Republicans, vote Feb. 29 in the SC Democratic Party primary | Letters
Thanks to the writer of the recent letter titled, “Did GOP rig SC primary?”
As most of us know, South Carolina does not have registration by party, meaning that anyone from any party can vote in either a Democratic or Republican primary.
As the writer points out, there are nearly twice as many Republicans in South Carolina as Democrats. So, for years Democrats have been voting in Republican Primaries and general elections and voting for the weakest Republican candidates.
For over 25 years, Republicans have tried to convince the S.C. General Assembly to change the laws that would allow registration by party. It hasn’t happened. Even the S.C. Supreme Court determined that primaries are elections and not nominations. So the only way to have registration by party is through legislation.
Now, it appears, the tables have turned. I, for one, fully intend to go to the polls on Feb. 29 and vote for the weakest Democrat presidential candidate. And, I encourage other Republicans to do the same.
Maybe, just maybe, they’ll get the message. Let’s hope so.
By the way, if you do choose to vote on Feb. 29, it will not affect your vote in the primary on June 9. You can still vote Republican.
See you at the polls.
Tom Hatfield
Hilton Head Island
Rethink the targets for a Hilton Head Island referendum
I have led work in strategic planning, visioning and goal-setting in all types of organizations and communities, and within that process it is critical to sort out what is needed versus what is wanted.
I was pleased to learn of the postponement of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s “quality of life” referendum vote as there is no clear understanding regarding how and why these six projects were chosen. Hopefully, this will allow for a proper process that includes adequate community input and an evaluation of priority needs.
Some of the critical needs include affordable housing, improving/repurposing empty commercial properties and attracting new businesses. Current businesses struggle to operate due to the lack of an available workforce.
These factors contribute to one additional critical issue – our property values have not paced with the recovery that much of the nation has enjoyed. When the major developers finished their work, marketing became resort-oriented. We market Hilton Head as a resort community… not a community in which to work, operate a business, live or play.
I encourage the mayor, Town Council and town manager to look broadly with inclusive input to determine what we need to thrive as a community. While the referendum projects have merits, are they more important than addressing some of the issues I have identified?
This referendum commits residents to a 25-year tax for arts, culture, parks and recreation.
Really? Is this the best use of $65 million to secure a better future for our beloved island?
Sandy West
Hilton Head Island
NOC provides crucial service to Beaufort County children
In 2018, 55% of Beaufort County School District students lived in low-income households that qualified for free or reduced-price school meals.
Students living in poverty consistently score lower on achievement tests, and less than 50% are performing at grade level in reading or math.
To address these inequities, Neighborhood Outreach Connection has provided free tutoring and enrichment to hundreds of low-income students for the past 11 years.
Students who attend after-school and summer programming at one of seven NOC Learning Centers grow academically and socially. Their parents can participate in workforce development and health-related activities to help families achieve the “American dream” of economic independence and personal fulfillment.
The coordinated efforts of NOC employees, volunteers, and supporters are required to sustain these programs and deliver services that benefit individual participants and the overall community.
Recent articles about NOC in the Island Packet mentioned little about the organization’s programs or outcomes.
Despite challenges in the past several years, NOC has grown and expanded, thanks to the generous support of donors and the willingness of local churches to house NOC programs when gentrifying neighborhoods no longer found value in hosting NOC Learning Centers.
If Island Packet reporters visited NOC Learning Centers, they would find rooms full of more than 200 happy students engaged in learning in a safe and enriching environment, assisted by caring adults.
Low-income and minority students in Beaufort County need additional support to reach their full academic potential, which NOC strives to provide.
Michele Oros
NOC board member
Bluffton
Trump’s big lie on health care
While President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address made a number of questionable claims, the most egregious was his declaration that “I have also made an ironclad pledge to American families: We will always protect patients with preexisting conditions.”
That pledge belies dozens of actions he has taken to eliminate the strongest protections, including his current support of the effort by Republican attorneys general to have the entire Affordable Care Act overturned – along with its provisions for those with preexisting conditions.
Trump’s pledge to affected individuals is also laughable considering a 2017 Republican bill that would have weakened protections. Though the Republican plan forbade insurers from denying coverage based on health history, there was nothing forbidding them from inflating premiums, simply not carrying policies for people with health issues, or offering policies, but with coverage that excludes a particular condition.
Compare that to the Affordable Care Act, which states flat-out that carriers “may not impose any preexisting condition exclusion” and further, “may not establish rules for eligibility.”
It’s an enormous difference to the estimated 102 million people who now have a preexisting condition, myself included. It should matter to anyone who could develop such a condition in the future. You.
As with many of his claims, Trump’s pledge needs to come with an asterisk. Have we become so used to his misleading rhetoric and deceitful behavior that we are prepared to tolerate another four years? Is he the best we can hope for in a president?
Please, no.
Rita Conrad
Bluffton
Dislike Trump? Vote him out
President Donald Trump says, “I can do anything I want as president.” The Senate GOP just agreed, voting that his criminal actions in the Ukraine scandal have no consequences. They’ve made him untouchable. And that makes him more dangerous.
So now there is only one way to protect us from Trump. Vote him and his supporters out. If you need motivation, imagine the damage they can do in four years. Repeal and not replace Obamacare. Cut Social Security and Medicare. Accelerate climate change. Get us into a war.
Overstated?
Is there a GOP plan for health care? None. No protection against denying coverage due to preexisting conditions. No coverage by parents for kids up to 26 years old. No stopping rampant drug price gouging. No health care insurance for 44 million Americans who can’t afford it.
Cut Social Security and Medicare? Trump ominously said recently, “At some point they will be” on his plate. Trump supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham has said, “We made promises we can’t keep to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.”
Protect the environment? He walked away from the Paris climate accords and rolled back 95 regulations that kept the air clean, drinking water safe and reduced planet-killing ozone.
War? By pulling out of a deal to halt Iran’s work on building a nuclear bomb, Trump encouraged Iran to restart its program. What will he do if he even suspects Iran has built one? Attack first, verify later? That’s what got us into the Iraq war.
Vote him out.
Wes Dvorak
Bluffton
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