“That government which governs least governs best.”

                --Thomas Jefferson

Government Growth and Spending

South Carolina, America, and indeed the entire World has witnessed an economic event that will forever redefine how we look at spending, financial institutions, and what is left of the “value” of our dollar.  We have been following a path of financial destruction for decades by allowing all levels of our governments to spend, spend, spend without regards to the consequences.  You and I would be out on the streets in no time if we ran our personal finances the way our government does.  Our government was formed to secure the rights of life, liberty, and property.  The last time I checked your money was your property and not the government’s; you traded your skills, education, knowledge, and work ethic in exchange for dollars.  Our state and federal governments currently see fit to tax—at will—almost anything and everything in order to quench their insatiable thirst for unconstitutional programs and growth.  I will fight to ensure South Carolina’s sovereignty under the 10^th Amendment to the US Constitution to curb federal growth and control.

There are only two true core functions of government—public safety and to enforce & uphold the ground-rules (the Constitution); therefore, we need to return to those basics by ensuring that those functions are fully-funded first.  I am in favor of a constitutional amendment to limit government spending to a formula of population and inflation; otherwise known as the popflation index.  I will not vote in favor of any tax increase in order to keep our government growing—that includes fines, fees, or whatever other term is used to disguise the true nature of it.

Taxes & Economic Growth

As mentioned in the above section, I am in favor of putting a halt to government growth.  The first step in doing such is to halt tax increases and non-critical spending and rethink how to fund the government’s core functions while providing citizens and businesses the freedom to succeed, or fail (that is, after all, the definition of freedom).  Our current oppressive and complex system of taxation is obviously not the answer.  Look around you and tell me how much of your money is actually yours?  Between income taxes, Medicare taxes, social security taxes, sales taxes, gas taxes, “sin” taxes, property taxes, personal property taxes, county taxes—the list goes on and on—the average tax burden will roughly amount to a whopping 55% of what you “earn”.  Then let’s take into consideration the excessive amount of tax exemptions and other “sweetheart” deals that special-interests get and therefore, in effect, pass that tax burden on to you.  

The most effective way to reduce the size of government (and the amount of lobbyists) and put the power of liberty and job growth back into the hands of the citizens is through the FairTax® concept.  This tax system completely eliminates income and corporate taxes.  No more millions upon millions being spent to “collect” revenue from individuals and corporations.  It instead replaces those taxes with a standard consumption tax; therefore, YOU control how much the government collects from you by buying items and services that YOU want or need.  Businesses can actually afford to pay people more, or hire new employees.  Without anymore corporate taxes, South Carolina has instantly become a destination of choice for companies.  It forces government to live within its means.  For our citizens that have temporarily fallen on hard times, there is even a “prebate” program whereby the government sends you a monthly stipend to cover the taxes on the basic necessities of living, such as food and water, etc.

For a more in-depth look at the FairTax® proposal, I refer you to www.fairtax.org.

Military & Veteran’s Affairs

I am a proud veteran of the US Air Force.  My father is a veteran of the US Army.  Every male in my family dating back to 1685 here in the lowcountry was a veteran of a military organization.  Our very freedoms and republican system of government have been defended and protected by our Nation’s military.  Many have given their lives and many have suffered permanent harm and disabilities.  We therefore, as a State, owe them more than we currently offer as a government.  If the FairTax® proposal cannot get passed in the General Assembly then, at a minimum, military and emergency service (police, fire, EMS) retirees should pay no income tax—period.

Currently, our State offers only limited benefits to 100%, US Dept of Veteran’s Affairs-rated, disabled veterans.  These limited benefits are things such as free tickets to State parks, a free license plate, and a limited reduction in property taxes.  I feel this is an abomination.  For instance, a veteran only receives a 40% rating for losing an appendage.  I would begin limited benefits at 50%-rated and proportionally increase benefits to the 100% level. 

The State of South Carolina has a “disadvantaged” business program whereby certain categories of business owners, based on race and gender, get preferred-status when bidding on State contracts.  No preference is given for veterans or disabled veterans.  Being a veteran crosses all racial and gender lines, and they are the ones that have sacrificed the most for our way of life.  The government didn’t create your gender or race, but it DID create veterans.  We owe these fine men and women every chance at success in business after their service, and our State currently says “no thanks”.

Education

Our education system in this country is ineffective.  What we refer to as “public” schools are technically government schools—they are funded by taxpayer dollars, with government employees, and government regulations; therefore, they are government schools.  We keep pouring billions of dollars into a government program that can’t even deliver mediocre results.  Should any of us be surprised?  The prevailing attitude in government is job security, not job performance.  While our teachers are trying their best to educate our children, they are mired down in a sea of bureaucracy, regulations, and administration that prevents them from actually teaching anything.  I will work to introduce more competition into the education marketplace. 

Your tax money should follow the student and not be given to a government school based on your address.  The common name for this is “school choice”—I prefer to call it “parental choice”.  As a parent, you should have the ultimate say in where your child gets their education based on your preferences.  For math’s sake, let’s make it easy and say that $10,000 per child is given to you in a voucher.  You can then take that voucher and shop for a school that best suits yours and your child’s needs.  Whether a private school, a government school, or home-schooling can provide the best service, it should ultimately be your choice as a parent.  The main point is that now government will have to compete for students (and those dollars) by providing a superior product.  If they can’t measure up, then the school should probably be shut down and allow some other private education organization to provide a better service. 

As I believe government accountability should be at the lowest level possible (because then politicians can’t avoid you when they shop at the same local grocery store as you), the counties should be allowed to provide whatever mix of educational system would best suit their constituents needs.  This puts control of your children’s education in YOUR hands, and not the State’s.