MAKING A SCENE
In response to Scott Faingold’s Dec. 17 Illinois Times cover story, “Making a scene,” which asks the question “Will Springfield pay more for better music?”, I think the answer, which apparently was never discussed at the reported meeting called by Illinois Times, is obvious. Music appreciation is at an all-time high in the form of open mic nights, karaoke and YouTube offerings. It is the people’s music, and is not “minor league” as described more than once in IT, but major league. It is fast paced, eclectic and participatory. I have heard local open mic performers who were far better singers than world famous musicians such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young and others.
Local musicians need to lower their expectations and either get a day job or learn the meaning of starving artist. Very few will become breakout stars. With a depressed economy and under-employment, the financial issue is not without influence in future music trends.
Michael Hart
Springfield
IT READERS ON GUNS
I have read the “Letters to the editor” dated Dec. 10, written by Sarah Thomas and Nancy Long. I thought I would try to set the record straight, but as I began writing a reply, I realized it would be a hopeless task. I am sure the letter writers mean well, but it is hard to imagine how anyone could be so misinformed on such fundamental issues.
A quotation from Winston Churchill best describes the problem with these two letters: “The greatest argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
Gary Hetherington
Springfield
TRUMP’S WALL
Trump wants to build a great wall to keep rich people from hiring illegal immigrants.
Wouldn’t it be better to make hiring an illegal immigrant a criminal act? No jobs means no reason to come or stay. It would be much more doable than his plan of rounding all the illegal immigrants up and sending them home.
I guess the rub is he’d have to put the blame on rich people who mostly vote Republican.
Tom Ferrari
Springfield
END ALZHEIMER’S
The agreement reached on Capitol Hill at the end of October, hailed by many as a budget deal, only established a level of federal spending for the next two years. It did not specify which programs would be prioritized or scaled back.
Now, specific line items are being negotiated and it’s crunch time in Congress. I am writing to encourage everyone to take a moment to call, email, write and tweet at your congressmen to let them know what you care about.
After I lost my grandmother and several beloved patients, I became an Alzheimer’s Association volunteer ambassador and have worked closely with Congressman Rodney Davis’ office since he was elected. Davis has been a champion of increasing National Institutes of Health-funded research into the disease because he understands that the cost of doing nothing is far greater than making a smart investment now.
Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in our country and the only cause of death of the top-10 most common without a cure or treatment that significantly reduces mortality. And because those who develop Alzheimer’s do not die quickly and continue to suffer from other conditions, it is also the most expensive disease as well: Americans spent more than $225 billion treating Alzheimer’s last year and one-in-five Medicare dollars is devoted to caring for someone with the disease.
Congressman Davis, please don’t let the fight to end Alzheimer’s fall through the cracks. Millions of Americans need your help.
Suzy DeWilde
Springfield
This article appears in Dec 24-30, 2015.
