Stick with civil unions
To the Sound Off caller "Right vote," who congratulated the 47 percent of Maine citizens who voted for gay marriage: They still lost. Gay marriage has lost in 31 states so far. I hope we never see it in our lifetime. When gays can procreate without the opposite sex, then they can have the word marriage. They do deserve the same rights and they can have that in civil unions.
Too stressful
For the first time in my life I had to depend on federal fuel assistance. My natural gas had been shut off via a court warrant. The federal fuel assistance program e-mailed National Grid a promise that they were going to send a substantial amount of money. They came out and put my heat back on, however, this week I've been getting harassing letters saying that they're going to turn it off again. I called the fuel assistance people and they said they've been dealing with National Grid for 25 years and they know that once they receive a written promise, they will get their money. But that money will not be released until December. Why don't we have some kind of regulatory board that keeps utility companies like this in line? What I've gone through this week was very stressful.
Do-nothing guv
I'm sorry I voted for Gov. Deval Patrick. He has ruined this state. Seniors will not get a raise in Social Security for two years and he goes ahead and stops the prescription advances unless you pay the full amount yourself. So seniors will either have to starve or die. Also, what has he been doing about the ridiculous surcharges on automobile insurance that go on for six years? I am so totally disgusted with that do-nothing governor.
A joke
Regarding the article in Sunday's newspaper, "Chief continues working in two towns." Only in North Andover. The selectmen and the town manager should all be let go. It's a joke.
Competition needed
I read the messages, both pro and con, about Comcast over the weekend. The fact is that we need competition when it comes to fixed-line cable service. Comcast made a $2.5 billion net profit last year, and a lot of that came from areas where there is no competition. Nationally cable rates are going up 8 percent a year and areas without competition get to charge about 15-20 percent more. The government's transition to digital has left us at the mercy of the cable companies. The only way out is through managed competition.
Low morale
Everyone seems to think that working for the post office is the greatest job. Think again. It's a job. Morale is at an all-time low and the U.S. Postal Service is installing GPS in their trucks in an attempt to lower it even further. They should call it the U.S. Postal because SERVICE has gone right out the window. P.S. Tell the Haverhill firefighters that they're not alone, and we have nowhere to go.
End cop details
Why is it I can go down a dead end street and find the police watching the gas company dig a hole? Police details are a thing of the past, or should be. In this time of a difficult economy, how many jobs could be out there for flagmen (or women) at perhaps $20 an hour? It's much less than a policeman, it creates jobs and lowers all my bills. It seems like a win, win, win. Why is Mass. the only state that still does this?
Better handling
I have noticed that the folks at local chain donut shops only use a tissue to get donuts and muffins from the case and into your bag. Shouldn't they be using plastic gloves to handle food? Especially with the H1N1 virus spreading? Is this a health department mandate?
Manage the water
Haverhill has spent more than $500,000 to research using the Merrimack River for drinking water. Officials should be doing a better job of managing current water supplies. Kenoza Lake is at its lowest level of the year, but for the past three months water has not been pumped from Millvale Reservoir. The excess water flows over the Millvale dam out to the ocean. Common sense would dictate keeping Kenoza Lake near capacity at all possible times. Using current resources wisely is cheap and effective and should be part of daily management.
