Others' Views

The fate of 162 acres on Lemon Island in Beaufort County illustrates the damage that can be done by a poor choice in the state legislature.

Gov. Mark Sanford has some valid concerns about the S.C. Employment Security Commission, but he can't jeopardize benefits to the state's unemployed workers to press those concerns.

A lot of people were surprised to find out that the state was offering a tax-free weekend after Thanksgiving -- for guns. Even happy gun-store owners had not realized that the Legislature had chosen to single them out for a business-booster.

It took Bob Jones University a long time to catch up to the rest of society in dropping racist policies, but the school made a significant and eloquent apology last week for its failures. ...

Jon Ozmint's plan to lop a couple of months off the terms of nearly all prisoners so he can close down prisons and save money is not a responsible one. But the Legislature's unwillingness to deal with dangerously underfunded prisons in a responsible way has made this the least irresponsible option he has.

South Carolina ranks at the top of the nation in violent crime, according to the FBI. Spartanburg Solicitor Trey Gowdy is right that greater public outrage is the appropriate response. South Carolinians must demand more aggressive law enforcement and a more effective justice system.

Tommy Bowden's resignation Monday ends the up-and-down reign of a coach who came in with much optimism, clearly had a positive impact on many of his players, but failed to live up to high expectations of fans, players and Clemson University. Though Bowden's departure may leave the team in turmoil and make this disappointing season a total loss, it offers hope of a brighter future.

More than 90 percent of all inmates in South Carolina eventually will return to the world outside the prison walls. It's certainly in the state's best interest to make sure those individuals have the skills to get and keep a job.

Act 388, the sales tax/property tax swap passed by the General Assembly two years ago, is unbalancing the tax burden and making it difficult for schools to fund their programs. It should be replaced. It shouldn't have been passed to begin with.

FBI statistics released recently listed South Carolina as the state with the highest rate of violent crime in 2007, the second straight year that depressing distinction has fallen to us. At least we're still ahead of the District of Columbia.