By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The state of South Carolina has won the lottery. It has a billion dollars in surplus funds in the coming year that can be used to address generational problems left lingering for far too long.
Let’s hope state lawmakers who let too many things get out of control because of too little money and vision don’t miss this gigantic opportunity to do a whole lot of good.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | The big takeaway from a month-long trip to 13 states during the midterm elections might sound simplistic, but it has a deeper meaning: the United States of America is an unhappy country.
Unhappy because of the widening division between Republican and Democratic leaders, who often don’t seem like they can stand being in the same room. …
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher There’s a big lesson in the 2018 elections for the S.C. House of Representatives: The more competitive that elections are, the more likely the old order will be shaken up.
Sadly in 2018, 80 of 124 races for the House were not competitive in the general election. Forty-two Republicans, mostly in the Upstate, and 28 Democrats faced no November challengers, although some had primary challengers in June. Of the 44 remaining November races, only 10 had margins of victory of fewer than 20 points, meaning they were somewhat competitive.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher The messages from a four-week tour across 10 states are loud and clear: The country is more divided than ever in modern history and the main issue in the midterm elections boils down to Donald Trump, which seems to be just the way he wants it.
y Andy Brack, editor and publisher | South Carolina legislators should start thinking about voting like people now think about online transactions.
Consider how you bought stuff 20 years ago: You got in your car, went to a store, bought it, lugged it home and stored it away until you used it. It took a long time and there were a lot of steps to make a successful purchase. Then came the Internet.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher, Phoenix, Ariz. | An old joke around here is that if there’s ever a 30-foot border wall built to thwart illegal immigrants, it won’t be long before a lot of companies start building 32-foot ladders.
While the national furor over immigration reached a fever after candidate Donald Trump launched xenophobic campaign rhetoric to build a wall, immigration politics is old hat in Arizona, cropping up year after year as a political hot button.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher | With statewide elections a month away, let’s think seriously about leadership.
What kind of leaders do we want in the Palmetto State? Do we want leaders who will continue to do what they’ve been doing for years? If so, how’s that working out? South Carolina continues to be at the wrong end of too many lists.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher | After more than 850 weekly columns totaling more than 600,000 words over 17 years, I’m like the Farmers Insurance guy – I’ve seen a thing or two.
And I’ve learned a thing or two about how politics, policy and governance works – and doesn’t – in the Palmetto State. Now with elections around the corner, maybe it’s time to share some of the bigger lessons.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher | This is the time of the political season that an odd dance begins.
Politicians want to present a compelling image so you’ll cast a vote for them. But they often don’t want to give away too much of what they really think in case it gets them in trouble. So they may hedge, waffle or give so much bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo that the questioner falls asleep.
By Andy Brack | If it were not for the dedicated men and women who keep the state ticking in good times and bad, imagine what life would be like. Instead of having a team of people who make our lives easier, we’d all have to be more self-sufficient. We’d have to take care of the educating, protecting, building and all sorts of other stuff every single day.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
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