Be worried about the years ahead

It would seem our president-elect has begun the process of dismantling essential government agencies by choosing unqualified charlatans who in most cases advocate the exact opposite of the agencies’ mandate.

In an early testament into the mind of the individual slated to sit behind the big desk, instead of fulfilling his presidential duties by choosing qualified, educated and forthright men and women to lead, he bailed on the American people and put cronyism and his own interests before his legal obligations.

Besides the inane choices of those who in effect have sworn to shut down the very agencies they will soon be heading up, the inert deficiency in almost every resume speaks volumes about the lack of accountability on the horizon.

And so the warped vision of downcasts allowed to spread their particular seed of debasement, disorganization and most certainly dismay will begin effecting our lives in profound ways.

What started out as an ugly canard has morphed into America’s worst nightmare.

Hope, pray, meditate, drink, do whatever you need to as the last days of 2016 fall aside.

I’m having another drink.

Gary Lukens

Lakemoor

Clinton and the goat

We have heard numerous lame, untruthful reasons as to why Secretary Clinton lost the election. She forgot to mention another: The Curse of the Goat.

The goat curse left the Cubs after the World Series. The goat may have moved on to the election booths on Election Day, although even the goat is aware that there is a central part of the USA — not just two coasts. Stay tuned for the next excuse. Don’t look for the truth — the truth hurts and requires maturity.

Dom Catrambone

Elk Grove Village

No proof Russians leaked emails

There is no evidence that the leaked emails are of Russian origin. WikiLeaks said the emails came to them from an inside leak, not from an outside hack, and former top National Security Agency official William Binney has stated that if Russia was the source, the NSA would have conclusive proof.

The left lost the election, voter recount and the Electoral College vote. Now, it appears time to try the Russian card. Blame it on the Russians.

Yes, let’s now blame our loss on the Russians while we continue to organize demonstrations from behind the scenes. You simply can’t trust the current government or mainstream media. I think many people are beginning to get a sense of their unscrupulous actions.

President Obama hypocritically feigns contempt for a “so called” Russian connection to these emails. Back in 2015, Obama spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on sending subversive groups like “One Voice” to be “boots on the ground” in Israel to hack their free and fair election process in a lame attempt to oust Benjamin Netanyahu who was seeking re-election.

“One Voice” used the money to build a voter database, train activists and hire a political consulting firm with ties to President Obama’s campaign — all of which set the stage for an anti-Netanyahu campaign, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations said in a bipartisan staff report.

It’s time for the left to quit their shenanigans, and give Donald Trump a chance to clean up the mess that they’ve left him.

Michael Imhof

Aurora

Labeled ‘extreme’ for pro-life view

I am writing in response to columnist Connie Schultz’s recent article (12/16) titled “A letter and a reflection on choice.” She referenced a recent law that Ohio Governor Kasich signed which prevents a woman from getting an abortion after 20 weeks.

Although Ms. Schultz and I disagree on this topic, my main concern was her next line: “Right-wing extremists who support laws such as this ...” This is the type of rhetoric that adds to the divisions in our nation.

I have a right to my opinion as does anyone else. But to label pro-life individuals as “extremists” simply for having a different opinion is inflammatory. Such a term should be reserved for anyone who acts on beliefs by committing a crime. Let’s agree to disagree and make greater efforts to listen to those who hold a different perspective.

Patrice Basso

Naperville

The link of smoking to mental illness

Great progress has been made to curb smoking across Illinois. Among adults, smoking is down to 15.1 percent in 2015, and Illinois has been recognized nationally as a leader in smoking cessation.

Earlier this year, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Chicago increased from 18 to 21 and Senate Bill 3011, currently in the Illinois legislature, proposes to extend that law to the rest of the state.

Where the numbers haven’t moved as much and where kicking the habit may be needed most is among those in the mental health community – where one in three adults with a mental illness smoke.

Fifty percent of deaths in people who suffer from schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder are attributed to tobacco-related issues.

When it comes to smoking cessation, the problem is that even though approximately nearly 80 percent of individuals with mental illness say they want to quit, smokers with mental illness are less successful at quitting smoking.

Through my work as a past president and current member of the Mental Health America of Illinois (MHAI) board of directors, I have worked to educate and advocate for those living with mental illness, with a goal of preventing mental illnesses, promoting healthy habits and improving the care and treatment of persons suffering from mental and emotional disorders.

Year after year, it is good to see fewer and fewer people compromise their health with this habit. Let’s not overlook those who could really use the extra help.

We know that smoking cessation aids are a critical part of improving health outcomes for those living with mental illness.

We need to provide resources to all health care providers, including mental health providers to that may assist their clients in quitting smoking.

Mark J. Heyrman,

Chairperson, Public Policy Committee

Mental Health America of Illinois

Pray to keep U.S. Constitution strong

In the Constitutional convention between July 10 and July 16, 1787, there were over 60 ballots taken as the delegates were deciding on how to elect the president. They gave the subject thorough consideration.

Today we have citizens who think that they know a better way, and have forgotten that we are a republic and not a democracy. So, they want to overthrow the work of the Founding Fathers.

That Constitution now stands in their way, thwarting their efforts to change our republic into an oligarchy. However, they will not rest until they have discredited or discarded the U.S. Constitution as a supposed outmoded document, and accomplished their goals.

I am hoping and praying that they fail.

Walt Sivertsen

Grayslake