Dear Mr. Ligon,

I was just traveling through your state on my way home from a wonderful vacation at HH Island, when I found the business

page of The Columbia Star

on a table at a McDonalds. I read your article about city subcontracting outreach, and it is pure genius! It is so good to read something that attacks issues with common sense and an obvious sense of basic economics.

This was also noted by reading your "brief" re SCANA. Wow! That is an amazing socialization of expenses while privatizing profits). I would, however, argue that the effects of the mandates you described are far greater than the space your column would allow for and they are of a social nature.

Time and again I read about these types of restrictions on free markets ie unions, affirmative action, and wish people would convey they are the ultimate in discrimination.

Inflating costs to the consumer (in this case the taxpayer) causes the consumer/ tax payer to restrict the number of projects that would have been contracted if the additional capital that was saved had been allowed to remain in the coffers awaiting new projects. Obviously more projects create more jobs, a great percentage of which would be filled by minorities/ willing workers.

The issues you describe are the most problematic in that they exploit the taxpayers, as well as the minorities they are intended to help (God save those who are both minorities and taxpayers).

If the people who sponsor these programs had the best interest of all minorities in mind they would open all Columbia's projects to the free market (the economics of which could be discussed at a later date).

I also wanted to mention your description of the net result of paying inflated costs was perfect, "Or maybe it means the second lowest bidder is making a million dollars more on the same job."

People who believe in affirmative action are the same ones who are the first to object to "big profits." You really got them on that one!

I think it is also worth mentioning these mandates and inflated costs contribute to the countries "crumbling infrastructure" two words hot on the lips of so many as of late.

I am very glad I was able to read your commentaries. I hope the person who left the business page at the Mcdonalds also had a chance to read them. Would love to hear more from you.

Chris Brookes Chagrin Falls, Ohio