Get facts straight about Obama
Sheila Lawrence, in the July 30 edition of The Daily Herald, expresses her displeasure at the Donald Trump slogan, “Let’s make America Great again.” She also objects to his saying, “Let’s take back our country.”
It does get boring to hear politicians continually repeating platitudes such as those, but it’s the way the game is played. How many times did we hear Obama say,”hope and change” while attempting to become our president? It worked for him and Mr. Trump hopes it will help him win the presidency.
Ms. Lawrence then tells us how fine a president Mr. Obama became. She cites Obamacare, a terrible burden on the country, as an accomplishment. She states he ”opened millions of job opportunities” (That is just plain wrong. If she thinks he did that, she should give examples of him doing so).
She states that he “took this country over from the worst depression since the 1930s.” That is an impossibility because this county hasn’t had a depression since the one that ended in 1939.
If one tries to make a case for Mr. Obama having done a good job as president, one should get the facts straight. I could give many reasons why Mr. Obama is the worst president we have had in my lifetime, but I am not attempting to bash the man for his inability to be a good leader of this country.
I just want factual statements from those who defend him.
Gene Maril
Arlington Heights
Voters, don’t ignore reps on stopgap
I read with interest Rep. Harris’ Guest View in the Aug. 1 Daily Herald.
I have a different take on his discussion of the stopgap spending plan. He notes all the reasons he feels it was necessary. In reality, all these reasons can be rolled into one — our legislature has not done their job. If they had, none of the items he lists would be problematic.
So I reject them all. The real reason as I see it is that had the stopgap not been passed, Springfield would have felt the heat from the electorate when schools did not open, roads were not built, social agencies not funded, state colleges closed. I believe the fear of losing their jobs helped them all “kick the can down the road” to a time where we voters wont be able to hold him and his fellow legislators accountable. Fellow voters, please don’t forget this!
Allen J Reczek
Winfield
Near tragedy boosts fear for motorcyclists
Every time I read about a motorcycle accident in the paper or hear about one on the radio, I cringe and get a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach. My son was involved in a horrible cycling accident in June of 2012. We are lucky to still have him around today.
He was wearing a helmet, heavy leather, steel-reinforced jacket, heavy jeans, leather gloves, and riding boots. An old guy in a pickup truck turned onto the street directly in front of him, obviously not seeing him in broad daylight. My son realized right away that there would be impact and braked, but ended up half under the truck, his motorcycle smashed and my son gravely injured.
My son’s nose was all but ripped off, his left forearm was broken in 2 places, his right orbital socket was broken, he had bleeding on the brain, multiple bruises, lacerations and contusions. We prayed for his recovery, and are very thankful that our prayers were answered.
After days in the hospital and multiple surgeries, our son was coming home. Every time I see motorcyclists speeding down the highway with no helmet or protective clothing, sometimes carrying a passenger in shorts, tank top and flip-flops, I say a silent prayer for their safety.
My son wore all that protective clothing and yet he suffered all those horrific injuries. I can only imagine what could happen to those barreling down the highway in jeans/shorts and T-shirts if they were ever in an accident. Had my son not been wearing what he wore, I know I would be visiting his gravesite instead of his home site.
When I encounter motorcyclists on the road, I always give them plenty of space and try to be aware of their proximity to my car, all the while thinking about what happened to my son.
People, drivers and cyclists alike, please be aware of each other, and drive defensively. Arrive at your destination safely and in one piece.
Mary Kay Arndt
Arlington Heights
Country suffers if we turn from church
Some opinion contributors are calling for the removal of the Ten Commandments from a Waukegan county-owned building and for the removal of tax-exempt status from our churches. Clearly there are certain citizens whose agenda is to, in time, totally remove the Christian faith from our nation’s identity.
Most informed and honest citizens would admit that America’s greatness comes from her goodness, and that her goodness comes from her Christian heritage. And so have you ever asked yourself why certain citizens have such contempt for the Christian faith?
Well, the Bible says that some love their sins so much that they begin to hate God. And so sinful man’s agenda is to attempt to erase God from the fabric of everyday life in America.
“And this is the condemnation, that light had come into the world, but that men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19.
Those who love darkness have been much more committed to sinful man’s agenda than the Christian has been to God’s agenda. As a result believers and unbelievers alike suffer the consequences.
These certain citizens have denied several generations of Americans the certainty, goodness, and wisdom of having an ultimate authority in their lives. These lost generations have had to figure it out as they went along.
They’ve never known what it is like to be certain of what is right and what is wrong. Neither will they ever know the eternal love of Jesus.
Charles Danyus
Round Lake Beach
TIFs only a bane to other taxing bodies
Do Batavia property tax payers want to pay about $13 million of their taxes to help redevelop the former First Baptist church at the corner of Washington and Wilson streets?
Almost a decade ago, the City of Batavia purchased the former church. The church had unsuccessfully tried to sell the property so it could relocate Geneva. The city council purchased at full list price. The City Council and the Batavia historical groups have presented nothing but obstacles for the redevelopment of the property.
Now a new proposal has been presented to the city council.
The redevelopment proposal is to raise the former church building and the parking garage. The developer wants to build 171 apartments, 300 parking spaces with retail space on Washington and Wilson. The estimated cost is $40 million. The developer requests that the City of Batavia issue TIF bonds for $13 million or over 30 percent of the projected cost.
TIF funds are only for the benefit of the developer. The true losers in TIF financing are the school district, park district, library district and even the police and fire pension funds.
Any tax increase on the property is used for the redevelopment or to repay the $13 million in bonds.
The Geneva School District is challenging the TIF requests for the Mill Race Inn property. The developer claims that there will be $800,000 in additional property tax revenue. This increase only happens when the project is totally complete and the TIF expires in 23 years.
The Batavia Mayor and city council have to stop using TIF’s as the “golden parachute” to redevelop property. TIF’s only decrease revenue for other taxing units.
Jack McCabe
Batavia
