Democratic governments deserve the hard work required to maintain them, reader urges

Worth the hard work

Your coverage of South Carolina redistricting plans are appreciated. Redistricting results will have profound consequences for the two major political parties in the state and for public policy prospects for at least a decade.

If voting districts result in noncompetitive general elections between two established political parties, then the primary election of the larger of the two parties often determines the general election result.

Primaries becoming determinative for public office have a long term impact on the internal dynamics of political parties.

Democracies are harmed by noncompetitive elections. Political parties are also harmed internally when primaries, historically shaped by low voter turnout, reward extreme candidates. Party nominations can skew toward divisive office seekers.

When parties distance themselves from moderate and independent voters, they foster dysfunctional governments. Civil society roots are damaged when factions within any political party become imbalanced.

Short-term results for one dominant political party might look attractive, but i In the long run, the dominant party and the democracy it functions within become unhealthy.

Democracies are worth the hard work required to maintain them. A democracy is a priceless treasure more precious than any political party.

Laura R. Woliver, Columbia

Help school bus drivers

Why is no one taking this seriously? Does someone need to lose their life for something to be done?

School bus drivers need assistants who serve as monitors.

These poor bus drivers are at wits end.

How do you drive a bus load of children, concentrate on driving and babysitting all at the same time?. Something needs to be done NOW.

Donna M. Vickery, Conway

Death Row option?

I recently saw an article on line about a pod for assisted suicide in countries that allow it. It mentioned Sweden, Belgium and Canada.

The pod basically floods the interior with nitrogen and only 1 percent oxygen. You go to sleep, and are dead in 30 seconds.

These were designed for those who have terminal illnesses and are suffering.

My question is why can’t we use these for Death Row inmates? It seems more humane than lethal injection (which we can’t get anyway) a firing squad, or the electric chair.

Richard B. Hare, Columbia

Do it for country

The Greatest Generation during World War II was faced with rationing of essential items such as fuel, oil, coal, certain food stuffs, shoes and nylon.

Certainly an argument could be made for such rationing to fly in the face of personal rights; however, by and large, most Americans accepted the rationing for the greater good of the country, and if it trampled personal rights, so be it. We had a war to win.

We now are faced with a war against an unseen virus. The best the government can do is suggest to Americans that a vaccine will help this war effort.

It is not a perfect vaccine. It may trample your personal rights, but it is collectively the best thing for the country.

You may not like vaccines just as the Greatest Generation disliked rationing, but it is what you can do for your country to win this virus war.

If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your country.

Mike Tepley, Beaufort