Sunday, September 03, 2006
It's time to play everyone's favorite game, "The State vs. Real Newspapers."
[Cue Theme Music, Applause, Chuck Woolery.]
Is everyone ready to play? Good, let's introduce our contestants.
Our first contestant, hailing from the Low Country, is The Post and Courier. Known for its provocative opinion page, lively recipe section, and awe-inspiring Spoleto coverage, the P and C has developed large, loyal readership through the years.
Our second contestant, joining us from the Upstate, is The Greenville News. Known for its probing coverage of local government, sterling business reporting, and amusing political cartoons, The Greenville News is widely read by our state's mountain people—and that's saying something; these people have standards.
And, as always, we have The State. Known for reporters who fall asleep on the job (when they're sober enough to actually try to cover the news), copious errors in factual accuracy, and bias so blatant it would make Bull Connor blush, The State is the reason we play the game. So let's get started.
Item 1
A number of citizen and small business groups from around South Carolina have formed a coalition to fight against runaway spending, exploding tax rates, and government waste. How will our contestants deal with the issue? Let's look at their first paragraph.
The Post and Courier
COLUMBIA - Tax and business groups have formed a new coalition that will push the Legislature for caps on local government spending.
The Greenville News
COLUMBIA -- A coalition of business and taxpayer groups today called on lawmakers to impose caps on local government spending, arguing fees and increases in millage are costing the state its competitive edge.
The State
[The State failed to cover the story. Apparently, the Voltron-like uniting of the state's major pro-business and pro-taxpayer groups into a coalition to fight back against expensive government is not worthy of being covered. Or maybe Aaron Gould Sheinin was fighting off a hangover? Who can know? What we do know is that, having failed to answer the bell, The State loses. Again. The State: Run by losers, read by the Midlands.]
UPDATE: It looks as though The State did publish a version of this story in the local section. Now, why they would publish a story about state government and state policy, that effects all of the state's taxpayers, businesses, services, and it quality of life in the local section is beyond me. It's either gross negligence or extreme partisanship. Is The State run by Fools or Knaves? Take your pick...
Posted by Bill Smith at 9:28 AM |
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