Promoting the general welfare was one of the reasons the U.S. Constitution was “ordained and established” by “we the people.” And our U.S. Constitution gives the Congress the power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution [its] powers.” Similarly, the South Carolina Constitution declares that “[t]he General Assembly ought frequently to assemble for the redress of grievances and for making new laws, as the common good may require.”
It takes good judgment to decide about the necessity and propriety of legislative acts, and Sen. Glenn McConnell is severely lacking in this judgment. In Sen. McConnell’s view, necessity relates not to the “common good,” but to the affordability of his own private needs. If Sen. McConnell personally needs something and can afford it, he pays for it himself. However, for things he can’t afford, Sen. McConnell gets the state of South Carolina to foot the bill.
For example, when Sen. McConnell needed a cannon for Civil War re-enactments, he paid $30,000 for it out of his own pocket. He apparently realized that since he could personally afford $30,000 for the cannon, it wasn’t necessary for the State of South Carolina to buy it for him. However, when Sen. McConnell needed a submarine, he paid $8 million for it from state funds.
I question Sen. McConnell’s judgment on what’s necessary and proper for the state of South Carolina to do. Sen. McConnell thinks that it is our state’s job to define and defend the Confederate flag. He’s confusing his service to the SCV with his service to the state of South Carolina. The SCV has declared that they are the only ones who can define the meaning of the Confederate flag and that they are the ones charged with defending it. Hey, that’s fine with me. Because, contrary to what Sen. McConnell believes, it’s not the job of the state of South Carolina to define or defend the Confederate flag.
As a state, we have an obligation to respect people who have served our state. As a state, we have an obligation to show our respect for the service of the Confederate soldiers who did their duty for South Carolina. That our state has a monument to honor their service and sacrifice seems necessary and proper to me. However, it is neither necessary nor proper for our state to fly the Confederate flag near the monument, on Statehouse grounds.
I agree with Coach Steve Spurrier who said, “My opinion is we don’t need the Confederate flag at our Capitol.” The Confederate flag is neither our country’s flag nor our state’s flag, and therefore it is neither necessary nor proper for us to fly it. Flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds is not required for the common good.
Chief Justice John Roberts has said, regarding the duty of the Supreme Court, “if it is not necessary to decide more, it is necessary not to decide more.” This statement shows the modesty of this extremely intelligent man. We need leaders in our state government who understand the principles of modesty and restraint like Justice Roberts does. Instead, we have Sen. McConnell, who spends public funds to curry favor and demonstrate power.
Sen. McConnell is out of touch with the people of South Carolina, and he deserves criticism for spending $8 million of public funds on the Hunley and for spending $30,000 of his own money on a cannon. Sure, he can spend his own money on whatever he needs, and yes, cannons are cool. I remember going to Kennessaw Mountain National Battlefield Park as a young boy and marveling at (and climbing all over) the old cannons there. Still, I wouldn’t buy a cannon for $30,000 of my own money, and I think Sen. McConnell is out of touch with South Carolinians for doing so.
Sen. McConnell reminds me of Admiral Boom from the movie Mary Poppins. Dick Van Dyke’s character Bert says of Admiral Boom’s home, “Now this imposin’ edifice what first meets the eye, is the ‘ome of Admiral Boom, late of His Majesty’s Navy.” Admiral Boom’s home looks like a ship, and he fires a cannon to mark the time. Yes, eccentric and retired, good old Admiral Boom still wears the uniform he wore when he served his country, while Sen. McConnell dresses up in a Confederate uniform that he wistfully wishes he had worn back when.
Sen. McConnell lives in the past, is out of touch, is lacking in judgment, and doesn’t legislate for what the common good requires. It’s time for we the people of South Carolina to get Sen. McConnell to retire to his home, where he can wear his uniform, fly his Confederate flag, and shoot his cannon as often as he needs to do so.
3 Comments
April 29, 2008 at 8:20 am
Interest in the Hunley has been both national and international…not just from the South.
But if that interest had only been from the South…the $8 million would still be money well spent.
Do we not have the right to preserve our own history?
April 30, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Borderuffian,
Yes, the Hunley is quite interesting. Yes, South Carolina and the United States and people in organizations and people in families and people individually have the right, and in fact the duty, to preserve history.
As to whether the $8 million was well spent or not, I suspect not. What I suspect is that Sen. McConnell tries to put as much from the state budget towards the Hunley as he thinks he can possibly get away with.
Perhaps other people, such as yourself, would like to donate to the Hunley project. Or perhaps you would like to help offset the cost to the citizens of South Carolina by donating to our state budget. We’re in a bit of a crunch right now, and we could use the money, thank you.
Regards,
Michael Rodgers
May 1, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I find myself in the unusual position of defending Mr. McConnell. The Hunley is a major part of SC History. It’s recovery and preservation are a significant part of saving SC relics for our children. It is also a major tourist attraction, and more than pays for itself.
The Flag is another story. I first published a letter asking for its removal from the Capital Dome over a decade ago. I didn’t expect it to end up on the front steps. The Flag now flown is not a SC Historical Flag. It is the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia. The correct flag to fly should be either the Succession Flag “Bonny Blue,” all blue with a single Silver Star, or the correct SC Battle Flag. Which is our State Flag on a field of Red instead of blue. In fact: the Red State Flag flew when Citadel Cadets fired on the “Star of the West,” ship to start the Civil War. It has also been flown by any number of SC troops in every war America has fought. SC citizens, black & white, have died defending America under that flag. It is even thought to have flown during the Revolutionary War. Today, our colleges use variations of that flag with their school colors: especially during football season. Even the Citadel has replaced the Northern Virginia Battle Flag with the Correct SC Battle Flag. It is a true SC Patriot’s Flag, regardless of Heritage. Fly that one, and honor all our SC Citizens.