Speak Out for June 21, 2012
June 20, 2012 4:48PM
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens pauses as he speaks to the media outside federal court in Washington, D.C., Monday, June 18, 2012, after he was acquitted on all charges of perjury. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Updated: July 23, 2012 7:28AM
So former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens was on trial for lying to Congress. The question is: When does Congress go on trial for lying to America?
I went to my granddaughter’s kindergarten graduation. Here are some observations from an old guy. Everyone had a cell phone, camera or both. Dress code doesn’t exist. Even I was in shorts. But the most important thing was how 150 children put on an hourlong entertaining show. The teachers, besides preparing these children for future academic paths, took all these 5-year-olds and had them rehearse and put on a good performance. Instead of complaining about teachers’ salaries, parents have a responsibility to nurture their children’s educations because there’s more outside influences than teachers can overcome in a school day.
Palos Hills
I see that several western suburbs want to buy or rather take over the American Lake Water Co. Officials believe they can stabilize water rates because there will be no profit motive, no corporate or real estate taxes and no dividends. I am sure that these officials realize that they will no longer be collecting the taxes that are paid by the water company. What is that old saying? “Pay me now or pay me later.”
Lansing
I am very confused about all this talk about teachers getting free health care coverage after they retire. That is not true. I have taught in the south suburbs for 25 years. I’ve had choices of paying either $650 per month or $400 per month. I don’t think that is free. Would someone please explain to me where this free state health insurance is? I’ve never heard of it.
In the light of Wisconsin’s attempt to recall Gov. Scott Walker, I would like to remind everyone how unlikely it is that Illinois will ever recall a governor. A petition needs to be signed by at least 15 percent of the population that voted in the last gubernatorial election. At least 100 signatures need to come from each of at least 25 separate counties. There needs to be 10 state senators and 20 state representatives to sign an affidavit to allow the recall to go forward, with no more than half the signatures from one party. That’s unlikely.
To people throwing garbage at other passing motorists: Use your head. You could cause an accident. And you better not hit a car.
To the Speak Out commenter who implied that I am an amateur investor for buying into Facebook’s initial public offering for a quick profit: I have been investing for decades. I normally don’t buy into an IPO, but all I read said it was a winner. Obviously, it was not. However, many investors who are not amateurs are high-frequency investors who are looking for a quick profit. They know the risks. To say they’re not responsible is just irresponsible. The Facebook IPO had elements that were very questionable and unknown to many investors, amateur or not.
A military hearing leading up to the murder trial of Nidal Hasan, the Army psychiatrist charged in the Fort Hood shooting rampage, was delayed after Hasan showed up in court with a beard. They said it violated Army regulations and was a disruption to the court proceedings. When he allegedly shot and killed all of those soldiers, he didn’t have a beard. Who cares? What’s the difference? I believe he is still guilty. If you are guilty of murder, you should be tried and punished. Get on with it!
Perhaps those “help wanted” signs have been around for so long in Tinley Park because of weird, long or short hours for only minimum wage that these businesses are offering. Or maybe these businesses won’t hire teens or the longtime unemployed person. Or they won’t hire someone who is overqualified for the job as that person may leave once something better comes along. Or they don’t like the way you look and will say they’ve just hired someone and forgot to remove the sign. Maybe the Speak Out commenter should ask these businesses what’s up.
Chicago
Keep an eye on new Regional Transportation Authority deputy executive director Jordan Matyas. He will be lobbying at the local, state and federal levels for $130,000 per year. That’s not bad for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s son-in-law.
More about Heidi Yergler Herrmann and her lack of response from the Mokena school where her daughter is being bullied: Children who spend their lunch period in the bathroom or other corners of the school could be avoiding bullying. The problem is much larger than any school wants to admit, and the effects of bullying last a lifetime. I pray that all school officials take bullying seriously. “Please Stop Laughing at Me” by Jodee Blanco is a good book to read on the topic.
Janice from Crestwood
Jamie Dimon, chairman and chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, testified before Congress that his bank lost $2 billion. When I was watching the proceedings, not one thumb-sucking member of Congress asked who profited from his mind-numbing loss. Why? It had to go somewhere.
Bob from Hickory Hills
If you are middle-aged, Caucasian, male, wealthy, healthy and heterosexual, it will not surprise me if you vote for Mitt Romney. If you are old, young, a person of color, female, middle class, poor, unhealthy or gay and you vote for him, then you need a lobotomy.
Wes from Orland Park
I just heard of another tourist getting attacked in downtown Chicago. Who is going to want to come here? I will not go to downtown Chicago anymore. You better do something about that.
Oak Lawn
