How to vote wisely
Letters to the Editor October 1, 2012 4:04PM
The word "vote," part of a mural to encourage voting, is reflected in raindrops Monday in Danville, Ky. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were both hunkered down on Monday, practicing for their first debate Wednesday in Denver.
Updated: November 3, 2012 6:11AM
I want to encourage Americans not to vote. But if they do, they should remember that party label is more important than the candidate running. Voters should cast a straight party ticket.
Don’t bother becoming informed about all the issues, either. Instead, vote purely on the basis of a single issue. Obviously, one issue determines who the best candidate is.
Don’t attempt to learn about candidates beyond watching TV ads. Advertisements are completely true. Everything on TV is fair, factual and balanced. Also keep in mind that SuperPACs, with their endearingly patriotic names, are spending millions of dollars on candidate races without disclosing their donors, so obviously the SuperPACs are credible.
If you do wish to become better informed, though, bloggers and opinion journalists are your most credible sources of information. They aren’t bound by pesky things like journalistic integrity. Finally and most importantly, after the election, don’t write to your elected officials. It’s more patriotic to offer dissent on your Facebook wall.
Follow these steps and our nation will continue on as the vibrant democratic system it is.
Parker Happ, Woodstock
New CPS calendar hurts parents
The Chicago Public Schools have come out with a revised calendar for the current school year and the biggest losers are the parents. CPS moved the start of spring break from April 1, 2013, to March 25, 2013, without any thought of the thousands of families who have already paid for nonrefundable airline tickets, as well as resorts and car reservations for spring break vacations. We happen to be among those families.
Even if parents are able to change the calendar, there is no guarantee it won’t be revised once more. Shame on CPS for not thinking about the people who save for years to take their family on a vacation. You can’t even give us a straight answer!
Robin Gutierrez, Norwood Park
Spring break woes
After reading about the family that’s complaining about the change in spring break, all I can say is, “Thank a teacher.”
Leona Brigham, Romeoville
Too much beer
There was more excitement in the bleachers at Saturday’s White Sox game than on the field. The young men in front of me were there to celebrate a bachelor party. The beer, at $7.75 a can, was flowing freely, and most in the party were glassy-eyed by the fifth inning.
But that didn’t stop the beer vendors, who kept coming. Someone in my row decided to throw a plastic cup full of beer forward, soaking everyone for about 10 rows. All hell broke loose. It took about eight security people to finally handcuff one overserved young man and take him away. But that didn’t stop the beer vendors, who kept on coming. As we left the game, a White Sox employee at the exit was holding a sign instructing everyone to drive safely.
George Swimmer, Downers Grove
Use Rantoul airport
I just read the comment from George Ochsenfeld in Monee about Gov. Pat Quinn still wanting to get an airport in Peotone. Why doesn’t Quinn just go ahead and use Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul?
He will not be using farmland and homeowners’ property. He will not have the expense of upgrading infrastructure because it is all set to be used. Go ahead and use what we have available instead of trying to satisfy politicians’ pockets.
Cheryl D. Foster, Joliet
Teachers aren’t the problem
The mere fact that the new Chicago teachers’ contract required a provision prohibiting principals from bullying teachers speaks volumes about the current CPS teaching/learning environment: There is something terribly wrong with our schools, and it’s not the teachers.
Sue Ellen Levins, Lincoln Park
