Facing New Challenges

Transcription

1 Section3 Facing New Challenges Below: Hurricane Hugo was the most destructive storm to hit South Carolina in more than a century. Near Charleston, the high winds from the hurricane moved these large boats up onto the land. As you read, look for: how Hurricane Hugo helped the economy of the state, the problems caused by a growing population, the effects of our society on the environment, issues of toxic waste, and vocabulary terms: global economy, credit rating, cooperatives, global warming, zoning boards, and wetlands. 578 Chapter 21 The 1980s to the Present Terrorism is one of the primary concerns for South Carolinians for the future. The leaders of the state and nation are working to protect us from future attacks. But there are many other issues that South Carolina must address for future generations, including the economy, urbanization, and land use rules. The Economy As the 1990s began, much of the United States was experiencing an economic slowdown. South Carolina, however, did not experience that slowdown until The state s economy was helped by the insurance payments to the victims of Hurricane Hugo. Those payments rebuilt homes and businesses and kept the economy moving. Nationally, however, fewer people were investing money. Therefore, business growth was limited. High interest rates discouraged many consumers from making large purchases. Many people also blamed the excesses of the eighties for the recession. The 1980s were marked by business growth, but many businesses found it easier to go into debt to buy other companies than to build up their own companies. In the mid-1990s, the American economy began to improve. Part of that improvement was a result of technological improvements businesses made

2 in order to remain competitive in the global economy, an economy without strict borders where products, personnel, money, and resources intertwine. Many American companies operate internationally; that is, they have facilities in other countries. And many foreign-owned companies established facilities in the United States. In South Carolina, for example, German automaker BMW built a manufacturing plant in Greer, and Frenchowned Hoffman Larouche located in Florence County. One factor that may help attract new industry in the future is the state s AAA credit rating. The credit rating of a state, or any organization, determines the interest rate that state pays to borrow money. South Carolina s high credit rating allows the state to borrow money at a lower interest rate. South Carolina is one of only seven states to possess such a rating. The economy of the state was strong between 1994 and 2001, and there were revenue surpluses for many of those fiscal years. A fiscal year is a twelve-month financial period. The fiscal year for South Carolina begins July 1 and ends June 30 of the following calendar year. Jobs in agriculture and the textile industry continue to decrease, but new industries have moved to the state. The military presence in South Carolina decreased during the 1990s. Myrtle Beach Air Force Base closed in 1993, and the Charleston Naval Base and Shipyard closed in But Fort Jackson gained several hundred jobs during the 1990s. Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter and the Parris Island Marine Corps Base near Beaufort remain important military installations. There is concern that some of the South Carolina bases may be closed when a new round of base closings occurs in Even though military bases have closed during the last few years, the state made important contributions to the 1991 Gulf War. Many South Carolinians left their regular jobs and served for up to six months in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Israel. The squadron from McEntire Air National Guard Base and squadrons from both Shaw and Myrtle Beach air force bases led several Above: Governor Carroll Campbell (on the left) takes part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the BMW plant in Greer. Section 3 Facing New Challenges 579

3 Above: Parris Island Marine Corps Base continues to be an important part of the economy of Beaufort and South Carolina. Visitors are encouraged, and parades and graduation ceremonies are popular events at the facility. Did You all the Marine Know?Nearly Corps recruits in the eastern United States are trained at Parris Island. bombing raids over Iraq. Many troops embarked on ships for the war from Charleston Naval Base, and supplies left for Saudi Arabia through the Charleston Air Base. Fort Jackson trained many soldiers during the war and was the focal point of several returning companies. Soldiers trained at Parris Island designed and carried out the rescue of pilots shot down during the American involvement in Bosnia. Several squadrons of planes from Shaw Air Base also served in the police action the United States undertook as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force. And, South Carolinians have been actively involved in the recent war on terrorism in Afghanistan and the military action in Iraq. The war against terrorism began in 2001 after the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. were attacked by terrorists using airplanes as bombs. Almost 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001, in those attacks. Several South Carolina natives were killed in those attacks. Growing Urbanization The population of South Carolina has increased dramatically in the last few years because of businesses that have relocated to South Carolina. In 1910, South Carolina s population was 1,515,400, about 1.6 percent of the total United States population. From 1920 to 1970, South Carolina s population continued to grow, but not as quickly as the country s population. In 1970 the state s population was only about 1.3 percent of the population of 580 Chapter 21 The 1980s to the Present

