In Columbia S.C.'s newspaper "The State", Associate Editor Cindy Ross Scoppe adresses the issue of state spending in a time of financial crisis. The state of South Carolina, unlike the federal government, must operate within a balanced budget- difficult in good times, almost impossible in bad. Scoppe contends that comparing the running of our state to running our business or a family is imbalanced since government bears a burden that the private sector doesn't- the welfare of its people.
I am not familiar with the ideology of Ms. Scoppe or The State, but I do believe that she leans in the direction of Big Government. Her article, though, is basically fair and looks at all side of this crisis we're in. There are no easy answers in this dilemma.
I contend that government SHOULD be run like a business. Choices are tough to make, but can be learned from. There is reward in success and wisdom in failure. (Ask any child who has burnt their hand on a hot stove- they never do it again!)
Businesses should never be considered "too big to fail" and either should government programs(e.g.-sales tax versus property tax to fund education). I would hate to see anyone lose their job or legitimate benefits from a government program, but something has to give if we are to weather this monetary monsoon our state and country is caught up in.
If the purpose of governmnet is , as Ms, Scoppe states,to look out for society, then we all must prepare to live with some hard choices for the common good.
