The following is what our readers sounded off about this week:
I don't approve
My name is Dave, and I don't approve of any of these back-stabbing politicians.
A smile goes a long way
I'm glad that I get the Kane County Chronicle delivered to my house. It's good reading about the Sound Off and hearing about bullying. Yes, I was one of them, a baby boomer, and I will never forget it. So if you wonder why we, as adults, are kind of quiet and shy around other people, maybe you'll know why. A smile goes a long way, so let's keep that smile going.
Teachers are unreasonable
I think Geneva teachers are being unreasonable in the contract negotiations. While the rest of Geneva takes pay freezes and cuts and experiences job losses due to the bad economy, they think they should be getting a raise. They are fully aware that Geneva doesn't have the money and will have to raise taxes in order to give them their raises, but they don't seem to care. They are only looking out for themselves. They are not willing to sacrifice like everyone else has to. In essence, Geneva taxpayers will be hit twice, once by their own salary freezes, cutbacks and job losses, and then by higher taxes to satisfy the teachers. Parents, don't fool yourselves. If Geneva teachers cared about the community they work in and the children that they teach, they wouldn't be so unwilling to take a pay freeze for a while, until the economy improves. I say if they want to strike, let them, and then let them go. If it's so terrible working in Geneva, then they should leave. Replace them with eager, younger teachers who will be overjoyed to have a job, not complaining about not getting a raise.
Supporting teachers' raises
I'm a Geneva parent who is very concerned about the effect on my children and my home value from reducing teacher salaries and benefits. If Geneva is not competitive with the school districts around it, the best teachers will not want to work in Geneva. They will go where the salaries and benefits are more attractive. I came to Geneva because of the strong schools. Our real estate market is much stronger than the areas around us, mainly because of the schools. The schools are what makes young parents want to live in Geneva. If we reduce the effectiveness of the teachers and schools, our children will suffer and parents will look move where schools are stronger. The only ones complaining about giving the teachers what they've got in the past are people without kids or people whose kids are grown, and they want to make the younger generation suffer.
Far from civil
I'm calling in regard to the article you published on Saturday, Oct. 13, written by Bloomberg News, describing the debate between the vice presidential candidates as being civil. And I would like to comment that I think it was far from being civil. I think Mr. Biden was rude, disrespectful and even distracting. In light of the recent series your paper has written about bullying, I would like to see some discussion about whether Mr. Biden's tactics of grimacing, laughing derisively, interrupting the other speaker, rolling his eyes and browbeating with loud language might be considered cases of bullying. I wondered if anyone else might have drawn that same conclusion, or am I mistaken about what the idea of bullying might be? I did not think it was a civil debate between the vice presidential candidates, and as far as being informative, it informed me that Mr. Biden has strong tendencies toward being a bully.
Bullies are appalling
If you can handle one more call about the bullying, I want to let you know about my mom, who is a senior citizen and lived in a townhouse in St. Charles along the river. She was bullied so much by her next-door neighbor, for no reason at all, that she actually moved because of it. And I might mention the next-door neighbor was a teacher, on top of it. Appalling.
Too many taxes
It's time for Batavia citizens to say enough is enough. Almost every other day, there's something about the City of Batavia wanting to give businesses a tax break, give them out and out grants, it kind of reminds me of a couple of sayings I heard a long time ago, and they are alive and well in Batavia. There is no charity like a government charity, and politicians never saw a tax they didn't like.
Disgusted by teachers
I am disgusted by teachers demanding more. Teachers have more than 65 paid days off. The average nurse has 21 or fewer paid days off. Nurses have overwhelming responsibility, plus physical work. Teachers should be on their knees at night, thanking God for their excellent salary and benefits. Instead, they are demanding more. I have lost respect for teachers.
Polls are misleading
The liberal media – print, television and radio – clearly want President Obama re-elected. All the news is about surveys that show Obama leading among Latinos, women, African-Americans and gays and lesbians and among various must-win states. It's as if the media is trying to discourage the GOP voters from even going to the polls, just roll over for the liberal Democrats. With less than three weeks before the election, can the media stop mentioning any poll results until the election and let the voters listen and read only what the candidates – not their handlers or PACs – are saying about the economy, lack of job growth, foreign policy and how they, as presidential candidates, will improve the United States in the next four years. It is time that the American voters actually start voting with their minds.
They're just union workers
There was a time when teaching was considered a profession. Teachers are no longer professionals. They are union workers.
What a joke
I got a big laugh this morning when I read the article in your paper, that the (Batavia) aldermen couldn't decide whether to take a pay cut. I wish they were that way when it came to spending our money. What a joke.
Just blame Obama
I'm calling about President Obama. My cat pooped this morning, and my horse got lame, my dog got run over, the tractor won't run, and my husband ran away with the hired help. I went to the casino, and I lost all my money. Blame it on Obama. Let's get real, folks. Let's get some common sense.
He won't get this vote
I question the intelligence of any woman who votes for Romney.
Our relations will never be the same
Geneva teachers, we bring you Christmas presents and end-of-the-year presents. We work together for our children. We are so sad to see this potential strike looming. Our relations will never be the same. Please think about the Geneva community and the children in it before you vote to strike.
The best interests of the child
I would like to Sound Off about child custody and then problems we have had in the Kane County family court system and all the associated parts involved with the custody determination. In our experience, the child's welfare was not the prime focus, as required by law. We have yet to ever hear from anyone mention the best interests of the child. If you also have lost custody in the Kane County family court, share your experiences with us and others. Email your story to bestinterestsofthechild@yahoo.com.
Candidates bring nothing
It's most unfortunate that we had two candidates in our area, running for Congress, who bring nothing in the way of leadership or new ideas. Both are running on Obama's coattails. Bill Foster thinks he has the greatest credentials because he spent so many years at Fermilab, the scientist playground. What did he really produce? Tammy Duckworth had a very unfortunate experience while in the service. So have a lot of other veterans. She was appointed by Blagojevich to the veterans commission. Look at her TV commercials and judge for yourself what she's really running on.
• You can sound off, as well, by calling our Sound Off line at 630-845-5240 or by sending an e-mail to soundoff@kcchronicle.com. Calls must be limited to 1 minute or less.
