SC

No Taxpayer Funding For Confederate Flag Display

IN FACT, STATE MUSEUM FUNDING SHOULD BE SCRAPPED ALTOGETHER … Long before the Confederate flag became a thing (again), this website was railing against the expenditure of tax dollars on behalf of Confederate-related expenses. “That one red cent of taxpayer money has gone toward funding any of this nonsense should make taxpayers’…

IN FACT, STATE MUSEUM FUNDING SHOULD BE SCRAPPED ALTOGETHER …

Long before the Confederate flag became a thing (again), this website was railing against the expenditure of tax dollars on behalf of Confederate-related expenses.

“That one red cent of taxpayer money has gone toward funding any of this nonsense should make taxpayers’ blood boil,” we wrote back in the spring of 2013, arguing against state funding for a museum to house the H.L. Hunley Confederate submarine.

It’s not just Confederate-themed museum spending we oppose, though: It’s all museum funding.  Museums are not core functions of government, and as such they should not receive tax dollars.

Accordingly, we support efforts by S.C. Rep. Mary Tinkler of Charleston to shut down a proposed $5.3 million expansion of the Confederate Relic Room at the State Museum in Columbia, S.C.

This money has been earmarked for a new display of the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia – which was removed from the grounds of the S.C. State House back in July.

“When the flag was removed from the State House grounds, we overwhelmingly agreed that it should be displayed in an appropriate manner,” Tinkler said.  “But this proposal is irresponsible and not in the best interest of South Carolina’s taxpayers.”

We agree …

Rather than appropriating money for this display, Tinkler wants to pursue “a free-market compromise that allows for an appropriate display, funded by private donations.”  Specifically, she is filing legislation which would assemble a new commission “made up of lay people, to create and direct a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to raise the necessary funds for an appropriate confederate flag display.”

House and Senate leaders would appoint four members to the commission, while governor Nikki Haley would appoint one.

Hmmmm …

While we support Tinkler’s position that no tax money should be spent on this project, the creation of a government committee to oversee its “free market” implementation strikes us as overkill.

The S.C. State Museum is already home to several Confederate flags which flew at the S.C. State House (in fact we took pictures of these flags for a recent post delving into efforts to bribe Confederate supporters prior to the flag’s removal).  How hard is it to add one more banner to the mix?

Seriously: It shouldn’t cost $5.3 million to display one flag …

More to the point: None of these museum displays (Confederate or otherwise) should cost taxpayers a cent.

***

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34 comments

Crooner December 10, 2015 at 10:51 am

One would think that reasonable people could agree that private funding for this endeavor makes sense. But wait for the backlash. You see, it’s not the display of the (northern Virginia) flag that is important to the many supporters. It’s the government funding, and by extension, imprimatur that’s important.

Reply
Crooner December 10, 2015 at 10:55 am

By the way, I disagree with you wholeheartedly on the Hunley. That recovered vessel is an important piece of history, particularly to our state, and should be promoted as a tourist attraction. After all, tourism is our number one business.

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a face in the crowd December 10, 2015 at 11:19 am

Although one can make a strong case that the Hunley was brought up to satisfy a certain individual’s Confederate fantasies, robbing the graves of the dead in the process.

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Sic Semper Tyrannis December 10, 2015 at 1:06 pm

I love history but I agree, it should of been left alone.

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Rocky Verdad December 10, 2015 at 11:49 am

Its a Great Day in South Carolina!!!

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The Buzzman December 10, 2015 at 10:55 am

Agreed, on all points.

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Rocky Verdad December 10, 2015 at 10:56 am

I’m with Will here, $5 million to just hang something on a wall? Give me that flag and $5 million and I’ll make specialized door mats with it and sell them at a profit.

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Manray9 December 10, 2015 at 11:02 am

This is another case of “fiscally-conservative” Republicans who don’t mind spending public money to pander to their constituents.

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erneba December 10, 2015 at 11:20 am

You really don’t want to open that door.
Careful what you ask for.

