Columbia, SC — A heinous crime has been perpetrated against roughly 3.8 million South Carolinians. The Department of Revenue, part of the governor’s Cabinet, remains unpunished for allowing the theft of our precious Social Security numbers and other private information.

Simply, the reason is this: We have a governor who says this could not have been prevented. That is blatantly false and sounds almost Obamaesque. We have a Revenue director who is being protected by the one who appointed him. Isn’t this choice by the governor ingratiatingly political and not in the best interest of those South Carolinians harmed?

Jim Etter’s head should have rolled long ago. Perhaps the governor’s should also for downplaying this crime and for protecting her appointee.

Is the executive branch of the government of our great state leading or following? If it’s the latter, then severe changes within it should be necessary.

I call for both the governor and the director of the Department of Revenue to resign in light of this crime against the citizens of South Carolina.

H. Perry Holcomb

North Augusta