LETTERS
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THE NAME GAME
James Krohe certainly hit the mark with his column on naming state buildings (“Official Graffiti,” Dec. 18). Illinois has a proud tradition of honoring people we’d just as soon forget by carving their names in stone – for example, William G. Stratton, whose main distinction was being the only governor tried for corruption and acquitted.
A few decades ago when I was attending Northern Illinois University, the administration solicited names of prominent Illinoisans to honor with campus buildings that had not yet received one. My favorite was the suggestion to name a particularly undistinguished classroom building after the late Paul Powell because it looked like a shoebox. Bill Ward Springfi eld
SHAME ON CHRIS BRITT
I would like you to know that Chris Britt’s Dec. 18 cartoon of the sound issue at SHG has offended many people. I am one of them.
In Mr. Britt’s cartoon, he basically rips on Mayor Houston, SHG and even Todd Green. But the most revealing item about this cartoon: Mr. Britt also rips on a Dominican sister holding a ruler while screaming a profanity. A Dominican sister! These are women who have dedicated their lives to serving God. Their lives!
One of my elders once scolded me, saying “God is watching.” Mr. Britt, God is watching. Shame on you. Matthew Goldasich Springfield
DEAR MR. RAUNER
On the news this morning, it was reported that you said all Illinois residents would have to sacrifice for the debt we owe. My question to you is what makes someone worth more, paywise, than another? What is it you do that makes you worth a million a week these last few years versus the schoolteacher
with 30 kids in their class, the fireman running into a burning building saving lives, the EMT saving lives, the janitor making it sanitary and healthy to be in our public buildings, the nurse taking care of us when we are sick, the food worker bringing and cooking our food?
When companies take the money we labored for here in Illinois and invest them in things like nursing homes in Florida then profit from and pay no taxes on profits made outside Illinois, where is the sacrifice? When will the people making hundreds of thousands off trading our money in other states and other business environments have to “feel the pinch,” as you said.
I think it is wonderful you are bringing the state offices back to the capital. Where are those offices going, though? Back into the same buildings we rented, did upkeep and forgave taxes for – that are now empty and the owner fresh out of prison? Are we going back into the deals with the state retirement agencies that landed people in prison? Nancy Long Springfield
