Lawmakers should quit fighting governor

Gov. Sanford has shown common sense in his policies, a situation that the established political system cannot afford. He made an error thinking that established politicians, the majority of the General Assembly, are interested in efficient government. Lawmakers have shown that they have more interest in their pet pork-barrel projects and self-interest than they have in state affairs. Gov. Sanford has shown the shortcomings of this group with his pigs and horse-drawn carriage demonstrations. Even these shows of sincere concern are called stunts by many of the members of the General Assembly. These were demonstrations that we taxpayers can understand.

Gov. Sanford’s economic policies are severely impeded due to the self-interest of the General Assembly, both Democrats and Republicans. Governors such as Jim Hodges (a product of the establishment) fare well, at public expense, with this group.

Gov. Sanford has proposed remedies for this state’s shortcomings, but lawmakers keep knocking down his agenda and making smart remarks to divert attention. Get real, lawmakers; quit fighting the governor, and look out for the people in this state. We should hold the General Assembly accountable for its refusal to make government more efficient by making necessary changes.

HARRY L. NORTON SR.

Summerton

• Gay people brought legislation upon selves

I was taken aback by several things in the April 30 guest column by the Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge, primarily that you would print the “G.D.” word in a column, especially by a minister. Don’t you think the point would have been just as well made as I just wrote it? The ministers I know wouldn’t use that term, not even to stress a point.

The reverend’s assertion that the movement to enact laws against gay marriage has emboldened some to attack gay people with impunity is a crock.

The truth is that gay people have pressed this issue to the forefront, and now they’re whining because they can’t have their way.

Personally, I think gays can do whatever they like in private, the same as heterosexual people do. A greater power than man, whom the Rev. Chellew-Hodge claims to believe in, will be the final judge of all of us anyway.

HUBERT SMOAK

Cayce

• President run amok should be big news

In a short paragraph on Page A3 May 6 you inform us that “President Bush decided by summer 2002 to overthrow Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and was determined to ensure U.S. intelligence supported his policy.” The president of the United States decided to go to war, lied to us about it, and leaned on the intelligence agencies to concoct information to justify his predetermined action.

The big article with blazing headlines on Page One that day was about a local solicitor gone astray.

What is more important to you, to us all, a solicitor gone astray or a president run amok?

BOB MOORE

Columbia

• One fact of life escaped Altman

It is very clear that John Graham Altman has failed to learn one fact of life: Ignorance is temporary, but stupidity and idiocy are permanent.

JOHN BECKNELL SR.

Columbia

• Altman knows why the battered stay

John Graham Altman should understand why battered wives return to their spouses. It’s like his constituents returning him to the State House year after year.

Maybe they aren’t very bright. Maybe they don’t have any other choice. Maybe he’s persuaded them that they don't deserve anything better. Maybe — heaven forbid — they love him.

Maybe he had best remember that battered wives sometimes do get fed up and seek a better life.

NANCY MEANS

West Columbia

• Government should have located teens

When two teenage boys from Charleston went fishing and were swept out to sea and not found for seven days, did the government utilize all of its resources to find these youths? With satellites and all the instruments to measure wind direction and ocean currents at their disposal, why couldn’t they find these boys earlier? Could it be that the boys were not rich and famous like the Kennedys and other celebrites, and the resources weren’t put to good use?

Could the heritage of these boys have had an effect on the search, i.e., they were from the South — more importantly, South Carolina, the first state to secede from the union?

Thank God the boys werefound, but the government cannot take credit for the effort other than paying lip service by saying it tried to locate the boys.

A full review should be conducted in this poor effort by the Coast Guard, and it should be made public for scrutiny.

THOMAS A. McCLAIN

Cameron