U.S. own worst enemy
I keep hearing politicians making statements about America’s loss of power and influence in the world and particularly in the Middle East. Many of these statements are reactions to grave and serious world events that are occurring at an increasingly rapid rate of speed.
Implied in many of these statements is that American interventionism would remedy all that ails. We do have history, and recent history at that, that should give us a sense of realism as to how true that belief actually is.
But I am not writing to argue whether the United States has lost power and influence in the world. I accept the fact that it has, but I have an alternate reason as to why this is the case other than a lack of American muscle-flexing.
Having played sports and watched sports, any time I witnessed dissension among teammates I knew that team was destined to lose. Infighting brought the team down, while elevating the opponent’s confidence.
The United States projects the image of a broken team to both friend and foe. America is a deeply divided nation, made increasingly so by the rhetoric of those we trust to lead us. For that fact, we are our own worst enemy — a costly gift to give those who seek to destroy us.
Doug Harris, Homer Glen
Cheaper alternative
One additional benefit to consider if Hillary Clinton is elected president: We could pay her less!
Richard Schultz, Crete
Cutting budget not only answer
Gov. Bruce Rauner has presented a new budget to deal with the state’s financial problems. So far, there has been no mention of also looking at the state income tax structure to assure that every taxpayer pays a fair amount of tax.
Neither has there been any dialogue about state agencies’ efficiency or needs. To get the state back on a solid financial footing, it is equally important to look at the entire spectrum of Illinois’ financial obligations.
Just cutting the budget is wishful thinking. It is a fragmented approach to fixing the state’s financial mess.
Fritz Petzold, Chicago
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