Politics

I wanted to use this article to say congratulations to my former partner and old friend Sonny Cox for his win in the Republican Party primary for Coroner of Greenwood County.  Also to my cousin Bob Fisher for his primary win in his bid for a seat on the County Council of Greenwood County.  I have known Bob since he was born and have known Sonny since we began working together in 1980 at the Greenwood Police Department on uniform patrol. We were transferred to the Detective Division within a couple of months of each other and being the "new guys" we worked together to help each other.  I know both as men of deep faith. I know their honesty and hard work ethic. They both see what needs to be done and go all out until the job is completed. I know they will both work hard to improve the lives and conditions of those who live in Greenwood County. I wish both of them the best and know the citizens of Greenwood County will not go wrong by putting them into their respective offices. Again congratulations to both.

And now on to my political aspirations. I have none. Don't get me wrong, I have thought about it from time to time, going to the extent of meeting with supporters and financial backers this year in a possible bid for the Sheriff's office in my home of Edgefield County. The current Sheriff, Adell Dobey, had not announced if he would seek reelection and rumors were that he would not. My condition for running was that I would not run against him. Why attempt to remove a man, who in my opinion, is doing a good job and working hard to bring the Sheriff's Office into the 21st century? One of the backers also had backed the Sheriff in each of his campaigns and picked up the phone and called him.  He stated that he was running, and would be announcing within the following two weeks. End of meeting. Could I have made a difference? No doubt, but the man in the office had been making positive strides since being elected and has done an excellent job with an underfunded and understaffed department. Why divide the citizens when most are supportive of our local law enforcement?

Where did my interest in politics come from? I guess I can trace it back to being a teenager about 40 years ago. I was working in downtown Augusta and was sent to the old Post Office to pick up a package. When I got there a political candidate was giving a speech. All the fanfare amazed me. The flags, music, hundreds of people. I couldn't get close but was told it was George McGovern, Democratic Presidential candidate in 1972. He didn't fair well in his bid for the office but regardless of the candidate I became an instant fan of politics, not having a personal interest in running for public office, but the way public policy was made and the persons responsible for doing this. What are the machinations of politics?

Growing up in the 60's and early 70's I saw people were very passionate in their beliefs as evidenced by sit-ins, protests, and clashes with police over their politics. Anyone living in that era can't forget the Democratic National Convention in 1968. People were either ultra conservative or ultra liberal.  There seemed to be no middle ground. I had friends on both sides of the political spectrum and I began to question my beliefs. Where did I stand? I listened to both sides and saw that each had certain ideas that I could, and did, believe in. Since then I have considered myself a liberal conservative. In other words I lean more toward conservative policies and policy makers but I still believe in certain liberal ideals.  As far as who gets my vote, it depends on the person, not their party.  I do tend to vote more along Republican lines but in certain cases vote for the Democratic candidate.  I don't just pull the lever for the full republican party. The Sheriff I was talking about earlier is a Democrat, I would have run as a Republican.  He will get my vote.  I believe if everyone would look at the person, where they stand, what they will do, and have done, for their constituents and what have they done in the past, this would be a lot better country.

Do your homework. Look and listen to each candidate. Look behind the media spin and check what both sides are saying about this candidate.  Then just use your God given common sense and truly make your choice from what your brain and heart are saying.

Until we meet again these have just been my ramblings as I cruise along in the slow lane watching this great nation pass by through my windshield.