The South Carolina State Senate has been controlled by “Republicans” since 2001. How’s that working out for the people of the Palmetto State?
Led by former Democrats (like finance chairman Hugh Leatherman and rules chairman Larry Martin) and big government RINOs (like education chairman John Courson and ethics chairman Wes Hayes) the South Carolina Senate is no more a “Republican” body than the United States Senate. In fact it’s getting worse every year as the chamber veers even further to the left.
Not content with rejecting free market education reforms like expanded parental choice – proven measures which have been adopted by every Southern state – the South Carolina Senate is actually on the verge of approving U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature education initiative.
Wait … what? Surely that can’t be right …
In his 2013 State of the Union address Obama made it abundantly clear that universal early child education was his top priority.
“I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every child in America,” he said.
In fact his federal Department of Education touted this “bold proposal” as one of the keys to growing a “strong middle class.”
Ah, the middle class. Here we go again …
Anyway, universal early childhood education is also a central plank in the campaign of S.C. Sen. Vincent Sheheen, the presumed 2014 Democratic gubernatorial nominee – which is why Sheheen is pushing so hard to include the plan in the Senate’s version of the FY 2013-14 state budget.
Here’s the thing, though … it doesn’t work.
Last October, Obama’s own Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) quietly published a long-term study showing that third-graders who participated in the Head Start program – which sucks $7 billion out of the federal budget each year – were no better or worse off than children who didn’t participate.
“The few impacts that were found did not show a clear pattern of favorable or unfavorable impacts for children,” the report concluded.
In fact the only “impact” in this long-awaited study that did show a clear pattern? Third graders who participated in Head Start were much more likely than their peers to be anti-social.
In addition to this report, a 2010 study by DHHS determined that Head Start “failed to boost students’ cognitive abilities across 41 measures” and that “first grade teachers reported that former Head Start students were actually less prepared in math than the non-Head Start students.”
Nonetheless this failed social engineering is considered gospel by the uber liberal National Education Association – which is (not surprisingly) bankrolling the campaigns of many of these South Carolina “Republicans.”
Again, none of this is surprising to those who have been paying attention. For years, “Republicans” in the South Carolina have rejected even the most modest market-based reforms while pumping billions of dollars in new money into the same failed “one size fits all” government monopoly.
The results of all this? They’ve been predictably disastrous.
Earlier this week we were discussing a related issue with a friend of ours in Washington, D.C. when he offered up an interesting observation regarding the so-called “reddest state in the nation.”
“I get so annoyed when I hear people in DC talk about how conservative South Carolina is,” he said. “It’s a dead giveaway that the person doesn’t pay attention to what’s going on in Columbia.”
That’s for sure …
On a whole host of issues – taxes, spending, structure of government, etc. – “Republicans” in South Carolina are a deep, dark shade of Obama blue. Why else would a radical, union-backed “reform” like universal government-run early childhood education – which is dead in the water in Washington, D.C. – be alive and well in the “most Republican state in America?”
It makes no sense …
Politics aside, here’s the sad bottom line in all of this for South Carolina parents and children: As every other state across the Southeast passes or expands real school choice, our Senate “Republicans” are choosing the radical Obama agenda over the most basic of GOP platform issues: Letting families direct their own money to educate their own kids in the way they see best.
All while they tout themselves on the campaign trail as “conservatives.”
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Pics: Travis Bell Photography
53 comments
Sic Willie is singing for his supper again. Howie write that check.
Admit it CNSYD. You’re one of those uber liberal Republicans, aren’t you?
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
and what is your definition of “uber liberal Republicans”? Sorry to disappoint you but I am capable of developing my own thoughts. I don’t need pigeon hole labels to do my thinking for me. Sic Willie fails to comprehend (as do his few followers) that the government we have is the government the majority elected. Just because he doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean they won’t be reelected. Sic Willie’s Johnny one note theme of school “choice” ain’t going to fly either. It is just a poorly veiled term for racial segregation.
My definition of a liberal republican, not uber liberal but just liberal, would be the likes of Rush Lib-baugh, Eric Cant-score, etc. The uber liberals would probably be along the lines of McPain and Grahmensty. Of course Demlicans are nothing more than commies so there’s obviously no hope for them.
