Cook County Soapbox: True human spirit

Kitty Molander is being remembered these days in Schaumburg. And that's because she certainly will be hard to forget. Kitty died last month after a battle with brain cancer, and after 20 years as Schaumburg Township assistant director of disability services. She defined "volunteer," giving of her time, her dedication and her heart. Earning many honors for her work, Molander's real rewards came in helping others. Gerry Bartnicke, director of disability services, summed it up best: "She worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for the many people in her care." Not a bad way to be remembered.

Buy those Thin Mints for the troops

Even if you don't consume Girl Scout cookies yourself, some local Scouts are making an offer that's tough to refuse: buying cookies to send overseas to the troops. "Operation Cookie Drop" was thought up by members of the Yellow Ribbon Support Group based in Palatine, who regularly send care packages to deployed military personnel serving overseas -- in four years, more than 9,000 boxes. But "no matter what we send," founder Pat McCoy told writer Eileen Daday, "it's the Girl Scout cookies that remind them of home." To find a Girl Scout troop selling cookies for military personnel, learn about Yellow Ribbon at www.yellowribbonsg.org.

Way to go

The spirit of volunteerism is an awesome thing, and it's even more inspiring when you see it in our youths. That's why the Daily Herald is so proud of the 11 Cook County high school students selected to our 2007-08 Leadership Team, and the others who received honorable mention status. The long list of volunteer activities they participate in is truly impressive. What really is inspiring is their drive and commitment now to make Cook County a better place to live and the hope they'll still be pitching in as they grow into adults.

Really tough sell

While governments at all levels continue to see higher taxes as the solution to all problems, taxpayers seem much less thrilled about handing over more money to governments seemingly inept and inefficient, especially when individual jobs and benefits are disappearing. That's why a proposal to raise federal gas taxes by 40 cents per gallon is likely to hit with a resounding political thud in the middle of a presidential election campaign.

MySpace safety effort

Yes, MySpace.com and law enforcement officials have tightened efforts to shield young users from on-line sexual predators. But it comes at a price. Parents and police may have more trouble keeping an eye on Web activity as well. But it's a legitimate effort to improve safety for the Web's youngest users. Still, the best advice to young users might come from one of their own, a 17-year-old from Willowbrook High School: "Kids just need to be smarter."

Sneak approach

Once again, a major Illinois policy shift was sneaked in the back door with little or no debate. This time it was public taxpayers funding private schools to the tune of up to $75 million in textbooks, software, background checks, and health/safety areas. Tucked quietly into school funding legislation, the policy furthers blurs the line between public and private schools, which do not have to follow many of the state's education laws. A bad idea, especially when it is cooked up behind closed doors, which is what opponents claim happened. This is a major constitutional issue that sets an expensive precedent. It ought to be discussed at length and in depth, not slipped in under the cover of night.