Soapbox: Picking their battles

Campton Hills officials made an interesting decision this week -- they let two small groups of property owners disconnect from the village. So instead of fighting tooth and nail to keep every last property, the village is picking its battles. That makes sense. The village has argued in past cases that losing residents will endanger the financial stability of the village, but it's tough to make that argument when the property clusters are small. So far, lawyers have been the biggest winners in this taffy pull. This time, residents on both sides can save a little cash.

Take down those signs

The election was Feb. 5. Take down your campaign signs. Except in the case of the upcoming special election in the 14th U.S. House District, they're of no use. It's time to move on and take the eyesores with you.

Worth investigating

We agree Congress has far greater issues to spend precious time on than the illicit use of steroids in major league baseball. But if our elected officials insist on grandstanding and acting like the he said-he said escapades of All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens and his former trainer must be investigated, here's a subject we'd like to see scrutinized. How about insisting that baseball keep salaries down so working families and ordinary folks can afford to go to games? Even the bleacher seats are high-rent for some games.

Tests don't measure happiness

Joe Corcoran, principal of Gifford Elementary School in Elgin, is a brave soul. He dared to suggest -- sssshhhh -- that standardized testing isn't the be-all and end-all! "You try to give kids a well-rounded education, to make sure they're knowledgeable and happy. But with (standardized testing), there's definitely some pressure there," he said. "They don't look at whether kids are happy and if they're doing well in extracurriculars along with their studies." Did he say happy? Is that still allowed? His school has created a little game show between students and parents called "Are You Smarter Than An ISAT Student?" We salute this, should we say, irreverent principal for making test prep fun.

Depressing reality?

More people seem more interested in participating in the electoral process this year. We're wondering, though, if they'll feel the same way should the Democratic presidential nomination be decided by superdelegates. Such convention delegates are party insiders and party leaders, beholden to no voters and free to cast their votes as they please. Power to the people? Nope, power to the party. It's been that way since 1982, but for many political newbies, the realization could be depressing. Or it could make them angry enough to take control of their party of preference. Or not, meaning we could go back to the disinterest of old.

Time will tell

It may take awhile to determine who is right, towing companies and businesses who use them to get rid of abandoned or trespassing vehicles on private property, or the McHenry County Board and those who've been victimized by "predatory" towing bills. The board voted this week to make tow operators who remove vehicles from private property in the county subject to Illinois Commerce Commission regulations limiting the price for a tow, who can do the towing and where the vehicles can be towed. If towing companies are right, they'll drop out of the business and abandoned cars will pile up. If the board is right, the cars will still be removed but at a more predictable price and with some protections for those whose cars are towed.