Letters to the Editor

Last week The Beacon-News ran a story about a Geneva high school teacher who was criticized for an illustration used in one of his lectures.

Teachers often use this technique. It's called a rhetorical flourish. It doesn't necessarily reflect the teacher's personal views, but merely summarizes the views expressed by others.

You would have to be present and hear the entire lecture to form an opinion about whether the comments were personal or rhetorical.

Walt Smith

Aurora

Michael F. Becker, in his letter to The Beacon-News on Oct. 12, writes that before we think of a national health care bill we need to address two existing programs heading for catastrophic failure.

These are Medicare in 10 years -- or sooner if Congress approves of pulling 500 billion dollars out of it -- and we must think of Social Security going broke in 2040.

I, for one, do not agree with pulling that kind of money out of Medicare, as it is now paying less for services to the elderly.

We will not let government programs go broke, as the cost will be far greater than keeping them funded. So don't let a little tax increase on people making more than $200,000 a year scare you, as they were paying more before President Bush cut their taxes.

Now, Mr. Becker and others are saying wait, while 50 million Americans have no way of paying for their medical needs. The waiting has been going on since Harry Truman tried to pass it in 1947, followed by the Clintons and now by President Obama. It's time to quit wasting money on useless wars and do something for our people.

Another very good way to save government programs is to put America back to work, and a good start would be to bring our manufacturing jobs back from China and India and all other parts of the world.

Raymond H. Pippin

Aurora

Because of you, our world might be a better place for all. You are non-violent. You are responsible, You respect your brothers and sisters of all faiths and colors.

Wars are something you loathe. Peace is always on your mind. Your efforts are bringing people together for achieving positive goals.

Yes, if all the yous in the world worked together, our world would live in peace and harmony. It would truly be Utopia. Is this the impossible dream?

Kristin Sabey Bladek

Woodridge

Polar bears are perhaps the most recognizable of the thousands of animal species threatened by climate change. Without dramatic action, two-thirds of these iconic bears will disappear from the wild by 2050.

Any comprehensive climate and energy legislation must dedicate 5 percent of the funding generated to safeguarding fish and wildlife and the natural resources on which we all rely. Our senators should know that their constituents expect nothing less.

Diane Kastel

Wheaton

Just two observations:

1. What added value do insurance companies give to my relationship with my health care provider? A single-payer plan would eliminate the corporate profit motive from my doctor's office and has to be cheaper for all.

2. I would rather have government appointees who are accountable to the public making health care decisions for me rather than insurance providers who are accountable first and foremost to make as much money for their stockholders as possible.

Dr. Ray McKinnis

Winfield

After reading Sen. Chris Lauzen's recent three-part series on the recession, I wondered what kind of response I'd see in The Beacon. Now I know, and as expected, there is both praise and criticism.

Some cringe at his words, especially when he questions the fairness of having taxpayers help pay others' mortgages, but I wonder: how many of the "cringers" would care to help my neighbors and me with ours? I would expect them to cringe at the very thought of such a thing.

Regarding the free market, did it or did it not work regarding home mortgages? I have to admit, it didn't; not because of the free market itself, but because of the government manipulation of it.

While I was still a Realtor in the earlier years of this decade, I sat in on many a meeting, listening to mortgage company representatives talking about home loans being made available to folks who had very poor credit ratings, and many did not even need a job to qualify. What lending institution worth its salt would even consider such risky propositions without the long arm of the government holding a hammer over their collective heads, "encouraging" them to underwrite such loans?

Folks exacerbate their political bias and/or ignorance by not mentioning the fact that President Bush warned Congress of the financial tsunami that was heading toward the American people regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, both up to their armpits in the manipulation of those two institutions, pooh-poohed President Bush, saying that they were in fine shape. After that tsunami hit, neither Frank nor Dodd was held accountable. Worse, I now hear that Rep. Frank is again pushing to continue, and perhaps even "enhance," more of the insane practices that got us into this mess in the first place.

Something that really caught my eye as I read Sen. Lauzen's piece was this: "It seems like a better place to begin a true recovery is by telling the truth. Americans can handle it."

Do I support Sen. Lauzen and what he is saying? You betcha. Why? Because I have come to see him as the elected official who most closely mirrors the fictional character of Jefferson Smith (Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), sans the shyness.

I simply have to believe that there are still a great number of Americans who truly want to know the whole truth, no matter the anguish, so that they can make informed decisions about what to do about any given situation.

Sadly, I have no doubt that a very significant number don't want anything to do with the truth, and that neither major political party is a stranger to these people.

It's high time to ask ourselves, which group do we prefer to associate with?

John Babush

Big Rock