There are some old sayings, "Throwing good money after bad," "All that glitters is not gold," and "A fool and his money are soon parted." Thus it is with the so-called plan for the Myrtle Beach international trade center, a deal imagined by Doug Wendel, the chief executive officer for Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. B&C has repeatedly used other people's money, or our taxes, to increase its profits. It has been using other people's money for decades, the most excessive [example] being the multicounty business park. This business deal [between B&C and] the Horry County Council and Myrtle Beach City Council resulted in millions of our dollars being used to fund 27 developments in Horry County, including a mall.

Such expenses rightfully belong to B&C as part of doing business. Instead, our money and that normally needed for schools is being used by B&C for 30 years. No wonder our county, city and school district are now crying uncle over their indebtedness. One would think such largess would never happen again.

However, B&C has now embarked upon the use of more other people's money, and our state legislature has recently set aside $7 million [for the international trade center project]. Those wonderful pro-business elected officials called it seed money, hoping more seeds will be coming from the state and local governments. We the People of Horry County think it is a bad seed.

The taxpayers, according to a recent feasibility study, can look forward to ponying up $35 million just to purchase the old B&C Myrtle Square Mall for use as the international trade center [site]. Additionally, development costs for this gorilla are estimated to be [millions of dollars].

Now, folks, that is one big risk, even bigger than the risk on one government hotel that the city of Myrtle Beach is struggling with.

No government of the people, by the people and for the people should ever be required to take such a risk. Even our governor, Mark Sanford, wisely agrees that this is pure pork and is contemplating a lawsuit against those in Columbia for giving up the $7 million in tax money over his veto.

On behalf of We the People of Horry County, I am recommending that we throw all the bums out who show any favor to such a business albatross this election year. If B&C thinks a trade center is such a great venture, let it risk its own capital. Enough is enough.