THEIR VIEW

Come June, when the South Carolina General Assembly adjourns for six months, the attention of the people turns away from Columbia.

South Carolinians tend to move blissfully through the summer and fall months in the belief they're safe from the politicians and bureaucrats at least until January, when the legislature reconvenes.

Not so, Gov. Mark Sanford warned them in an extraordinary memo recently. Sent by e-mail to hordes of recipients across the state, the memo, titled "A Message from Mark," warns residents that this is an especially dangerous time for them to take their eyes off state government. ...

Sanford, a nice guy with a big though inflexible brain, remains enormously popular. That should be a huge political asset. But thus far, Sanford's exhortations to voters to oust legislators who don't support his agenda and to demand lasting reform in Columbia have not worked. ...

South Carolinians, in short, like it that Sanford is out there fighting for change, but seem not to care whether change actually happens. They seem to like things in Columbia as they are — messy, inefficient and unattractive though they be.

Will "A Message from Mark" shake South Carolina residents out of their late-summer torpor and turn things around politically for Sanford? That would be good for our state long term. But it's not something on which we'd bet the farm.

The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News