VOTER ID CARDS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA A BAD IDEA

Is there voter fraud in South Carolina? Voter fraud probably exist in the minds of ID Card proponents like Rep. Alan Clemmons, but it seems to be almost non-existent in South Carolina, and Clemmons should be challenged to prove it exists. Democratic state Representative Paul Agnew has said such claims of voter fraud are unfounded. “There have been no prosecuted cases of voter fraud in South Carolina, nothing that we can point to that caused us to have to pass legislation like this…” Voter ID is also expensive. South Carolina has a shrinking tax base. Money to fund vital areas of the state's infrastructure is hard to come by, or we miss opportunities to gain the resources. In 2010 South Carolina failed to qualify for $143 million for public school teachers. Expect to see school teachers and other state employees laid off in the not too distant future. According to S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex two years of state budget cuts have cost South Carolina 3,676 public school teachers' jobs, including 2,145 in the last year alone. It is hard to believe that the General Assembly plans to use over a million dollars in state money to fund picture ID cards. The new voter ID law carries a hefty price tag for our cash-strapped state. Given the much larger issues facing South Carolina nowadays, is the drive for voter ID really something the people of South Carolina can afford? You can also expect that South Carolina lawmakers are not adequately budgeting for essential elements of carrying out a voter ID law, including informing voters, administrative costs, hiring and training staff and other necessary expenses.

The Voter ID bill is a bad idea for another reason. There are people in South Carolina such as senior citizens, non-drivers, people with disabilities, people who depend solely on mass transit or those living in assisted living and nursing facilities, who just don’t have photo IDs and in some cases not even birth certificates. You can be sure that these people are not impersonating anybody at the polls. Requiring a voter ID card will effectively disenfranchise many of them. It will turn back the clock on expanding the franchise. Contact your representatives and tell them that voter ID is not what is needed in South Carolina. Click on scstatehouse.gov/html-pages/house2.html

SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT

Feb 4, 2011

President Barack Obama
The White House, 1st Floor, West Wing
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As a person of faith, I believe we are all called to be peacemakers. I
am inspired by the courage of the Egyptian people and have been praying
for the protests to remain nonviolent. Now that armed thugs are
attacking civilians, I must speak up.

Now is the time for you to call for the immediate resignation of
President Hosni Mubarak, and to support all efforts to keep the
protesters safe.

If he does not step down immediately, we should immediately cease all
forms of military aid to his country.

You and our nation's leaders are in my prayers as we stand in
solidarity with the people of Egypt. Please demonstrate courage and
true moral leadership as you respond to people mobilizing for their
rights and freedoms.

Sincerely,

Dr. James Thomas
Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary
4201 Main St
Columbia, SC 29203-5863