This week, The SC Policy Council unveiled a new website called The Nerve - Where government gets exposed. I've closely followed a series of debut articles about how South Carolina landed the new Boeing facility. The basic gist of the reports is that the Palmetto State has given away too much taxpayer money in order to get the company to build its plant in North Charleston.
Today's item is entitled "Boeing’s 'A' Team: Firm Turned to S.C. Power Brokers." Keep in mind, the article emphatically states that the Boeing deal was completely legal. But, it details how Boeing turned to big-time economic development players to negotiate their deal. Among those named, Leighton Lord, who I support for Attorney General.
I can understand where the reporters at The Nerve are coming from. I would love to live in a world in which state and local governments did not offer tax breaks to lure companies and where Wal-Mart and other retail giants didn't advertise "loss leaders" items in order to get customers in the door only to charge them double for necessities. But, we live in free market. Well, not all that free, but the most free of any that I know of.
So, all of you who are complaining about tax incentives - get over it. They are a reality of 2010.
Saying South Carolina should get rid of incentives is like saying Ray Tanner should stop letting the Gamecock baseball team use metal bats. Yes, the game would be more pure if colleges used wooden bats like they do in the Big Leagues. But, I don't see he NCAA issuing that mandate anytime soon. And, I don't see all 50 state legislatures agreeing on a tax incentives moratorium anytime soon either.
So, let's stick with what's working. The Gamecock baseball team winning in the SEC with "pings" from aluminum bats and the state of South Carolina winning in the economic development game through leadership that understands the law and how to operate within it.
...that's what I said.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
SC needs new leaders - let's start with the AG's office...
The scuttlebutt around South Carolina Attorney General's race these days is all about prosecutorial experience - who has it, who doesn't. But, it should be about a lot more than that.
A state agency the size of the Attorney General's office is a mine field full of explosive personalities. For an candidate to tout some mild success in prosecuting CDV and drug cases is about like me touting my golf game. Sure, that sweet 3rd shot on the par-5 17th felt good, but it didn't do much to help my score.
Putting away petty criminals makes for good headlines and fat to chew on, but it doesn't help South Carolina move forward. It's time for a new approach at the Attorney General's office.
Share this video with a friend via YouTube.
...that's what I said.
A state agency the size of the Attorney General's office is a mine field full of explosive personalities. For an candidate to tout some mild success in prosecuting CDV and drug cases is about like me touting my golf game. Sure, that sweet 3rd shot on the par-5 17th felt good, but it didn't do much to help my score.
Putting away petty criminals makes for good headlines and fat to chew on, but it doesn't help South Carolina move forward. It's time for a new approach at the Attorney General's office.
Share this video with a friend via YouTube.
...that's what I said.