Porking S.C.

I've got virtually no experience this century in writing about the South Carolina General Assembly, but Cindi Scoppe's column today about pork rings familiar. I'm not trying to argue against her overall point -- the Legislature should leave local governing to the local goverments -- but the fault may be in ourselves, so to speak. As constituents complain about local government, the politicians in Columbia want to do something. Yes, it's meddling, but it's also the desire to not have to tell someone, "Sorry, you need to go see your (mayor, county councilman)." In part, Cindi is asking politicians to do something against type. It doesn't make her incorrect, however. The system is archaic -- and as you know, we can't have archaic and eat it too.