Today is the day before the South Carolina state legislature comes back to the capital. The reason?
The lawmakers will be dealing with multiple vetoes affecting state agencies, health services and public education. Protests have been nonstop today, where groups have attacked Nikki Haley over cutting teachers’ salaries, defunding (and ultimately shutting down) the Arts Commission and slashing funds for S.C. rape crisis centers.
But I must be the one who stands again and asks the ultimate question here…
Why vote yourselves into such holes, then protest when those same people stab you in the back, cut your legs off and leave for dead? Oh, and once healed, you’ll have arms and hands to vote for the same culprits again.
Protesting is very effective in getting politicians to listen – and maybe react. The key word is react. In reality, the people protesting are merely reacting to a law or policy change they do not agree with. It’s reactionary, not proactive.
Being proactive is a lot harder to commit to. Why? Because of the uncertainty of results. It’s a gamble sometimes to be proactive. However, there’s one way to make it simple.
Research.
South Carolina has been a heavily Republican state for decades. Nothing new. Their policies restrict government and cut spending. Nothing new there, either. But since 2006, the GOP in South Carolina have become more rigid. They have skewed farther right than before. When the 2010 elections were over, the cat was out of the bag. They had become 100 percent against government.
I laugh, then, when I see people who might have voted for the same governor who put them out work protesting for their jobs back and/or funds for their programs.
Really?
Did these people not get the memo?
Some people use flowery language in their protesting, stating this is not Republican or Democrat, black or white, etc.
I boldly differ with this. It IS Democrat or Republican and it IS black or white in South Carolina. If people want to remain blind to these facts, so be it… but do not kid yourselves in thinking lawmakers on both sides are going to bust out the state capital doors, holding hands and singing praises of joy.
They haven’t yet. They never will.
That’s why it’s crucial we work to elect people who have our best interests in the foreground rather than voting for folks who claim to be our best friend and love God all the time.
I enjoy being proactive. I couldn’t care less of being viewed as abnormal in my state. It’s a sad fact I am seen as such because of the huge majority of blinded people in the state, following Republicans as if they are the sheepherders leading them to the promised land of sanctity and prosperity and freedom – minus the fact you are already entitled to and possess it.
It’s the day before “veto week” for our state legislature. Nikki Haley has followed the far-right doctrine and provided you, the taxpayer, with more government to fix what should have been done right the first time.
People in my state are going to have to become more vocal, more informed, more educated, more entrenched, more determined, more dedicated and more rigid in fighting back against what Republicans have transformed our state into.
A laughing stock.
Oh, we can have a governor fly to London on the taxpayers’ dime and in return tell the people of the state we don’t need the “distractions” of rape crisis centers or any “constituent-driven” funding and initiatives.
The people of South Carolina need to realize one thing: Standing out and being different is something we were proud of at one time. You know, a rebel? It’s quite sad we’ve become such followers, not willing to step out line to save our state, its people and the programs we know ALL people here benefit from.
I suppose we’ll never “rise again” in regards to changing our state. Maybe being reactionary is better than being proactive.
Then again, ask those who sit on the sidelines, without a voice, hoping they don’t die because people felt it better to be passive.
This is not a game, folks. Lives will be lost with extreme Republican policies.
Protests are great. Even better to be proactive. Avoid the negative by promoting the positive.
Then there would be no reason to react to something we have forced down our throats.