It bears all the pluses and minuses of trying to be in The Show and be a reporter of it at the same time (for one, obsessive analysis of all things GOP, shallow relegation of the other party to bit players), but a quick scan reveals three items demonstrating- anew- how South Carolina shoots itself in the foot almost daily when it comes to attracting the younger knowledge workers- and the companies they work for- over the decades they'll need to be attracted until, in theory, SC's education system starts producing its own in sufficient numbers.
Example 1 features outgoing Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor:
In today’s The State, Taylor mentions how his department had its budget cut by 68 percent since he took over. In that vein, it will be harder to promote South Carolina from within Commerce now than ever before, and yet more important to do so.Example 2 features high speed Internet access in South Carolina:
In the results of a survey released Tuesday, Connect South Carolina says that although most of the state has access to a broadband internet connection, 38 percent of households do not subscribe to it. That is above the national average of 33 percent. Connect South Carolina representative Corey Johns said that while income remains an important factor, the biggest reason people do not use broadband is because they don’t see it as relevant.
The two categories are… “I don’t need broadband” or “I don’t understand the importance.” That’s what we call the “relevant” factor. Clearly, what the research shows is that the relevant factor is the greatest barrier to adoption.
In its telephone survey of 1,200 households, the group found that 42 percent of those who do not have home broadband say they don’t need Internet service or don’t understand the benefits. 35 percent said they don’t own a computer. Nine percent said they use dial-up.Example 3 illustrates the problem with the State's 1950s econ dev plan of bribing companies with free land, subsidies, cheap workers who are glad to get any work and so won't get stroppy:
South Carolina's tab for the Boeing Co. plant in North Charleston is growing and the agency running the program said Tuesday it will ask the state to cover a $2.9 million shortfall.
South Carolina's investment in the aircraft maker already is huge already - at least $275 million - and as much as a reported $900 million when local breaks and other incentives are included for a $750 million plant that will assemble one of Boeing's bigger commercial airplanes, the 787.
The Legislature approved the deal a year ago. By February, the State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education got quick approval for $3.1 million to cover initial training startup costs. Legislators then put $3.5 million into the state's budget to cover training through June 2011. But that wasn't enough and the agency needs $2.9 million more through June, said board spokeswoman Kelly Steinhilper.
More Republican pabulum from Wesley Donehue. Like nearly every other politically related blog in this state, this site's true goal isn't to be a news source, but to serve as a promotional platform.
ReplyDeleteIs it any wonder it's always 1967 in South Carolina politics?
Didn't you mean 1867?
ReplyDelete