Frankly, I'm not surprised that the president's Council of Economic Advisers says the "Cash for Clunkers" program has been markedly successful ["How is stimulus doing?" Nov. 5 editorial]. That's called self-serving spin. I'm more inclined to believe a plausibly unbiased source outside the administration. A source such as Edmunds.com, a legitimate auto-industry analyst, which says the program ratcheted up car sales by a modest 17 percent at a cost of $24,000 per taxpayer. Anyone out there who wants to give thanks can find me under the letter "P" for "Patsy."
When talking about programs on which the State of Illinois gets a great return on investment, one program that comes to mind is the Illinois Poison Center, Illinois' only poison center.
The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last week, the highest since 1983. Back then, the economy quickly recovered over the next year, with 8 percent growth. And by 1984, the economy was roaring.
Ald. Eugene Schulter is 110 percent right. I have been to the parks and small lakes in the 'burbs around the Chicago area, and if you are not from that town, you need to buy a special sticker for your vehicle.
Proposed health-care plans are complicated and difficult to understand. To simplify, please assure us that we will receive the same coverages as federal employees and Congress members. Also, please identify, specifically, who is uninsured and how their health care will be paid for. Finally, tell us exactly how the new plan will change and improve our present coverage.
Who cares whether Ald. Eugene Schulter wants to fill Millennium Park with Chicago fannies first? ["City vs. suburbs," Thursday] There's plenty to do in DuPage County. One does not have to commute in horrific traffic to get to places of entertainment. Plus, we do not have to worry about rogue cops and judges, increased neighborhood violence or staggering parking rates.
Wednesday's Page One story, "Half of all kids on food stamps at some point," illustrates the critical need for Illinois to protect its children.
I am so Catholic that if I were ground up into 10,000 pieces and properly buried, all 10,000 pieces would rise up smelling of incense and singing, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name."
I enjoyed reading Tuesday's story about the Weivoda family of Palos Heights offering Chicago its first real Christmas tree since 1955. It reminded me of how the tradition of Boston's Christmas tree being sent from Canada began.
I don't want to be a wet blanket, but when I see and hear Tom Ricketts, the Cubs new owner, I can't help but see and hear Mike McCaskey and all that entails.
Regarding John W. Fountain's op-ed column ["I'm not your 'bud.' You can call me Mr. Fountain.," Nov. 1], I think he's reading way too much into a (formerly?) harmless term of endearment. I'm a 50-year-old white male who's been called "bud," "buddy," "dude," "bro'," "chief" and countless other innocuous names. Not once was I offended. Would I be offended by these words if I were black? No. Why not? Because they're not offensive! We all know there are much worse words out there. No offense, but the entire world doesn't refer to every man as "sir," regardless of race. Get over it.
