Why are our jails being used as mental health facilities? To process people who obviously can't be responsible for themselves over and over again through the regular judicial process is pointless and costly. We need mental health facilities to commit them.

Most of the homeless are either mentally ill or extreme alcoholics who can't or won't help themselves, but they are free to wander anywhere and do anything. This is wrong and lacks compassion for their realistic needs.

Many are from other places and should be encouraged to return there. Some are people who cannot be responsible for themselves. Laws are needed to accomplish this.

-- Patricia A. Hart, Windsor

Wednesday's story about Bob Bayliss, who had a standoff with sheriff's deputies, was accurate. I am a neighbor across the road from Bayliss and he bought the land from my parents.

He never bothered me or threatened me in any way, and never asked for anything. I knew he held odd jobs when he could and was short on money.

After his heart attack, he seemed to change. He never talked much after that, just waved when I met him on the road. There was a lot of blasting when they changed the road in 1993. I don't know about the well, but he would get water from the local park and use barrels to store it.

It's sad it turned out this way. I am glad no one was killed or injured.

-- Rollin Mullendore, Viola

Greedy execs paid through our sacrifice

On April 4 I read about Alliant Energy's generosity to executives Bill Harvey, Eliot Protsch and Barbara Swan. The total package was $13.7 million, with $8.4 million for Harvey alone.

Then I get a notice informing me that WPL, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, is requesting an electric rate hike because of increased fuel costs.

After reading Friday s article, WPL expects me to believe their request is solely due to fuel costs? Their audacity is beyond belief.

The notice says a typical residential customer would see approximately 86 cents added to their current monthly electric bill -- not a huge amount, but an increase just the same. With no end in sight for rising fuel costs, how many more times and for how much will WPL request rate hikes?

News flash -- my home and auto fuel costs have increased also, registration for my car has increased, insurance has increased, property taxes are through the roof, my grocery bills are skyrocketing and so on. Yet I must absorb all these increases on my fixed retirement income. How and where do I augment my monthly benefit to compensate for rising costs?

Maybe these execs should exercise some generosity, rein in their pride and sacrifice like the rest of us. They should step back and take a look at the small guy who is paying their bills, salaries and perks. They should be ashamed.

-- Gloria Hodgson, Pardeeville

Why penalize the 'working poor?'

I am a 23-year-old single mother of a 3-year-old. I attend school full-time at UW-Oshkosh, work 20 to 25 hours per week as a waitress and recently received an unpaid internship. I survive on school grants, child support and disability payments my son receives through SSI. I receive BadgerCare and FoodShare from the county, as well as financial help for day care through the state.

I received notice that my benefits would all end on March 31, and I haven't been able to reach my social worker. They have calculated that I make $1,208 per month, which is apparently too much to be eligible for health care or food stamps. The county has told me there is unlimited day care assistance for full-time workers, but a 24-month maximum for day care used for college purposes.

I don't understand how limiting assistance to people who are going to college has rational grounds. Once through college, I plan to get a good job and support myself and my family without county assistance. But I can't cover day care and other expenses while remaining in school, and if I leave school and get a full-time job now, I am fairly certain I will remain on county aid.

I'm thankful for the help I've received which has allowed me to complete three years of school and provided food and health care for us. Why am I now left to pay for all costs simply because I am still attending school?

I am the "working poor" and some regard me as a freeloader, but I don't have time to fight to change regulations that harm low income citizens going to college and keep society from pushing for educated, self-sustaining families.

-- Gwen Zimmerman, Neenah

Legal tax evasion costs state billions

Wisconsin's politicos tell us there's no money to fund our education and health care systems adequately, or to avoid the perennial budget deficit "fix." That's a myth; abundant resources are available without raising tax rates.

We can begin by collecting many millions per year in taxes owed on Internet sales to Wisconsin residents by out-of-state vendors. This would have the added benefit of leveling the playing field for Wisconsin retailers who must collect sales taxes.

Then we can close some of the myriad tax breaks for big business. For instance, the "Las Vegas Loophole," whereby Wisconsin corporations form a legal presence (often little more than a post office box) in another state for the sole purpose of avoiding Wisconsin income taxes. It is shameful that most of the over 54,000 companies filing Wisconsin tax returns in 2003 paid zero income taxes.

A recent study by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Tax Expenditures Survey estimates that such uncollected taxes cost the state about $3 billion per year and reduce the fairness of Wisconsin's tax system as well.

Money is lacking only because our state's leaders are unwilling to end the current system of tax give-aways to special interests.

-- John Simonson, Mineral Point

Get legal help for overseas adoptions

I am an attorney who focuses on international family law, including international adoption. My law firm represents prospective adoptive parents, nationwide, during the course of their international adoptions.

Regarding State Journal reporter Gena Kittner's recent articles on international adoption, I understand her point about adoptive families being unprepared for the emotional challenges they will face.

In my practice, I see adoptive parents also unprepared for the legal challenges because often they have not retained an attorney. Instead, they rely upon their adoption agency and its social workers, none of whom are attorneys, for legal advice.

International adoption law is complex and involves treaty-based and other international law, the country of origin's laws, U.S. immigration law and state adoption law. The legal challenges can turn into emotional nightmares. When things go wrong, for example, a country may attempt to recall a child and overturn a finalized adoption.

When thinking about international adoption, the first step should be consulting with, and being educated about the process by, an attorney experienced in international adoption and international law.

This is even more important now, since on April 1, the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption went into effect for the United States and will dramatically change the institution of international adoption.

Another warning to all parents of internationally adopted children: The moment you step foot on U.S. soil with your child, contact an attorney, if you have not already, and start the "re-adoption" process.

-- Emily Dudak Taylor, Law Center for Children and Families, Madison