For the past several decades, the State and Federal Government for the most part have become a burden on society. While the unemployment rate in South Carolina hovers around 12% our state legislature continues to operate like we have money to burn and continue to cater to special interest groups and lobbyists. It’s good to know that the “Good Ole Boys” are fat and happy while most of our citizens are struggling to make ends meet.

How do you expect our house and senate leaders to understand the plight of the unemployed when they are often referred to them as peasants and bums?  

For over twenty years, term limits has been one of the most widely debated issues across the nation.  Americans have become sick of their local politicians who are seeking nothing more than to hold a seat for decades while building lucrative retirement accounts. After career politicians stay in office for countless consecutive terms they eventually build dictatorships and become totally disconnected from the people who put them in office.

“Politicians are like diapers: they must be changed often and for the same reason.” ~ Paul Harvey

There are several active movements in South Carolina that desperately need legislative action and approval such as those groups pushing for transparency (roll call) rules, balanced budget amendments, education and tax reform just to name a few. However, the legislative process in South Carolina State has been paralyzed for many years and under the tight control of the “Good Ole Boys” network.

“The people must remain ever vigilant against tyrants masquerading as public servants.” ~ George Washington

Without Term Limits, South Carolina’s State legislature will never truly represent the citizens of South Carolina and will forever remain a Kingdom for a very powerful political machine. The state house and senate are totally controlled by the RINO establishment politicians. These power brokers discourage other members from introducing legislation that conflict with their agenda through bullying and intimidation. For example, disagreeing with House Speaker Bobby Harrell on even one minor issue can result in a fellow member being ostracized and punished. Bobby demands obedience and life is miserable around the State House when his almighty authority is challenged. Republican nominee from state house 87 Todd Atwater went against his supporters and many constituents and opted to commit his full allegiance to serve Harrell even before he has won the general election.

“The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.” ~ James Madison

Political Machines only serve the establishment and the privileged few. Senate President Glenn McConnell is hands down the most powerful man in the legislature and possibly all of state government. If the emperor doesn’t enthusiastically support a bill – it’s dead!

There’s almost no need for Harrell and McConnell to campaign when the party discourages challengers and all opposition is bullied by these political thugs.

The leadership of each house controls all committee assignments and privileges. If you disagree with Harrell or McConnell you can quickly be thrown in the proverbial doghouse. Bobby Harrell took important committee assignments away from Nikki Haley because she insisted upon pushing legislation that would require all house votes to be recorded.

The citizens of McConnell’s senate district #41 are far more powerful than any other district along as he is firmly in charge of the state senate. It only takes one state senator to stop a bill in its tracks with the leadership deciding what legislation is worthy of consideration.

“Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on office, a rottenness begins in his conduct.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

The Career politicians in South Carolina are power brokers instead of public servants. They absolutely don’t care what the public thinks or how bad things get along as they are permitted to conduct business with their friends and associates. They receive pensions & retirement benefits and are so entrenched into their position that they have convinced themselves that it’s theirs to keep forever. After decades of winning mostly uncontested elections many of these politicians begin to take their government jobs for granted.

By limiting terms and shortening the annual legislative season the citizens can regain control of a legislative process that at this point inaccessible to regular citizens. There are 15 other states that have term limits for state legislators. Term Limits should be the new battle cry of the reform movement in South Carolina.

“The short memories of American voters is what keeps our politicians in office.” ~ Will Rogers

Term limits have presented challenges to legislatures that wish to remain strong and effective institutions. With Nevada’s unemployment rate at 14.2% and the National rate at 9.6% and climbing Harry Reid still may be re-elected to the US Senate. This is due to Reid’s prestigious position as head of the US Senate and majority leader. Even though Nevada has the highest rate of housing foreclosures in the country the people of that state had rather suffer than lose the power that comes with Reid’s top position.

We need to reduce drastically or eliminate entirely our state taxes if we want jobs and progress; the citizens deserve an open and transparent government; the people want education reform and school choice. But under Harrell & McConnell’s regime they are allowed to want but unless this powerful RINO establishment decides to put the people’s needs above their own desires then want is all they are allowed.

If we limit the terms then we can return the power to the people!

With only a couple of weeks remaining before the 2010 General Election it appears that the reform movement which began late last year hasn’t yielded the number of reformists as first thought. The RINO establishment remains firmly in control of State General Assembly which means that little progress will be obtained for at least two or three more years even if Nikki Haley is elected.

