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.
Leaf pickup not fair: Elgin remains a city divided, much like old Berlin. While some areas are allowed to push their leaves to the curb for easy pickup, others must tediously rake and bag them for the garbage collector. Not only is this double standard unfair but an added expense as well. C’mon, city council, you can do better!
Playing politics with oil: Has anyone noticed what the oil companies are doing lately? During Biden’s first two years, they punished him by keeping production low and raising the price for a barrel of oil. They’ve resisted his green energy (efforts). Oil companies’ net income in 2021 was $2 trillion and is set to double in 2022 to $4 trillion. Exxon Mobil made an unprecedented $17.85 billion profit for the second quarter of this year. Now the oil companies are finally ramping up production ahead of the midterms so they will have low gas prices when the Republicans take back the House. Regular people will believe that the Republicans saved them, thus voting red in 2024 as well.
Old sayings now incorrect: It’s Indian summer weather with temps approaching 70 degrees following last week’s hard frost. But it’s not likely you’ll hear those words uttered by any local weather forecasters, not with the politically correct police force listening in. Does anyone recall the good old days when trite expressions still had a place in our normal conversations? It’s getting more difficult all the time.
Don’t credit Dems: Democrats are not giving seniors an 8.7% increase on their Social Security checks. Increases are decided by the Consumer Price Index and not any political party. I’m sure Biden would love to take credit for it, if he hasn’t already.
Marketing to Christians: I am saddened as a believer to see the radicalization of white evangelical Christianity. A multimillion dollar program is coming out called “He Gets Us.” It is nothing but a marketing and branding tool to fill pews. Not much of Jesus and the Bible. Take a good look before investing.
Be a patriot — vote: This Nov. 8 election is the time to act as an honest patriot. Do you consider the baseless accusations that our election process is and has been corrupted? This has become a battle cry for much of the Republican Party yet no proof supports this accusation. Matter of fact, many of their candidates are now preparing to use this excuse if their candidate fails to win. Is the American public so naive as to still think Democratic election workers abducted the 2020 election even though Republican workers were also present to testify to the results? Voting to propagate dishonesty is an attack on our democracy!