SC legislature wants to take away local control of plastic bags

Beaufort County residents worked diligently for almost two years on a single-use plastic bag ban throughout the county. Beaufort County Council successfully lobbied the state legislature last year to grandfather Beaufort County, its municipalities and other towns and cities that had already passed bag bans to be safe from the state legislature’s “Ban on Bans,” which would trample Home Rule. At the end of last session, the bill failed.

Beaufort County followed up by hiring a Litter Control supervisor and crew to pick up litter throughout our county. We are making progress in cleaning up our environment; we are instilling pride in our communities.

Despite our progress and community involvement, we find ourselves having to fight this battle once again. Senate Bill 394 would give the General Assembly sole power to regulate the use of the plastic bags, revoking local law. Crucially, the bill contains no grandfather clause. A Regulatory & Local Government Subcommittee meeting on Feb. 27, from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 207 of the Gressette Building in Columbia, will provide the only opportunity for public testimony on this bill.

Beaufort County is looking a lot cleaner these days; let’s not move backward. Go to the meeting, contact your state senator, and encourage local council members to reach out to their senators.

Socialism wolf at America’s door

Many believe that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson are the two greatest of our Founding Fathers. While their contribution to America’s future success is well deserved, one other Founder deserves the same respect: Alexander Hamilton.

Why? Hamilton introduced the principles of capitalism to the then and future way of American life. At the time, no other country allowed such a revolutionary concept — that ordinary people should be able to own their land and reap the rewards of their personal efforts. While that seems very ordinary to Americans today, it was not so over 200 years ago.

Today, there is an effort to undo many of our capitalistic norms. “Medicare for all” would take medical choices away from you and give them to a government entity. Really? Would free college really be free? And so on. Nothing in the world is “free.” Someone must pay for it. And that someone is you and me since the very wealthy are not that wealthy.

For the sake of saving the planet from carbon dioxide pollution, there is again no way possible that we can eliminate fossil fuels for our power needs. Calling it a “pipe dream” is being polite.

The advent of socialism took years to develop. Incrementalism is how the left introduces their form of socialism. “The death of a thousand cuts.” How we respond to these threats and how we vote will determine who wins: Capitalism or socialism. Please choose wisely.

Election process the American way

A recent letter writer seems to believe that if Joe Cunningham represents the people of South Carolina’s first congressional district well, we should not have to go through the pesky election process again. He should just remain our congressman for as long as he likes.

I do not think that this is a good idea. Our form of government allows us to choose who will represent us in Washington. All citizens, in good standing, have the right to run for office.

I am sure that more than one candidate will vie to unseat Cunningham, and they should be encouraged to do so. Members of the House of Representatives serve a two-year term, so the challengers must start early.

If the current congressman does a great job for the people of the Lowcountry, he will get re-elected. If not, he will get voted out. That is the American way.