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Manray9 December 10, 2015 at 3:34 pm

Not at all. Fiscal conservatives who aren’t fiscal conservatives are simply hypocrites. To many in South Carolina’s GOP “fiscal conservatism” is just a cudgel to attack their opponents. They neither believe in it nor practice it.

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euwe max December 10, 2015 at 11:06 am

It’s ok to spend money we don’t have on war, though.

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idcydm December 10, 2015 at 11:10 am

…and everything else the government spends money on.

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erneba December 10, 2015 at 11:18 am

I would be on board for some funds to be spent on some “kick ass” against the the radical Muslims in this country and a few selected international locations.

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idcydm December 10, 2015 at 11:24 am

I tend to agree but the National Debt will kill the country long before terrorist or global warming.

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erneba December 10, 2015 at 11:30 am

I can live through the Global Warming “hoax,” but I don’t know if everyone will survive the threat from domestic Muslim terrorism. We have already taken to many domestic causalities.
Good point, three different issues there, two of them are immediate threats.

euwe max December 11, 2015 at 1:00 pm

We spent 2 trillion on payback for 9/11, which made shit worse, and Republicans want to rinse and repeat.

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TroubleBaby December 10, 2015 at 11:14 am

“we”

Once the government takes it from us, it’s not “ours” anymore. (and I’m not justifying the war spending, but just sayin’)

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Print Button December 10, 2015 at 5:19 pm

The only reason we don’t have it is because it hasn’t been printed yet.

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scotty December 10, 2015 at 11:20 am

I don’t quite understand that the flag that was removed was just a flag purchased recently. It was not a flag that had been flown in combat or some ceremony. What makes it worth spending five million on?

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Stickler Vertango December 10, 2015 at 11:23 am

All this nonsense is not going to stop with the Confederate flag, because it’s not about the Confederate flag. It is about destroying the South as a political force. It’s about isolating, targeting, and identifying the South as Dylan Roof.
If you don’t think the American flag is in their cross hairs down the road, you had better stop and reconsider. The American flag is what? It’s the symbol of America. The left doesn’t like this country very much and never has.

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Rocky Verdad December 10, 2015 at 11:48 am

Yawn. The American Flag is just fine. We love the flag, we die for it. Fight for it. Identifying with the South? With a failed rebellion? Wow!!!! Great plan Stan. Most people who swing through Charleston don’t identify Dylan as the south. I’ve adjusted the southern identity song for you:

Just a little bit of chicken fry, cold beer on a Friday night, pair of kakis pressed just right, blue oxford shirt, and a tie,
You’re in Charleston, better dress up a little son, we ain’t in the sticks you see, don’t live in San—tee!!!

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The Colonel (R) December 10, 2015 at 11:58 am

“…IN FACT, STATE MUSEUM FUNDING SHOULD BE SCRAPPED ALTOGETHER …”

Oh Will, in this season of warmth, joy, happiness and giving would you just STFU already?

We have museums so we can’t forget the stupid stuff we did in the past. I will admit that here in South Carolina we don’t always pay attention to those lessons but that is a reason for MORE support of museums, not less.

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TroubleBaby December 10, 2015 at 12:25 pm

” I will admit that here in South Carolina we don’t always pay attention to those lessons but that is a reason for MORE support of museums”

lol-But it’s clearly not effective! Museum’s can effectively run on private money. No sense in giving taxpayer money to a wasteful entity that has little interest in the truth for people that won’t absorb it anyway.

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The Colonel (R) December 10, 2015 at 12:30 pm

There are very few museums worth visiting that are run solely on “private funding”. I teach history and am one of those nerds who visits museums with regularity. If you want to see a good one that is run on absolutely minimal public support, unicorn farts and pixie dust, go visit the SC Military Museum down on Bluff Road.

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TroubleBaby December 10, 2015 at 12:32 pm

“There are very few museums worth visiting that are run solely on “private funding”.”

Have you ever stopped to think about why that is?

Do you think this is the first time that gov’t has crowded out private sector opportunities?

Ripley’s actually used to be more than a tourist attraction. The La Brea tar pit museum is wonderful. There’s lots of other examples- I’m just kinda busy right now.

