VOICE OF THE PEOPLE | Nov. 16

Treat gays fairly in the workplace

I recently found out that in 29 states, it's legal to fire otherwise qualified employees because they are lesbian, gay or bisexual. In 38 states, it's legal to fire otherwise qualified employees because they are transgender.

Honestly, I was so shocked and outraged to hear about this, I could hardly believe it. America, land of the free, why are we so quick to judge? This country was founded on principles of equality, and yet, we are so far behind compared to the rest of the world on LGBT rights that we're a laughingstock.

Now let me just say, I'm a happily married straight woman, and I grew up in a Christian home. Yet, I don't see any good reason for the hate, discrimination and injustice being done in the world today towards LGBT people. We need to wake up, America! We can't dictate other people's lives just because they're different from us. So what if you don't agree with their lifestyle? Get over it! No one should be treated this way.

No one. No exceptions. No excuses.

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3017) would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote employees based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This is common sense, people. We need to pass this. This act is not about special treatment. It simply gives these workers the same rights and protections as their colleagues. Please do the right thing here, and support this Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

Anna Birkholz

Fort Mill

We should sue the government

Since I will never be president and cannot accomplish debt reduction, I will approach this problem from another angle. If any lawyers are reading this today, I would like to ask them a question: Can a patriotic citizen file a lawsuit against the federal government for $6 trillion?

Upon the condition that the government would use the money to pay off half the debt, it could be returned to them. Of course, they would have to raise taxes to pay that much, but it would be worth it. Paying off half the debt would provide half a billion dollars a day to the government with interest money no longer needed. In a year, it would equal $182.5 billion, and $1.8 trillion dollars in 10 years.

I hope a lawyer says yes, we can do it, and someone steps up and does it. Hopefully, a lawyer will write a letter to the editor in response to this question. If government ran the debt back up, the process could be repeated. However, that would not be fair to taxpayers.

Marty Boone

Fort Mill

Dys not always for the underdog

I am very disappointed in Andrew Dys. I know it is his job to write about the heart-warming, tear-jerking stories he finds around the area dealing with people who have encountered tough times. He does a good job of telling us about the “underdogs” in our society. But Dys must not be true to his word.

Several weeks ago, he encouraged everyone to pull for the “underdogs” of S.C. State University when their football team was set to play the University of South Carolina Gamecocks. I have no problem with this, but his motivation was more to be anti-USC than to be pro-underdog. Why? Because when an even bigger underdog, Coastal Carolina University, was about to play the Clemson Tigers, Dys was not on the job.

When I e-mailed Mr. Dys, telling him how S.C. State was far above Coastal in football tradition and history and that I was looking forward to his column encouraging us all to pull for Coastal, his reply was that this was an “interesting” idea. So, my advice to everyone is this: Take Mr. Dys with a grain of salt, as he only finds underdogs when it suits his agenda.

Rick Cockerham

Rock Hill

Take a stand against activist judiciary

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This is a direct quote from our U.S. Constitution. Where did our country go wrong and decide that it is unconstitutional to show our religious pride by displaying an “I Believe” license plate on our own vehicle?