The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Dear Editor:
These questions are in regard to the mandatory car insurance law (625ILCS5/Illinois Vehicle Code) in regard to the rights, freedom, and say of the people in fairness.
Did the state take into consideration why the people didn't have insurance?
Why should the insurance company be allowed to raise your rates over private information given to them illegally by the state?
Why should the state and the insurance company be allowed to interchange your private information without my consent or of being of cost to the insurance company
Why wasn't there any laws to protect the people form the high rates and loopholes given to the insurance company to raise your rates when a violation is no cost to them?
Why are all rights, regulations, say and power of the mandatory insurance law given to the state and insurance company, leaving the people powerless?
Why didn't the circuit clerk advise me of my rights to court supervision on payment of this ticket?
Why should police be allowed to use a speed gun and a person not allowed to use a road protector by law?
How much revenue is the state receiving from the government insurance companies for this law?
Do you the people feel that the mandatory car insurance law is unjust to people?
Where is the equal rights, and protection of the mandatory car insurance law for the people with all option, rights given to the insurance companies and state?
Why pay them $2 per month to pay your premiums when the rates are to high anyway, which would give them $24 profit every six months, of your money, to invest every six months for $24 plus profit.
Why should a police officer have the right to stop a person or set up a road check to see if you have insurance or for seatbelt usage?
Why are most laws and regulations passed to protect or benefit corporations instead of for the people?
Is it time for a petition for change of the mandatory car insurance law or maybe removal?
Is it a true, free and equal country anymore?
Why wasn't this law and regulation drawn up to protect the people in both ways?
Why should a police officer act so demanding of a person when making a random traffic stop?
Does the state feel they will break even on the high increase that they allow the gas corporation to raise their prices by bringing back the motorcycle police with more gas mileage and more ways to hide?
Charles A. Cecil
La Harpe
Can You Ever Go Home?
by Ron Bowlyow
The heat-the heat-the heat. For the past few weeks, that has been the topic of conversation as we have experienced temperatures at 100 degrees with feel-like temperatures higher than that.
I was even asked how we survived the scorcher of "36? I haven't a clue since I was not born then but only heard about it being so hot one could fry an egg on the sidewalk, etc. I don't know if that really happened but that is what I am told.
But I can attest to spending many childhood summers in oppressive heat without benefit of air conditioning or fans. It was hot.
I had the good fortune of having south windows in my bedroom so if there was any wind at all, I could capture it. That was little consolation to a kid though. We really did not know anything better than that in those days for everyone was in the same boat.
I did not know anyone in my childhood who had a fan. And air conditioning-what was that?
In rural Illinois we had only recently gotten electricity so the frills of a fan was out of the question. The priority in those days was to get other electric applicants that sustained life, like a refrigerator or water heater. A fan was not on the list of priorities.
Today's news reports indicate that more people are dying of this heat wave than die annually in the United States from tornadoes or hurricanes, unless we have a catastrophic storm like Katrina or Rita.
I just don't remember hearing about people dying years ago from the heat. Their deaths may have resulted from cardiac or respiratory failure secondary to the heat, but were not reported as heat related.
Or was it that our population was just tougher in those days. Everyone was accustomed to the heat because we had no choice. There were no air conditioned places to go. There just was no escape from the oppressive heat and humidity back then so we survived.
We worked in the fields, we baled hay, and our moms and grandmothers cooked huge meals daily and canned fruits and vegetables over wood burning cook stoves, or if lucky, over a gas stove that put out less heat. I don't remember anyone complaining about it either.
That was life and I guess we felt fortunate to be blessed with the necessities and the will to grow those necessities to sustain life for ourselves and each other. Never mind the heat. After all, it was July and August in Illinois and it was to be expected.
But now I am guilty, like a lot of other folks, of complaining about the heat. The old a/c seems to run nonstop as it cools my house. And ceiling fans whir to circulate the cool air.
I wouldn't think or driving without the a/c cranked up.
Bale hay in this kind of weather? Who does that anymore? Hay may get baled but not the way we had to do it.
I find myself scheduling the mowing of my lawn around the arrival of the next cool front. It had butter hurry as my yard will be ready for baling soon.
So bring on the heat. It is August in Illinois. We are ready. Air conditioners, don't fail us now.