I agree with much of what you’re saying, except the school choice thing. You see, prior to SCOTUS, there was never a constitutional right to an education. And yes, in many ways I think educating so many of the ignorant in this country has definitely put us on the path to failure. I think that school choice would definitely help reduce the number of educated morons there are in this country. And it’s not a race thing either. I can point to so many. Lets see, Bush, W, Clinton, Nixon, crap. I don’t have time to write all that dude. Sorry.
Interesting your term of segregation. That usually only comes up when racists use the term. Fascinating.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Then I assume the dictionary and most US history books are racist as they contain that term. All I ask is that you determine the demographics of private vs public schools in SC as compared to the demographic norm of the state and tell me what you draw as a conclusion.
I don’t give a shit if the demographics is 34 turtles for every dog turd. I should have to pay my bills and no one elses. I don’t need some elitist jack ass that feels bad about something that happened 100 years ago or yesterday to tell me how to spend my money,.
FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
IRT fire and police protection, what is your “bill”? Same question for roads and highways.
You obviously missed the point of my reply. Please let me be clear.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Hard to decide who provides more mature responses. You or Big T (or whatever he calls himself today).
Unless you’re going back to my Bengal cheerleader rants, you’re going to have to work harder than that to compare me with T.
Of course you vs. Pelosi… Well, you know.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Comment of the day! Thank you FP.
Okay, so now we have the little cadre of T, FP, and Brigid. Quite the think tank.
Sic Willie is singing for his supper again. Howie write that check.
Admit it CNSYD. You’re one of those uber liberal Republicans, aren’t you?
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
and what is your definition of “uber liberal Republicans”? Sorry to disappoint you but I am capable of developing my own thoughts. I don’t need pigeon hole labels to do my thinking for me. Sic Willie fails to comprehend (as do his few followers) that the government we have is the government the majority elected. Just because he doesn’t like it, doesn’t mean they won’t be reelected. Sic Willie’s Johnny one note theme of school “choice” ain’t going to fly either. It is just a poorly veiled term for racial segregation.
My definition of a liberal republican, not uber liberal but just liberal, would be the likes of Rush Lib-baugh, Eric Cant-score, etc. The uber liberals would probably be along the lines of McPain and Grahmensty. Of course Demlicans are nothing more than commies so there’s obviously no hope for them.
I agree with much of what you’re saying, except the school choice thing. You see, prior to SCOTUS, there was never a constitutional right to an education. And yes, in many ways I think educating so many of the ignorant in this country has definitely put us on the path to failure. I think that school choice would definitely help reduce the number of educated morons there are in this country. And it’s not a race thing either. I can point to so many. Lets see, Bush, W, Clinton, Nixon, crap. I don’t have time to write all that dude. Sorry.
Interesting your term of segregation. That usually only comes up when racists use the term. Fascinating.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Then I assume the dictionary and most US history books are racist as they contain that term. All I ask is that you determine the demographics of private vs public schools in SC as compared to the demographic norm of the state and tell me what you draw as a conclusion.
I don’t give a shit if the demographics is 34 turtles for every dog turd. I should have to pay my bills and no one elses. I don’t need some elitist jack ass that feels bad about something that happened 100 years ago or yesterday to tell me how to spend my money,.
FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
IRT fire and police protection, what is your “bill”? Same question for roads and highways.
You obviously missed the point of my reply. Please let me be clear.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Hard to decide who provides more mature responses. You or Big T (or whatever he calls himself today).
Unless you’re going back to my Bengal cheerleader rants, you’re going to have to work harder than that to compare me with T.
Of course you vs. Pelosi… Well, you know.
Have a Great Day!! :) There won’t be many left with the Demlicans and Republicrats in charge.
Frank Pytel
Comment of the day! Thank you FP.
Okay, so now we have the little cadre of T, FP, and Brigid. Quite the think tank.
Under the GOP, South Carolina is in better shape economically than it has been in the history of the state..
The prosperity began w/ the open-minded thinking of Gov. Carroll Campbell, who brought in BMW and gave us cause to dream of more.
And things got better when the House became Republican in 1994. There were some steps back, w/ FITS would-be boss, Jim Hodges, but in 2000 the Senate was won, and we had a GREAT run of growth in Bush’s (who FITS opposed) Boom Economy.
Haley is adequate in isolating us from a failed Obama rule, as she can. That has been good.
Even w/ an absentee governor like Sanford, we have been awash in mo’ better.
