The SC Policy Council now has the debate I participated in last month up on YouTube, in two parts, above and below.
So watch if you’re interested in whether those who spend to influence elections should have to disclose their sources of income. Which is what it was about — not, as the Policy Council would have it, “free speech.”
Lynn Teague was with me on the side of all that is right and true, Policy Council director Ashley Landess and Rep. Rick Quinn were our respected interlocutors on the other side.
Now that the video is available and I can share with you, I need to disclose a source of income myself.
When we arrived for the debate, there was at each of our places a little gift bag. I could see that the cellophane package contained a bag of Adluh grits, a tea towel with a Palmetto tree on it, and some black tissue paper. As I was leaving with mine — yes, I’m back on a paleo diet, but someone in the family could eat the grits, right? — the Policy Council’s Barton Swaim said to be careful with it, as there was “a card” inside. I said thanks, and to let me know any time they need me for something similar.
I thought he meant a thank-you card or something.
When I got it home and unwrapped the package, I unfolded the tissue paper to find what looked at first like a gift card. In fact, it said “gift card.” So I was thinking, “Oh, 10 bucks at Starbucks would be nice.”
Then I looked more closely, saw that it was a debit card with $100 on it, and immediately exclaimed, “I can’t keep this!” To which my wife replied, “And my wife said, “Why not? You don’t work for the newspaper any more.”
All those years working for newspapers, I could not have accepted any sort of stipend, and I gave up any honoraria — such as that $3,400 Presbyterian College wanted me to have for serving on a panel one evening — without a second thought. I would tell them to keep it, and if they wouldn’t, I’d turn and give it to charity.
But this time I kept it, after calculating in my head the number of hours I had spent on the debate (at least four), which actually made it seem less like a gift.
But I haven’t spent it yet. Have to activate it first. And before that, I wanted to disclose. Which I just did.
Oh, and I still disagree with the Policy Council on the same things I did before, and just as vehemently. I thought I’d say that for my readers who think money buys agreement.
Also, I did receive a thank-you card signed by everybody from the Policy Council, which was nice of them.
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Beers on Brad!
Ha-ha! Speaking of cards, that Doug certainly is one!
Give it to charity? I think I’m gonna puke.
When I worked for the state, I was frequently offered free soft drinks, coffee, donuts, etc when I had interactions with some customers at their places of business.
They weren’t bribes – they were simply being nice – and were typical items available for any guests.
But I was taught by my supervisor to always politely decline anything – and everything – even an offer of bottled water on a 100 degree day – and I always turned it down. Those 100 degree days were tough though.
The toughest offer to turn down was at Myrtle Beach one summer day. The company I visited was having a BBQ lunch with all the trimmings for all their employees, vendors, and really everyone else that was on site 9They even packaged up some of the extra lunches and took them over to some neighbor places of business). It was lunchtime and I was tired and hungry – but I turned it down by making up some excuse about having to meet someone for a lunch appointment.