To the editor:

What we have here is a failure to communicate! Continued clever excuses and diversionary techniques such as the claim of the lack of proper rules being in place, conflicting documents and the need for more bureaucracy only solidifies the notion of past personnel incompetence, the gross and negligent lack of accountability, if not criminal activity by the leadership of the Union American Legion Post 22. It's horrendous and offensive to the sensible and honorable. Are we really that gullible?

More bureaucracy needed the real issue? The question of "WHY", in respect to poor leadership performance, is somehow never addressed. "Accountability" is never addressed. Has the American Legion no ethics? The taxpayers deserve to know the full story.

Without the proper cleansing and accountability, the whitewash now underway will not sustain and soon start to peel. "A lack of bureaucracy" editorial, although well meaning, only excuses and props up the American Legion's embarrassing and negligent behavior. The premise that the American Legion lacks enough bureaucracy is ill informed and completely false. All S.C. Legion posts are required, at a minimum, to conform to the well published and proven State Constitution and By-laws. And the State Constitution and By-Laws conform to the National.

"The problems seem due to a lack of guidelines..." may have some merit, but how are guidelines either created or followed? By the leaders! Guidelines, in themselves, are neither guilty of not being in place or followed! It's the leaders, who are responsible and accountable for creating and adhering to proper guidelines! Records were supposed to be kept by Legion leaders. Do you blame the ledgers because the records and receipts were not adequately kept? Somehow that point of accountability is always missing in the reporting.

It was reported that no other commander in the Legion has been given a new personal car. Why was it necessary for the ex-commander to buy himself a new car when he had sole use of a nice Legion S10 pickup truck for official business? Would more bureaucracy make the purchase more right?

Why is the American Legion Post 22 leadership so anxious to move ahead before there is an adequate outside investigation explored — what more are they really trying to hide? Yes, it is important that the Legion moves forward. It's not more bureaucracy needed, but a full forensic investigation with full disclosure. There has been a lot of taxpayers’ money go through the hands of the Union American Legion.

David Fant

Union