Opinion
Disagree with your neighbor? Don't just stew over it; write about it. Flag as Inappropriate
Posts awaiting your approval 0
Mari Harrer May 29, 2013 at 01:35 am
Mari: No need for 401 plans, just look to the Ill. Municipal Retirement Fund, an employees plan. It…Read More is not run by the state government and it is solvent.
D.DouglasThomas June 2, 2013 at 08:55 am
Let's send the naper patch comments to Darlene Senger..think she might take a minute to "read…Read More them" and do something instead of doing nuthing!
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 06:55 am
I agree with Butch on control of pensions. I do not agree however that any state employee, other…Read More than first responders, should be receiving a public pension, or in the case of Boss Daley and others of his ilk, multiple public pensions. The vast majority of Americans enjoy Social Security as their primary pension and if they are smart, IRA or 401(K) plans. I could support a public employee 401(k) plan so long as it was primarily paid by the employee contributions with fixed government contributions with no COLA increases out of the public treasury, but privately invested. Obviously the current problem involves current obligations which can't be eliminated but there is no good reason to maintain this public pension system for future specially privileged employees, most of whom have jobs which are protected from at will termination (unlike the vast majority of American workers who have no such protection). If the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund is a satisfactory alternative great. The granting of pensions to public officials, appointed or elected is a travesty and must be ended. And, although I've always in the past opposed it, I think that it is time for term limits. Especially for the Mayor of Chicago.
Dan May 25, 2013 at 02:11 pm
Shared sacrifice should included those blessed with substantial pension income to pay state taxes…Read More like the rest of us do. Why should the 10,000 individuals that earn over $100,000 in pension income from a former government job receive this income tax free? We need a progressive pension tax to correct this tax loophole.
Johnson H. May 28, 2013 at 10:56 am
Your shared sacrifice should not include the public employee who has faithfully paid into the…Read More pension system that the politicians set up. The politicians now want to force the public employee to pay more, and the taxpayer to pay more for the states mistakes. Shared sacrifice my A$$... The only sacrifice that should be happening is the politicians give up their pay for the next 10 years to pay for the mess they created by not paying/delaying payments into a system that would have been in good shape if they had payed in to begin with. The politicians made this mess, by skipping payments, setting re-payment schedule @ 50 years with balloon payments and now they want to cry broke and walk away from their obligations. That is horrible. Take a look at what Mayor Rahm is doing in Chicago. Closing schools because he is crying broke, now he is proposing a new $50Million stadium to be built for DePaul. As I have said before "The rich get richer and the poor get screwed" Go into politics and you can become part of the elite in this country and screw everyone else. !
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 06:24 am
Dan, right on and the first overly paid pensioner is Boss Daley who I understand collects more than…Read More one. I have yet to understand how there are more than one pension plans. I don't believe in any public employee pensions save for first responders and I definitely do not believe that the public office holders, e.g., Mayors, aldermen, state senators and representatives, Governors, Lt. Governors, Comptrollers, State Treasurers or elected officials at the county and local level should receive one penny in public pensions. Until some common sense takes over Illinois all of these separate governmental pensions should be rolled into one and no one entitled to more than one pension check. If that requires amending the state constitution and getting rid of home rule so be it.
Jim Lausier May 25, 2013 at 12:49 am
Can I say that this is very strange. I've seen this letter going around in LBGT circles on Facebook.…Read More I saw it published yesterday in The Capitol Fax... A publication read by a good many state legislators. Now it's been picked up by HuffPost Chicago... and NOT ONE comment on this article. Not one! Weird.
But, Sergeant Smith... I can absolutely assure you that your letter has been seen by a great many people, including the state legislators that your letter is aimed at. Great letter, my friend.
Marquell Smith May 30, 2013 at 08:49 am
Thanks so much to both of you for your support. Jim, btw, you broke the news to me that it had made…Read More the HuffPost Chicago--thank you.
Frank Palmer June 18, 2013 at 02:05 pm
Canada, with more gun controls, somehow has fewer shootings per capita. We see a lot of people…Read More assuring us that there is no connection between the two.
Grumpy Old Man June 19, 2013 at 04:51 pm
No, the statistics are simply meaningless. If you're going to make an argument, start eliminating…Read More all variables that affect the problem you address.