Reply
The Colonel (R) December 10, 2015 at 12:36 pm

I know why it is – most of our society are to stupid to have an interest in history.

Here’s the list of all of SC’s museums:

Agricultural Heritage Center
Blackville
Aiken Center for the Arts
Aiken
Aiken County Historical Museum
Aiken
Aiken-Rhett
House
Charleston
Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum
Aiken
American Legion Post 3
Cecil B. Buchanan War Museum
Greenville
American Military Museum
Charleston
Anderson City Fire
Department Museum
Anderson
Anderson County Museum
Anderson
Andrew
Jackson State Park
Lancaster
Antiquers Haven Museum and
Shop
Liberty
Arts and Heritage Center of North Augusta
North
Augusta
Ashtabula
Historic House
Pendleton
Avery Research Center
Charleston
Barnwell County Museum
Barnwell
Bart Garrison Agricultural Museum of South
Carolina
Pendleton
Beaufort
Arsenal
Beaufort

Beaufort History Museum
Beaufort

Bedon-Lucas
House
Walterboro

Beech
Island Historical Society Visitors Center & Barn
Beech
Island

Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center
Moncks
Corner

Best Friend
of Charleston Museum
Charleston

Black Creek
Arts Council Gallery
Hartsville

BMW
Zentrum
Spartanburg

Bob Campbell Geology Museum
Clemson

Bob Jones
University Museum and Gallery
Greenville

Bonham House
Saluda

Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens
Mount
Pleasant

Brookgreen Gardens
Murrells
Inlet

Browntown
Museum
Hemingway

Burt-Stark Mansion
Abbeville

Button
Museum
Bishopville

Calhoun Mansion
Charleston

Camden Archives & Museum
Camden

Catawba Cultural Center
Rock Hill

Cayce Historical Museum
Cayce

Central
History Museum
Central

Charles
Pinckney National Historic Site
Mount Pleasant

Charles Towne
Landing State Historic Site
Charleston

Charleston Museum
Charleston

Cheraw Lyceum
Cheraw

Cherokee County History and Arts Museum
Gaffney

Cherokee County Veterans
Museum
Gaffney

Chester County Historical Society Museum
Chester

Chester County Transportation Museum
Chester

Children’s Museum of South Carolina
Myrtle
Beach

Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry
Charleston

Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Greenville

The Citadel Archives & Museum
Charleston

Clemson
Area African American Museum
Clemson

Clemson
UniversityGalleries
Clemson

Clinton Museum
Clinton

Coastal Discovery Museum
Hilton
Head Island

Coker Farms
National Historic Landmark
Hartsville

Colleton
Museum
Walterboro

Collins
Ole Towne
Central

Columbia Fire Department Museum
Columbia

Columbia Museum
of Art
Columbia

Communication Museum
Charleston

Comporium Telephone Museum
Rock Hill

Confederate Museum
Charleston

Congaree
National Park
Hopkins

Cowpens Depot
Cowpens

Cowpens
National Battlefield
Chesnee

Darlington
Raceway Stock Car Museum
Darlington

Dillon County Museum
Latta

Drayton Hall
Charleston

Edisto Island Museum
Edisto
Island

Edmondston-Alston
House
Charleston

EdVenture
Columbia

Fairfield County Museum
Winnsboro

Florence County Museum
Florence

Florence Railroad Museum
Florence

Fort
Hill
Clemson

Fort
Moultrie National Monument
Sullivan’s
Island

Fort
Sumter National Monument
Charleston

Francis
Marion UniversityGalleries
Florence

Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art
Museum
Myrtle Beach

Georgetown County Museum
Georgetown

Gibbes Museum of
Art
Charleston

Greenville
County Museum of Art
Greenville

Greenville Cultural Exchange Center
Greenville

Greenwood Railroad Historical Center
Greenwood

Greer Heritage Museum
Greer

Hagood-Mauldin
House/Irma Morris Museum of Fine Arts
Pickens

Hagood Mill Historic Site and Folklife Center
Pickens

Halsey
Institute of Contemporary Art
