We’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem…there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2
S. 886 is legislation that will allow South Carolinians to purchase Health Insurance outside of South Carolina. This bill, if passed, does two things. 1-Inserts a smidgen of free market principles to our healthcare needs, and 2-Will force a conversation and hopefully deregulation of our own state’s insurance companies. Folks should be able to buy whatever coverage they want (or don’t buy if if they don’t want it) without nanny government looking over our shoulder.
What are you going to do about it?
Do you spend more time than you would like complaining about things going on in government? That’s not unusual. In fact, it’s pretty much a prerequisite (or at least a direct symptom) of democracy.
Government is run by imperfect people who represent a lot of other imperfect people with a lot of different philosophies and points of view…and some of them seem to just represent themselves.
Anyone who’s paying attention (which ideally should be everyone) can find something to complain about. But is that as far as you go? Or do you ever think about taking action?
Don’t Just Complain
Is “Common Core” being pushed on your (up until now) good school district? Grading standards being dumbed down? What are you going to do about it? Have you attended a school board meeting and spoken out? Carried a crew of other angry parents with you to do the same?
Is your local public school board trying to pass a millage increase, all the while spending record amounts of money on extra layers of educrats? What are you going to do about it? Just cuss when you get the tax bill? How about starting a petition campaign to oppose it?
(Get 30% of the Grassroots 101 training series here)
Is your county about to vote on another wasteful bond referendum? What are you going to do about it (other than pay for it later)? Have you written a letter to the editor? Print it as a flyer and leave it on doors in your neighborhood, or cars in the parking lot at the next council meeting.
Are you tired of so few people who seem to know much of anything about what your local government is doing? What are you going to do about it? Start a Facebook page, online newsgroup or a simple website. Maybe set up an email list and keep people up to date with what’s going on. Encourage everyone you know to share it with others.
Sick of elected officials who don’t listen, or who make promises but don’t deliver after they’re elected? What are you going to do about it? Have you tried to help someone else get elected? Volunteered or made a contribution? How about talking with others who think like you do and trying to recruit someone to run for office?
Get Involved
The main reason to “do something” is because it’s your responsibility, since you live in a country where you have that opportunity. But another reason is because even if you just simply speak up, it lets other people like you know that they’re not alone. When they see that, they’re more likely to speak up or take action too.
If you don’t “do something”, odds are you’ll have even more to complain about later. But when you get involved, things change.
Take a moment right now and make a conscious decision to “do something”. Then make a note so you don’t forget.
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Have any examples of how you were able to get involved that you think would encourage others? Click here and share it with everyone.
Gov. Nikki Haley Announces 47th Annual Governor’s Carolighting
Live 5 News Anchor Bill Sharpe Will Emcee Event
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Governor Nikki Haley and her children, Rena and Nalin, will join Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin and his family at the 47th Annual Governor’s Carolighting on Monday, December 2, at 6:00 PM on the north side of the Statehouse. The Governor’s Carolighting is sponsored by the City of Columbia, Columbia Breakfast Optimist Club, Columbia Garden Club, and Garden Club of South Carolina.
“The holiday season is a special time for South Carolinians and my family is always excited to participate in this beautiful tradition,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Live 5 News anchor Bill Sharpe, a Charleston native who has been with the Lowcountry television station for 40 years, will emcee the 47th Annual Governor’s Carolighting.
Members of the media wishing to cover the event should contact Ray Borders Gray at (803) 545-3779 or rbgray@columbiasc.net.
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Dear Friends:
I wish you a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. As we pause with family and friends to give thanks, there is no better time to ponder on how George Washington’s words reflect on the America of today.
Thanksgiving Proclamation, President George Washington, City of New York, October 3, 1789 (as written)
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the People, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Praise God, from whom all blessing flow. Happy Thanksgiving, In your Service, Bill Taylor
