Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
Public should benefit In The Post and Courier's Friday edition, John McDermott reported on the possibility of Santee Cooper selling the partially completed nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, which were not only the objects of incompetence, mismanagement and fraud, but also a project that consumers have been bearing the burden of for years. If Santee Cooper manages to sell the partially finished reactors, shouldn't the proceeds from the sale be returned to taxpayers and ratepayers? Haven't we paid enough to have a stake in this project and profit from its sale? Or will Santee Cooper be allowed to profit from something we have heavily contributed to, like it or not? SUE FLASTER Charleston Norman's politics divisive Gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman wants to further stack the deck and eliminate South Carolina's only current Democratic-held congressional seat. He should remember that the part of the Congress in which he serves is called the House of Representatives; it "represents" the full population, not just the loudest and most privileged voices. Roughly 40 percent of South Carolinians have voted Democratic in presidential elections for the past 30 years. By his statements, Rep. Norman would like to disenfranchise those two out of every five South Carolinians who do not agree with his bowing down to Donald Trump’s politics. By true "small-d" democratic standards and with a level playing field, were it not already for unfair Republican gerrymandering, two or three of South Carolina's seven congressional seats would be held by Democrats, not just one. That's how representative democracy works, not through his bullying playground politics. Rep. Norman's Oct. 17 commentary headline reads, "Trump should lean on SC to eliminate Jim Clyburn's district." It's not up to Trump nor up to Norman himself to decide who South Carolina's congressmen are; that decision lies with the people of South Carolina. Norman's politics attempt to turn America's democratic ideals into racial politics. By the directional lean of his own statements, the wannabe governor would like our state to be a Make America Great Again fiefdom. DAVID M. FURCHGOTT Charleston Rebuilding more difficult The ease and apparent indifference surrounding the demolition of the East Wing of the White House may serve as a troubling metaphor for what could happen to the U.S. Constitution and American democracy under President Donald Trump and his enablers in Congress. The disregard for history and national symbolism mirrors a broader threat — the potential erosion of democratic institutions, social norms and respect for the rule of law. Americans should take heed: Once something of great value is dismantled, rebuilding it is far more difficult. THOMAS REILLY Mount Pleasant Send us your letters What’s on your mind? Join our community conversations and let your voice be heard by writing a letter to the editor. Letters can be a maximum of 250 words, and are subject to editing for clarity, tone and libel. They must include the writer’s name and city for publication, and a daytime telephone number for verification. Email your submissions to letters@postandcourier.com or fill out the form on our online portal.
