What's The Point...Now That The Primary Is Over?

South Carolina has completed its job with regard to the Republican Presidential Primary. Now it’s time to turn to matters equally as important and closer to home.

In 2010, South Carolinians sent to Washington arguably the most liberty-minded, constitutionally-focused, conservative and fiscally responsible Congressional delegation in the country. I believe that’s a good thing. However, if the first session of the 112^th Congress (and the start of the second session, too) tells us anything, it is that South Carolina’s Republican-led delegation has not been enough to stem the tide of politics as usual in Washington.

We must get our own city, county, and state houses in order. Quickly.

Why, you ask?

I am an optimist by nature, but I am also a realist. I believe, barring an immediate and serious patriotic, principle-over-politics awakening of a certain 535 people in Washington (the President is certainly welcome to join the awakening, but I’m not optimistic he will), the many inept and overreaching federal government programs on which the Palmetto state depends far too much will very soon collapse under their own bureaucratic and inefficient weight.  When the proverbial fiscal and political shoes drop in Washington, We the People in our cities, counties and states are going to be left holding the bag.

We can light a candle or curse the darkness. I suggest we get proactive about it.

I believe we need to once again restore the principle of subsidiarity. Subsidiarity is an organizing principle that states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority.

I know. Rarely do we find the notion of competent authority associated with the state or federal governments! Work with me here…

So how do we begin to restore the principle of subsidiarity?

I’m glad you asked.

Let’s face it. Civics is a “contact” sport! Representative government only works when We the People participate in the process. Otherwise, it is the few who show up who not only chooses who represents us but also how they will represent us.

Many municipal elections were just completed. Hold them accountable by attending council, commission and board meetings. Contact your elected officials directly and let them know that because you recognize the breadth and depth of the challenges we face, they should, too! And you expect them to act accordingly.

Every seat in the SC House and Senate is up for election this year. Vet the candidates carefully. If they’re looking at things through the lens of the status quo, ask them specifically how doing the same things over and over again are going to achieve different results.

We the People are responsible for the mess we’re in. The good news is that We the People can fix it. It’s time to move past fear and anger about where things stand and again – or for the first time – become active in the political process.

If not now, when? If not us, who?

Our children and grandchildren want to know.

NOTE: Jim Lee is a candidate for the District 8 State Senate currently held by David Thomas.