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Walgreen is just trying to stay aliv

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth deserves the utmost respect - from an old soldier like myself and from the American people. For her service to our country, however, I must take issue with her statement regarding companies that want to move some of their operations overseas to lessen their tax burden. She compared these companies to soldiers who abandon their units.

I am an old soldier at heart, and let me tell you, we have a word for people who abandon their nation and allegiance, and there is nothing worse than a deserter. I understand the meaning of desertion; however, as soldiers Rep. Duckworth and I were provided all the equipment, ammunition and training we needed. Rep. Duckworth is talking about Deerfield-based Walgreen entertaining the idea of moving its headquarters to Europe. This company could have saved over $6 billion in taxes. Walgreen is not a deserter, Walgreen is like an old soldier trying to stay alive.

When people like Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Duckworth wonder why companies are moving away from the state of Illinois, they need to ask themselves why corporate taxes are so much higher in Illinois than in other states. When they answer that question and take corrective action to be able to compete, the old soldiers will stay put.

Silvio Pontarelli

Mount Prospect

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