‘I am just a messenger’: Skip Hoagland responds to criticism | Letters

I appreciate my fellow citizen writing to the paper about my appearances before the town and county councils, and his opinion as to the sheriff removing me.

In reply, the sheriff is doing his job by protecting all the county’s citizens’ right to speak freely to our local government.

And, by way of explanation to the writer and others, I have devoted my retirement to exposing local corruption.

I am particularly focused on the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce because it takes tax funds and blocks transparency -- even access to Chamber accounting by members.

I am just a messenger of the facts, and stand up for my fellow taxpayers and their hard-earned money so that it’s not abused or wasted.

And I welcome the writer to contact me anytime, so I may enlighten him or anyone else, at 843-384-7260.

While I am aware my criticism may seem harsh at times, it is for good reason, and trust me, it is not nearly as bad as the corruption I expose. If you can prove that what I say is not 100% factual, it would be appreciated.

Honestly, to say Sheriff P.J. Tanner did not do his job, or that Town Council member Tom Lennox took a good first step, and council already has rules to deal with me or any citizen who speaks on facts, is simply not true.

Let’s all stop attacking on opinions, and present facts. The best way to get rid of me is to stop public wrongdoing.

Here’s how to really drain the swamp

Lest we voters are distracted by the animosity and ideological vitriol being exchanged across the aisles of Congress, there will soon be a number of important elections coming up in 2020 that will determine the future course of these United States.

Remember, we have flourished not because of our elected officials but in spite of them.

There are only two questions that all electors need to ask throughout the nation while vetting candidates for the Senate and House. 1) Will you vote for and champion term limits and 2) Will you vote for and champion a federal balanced budget.

These are the two plugs that, when pulled, will actually drain the swamp. Without their removal it will continue to be business as usual.

When asking these questions, pay close attention to the answers as they will most likely be vague, obtuse, condescending and full of loopholes because that’s the way most politicians and lawyers communicate.

Left to their own devices, our long-term elected officials will never kill the goose that lays their golden eggs; nor will the national committees of faceless, unelected power brokers allow them to.

A final note: “If you don’t read the newspaper, you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper, you are misinformed” – Mark Twain. Some things never change.

Enforce law handicapped parking spaces

I am at my wits end with the parking practices in the handicapped areas. I have talked personally with Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner and was told that I have to call and report the incident before the police will enforce the law concerning parking in the loading area of handicapped parking.

I have a van with a lift. My van can only be used when the loading area is clear. On numerous occasions, I either wait for the offender to come move his or her vehicle or ask a complete stranger to move my vehicle for access. So if they drive away with my van or crash it into another parked car, it is still my fault.

I have the notion that if the sheriff would be more vigilant enforcing the law, the offender would be more vigilant in parking.

I am writing so that more awareness may lead to less infraction.

This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 9:10 AM with the headline "‘I am just a messenger’: Skip Hoagland responds to criticism | Letters."