IT'S AMAZING WHAT a simple question can do.

Last month, during his budget hearing with the State Ports Authority, Gov. Mark Sanford asked why the state still operates the steamship terminal at Port Royal, which attracts only 20 ships and costs the state $58,000 a year to keep open. Closing the port would not only save money, the governor noted, but it should allow the state to sell the property, stimulating the local economy and bringing in a one-time haul of cash.

It's the type of question you might expect to get ignored. But ports officials said they'd love to close the port, if only the Legislature would let them. Then, lo and behold, a truly amazing thing happened: By the end of the week, the local House member, the mayor and a host of other local officials and community leaders were enthusiastically making plans for guiding the development of the post-port track of land.

Unfortunately, the head of the Ports Authority is now talking about how he wants to jointly develop the land with a private developer, rather than selling it outright. But even that would be an improvement. And who knows, he might see the light and agree to part with the port land. All because somebody asked the kind of question that doesn't usually get asked in our state.