In January, we had a rise in the price of a postage stamp. Now, I understand that the Postal Service is wanting to raise the price of postage again.

Why in the world did they not just raise the price to 35 cents in the first place? That is not a real problem. I could not drive around and pay bills for the price of postage. My problem is -- and that of many other people I have spoken with -- is the Postal Service itself. They built the big new building on Bridgeport Hill, and it surely is easier to get in to than the post office in downtown Clarksburg.

I can drive from Clarksburg to that facility, get stamps, and whatever I need, all in the time it takes to drive around the block looking for a parking space at the post office in town. However, it is terrible that if you do not get your mail in the boxes by Friday, the letters are not sent out before Monday.

Not only that, but on Feb. 8, I mailed some cards -- one to Mulberry Avenue and one to North View. The card going to Mulberry Avenue arrived at its destination on Tuesday morning, but the one to North View didn't arrive until Friday, Feb. 16. This is ridiculous! I have been told that I had mail sent to me on Feb. 8. from the Chicago area. It had not arrived as of Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Can't something be done about our mail service? If not, forget the postage rate hike. As most people know, folks don't even send many Christmas cards anymore. It should be common knowledge -- you get a raise, you get better service. This is not happening at the Postal Service.

Jo Hamrick

Clarksburg

Does Wise have it all backward?

Gov. Bob Wise's prescription for economic prosperity for West Virginia seems to be to continue to tax business and the individual to the point where they are driven out of the state -- so that he can raise the money to pay for educational and social programs that he claims will attract new business and people into the state?

When will these people realize that a decent infrastructure and taxes that are competitive with other states might just be what it takes to attract new business and to lure former West Virginians back home?

Once a good business base is created, and our population begins to grow again, the tax revenues will follow.

Does Wise, like so many of his predecessors, just happen to have the formula backward, or is he just another in the long line of tax-and-spend governors with which West Virginia has been cursed for so long?