The major players for the establishment are power brokers and not public servants. They are not focused on representing their constituents instead they concentrate most of their time and efforts enriching buddies and associates while bending over backwards for lobbyists. The Charleston area is ground zero for the establishment politicians and along with their Columbia counterparts have become almost undefeatable.

The reformers have made far less progress this year than I had first thought. I under estimated the power and determination of the RINO establishment. Only about 30% of the elected Republicans in the General Assembly are conservative and many are actually far-left Liberals masquerading as conservatives with cover from the RINO leadership.

There have been a few bright spots in the reformist movement such as Curtis Loftis who defeated the corrupt establishment sweetheart Converse Chellis for State Treasurer. Another power broker, House Speaker Pro Tempore Harry F. Cato (District 17 - Greenville Co.) was also defeated but there is much work to be done. The state’s economy will never improve under current house and senate leadership. Crime and education will always be placed on the back burner until true conservatives take control of the General Assembly which will be an almost impossibility due to the deep  entrenchment of this political machine.

I painfully supported and voted for Bobby Harrell puppet Todd Atwater who won the Republican nomination for House District 87 (Lexington Co) against Jerry Howard. Howard who was hand-selected and backed by King RINO John "Jake" Knotts – some choice. House 87 is Nikki Haley’s current seat and I will miss having frequent and productive dialogue with my legislator for at least the next two years.  

Other disappointing election results included key positions being captured by Republican establishment picks like Ken Ard for Lt. Governor, Mick Zais for Superintendent of Education, and Rick Quinn in House District 69.

True Conservatives like Jeff Duncan will be missed in state General Assembly but if elected to Congress in the 3^rd District he will serve us very well on the Federal level.

State Senator President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell (41-Charleston) and Senator Hugh Leatherman, Sr. (31-Darlington/Florence) are the two main power brokers in the state senate while House Speaker Bobby Harrell controls the House of Representatives. RINO State Senators John Courson, Jake Knotts, & Larry Martin among many that others are loyal servants of Glenn McConnell and are either unwilling or unable to think on their own.

For years most South Carolinians have blamed George W. Bush for the severe recession and have not held their own legislature accountable for their lack of concern and poor performance on critical state issues. The public is currently focused on the tremendous anti-capitalist policies and unconstitutional mandates being imposed by the Obama administration which allows our own General Assembly to use these as a distraction while playing power games with our money and future. 

Hard times provide good cover for these opportunists to avoid what they believed to be trivial issues like reforming the pathetic education system, improving the business environment, reducing government spending, and crime fighting. While South Carolina’s unemployment rate hovers around 11.0% the RINOS in the state legislature are wheeling and dealing and laughing all the way to the bank. This state is held hostage by our own officials.

The State Legislature’s unwillingness to challenge the teacher’s unions has reinforced my firm belief that the public education in South Carolina is absolutely beyond repair – DC’s Michelle Rhee found this out the hard way. Public Education is the costliest social program in American history and remains a colossal failure in South Carolina.  Hundreds of millions have been wasted on administrative costs and consulting fees yielding nothing but poor results. The General Assembly leadership has failed to provide even a sliver of oversight but somehow have time to make backroom deals with friends. A strong education system is crucial to our economic prosperity and our legislature is absolutely dispassionate about providing a favorable environment for school choice and educational reform.

During committee hearings these arrogant publicly paid leaches snicker and mock private tax-paying citizens who take off work and drive for hours to participate in the process. The establishment discourages the average person from engaging them on issues and often become rude and vulgar. They laugh at Tea Party members and activists and call them “whack jobs!” They not only think they’re smarter then everyone else but they also feel obligated to insult and belittle citizens.

Every since I moved to this wonderful state I have been told by political pundits and acquaintances that the establishment is too powerful and that the people are oblivious to the activities of the State Assembly. This is due to a lack of transparency which makes it very difficult to hold our elected officials accountable. Many Republican Conservative hopefuls are bullied and discourage from running in districts held by some of the kingpins.

We need true conservative Republican leaders who are dedicated to prosperity for all of the state’s citizens and that are accountable to the voters – not lobbyists. Until this very powerful syndicate is broken and these key positions are replaced by those who represent the people then South Carolina will never fully recover. The people need officials who will work to reduce deficits by continually trimming unnecessary spending programs and provide and tax breaks and fewer regulations for businesses. Government can’t create jobs but they can make conducting business more conducive to growth which can occur when our elected officials stop putting their personal agenda before the will of the people.