FEEDBACK

6/25: Corporations could do a better job than government

No one would argue that the confidence in Corporate America has been damaged by the greed of the four Corps you mentioned in your latest article. This does not mean that all Corps are bad. Most of them play by the rules. Due to Mass Media we are bombarded by the scandals of few and then lump them into a general group to which we place all the blame for the ills of society.

I believe that many of these Corporations could do a better job of providing services than the State and Federal Government. You mentioned that roads should be built by the State. I could not disagree more. These road contracts should be put out for bid and the lowest and or most qualified company should be hired to get the job done to the specifications required by law.

I know I am not the only person who has seen several state workers on the side of the road leaning on a shovel while one man is doing all the work. That is a waste of man power that a private sector company will not tolerate because it has to be efficient and wise with it's own money in order to turn a profit.

-- Jay Auld, Bluffton, SC

6/23: Magistrates should be decided at polls

Your article on actions within the Statehouse are really good. I certainly think in some instances Governor Sanford has done an outstanding job this year, especially in watching and looking after what monies we have. Probably the most offending and needless legislation (other than for personal reasons) are the many "appointments" by our senators. Certainly it may not reduce our budget, but it would prove to our citizens that justice must not be in the hands of our senators.

The appointment system for our magistrates should be dissolved and require the election process for all judicial functions. For example, in the present systems, magistrate are appointment by our senators and greater percentage are never reappointed. In other words the senators are carrying around in the appointments in their "hip pocket." How can we ever expect our citizens to believe in our judicial system when our magistrates must fear their termination at the whims of the senators? For example, years past I had a rider included in the budget that terminated all monies in the Cherokee County Veterans budget, just to force me out as Veterans Affairs Officer. After about two years of protesting by our veterans, our Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., consented to allow for our veterans to have an advisory election and I ran and was selected by the veterans on two different times and retired when I wanted to not when Senator Harvey S. Peeler, Jr., forced me out. Now our veterans only select our Veterans Affairs Officer and our Legislative Delegation has accepted this procedure each and every election. Such an important office as Magistrate should be decided at the polls.

-- Boyd McLean, Gaffney, S.C.

6/22: Says governor's agenda isn't to privatize

You are inferring [see 6/22] to the readers that the governor has a hidden agenda and it is to privatize a significant amount of government. While that may be some truth, it is not the absolute truth. Enron and the likes was well managed but the profits went in the managers' pockets. Research these firms again and you will not find a significant amount of waste; it was fraud that took the company down. By the same token, it is not fraud that has the state's economy in a crisis; it's wasteful spending and mismanagement or no management. The governor is on the right track I do believe and supports his agenda. Government is too big and needs to be purged ASAP! Duplication of programs and services,overpaid managers and staff must be addressed now. Go back and read or listen to the governor's address, he promised to introduce no new programs and to get a handle on the budget. In my opinion,he has been true to his words. I am a independent conservative rookie member of AARP and I support the good faith efforts of Mr.Sanford thus far. I have no faith in straight party voting. He hasn't disappointed me yet. I pray to God that he continue to look out for the common person. Faith,hope and love.

-- Charles E. Lott Sr., Union, S.C.

6/4: Defends Sanford

As a Republican (see 5/25 Feedback below) , if you are man or woman enough to say these things about Governor Sanford than you should be man or woman enough to sign your name.

Governor Sanford has set aside time each month to let the people of South Carolina talk to him. So get your name on his schedule and be man or woman enough to look him face to face and tell him what you don't like about what is going on in SC.

-- Ron Hernly, North Charleston, S.C.

6/2: Fully fund education

We need to fully fund education for the students of South Carolina. We've been working too hard to improve education and we can't go backwards now. The children deserve an education and our elected officials were charged with doing the right thing for children. Forget about the politics and get on with educating the children."

-- Carol Tempel, James Island

6/2: People are losing with GOP

The Republicans always show their true colors on all levels of elected government. If it doesn't benefit business we ain't for it. It is, of course, short-sighted because an undereducated public hurts business in the long run on so many levels; poorly-trained labor pools, consumers earning less money so people don't buy the goods and services from
businesses, etc.

On the Federal level, a tax cut that deprives the working poor, including military families of an added tax break for children was just unconscionable, but predictable. When a Republican legislator weighs whether to help the truly needy with tax relief, or help business avoid
more tax obligations, the poor always lose.

-- Alan Patterson, San Diego, Calif.