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GIVING UP?
This is absolutely indicative of our decline as a community (“A new normal: Cannabis dispensaries sprout in Springfield,” March 30). How can we look each other in the eye and justify the loss of a one-time staple, family restaurant to be replaced with yet another drug dispensary? I have nothing personal against marijuana or those who use it for medicinal or recreational purposes. That being said, even one who is stoned can see through the thick cloud of gambling, short-term loan and drug sales operations “improving our city.” We have more gambling machines per capita than any city in the state. Our short-term loan establishments litter the city and take advantage of those in desperate situations. And at this rate, we’ll have one pot store for every pizza place in town. Does no one else see all of these as bad for our community, or have we all just given up?
Aaron Graves
Via illinoistimes.com
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AT LEAST IT’S TAXED
People are going to use cannabis regardless. You may as well have people getting it legally and paying taxes, just like alcohol. Liquor stores are all over and alcohol causes harm. It’s also nice to have more dispensaries to reduce the monopoly problems we currently have.
Lauren Lumsden
Via illinoistimes.com
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DEATH WITH DIGNITY
In June it will be 20 years since my mother died from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
I moved my mother into my home shortly after she received her diagnosis in May 2001. Her functioning deteriorated quickly, and within nine months she was in a wheelchair, had nearly lost her ability to speak and had a feeding tube. It wasn’t long after that when she began seeking a way to end her life. She was in pain, both physical and emotional. But there was no way to end her life in a dignified manner. She finally became comatose and passed on June 12, 2003.
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, and now that I have ALS, I am asking questions of my medical professionals and sharing my wishes with my family. But Illinois still does not give its citizens the full range of end-of-life care options. While I am still very functional, I know that eventually I will also be suffering, choking every time I try to eat or drink, unable to walk and to do all the things that make me happy.
Terminally ill residents of Illinois should have the option, in consultation with their family, physicians and faith leaders, to make the end-of-life care decisions that are right for them. These options should include medical aid in dying, which would give them ability to request a prescription from their doctor for medication, which they can decide to take or not, to end their dying process peacefully if their suffering becomes unbearable.
It is not for me to judge someone else’s decision about how they die or how much suffering they must endure. This is an intensely personal decision, and I believe it is up to the individual to determine what quality of life means to them, and for physicians to support the dying person’s decision.
Please join me in urging Illinois lawmakers to make medical aid in dying available to dying patients.
Jodi Perko
Springfield
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FOCUS ON COURTS
Millions have been spent for decades on treatment and opportunities for groups and areas involved in crime, yet the results are not being seen prevention-wise (“Voters choose crime prevention over tough on crime approach,” April 13). A strong deterrent and lengthy minimum prison terms for guns and violent offenses are a better use of money. You can’t commit multiple crimes if in prison. The courts are the area that should be looked at; liberal laws and sentencing policies are the biggest factor.
Gary Nelson
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
This article appears in Field of dreams.
Aaron Graves.
Note that those which were once considered vices become virtues as soon as the government can make money off of them.
Aaron Graves- I’m not sure if anyone has told you, but Steak-N-Shake is a corporate chain. When you spend money there, your money is flowing out of state to corporate execs and non-local food supply chains. It’s not a “staple” and its beyond silly to think that the presence of a Steak-N-Shake is an indicator of a community’s health. And even if it was: do you think there is some commission that decides which businesses go where?
Steak-N-Shake has been going downhill for years and its eaten into their brand loyalty and profitability. You see, corporate, out-of-state executive’s poor business practices harmed us, not pot dispensaries.
Gary Nelson- do you imagine that imprisoning someone is free? You bemoan the millions spent on treatment, which you claim (without a source) have not seen “results,” but gloss over the billions we spend on imprisoning people.
What has been statistically shown not to work is minimum sentencing and treating prison like a cudgel to better society. Your views are so obviously outdated and debunked I’m surprised you were even moved to express them in the first place.