With important issues facing S.C., civil debate needed

By Richard Eckstrom, Comptroller General

There’s a battle of sorts going on in Columbia between those trying to reign in spending, impose greater accountability, and pull back the curtains of government so that decisions are made in full public view… and those who don’t think these changes are needed.

Those who know me generally put me in the former category -- a fiscal conservative committed to the cause of better government, increased transparency, and more careful spending. But while remaining true to my conservative principles, I consciously try to show respect for those whose views and opinions are different from mine.

Unfortunately, in this environment what should be civil debate on important issues all too often descends into “attack politics” -- vilifying those with opposing views in order to win. Name-calling has become accepted practice for many.

One example on the national stage is the automobile bailout, where some in Congress are sniping and finger-pointing just because many others -- due to their deep-seated concerns about writing blank checks to Detroit -- opposed plans to bail out the Big 3 automakers. When everyone in Washington should be devoting their energy to moving the country past the current economic crisis, leaders of one party instead have been churning press releases blasting the other party, and a prominent leader in the majority party attempted to paint all those who voted against the bail out plan as “un-American.” Sadly, some will take any advantage -- every advantage -- to advance a political agenda.

There’s no shortage of such behavior here in the Palmetto State, where for several years Governor Sanford and those aligned with him have tried to change the business-as-usual culture in Columbia. In the interest of openness, let me state that I wholeheartedly support the vast majority of Gov. Sanford’s proposed reforms. Like him, I strongly believe that changing the way we do things in Columbia is a key to truly moving our state forward. But Gov. Sanford and other reformers represent changes that many in Columbia neither seek nor wish to accept, and the debate hasn’t always been constructive.

The legislature will convene in January with South Carolina facing one of the biggest challenges of a generation – the current economic crisis. With state leaders grappling with new and more difficult problems, we’d do well to lay aside the “heroes-versus-villains” mentality, the attitude that it’s OK to tear down another for holding an opposing political philosophy.

At the local level, the men and women who engage in civic debate -- whether over a municipal tax increase, a zoning matter, or a school bond issue -- should be respected, even when they express views counter to our own. At a time when most folks go about their daily lives and simply read about developments in the newspaper, we should applaud any who take the time to become involved in the community to guide its future.

In South Carolina, an honest conversation about where we’re headed as a state, and how we get there, is a good thing. We should be able to have such a conversation without ever resorting to attacks. Those of us in positions of public trust have a particular obligation to set the right example by conducting our debates in a manner befitting those we serve. Let’s commit to finding success on high roads, not low ones, and let’s win hearts and minds with the power of our ideas, not the volume of our voices.

Another Having Less Will Make Us Happier Article

From Alternet.org

Life After the Economic Collapse: How Having Less Will Make Us Happier
Having big cars, fancy TVs and trendy clothes never made us happy. It only drove us into debt -- and increased our dependence on long work hours.

“The pursuit of happiness.” It’s so American that it’s in our Declaration of Independence, where it’s listed alongside life and liberty as an inalienable right.

But how successful have we been in that pursuit? And now that the global finance system is imploding, how likely is it that we’ll be happy in the coming months and years?

Bob Barr's Election Updates

Libertarian candidate Bob Barr will be in Charleston on Tuesday, September 30th. You are invited to a Fundraising Dinner with Bob at the Sunfire Grill in West Ashley at 7:00. With a minimum contribution of $30, you will receive dinner, a sign for your yard, and a bumper sticker. Dinner is a choice of a 10 oz Ribeye over mashed potatoes topped with a red wine demi or Pan fried stuffed chicken over mashed potatoes topped with a mushroom cream sauce. You can prepay by credit card, but contributions will also be accepted at the door. Seating is limited. Please make reservations early. Contact wwoolsey@comcast.net or call (843) 795-5062.
Barr will speak at 10:00 to Citadel cadets, to the Charleston Rotary Club at 12:30, and at the College of Charleston at 2:30.

Also, a study released today by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) listed Bob Barr as the most fiscally responsible candidate running for president, noting a Barr presidency would cut federal spending by a whopping $200.9 billion.
The study found that Sen. John McCain would raise federal spending by nearly $100 billion, compared Sen. Barack Obama's plans that would raise spending by almost $300 billion.

The figures are compiled based on campaign statements up to September 19, and do not include bailouts proposals supported by Senators McCain and Obama.

"Both the McCain and Obama campaigns have tried to keep pace with the political issues of the day -- largely by responding with proposals for new programs and regulations that could reach deeper and deeper into taxpayers' pockets," NTUF Senior Policy Analyst Demian Brady said. "On the other side of the spectrum, Bob Barr's Libertarian philosophy is strongly reflected in a platform that is built upon cutting programs and slashing spending."

The study finds that the bulk of Barr's spending cuts comes from withdrawing troops from Iraq ($92.4 billion in annual savings) and eliminating the Department of Education ($92.4 billion in annual savings).