As a recently retired senior who is active in my community, I decided that one good use of my newly freed-up schedule would be to serve as an election judge. I was dismayed to discover that, since I am not officially affiliated with either the Republican or the Democratic Party, I am ineligible for this position.
Gallup reported this year that 45% of U.S. adults identify as political independents. At the same time, according to USAFacts, 43% of registered voters have declared a party affiliation. Isn’t it about time that those of us who do not belong to either major party are acknowledged and welcomed to take part in the oversight of the voting process?
Some states have no such requirement. There are states in which a lack of sufficient workers or the attempt to maintain equal representation can override the party affiliation prerequisite. Not so in Illinois — I am shut out simply because I, like thousands of other Illinois voters, do not declare loyalty to a political party.
I have requested that state Sen. Adriane Johnson and state Rep. Rita Mayfield look into legislation to provide an opportunity for all citizens to participate fully in the election process.
— Diane P. Verratti, Waukegan
Don’t take advantage of perk
The June 7 article on childcare perks for state lawmakers was enlightening (“Legislators’ childcare perks draw scrutiny”). Why does someone always have to push the envelope, as in the case of the candidate who spent campaign money on dogcare?
We are so blessed in this country. Let’s preserve our goodness for future generations by playing fairly and shunning self-interest.
— Debbie Somchay, Westmont
How to approach student debt
For some, debt incurred in pursuit of higher education has taken on a quality different than automobile, home mortgage or credit card debt. It’s as if student debt repayment is subordinate to loans on cars or early home purchases.
I suspect that since we as a nation put a great value on higher education, those incurring college debt should be provided some flexibility to reorganize the student loans later if they are unable to make payments as they become due. I don’t mean borrowers should ignore current debt obligations simply because they feel strapped for cash.
Student debt is incurred by the riskiest category of borrower since, by definition, it is incurred by those with few, if any, assets or little or no income. It’s highly speculative lending.
Education is supposed to result in greater earning opportunity and most importantly an increase in comprehending obligation.
Lending institutions including those providing home mortgages and car loans should require that all student debt payments be kept current as a condition to borrowers incurring even more debt.
Nothing will wake up any instinct to treat student debt as a right than being declined for other debt because of a failure to be current on debt incurred by the more educated among us.
— Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton, Florida
Lasting effects of mass murder
I read in the Tribune (“Richard Speck brought terror to Southeast Side. But bravery emerges even from horror,” July 14) about another anniversary of what was perhaps Chicago’s worst mass murder. I feel strangely attached to this incident because Speck spent his first years living a few short city blocks from my own home in Monmouth, Illinois. His mother was living with family during World War II, when we all had to bunch up to wait out the war years. My own father was off in New Guinea and Leyte at the time.
Speck paid another visit to Monmouth shortly before ending up in Chicago. It later was reported that he allegedly murdered a barmaid there and he was being sought by Warren County authorities. Too bad they were unsuccessful in their search.
My mother was a second grade teacher who had a student named Richard Speck in her class. The child was ashamed to give his name aloud.
How often the crimes of a deviant cast shadows on others for years to come. So sad!
— Al Munneke, Crest Hill
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Murders will never make sense
I read the anniversary op-ed about a lunatic we who work in mental health had spent many years trying to understand. But it will never make any sense to me as a professional or as an American citizen.
Op-ed writer and attorney Michael Peregrine states it best: “We are no longer as shocked by school killings, drive-by shootings and murders at a house of worship.”
Such a recap on the 60th anniversary date.
— Wayne E. Williams, Camden, New Jersey
The best hot dog in Chicago
I had to respond to this well-written article (“The story behind Chicago’s most iconic hot dog,” July 15) to honor the memory of a long-gone hot dog stand on the southeast corner of 32nd Place and Aberdeen Street across from the St. Mary of Perpetual Help grammar school gymnasium.
I grew up in Bridgeport. We waited with bated breath every summer for Mike’s bright yellow hot dog cart to roll up to the corner. Immediately, a line would form, often halfway down the block, and for 25 cents, you could purchase a Vienna Beef steamed hot dog on a steamed regular or poppy seed bun with mustard (and/or ketchup), chopped onions, green relish and two slices of a delicious homegrown tomato, with hot peppers optional. You could also get a roll or a bunch of tamales for 15 cents. Yum!
When Mike died, his daughter took over for a long time, but we all missed the special way Mike made every dog with loving care — placing the dog on the bun, the squeeze of the mustard, the spoonful of relish, then onion and the exact placement of the tomato slices on top, lovingly done each and every time, while you patiently waited, thinking how good it was going to taste as soon as you could bite into it. He wrapped each one in a sheet of waxed paper by the light of his green camping lantern. You couldn’t get home fast enough to sit down and enjoy it.
The man did this for over 25 years, from what I could ascertain, every evening in the summer. This was the benchmark for all Chicago hot dogs I have ever tried. Some came close, but none compared to Mike’s hot dogs.
— Janice A. Hiley, Rolling Prairie, Indiana
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