Allison Travis May 24, 2013 at 07:17 pm
I used to attend the parade with my parents and neighborhood friends every year for the 10 years…Read More that I lived at Wellington and Sheridan. We moved out of the neighborhood and stopped going. I'm now 27, and went last year with my one year old year daughter, and saw a few familiar faces, even got a little teary eyed with the fond memories. We'll be there again this year now that she's 2 (even though we live in Ligan Square), and will go every year as long as she's a kid living in this city! Fantastic parade, great fun!!!
John Wayne May 20, 2013 at 03:24 pm
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability is nothing more than a left wing fascist organization.…Read More
Those who support progressive taxation pretend to be on the moral high ground but, in fact, they have no ground to stand on. Envy, not justice, is at the root of the argument for discriminatory taxation. That is why those who most strongly advocate progressive taxation are in favor of the welfare state. If we are to restore civil society and move from tax socialism to tax justice, we need to abolish progressive taxation, institute a fair flat tax and limit the size of government. Otherwise, class warfare and welfare will prevail.
PaulRevere May 20, 2013 at 06:05 pm
"tax expenditures" needs clarification.
States are "non profit ventures".…Read More Therefore , states cannot have any expense called "tax expenditures". People and For profit businesses have "tax expenditures". Those are "tax revenues" to the states.
States have "REVENUES" and "SERVICES SPENDINGS".
A potential Tax revenue cannot be "spent". To label any less tax revenue as an expense is absurd. Why? Because that would suggest a 6% corporation state Tax rate really means 94% more Taxes could have been collected. Is that a Tax expenditure?
Only liberals would label 100% of anyone's income as "tax revenue" to be called "tax expenditure" for any % not taxed. "STATE TAX REVENUE". Whatever is left for the taxpayer to keep is therefore a "tax expenditure" to the State. LOL! You guys running our Govt have warped minds.
Just try to get those "tax expenditures" as revenue and watch the businesses close shop. When will you admit the real problems of "Highly overpaid Govt Public employees". They are the ones creating an undue "TAX EXPENDITURE" on every living Person.
Glenn Brooks May 22, 2013 at 03:28 am
We can't Reboot because the system file is corrupted. I/O error.
Grumpy Old Man May 20, 2013 at 05:37 pm
Unfortunately some of the inspiration were some of the most divisive comments I've seen on Patch…Read More outside of and including the Sunday cartoon. Just look at the one on Long Journey to change minds and the article about the pit bull rescuer. I'm not sure that this was the type of inpiration that Grape Nuts intended.
Jason Akai May 21, 2013 at 10:58 am
GOM - you're right. The worst part of the Patch is comments. You find me a feel good patch…Read More article, and I will show you a list of people who are angry about it. People just like to vent, I suppose. Its easier to do behind an anon name.
George Cunningham May 16, 2013 at 12:46 am
Maybe they should get the arrival time displays correct first! The Chicago Pulaski #66 East Bound…Read More stop displays arrival times for the 157 - NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!!!!! Sheesh - it took two months and a dozen e-mails to get them to correct the stop number at that stop (was posted as 0503, is actually 503).
But then again, it is ONLY the WEST side so who gives a damn????????
Maori Tuakana May 19, 2013 at 09:50 pm
That totally IS a burger, & it sounds awesome! I keep mine simple. I use more of an 85% ratio,…Read More on a half pound patty. Once finished, the stacking is simple. Two slices of American Cheese, Habanero Pepper Sauce (Marie Sharps or Melinda's), Grilled White Onion Slice (about 1/2 inch & whole slice intact), Mustard, Mayo (not Salad Dressing), & that's all. Of course the type of bun is up to you. I use a Gonnella Gourmet Bun.
Maori Tuakana May 19, 2013 at 09:51 pm
Now that's a great idea! I was told to use Italian Sausage, but this sounds like a winner.
Kibitzer May 16, 2013 at 01:48 am
Of course things are going to get worse. I tell people that all the time. They listen politely and…Read More then go their way. No one believes we are in a economic sink hole. I look for the Rapture of Christ's people and once that happens, all hell will break loose. Don't know what the "Rapture" is about? Check out "Rapture Alert.com". It totally breaks my heart for those in denial. About the economy, and the Lord Jesus.
Wheaton Watcher May 17, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Yep. I guess that explains the economic growth and the jobs the economy has been adding the last 4…Read More years.
After Earth
Comment Recommend Dave