South Carolina has issues. We have the highest high school drop out rate in the nation, rank 9th in the nation in the number of HIV/AIDS cases per capita, consistently rank in the top 5 nationally in the number of sexually transmitted diseases and have one of the highest domestic violence related fatality rates in the nation. Our per capita income is falling, unemployment is rising and the number of working people without health insurance is the highest in history and continues to rise.

Why is our state so screwed up? Everyone has a different answer to this question, here's mine. Our state is struggling and failing because our state legislature is dominated by the good ole boy system. There are only 14 female members in the South Carolina House and Senate. South Carolina ranks last nationally in the number of women serving in the state legislature. The SC legislature is dominated by white, male Republicans and they are simply not representative of our state.

An example of our state law maker's backward, insular mind set could be seen in the rejection of an increase in South Carolina's lowest in the nation cigarette tax. Members of the House Ways and Means Committee rejected the measure to raise the cigarette tax by 32 cents, to set up a health insurance fund for small businesses and working families and to fund Medicaid. Committee Chairman Dan Cooper, a Republican from Anderson said he voted against the proposal because of the small business insurance fund and because it would have expanded the Medicaid program. I hope this Christian conservative feels good about rejecting a move to fully fund a health program that covers the poorest and youngest citizens in our state. The bill would have also funded efforts to prevent children from smoking; these efforts have proven highly successful in other states including California. The real reason for rejection of this sound and long overdue proposal was summed up by Renee Martin, executive director of the South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative, "By failing to pass these bills, the House Ways and Means Committee has voted to stand with Big Tobacco. It's an obvious disregard for the wishes of 71% of South Carolina voters, who clearly express support for a significant cigarette tax increase to fund health-care needs."

These elected officials don't represent our state they represent themselves and the business and private sector interests who supplement their meager salaries. The Representatives I have met or been exposed to are generally close minded, uninformed and almost totally lacking in empathy for the poor. Government works best when it is truly representative of it constituency. This good ole boy club represents institutional sexism and racism and almost uniformly rejects efforts to move our state forward through progressive ideas and programs that may God forbid require increased taxes.

Other states have moved forward on this issue. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 10 women are running for the State House of Representatives in an effort to reform state government. Candidate Lisa Bennington (D) said, "To us, backroom politicians are elected officials who conduct secretive, middle of the night pay raises and violate Pennsylvania's constitution by taking unvouchered expenses. This type of behavior has got to stop."

Unfortunately the possibility of a similar revolt here in South Carolina seems out of the question. I doubt you could find 10 females willing to run for office even if you fully funded their campaigns and gave them an additional $10,000. Female politicians in South Carolina have a very rough and rocky road to travel.

Women who have served or continue to serve in the SC legislature express frustration at their minority status. Kathleen Kempe served in the House for one term. Her opposition waged a nasty personal attack on her during the campaign, accusing her and her husband of being homosexuals. In an interview with The Greenville Journal Kempe said of her experience in the legislature, "It was just so hard, and I didn't want to put anyone through tat. There wasn't a support system." Rep. Gilda Cobb Hunter, one of my personal heroes's quit her position as Minority Leader in the House because of the insular, sexist nature of the Democratic Party leaders. Even our party leaders in South Carolina marginalize and mistreat female Democrats, viewing them as a threat to their power base. The sad part is many of our female elected officials have been brilliant and inspiring leaders, like former US Rep. Liz Patterson and former state Rep. Harriet Keyserling but their minority status left them unable to make much headway.