobs and increase South Carolina's economic output by nearly $2 billion every year.

But we must also consider the cost of inaction. The real and growing impacts of climate change already are hitting our most vulnerable communities. These areas face disproportionate burdens and are least able to deal with them. If we don't act now, our economic problems will only deepen, and the cost of treating unhealthy communities will continue to rise.

We cannot allow the scare tactics and deep pockets of special interests to protect polluters, limit our energy choices and stifle a wave of clean-energy jobs. I respectfully ask Sens. Jim DeMint and Lindsey Graham to follow the leadership of Rep. James Clyburn and so many others who supported the clean energy and climate legislation that passed the House in June. The time for action is now.

Letters to the Editor

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:07 EDT

Columbia officials should do their jobs

A couple of weeks ago, there was an article about the city of Columbia hiring a consultant to help with the budget issues. The estimated cost would be around $150,000. City officials noted that funds were not available for this project, but they were searching the system to see if the monies could be provided.

The voters of Columbia have elected officials to be responsible for the management of all business affairs for the city. If Columbia needs consultants to inform it on how to run the city's business, then why does the city need the current elected officials and management personnel?

As trite as this might seem, it doesn't take a Harvard graduate to come to this conclusion. Whoever is in charge should be doing their job. Otherwise, they should be replaced by the supposed experts (the consultants). Nothing personal; it's just good business.

HENRY KNIGHT

Tuesday's Letters to the Editor

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:05 EDT

Testing getting in the way of education

The Friday editorial, "Test-score dip underscores need to end distractions," moved me to share a reason some parents choose private schools over public scores. I have taught at private schools in Louisiana, Massachusetts and Columbia, and some of the top pitches admissions officers use are "We don't waste precious instructional time on test-taking or test preparation" and "We don't teach to the test; we teach the skills and concepts that create successful learners."

I hope one day our public school administrators will wake up and realize that testing children repeatedly may measure the problem, but it does not improve scores. Scores are improved by giving students the time and attention they need to get better at reading, writing and arithmetic. At the private schools where I worked, we were blessed with only one test a year. We had the time to use the test results to improve instruction.

No Child Left Behind has been a misguided approach, especially since it was underfunded. Some of my colleagues call it "No Child Left Untested," but my favorite is "No Teacher Left Standing."

Please support educators who want the time to get to know students, plan relevant lessons and work with children until they master the material they need to know. Public schools need to find a way to rein back the test-taking prep courses, pre-tests, tests and post-tests. The testing industry is doing quite well, but our students receive less instruction every year. How do we expect test scores to improve when teachers have less time to teach?

ETC.: Health care, climate change & more

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:07 EDT

Preserve Medicare home health program

The Oct. 9 story on differing language in congressional health care bills ("What about long-term care?") was a good reminder to South Carolinians that they must look carefully at how health legislation could affect them.

For example, Congress plans to cut up to $57 billion from Medicare home health programs over the next decade, including $700 million in South Carolina. As a result, more than 70 percent of our state's home health agencies could report negative financial margins as early as 2011.

Many agencies might close or limit services, even as our elderly population continues to grow. One in eight of our citizens is already age 65 or older. The Census Bureau estimates the number of South Carolinians in this age group will rise by more than 133 percent between 2000 and 2030.

Even more ironic, many South Carolina home health providers use advanced therapies and treatments to help the elderly manage chronic illnesses effectively. Studies have shown the ability of home health to keep people out of costly hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions, and save Medicare millions of dollars.

The fable of the fire chief and the dissidents

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:58 EDT

There was once a community that consisted of several factions that were simultaneously competitive and interdependent. One faction was traditionally in charge, and the thought of a member of one of the minority factions exercising a significant leadership role and holding a position of real power was abhorrent to some members of the majority. This was not a universal feeling, however: 43 percent of the majority combined with the minorities to elect a new fire chief.

The new fire chief took over with great expectations by the majority of the citizens. He was inspirational, energetic and visionary. He had great plans for the community's success. But the outgoing fire chief had left three significant fires burning, so his most immediate task was to put out the raging fires, which were draining the community's resources and threatening instability. He focused on all three with all his energy and available resources, asking for everyone's cooperation and support. Most citizens responded positively.

However, a significant segment of dissidents was disgruntled, more interested in who was fighting the fires than whether the fires were extinguished. Instead of picking up a water hose and helping, they picked up stones and hurl them at the new fire chief. Thus the new chief's attention was divided between dodging the rocks thrown by the dissidents and leading the firefighting.

The dissidents did not consider the fire chief to be a legitimate member of the community, and thus not a legitimate chief. The fact that he was, and was very capable, as well as the fact that he and other minorities have performed far better than the dissidents expected, despite opposition by the dissidents, has not deterred the dissidents.

The dissidents continue to oppose the fire chief on each of his initiatives, regardless of the merits. They cheer when he experiences minor setbacks and refuse to applaud when he succeeds. There is much evidence that members of other communities respect the new fire chief. Recently he received one of the highest honors that the world community can bestow on a community leader, and was derided by the dissidents for having received the honor.

Sunday's letters to the editor

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:54 EDT

Columbia area needs public market

Suppose there is a glut of sweet potatoes in North Carolina, an oversupply of cantaloupes, tomatoes, strawberries and oranges in Florida. Growers and shippers have always known that the public market in Columbia is a great outlet for them. They drive their trucks to Columbia, pay a fee at the market entrance, park and start selling. Local residents benefit from a large selection at bargain prices.

The state is building a farmers shed on state land in the private market being built in Lexington County, but only locally grown produce will be sold there. Large out-of-state produce growers could only sell to the several wholesalers that are part of the private market, the result being less selection and higher prices.

Richland County and the city of Columbia will lose this valuable asset if action is not taken soon to acquire a new home for the market. Produce vendors and farmers have been notified that they must vacate the present public market by the end of February.

Fortunately, there is a solution that would be good for all. The Boozer Lumber property on Atlas Road is being offered to the county for half its assessed value, which would allow affordable rents and leases for vendors, farmers and other retail merchants. The property has large buildings and sheds, the whole area is paved and fenced, and it is located six blocks off I-77, a short distance from Shop, Bluff and Garners Ferry roads. Leases, daily rentals and truck fees could pay any debt. This valuable property can be acquired by a vote by County Council. For the good of the consumers, farmers, vendors and those who will get to keep their jobs, I hope council will act favorably.

Friday's Letters to the Editor

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:53 EDT

Kudos to Graham, Kerry on cooperation

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and Democratic Sen. John Kerry co-authored a column in The New York Times on Oct. 11 promoting bipartisan approaches to dealing with the world's evolving climate change policies.

Most notably, the two senators agreed that nuclear energy must play an important role in our future energy policy. That alone was music to my ears, but perhaps more importantly, their column struck a chord not often touched in today's vitriolic partisan political environment. The demonstration of cooperation and civil discourse related to pressing issues of our times gives hope that maybe we really can deal with the big problems.

Sens. Graham and Kerry have set a standard for behavior that we hope the rest of Congress will emulate. No matter your political stance, these men deserve our thanks for trying to do what is right for the country.

CLINT WOLFE