4 Interpreting Source Documents Executive Order Establishing the Office of Homeland Security After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the Office of Homeland Security was created. Read the following selection and then answer the questions. By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Establishment. I hereby establish within the Executive Office of the President an Office of Homeland Security (the Office ) to be headed by the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. Sec. 2. Mission. The mission of the Office shall be to develop and coordinate the implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to secure the United States from terrorist threats or attacks. The Office shall perform the functions necessary to carry out this mission, including the functions specified in section 3 of this order. Sec. 3. Functions. The functions of the Office shall be to coordinate the executive branch s efforts to detect, prepare for, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks within the United States. (a) National Strategy. The Office shall work with executive departments and agencies, State and local governments, and private entities to ensure the adequacy of the national strategy for detecting, preparing for, preventing, protecting against, responding to, and recovering from terrorist threats or attacks within the United States.... (b) Detection. The Office shall identify priorities and coordinate efforts for collection and analysis of information within the United States regarding threats of terrorism against the United States and activities of terrorists or terrorist groups within the United States. The Office also shall identify, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, priorities for collection of intelligence outside the United States regarding threats of terrorism within the United States. (i) In performing these functions, the Office shall work with Federal, State, and local agencies, as appropriate, to: (A) facilitate collection from State and local governments and private entities of information pertaining to terrorist threats or activities within the United States.... (C) coordinate efforts to ensure that all executive departments and agencies that have intelligence collection responsibilities have sufficient technological capabilities and resources to collect intelligence and data relating to terrorist activities or possible terrorist acts within the United States, working with the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, as appropriate; (D) coordinate development of monitoring protocols and equipment for use in detecting the release of biological, chemical, and radiological hazards; and (E) ensure that, to the extent permitted by law, all appropriate and necessary intelligence and law enforcement information relating to homeland security is disseminated to and exchanged among appropriate executive departments and agencies responsible for homeland security Who established the Office of Homeland Security? 2. What are the functions of the Office of Homeland Security? 3. Who is the office supposed to work with? 4. What is the Office of Homeland Security trying to prevent in the future? Section 3 Facing New Challenges 581

5 Above: These Columbia homes built in the 1990s are closely spaced to provide more houses in a smaller area. Did You Know?The Know? first Spoleto Festival USA was held in 1977, and Charleston is designated the permanent American home for this Festival of Two Worlds. the United States. Then the trend began to reverse, mainly because more people moved into the state following companies that had relocated here. In the last fifteen years many people have retired to the state. According to the 2000 census, South Carolina had a population of 4,012,012, an increase of over 500,000 since There has been a shift from a rural to an urban population. Many small towns and areas have become even smaller, while cities like Sumter and Rock Hill have grown. Between 1950 and 1990, the population of South Carolina grew by about 90 percent. During the same period, the population of urban areas increased over 200 percent, while the population of the rural areas grew less than 7 percent. This shift is important. The problems in South Carolina s urban centers are the problems of expanding communities in any state. Urban centers have to deal with providing and maintaining roads, water and sewer lines, and other services. Police and fire protection must be provided over a wider area. The problems in the rural areas, however, are the problems of shifting populations, changing needs, and changing industry. In most urban areas, the growth is not to the center of the city but in the suburbs. Downtown centers deteriorate or decline. As people and businesses move out, cities lose tax revenue, but the cost of services does not decrease. The costs must be spread over fewer and fewer taxpayers. Most of the tax revenue comes from property taxes; as property tax rates increase, more and more people think about leaving the city. People also want to reduce the property taxes, but they do not want to reduce the services those taxes pay for. Some planners believe a solution to this dilemma may be to encourage cities to concentrate housing and other buildings in a smaller area. Services would be easier and less expensive to provide because they would be concentrated. This density approach often results in multistory, high-rise residential and office buildings. Planners who recommend greater density make sure they include a sufficient number of parks and open spaces. Rapidly growing suburban areas require more housing, medical facilities, shopping centers, and recreational opportunities. Local government must provide schools, hospitals, highways, sewers, water supplies, and other costly services. To reduce the amount of money required, the Commission on the Future suggested that city and county governments consolidate into one government. This would eliminate the duplication of services like public safety, sanitation, and recreational facilities. As more people are crowded together, crimes of violence and crimes against property increase. In addition, well-financed illegal drug operations have sent organized gangs of drug dealers into South Carolina from major 582 Chapter 21 The 1980s to the Present

