A one year project to become a better man in America's south
Day 229 – Should poor people pay more in taxes?
The short answer is NO. No one should pay more taxes. However, everyone should pay something. We need to lower taxes as a whole and that means changing the tax structure and reallocating some burden. Poor South Carolinians, or residents of any other state, should not get a total free ride.
Day 228 – It’s Tuesday and that means its typically the busiest day of the week. The SC legislature is in town, our primary clients are blowing us up, we tape the WACH Fox segment of Pub Politics and we are preparing for the pub version. I find these type days extremely stressful and when stressed, its hard to concentrate on work. It’s hard to be creative and its hard to be productive.
Day 227 – It’s 8 am. I’ve been working for the past three hours and I’ve gotten more done in that time than I have the past two weeks total.
No calls. No meetings. No distractions. Just concentration and production.
Every two hours one of my teammates hits me with “there isn’t enough time.” That’s BS. There is enough time. As cliche as it sounds, its all about how you spend that time. Concentration produces maximum efficiency and production.
Day 226 – South Carolina’s history is plagued with racism as our state was built on the backs’ of African slaves. In that history we find a deep culture passed down through generations. For example, earlier this week I tweeted “stepping is a great African American art” while watching a step show during a middle school cultural awareness pageant.
Anthony Bourdain described it best when visiting South Carolina’s coast:
Day 225 – I have been fortunate in recent years to travel across the globe. In just the past three weeks I have played on the Vegas strip, stood on the Hoover Dam, gazed out over the Grand Canyon, driven across the Golden Gate Bridge and partied through Austin. I loved every minute of it, but there is something about the South Carolina lowcountry that makes me feel right with the world.
I don’t fish. I don’t boat. But the smell of saltwater through the lowcountry marsh tells me that I’m exactly where I need to be. It’s home. It’s as close as I’ll ever be to a hug from my mother. It’s the comfort, peace and family that runs through all five senses.
Day 224 – Tonight we hosted our highest profile Pub Politics yet when Congressman Joe Wilson joined us at the Pub. We talked about the federal government and even national security. This is one you have to watch.
With all the big news surrounding Ken Ard this week, we couldn’t through this week without throwing in some state news. Senator Phil Shoopman joined us for a few minutes to talk about the latest developments.
Day 223 – If you’re in Columbia this week and you hear familiar voices on the midlands #1 talk radio station, WVOC, don’t think that Phil Bailey and I have hijacked the Keven Cohen Show. Know that we have!
Today Phil and I had a blast filling in for Keven while he is on vacation. We packed the show with state legislators, city council candidates, Congressman Joe Wilson and even ladies to talk about St Patty’s Day and the Carolina Cup.
Day 222 – This week South Carolina Senator Harvey Peeler took the state senate floor after being beat by Senate Democrats in his attempt to become the Senate President Pro Tempore. In his speech, Peeler said “my sister says its because I’m a Virgo… because I’m extremely loyal. I was always loyal to my Captain and when I became Captain, I expect people to be loyal to me.”
He’s right.
Day 221 – I cannot even begin to tell you how hectic this week has been. Today was very frustrating and I’m honestly a little too angry to talk about it at the moment. I’ve learned that in times like these, the best thing one can do is step back, take a few hours off and react when the time is right. At this time, I’ll just say that I’m sick of working with politicians who enjoy committing political suicide and who seem to find joy in ripping their own party apart. It’s gotten pretty old.
Anyway, it is what it is. More later. Here’s today’s WACH Fox segment of Pub Politics.
Day 220 – Typically on an airplane I find myself wanting to write. Not today. I’m flying from Austin back to Columbia after a few days at SXSW. I’m beat. And a little frustrated.
I was not scheduled to depart until tomorrow, but the Ken Ard resignation is forcing me to fly home a day early. After spending $900 on an airline ticket, I couldn’t afford to fly Elizabeth home too. She is staying in Austin an additional day. She should be pissed as Hell, but she’s being cool.
Day 219 – Is it appropriate to talk about your “junk” on CNN? Probably not. But you guys know how I roll =)
Its another busy day at SXSW. Panels, parties, no sleep and lots of fun. We are having a blast. In fact, we are having so much fun that I nearly forgot about my Macbook Air being ruined. Nearly, but not totally.
Day 218 – It has been a long day at SXSW. At some point I’ll give you a run down of everything I’m learning. Today I’m still in a tizzy over the ruined Macbook Air. AppleCare won’t cover it and the Apple store wouldn’t see it. I’m going to wait three days to turn it back on in hopes that it will dry out and be fine.
No time to blog today. Too busy learning about blogging at SXSW. Today I’ll leave you with a clip from last night’s CNN panel.
Day 217 – Hey guys. This is going to be real short. I just got into Austin a couple hours ago for SXSW. Things started off great with this 30-minute Spreecast interview with Eric Wilson. Things went downhill real fast when I dumped an entire bourbon and sweet-tea cocktail into my brand new MacBook Air. Yeah, as in two-days-old brand new.
Day 216 – Yesterday a friend accused me of becoming less conservative because I’ve been spending so much time on the “left coast.”
I’m not becoming less conservative. In fact, seeing more of the world has only strengthened my resolve as a conservative. Also, my views aren’t just being influenced by San Francisco. They are being influenced by many different regions.
Day 215 – It was a real honor to host Senator John Land on Pub Politics today. This week Senator John Land, the SC Senate’s most senior member, announced his retirement. His announcement marks the end of an era.
Check out episode 94.
Day 214 – It’s a busy day in Columbia and Tuesday means its time for another segment of the WACH Fox version of Pub Politics.
Democrats say the Republicans hate black people, so I ask “do Democrats hate God?”
That’s obviously a stupid question. Democrats don’t hate God. And you know what? Republicans don’t hate black people.
Day 213 – A quick video for this Monday. Think different, be different to innovate.
- Wesley Donehue
Day 212 – Another quick video. You can have it fast. Or you can have it amazing and perfect. Very rarely can you have all the above.
- Wesley Donehue
Day 211 – Bringing back some video posts because I’m too busy to write. Here I talk about the need to listen to your body. Don’t neglect your body for work, because in the end, it will just screw up your creativity and productivity.
Day 210 – Yesterday I had the privilege of attending Rally’s Lunch and Learn series where Eric Ries, blogger and author of The Lean Startup, spoke. As you can see from the picture above, the room was packed. I was eager to help fill the packed room with one more chair because I became a fan or Ries’ blog last year and I quickly bought his book when it was released a few weeks back.
Last year I visited Rally CEO Tom Serres when he announced his newest venture and opened his new office in downtown San Francisco. At the time, much of the office was empty. The downstairs area was only half renovated with giant holes in the walls and bare electrical wires dangling. Tom told me “my vision is to turn this into a startup incubator where we help social entrepreneurs grow.” He continued to tell me about his vision for having speakers come in and teach these social entrepreneurs.
