Was your precinct combined?

Click here to find out. Make sure you go to the right location to vote, a number of precincts were combined in Anderson County.

It’s your duty

• “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote that he is not making a present or a compliment to please an individual – or at least that he ought not so to do; but that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”
  – Samuel Adams
• “Consider well the important trust . . . which God . . . [has] put into your hands. . . . To God and posterity you are accountable for [your rights and your rulers]. . . . Let not your children have reason to curse you for giving up those rights and prostrating those institutions which your fathers delivered to you. . . . [L]ook well to the characters and qualifications of those you elect and raise to office and places of trust. . . . Think not that your interests will be safe in the hands of the weak and ignorant; or faithfully managed by the impious, the dissolute and the immoral. Think not that men who acknowledge not the providence of God nor regard His laws will be uncorrupt in office, firm in defense of the righteous cause against the oppressor, or resolutly oppose the torrent of iniquity. . . . Watch over your liberties and privileges – civil and religious – with a careful eye.”
  – Matthias Burnett
• “[T]he time has come that Christians must vote for honest men and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. . . . Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently. . . . Christians seem to act as if they thought God did not see what they do in politics. But I tell you He does see it – and He will bless or curse this nation according to the course they [Christians] take [in politics].”
  – Rev. Charles Finney
• “Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
  – President James Garfield
• “Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”
  – Justice John Jay

Often when writing to an elected official, you get a form letter. This one appears to be a direct reply!

Thank you for your note of support concerning my decision to not participate in the “Green Ribbon” Schools program.

As State Superintendent, my goal is to ensure that every child in South Carolina acquires an education that provides the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to succeed in careers or college as contributing members of society.  We simply cannot encourage schools to allocate funds to initiatives that will not measurably impact student growth and achievement.  More of every dollar spent on education needs to go directly to the classroom, which is a goal I continue to work towards.

There are over 50 “Green School Objectives” specified by the evaluation framework as required by the federal government.  Some of the more burdensome requirements include the following:

• “School grounds devoted to ecologically or socially beneficial uses, including those that give consideration to native wildlife.”
• “All cleaning products in use are certified ‘green,’ or can otherwise demonstrate that they meet the environmental standards of established ecolabel programs.  Custodial program is based in the principles of effective management and ‘green’ service.”
• “All food purchased is certified as environmentally preferable (e.g., Organic, FairTrade, Food Alliance, Rainforest Alliance).”

The proposed requirements have a financial cost that will be borne by state and local taxpayers, not the federal government.  A dollar spent “greening” a school is a dollar not spent in the classroom improving educational outcomes for students.

Again, thank you for contacting me.  I hope that we can count on your continued support as we work to ensure that all of our young people reach their full potential.

Sincerely,

Mick Zais, Ph.D.
State Superintendent of Education

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16th at 6:30pm
WHERE: Concord Community Church, Concord Road, Anderson, SC

Sunday, January 8th @ 4:00pm
Chief’s Wings and Firewater
723 Congaree Rd, Greenville SC 29607

Rick Perry:

Monday, January 9th, @ 8:00am
Dutch Treat Breakfast
Mama Penn’s Resturant
2802 North Main Street, Anderson, SC 29621