The decision rests with him

When Gov. Mark Sanford scheduled a press appearance last week to talk about the federal Real ID program, the questioning predictably veered to another topic: His Argentina affair. The photo-op and focus on the Real ID program were designed both to change the subject and to demonstrate that Sanford has moved on and is ready to get back to the job of being governor. The effort was only partially successful.

"Where is your wedding ring?" one man shouted, during the gathering at the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles office in Greer. "Why aren't you wearing it?"

(In fact, past Sanford photos show that Sanford typically doesn't wear a wedding ring.)

Other questioners bluntly asked Sanford about his affair, whether he had reconciled with his wife and whether he might decide to resign. It was not exactly back to business as usual. ...

Sanford now seems to think he can tough it out, wait for the public and the press to tire of talking about the affair. Eventually, he might enjoy something resembling a return to normalcy.

Then again, maybe the questioning won't let up, the issue won't go away and he will have to deal with it until the end of his term. Under those circumstances, he might throw up his hands and call it quits.

But, for now at least, it appears that the decision rests with him.

The (Rock Hill) Herald

Why preserving them is important

If a property is significant enough to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it is significant enough to preserve. But in a state like South Carolina, with a wealth of such properties, that is no simple task.

State Rep. Chip Limehouse wants to take the first steps toward protecting those historic properties that are owned by the state. He is writing legislation that would catalogue all such properties and would require appropriate state agencies to submit their plans for maintaining them. ...

Losing those properties shouldn't be an option. As owner of valuable historic places, it is the state's responsibility to preserve them. Preserving them gives citizens a sense of the state's heritage. It also is important to the state's economy. ...

Rep. Limehouse is correct when he says that being good stewards of historic properties isn't the same as focusing on the past. Those properties are a foundation for the future. And the future will be more attractive, interesting and economically healthy if we care for them.

The (Charleston) Post and Courier

We've known about it for years

We ought to be ashamed. Not just because the latest review of assisted-living homes shows that some are taking our tax dollars in order to abuse the mentally ill and mentally disabled, the physically disabled, the frail elderly — locking them away in sweltering, roach-infested facilities, serving up rotting food and out-of-date medications, forcing them to do manual labor and beg for toilet paper.

Not just because our state is doing precious little to protect the current victims or even warn off potential victims, but instead is making it practically impossible for inspectors to do anything about living conditions we wouldn't tolerate at the county animal shelter.

No, we ought to be ashamed because this isn't news. We've known about it for years. ...

Watchdogs say we need laws to prohibit new admissions to facilities with allegations of repeated and serious violations, to shut down facilities when a license has been revoked (that's not already the law?) and to make it easier for the public to learn about problems at individual facilities. ...

They're right about all that. Just as they were right the last time they said it. And the time before that. And nothing happened. That's because what we need most is elected officials who care what happens to people who can't care for themselves, or even complain when they're being abused. And we're not going to get that until the rest of us start to care.

The (Columbia) State

Out of sight, out of mind

Environmental concerns have caused a rethinking of the way things are done. In Aiken that means considering the solutions from decades ago and turning them around.

For years, the problem of storm water runoff has been addressed by piping water off the streets and away from town. Much of that water is dumped into Hitchcock Woods and down Sand River. It was an out-of-sight, outof mind solution.

Unfortunately, Aiken's solution turned into Hitchcock Woods' problem as a deep canyon formed where the runoff was introduced to the Woods. Much time and effort has been devoted to find a solution to the problem of erosion in the Woods, and there is now consideration being given to using the city's parkways to alleviate the runoff.

There is much to be done before the full effectiveness of this approach to storm water runoff can be determined. If this system proves to be a reasonable solution, it will show once more that those who drew up plans for the original Aiken grid, complete with multitudes of parkways, were wise beyond their time.

The Aiken Standard