Thankful for TRIAD: On Sept. 19, the Elgin Township TRIAD held its annual senior citizen car check at the township parking lot on McLean Boulevard. After a stormy and rainy night, the sun came out for the event. Kudos to all those who helped. It’s always great to see Cherie Aschenbrenner and the other ladies and gents who helped make it a pleasant day. I didn’t get the name of the police officer who grilled the burgers, but hats off to you, sir. You grill a mean burger. Thank you one and all for caring for us seniors. We do appreciate it. I know I do.
Perturbed about presidential candidates: I watched the GOP debates. There were some interesting points that were brought up, but I would like them to stick to things with substance instead of attacking each other like pit bulls. We need to know what they are going to do if they become president. Let’s answer some questions from the people of the United States.
Sick of scams: I have a question. How can these sweepstakes advertise on television? Everyone knows they are a scam. Even law enforcement is aware of these scams. There are people out there who are so vulnerable, especially seniors. Anyone you talk to is so sick and tired of these multiple phone calls that come in even on your cell phones. These places need to stop harassing the public. This all started with telemarketing. Our mailboxes are stuffed with all these fraud materials. Throw away all your junk mail.
Fight for freedom: It’s about time we wake up and see these people in Syria and other countries who are choosing to run and hide in places where they can be safe instead of standing up and fighting for what they want. They want someone else to go in there and die for them so they can live peacefully. We had to fight for our freedom over here. It’s about time they stood up for their freedom over there. I don’t think our soldiers should have to go over there and die just to make them happy.
Fed up with Federal Reserve: I think it’s about time we get rid of Janet Yellen in the Federal Reserve. If I understand it correctly, the Federal Reserve is run by a bunch of bankers. It’s not a federal agency. They are really pushing the little guy around. All they care about is the big guy with stocks and bonds. He makes money, but the little guy who saved his money for retirement, as they told him to, is only getting 1.5 percent interest. How can he live on that? This is ridiculous.
Changes in immigration situation: I’m reading the article about the Mexican immigrant judge who said there has to be a humane solution to illegal immigration. He came here after World War II with his parents when he was 2 months old. After WWII, there weren’t millions of Mexicans streaming across the border. It was not the headache that it has become in recent decades. So you can’t run these stories that do not pertain to today’s world. It would be a drop in the bucket to ship them all back compared to what it’s costing to feed and educate them and give them healthcare.
Goaded by unequal code enforcement: I’m not sure how Elgin officials can fine someone with a boat or recreational vehicle sitting in their driveway. Throughout Elgin, commercial trucks park on driveways and in the streets. One sees bobcats, snow plows and wrecked cars parked on private property and often not on a paved surface. Figure it out, Elgin leaders. Code enforcement needs to be consistent for all.
Stop stealing from Social Security: I’m so tired of hearing how the Social Security system is going to be bankrupt in a year or two. Why don’t they put the money back into it like they used to do years ago? Money that is supposed to go directly into the Social Security system should quit being stolen to take care of roads and all kinds of other nonsense. If they did that, there wouldn’t be any problem whatsoever. The same goes for Medicare. People pay for it. Personally, I think they should raise it another percent, take it out of the checks, and then Social Security and Medicare would be rock solid. Let’s get with the program.
Misunderstanding about Muslims: It’s kind of disgusting to see such racism in our country when people talk about Muslims. What if our president is Muslim? What is wrong with the Muslim religion? All Muslims are not radical Jihadists. If they were, we would be in deep trouble because they have more members than any other religious organization in the world. Do you know how many white Muslims there are in this world? People need to take a good look at themselves and erase racism from their hearts.
Remark about PARCC scores: This is in regards to the article in The Beacon-News about the PARCC scores. Mr. Smith from the state board said that lower proficiency scores do not mean our schools are performing worse, that the students are learning less or are not as capable. What is he trying to pull? That is exactly what the scores mean. Those higher standards are actually a return to standard levels in effect before schools emphasized self-esteem rather than competency in core work.
Senior situation: Seniors, isn’t it wonderful to have Obamacare? You go to your primary care physician with a health concern. After they take your blood pressure, pulse and weight, if you’re over 70, you hear from your doctor that you’re too old or that at your age, the doctor can’t do anything about it. You might also be told to go to a specialist for your problem. So you go to a specialist who either says that he doesn’t know if insurance will cover your problem or he will order some pain medicine for you. That’s not all. They want you off the road for driving. You are too much of a risk. It’s wonderful to grow old. Your kids don’t want you. Doctors don’t want you. You can’t drive. Just put you away in an old people home and live like cattle. They will dictate when and where you will go daily and when it’s time to eat. You just don’t need a brain anymore. Everyone tells you what to do and when to do it. It’s really fun to be a senior.
Stand up for our president: I do respect Donald Trump, but I disagree with him saying that he doesn’t have to defend our president. He should defend him. If you have followers and they are making derogatory statements, it reflects on you and your values. President Obama, whether you like him or not, is the president of the United States. He’s the most disrespected president we ever had. We disrespect him in front of other countries. Members of Congress and the Republican Party disrespect our president. Vladimir Putin hears all this. If we don’t give him any respect, why should he? We’re all Americans. Why are we so racist? We are letting the politicians drive a wedge between us.
Editor’s note
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