Talk of the County

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Updated: April 10, 2012 11:55AM

Closed parks

Why don’t people get together and help each other clean their parks up? Why are these state parks closed? We pay our taxes and we should be able to come and enjoy these parks with our family.

Off the radar

Without a doubt, the TOTC on Feb. 6 had to contain the most outrageous collection of comments from out-of-touch individuals ever published. Almost each one of them deserves a rebuttal. However, one in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest. And that is the one that states: “Everyone knows Jesus is a Republican!” In a quote from Jesus in Luke 14:13: “...when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed.” This surely doesn’t sound like something a Republican would do. That group of individuals doesn’t seem to fall on any of their radar screens.

Blame the County Board!

In response to “Where are the jobs.” In my opinion, the County Board is the reason why there are no jobs in Lake County. Look at the waste of taxpayer money spent on the Greenbelt Culture Center. Who benefits from the $5 million banquet hall?

Polish, German radio

Just so everybody won’t think that WKRS is the only station broadcasting in a foreign language. There is also WKTA on 1330, which is broadcasting from Evanston, and they broadcast in both Polish and German.

Truth be told

The Feb. 4 TOTC item about the Wadsworth Road expansion didn’t tell you that the affected people were not notified by Wadsworth prior to negotiating with the county back in 2001 or now. Wadsworth didn’t want anyone to know how they would impact properties forever. Don’t they represent its people? They had the power to negotiate with the county and act on what input they “could have” received from its residents and businesses by holding a formal public hearing, but chose not to, saying that it is a county project. Why not come up with a better proposal that would sustain the future success of current businesses and maintain property values, while improving the road as a two-lane road with a sidewalk? That’s what representing all the people should be about.

Speed camera protests

The protest of the red-light and speed cameras has begun. Expect to see more drivers refusing to make right turns on red and driving five to 10 miles an hour under the posted speed limit where these cameras are located. Do not become angry with these drivers by honking your horn or giving the “one-finger salute.” They are just making driving safer, which is what you wanted when you supported the installation of these cameras.

Utility watchdogs

How is it that the utility companies are free of any kind of federal or governmental watchdogging? We claim that we have the ICC, but in June of 2010, the ICC did a complete reversal of what they were saying and gave ComEd a huge raise. I am one resident and have a defective meter. It took them one year to come out and fix it.

Year after year

In response to the article “Freeloaders and hard times.” It’s not those people that caused the problem. It’s the government and those elected officials that got into office and said they’re going to run this country right and do the right thing. They stay in office year after year. They keep getting the votes, and if it continues the way it is, it will stay the same and it will not get any better. The government has done it a long time and we need a change.

Oil and water

Regarding the Keystone Pipeline and people wondering why President Obama is killing it off. Primarily, from what I’ve read, it’s because the pipeline is going through Nebraska’s primary water supply. If there was a leak, I would have to ask you: “How do you like your oil with your water for drinking purposes?”

The way it is

Responding to the article “Where are the jobs” and to the person who has been out of work for two years now and would love to have a job. Considering all the help wanted ads I’ve seen, what is the minimum dollar per hour you will take before you leave the house and look for a job. McDonald’s, Burger King and everybody is hiring out there. You may not be making $20 an hour, but that’s just the way it is nowadays.

Tax cuts, jobs

Over the last two years, there have been almost as many new jobs created as under the entire eight years of the Bush administration. Tell me again how tax cuts create jobs.

Honoring veterans

St. Louis leads the way. Last weekend, they held a parade for Iraq veterans to celebrate the end of the Iraq war. How many more cities will show this initiative and honor our veterans?

Military honor

The Purple Heart is a military honor. It is not a civilian honor, and it isn’t for the police.

Snowed under

Obama sure has the people snowed. He tells them what they want to hear and does the opposite afterward.

A little appreciation

Why are people being so callous toward cops? I’ve been reading in TOTC all the diatribes toward Gurnee police receiving the Purple Heart. I’m a Vietnam War era veteran who is in favor of police receiving the Purple Heart. Other than the military and the fire department, most jobs do not carry with them the possibility of not returning home alive after work. Most jobs do not require one to interact daily with rapists, embezzlers, thieves, wife beaters, murderers. I’ve met good cops and bad cops. The majority have been good cops. Can’t we show a little appreciation for all that the good cops do to serve and protect the public each day? In such a perilous world as we live in, I thank God we have a police force.

Planned Parenthood

It is small wonder that the right wing is trying to destroy Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood actually does what the right pretends that it is doing: Reduce the number of abortions.

Village toys

Regarding the vehicles owned by the village of Winthrop Harbor. Someone should do an audit on what they have. For a small village that we are, they have every new toy they could want. It’s time they start living within their means, just like we all have to.

Anyone can

For all you people that are criticizing President Obama: If you think that you can do any better then why aren’t you running for president.

Smart aleck

This is to the smart aleck that said that Jesus was a Republican. Where in the Bible does it say that? You tell me.

The state

Obama is now not only the president of the United States, but also the head of the Catholic Church. The state shall decide what you believe. And if you disagree, maybe there is a delay in your health care.

Called for jury duty

Regarding the woman who died from a hunger strike. According to The News-Sun, her visa had expired and deportation proceedings had begun. While it’s tragic that she died, I have a question: Why was she eligible for jury duty with only a visa? Does that mean anyone who comes here can get on jury duty without being a citizen? All they have to do is get a driver’s license. What are the requirements for getting a driver’s license?

Bash Obama Day

Feb. 6 must have been bash President Obama day in TOTC. Every single letter bashed the president.

NSSD potential

I was kind of amused at the North Shore Sanitary District article you ran about how wonderful they are and how they’re saving money and being so successful. I was just wondering why they didn’t mention anything about that $55 million project they have up in Zion on Green Bay Road that never has reached it’s potential. Don’t you think that the taxpayers should hold them accountable for that investment that’s still not working after they invested much more into it?

Respect the office

To all the President Obama haters out there. He is our president whether you voted for him or not, so respect the office.

Turn the other cheek

To the person who called into the TOTC about how shocked they were that President Obama had the audacity to quote Jesus in the annual National Prayer Breakfast and that everybody knows that Jesus is a Republican. That is a slap in the face to every voter in this country. Jesus was not a Republican or a Democrat. He was a man of spreading goodness to everybody.

Airheads

I’ve heard of the term cheesehead, but on Feb. 6 in TOTC I learned a new term, airheads. You Republicans are really full of it.

Cooking the books

To all the people who have gotten tired of the socialist president conspiracy theory, I have another conspiracy theory for you. The U.S. government is cooking the books on unemployment numbers.

Thirty pieces of silver

In your Feb. 4 editorial, you say that gambling brings social problems and addiction, but it also brings much-needed money. In my view, “Our View” stinks! Judas sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, but it did help the economy so that makes it right. May God help you.