No, that cat doesn't really have a drivers license. Most of the time on the blog, we give you our own opinions on various issues and topics. While we always ask you to contribute you own thoughts, over the next couple days, we have a couple things that we're going to blog about that we really want your views on...
Yesterday was the SCGOP Executive Committee meeting, where all of the bigwigs of the state party gather to discuss events and issues for South Carolina's betterment. Here's an idea that was pitched by someone to a person that holds statewide office, and then was asked to me later on that day.
Here is the theory: South Carolina has one of the worst unemployment rates in the US, along with one of the lowest rated educational systems. Our dropout rates are atrocious. Companies look at our statistics and feel that South Carolina's poorly educated people make it a bad place to do business. The goal is to improve those dropout rates, make our workforce stronger and better trained, and get those more skilled, higher paying jobs in the Palmetto State.
Here is the pitch: Requiring citizens of SC to complete High School or their GED,or risk losing their drivers license. There are carrots as well as penalties. Anyone who finishes school will get a $1000 tax credit from the state - as well as probably being qualified for better paying jobs..Anyone who currently doesn't have a license will have 10 years to finish their education, and those over 55 will not be required to do it,because they will be so close to retirement.
I'm sure there are details I'm missing here, but that is the basic plan. It does address the root cause of South Carolina's basic economic woes. But, this is South Carolina, where we value our personal freedoms. It would undoubtedly be viewed as being biased against lower income people and minorities, which would get the ACLU right on the case. The cost is another question,although I would think that might be considered an investment with a positive return.
The most realistic situation that would concern me is that we would have an entire subculture of people who ignore this law, and go around driving unlicensed and uninsured, then the end up hitting my car someday. Like most issues, there are good points and bad points. I did get the person's OK to post this, because any good politician wants to know all sides , and wants to know their constituent's opinion.
Tell us what you think here, but be respectful, whether you agree or disagree - or maybe give a solution of your own...
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17 comments:
I understand the senitment, but I see one obvious flaw: until education is funded equally throughout the State, it ain't gonna happen. And if we could get that funding problem corrected, well...we wouldn't have the problem we've got with drop out rates.
Here's a question on that P-Luv. By equal funding, do thye usually mean equal dollars per student, or equal total dollars?
I've seen a few reports where many smaller districts like Allendale get $10k per student, and the average is about $6k. Do thye expect to get the same money to tech 10,000 kids that Charleston does to teach 100,000, or are they suggesting some kind of MLB-type luxury tax to weight the smaller districts?
I'm refering more to the tying of funding to property taxes and the inequality that results between areas. In my old job, we had this really expensive demographic software that we would run when picking new sites. It would break down any size area for you by income, race, sex, education, etc. Everywhere you looked, the lower the median income and property values, the worse the drop-out rates.
That's why the upstate has those damn college looking schools and we've got mobile units parked at all of ours.
There's got to be a better way.
I do not think this is a good idea. I don't think that high paying skilled jobs are going to move here just because of an uptick in the number of high school grads. But even if it did, it does infringe on people's liberty. I think drivers licenses should only be taken away from those who prove they are not responsible drivers--like for DUI's, committing vehicular homicide, excessive number of moving violations, etc. Not having a high school degree does not effect how well you drive.
Frankly, it is surprising that this would come up at a GOP meeting. It sounds more like something a Democrat would propose. I mean, national Republicans have pretty much come out against Obama's idea that kids be required to volunteer a certain number of hours in order to graduate.
One more thing: unless I am reading your account wrong, are you saying that the guy who proposed this also wants to make it retroactive and require people under 55 who may already have a great job but never learned to drive to actually go back and get a GED within 10 years or lose the right to drive forever? That seems very far fetched by itself.
Although there aren't many people who have jobs that don't have licenses and GED's, I suppose that would be correct. From the way it was explained, the dropout problem is generational, and kids use 'my parents didn't graduate' as an excuse. It's an attempt to break the cycle...
P-Luv, I suppose tying it into the population totals, and weighting it some to help out the poorer counties would help, but I don't see Charleston, Greenville/Spartanburg and Columbia being willing to pay for the Corridor of Shame, or the ten trailers at Delmae...