6 urban areas like New York and Miami. This places greater burdens on police and taxpayers who support law enforcement services. Another major concern is that housing units of the future are likely to be smaller whether cities grow or not, and land on which to build will be even more scarce. Further complicating the problem is that housing costs have risen so much that many people cannot afford to buy a house. In the past, teenagers usually moved away from home soon after high school graduation; today, young adults live at home longer because they cannot afford to move out. In the future, people may create alternative ways to become homeowners. One suggestion is to form cooperatives by pooling their resources and making group purchases. As harmful as a sudden gain in population is to urban areas, a sudden loss in population is equally harmful to rural areas. Rural areas have to provide many of the same services as cities do sanitation, police protection, and water and sewer lines to keep people from leaving. New services mean increased taxes. To complicate their concerns, rural areas have discovered that some big-city problems, such as drugs, have made their way to the country. The Environment The environment is both a political issue and a social cause and it affects us all. The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, to publicize environmental problems and to pressure lawmakers into passing environmental Below: These coastal wetlands near Hilton Head are home to such birds as the common egret and the tricolored heron. Concerned citizens work to ensure that such habitats are not damaged. Section 3 Facing New Challenges 583

7 Above: Tree farms cover thousands of miles in South Carolina. Most contain longleaf pine trees, such as those above. Did You Know?An Know? acre of trees can remove about 13 tons of dust and gases from the surrounding environment every year. legislation. That same year, President Nixon established the Environmental Protection Agency. In 1971, Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which was designed to reduce harmful emissions from cars, factories, and power plants. In South Carolina, environmental issues are handled by the Department of Natural Resources, which was organized in We do not yet fully understand the effects of our actions on nature. Some scientists believe that increased amounts of carbon monoxide and other gases from manufacturing and transportation have changed the temperature of our atmosphere enough to produce what we call global warming. Other scientists believe that global warming is part of a natural cycle. Our climate, as well as the natural paths of wind and air currents, is changing slightly. Some areas of the world are experiencing longer summers; others, longer winters. These changes affect agriculture, wildlife, and the availability of water. If the warming trend continues, one possible result would be the melting of the polar ice caps. This would raise the level of the oceans and result in coastal flooding. While global warming would have an effect on South Carolina s coastline, land use has become one of the most important issues in South Carolina. To make sure that land is used wisely, most counties and cities have zoning boards, which decide what can or cannot be built on a particular piece of land. Some counties like Richland are working to develop growth plans that would regulate expansion. But plans like these are controversial and must make sure that the rights of the individual are not trampled by the state. 584 Chapter 21 The 1980s to the Present

8 In recent years, the state has taken steps to regulate how close to the ocean buildings can be built. The state is concerned not only about insurance costs should another strong hurricane strike but also about wetland areas. Wetlands are swamps, marsh, and other areas that are covered or soaked with water at least part of the year. Wetlands are necessary for the growth of marine animals and fish. Erosion is an important conservation issue in South Carolina. Erosion occurs when soil washes away because there is no vegetation to hold it. Lumber and wood products are important to the state s economy, but we must be careful not to cut too many trees too quickly because it takes years for a forest to grow. Trees also are important to the amount of water available in the ground and in the atmosphere. Trees collect rain when it falls, allowing the rainwater to soak gradually into the soil. Trees also act like gigantic pumps, pulling up water from deep in the ground and emitting it into the air as water vapor. The water vapor turns into clouds, which produce more rain. When rain falls on bare ground, it evaporates or runs off and carries the soil with it. Over time, fewer trees mean less water, which reduces the water table (the point at which spaces below ground are filled with water instead of air). This reduction may have an impact on the frequency of droughts, which have occurred about every fifty years in South Carolina s history. Below: Duke Power operates the Oconee Nuclear Station. The plant, which began operation in 1973, has produced more electricity than any other nuclear plant in the country. The three reactors show below are cooled by water from Lake Keowee. Toxic Waste Disposal A significant problem facing South Carolina is the safe disposal of chemical and nuclear wastes. This is also a national problem and requires federal participation. Special toxic or hazardous waste dumps, now certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must be used. This issue is especially important to South Carolina since we have one of the few toxic waste disposal companies operating in the nation GSX in Pinewood. Many former chemical company sites are contaminated. Careless management and the leaking tanks at gasoline stations have polluted many yards of dirt. Many toxic waste dumps were used before the dangers were known. In Columbia and Camden, one company had contaminated large amounts of land over the past twenty-five years; eventually it had to shut down in Clean-up is costly, both in terms of money and time. Billions of dollars and years of work will be needed to make some areas safe for human habitation again. Section 3 Facing New Challenges 585

