Letters to the Editor: Transparency is needed in public utilities

Electricity runs our world. It is the most expensive monthly bill in our household.

A million downstate ratepayers have no idea the source(s) of their electricity nor the costs to individuals, community and society. Unlike Ameren (an investor-owned utility) public electric suppliers do not have to share plans with their public.

The Transparency Bill was introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives this session to correct this oversight. The number is HB 5021.

This bill seeks to provide those of us receiving our electricity from municipal electric companies, like Highland Electric, and cooperatives, like Clinton County, more insight and input into how we get our electricity. It asks our public municipal and cooperative electric utilities to plan for future sources of our electricity and to show their plans through public engagement. It requires regular updates to these plans. This is wise given the rapidly changing energy picture.

The bill urges public comparison of sources of electricity, where and from whom they will come, how much each will cost users and the community, and to do it every three years. It puts the “public” back in “public electric utilities.”

Please write to your state representative and senator. Ask them to support this important transparency bill.

If you would like more information, email The Citizens Utility Board or Greater Highland Concerned Citizens at ghaccaction@gmail.com.

Kay Ahaus, Trenton

Who will win in November

There are strong reactions and letters on both sides of Joe Biden versus Donald Trump. I believe the primary reason if Biden loses is the border situation.

One official in Denver advised the throngs of migrants to leave Denver and seek help in Los Angeles or New York. Minority residents in Roxbury near Boston are angry that their indoor sports facility is now a shelter (WBUR). Chicago residents are steamed that financial resources (over $54 million) is going to shelter and feed migrants. New York City is overwhelmed as well.

Finally, these are not refugees. They are non-vetted migrants. This paper reports the difference. I support the current organized and vetted entry of people from war torn nations such as Afghanistan who supported us. This program requires a sponsor, a background check, personal funds for transportation and no government benefits.

Phil Henning, Smithton

Making good decisions

It’s impossible to make good decisions without good information. Every day we make decisions based on what we know and what we believe. We know that if that traffic light is red, ignoring it may easily spoil our day. If the monthly rent is $X, we know that we won’t enjoy the result of ignoring it.

There’s a problem, then, when we can’t rely on what we hear and read. It’s bad enough if we have no information, but when competing interests shower us with half-truths, misleading statements, and outright falsehoods, how are we supposed to make good decisions?

For years we believed tobacco companies when they told us that there was no link between tobacco use and cancer, then we discovered that we were being lied to. We believed authorities who told us that climate change was a myth until global heat records started crumbling and insurance companies withdrew from entire states because losses were growing too great.

How are we supposed to separate fact from fiction on social media? We seem to have lost the capacity for critical thinking, for asking questions, and for analyzing conflicting information to reach that kernel of truth.

When “facts” conflict, it may be because neither is completely correct or they could both be correct but coming from competing agendas. Or one could simply be false.

Consider the sources and their agendas. We need a lot more critical evaluation of “news” and statements by “authority” to make decisions these days. Think about it.

Jack Hickman, Fairview Heights

The high cost of forgiveness

President Joe Biden just announced his latest round of student loan forgiveness. This time 27,000 lucky borrowers will benefit to the tune of $7.4 billion at taxpayer expense. This despite his previous forgiveness attempts that have been ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court. So much for adherence to the rule of law that liberals like to trumpet (pun intended) at every turn.

The media is characterizing this a welcomed bailout from the most benevolent president to the neediest Americans. Are those really the former students that will reap the benefits or will the fat cats get fatter?

In Air Force vernacular, a bailout occurs only as a last resort when the plane is destined to crash. That’s eerily similar to Biden’s 2024 presidential run which is encountering heavy turbulence.

Americans wouldn’t have a problem with his generosity if he were writing the checks on his own personal account. As he has demonstrated over and over again, this career politician has no idea what it’s like to work for a living and balance a checkbook. If he was conscious, he wouldn’t be giving our hard-earned money away as if it grows on trees.

He’s simply desperately trying to buy votes. It’s no different than if he just stood outside the polling place and handed out $100 bills to those exiting wearing big blue smiley face stickers on their chests.

Plan to vote in the rapidly approaching election. Like the Dems say, democracy is at stake!

Bill Malec, O’Fallon

Ballot item should be reconsidered

I am asking the Madison County Board to reconsider its 15-7 vote to put an advisory question on the November ballot.

The advisory question will ask voters if the county board should communicate with other counties about the idea of forming a new state, separate from Cook County.

The resolution is unnecessary. County board members don’t need the voters to tell them to talk to other counties. They can do that today – without a resolution. Just pick up the phone.

Second, creating a new state is simply unrealistic. The United States Congress will not put a 51st star on the flag for a “New Illinois.” Congress is more likely to add a star for Puerto Rico or Guam.

I disagree with many of the laws the General Assembly passed in recent years, but this resolution is not the answer.

In May 2020, I led the county board to vote, 26-2, to pass a responsible reopen resolution – in defiance of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s one-size-fits-all lockdown. We just wanted to reopen as a county – as Missouri counties were allowed to do.

I understand the frustration of downstate voters, who don’t like the laws coming out of Springfield, but the answer is hard political work to block, modify or correct bad legislation.

Therefore, I’m calling on the county board to reconsider this resolution.

Kurt Prenzler, Madison County Chairman

A naïve and ironic letter

It is hard to believe that the writer of a recent letter is so naïve as to believe Vladimir Putin would tip his hand as to who he really prefers to be president.

If you are intent on trying to subvert an election (again) you don’t announce it. It’s not Joe Biden who has repeatedly demonstrated his fealty and obeisance to Putin and longing to have the power to be just like him, which is astounding considering Putin is a dictator without a conscience who orders those who challenge him murdered.

“As the election approaches, believe your own eyes, ears and vote accordingly.”

How ironic. If everyone did just that and saw Donald Trump for who he really is and what he would be capable of, he would likely be a convicted felon by now rather than the most dangerous and despicable nominee in memory.

Mark Riesenberger, Mascoutah