Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you there’s something you’d like to comment on in Elgin or beyond, send an email to [email protected]. Please include “speak out” in the subject line.
Tax break hypocrites: Reference an article written by Robert Channick in the July 12 paper about businesses leaving Illinois, it was stated that Keith Hoogland, who made billions in Illinois, is moving his businesses to Tennessee because of crime, taxes and lack of talented people in Illinois. Ken Griffin, who made billions as well, is moving his operations to Florida. Tennessee has a higher crime rate than Illinois. Tennessee is 623.7/100,000 people. Illinois is 397.2/100,000 people. Tennessee is below Illinois in educational attainment. The national average is 51.9%. Tennessee is 38.7% and Illinois is 47%. Florida is only 42.2%. That leaves taxes and that might be where Illinois fails compared to the other states but to have both of these businessmen claim crime and talent as their excuse to leave after they have had huge tax breaks in Illinois is hypocrisy.
Hospitals are dangerous: Hospitals are a risk to patients with low-grade health issues. Unless your illness is life-threatening and requires surgery or incubation, don’t go. Staph infections are numerous in hospitals.
Bible silent on abortion: Those who use the Bible as a tool for their arguments, one way or the other, should keep in mind the bible doesn’t mention explicit reference to abortion. There were abortions taking place during that period but the Bible never mentioned it. Attempts are being made by both sides to interpret vague Bible verses to support their view. Both sides have strong personal opinions but I would argue the majority support a woman’s right to control her own body. Why have a political mandate that is supported only by a minority of the population?
Misplaced concern: Every once in a while, I make myself sick by listening to liberal radio just to get an opposing point of view. Everybody’s up in arms about this 13-year-old carjacker who was shot. How come nobody’s up in arms about the parents of the 13-year-old carjacker and why is 13-year-old carjacking cars with a gun by the way? Nobody seems to worry about that.
Blue vs. red state gas: I was just wondering how come Republican states, like Florida, have gas that costs $3.61 a gallon yet in the Democratic states, like Illinois, it’s $5.29 or $5.39. What happened? Didn’t Pritzker get the message to lower our gas prices? If this isn’t reason to live in a Republican state, I don’t know what is.