63° Sunny Login Buy & Sell My Account Subscribe E-Paper Obituaries Newsletters Opinion Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Commentary Hicks: King Street has multiple reasons to celebrate this holiday season By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com Charleston will light the Christmas tree in Marion Square on Thursday, but King Street is already celebrating. Commentary: Designate land at 995 Morrison for affordable housing before it’s too late By Wendell Gilliard, Robert Mitchell and Marlon Kimpson Gentrification has driven African Americans out of their neighborhoods, and there is an urgent, if not dire, need for affordable and workforce housing, yet a recent editorial on 995 Morrison Drive urged Charleston County Council to move slowly on designating the property for exactly that purpose. Commentary: SC redistricting races to a finish, with voters in last place By Shayna Howell Voters in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District have been envied for the past 10 years: They had the distinction of having a choice in the general election. They could — and indeed did — elect both Republican and Democratic congressional leaders, fostering competition that steered cand… Goldberg: I left Fox News after 12 years. Tucker Carlson’s ‘Patriot Purge’ was final straw. By Jonah Goldberg I quit Fox News after more than a decade as a contributor. So did my business partner and friend, Steve Hayes. Commentary: Biden’s union-biased electric vehicle plan is at odds with his climate rhetoric By Steve Chapman The Biden administration, to its credit, never misses a chance to emphasize the importance of dealing with climate change. President Joe Biden calls it an “existential” threat to humanity. John Kerry, his special envoy on the issue, said in April: “That means life and death. And the question… Commentary: Lessons of 1970s energy crisis have meaning in climate crisis By Llewellyn King I’ve been here before. I’ve heard this din at another time. I’m writing about the cacophony of opinions about global warming and climate change. Commentary: Reform USC’s board of trustees to chart a new path forward By Lou Kennedy I remember being accepted to the University of South Carolina. The pride that came with the acceptance letter was born out of the sacrifices my family made to afford me this life-changing opportunity. In the decades since, I have been proud to join my husband in offering the university uncon… Hicks: Some county officials fear vaccine mandates could have repercussions By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com The big three local governments have proven quite efficient at twisting arms to get shots in arms. Behre: Hints — but no guarantees — on what Charleston’s new sea wall could look like By Robert Behre The challenge Charleston faces as it weighs whether to protect the peninsula’s perimeter is as simple as this: The city doesn’t want a basic concrete wall, but it’s going to have to invest a not-insignificant amount of time and money before learning whether that protection can be something b… Scoppe: Parties are back, but the pandemic never left. An expert explores COVID etiquette. By Cindi Ross Scoppe It wasn’t technically my first COVID-era social gathering with people outside my social pod: There had been a couple of outdoor weddings, where I was able to remain largely on the fringes. But our parish decided this month to experiment with a return to fellowship, so this would be my first … Rivenbark: My deviled egg platter needs to be repatriated By Celia Rivenbark Recent news reports confirm stolen artifacts — many of them in the “priceless” category — are finally being returned home by the countries that took them as the spoils of war or bought them on the “gray” market. This actually makes me giddy. Yes, I’m filled with hope that if this can happen … Commentary: Climate change is threatening childhood as we know it By Joe Waters and Katherine Prince Young children everywhere need the same things: safe housing, nutritious food, high-quality medical care, learning opportunities and strong social and emotional support. Climate change threatens the ability of families and communities to provide these foundations. Lowry: Deliberate choices turned San Francisco into America’s shoplifting capital By Rich Lowry It ought to be possible to operate a retail store in one of America’s largest and most iconic cities, but this most basic commercial proposition is in doubt in San Francisco. Commentary: Fallen Journalists Memorial would honor US commitment to a free press By Rick Hutzell It’s been a little more than three years since South Carolina journalists Mike McCormick and Aaron Smeltzer were killed while covering a tropical storm. Commentary: Our family’s Thanksgivings evolved as Mom opened the holiday meal to widows By Bert Hudnall In a national poll, I suspect every holiday we observe would be called someone’s favorite, but my bet is on Thanksgiving being named most frequently. Hicks: All that noise you hear in Park Circle is the sound of success