Charleston

Hampton Colored
School
Hampton

Hampton County
Museum
Hampton

Hampton Museum and Visitors’ Center
Hampton

Hampton Plantation
McClellanville

Hampton-Preston
House
Columbia

Hanover House
Clemson

Hartsville
Museum
Hartsville

Heyward
House
Bluffton

Heyward-Washington
House
Charleston

Historic
Brattonsville
McConnells

Historic
Camden Revolutionary War Site
Camden

Hobcaw Barony
Georgetown

Hollywood Wax
Museum
Myrtle Beach

Hopsewee Plantation
Georgetown

Horry County Museum
Conway

The Hunley
Charleston

Hunting Island
Light
Hunting Island

Huntington
Beach State Park
Murrells Inlet

Jacob Kelley House
Hartsville

John Mark
Verdier House
Beaufort

Joseph Manigault
House
Charleston

James W. Dillon
House
Dillon

Kaminski House Museum
Georgetown

Karpeles
Manuscript Library Museum
Charleston

Kazoo Museum
Beaufort

Keowee-Toxaway
Museum
Six Mile

Kilgore-Lewis
House
Greenville

Kings
Mountain National Military Park
Blacksburg

Kings
Mountain State Park
Blacksburg

L.W. Paul Living History Farm
Conway

Lake
Greenwood State Recreation Area
Ninety Six

Lando Manetta Mills History Center
Lando

Landsford
Canal State Park
Catawba

Lexington
County Museum
Lexington

Louis G. Gregory Bahá’í Museum
Charleston

Lowcountry Visitor’s Center
and Museum
Yemassee

Lunney
House Museum
Seneca

Mac’s Pride Museum
McBee

Macaulay Museum of
Dental History
Charleston

Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
Charleston

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Charleston

Main Street Children’s Museum
Rock Hill

Mann-Simons Site
Columbia

Marion County Museum
Marion

Marlboro County Historical Museum
Bennettsville

McBee Depot Library and Railroad Museum
McBee

McLeod Plantation
Historic Site
Charleston

McKissick
Museum
Columbia

Middleton Place
Summerville

Millford Plantation
Pinewood

Miniature World of Trains
Greenville

Monsanto Gallery
Greenwood

Mt. Croghan Museum
Mount
Croghan

Museum &
Gallery at Heritage Green
Greenville

Museum and Library of Confederate History
Greenville

The Museum in
Greenwood
Greenwood

Museum of Education
Columbia

Museum of the Cherokee in South Carolina
Walhalla

Museum of York County
Rock Hill

Musgrove
Mill State Historic Site
Cross
Anchor

Nathaniel
Russell House
Charleston

National Steeplechase Museum
Camden

Ninety
Six National Historic Site
Ninety Six

North Charleston and American LaFrance Fire
Museum and Educational Center
North
Charleston

North Myrtle Beach Historical Museum
North
Myrtle Beach

Nostalgia City and Museum
Myrtle Beach

Oconee Heritage Center
Walhalla

Oconee
Station State Historic Site
Walhalla

Oconee Veterans Museum
Walhalla

Old Exchange
Building
Charleston

Old Santee Canal Park
Moncks
Corner

Old Slave Mart
Charleston

Parris Island
Museum
Parris
Island

Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum
Mount Pleasant

Pauline Pratt Webel Museum
Ridgeland

Pickens County Museum of Art & History
Pickens

Postal History Museum
Charleston

Powder Magazine
Charleston

Price House
Spartanburg

Ravenel Caw Caw Interpretive Center
Ravenel

Rebecca Randall Bryan
Gallery
Conway

Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site
Beech
Island

REVIVA Museum
Iva

Rice
Museum
Georgetown

Ripley’s
Believe It or Not!
Myrtle Beach

Robert Mills House
Columbia

Ronald McNair Life History Center
Lake City

Roper
Mountain Science Center
Greenville

Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site
Union

Ruth Drake Museum
Belton

Saluda County Museum
Saluda

The Sandbox
Hilton Head Island

Seay House
Spartanburg

Seibels House
and Garden
Columbia

Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum and Baseball
Library
Greenville

