After reading the FitsNews post “Mandy Powers Norrell for Governor” – yes we read Fits and so do 99% of Columbia insiders -we thought about the cases that could be made for a number of South Carolina’s top Democrats to run for Governor in 2018. Although South Carolina has been written off as a solid red state — the changing demographics combined with 20 years of failed state republican leadership, plus a blunder-heavy “achievement challenged” Trump administration could be the perfect formula for South Carolina to make a party change at the top of the ticket.
We believe more and more South Carolinians are starting to see through the rhetoric heavy, hypocritical message of so called “limited government conservatives” that have run our state – completely running it into a very deep ditch. The issues surrounding our state pension system, education system, and infrastructural system have been created by Republicans. And ironically their solutions to these challenges are based on more taxes (fees), and more government control. Smh
So that you understand why we characterize them as “rhetoric heavy and hypocritical”, we point to two clear examples…
Example 1: Why hasn’t South Carolina passed Medical Cannabis legislation yet?
Blame your Republican (GOP) leadership for this one. These same GOP leaders talk with passion about tackling the Opioid Epidemic gripping the state as a top priority, however the overwhelming majority have done everything possible to block legislation which would allow South Carolinians use of medical cannabis as an alternative to prescribed medication, opioids, which could treat their illnesses without the harsh side effects that usually come with taking prescribed medication.
Let’s look at two commonly prescribed opioids and their side-effects…
–OxyContin: drowsiness, headache, dizziness, tired feeling; stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, loss of appetite; dry mouth; or. mild itching.
–Percocet: Nausea and vomiting. dry mouth, constricted pupillary diameter, loss of appetite, shallow breathing, dizziness, constipation, drowsiness or sedation.
Of course if you have Opioid Induced Constipation you can take, Movantik…but take note, side effects include “bloated, excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels, full feeling, passing gas, headache, vomiting, abdominal or stomach pain, anxiety, chills, diarrhea, increased sweating, irritability, yawning, bloody, black or tarry stools, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, severe abdominal or stomach pain, cramping, or burning, trouble breathing, and vomiting of material that looks like coffee grounds (severe and continuing).
So what happens to a person if they can no longer get their prescribed opioid? Insert heroin…a street drug which is stated to mimic the results of prescribed opioids.
Or to be more specific…
Both contain the ingredient oxycodone, and the structural make-up is pretty much identical. Both come from the opium poppy, and both block out physical pain and suffering. Both can become highly addictive if not taken with care. Furthermore both make the user dependent on taking it, which leads to addiction.
So SC GOP leaders love to preach about helping our veterans, seniors, and kids, but yet they continue to block identifiable solutions to health problems like epilepsy and seizures, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Menstrual Cramps, Multiple Sclerosis.
In contrast side-effects of cannabis include: Drowsiness, Dry Mouth or Thirst, Giddiness (awful), Hunger (maybe useful if you need to gain weight), Insomnia, Red Eyes, Respiratory Issues, Short-Term Memory Loss (maybe useful if going through radiation), Uneasiness or Anxiety.
South Carolina Republicans would literally rather have you become addicted to prescribe medications, which may ultimately lead to heroin addiction, than allow for the self-medicated practice of using cannabis; a practice that has been going on ” for 5,000 years and has an extensive history of traditional uses as an industrial material and a botanical medicine all throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and America . A plant that was placed here by the good Lord himself.
Example 2: Why do GOP leaders continue to support a government monopoly on gaming?
Again you can blame South Carolina Republicans for knowing best, and offering only a government ran choice for citizens to partake in adult games of chance, i.e. SC Education Lottery. These so called limited government conservatives continue to rebuke free-market ideals and principles, and have even blocked efforts to study the impact (pros and cons) of broadening our gaming laws. Instead South Carolina Republicans would rather raise taxes and fees rather than bringing in thousands of new jobs to the state, and potentially billions of dollars annually to our state, counties, cities, and local communities. These are funds that would immediately change the quality of life in South Carolina.
Instead of passing legislation which would allow a state-wide referendum on the issue, ultimately allowing the people to decide, SC GOPers already knows what is best and would rather dictate to South Carolinians. These same leaders would rather pass a gas tax and raise fees, even if the funds generated are not enough to truly take care of all of our current and future infrastructure needs; they would rather deny giving South Carolina care takers additional funds to help them care for their loved ones; they would rather have an education system that changes from zip code to zip code, region to region; and a higher education system which continues to price South Carolinians out from attending.
Because of these reasons South Carolina democrats are ideally situated to pull a major upset in 2018. So over the next weeks and months we will make the case for a number of Democrats who we believe can, “Make South Carolina Great for Once.”
Stay tuned, more to come…