By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com When Park Circle residents hear the echoes of “More Than a Feeling,” some of them aren’t really feeling it. Commentary: The first Thanksgiving was America’s original beer bash By J. Mark Powell A holiday question persists year after year, probably stretching all the way back to the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. “What are we going to do with all the uneaten turkey?” Commentary: McMaster, GOP have failed SC on crime By Jalen Elrod Like many South Carolinians, I was horrified at the official data on crime by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division that showed an alarming increase in criminal activity, one that the Palmetto State hasn’t seen in a generation. Commentary: Free trade is not dead unless America is By Peter Morici Free trade among nations is not much different than specialization across our continental economy — California in high tech and New York in finance. Commentary: Inflation and critical race theory have more in common than you might think By Jonah Goldberg How is inflation like critical race theory? Chapman: President Biden’s lame ruse on our rising gas prices By Steve Chapman It can be really bothersome to hear politicians lying. But sometimes it’s more alarming to realize they may be telling the truth. Pitts: Juvenile insults entertain but divert attention from what really matters By Leonard Pitts Jr. It’s like something out of middle school. Hicks: Where have you gone, Ronald Reagan? The GOP needs to hear your advice By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com You have to wonder if the folks at South Carolina Republican Party headquarters even remember Ronald Reagan. Behre: Sales tax lowered property tax bills — and made them bewildering, too By Robert Behre rbehre@postandcourier.com One challenge facing Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg as he and City Council members work to balance their 2022 budget is that they gave city taxpayers a tax cut last year — a modest and rather unintentional one. The mayor says he personally paid $58 less in city taxes on his West Ashley home. Commentary: Concentrate high-density development in the right places By Becky Ryon Like many popular destinations in South Carolina, the population on the Waccamaw Neck in Georgetown County is growing and traffic is increasing. It’s no wonder. This area boasts beautiful coastal scenery, boundless outdoor recreational opportunities and a quality of life that pulls people in. Mace: The States Reform Act allows a local approach to cannabis reform By Nancy Mace It’s clear the overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of cannabis reform in some way, shape or form. Forty-seven states, including South Carolina, have taken steps to reform or legalize cannabis, while the federal government continues to lag behind. Commentary: COVID vaccine for kids isn’t so different than other vaccines By J. Philip Saul Like most people born in the 1950s or earlier, I had almost every highly contagious pediatric infectious disease: measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, diarrhea and vomiting, many strep throats and who knows what else. Commentary: We must prepare students to become better-informed citizens By Stuart N. Brotman Regardless of political affiliation or whether we lean left or right, we have an obligation as parents and taxpayers to support public education. We all want to make sure our children, as students, gain enough knowledge and perspective — especially in the critical high school years — to enab… Commentary: All roads lead to Rome, but all bets are off upon arrival By John M. Burbage ROME — Two thousand years ago on a bend in the River Tiber, a Roman poet first described this place as “The Eternal City,” and indeed it has been around for what seems like forever. But during the last weekend in October, it was the “Infernal City.” Commentary: SC voters deserve fair maps; Senate staff failed to deliver By Trav Robertson Jr. South Carolina Republicans are scared to run in competitive districts, and if you don’t believe me, just look at the redistricting map drawn by the Republican state Senate staff. Commentary: Nations failed to go far enough at the Glasgow climate conference By Richard Wildermann After two excruciating weeks, the international climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, ended last weekend. Was it a success? Hicks: Book banning is conveniently back. Ray Bradbury would be horrified. By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com It’s a good thing Pat Conroy books don’t include illustrations, otherwise somebody might try to ban him. Commentary: We live near 295 Calhoun St, and we want something beautiful, appropriate By Leslie Turner Vic Mills’ recent commentary about his proposed project at 295 Calhoun St. includes several statements we disagree with. Commentary: College isn’t worth much if you don’t graduate. Transparency Act would help. By Bob Livingston Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Tim Scott: Build Back Better