Staff reports | The fifth annual Homegrown Holiday Bazaar will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 at islanders Farmers Market, 3546 Maybank Highway, on Johns Island. The event will serve as the farmers market for that day and is brought to you by the Islanders Farmers Market and Sea Islands Chamber of Commerce.
Also: Travel tips, Port ambassadors, Giant greeting card winner; more
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher There’s a big lesson in the 2018 elections for the S.C. House of Representatives: The more competitive that elections are, the more likely the old order will be shaken up.
Sadly in 2018, 80 of 124 races for the House were not competitive in the general election. Forty-two Republicans, mostly in the Upstate, and 28 Democrats faced no November challengers, although some had primary challengers in June. Of the 44 remaining November races, only 10 had margins of victory of fewer than 20 points, meaning they were somewhat competitive.
By Andy Brack, editor and publisher The messages from a four-week tour across 10 states are loud and clear: The country is more divided than ever in modern history and the main issue in the midterm elections boils down to Donald Trump, which seems to be just the way he wants it.
By Kyra Morris, contributing editor | What is going on in the markets?
* The third quarter of 2018 ended as the best quarter on the S&P 500 since 2013 – around a 7.2 percent increase.
* From Sept. 30 through Oct. 26, the S&P lost around 8.6 percent, the worst beginning of a quarter since 2008.
Is this the October effect, or is there something substantial going on? What are the realities?
It’s difficult to come up with convincing fundamental explanations for this poor performance. As expected, the Feds did increase interest rates at the end of September. Investors can also purchase U.S. Treasuries yielding 3 percent.
y Andy Brack, editor and publisher | South Carolina legislators should start thinking about voting like people now think about online transactions.
Consider how you bought stuff 20 years ago: You got in your car, went to a store, bought it, lugged it home and stored it away until you used it. It took a long time and there were a lot of steps to make a successful purchase. Then came the Internet.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher, Phoenix, Ariz. | An old joke around here is that if there’s ever a 30-foot border wall built to thwart illegal immigrants, it won’t be long before a lot of companies start building 32-foot ladders.
While the national furor over immigration reached a fever after candidate Donald Trump launched xenophobic campaign rhetoric to build a wall, immigration politics is old hat in Arizona, cropping up year after year as a political hot button.
Staff reports | The League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area will host candidate forums on Oct. 16 and Oct. 18 to give voters a chance to meet and hear from local candidates. Also click below for more Good News.
IN THIS ISSUE | Oct. 15, 2018
FOCUS: Magnolia Plantation to host Underground Railroad conference
COMMENTARY, Brack: Big border wall might mean bigger ladders
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston International Airport
GOOD NEWS: League to host two candidate forums
FEEDBACK: Send us your comments … share your thoughts
MYSTERY PHOTO: Pastoral scene
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Miles Brewton
CALENDAR: Several events ahead
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher | With statewide elections a month away, let’s think seriously about leadership.
What kind of leaders do we want in the Palmetto State? Do we want leaders who will continue to do what they’ve been doing for years? If so, how’s that working out? South Carolina continues to be at the wrong end of too many lists.
Commentary by Andy Brack, editor and publisher | After more than 850 weekly columns totaling more than 600,000 words over 17 years, I’m like the Farmers Insurance guy – I’ve seen a thing or two.
And I’ve learned a thing or two about how politics, policy and governance works – and doesn’t – in the Palmetto State. Now with elections around the corner, maybe it’s time to share some of the bigger lessons.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina! (2019) by editor and publisher Andy Brack offers incisive commentaries on the American South, politics, the common good and interesting South Carolina leaders. Available exclusively for Kindle for $7.99. A paperback version will be ready soon. Learn more.
Charleston Currents is brought to you free of charge thanks to the generosity of our underwriters:
Charleston City Paper, an alt-weekly seen by more than 100,000 people, offers the latest on news, views, arts, dining and music. Sign up for newsletters that will keep you up-to-date all week.
Statehouse Report is a renowned statewide policy and politics forecast published every Friday that informs South Carolina’s opinion leaders with key insights and news.
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Use our feed
Send us your comments
Recent Comments