Editorials

There’s a lot of disappointment about the Legislature’s failure to deliver this year on its promise of transformational reform of South Carolina’s education system, particularly but certainly not exclusively among teachers.

An important new study by the nonprofit RAND Corp. should have a major impact on the public debate about the costs of health care.

Among the arguments offered by opponents of South Carolina’s recently-enacted gas tax hike was that the state’s highway maintenance spending had historically been inefficient and poorly prioritized. Why should we believe these new tax dollars would be wisely spent, they asked.

Teachers from all across South Carolina went to Columbia last week to ask the General Assembly to adopt meaningful education reforms.

State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman said before the event that she sees the effort by teachers as abandoning their students, so she spent the day as a substitute teacher.

Another week, another study spotlighting the inadequacy of South Carolina’s laws against drunken driving.

In January, a “bombshell” report by an online news site alleged that President Trump had personally instructed his attorney to lie to congress – a serious federal crime. Other outlets hopped right on the scoop. A media frenzy ensued, and impeachment talk swelled.

State legislators have never thought voters were smart enough to decide how to run their own local governments. For decades, senators ran the counties. They eventually allowed county councils to do this, with significant restrictions. Ditto cities.

If we’re being honest, we’re all afraid of change.

Even the most progressive among us would admit the thought of the unknown is a little unsettling. We’re creatures of habit, in a sense. We love to settle down, get to know people and places and get comfortable.

This is true in small towns like Greer.