FEEDBACK

4/21: Who breaks the tie?

Who breaks tie votes in the Senate if the Lt Gov isn't there any more? It was only 20 years ago that the Lt Gov's job was made part-time.

-- Francis X. Archibald, Hanahan, SC

4/14: Tougher securities laws needed

Far too many laws protect the perpetrators of fraud and other criminal business practices. Corporate shield laws protect the people behind those frauds. What has to happen is that there needs to be stricter disclosure laws, and the ability of the government to aggressively regulate, enforce and prosecute these cases. All of the ill gotten gains need to be traced and recovered. All converted funds need to be identified, seized and returned to investors. In addition, some people need to go to jail.

-- Alan Patterson, San Diego, Calif.

4/13: Fewer agencies would help

I certainly hope this legislation comes out of the hopper. During the past two years, SC has experienced more scams than I can ever recall. I have made all of our legislative delegation aware - - Attorney General, Consumer Protection, and Board of Financial Institutions. Possibly we have too many agencies that are "spread out."

Why not reduce some of the staff, combine some of these agencies? Then when a "red flag goes up," you would not have to go through so many agencies, then to the Attorney General.

If our legislators really want to help, start with the lowest courts we have: magistrates.

-- Boyd McLean, Gaffney, SC

4/13: Shedding no tears for Carolina Investors members

This gentleman and all others got what they deserved,duped. There have been warning signs since Y2K concerning the problem with investment firms and corporate management.

They have been cooking the books since black September. What I have read about most of the investors [is that] they are literate and have common sense. With all that money to invest, they had to have been good money managers. Now they are complaining to every politician that will hear them concerning getting their money back.

I would like for these same politicians to get back the money that the video pokers investors lost. The only reason that the politicians are assisting these people are two fold: they are all white and the politicians probably received some of the funds by way of campaign donations by the firms and investors.

Yes,the community will suffer.If those investors had invested in the community instead of themselves, the rate of unemployment would not be so severe. Be not deceived,God is not mocked. Whatsoever you sow,that you will also reap.The taxpayers should have no involvement in this mess.Warning signs also included post-911 companies that cooked the books, took the money and ran. Therefore,I can shed no tear for the investors,they got what they asked for.

-- Charles E. Lott Sr., Union, SC