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No need for express line at the post office

Re: Post office needs separate line for fewer transactions, Nov. 22 letter to the editor.

Louise Drost had her mail held at the post office during her 10-day trip and now complains she had to stand in line to retrieve it. She also complains that another lady had to stand in line just to find out what her ZIP code was. She sees the remedy as having the post office open a new, additional, express-type line.

I, on the other hand, see it as being as simple as the two of them talking to their neighbors! She, to ask for her mail to be collected and held, and the other lady to ask what the neighborhood ZIP is.

And, if it's a case that neither knows, or likes, the neighbors, here's an opportunity to decide if they'd rather introduce themselves, and/or mend fences, or continue standing in line.

New post office lines equal higher postal rates. We need neither. What we need is friendlier neighborhoods.

Humiliating DUI offenders will only worsen problem

Re: DUI plates: Humiliation or true color of justice?, Nov. 18 Andrew Skerritt column.

I hate to criticize state Sen. Mike Fasano because I believe he's a good and honest man. But my problem with him is that he reacts emotionally to issues and then proposes legislation without proper thought.

First, it was all classes of sex offenders that he wanted to inflict all sorts of punishments upon, no matter how minuscule their crimes. Now, it's DUI offenders that he wants to subject to harassment, ridicule and humiliation.

Fasano states that his bill will save lives. I respectfully disagree. Any time you manage to isolate and humiliate a certain class of people, you only make them worse. In this case, you may literally drive them to drink.

Columnist Skerritt pointed out some of the problems of Fasano's proposed legislation. There are many others. What about a situation where the wife is the offender and the husband has to drive the car to work every day? Are overzealous police going to harass anyone driving the car? The questions go on and on.

Frankly, Fasano, though well-intentioned, concerns me greatly - and I'm no liberal. If he can inflict this punishment upon a certain group, who's next?

DUI idea harkens back to uncivilized punishments

Re: DUI license plate idea veers in wrong direction , Nov. 20 editorial:

Twice in the past, I have voted for state Sen. Mike Fasano because I considered him far above his opponents in talent and character. But his recent legislative causes have been a disgrace and a sad disappointment.

The recent laws mandating 3- by 5-foot American flags in the classroom and adding the Pledge of Allegiance to the state Constitution are cheap, patriotic pandering at its worst. Now Fasano has advocated public branding of lawbreakers with pink license plates for DUI offenders.

What would be next? Putting a scarlet "A" on the foreheads of anyone having sex outside of marriage, followed by notching the ears of felons, and eventually severe bodily mutilations for more serious offenders? Our ancestors left Europe to get away from uncivilized laws like these.

It is time for Fasano to give up cheap pandering and start taking his job seriously. I thought there was more substance to his character, but his actions prove otherwise. Mike Fasano will never again get my vote.

[Last modified November 27, 2005, 01:18:21]