Thousands facing Alzheimer’s crisis could benefit from alert system, reader suggests

Create Alzheimer Alert

We would greatly minimize the frequency of patients who suffer with Alzheimer’s disease going missing if South Carolina’s legislators would write into law an “Alzheimer’s Alert.”

In the same way the Amber Alert law has helped to successfully recover 1,100+ children since 2006, an Alzheimer’s Alert law could also be an effective way to coordinate resources in our state to improve communications between families and law enforcement agencies.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease is a growing public health crisis in South Carolina that affects 95,000 people aged 65 and older. And this number is expected to rise.

A few months ago, I reached out to S.C. Rep. Leon Howard, D- Richland, to suggest introducing an Alzheimer’s Alert bill during the 2023 Legislative Session. He was ecstatic about this idea, and I truly believe he will make this happen.

All South Carolinians, Democrats and Republicans alike, should support this bill and push it through to be signed into law because Alzheimer’s is a mentally and physically disabling disease that can negatively impact any family.

Bridget Deline, Columbia

Bad idea

Apparently, the S.C. legislature and Gov. Henry McMaster do not understand the meaning of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that refers to a “wall of separation” between Church and State.

Providing a $1.5 million dollar earmark to Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County creates an excessive entanglement of government and religion, thereby putting our state on the slippery slope of creating a theocracy rather than a democracy. Likewise, CLC’s revised plans to provide biblical instruction to disadvantaged and at-risk students would probably violate South Carolina’s charter school requirements.

This was a bad, and possibly unconstitutional, idea from the very beginning that never should have been passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor.

Lewis Huffman, Columbia

Confused voter

I’m confused by Henry McMaster’s latest campaign ad in which he appears to be running against “Washington” rather than Democratic candidate Joe Cunningham.

He tells us that “in Washington they spend money that doesn’t even exist. We don’t do that here.” That’s true. The S.C. constitution does not permit state government to have a year-end budget deficit. That is also true for 36 other states.

McMaster also says, “In Washington, they tried to defund the police. We don’t do that here.” Most police funding is determined at the local level, not by “Washington.”

McMaster proclaims, “They tried to close businesses and churches during COVID. Not here.”

McMaster has forgotten that he closed restaurants, beaches, and boat ramps in March 2020. In April 2020, he approved an order that closed gyms, theaters, and some retail establishments.

I don’t think McMaster’s closures were wrong because COVID-19 killed more than one million people in the U.S.; however, I am suggesting that McMaster should campaign on real issues instead using questionable statements to appeal to his conservative base.

Andrew Gowan, West Columbia

Consider running for office

Is your legislator, county, or city representative truly meeting your expectations and deserving of another term? Too many of our political leaders are overly comfortable in their positions because, in the primary election, they have no opposing challenger.

Some incumbents have become complacent, or they are financially able to demean and misrepresent their opponent while rampantly spreading disinformation. Disinformation is not an error in representation, but rather an intentional effort to spread information that will malign the reputation of the opposition and confuse you, the voter.

Candidates in our local elections have been invited to respond to questions generated by the League of Women Voters of the Columbia Area.

The LWVCA is a nonpartisan organization, and we do not endorse or oppose candidates. Rather, we advocate for informed voters.

Our Vote411.org database allows voters to learn about the candidates and to compare the answers of the candidates vying for your vote.

If your political representatives are complacent incumbents with no opponent and no agenda, other than to remain in office, look for their response, or lack thereof, and consider running against them in the next election cycle.

Lady June Cole, Columbia, President, LWV, Columbia area