The following is what our readers sounded off about this week:
No answers
Why is the federal government so involved with birth control? Why is our government involved with what foods we eat, even if FDA approved? Why is our government involved in real estate financing? Why is our government willing to give us money if we buy a high-priced hybrid car? Why does our government give billions of dollars to countries that don't even like us and get nothing in return? Why does our government dislike Wall Street bankers and big business? Why does our president now bypass our Congress, the Congress that speaks for us, to impose his ideas by executive order, rather than allowing the House and Senate to vote on them? These are questions asked by people between the ages of 18 and 45, and I didn't have an answer. Do you?
Open your eyes
I agree with that no billboards in a foreign language. Why is everything in English, and then Spanish? What about the Polish? What about the people who are from Italy? When our grandparents moved to the USA, they had to learn the language. They had to pay for their own school. Why with the Spanish, everything has to be handed to them and catered to them? Enough is enough. USA, open your eyes.
Everybody else pays
What is wrong with this picture? I do not have a computer, a cellphone or cable, but I do have health insurance, which I pay for. The Medicaid recipients I know of have computers, cellphones and cable but expect everyone else to pay for their health care.
The sad truth
The Chronicle has had several stories recently about Geneva's City Council and school board, which has prompted me to reply to Mr. Holinger's question as to why 100 people would show up at a city council meeting about the Pure Oil Building, but only three or four show up at a school board meeting about expenses and taxes. The reason is that the City Council listens to people who speak at their meetings. Questions are answered, discussions ensue and views are respected. As reported, in the cases in the Pure Oil Building and stabilizing taxes, the council voted with the taxpayers. Even if the City Council does not vote how you want, you feel you have been heard and considered. Not so at the school board, who make it clear that they are doing you a big favor by letting you speak at all at their business meetings and that they will not be answering any questions or providing any feedback. I cannot think of one vote taken that favored the taxpayers' point of view after the presentation. The No. 1 priority is teacher happiness and satisfaction. Students are a distant second, and taxpayers don't even make the list. This is clear from the continued escalation of the tax rate, so teachers can maintain all their benefits and pay raises. And from the so-called forum coming up, the public has already been told they can expect no feedback. Most egregiously, they recently waited until after both public comment to announce gross errors in enrollment projections and then would not re-open comments. If they had listened to the public, they would not have opened the Fabyan school in the first place, but they never listen. Staying home and talking to the wall is the very same as attending and speaking at a school board meeting. And that's the sad truth, Mr. Holinger.
Push out the peddlers
We, who cherish Fabyan forest for its value as a peaceful park and home to wild animals and birds, want the mountain bikers off of the walking paths. Is it too much to ask that our forest preserve officials start to maintain and police these great old woods. Isn't that what a forest preserve commission does?
Don't let them slip away
Fox Valley, we need help. First, we had several shops on Third Street in Geneva that closed. And now there is a report that another small independent business is leaving. Grimm's Medical in St. Charles has been a staple in the area since before all the big stores were created. For all the people who get AFSCME supplies, who get medical equipment or just a roll of tape, Grimm's fills that need. People know you by name, you aren't just a customer. They know what you get every month, and they try to make your life easier. There are no other businesses in the area that provide the services that they do. We can't let another small business slip away.
Drop the greedy
Gov. Quinn wanted to raise cigarette taxes to pay for Medicaid, and continually mentions that the GOP governors of Thompson, Edgar and Ryan all raised cigarette taxes. What Quinn fails to talk about is that Ryan, the last GOP governor, was over eight years ago, and that all three balanced the state's budget. Since the first Democratic governor in 20 years was elected, being Blago, the budget has never been balanced and pensions and Medicaid payments have been lacking. Quinn, don't drop the needy, drop the greedy in Springfield to balance the budget.
Miscarriage of Justice?
Batavia basketball is really going to miss Mr. Roberts. The article in the paper on April 24 was well-written, but credit should have been given to Lamarr Justice, when Corey Williams was mentioned. They were a dynamic duo, and credit should have been given to both players.
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