Our first President, George Washington, once wrote that we should “guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.” Those words should be in the minds of all South Carolinians right now as we continue to be saddled up to a Governor who would rather appear “patriotic” to the people of the 49 states he does not govern than to provide leadership to the one he does.
Governor Mark Sanford, who wants to be President more than Governor, continues to be defiant to the prospect of millions of dollars from the federal government that is so badly needed, not just to balance a budget, but to make sure our cities have police officers, our schools have teachers and our local governments can function. In the face of leaders on all sides of political thought across the state, our wealthy state leader suggested to the General Assembly that in order to balance the state’s budget this year, they should cut programs and services and not count on the federal stimulus money, which he wants to use to pay down the state’s debt. The White House has already twice denied his request to use the funds for that purpose.
While I am all in favor of having as little debt as possible, now is not the time to be taking political stances that you think might help you in the future. We are not only in debt, but don’t have the money to function day to day. We need to stop the bleeding in the short term or there will not be a way to salvage any semblance of effective government in the long run.
As a comparison, if you were in a car accident and were taken to the hospital with a broken arm and broken neck, the doctors would work on your neck before your arm because that is what is most life threatening at the moment. Thankfully, the Governor is not a doctor or you would be dead while he was putting a cast on your arm.
As we as a city, state and nation are plodding away through these unpleasant economic times and the stance of Sanford, I can’t help but think of a former resident of Laurens named Andrew Johnson. President Johnson too served during tumultuous times. He became President because Lincoln had been assassinated, the Civil War was winding down and Reconstruction was beginning. He had a chance to be great.
But, in a parallel to the thinking of Governor Sanford, Johnson refused to work with those he led. When asked about this, Johnson replied, “Why don't they join me...as I have administered the office of President so well?”
Sound familiar? Well, guess what. Johnson was impeached.
I encourage each of you to call the Governor’s mansion and tell him that while he is planning his run for President in 2012, South Carolinians are hurting. We don’t want a handout from the federal government, but we need one. If we are left without, while Sanford believes he has everything to gain with this stance, South Carolina has everything to lose.
