LETTERS
We welcome letters. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. We edit all letters. Send them to [email protected].
LIGHTS NOT A PRIORITY
Internet sites that facilitate the donation of small amounts of money by large numbers of people, known as “crowdfunding,” are a wonderful innovation.
Many teachers, for example, use crowdfunding to purchase classroom resources and fund field trips in an effort to give children in less wealthy school districts access to learning tools they would not otherwise have.
Crowdfunding levels the playing field for the less advantaged, which is why the current effort to use it to pay for Christmas lights over the Statehouse is, frankly, in bad taste.
As a longtime Springfieldian, I love it when the lights go up. But it won’t be as cheerful this year with so many families and students hurting as a result of the state budget being held hostage by our governor.
Nutritional assistance, mental health programs and child care, along with other services that help keep families functioning through difficult times, have been reduced or eliminated due to the budget crisis.
When families are in turmoil, students bring those troubles to classrooms. Though teachers will always do their best to make sure students learn despite the problems at home, the state budget impasse is clearly hurting families and is, therefore, impacting education.
When you consider what these families are trying to overcome, raising money to string “pretty lights” over the Statehouse seems less like a holiday celebration and more like a metaphor for the misplaced priorities of the Rauner administration.
The holidays are nearly upon us. I hope the generous people of our area will choose to support worthy organizations that truly make a difference for Illinois families. Just a few examples are the Illinois Coalition for Community Services, the Central Illinois Foodbank and the United Way.
Helping organizations like these keep their lights on will do far more to make Illinois a better place than stringing lights over the Statehouse. Cinda Klickna President, Illinois Education Association
ORDERLY DEBATES
With due respect to the media, of which I am an avid reader and fan, I suggest that organizers of the presidential debates return the handling to the League of Women Voters, who did so successfully for many years.
The national League introduced nonpartisan “candidates meetings” early on and the Springfield League adapted them for local and legislative races. A committee would spend hours fashioning nonpartisan questions addressing current issues, and the audience at the meeting would be invited to provide written questions which were then screened for crank, insulting or partisan content. Yes, each candidate was allowed a threeminute opening statement, as well as a closing. The meetings were held in the city council chambers.
In famously politically partisan Sangamon County, Mayor Nelson Howarth once stationed policemen at the doors to monitor order, but with our legendary, strong moderator, the late Mary Tobermann, the meetings were brought to an orderly conclusion with citizens leaving with solid knowledge of the candidates.
In recent years, the NAACP Springfield branch has held very successful and orderly debates. It can be done. Barbara Dickerman Springfield
DRUG TESTING PROFITS
I heard some dumb Illinois state legislator say that he wants to drug test all public aid recipients. Florida, whose governor owned the company that made the millions off their testing program, and Tennessee already tried this. They lost millions of dollars to find less than one percent using, saving nothing, costing millions.
I want all legislators to sign a contract saying they will pay for the cost of the testing out of their paychecks. They are not earning them anyway. They are the welfare recipients we need to cut. Nancy Long Springfield
