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Editor’s note
We haven’t seen a good argument in favor of the constitutional amendment requiring a three-fi fths vote to approve any pension or retirement benefi t increase for public employees. Proponents are being quiet, hoping that anti-government, anti-public employee sentiment is enough to make this turkey fl y.

The perils of premature morality
A lot of people, I suppose, thought that George McGovern had died a long time ago when they heard in October that he had passed away. Some of them could even have put a date on his demise – election night 1972, when he lost his presidential campaign to the incumbent Richard Nixon in a laugher.

Better choices than Obama vs. Romney
There are countless news stories and discussions about the idiosyncrasies that differentiate President Obama and Gov. Romney. Maybe it’s just the UIS Radical Student Union that’s confused by this, but when we look at the present election we see two right-of-center, corporatist parties posturing as opposites.

Helping Republicans find real voter fraud
Republican officials are having a major problem with their widely ballyhooed claim that they must create new barriers to voting in order to ensure the “integrity” of the ballot. The problem is this: Their high-decibel effort is completely devoid of integrity.

LETTERS
SUPPORT RAPE VICTIMS As a rape victim advocate, I want every public official who makes a deplorable, victimblaming statement to simply say, “I am sorry. I will never say that again.” Whether a person is a dogcatcher, U.S.

Illinois’ escalating super PAC arms race
Last March, a federal judge struck down Illinois’ law capping contributions to socalled state super PACs. Since then, according to the State Board of Elections’ website, $1.8 million has been spent by groups on Illinois campaigns, and as of late last week, $1.

A PRANK AND A CRANK
Sangamon County prosecutors are mulling whether to file charges against nine former Sacred Heart-Griffin students who filled hundreds of paper cups with water and placed them on the floor of a school commons area last May.

All gone
Jeffrey Parsons and his company, THR and Associates, owe more than $467.2 million to consumers, tax collectors, media outlets and various other entities from coast to coast, according to recently filed documents in federal bankruptcy court that show taxpayers are owed the most.

METER MADNESS
Utility administrators became concerned in recent months as meters installed during the 1970s were replaced with modern electronic meters. After hearing scuttlebutt about the old meters, administrators audited utility bills citywide, looking for low usage, and found a halfdozen meters that were running at half-speed.

Jail doctor in good standing despite deaths
Ten thousand dollars, at least in the eyes of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, which in August fined Dr. Stephen Austin Cullinan of Peoria that amount for not properly treating an ankle fracture suffered by an inmate in the Macoupin County jail in Carlinville.

Democrats get their Statehouse chance
On Nov. 6, voters in the near north and southeast area of Springfield will see Democratic names for state representative and state senator on their general election ballots.

How sick was Lincoln?
It’s been 80 years since someone wrote a book addressing questions about Lincoln and his mental and physical health. A lot of new information and speculation have popped up since then. Springfield historian Glenna Schroeder-Lein, who last authored The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine.

Southern Foodways Symposium
One click and it filled the screen. Hurriedly typing in my personal and credit card information, I made several spelling mistakes in my haste. Only after the confirmation number appeared did I sit back and relax. I’d done it! I was going to the 15th Southern Foodways Symposium in Oxford, Miss.

Atlas tries but dies
While the conceit of the film is to show that each story dovetails into the next somehow, the connections are tenuous at best. One of the predominant themes is that oppression of the masses and the exploitation of workers is a condition that has appeared in the past and will continue to exist well into the future.

Venues make a comeback
Some months back Catch 22, located downtown, near the corner of Fifth and Adams began booking bands on a regular basis. Long known as a late-night dance club, Catch built a nice stage, set up a good PA system and brought in bands.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Randy Houser
His father worked as a professional musician and by age thirteen, Randy Houser was fronting his own band. From his native Miss., Randy took off for Nashville in 2002. One of his first cuts was a co-write of the Top Five hit, “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk.” With that song establishing him as viable country music maker, he worked on his career as a performer.

PUB CRAWL
New City Road and ScotteeeRock Acoustic Jam.

THE CALENDAR
10am-3pm Sat, Nov. 9-Dec. 17 (closed Thanksgiving). Unique exhibition featuring more than 45 regional artists. Springfi eld Art Association, 700 N. Fourth St, 217-523-2631. Home Decor Seminar Series.

FILM | Fantastic flicks
The Route 66 International Film Festival presents some of the best independent films from around the world. Submissions are reeled in from every continent except Antarctica and many are nominated for Academy Awards. The festival’s new home at The Legacy Theatre proves to be a perfect fit.

COMEDY | Vote for funny
Get ready to cast your ballot for funny. March on down to the Hoogland Center for the Arts Nov. 3 for Second City for President..

BOOKS | Poetic party
The public is invited to hear award-winning poets Allison Joseph and Jon Tribble at Quiddity’s.

THEATER | Humor licentiously
Dynamic Patterns Theatre presents three performances at the Hoogland Center for the Arts of the comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers.