Letters to the EditorFriday, August 8, 2008
Highest paid Regarding an Aug. 4 article in The Post and Courier titled "Who's South Carolina's highest-paid?": Once again, South Carolina has lost it way. No doubt, we have our priorities totally misplaced when football coaches make more money that the individuals who guide our colleges. The article listed 20 educators with a combined income of $5.4 million, while Coach Spurrier and Coach Bowden make a combined $3.58 million. Twenty educators make just $1.82 million more than two football coaches. These educators make an average of $270,000, or more than $1.5 million less that either of the coaches mentioned. It's no wonder that South Carolina ranks so low in education compared to other states. What a terrible shame. G. GREGG SMITH Thanks to rescuers I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks to the entire Berkeley County Rescue Squad. As reported in The Post and Courier, I was in a downed boat on Lake Moultrie on July 29 with four children, ages 10, 8, 7 and 4, along with four other adults. The professionalism displayed by the squad was second to none. As an Iraq war veteran, I have come to recognize professional heroism, and that is what was displayed by every member of the squad that evening. The Berkeley County Rescue Squad, which lends aid to anyone in need, sometimes at a risk to members' personal safety, represents the heart and soul of America. This all-volunteer force is composed of heroes living right here in Berkeley County. WALLY MATKOVICH Job market With all of the discussions recently about the minimum wage and other employment issues, I felt it appropriate to offer some observations. As the owner of a local recruiting and staffing company in Charleston, I have seen who companies are hiring and how much they are paying from entry level to senior management level. Two things stick out. The first is no surprise. The candidates with the best skills and successful track records of applying their skills are doing very well. Great skills equal great jobs. The second will be an eye-opener to many people. Workers with minimal skills are also getting jobs. They are starting in lower level positions and working their way to better jobs. How do they do this? They are simply dependable, have a good work ethic, display the ability to be trained and can pass a drug screening test. For the most part, workers control their own destiny. There is great hope for the workers who take initiative, show a willingness to learn and keep themselves clean. Employers are starving for this kind of employee. On the other hand, there is sorrow for workers who look to Washington or some other outside force to improve their lot in life. JIM PASCUTTI Why so long? Regarding the July 30 headline, "House issues apology for slavery, segregation": What took us so long? ROBERT O'CONNOR Questionable news The Aug. 2 article about the questioned paternity of a child born to a former staffer of John Edwards is laughable. The Post and Courier should strive to be a serious newspaper and serve its readership appropriately. Your editors must have a very low opinion of their readers to run something from the National Enquirer, particularly something of such questionable news value. DAN DICKISON Few oil spills It appears to me that the environmentalists have it all wrong regarding offshore oil drilling. It is a fact that there is a considerable natural seepage of oil from ocean deposits. It is a fact that in the past 30 years there has been negligible spillage from offshore drilling. Therefore, it seems obvious that the environmentally correct thing to do is increasingly to drill offshore since that would leave less oil to seep into the ocean. BILL WOOLEY City's success As a resident of our beautiful coastal area, I am up to my eyeballs with the negativity of the media and others regarding the city of North Charleston. There are many positive changes going on in North Charleston, which is the second largest city in the state. We need to examine, explore and report these successes. Look at what's happening in the historic Park Circle area, with its boutique shops, new businesses and restaurants. The new "work/live" I'On Group project at Mixon Park Circle and the Noisette revitalization project, which had its cottage design featured in "Cottage Living" magazine, are signs of progress. High-end residential developments along the Ashley River, such as the elegant condominiums at Reverie on the Ashley and the single-family homes in Plantation Isle right next door will give other properties out there a run for their money. Let's not forget the matured Coosaw Creek development, with its Arthur Hills' designed golf course. There also is the added convenience of proximity to the airport, and to shopping and entertainment venues, such as the coliseum, Ice Palace and parks. Trident Technical College and magnet schools are nothing to sneeze at as far as their reputation in the state and nationally. Crime happens everywhere and bad things happen to good people everywhere. We must be smart and always aware of our surroundings, regardless of whether we're on the peninsula or in North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Johns Island or Kiawah. To be honest, I'm more afraid of the white-collar crimes committed by respected economic gurus and political figures. If more of us would open our minds and temper our mouths, North Charleston would see even more progress and prosperity. This community has much to offer all of us. We should give it and Mayor Keith Summey the kudos they deserve. SAMANTHA ENSIGN Fly flags correctly I have been disturbed by the apparent lack of proper flag etiquette in Charleston. This is especially true when the flagpole has a gaff and halyards similar to a ship's mast. When the flagpole is a single pole, the American flag is always at the very top followed by whatever other flags are being flown directly underneath. When the flagpole has a gaff, the American flag flies from the gaff, the yacht club burgee from the top of the pole and other flags from the signal halyards to the left and right of the pole. In flag etiquette this is the correct position since "above" means "directly on top of." It is embarrassing to have a marina displaying flags incorrectly. HELEN DEITRICK Better services We need a health clinic in the Huger/Cainhoy community. Our people have to travel too far for care. We also need street lights, paved roads, sidewalks and shelters for children. Help for the elderly and disabled should be a priority. A new high school is needed instead of busing our children out of the community. Sit down and listen to the elderly sometime. You will probably learn something. Don't wait until an election year, help us now. CARRIE M. BENNETT |
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