The Opinion Blog

We need nation-building here at home

Ripped from the wires ... Tom Friedman says there is only one in the presidential campaign: the decline of America:

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Just a few months ago, the consensus view was that Barack Obama would need to choose a hard-core national-security type as his vice presidential running mate to compensate for his lack of foreign policy experience and that John McCain would need a running mate who was young and sprightly to compensate for his age.

Come August, though, I predict both men will be looking for a financial wizard as their running mates to help them steer America out of what could become a serious economic tailspin.

I do not believe nation-building in Iraq is going to be the issue come November -- whether things get better there or worse. If they get better, we'll ignore Iraq more; if they get worse, the next president will be under pressure to get out quicker. I think nation-building in America is going to be the issue.

It takes infrastructure to ensure adequate water, power

Today's editorial notes that there are limits to what government should do to assist local folks unhappy about utility construction projects:

Should government ask more of utility companies that install necessary facilities near residential areas? Yes, with an asterisk.

This issue is hot right now because two utilities, the Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority and the Horry Electric Cooperative, need to install new infrastructure near fast-growing residential areas. The construction -- the water tower in process near The Farm subdivision in Carolina Forest and an electrical substation to be built near the Wynbrooke subdivision -- would benefit these new residents.