Time’s ticking, South Carolina. In 140 days, the 2025 legislative session kicks off, but don’t expect any fireworks. You know how it goes. The real action happens behind closed doors, where deals are struck, and talking points are crafted long before the cameras roll. If you want to cut through the noise, you’ll have to do something most people dread—get informed. I know, it’s not the most exciting thing in the world, but if you want to know who’s really pulling the strings, it’s a must.
Now, about getting informed. Gosh, I get it. It’s boring. But here’s the thing. If you’re relying on your legislators to tell you what’s going on, you’re already behind. What they’re feeding you is often what their think tank pals have pre-approved. Oh, and please don’t assume think tanks are simply making suggestions. They’re handing over ready-made policies, complete with talking points, and our elected officials? They’re just reading the script. So, if you want the truth, you’ve got to dig a little deeper yourself. By the way, digging deep, that’s a big part of what we do here at ConservaTruth.
Read the article on Unmasking Who’s Really Writing Policy in South Carolina and find out how these organizations are truly the ones pulling the legislative strings.
Silence is consent. That old saying still holds true. If you’re not speaking up, you might as well be saying, “Go ahead, do whatever you want.” And trust me, they will. They’re counting on you staying quiet. The fewer complaints, the easier it is for them to push through their donor-driven agendas. Your voice matters, and it’s one of the few things that can cut through the carefully managed spin. Call, email, attend town halls—whatever it takes. Just make sure you’re informed, and they know you’re not going to sit back and let them make decisions without your input. Oh, and please don’t assume legislators are experts in legislation. They’re not. Once you dig deeper, you’ll quickly discover you know a lot more about the bill you’re discussing than they do. In fact, they won’t even remember voting for the law that made your life harder.
Sorry to point this out, but I don’t want you feeling bamboozled. That whole “I have access to my legislator” comfort? It’s a strategy. It’s really about keeping them comfortable, making sure you feel good about that access while you miss just how little it actually means.
Here’s where it gets really important—talking to your neighbors, sharing what you’ve learned, and helping them understand what’s at stake. It’s not enough to know what’s going on. You need to engage with your community. When you do, you become the voice in the crowd. You’re starting a conversation that can lead to real change. You’re planting seeds of meaningful change. And let’s face it, with the kind of decisions our legislators are making, we need as many informed voices as we can get. Can’t make this up.
Now, about those legislative priorities—they’re not looking great. What makes it worse? This next session kicks off after all the legislators have secured their re-election. They’re feeling confident, maybe a little too confident, because now they’re more focused on pleasing their donors than serving the people who actually voted for them. You’ll see some nice headlines and feel-good bills at first, but here’s the scary part—once the amendments start rolling in, they’ll completely undermine the good intentions. Expect legislation that ultimately benefits those who can buy influence, not the ones who truly need help. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s the reality we’re dealing with.
So, what can you do? Use these 140 days wisely. Get informed, speak out, and engage with your community. Don’t expect your legislators to give you the full story, because most of the time, they’re just repeating what their think tank partners tell them. The legislative session may be a few months away, but the real work starts now. Remember, if you stay silent, you’re giving them exactly what they want.
The clock’s ticking, South Carolina. It’s time to make sure your voice is heard before it’s too late.
