Who stands up for the honest people?
"Exxon sets record in 2007 with $40 billion profit" (Business section, Feb. 2 Daily Herald). Doesn't that also set a record for being the biggest cheater? It seems to me that nobody is for the guy who works the hardest and tries to live a honest life. Just because you can get away with taking advantage of people should not mean you have a legal right to do it. This kind of thing is where government should institute controls. But then the pay raises government people give to themselves is so out of control that I guess we can't hope for help from them, not when all they can think of is spend and raise taxes.
It will be interesting to see who President Bush pardons on his last day in office, which seems to me another dumb idea by our government. Or our governor who gave out all that money for new schools when he left office. Where do they come up with such goofy ideas anyway? If government people don't want to live where the job is, then they shouldn't run for it.
It is so easy to waste other peoples money. Our government is in so many things it should not be involved, like welfare (should be left to churches). "No Child Left Behind" is a parental responsibility. Health care is an individual responsibility.
Wouldn't it be nice to feel that our government was really for our betterment and not giving away our country? Why do we have so many illegal immigrants here? Why aren't they sent back right away? Our government people think if they give them amnesty, they will vote for them. Most are good, hardworking people, but they should come here legally. If a church gives them sanction, it should be fined heavily. To say Americans won't do jobs illegal immigrants hold -- people have to eat. If there is a job and you are out of work, do the job. If you are a good worker, you will soon have a better job.
Bringing in casinos is also another dumb idea. It helps the schools? Are you kidding? If this is true, why are schools still in trouble? It sends a poor idea of how to get money without working for it.
America is a beautiful country but what we need is better government.
Verda Bufkin
West Chicago