Smoking not illegal, and not the worst
In response to Helen Clark's letter concerning consideration of an exception to the smoking ban rule for casinos, I have to first say I am not now a smoker and haven't been one for over 20 years.
I am also one of the minority that seems to feel that it should be the decision of the private owner of an establishment whether to allow smoking there, as it is our right not to enter or work at an establishment where smoking is allowed. Smoking is not an illegal activity.
That being said, I want to share some statistics with Clark. According to the EPA, approximately 3,000 American non-smokers die each year from lung cancer caused by second-hand smoke. That is a very high and avoidable number, I agree.
According to the National Cancer Institute, 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year are related to radon.
I ask Clark and our Illinois legislators, who seem to believe we are too feeble to make discerning, intelligent decisions for ourselves, what do they propose the state do about radon, which seeps in from the ground into most, if not all, our homes and businesses?
I won't bore Clark with the statistics about the damage alcohol can do, even to innocent bystanders who are maimed or killed each by drinkers.
Elisabeth Bitter Highland Park
Illegal immigration creates great weight
The escalation of illegal immigration in the past decade and the changing fabric of a nation are of great concern to many Americans. Ten years is a considerable amount of time for the federal government to ignore the security and control of our borders.
Furthermore, the enforcement of existing immigration laws by responsible government agencies is minuscule and basically nonexistent. That alone provides a safe haven for millions of undocumented aliens already living in this country.
One of the reasons why they keep coming in is that the federal and state governments are actually courting illegal immigration by providing substantial welfare and other subsidies. The business community takes care of the rest by offering them ample employment, no questions asked.
For example, the federal government has designated a billion dollars from the Medicare Trust Fund to provide financial relief to hospitals and physicians to pay for emergency and health care services for undocumented aliens. The money is being distributed among 50 states based on their relative percentage of illegal immigrants. This plan will extend through September 2008. Meanwhile, the Medicare Part B premiums for those on Social Security keep rising every year.
The new plan implemented by the feds this year is even better. While the current monthly premium is $93.50, seniors may be paying up to $161.40, per month depending on their retirement income -- nice guys!
Here in Illinois, Sens. Richard Durbin and Barack Obama, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich are the advocates for illegal immigration. Their voting record speaks for itself and here are some examples:
Durbin is a sponsor of the DREAM act, which would allow children of undocumented aliens to attain a college degree with in-state tuition breaks. Durbin and Obama both voted to provide Social Security benefits and amnesty for illegal aliens.
Blagojevich, by executive order, approved the "Opportunity I-Loan" program, which provides state guaranteed mortgages, below market interest rates, for the underprivileged immigrant families including undocumented aliens.
He is also ready to sign into law driving "certificates" approved by the House and now pending Senate approval, so illegal immigrants can drive legally in the state of Illinois. His latest law prohibits employers from verifying legal residency of newly hired employees and future applicants.
Crossing the border looks very attractive and rewarding to illegal immigrants. They are in pursuit of a better life in this country and you cannot blame them for it. The blame falls on our government and the broken legal system.
Stan Jurgens
Elgin