Motorists should celebrate safely this holiday period

Motorists should celebrate safely this holiday period The East Dundee Police Department will take part in a traffic safety campaign May 17 through May 28 by conducting special patrols during the days preceding Memorial Day through the latter date to curtail impaired drivers and safety …

First Amendment intended to keep religion out of government

1st Amendment keeps religion out of gov’t A letter recently appeared in this paper by one M.W. Czymmek, who apparently insists on transforming the word “No” into the word “Yes.” I truly regret that as a result, Czymmek has such difficulty when reading and interpreting …

Attacking Medicaid fraud will save many millions of dollars

Attacking Medicaid fraud will save many millions of dollars A recent Associated Press story, “Questions about Illinois Medicaid cuts, pension reforms,” stated there is little evidence to support the claim that nearly 10 percent of Medicaid in Illinois and nationwide could be fraudulent. There is …

I do not believe in atheists

I do not believe in atheists; their statements are full of hypocrisy There is no constitutional separation of church in the Bill of Rights or in our Constitution. There is the often-misinterpreted establishment clause, but let’s argue under the premise there is a separation of …

Sports concussion danger finally in spotlight

Sports concussion danger finally in spotlight for all It sometimes takes tremendous tragedy to change ideas embedded in our culture. A prime example of this is the “warrior mentality” instilled in football players from when they first strap on pee wee league shoulder pads. This …

Grateful for community support for Alice Pollack

Pollacks grateful for support and assistance from community Several months ago, I wrote a letter to the editor because of a situation with the 911 operator who would not send help to get my wife down our front steps in her wheelchair so she could …

Keep service personnel and families in thoughts, prayers Each May, in recognition of Military Appreciation Month, I am honored to salute the brave men and women serving our country in the armed forces. It is important for all of us to spend a moment reflecting …

We the taxpayers do have choices about how we’re taxed

Whew! What did you think about your most recent property taxes? Mine went up nearly 12 percent, and I don’t like it. We have choices about how much we get taxed, but only if we’re willing to do something about it. In harder times, it …

Nation no longer in the economic peril of 2008

Nation is no longer in the economic peril of 2008 Are we better off than we were four years ago? Yes, we most certainly are. It is easy to forget that four years ago, the most respected U.S. economists and financial leaders were in a …

Republicans guilty of overlooking president’s over-reaching

Congressional Republicans guilty of ignoring president’s over-reaching It seems that once again, Republicans in the U.S. House have chosen to stick their heads in the sand and pretend that the president has not violated the Constitution. Earlier this year, the president — without approval from …

Promises and predictions regarding current president I’m writing in reference to the Viewpoint letter April 30 (“With Romney, we would get Bush policies on steroids”). The election is still six months away. It’s amazing how the writer can predict the future not one but 15 …

Unions are more valuable today than ever

Unions — a boon to workers — are more valuable today than ever For more than 100 years, union members and union leaders in America have fought and died for worker respect, fair pay and job safety. Every benefit that American workers — union or …

Pension reform needed this session

It’s time for politicians to sit down and statesmen to stand up. Opinions seem to be finally changing in Springfield — I see leadership moving in a positive direction to enact meaningful reforms to the main program suffocating Illinois financially: public pensions. This must get …

Elgin voter group: Mining wrong for Brunner preserve

The Elgin Area League of Women Voters has just completed a two-year Study of Potential Gravel Mining in the Brunner Forest Preserve of the Kane County Forest Preserve District. The study was approved on March 21 by a membership consensus meeting. The League of Women …

Travelers should buckle up — every trip, day and night

Travelers should buckle up — every trip, day and night Illinois roadways will be busy this summer with families taking vacations, weekend trips and visiting with family and friends. But not buckling your safety belt can turn a fun, family vacation into a tragedy if …