SPEAK OUT! Georgetown County

For years there has been no loud voice speaking out on behalf of the rights of private property owners in Georgetown County. Today I am proud to announce that this has changed with the organization of SPEAK OUT!

The need for such an organization is apparent whenever issues affecting private property rights come before County Council and the only groups that are heard from are all in favor of adding laws that further erode the rights that we have as property owners, whether it is large acreage or a residential lot.

SPEAK OUT! will not be asking Council to strike down any existing laws or regulations that affect private property rights, we simply do not want them to add to the existing ones.

The recent flap over the cutting of a live oak in Murrells Inlet was the loud and clear call for a group like SPEAK OUT!

A landowner lawfully removed a large live oak from their property. The usual suspects showed up before County Council and wailed on about what a travesty this was and how we needed a law to stop the wholesale slaughter of live oaks. After the smoke cleared and the eyes dried it came to light that the owner of the tree had consulted an arborist and it was recommended that the tree be removed. If there had been a law in place, the only difference would have been that the owner would have had to pay the County $100 or more for a permit. The fact is, there is no wholesale slaughter of live oaks. Everyone loves live oaks and they won’t be cut because of the law of common sense, unless the owner of the tree deems it necessary to cut it for THEIR good reason. We don’t need a new law. We need to understand that, today it is a tree that is important to one group, tomorrow it will be another group with a different concern and before you know it we have no rights left. As a member of the Sierra Club stated, “This proposed law is a good start.”

But Speak Out! is not about trees. It is about the protection of our existing property rights to do what we choose, within the law, on our own property without the interference of people who do not pay our taxes, cut our grass, trim our trees or help us pay for our property. There has never been nor will there ever be one of these groups that will offer to pay anyone anything for any right that they want taken away.

SPEAK OUT! is an e-mail based group with no scheduled meetings and no dues. You simply add your name in support of the concept and you will be notified by e-mail of any property issue in Georgetown County that may come before Council. You will be given the facts in order to make up your own mind as to whether you want to contact your Council representative or not. You will be copied on any relevant correspondence from or to the organization. I will be representing SPEAK OUT! at County Council meetings as well as to any community group that may request information. I will be asking for your input into what will be said.

Please e-mail me at: SPEAKOUT@SC.RR.COM to join and I will forward you copies of a few of the e-mails that I have received from people who are against the idea and whose opinions may persuade you even more of the need for SPEAK OUT!

Bill Hills

Organizer of SPEAK OUT!

Murrells Inlet

Commend Coastal Eye Group

Hello fellow Coastal Eye Group tan baggers. I just completed a truly pleasant experience having cataracts removed from both eyes. Step by step Dr. Carole Young and everyone one of her staff including scheduling, nursing and billing work together as true professionals.

First the eye exams … the three prescriptions for eye drops … the surgery … the patch … dark glasses … eye drops and exams again … and then sight.

We are truly blessed to have Coastal Eye Group here in our community. See you around at the Walmart.

Brenda Lesesne

Pharmacist,

 Georgetown Walmart

Andrews

Oceans of money

“SC may have spent $406 million on improper Medicaid payments" (Sun News, Jan. 14). That’s why we all want to eye-ball those we give money to, rather than have politicians dictate to us.

A large amount of money is available to the truly needy, and we must begin to help them right now. The Hollywood and sports wealthy people should look in their own back yards and donate their well-earned money to the Salvation Army, Red Cross and other reliable charities.

Politicians, however, have oceans of money to donate. Their way of life is “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours, and to hail with the taxpayers.” How do they pay FICA? They simply raise their salaries to cover this additional fee, and callously make fools of us all.

Politicians should tell us clearly exactly how much money they have made since they took office. Then indicate how much they will donate to orphanages, to build our infrastructure in their own back yards, and to help other worthy causes.

Many politicians are decent people and simply go along with "the system." These should accept term limits and get out. Let your conscience be your guide, and you will sleep better at night.

 They claim to be taxpayers too, but with our money. This is called a "fictio iuris", a fiction of law. Real taxpayers don’t mind paying cops, firemen and the military, but politicians? What do they really do for us? Come on, guys and dolls, give us back your oceans.

Tom Dunn

Murrells Inlet