America due for a fall

To the Editor:

If I've learned anything from studying history, it's that the rise and fall of nations these past millenniums is inevitable; our Republic, the Grand Experiment included.

Having 19 grandchildren to face this bleak future gives me no pleasure in having to admit the truth, but ignoring it would be foolhardy, to say the least.

Those thinking of this as extreme might consider we have millions of countrymen who believe that even more government control is the answer; ignoring the corruption that's gripped our leaders, from Washington down to the urban jungles of City Hall. Who will forever count on shelves being full of food, gasoline at the pump, fresh water at the turn of the handle and plenty of cheap power to run our TVs, video games and A/C and that entitlement check in the mail.

Then consider what happens when a nation has lost its fear of the living God.

A recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer suggested that if Obama loses, there will be riots in the streets, and probably so. Given the mostly unreported rampant crime in our sanctuary cities, the fifth column of anti-Americanism, exploitation of black racial hatred, infanticide, flat currency/hyper-inflation with a loss of goods and energy, I believe there will be riots or civil insurrection if either one of these rascals are elected.

While not the end of the world, count on seeing America in chaos, with our children paying a price for our ignorance and sin.

Donald Moeser, Addieville

Governor needs to sign bill

To the Editor:

On Sept. 23, the Illinois House and Senate voted to restore the $55 million cut from state alcohol and drug treatment budget and a method for paying for those restored funs. Those bills, SB 790 and SB 1103, were officially moved to the governor's desk two weeks later, Oct. 6. Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed SB 790, which is the bill providing the funds for those restorations. For some reason, he has not yet signed SB 1103, which specifies which funds are to be restored. These bills also include funding to keep parks open and for staffing other critical government offices.

I want to personally thank Rep. John Bradley and Sen. Gary Forby for fighting for these restorations. I was in Springfield the day before the vote (Sept. 22), and talked with Sen. Forby about the issues. He already had a meeting set up with other senators to help push these bills through. Sen. Forby took the time to listen to the facts and then took the time to work behind the scenes to get something done about it! I'm sure Rep. Bradley was doing the same; I just couldn't catch up with him that day! I know firsthand these two are working for the interests of Southern Illinois.

SB 1103 passed the House and Senate unanimously. As the public has pleaded with Blagojevich to keep the parks open and restore alcohol and drug treatment funding, the governor has said the Legislature needed to give him the means and money to do so. They have in these two bills. SB 790, while signed, is meaningless without the governor's signature on SB 1103. I am asking Gov. Blagojevich to demonstrate his leadership and immediately sign SB 1103. Why keep people whose jobs depend on it in suspense. Sign it now!

Wendy S. Bailie, MA

Director, Substance Abuse Services

Franklin-Williamson Human Services Inc.