EDITORIAL: Happy talk

Call a South Carolina state agency and you'll be greeted with, "It's a great day in South Carolina."

OK, it sounds a little hokey, but Gov. Nikki Haley might just be on to something.

This week the governor told state employees to use the greeting.

Her reasoning?

"It is a great day in South Carolina. I want people to feel positive. It will put the employees in a good mood" and remind them who they work for, Haley said. "I know it sounds simple, but in the challenges that we're facing in our state, the one thing I'm trying to prove is that our state is changing for the better - it's positive, it's strong. This is a great way to do that."

Some Democrats are calling it a juvenile gimmick, but what's wrong with starting with the positive. Besides, it sure beats a droll "Department of Labor. Mary speaking."

OK, unemployment is high, the economy is limping along and South Carolina lags behind the nation in most barometers of quality of life, but there's plenty of good stuff too.

Attitude is everything.

And if a simple greeting sets a positive tone then we're all for it. Things are good here. Bridgestone just announced a major expansion and hundreds of new jobs. Here in Aiken County we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. Football season is underway, the heat of summer is finally breaking, we had a banner peach crop this year - and that's just a few of the good things happening in South Carolina.

So yes, let's focus on the positive.

After all, it's a great day in South Carolina.