Workers’ rights amendment too costly for Illinois
Please vote against Amendment 1 if you care about the future of Illinois. “The Workers’ Rights” amendment sounds like a good thing but is, in fact, the opposite. It would make it possible for an employer to require union membership as a condition of employment, resulting in more debt and more individuals and businesses leaving Illinois.
Illinois public sector employees currently have more bargaining rights than those in surrounding states. Additional bargaining rights under Amendment 1 are not necessary and will come at a cost.
The additional rights, some of which are undefined, will give Illinois public sector employees more bargaining rights than employees in any other state in the union. If we decide later we don’t agree with those expanded rights, there is no way to change them without another constitutional amendment. It has the potential of creating the same nightmare as currently exists with state pensions.
The additional costs that come with public sector union arbitrations will be paid for through property tax increases.
Illinois currently has the second highest property taxes in the nation. We absolutely cannot afford to increase them any further. Please vote “no” on Amendment 1 on Nov. 8.
Julie Fox, West Dundee
Looking back makes one long for the good-old 1950s
It’s much too easy for us oldsters to think that the good old days are vastly superior to the tumultuous times we are now forced to endure.
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But the simple fact is we did feel safer then, whether it’s because there were far fewer guns on the streets or law enforcement was held in a much higher regard.
There was no keeping up with the Joneses, although dad was often the first in town to acquire the latest Chevy model. Mom stayed at home to keep the family functioning. Our greatest concerns as kids were limited to passing our next math test and not being overlooked when choosing sides for baseball.
Naive as it seems now, we never locked the front door. What’s more, we conversed with our next door neighbors and knew everyone’s name at the annual block party.
Religion was never discussed and yet the entire neighborhood attended Sunday services. Politics was also off-limits but town meetings were always well attended and no one was shy about speaking their mind.
The ’50s were unassuming but friendly and even nurturing to old-timers and newcomers alike. Is it any wonder that those of us on Social Security might assume things really were better in the good old days.
Bob Ory, Elgin
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