DHEC is too large, inefficient and ineffective
To the editor:
The health of our citizens, and the health of our state’s environment and natural resources , continue to be poorly served by an agency that is too large, inefficient, and ineffective. [Brack, 10/21: Time to say the heck with DHEC]
Our governor and our legislature are ultimately responsible to all of us for this undesirable set of continuing circumstances.
It is not sufficient to blame the majority of state employees in this, or any state agency, since too many are underpaid , poorly resourced, and – unfortunately — politically harassed.
The expected response from our state’s elected officials to an agency that is not adequately fulfilling its mandate(s) should be to reorganize it and provide the needed oversight, along with the necessary human and financial resources, to ensure that it will perform more effectively in the future.
Will that happen ? We’ll see …
— Jim Rex, Winnsboro, S.C.
Time to stop forcing fertility worship
To the editor:
Isn’t it time the government stopped trying to force fertility worship onto citizens? We have freedom of religion under the Constitution and should adhere to it.
If there are people who understand pregnancy and realize that the fetus in all stages of development is dependent on the body of someone else, then they do not hold the fetus in the same sanctity that fertility worshippers do.
It is very important that we as citizens adhere to our respective religions and support those who do not believe as we do in their path toward salvation.
— B. K. Ashley, Clover, S.C.
Watch hearings on state pension system
To the editor:
I have viewed with great interest and no little concern the October 25 and 26 hearings of the Joint Committee on Pension Systems Review. I certainly believe these proceedings are of direct and compelling interest to all citizens, and perhaps most particularly to state employees and retirees.
I would most respectfully urge readers who may have been unable to join the live webcasts to view the video archives on the South Carolina legislature’s website.
I believe all citizens and stakeholders owe a debt to the members and officers, not least the Senate and House staffs, who brought this critical issue to the fore and prepared the hearings most carefully and expertly.
— Dale M. (Dusty) Rhodes, Richmond, Va.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!