LETTERS

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OFF THE RAILS

I was quite taken by Chris Britt’s cartoon in the Oct. 22-29 Illinois Times.

It gives Gov. Rauner credit for going into the gorge but fails to show the people responsible for building the faulty tracks and trestle. Namely, Michael Madigan and the legislature he has led for the past 30 years or so.

I also took note of the little sign on the left top. It would be extremely helpful for IT to publish a list of all the compromises Mr. Madigan has made in his long tenure. It could, perhaps, serve a precedent on guidelines for current politicians who can’t seem to think for themselves. John Burgens Springfield

CEO EARNINGS

In his Oct. 29 letter, Steve McGrew said that in 1970, CEOs made 14 times as much as the average worker and now they make hundreds of times that. That may be true for top CEO’s but it is certainly not the norm. I have heard the 300-times number by the anti-right-to-work-groups, Hillary and others so I looked it up. The actual average number is 4.1 times, not 300 times. Below are the details:

“According to the Federal Bureau of Labor statistics in 2013, the average salary of 248,760 CEO’s in the U.S. was $178,400, while the average worker makes $46,440.”

That is less than four times, not 300 times. It would help if the actual numbers were reported. Otherwise, the public is left to believe what Hillary and others say. It should be noted that all members of Congress make $174,000 plus generous benefits which in most cases dwarfs the private sector.

I personally believe a lot of CEOs and directors of corporations are overpaid but I would like the shareholders to take care of that because they are truly the ones that are harmed the most. I also believe news anchormen, athletes, musicians, actors, models etc. are overpaid, but where do you stop? I do not want to have the government set the wages.

Here is where I complain:

There are many people at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that make over $1 million per year. That is essentially yours and my money and we have no say. That does harm all of us. When Richard Daley and other politicians artificially inflate their pensions that also harms all of us.

I do get disgusted when Hillary and Bill make more in a less-than-one-hour canned speech than the median family makes in more than six years and then they lecture us about inequality. Jack Hellner Springfield

JAZZ, JOY, THANKS

What an honor to receive the Best of Springfield award for “Best Jazz Group/Artist”! It is such a joy to be able to play jazz in this town. And also such a joy to be appreciated.

Gene Haas, Brian Justison and I thank you from the depths of our hearts. And many thanks to Tom Irwin, for your write-up. Jane Hartman Irwin Springfield

CORREX

IT readers love Recycled Records, the venerable downtown music shop and secondhand store, so no wonder they voted RR runner-up in the Best of Springfield “Pawn Shop” category, published last week. But curb your enthusiasm, folks. For the record, Recycled Records is not a pawn shop, which requires a license and is regulated, and it does not engage in pawn activities. Sorry we didn’t catch that one sooner.

Brahler Tire and Auto Center at 531 E. Laurel, picked for “Best Auto Repair” in the Best of Springfield poll, handles all kinds of auto repairs, ranging from tire changes to complicated engine repairs, contrary to what we reported in last week’s edition that focused on other locations that specialize in oil changes, minor repairs and routine maintenance.