Don't need silence, but do need action

Many people oppose the law requiring all Illinois schools to give students a moment of silence each day. I am one of these people, but my opposition stems not only from the fact that I believe the law crosses the line between church and state, but because it seems like the General Assembly has nothing better to do than pass pointless laws when there are real problems waiting to be solved.

One issue the legislature needs to agree on quickly and stop debating is the Chicago Transit Authority budget. As Mayor Richard Daley put it, "Either (the governor and the General Assembly) support public transit or they don't. This is do or die time."

As reported on the Chicago Transit Authority's Web site, 39 routes will be cut if the CTA's "doomsday" plan takes effect. Whether the solution is raising taxes (an extra quarter for every $100 purchased, says the Daily Herald), or finding areas of wasteful spending, something needs to be done.

Let's just leave the meditation and prayer for places of worship, where they belong, and during our moment of silence, maybe we can hope our elected officials do what they were elected to do and pass some meaningful legislature.

Sarah Morgan

Elburn