Compare SC to the bad old days, democrat rule, when small-minded democrat businesses (and that’s all we had) used an iron-hand on employees and clientele alike. No benefits and low ages, w/ no money to pay teachers. All that has been reversed w/ Republicans.
Also: look at NY and California. Democrats have Collapsed those states. Good people are fleeing,as the South grows w/ refugees from liberal failure.
Those who are ignorant of history, are doomed to repeat it. And FITS, you are about as F*#kin Ignorant as a man can be…
“In better shape economically than it has been in the history of the state…”
So you don’t understand the concepts of “long-term unemployed” and “underemployed.” Do you even live in SC?
Compare SC w/ the days of democrat rule, and we’re much much better off.
But you make a point: Obama has screwed up the economy. It began about when he took office, and he has been Clueless to do anything to improve it…
That said: Haley, to her credit, has been stern in fighting Obama, so was Sanford. And we have been insulated from his Disaster to some degree.
But the Bush years were Robust. and you’re a D#^n fool to deny that…but you will. You D#$*n fools always do. and it is one of the traits that show how Stupid and Corrupt you are…
The Clinton years were better. Work on learning how to read statistics instead of studying how to add non-letter characters to curse words. It’s spelled “Damn.”
Head Start is one of those programs that wouldn’t be a bad idea if more parents would adequately prepare their children for school and work hard to help them with homework/study on subjects they aren’t so great at. That’s what really robs kids in the long run, not putting in the time and effort to help them when it matters most. Sometimes that can’t be helped, sometimes it can.
That isn’t a problem necessarily limited to the poor, but for various reasons children of poor families are at a greater risk to end up in this category.
The children end up in bad shape anyway. Children have always, and always will, suffer for the sins of their parents.
Liberals have SWORN that giving money to good-for-nothing parents would lead to a leftwing Utopia. You are BIG F$&*n’ and Stupid Liars…
All it has done is caused the children to be as worthless as the parents, and vote democrat, when they are promised money for laziness and failure…
Not to mention: you’ve so corrupted the minds of the poor, they are Bad Ameircans, more motivated by hatred and bitterness, than acheivement…
You’ve failed the impoverished, as much (if not more) than you’ve failed everything else…
Yep, but throwing money away on abstinence only education is just dandy…
Nope, both are equally stupid. You must not read this blog much…
I do believe my man Sex is using sarcasm, my good fellow.
I agree but unfortunately most parents either do not have the ability or they are unwilling to help. Think about the four children that were burned to death in Darlington and where was their mom who left them unattended.Too many want children for the welfare and what money the government gives them and could care less about the child!
Head Start is one of those programs that wouldn’t be a bad idea if more parents would adequately prepare their children for school and work hard to help them with homework/study on subjects they aren’t so great at. That’s what really robs kids in the long run, not putting in the time and effort to help them when it matters most. Sometimes that can’t be helped, sometimes it can.
That isn’t a problem necessarily limited to the poor, but for various reasons children of poor families are at a greater risk to end up in this category.
I agree but unfortunately most parents either do not have the ability or they are unwilling to help. Think about the four children that were burned to death in Darlington and where was their mom who left them unattended.Too many want children for the welfare and what money the government gives them and could care less about the child!
Well-run early childhood education,
like high quality child care and pre-kindergarten is a good investment for
disadvantaged kids and our state needs them.
Our current investment, the “First Steps to School Readiness Program” will
no longer operate legally after June 30.
Their law is not being re-authorized.
The legislature ordered them to be audited three years ago in May 2010
by the Legislative Audit Council – a second audit for First Steps by the legislature. This LAC report has not yet been
published.
Senator Mike Fair is on the First
Steps board, and is sponsoring legislation to have First Steps reauthorized and is
on the governing board of the Legislative Audit Council. This may be why the LAC report is not out. But even Fair can’t defend First Steps when they
work outside their legal authority. A June
2012 investigation by Kevin Dietrich at The Nerve records Senator Fair agreeing
that First Steps had ventured beyond their statute: he writes “Even the most basic points appear to be in question. For example, Executive Director Susan DeVenny told the Nerve last week that First Steps was going to become a stand-alone agency next month, when the 2012-13 fiscal year begins. However, Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville and a member of the First Steps board, said First Steps cannot go out on its own without statutory approval, which it has not received. First Steps’ financials can be confusing, as well. According to the Legislature’s website, First Steps was appropriated a total of nearly $21.6 million for fiscal year 2010-11, including nearly $12
million in general funds, a difference of nearly $13.5 million. But according to
First Steps’ annual report for the same period, it recorded total revenues
of $35 million for 2010-11.
