Charleston Currents

BRACK: State budget shows legislators’ values

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There’s a lot that goes on in a legislative session: Thousands of bills are filed. Hundreds of news stories are written about those bills. Scores of committee meetings underscore why making laws is as unsightly as making sausage.

Through it all after several months of work, much hot air was expended. Tempers flared. Filibusterers filibustered. Lobbyists lobbied. Visitors gawked. And a few laws got passed.

In 2019, legislators agreed enough to pass 113 measures – everything from the $9 billion budget to rejiggering voting precincts in Anderson, Greenwood, Dorchester, Pickens, Abbeville and Dillon counties. In fact, they seemed to like fiddling so much with Greenwood County’s precinct maps that they did it twice, first in March and later as the session was coming to a close.

by Andy Brack · 05/27/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Andy Brack, Views

5/27, full issue: Keep your pets cool; Legislative values in budget; New library

IN THIS EDITION

HONORING OUR HEROES. Let’s all take a few quiet moments today, Memorial Day, to honor Americans in our armed forces who gave their lives for our country. Thank you. Rest in peace. Learn more about Memorial Day.

FOCUS: Keep your pets cool in hot weather
COMMENTARY, Brack: State budget shows legislators’ values
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Gaillard Center
GOOD NEWS: First of new libraries to open June 10 in Mount Pleasant
FEEDBACK: Stop political attacks during council meetings
MYSTERY PHOTO: This mystery should be pretty easy
S.C. ENCYCLOPEDIA: Education in South Carolina, part 4
CALENDAR: Piccolo Spoleto and Spoleto Festival USA are in high gear!

by Charleston Currents · 05/27/2019 · Comments are Disabled · Full issue

BRACK: #FakeNews is a fake phenomenon

By Andy Brack, editor and publisher | There is no such thing as #FakeNews.

There is, however, a cynical, national political strategy called #FakeNews. It is a continuing attempt by President Trump and his cronies to promote public disbelief in information that these politicos don’t like or that makes them look bad.

The whole “#FakeNews” phenomenon is nothing more than a public relations ultra-spin to kill the messenger AND the message.

Before you shout #FakeNews or #RealNews, please realize neither exists. Either something is news or it is not. That which is not news either doesn’t measure up as something that’s new, factual and interesting. Or it is something titillating that is simply made up, a fiction.

The job of a reporter is to provide new information based on facts (hence, “news”) with which you might not be familiar so you can keep informed. Facts are bits of verifiable information. For example, Clemson will play in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. That’s a verifiable fact. But it’s also a fact that a Clemson coach hopes the team will win. Sure, that’s an opinion of the coach, but it’s a fact that it is his opinion.