LETTERS

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BEZOS THE BUSINESSMAN Jim Hightower describes where the fault lies as he describes the plight of Amazon workers. (“Think of the Amazon workers,” Dec. 25.)

Does he honestly believe that Jeff Bezos pays these people so little and works them so hard because he is an evil man? No, it’s all about competition. If Bezos wants to stay afloat, he must demonstrate consistent profit margin growth or his investors will drop the stock like a hot potato. If he hopes to raise wages, he must cut expenses elsewhere to make up for it. Let’s start with the 35 percent U.S. corporate tax rate, the highest in the world. If we want to do something to help all businesses, including Amazon, let’s reduce this to something more reasonable. The average across the world is more like 15 percent. Jim Proffitt Jacksonville

A HAPPY MEDIUM Chris Britt’s Dec. 11 cartoon and Bruce Rushton’s story (“Can you hear me now?” Dec. 18) publicized the problems created by the excessive noise coming from SHG’s stadium during football games. It’s hard for me to believe that the volume of the PA system cannot be adjusted so that fans at those games can clearly hear the announcements, yet not so loud that they can be heard behind closed doors a mile away.

I’ve often attended games at Robin Roberts Stadium on North Grand Avenue East and have had no trouble hearing announcements there. Yet, while perhaps the sound can be heard in homes in the immediate area, I doubt it can be heard a mile away. I suggest that SHG officials meet with those at Robin Roberts Stadium and learn how a happy medium can be reached regarding this sensitive issue. Dick McLane Springfield

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES The “Remembering the lives they lived” issue (Dec. 25) is no doubt one of the best issues of Illinois Times since its inception. The sketches portrayed people in Springfield who were intrinsic to who we are… no politicians or upper echelon. Each of them have contributed to our richness just by being good folks. It was a delight to read their life stories. Barbara Fuhrwek Springfield

WASTED TAX DOLLARS A waste of money once again: $143,000 for a stupid commercial. (“IDOT spends $143,000 on zombie-themed seat belt ad,” by Patrick Yeagle, Oct. 24.)

The Illinois Department of Transportation should have used their own first responders. You have the Minute Men and State Troopers. Yet these personnel deal with tragic accidents and worse yet, deaths. It really takes $143,000 and movie actors to portray their message? Another taxpayer waste of money. The other commercial for vacationing in Illinois last summer with the statue of Lincoln was also a waste of money and a slap in the face of our deceased President Lincoln, for the wording to be “whoa.”

Whoa? Really?

Lawrence Rizzo Springfield