Slave Relic Historical Museum
Walterboro

Southern African American Heritage Center
Cheraw

South
Carolina Botanical Garden
Clemson

South Carolina Civil War Museum
Myrtle Beach

South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and
Military Museum
Columbia

South Carolina Cotton Museum
Bishopville

South
Carolina Governor’s Mansion
Columbia

South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of
Fame
Columbia

South Carolina Maritime Museum
Georgetown

South Carolina Military Museum
Columbia

South Carolina Railroad Museum
Winnsboro

South
Carolina State Museum
Columbia

South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame
Belton

South Carolina Tobacco Museum
Mullins

Spartanburg Art Museum
Spartanburg

Spartanburg Regional History Museum
Spartanburg

Spartanburg Science Center
Spartanburg

Summerville-Dorchester Museum
Summerville

Sumter County Gallery of Art
Sumter

Sumter County Museum
Sumter

Union County Museum
Union

Upcountry
History Museum
Greenville

U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Corps Museum
Columbia

U.S. Army Basic Combat Training Museum
Columbia

U.S.
Army Chaplain Museum
Columbia

U.S. Army Finance Corps Museum
Columbia

Village Museum
McClellanville

Wagener Museum
Wagener

Walnut Grove
Plantation
Spartanburg

War
Between the States Museum
Florence

Warren
Lasch Conservation Center
North Charleston

White
Home
Rock Hill

Williamsburgh Historical
Museum
Kingstree

Williston Museum
Williston

Winchester
Museum
Edgefield

Winthrop
UniversityGalleries
Rock Hill

Woodburn
Historic House
Pendleton

Woodrow
Wilson Family Home
Columbia

World
of Energy
Seneca

York W.
Bailey Museum
St.
Helena Island

TroubleBaby December 10, 2015 at 12:38 pm

Damn!

Where’d you get that list anyway? Do you know how many of them are taxpayer supported?

The Colonel (R) December 10, 2015 at 12:49 pm

Almost all – I got he list off Wiki I think. I have it in a spread sheet with a list of points of contacts for the ones that I use as a part of my course.

The 4 Army Museums on Fort Jackson are all free and get their funding from the Army Center for Military History.
The SC Military Museum gets its funding from the SC National Guard.
Most of the “County” museums get their funding in part from the county and all are free/very minimal charge

For Paid museums, these two are kind of the norm – The Winchester Museum is sponsored by the National Wild
Turkey Federation and cost $5. The museum focuses on wild turkies and their conservation – they get all of about 5,000 visitors every year.

By comparison, the SC State Museum on Gervais costs between $14 and $20 and isn’t really worth the visit more than once unless there is a special showing which generally adds an extra charge. We spend $11,000,000 on the State Museum each year. The museum gets about 140,000 visitors each year of whom 67,000 were students who got in free.

shifty henry December 10, 2015 at 12:59 pm

I love it!

Siamese December 10, 2015 at 12:45 pm

You really need to investigate thia a little further since it is not Just for the Confederate Flag. This museum has more exhibits than Civil War. All wars what has affected South Carolians is included into that museum. You need to actually visit it. May open a few eyes!

Reply
The Colonel (R) December 10, 2015 at 12:53 pm

You mean he actually needs to get out from behind the keyboard and investigate?

Reply
Scooter December 10, 2015 at 9:59 pm

No, he had rather print lies.

Reply
Lone Ranger December 10, 2015 at 3:50 pm

In that small menagerie where Will Folks thinks he slept with Haley the boy STILL keeps missing things

He’s STILL focusing on a “relic room” and hasn’t a clue how in 2016 Tea will make flag-rippers heads ring

It’s OUR State House and OUR flag and OUR patriots’ heritage on which voters were given NO vote

So Will—focus on leaves while the forest passes you by and at our barbeque you TOO can be the goat !!!

Reply
Terry Christmas December 10, 2015 at 5:17 pm

So you’re going to stick with this one huh?

Reply

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