Why can't electric, gas, phone and cable companies have services after 4 or 5 p.m. Fridays and on Saturdays and Sundays when most working people can call? These services are closed on weekends. It's a farce. They ought to have honest people answer the phone on weekends when most people call for assistance. You're supposed to help people, not hurt them. Be available to customers who are working all the time. You've got people looking for jobs. They can talk to people on Saturdays and Sundays. All day long, I work to make a living and couldn't make it home in time to call you. Police and firemen are available 24 hours. Why can't you contact businesses when you want?

I watched the television show “M.A.S.H” again. I was in Korea. It brings back so many memories. It's true to the fact of what it is. That's the way they are. It's the attitude and everything. It's beautiful. I make a point when I see an episode is on TV to put it on. I watch the show regardless of what else is on. This is part of my history and my life. It's beautiful what they've done. For the guys that went in there, it's the same thing. It's beautiful. They really care. Thank you, guys. Thank you to the surgeon teams and the mobile army surgical hospital unit in Korea. Thank you much.

It's time to put former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and all those that are covering up for her where they belong. That's in prison, not the White House.

John

I would like to say something good for a change. I am not a Catholic, but I do give to Catholic Charities. My reason is they do so much for those in need. When I was a young lady, I went to them for help and advice. They did just that. They gave me good advice and helped point me in the right direction. Recently, I read something about grandparents who are raising grandchildren. It stated that there is help such as medical, food and for other needs. I am giving them a shoutout in the name of love. This shoutout goes to Catholic Charities. Keep on with your good work.

BJ, Hazel Crest

On the TV program “Meet the Press,” Kellyanne Conway, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign manager, said, “It is not the media's job to fact-check a candidate.” Really? Then whose job is it? Journalism is supposedly about informing the public, and I assume that information should be truthful. When anybody, whether it be a businessman or a politician or even a clergyman, tells a blatant lie that can be proven to be false, we should all call them out on it, especially journalists.

Tom, Burbank

I have a comment for a couple of people who commented. First of all, to the one who asked how you can be Catholic and vote for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton: Well, I have a question for you. How can you claim to be sane and want to vote for Republican nominee Donald Trump? Also, to the commenter Barb who was defending Trump's wife, Melania: What kind of an example is she for the young women when they look back at her life and see how she posed nude? That would be a real example that I want my daughter to see. Come on. Trump is a loser.

If Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by some magic loses this election, it would be because of one thing. It has nothing to do with the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, or her private email server. Her vice presidential choice, Tim Kaine, which would make sense in a normal election year, could be devastating for her. Even though she leads in the polls, former Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders attracted independents and millennials, two demographics Clinton had trouble with. Now the Sanders people are threatening not to vote or even going to a third-party candidate. In a polarized election, which is odd since people are voting for their candidate no matter what, Clinton may have stabbed herself in the heart.

Rick, Monee

You hear these politicians making their speeches on television. They're going to do this. They're going to fight this. They're going to do that. They're going against 300 other people, and they're going to do something. Things never get done because of politicians. As far as I'm concerned, the politicians have destroyed — and I said “destroyed” — America. They just do things for themselves, their friends, a fat pension and fat salaries. A politician is a do-nothing nobody. Take that to the bank. It's a big zero.

RC, Oak Lawn

At the rate things are going it seems like all of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's backers and staffers are going to end up in jail by the time this election's over. They're all being caught breaking the law.

I've been saying for a long time that we should look into the shenanigans by school districts all over Illinois. We've got too many school districts to begin with. In today's day and age with computers I don't care how far apart they are, they could all have conferences online on their computers at the same time and do away with half the school districts. They're starting to be looked at for what they're doing with all that money they need every year when they raise taxes. They get more money and say it's for the kids, but is it really for the kids or just for the money that they're going to be paying out to their favorite hucksters?

More about tax cuts from Republicans. This has been going on since former President Ronald Reagan came in and changed tax policies. Republicans have been pushing it further. We've had a Republican U.S. Supreme Court for many years. Now that the late Justice Antonin Scalia's gone, we have a 50-50 court. We need some Democratic-thinking judges to even things off. We're really losing on these deals. If you want fairness, you can say what you want about Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, but at least she isn't stealing from her charitable Clinton Foundation. Trump's lack of honesty is unbelievable. He accuses Hillary of being a crook, and you Republican voters believe what this guy says. He's nothing but a scam artist.

Everyone is saying they want to see Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's income tax returns. I don't. What I want to see are the tax returns from all these billionaire athletics and the billionaire players. That's some kind of an income that I would like to see.

John, Bridgeport

Years ago a Republican acquaintance and I talked about who should run for president. I brought up Vice President Joe Biden. My friend laughed and asked why anybody would want him. I said Biden tells the truth. My friend said, “It's always gaffes.” Telling the truth is something we're having a problem with, especially with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Maybe some things she has in those emails wouldn't be good if people heard about her disagreements. Trump has no reason for his lies. Is he going to close his offshore companies, start paying people working in his hotels at least minimum wage and stop cheating the contractors he works with? This man's a fraud.

More about a third political party: All economists say the same thing. If we go to U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan's budget, we'll be a Third World country with all the money in the pockets of the top 1 percent. If we go to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's budget, we'll be the same with his tax plans. When you listen to Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson's tax plans, the first couple things don't sound too bad, but the other things he wants are a disaster. He has no business running for president, and Green Party nominee Jill Stein? You've got to be kidding. They ought to get out or get into what we could really call a competitive third party.

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