VOICE OF THE PEOPE | Oct. 19

Be careful about information sources

When I read Swain Sheppard's Voice of the People letter on Thursday, it reminded me of the hundreds of political e-mails I receive. Often I go to fact-check sites on the Internet, including www.snopes.com, to determine the validity of the information. I suggest readers of Voice of the People do a fact check on Mr. Sheppard's letter.

It quotes, almost to the letter, an e-mail circulated in 2005, which has resurfaced. I believe in a person's right to free speech and freedom of the press, but it seems to me that a responsible citizen would get “all” his facts straight before he attached his name to any correspondence that would be read by thousands of subscribers.

All the anger and vitriol being engendered throughout our country is a result, quite often, of misinformation, distortions and downright lies. We all need to be a little more responsible in what we say and what we write in the name of truth, patriotism and our own personal honor and integrity. Let's tell the whole truth and nothing but.

Mary Elyn Carroll

York

One David has yet to repent

Our recent Sunday school lesson was about David, son of Jesse. I was finishing my study to teach it when the facts of another David began being bared on TV. My plans were altered.

David, son of Jesse, in the Bible, (2 Samuel 11) closes with these words: “But the thing which David had done displeased the Lord.” King David, in remorse, wrote Psalm 51.There were other repercussions of David's sinful folly, but he did repent, felt remorse and showed it

When news of David, son of Letterman, unfolded, he seemed not a bit remorseful In addition, there were many who, I'm sure, envied him. To my knowledge, little was said about Letterman's wife. If any made comments about how the Lord felt, it has yet to reach me.

We have come a long way — but in which direction? Human beings becoming toys to be used, abused for the pleasure of another human? Is there a difference between this, torture, murder or war?

Psychologists call it sadism. God still calls it sin, punishable by death, but in his mercy, he provides forgiveness to the penitent by faith in the sacrificial death of his son, Jesus, the Christ.

Gardner C. Koch

Rock Hill

Cantrell qualified to serve in House

I am writing in support of Kathy Cantrell, candidate for state representative from District 48 in York County. She has public service experience as a member of Clover school board and will support increased attention to the needs of public education in South Carolina. In a previous letter here, she received strong endorsement from a fellow Clover board member for her intelligence, diligence and passion for public education. We need such a voice in the House.

We need better representation in Columbia for the needs of women. We have few women legislators in the state and no women state senators. According to the U.S. Census, there are more women living in poverty today than 10 years ago. The S.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse indicates that South Carolina has the seventh highest rate of domestic violence in the U.S. and has the eighth highest rate for women killed by men. We need Kathy Cantrell as a voice for women in South Carolina.

Mrs. Cantrell has indicated that her only goal is to serve District 48. She does not intend to use this position as a springboard for further political ambitions. She has not allied herself with a governor whose mistakes and excessively draconian economic positions severely have hampered the growth and well being of the state.

We need Kathy Cantrell representing District 48 in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Vote for her on Nov. 3.

Jane Sharp

Rock Hill

Capitalism is root of all good

Capitalism is the root of all good, not evil, as Michael Moore seems to think. Capitalism rewards the industrious. If you work hard, you will get ahead. If you poorly choose what you are working at, you can go to school, obtain a new skill and move ahead in another field.

Opportunities are limitless in this country for those who are willing to expend the effort and make wise choices in their business and personal lives. Unfortunately, government, the true root of all evil, stepped in years ago to “help.” This help has led to people living their entire lives sucking at the teat of public assistance without recognizing that they — not a bureaucrat — are in charge of their own destinies.

Instead of trying to emulate the successful, these folks are taught to despise them. Such a shame that the greatest country ever created on this earth is crumbling due to those who just keep looting from the productive of society. This redistribution of wealth has gone too far, and people are waking up and saying that it must stop.

All Americans must realize that the dream of our founding fathers rested on individual responsibility, not group support. We each control what we are and what we become. Socialized health care is just another step in the wrong direction.

Please tell your representatives you want real health care reform, not socialized medicine. Make them fix the problems with the best health care system in the world without destroying it. The vast majority of us are happy with what we have; shall we continue to be sacrificed for the 15 percent of Americans who are not? Seems like a poor trade to me.

Nancy Sims

Fort Mill