What you’re about to read is a true story. I’m stating that promise here at the top, because a few inches into this, you may start to wonder whether I’m making this stuff up, and I want you to know that I’m not. So here goes: Guy goes to a union meeting. There’s beer available; […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
The devil and Mr. Jones
Emil Jones was not treated too well during his 10 years as the minority leader of the state Senate. The majority Republicans locked him out of the room and killed most of his members’ bills. His fellow Democrat, House Speaker Michael Madigan, treated Jones like a junior associate, occasionally helping him out but not doing […]
Posted inOpinion
letters 3-3-05
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com THAT’S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE I would like to thank Illinois […]
Posted inOpinion
common sense 3-3-05
How far would you let a boss push you? Perhaps your boss keeps refusing to raise your pay and also cuts your health-care coverage. Still, good jobs are hard to find, so you stick it out. But what if the boss then has surveillance cameras installed to keep an eye on you and also requires […]
Posted inOpinion
letters 2-24-05
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com THE BIGGEST SHAME OF ALL Dusty Rhodes’ recent article “Baby Trade” [Feb. […]
Posted inOpinion
Pay-to-play government
One of the problems with applying “appearance of impropriety” rules to Illinois and Chicago politics is that most of the players are swimming in a small political pond. We’re constantly treated to stories about how this or that political insider connected with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is representing a company that just landed a sweet […]
Posted inOpinion
common sense 2-24-05
Well, it’s finally come to this: The Bush administration has now been caught in so many covert campaigns to propagandize the public, using tax dollars for the brainwashing, that Congress has to pass a law to stop them. The revelations just keep coming. There are the fake “video news releases” from various government agencies to […]
Posted inOpinion
On abortion, the new search for common ground
Thanks to Sen. Hillary Clinton for her recent attempt to reopen and reframe the abortion discussion. As a strong pro-choice advocate, she is looking for common ground with those who campaign against abortion rights. Both sides, she said, want to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies, promote adoption, and, in general, to reduce the number […]
Posted inOpinion
The price of our addiction
Republicans who saw the November elections as a mandate for easing environmental laws are once again attempting to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. This time, with no meaningful political opposition, it’s quite likely that they will finally succeed. Americans interested in the kind of world their children will inherit should pay […]
Posted inOpinion
Family values
Normal is whatever feels familiar to you, whatever seems plausible, perpetual, and permanent. Sometimes what seems normal isn’t, really; instead, it’s just your life, and you don’t know any better. What’s normal to you might not be normal to me, and vice versa. Here’s an example: Adoption seems abnormal to most people, but it feels […]
Posted inOpinion
common sense 2-17-05
Just when you think you’ve bottomed out on the cynicism it’s possible to feel in response to Washington’s constant kowtowing to the monied interests, along comes the American Jobs Creation Act. These days, whenever the White House and Congress put a positive-sounding title on legislation, you can bet it does the exact opposite of what […]
Posted inOpinion
letters 2-17-05
Letters policy We welcome letters, but please include your full name, address and a daytime telephone number. We edit all letters for libel, length and clarity. Send letters to: Letters, Illinois Times. P.O. Box 5256. Springfield, Illinois 62705. Fax: (217) 753-3958. E-mail: editor@illinoistimes.com HERE’S HOW TO BUILD A MAJORITY U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is the […]