9 Nuclear wastes are another problem because, at present, there are no known guaranteed-safe ways to dispose of them. Nuclear waste remains radioactive for centuries. In other words, wastes disposed of in 2000 could create environmental problems in the year And the problem has become more important to South Carolina because the federal government has agreed to take nuclear waste from certain European countries and store it at the Savannah River Plant. The transfer of the materials from the ships in Charleston to the plant near Aiken puts people at risk along the routes of the transfer trains. Above: It is important for students and other South Carolinians to embrace and learn from the diversity of our culture. All of the state s citizens have contributions to make. Toward the Future The social history of South Carolina the legacy of slavery and Jim Crow laws has left many scars on many groups of people. Both blacks and whites must face and recognize past problems to help erase the hard feelings. Racism and discrimination of any kind must be removed from our society. This goal is especially important today as the number of Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern immigrants to our state grows. All ethnic groups have contributions to make, and the contributions of all groups should be recognized. All people deserve to be judged on their merits, not the color of their skin, their gender, or their ethnic background. There are many problems and issues that must be addressed to preserve our civilization. Learning from our history, from our mistakes and successes, will help build a better future for all of us. There will always be problems but solutions can always be found. There are no problems that a state like South Carolina cannot solve if its residents work together. That is the challenge and the promise of the future. It s Your Turn 1. Why is urbanization an issue for both urban and rural areas of the state? 2. What state agency monitors water and other natural resources for contamination? 3. Why is toxic waste disposal a problem for South Carolina? 586 Chapter 21 The 1980s to the Present

10 Cultural Connections Hootie and the Blowfish South Carolina has produced several important rock and roll stars. During the 1950s, Chubby Checker from Andrews twisted his way through the night. In the 1960s and 1970s, James Brown of Aiken felt good. A new group of stars arrived during the 1990s. Edwin McCain of Greenville and Hootie and the Blowfish from Columbia were two of the newcomers. Of those two, Hootie and the Blowfish had the most success. The band, Hootie and the Blowfish, arrived on the scene in the early 1990s. The four members of the band Darius Rucker, Jim Sonefeld, Dean Felber, and Mark Bryan attended the University of South Carolina together. In 1994 they released their first CD Cracked Rear View and within weeks sold thirteen million copies, the fastest selling CD in history at that time. Three of the hits from the CD were Hold My Hand, Let Her Cry, and I Only Want to Be With You. Overall the CD sold more than fifteen million copies. The band followed their first CD with Fairweather Johnson, and while the CD did not sell as many copies of the first, critics still recognized the band as a major music force. Three more CDs have been released since Fairweather Johnson Musical Chairs in 1998, Scattered, Smothered, and Covered two years later, and Hootie and Above: The group, Hootie and the Blowfish, formed at the University of South Carolina in the late 1980s. the Blowfish in The band has appeared on Saturday Night Live and performed concerts all over the world. They have done several concerts to help raise money for charity and have given several free concerts at the University of South Carolina. Some of their charity efforts include the golf event Monday After the Masters. Each year since 1995 the band has hosted a pro-am event that includes golfing greats and other celebrities. The event began in Columbia, but in recent years has moved to the Myrtle Beach area. The band considers the event one way they can give back to the community. They have also donated money to poor school districts in the state. One unique aspect of Hootie and the Blowfish is that the members of the band are from different races. Darius Rucker is African American while the other three members are white. Newsweek described the band in 1995 as An interracial band that made only passing mention of their racial identity, they became the most popular rock group in America, shaping the musical year in their image.... Hootie and the Blowfish are an excellent example of the cooperation and improved race relations in South Carolina. They continue to make contributions to the music industry and to the general community. Section 3 Facing New Challenges 587