How would you fix it? It sounds like a numerical equation, and you know numbers don't lie.
I don't know that I have an overall answer. But I will say one thing that seems obvious to do is to condolidate districts. For example, does Florence need 5 school districts? More importantly, do we need 5 district offices full of administrative staff? I don't think so. So you want to spread the admin around to make it more accessible, ok. But I sure as hell don't think we need 5 of them. Consolidate that down and put that money towards more teachers and facilities.
P-Luv, you are a credit to your party. You are the first Democrat to suggesst consolidation.. I asked that of a member of the School Foundation, and I got a REAL FUNNY look, like 'we ain't sharing our money w/ Timmonsville'...
Former Rep. Ralph Davenport, GOP from Sburg, proposed school district consolidation last year. That was the end of his political career as he was beat by Steve Parker in GOP primary.
In Sburg we have seven school districts. People like more local control of their schools and having a more localized school board that you can hold accountable. This cut across all political ideologies, with even the local Democrats not wanting to touch the issue, but Republicans definitely came out a/g Davenport over this issue.
I wonder if there is any proof out there that school district consolidation of some of the larger counties w. multiple districts (Sburg, Florence, Anderson) would actually save money. Also Greenville County Schools, which is like one of the largest single school districts in the country, is always being complained about by parents as being very poorly managed and just too big.
Chucktown has the same reputation as well. Of course, everyone is always going to complain something is too big..
Welll... the intention is good, the implementation is bound to be as FUBAR'ed as No Child Left Behind was in the hands of educrats. Some part of this reek of becoming, in its perversion, a teacher retention bill.
Chucktown has its own bizzare consolidated and consitituent district structure that has generated a broad range of levels of schools from seeming to be a mobile home park ridden with portables to the insulated armored sterile bunker that might double as a brig for the Gitmo guests...
For the GOP, dangle the carrots first (tax credits), but unless you're offering the driver's test in braille, it comes only in English, the written portion without audio questions or someone to read to an illiterate applicant.
I must have missed something. I was at the EB meeting in Columbia Saturday and I never heard this brought up in the open session or the closed one. Then again I did hit the bath room a couple of times this meeting lasted forever.
Mike, it would be harder than hell implementing consolidation. Anytime you go after positions as being unnecessary, those that fill them are gonna fight tooth and nail.
Jonathan is right, I'm pretty sure G-vegas is the largest single district around. But as I learned when I worked up there in the old job, a shitload of those kids go to private school or are homeschooled.
Nevertheless...I am framing the "you are a credit to your party" comment and already notifying you that I'm gonna request you speak at my wake and then play a death metal version of "Dust in the Wind." Fair warning.
Not if I die first, ya Bastard !!! I DARE you to die first.. In return, I'm going to go back and find all the nice things you've said about me and make a book out of it. Then at my wake, you can take my spot as Goose and join Rick in a final 'Top Gun' flyby in my honor. Do we have a deal???
Mike--it is my understanding that this would effect those between 25-55 who did not have a HS diploma or GED. Also the US Supreme Court has previously ruled that a driver's liscense is a privelege not a right and indivual states can set any requirements it deems necessary for residents of the state to meet. Currently in this state a 17 year old must be in school to keep their liscense. If they drop out the SC dept of Education is suppose to notify SC DOT and the liscense is suspended until the minor has re-enrolled or entered another system like Poynor Adult Ed. It appears to be a idea that has merit. The only arguement against it is that no one can one be educated. As much as I hate to admit it everyone one has a right to be ignorant,uninformed and uneducated. They just do not have a right to make the rest of us pay for their stupidity...
FamineMG-
I was at this meeting to. I sat through the whole meeting with no bathroom breaks. I don't recall this being discussed in open or closed executive session either. Mike when was this discussed?
Stephanie Rawlinson,
Executive Committeeman
Florence County GOP
Steph, from what I was told,this was after everyone had broken up into private chit-chat stuff. nNot anythign official.
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