SC lawmakers can’t let South Carolinians down in deciding on Santee Cooper’s future
On Santee Cooper
The fate of Santee Cooper remains an important issue, and our lawmakers’ eventual decision will affect so many citizens.
Just consider the high price that South Carolinians continue to pay because of Santee Cooper’s mismanagement of the V.C. Summer nuclear project; the utility bills of ratepayers have skyrocketed to cover the cost of that failed venture.
Regardless of what happens with Santee Cooper, we need a commitment from it to use 100% clean energy by the year 2050.
Robby Haslett, Columbia
On McMaster
Gov. Henry McMaster repeatedly states that he bases his executive decisions on science and data, but his reactionary approach to the spread of COVID-19 across South Carolina has already proved to be a fatal mistake.
In the same way that governors of many states have been forced to fill the leadership void left by President Donald Trump, major cities in the Palmetto State have been compelled to do what McMaster should have done.
On two previous occasions McMaster was accused of overreacting to potential hurricane threats when he closed schools and evacuated entire regions. But that only makes McMaster’s tepid, piecemeal response to what is unfolding as a catastrophic statewide disaster even more telling: it reveals a man who is driven largely by a desire to avoid upsetting his political benefactor in the White House.
John Wareham, Santee
On puzzles
Kudos to The State for showing great consideration for your puzzle-loving subscribers by publishing extra puzzles in the Friday editions. Thanks very much for the nice gesture!
Marilyn Rej, Columbia
On day care
Time: I have more of it than I ever remember having.
Because of the coronavirus, teaching, parenting and grand-parenting from my home have all taken a drastic turn. I am adjusting to e-learning, but I can’t wait to be in a classroom again.
So many of my school families rely on day care, but quite a few of these facilities may never reopen because of the impact of COVID-19. As a volunteer advocate with Save the Children Action Network, I hope that our lawmakers will keep this in mind when they consider the long-term effects of this pandemic.
There were millions and millions of children enrolled in child care facilities before COVID-19 struck, and their families must be able to access that care once we reach the post-pandemic period. What is the plan for their futures?
Judith Ryan, Elgin
On The State
The State criticizes public officials for calling out “fake news,” yet you then went on to publish several editorial cartoons by Robert Ariail mocking public officials whose views oppose your leftist liberal agenda.
Out here in the real world we have noticed during our resupply trips that our interstates are peppered with vehicles bearing New York state license plates and heading south. I fear they will end up infecting our home state the same way that The State is trying to do so with your leftist liberal agenda.
Joel Foster, Roebuck
Editor’s note: We called Mr. Foster after receiving this letter and had a great 15-minute conversation with him that was full of laughs. Mr. Foster still thinks we’re liberal and leftist, but we amiably agreed to disagree on that — and to keep in touch.
He’s a good guy.
As a side note, The State Editorial Board has praised President Donald Trump on numerous occasions — from hailing his work on criminal justice reform issues to pointing out why Trump will be a formidable opponent for the Democratic Party’s eventual presidential nominee.
And as a second side note, editorial cartoonist Robert Ariail is hardly “leftist or liberal” in his work. He’s a fantastic cartoonist who consistently offers some great perspectives on local and state issues, and we’re thrilled to run his work!
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 6:30 AM.