For a world that values labor, do two things 

(Remarks by Lynn Teague, LWVSC VP Issues & Action, on the steps of the SC State House, Workers Over Billionaires March & Rally, Labor Day 2025) 

Greetings from the League of Women Voters of South Carolina! I have two points to make today, two things that I hope you will share with your friends, family and neighbors because we can win if we work together.

First, vote in all elections, but especially in the primaries. 

Only 15-20% of registered voters vote in our primaries, far less than in November’s general elections. That is a major contributor to our having a government that is out of sync with the interests of many South Carolinians. Given our gerrymandered districts that predetermine November outcomes and our 60-40% partisan split statewide, most of the real decisions about who will govern us are made in the primaries, not in November.

Second, consider policy proposals very carefully. 

There truly is no free lunch. A good example: proposals to end the income tax are becoming popular. And yet, it can be guaranteed that this change would ultimately harm most of us both financially and in quality of life. 

Two things will happen. 

• First, government will do fewer things. The cuts probably won’t be where you think they are needed. Instead, roads, schools, disaster response, technical education, and more will suffer.
• The other thing that is sure to happen is that other taxes will go up. A well-designed progressive income tax is our fairest form of taxation. We should be working for a more progressive income tax, not for its elimination. 

After 14 years at the State House, I could go on for a long time about both existing and proposed policies harmful to workers, but I’ll leave it there for now. 

Consider issues carefully and vote in every election for which you are eligible. In between elections, call and write to public officials so they know what you think. Let them know that you are a constituent and that you intend to vote in every election. 

If we all do it, we can have a world that fairly rewards those who labor.