I have written before about aspects of #redstatelife, its trials and tribulations, its challenges. A somewhat unique element of that can be relative competitiveness, in a #racetothebottom kind of way, between such states. I noticed it anew this week in light of a local newspaper article contrasting our state (SC) with a state traditionally much ‘bluer.’ (All quotes, below, are from the cited article.)
With the proliferation in many red states of so-called ‘bathroom bills,’ the handling of the legislation in South Carolina has not received huge attention. Of course such a bill was proposed, but that proposal didn’t happen before our adjacent state of North Carolina started getting huge blowback from the hideous legislation passed there.
More below.
Top Comments recognizes the previous day's Top Mojo and strives to promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send comments (before 9:30pm ET) by email to topcomments@gmail.com or by our KosMail message board.
SC conservatives were at best lukewarm to the consideration of the bill. It was proposed relatively late in the legislative cycle, so it seemed clear early on that, with other things on the table (like a ‘fetal personhood amendment’), it was unlikely that the legislature would pass a bathroom bill this year. And, in fact, it is now ‘dead’ for this time frame.
The newspaper article on 4/30 posed the question whether South Carolina might be ‘more progressive’ than North Carolina after the ‘defeat’ of the bathroom bill.
Jeff Ayers, executive director of South Carolina Equality Coalition, seems to think so, at least regarding LGBT issues in the state.
“South Carolina will be one of the only states in the deep South that has stopped all the LGBT bills at the committee level, where other states have advanced them to the other chamber and voted on them,” he said. “So I think on that point, we are more progressive. I think hearts and minds are changing on LGBT issues.”
He concluded that because of 11 anti-LGBT bills filed since the beginning of the year (his number), only one has made it out of committee and even that one has not advanced to the floor.
State Senator and Democrat Joel Laurie, agrees.
I think you’ve seen South Carolina in the last year take two strong positions against intolerance,” he said, “one by removing the Confederate flag and two by the governor and business community and many members of the state Senate standing up against the bathroom bill.
By contrast, Charleston Democrat, Senator Marlin Kimpson disagrees.
Though the Senate ‘stopped the bathroom bill, senators’ responses came after watching what North Carolina went through with a similar bill, a backlash that has included protests, petitions, cancelled concerts and lost jobs.
“If it was filed in South Carolina first, who knows what would have happened,” he said. “I would like to say we’re more progressive on social issues but I’m not ready to draw that conclusion.”
I am but a humble Top Comments diarist. Though I can certainly understand the interest in seeing and reinforcing positive political trends, I don’t think for a moment that SC is ‘more progressive.’ In my opinion, the bill was posted to get credit with tea party supporters, but it was presented so late that SC conservatives could ‘exit gracefully’ without confronting the backlash that NC faced. In other words, it was a consequence of political cowardice rather than serendipity, or a sign of growing ‘progressivism’ in the state. And that is even in light of the Scott Walker-esque ‘downgrade’ in political representation of citizens in our neighboring state.
Thanks for reading. On to the comments!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
Note: Especially during this passionate primary season, please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
Bare cupboard, please send us great comments when you find them!
Highlighted by bearsguy:
Is this comment by Alexandra Lynch on bringing back compulsory military service.
Highlighted by be the change you seek:
Is this comment by koNko, on the use of skin whiteners in Asian countries.
Highlighted by duccio46:
Is this comment by StillAmused on Trey Gowdy, Benghazi cheerleader. The comment evokes images of Deliverance (for those old enough to remember that).
For Sunday, May 1, 2016, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
1) What’s more coordinated and calculated than maki … by Lysis +205
2) I note this is part 1. Do I take it that you are … by MichaelHolmans +201
3) Most bullies are actually insecure cowards who a … by THirt +173
4) Always "coordinated and calculated" right, rathe … by KC2669 +141
5) The fastest way for Bernie to become irrelevant … by greblos +133
6) You’re bringing up the travel office 20+ years l … by blue aardvark +128
7) If people were half as content as they want us t … by TheLeftistheCenter +126
8) Nice to see Warren being the enforcer. And to se … by KC2669 +125
9) But those who didn’t suffer during the recession … by Sybil Liberty +121
10) It’s remains odd to me how polarizing Bernie’s m … by markthshark +117
11) Exhibit A. by Lysis +115
12) Oooo … by blue aardvark +114
13) I’m thinking of the NC governor and state legisl … by Tamar +113
14) This diary speaks for me, Potatohead. … by markthshark +110
15) With your hyping of a fake scandal if there ever … by orrg1 +109
16) Thank you so much. A truly overwhelming experien … by Chris Reeves +108
17) A lot of folks are worse off. The poverty rate h … by igualdad +104
18) BNR #328: by LieparDestin +103
19) I am also working on a diary taking a more in-de … by Ninox +102
20) This is much needed. Will be sharing it with all … by tully monster +101
21) ...got my ballot in the mail yesterday, and I kn … by Immigrant Punk +100
21) I trust her. I’m open and receptive to her. You … by Lysis +100
23) believe it or don’t, some of us born during FDR’ … by Sybil Liberty +99
24) Back in 2008, I probably shared some of those se … by Kaneblues +93
25) [image] by Horsefeathers +92
25) “Bullied into submission”? What the hell? … by Ellid +92
25) I guess he reasoned that this is his one shot so … by Chauncey DeVega +92
28) That tactic idn’t work well for Scott Brown up h … by MethuenProgressive +91
28) Judicial Watch is about as valid and important t … by Ellid +91
30) Happy Sunday everyone! Just wanted to give the u … by LieparDestin +90
Top Pictures
2016-05-02, courtesy of jotter!