Editorials from across South Carolina: plastic in the water, roadblocks in the Senate, SC history as precedent in 2016 presidential race

Plastic menace

Seven tons. That’s how much plastic a study from The Citadel estimates is breaking down in Charleston Harbor right now.

It’s bad enough that so much trash is littering a body of water so important to local commerce, recreation and ecology.

But according to The Citadel researchers, natural processes may be turning those tons of plastic into a serious health risk to marine animals — and potentially humans too.

Sun, waves and other processes break down larger pieces of plastic into smaller bits, some of which are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Those tiny pieces, which are broadly referred to as microplastics, can be eaten by animals like shrimp or periwinkles and make their way up the food chain. …

Fortunately, there are ways all of us can help tackle the problem.

Communities and individuals can make an extra effort to recycle more plastic, for example. And people can reduce unnecessary plastic consumption by choosing products with minimal packaging and using reusable bags and other items instead of disposable alternatives.

Charleston’s waters are critical to the region’s economic prosperity and quality of life. Plastic trash has no place in such an invaluable natural resource.

Road improvements

Christy Hall, the new S.C. Department of Transportation secretary, gave the state a “D” grade on its roads and bridges maintenance during a speech to SCDOT commissioners in January.

In her address, Hall told commissioners most of the state’s approximately 3.3 million drivers are riding on poor pavement, and while most bridges are in good condition, there are several high-risk areas that need to be addressed. Hall ended her address with a warning – road congestion is increasing and will impact South Carolina’s economic competitiveness.

SCDOT commissioners said it’s not for a lack of trying on their part and turn to legislators to bite the bullet and get the ball rolling.

“Legislators are afraid of backing a gasoline tax out of fear of voter backlash,” said SCDOT District 1 Commissioner Jim Rozier. “It will take a gas tax of 40 cents per gallon to cover the cost of repairs to existing roads, and there’s no way anybody is going to go for that.”

The House plan that has already been approved calls for a 10-cent per gallon gas tax. The Senate plan, which has yet to be debated, wants a 12-cent per gallon tax. …

Georgia pays 40 cents a gallon in gas taxes and North Carolina pays 34 cents a gallon, both more than twice as much as South Carolina, which currently pays 16 cents per gallon.

Time is money and state motorists have waited long enough for decent roads.

S.C. precedent for election 2016

Harry Lee Poe has a new book about the 1974 gubernatorial race in South Carolina, “Total Commitment: A Memoir of When South Carolina Elected a Republican Governor.” He says that campaign is “the only frame of reference for understanding the climate of the 2016 presidential race.”

Poe, the 23-year-old finance director of the S.C. Republican Party in 1974, details how a disgruntled Democratic establishment fought its own battle with an insurgent candidate (Charles “Pug” Ravenel) and managed to undo him with a residency challenge. “The solidly Democratic state was so angry with the party establishment that they did the unthinkable — vote for a Republican.”

But Republicans had already also done something that was not expected, rejecting Gen. William Westmoreland in favor of Edwards.

Not to be forgotten, however, is that Edwards was no insurgent. He had a long history with the state’s GOP and Westmoreland did not. Edwards, in effect, was the “establishment.”

As to how the establishment’s record of success plays out Saturday, consider that anger at GOP leadership in South Carolina is less a factor than wholesale voter disdain in 1974. This time, South Carolinians’ penchant for disliking Washington, magnified by an overall rejection of politics as usual, is key.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 12:17 PM with the headline "Editorials from across South Carolina: plastic in the water, roadblocks in the Senate, SC history as precedent in 2016 presidential race."