Columns

During National Police Week, May 13-19, I’d like to encourage you to take the time to recognize our local law enforcement officers for their service to Lancaster County.

Our officers face many risks and challenges and their sacrifice and service are often taken for granted. If you encounter a deputy, police officer, highway patrolman or corrections officer this week, show your support and let them know how much their work means to you.

Most people like having new vehicles. A new convertible would be especially nice for the summer time. Unfortunately, with new vehicles come taxes and it’s important for you to understand what taxes are due and how to pay them to avoid problems later on.

When purchasing a vehicle, you must pay local property taxes to the County Treasurer’s Office and you must also pay a sales tax for the vehicle to the S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

South Carolina is known as a “red state” and a “conservative” state, and so one might be led to believe it’s a place where non-“progressive,” free-market policies reign. Certainly South Carolina has a reputation for being a “low tax state.” But the reputation is unearned.

A brief look at the legislature’s record on tax policy – perhaps the most fundamental free market issue – reveals a profound disconnect between reputation and reality.

Luke 24 tells much about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When several women disciples came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body on the Sunday morning after his death, they found that the stone over its entrance had been rolled away.

Entering the tomb, they did not find his body. They were disturbed by this, but two angels appeared to tell them that Jesus had risen, and that he had predicted his crucifixion and resurrection while he was still in Galilee.