is not free, and it’s not something we need By Tim Scott You’re flipping through the channels, and the temptation of “free” causes you to stop surfing and see what the offer is all about. The commercial narrator enthusiastically says that you can get the latest car or gadget today without paying one red cent. But if you stay tuned until the end wh… Commentary: As high court wades back into gun debate, try listening, understanding By Solomon D. Stevens The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments this month in a new case on the Second Amendment, and the stakes are high. New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Corlett marks the first time since 2008 that the court has agreed to rule on it. I would like to offer some clarity about the … Commentary: Inflation is a dagger aimed at Joe Biden’s presidency By Rich Lowry The experience of the last Democratic president who presided over a significant bout of inflation wasn’t a happy one, and if the Biden White House isn’t haunted by that precedent, it isn’t paying attention. Hicks: Charleston has water, water everywhere; now’s the time to think By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com Charleston got two very loud wake-up calls last week, and this is no time to hit the snooze button. Bailey: What Roper won’t say but everyone knows about its move off the peninsula By Steve Bailey It was just after supper when my mom said it was time to go. Goldberg: What do the 2022 midterms, and 2024, hold for the GOP? By Jonah Goldberg Republicans are in a triumphalist mood. The Nov. 2 election’s red wave has many in the GOP counting on a crimson tsunami come next year’s midterms and fueled even more confidence that Joe Biden will be a one-term president. Some skepticism is in order, though a little triumphalism is warrant… Scoppe: SC’s largest teacher group is pushing an agenda to make teachers’ jobs easier By Cindi Ross Scoppe This year’s S.C. legislative session isn’t over yet — there are signs that lawmakers might still try to do their job before they adjourn for the year — but already the influence industry is gearing up for the 2022 session. Commentary: Mobile health units would help MUSC demonstrate its commitment to community By Joseph A. Darby We come before you today as community members and as clergy whose congregations are members of the Charleston Area Justice Ministry. The Justice Ministry brings diverse people of faith together to seek equity and fairness in our community and to see that every citizen of our community has eq… Commentary: Infrastructure bill benefits SC businesses, communities By Bob Morgan Just like nearly every other state in the nation, South Carolina is facing a major infrastructure crisis. Commentary: Come climate hell or high water, it’s up to us to avert the worst By Charlotte Ward I’m lucky to have lived in some beautiful places. Commentary: Rediscovering America: A quiz for Veterans Day By Jeffrey Sikkenga Today is Veterans Day, which honors all veterans of the U.S. armed forces. It’s also the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the solemn landmark at Arlington National Cemetery honoring military personnel killed in action who have never been identified. Sin… Commentary: Veterans Day is their day. Honor war vets’ service. By Ralph Stoney Bates Recent articles in military-oriented magazines and daily newspapers attempt to assure war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that they should not feel that the hasty, disorganized and unilateral withdrawal from Afghanistan in some way discredited their honorable service in these wars. Hicks: The long, strange trip (and future) of South Carolina’s 1st District By Brian Hicks bhicks@postandcourier.com Congresswoman Nancy Mace is in for a very long year. Already, several Republicans have announced they will run against her in the June GOP primary, and twice as many more could sign up before the spring deadline … including some well-known former candidates, maybe even one with the backing o… Rivenbark: Facebook got us into this mess. Context can help get us out of it. By Celia Rivenbark I’m going to sit down and send a week’s pay to the folks at Snopes so they can continue the Lord’s work of using research and facts the rest of us are too lazy to mess with to combat the spread of misinformation on the internet. Commentary: An abysmal child care proposal By Rich Lowry President Joe Biden wants to bring the same discerning, common-sensical governing style to American child care that has his job approval rating in the low 40s. Commentary: We could use some low tech in our overly high-tech world Alfred L. Malabre Jr. It’s wishful thinking, I fear, but wouldn’t it be great if today’s technology weren’t at quite such high levels? If managing various matters could regain some bygone simplicity? If only we could replace a bit of all this new high-tech stuff with a little good old low tech? Submit a Letter to the Editor If you’re interested in submitting a letter to the editor, click here. 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