Oberweis won't 'pay for it later'

Why was our economy so weak that people are losing their homes? Why did we give Wall Street $700 billion? Because we built our economy on "pay for it later."

The teaser rate for the mortgage was always scheduled to increase, but that was "later." In 1999, President Clinton required Fannie Mae to buy the zero percent down subprime mortgages to support diversity, because he knew the risk could be ignored until "later."

My favorite "pay for it later" is the illogical belief that our economy requires low-wage workers. This application of "pay for it later" means that the health-care costs for illegal aliens is paid "later" by emergency room visits, and state aid. One big result of this is that Chicago, a sanctuary city for illegal aliens, keeps losing hospitals and trauma centers. Cook County has been forced to raise taxes to pay for health care.

On the educational front, State Sen. Meeks has made a valiant effort to get more funding for inner city youth. Illinois has tons of money, but we are spending it educating illegal aliens. Our children will "pay later" when those poorly educated inner city students can't get high paying jobs. But, even more sinister, we are robbing those inner city youths of their dreams and opportunities.

How much will you and I be charged to pay for old-age care of our illegal alien work force? I guess we will find out "later."

As a businessman, Jim Oberweis knows fiscal responsibility and understands that "paying for it later" is dangerous.

Dale Johnson

Elgin