The FairTax increases disposable income for workers and businesses, giving consumers incentive to spend and businesses incentive to expand and hire.
Please ask your friends, family and neighbors who are unemployed, underemployed or experiencing drops in income if they think our tax system is working for them. We need the FairTax now to bring back the South Carolina economy and put people back to work.
JOHN STEINBERGER
Family grateful for Monk article
On behalf of my family, I would like to thank John Monk for his article on Dan Monahan ("Swindler sentenced to 52 months," Sept. 23). It has helped to ease the pain and suffering of my in-laws, the Ellises, who were Monahan's victims and whose charges were used to convict him. Dan Monahan could have gone on to steal more money from innocent people. I know Dan, as I played golf with him many times and talked to him, and he just would say it is all taken care of and you don't have to worry about your in-laws; they will be looked after for a long time.
People don't know about the corruption that goes on, and they believe it won't happen to them. We thought that too. Mr. Ellis was a trusting man and a very honorable and smart man who is now just a shell of a man who stares when speaking and cries at the drop of a hat. I only hope that people will read this article and learn that we are all vulnerable to con artists and to not trust what they say.
Mr. Monk has done a great justice, and I thank him for his work and dedication.
MICHAEL VIENNE
County fire and EMS need to change
What is the problem with the Columbia Fire Department and the Richland County EMS? EMS policy stipulates that Columbia Fire Department personnel cannot drive a county EMS vehicle, even when there is a need to do so. That is a policy that needs to be changed. Four minutes may not have mattered in the case of the 3-year-old boy who recently died; however, is that always going to be the case? I for one would want to ensure that these kinds of policies are looked at from the patient's perspective and that each and every patient is receiving the best possible care in the timeliest fashion. In this case, it seems we are just not going to talk about it. That is wrong and needs to change. Fix the policy.
Richland needs fire/EMS service
As a lifelong taxpaying resident of Richland County, I think the time has come for Richland County to form its own fire service to go along with its EMS service.
This could help eliminate delays when EMS needs to transport seriously ill patients, because the firefighters would be allowed to drive ambulances.
Richland fire service could be patterned after the fire-EMS service in Lexington County.
But most importantly, Richland County needs to quit paying fees to the Columbia Fire Department to run its fire service.
HARVEY W. STONE
USC's board of trustees shouldn't be forced into a vote Caslen in as president
I am shocked beyond belief to read of Gov. McMaster's action to force the USC board of trustees to vote on Gen. Caslen to be the next president of the University of South Carolina. I hope your paper will reach out for comment about this stupid move. I was at USC in the period immediately following World War II when USC had a retired admiral as president, and it was ample demonstration that a retired military man was a poor choice. Such a move by the current board will be its second dumb mistake in finding a replacement for Harris Pastides, the first being its poorly thought-out slate of nominees without a female in April.
A challenge to our South Carolina senators to stop human rights violations against immigrant children
Guns have become the great equalizer for smaller men, women in this violent world
Instead of putting ex-prosecutor Dan Johnson away, he should work off his debt
Trump may not be the most eloquent or charming president, but he gets things done
Democratic Sen. Harpootlian shares President Trump's desire to shake things up
Lexington drivers needs wake-up call; police should issue more traffic tickets