Where do we send our complaints?

Who do we complain to? Tell us and we'll write volumes of letters to get satisfaction and action.

In these tough economic times, people want to complain to someone, but they don't know who. Talking to their friends does no good because they too are feeling the financial stabs of high gas and food prices, shaky jobs and the anxiety of not knowing when this dark cloud will pass.

In a country that was built on complaints and action, these times are more frustrating because, even though the complaint letters are written in their heads, people don't know where to send them. And if they did, would it do any good?

It did when the colonists took their troubles to King George back in the 1700s. And it did a dozen years ago when homeowners all throughout the country took their complaints about unsolicited annoying telephone calls from sales firms to their lawmakers. Those letters gave birth to the national "No Call" list.

Tell West Dundee resident Cindy Doran which oil company executives to write to about paying $4 a gallon for gasoline and the stamp will be on the letter tomorrow.

"I'll tell them to pass on some of their money (they are making) to us so we can use it to pay for the gas we need," she said.

"A lot of people are on fixed budgets. They can't afford to pay for gas and food. It's ruining this country. I fear there's going to be riots over this."

Because everyone is paying more for gasoline or diesel fuel, the costs are being passed on to consumers. Prices of just about everything are going up, forcing families to cut back on expenses or take second jobs.

In turn, they spend less time with their husbands, wives and children.

"I would love to write a letter, but no one seems to listen," said Sleepy Hollow resident Jackie Brown. "This is (a presidential) election year. Everyone is talking the talk, but nothing is being done."

All the political hopefuls are current members of the U.S. Senate. And all of them have promised to act when elected.

But why aren't they doing anything now, asked Brown's husband, Terry.

"Is the price of gas going to hit $5 a gallon and then after the election go back to $3 a gallon for us to live with the rest of our lives?"

Oil company executives blame a number of things for the high price of crude oil, including sabotage of crucial pipe lines around the world. But it isn't anything new. Broken pipes have been a problem for years, but the price has never reach this amount, he said.

East Dundee resident Marco Botta would mail is complaint letter to President Bush.

In it, he would ask, "Why are we still fighting in Afghanistan? We went there after 9/11. Those (six people who planned the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York City) aren't there anymore. Most of them are dead.

"Why waste the money there? We can use it over here."