This is one of several major issues (like grossly inflated salaries) at First Steps. But don’t let their greed and mis-management hurt South Carolina kids who need good child care and pre kindergarten.
http://thenerve.org/news/2012/06/12/lac-begins-audit-of-first-steps/
Well-run early childhood education,
like high quality child care and pre-kindergarten is a good investment for
disadvantaged kids and our state needs them.
Our current investment, the “First Steps to School Readiness Program” will
no longer operate legally after June 30.
Their law is not being re-authorized.
The legislature ordered them to be audited three years ago in May 2010
by the Legislative Audit Council – a second audit for First Steps by the legislature. This LAC report has not yet been
published.
Senator Mike Fair is on the First
Steps board, and is sponsoring legislation to have First Steps reauthorized and is
on the governing board of the Legislative Audit Council. This may be why the LAC report is not out. But even Fair can’t defend First Steps when they
work outside their legal authority. A June
2012 investigation by Kevin Dietrich at The Nerve records Senator Fair agreeing
that First Steps had ventured beyond their statute: he writes “Even the most basic points appear to be in question. For example, Executive Director Susan DeVenny told the Nerve last week that First Steps was going to become a stand-alone agency next month, when the 2012-13 fiscal year begins. However, Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville and a member of the First Steps board, said First Steps cannot go out on its own without statutory approval, which it has not received. First Steps’ financials can be confusing, as well. According to the Legislature’s website, First Steps was appropriated a total of nearly $21.6 million for fiscal year 2010-11, including nearly $12
million in general funds, a difference of nearly $13.5 million. But according to
First Steps’ annual report for the same period, it recorded total revenues
of $35 million for 2010-11.
This is one of several major issues (like grossly inflated salaries) at First Steps. But don’t let their greed and mis-management hurt South Carolina kids who need good child care and pre kindergarten.
http://thenerve.org/news/2012/06/12/lac-begins-audit-of-first-steps/
So if children who went to head start — the poorest of the poor — are no better than kids who did not go to head start — kids who are not poor — then why isn’t this a success? Head Start is intended to erase the achievement gap between poor kids and kids born to economic advantage. Parity would equal success, right?
So if children who went to head start — the poorest of the poor — are no better than kids who did not go to head start — kids who are not poor — then why isn’t this a success? Head Start is intended to erase the achievement gap between poor kids and kids born to economic advantage. Parity would equal success, right?
Gimme a break. Big problem with this piece. The stupid premise that any politician of any party does anything but use the office to connive a way to funnel our money for their own devices behind empty marketing labels. If they did anything different, they’d be public servants. A ‘Repub’ politician is a ‘better’ – fill in your favorite label – than a ‘RINO’ politician who is ‘better’ (don’t forget the label!) than a Democrat politician. Righty. Remind me which one doesn’t act above the law?
Gimme a break. Big problem with this piece. Dumb premise that any politician of any party does anything but use the office to connive a way to funnel our money for their own devices behind empty marketing labels. If they did anything different, they’d be public servants. A ‘Repub’ politician is a ‘better’ – fill in your favorite label – than a ‘RINO’ politician who is ‘better’ (don’t forget the label!) than a Democrat politician. Righty. Remind me which one doesn’t act above the law?
Once again,Fits defines the Republican Party as HE wants it NOT as it is.Plus,says hes NOT a Republican.So why is he attempting to define that which he claims hes not?
Once again,Fits defines the Republican Party as HE wants it NOT as it is.Plus,says hes NOT a Republican.So why is he attempting to define that which he claims hes not?
Martin swore to my secretary, “If Haley is elected Governor, I will resign”!
I guess he is not a man of his word.
Martin swore to my secretary, “If Haley is elected Governor, I will resign”!
I guess he is not a man of his word.
Head Start is run by a bunch of local Yahoo’s in my area with no chance of success. The teachers are uneducated themselves and it is daycare, at best. True early childhood education with certified teachers has shown very positive statistics. Unfortunately, Head Start is FAR FAR FAR from that
Head Start is run by a bunch of local Yahoo’s in my area with no chance of success. The teachers are uneducated themselves and it is daycare, at best. True early childhood education with certified teachers has shown very positive statistics. Unfortunately, Head Start is FAR FAR FAR from that