TRIBUNE VOICES
Rex Huppke: If the NRA goes away, who will frighten gullible Americans into wasting money?
John Kass: Thank you to all the readers. Today, you get your writes on my recent columns.
Today, let’s give the readers their writes.
I had an idea, since we are in the era of protests, and riots, and (public worker) unions threatening to go on strike if they actually have to work. How about taxpayers going on strike and protesting and not paying any more to taxes until the mess in the city and the state get all cleaned up with these pension funds and other issues? Any thoughts on this? — Michael Zych
Michael: Gov. J.B. Pritzker keeps pushing his tax increase that will eventually reach down and grab all of us in Chumbolone Nation. Mayor Lori Lightfoot let the Chicago Teachers Union shut down the public schools. Taxpayers don’t protest. They join the Illinois Exodus. On the column, “Protecting Joe Biden from debate, and Susan Rice, ‘by the book.’ ”
Presidential debates today are useless. They don’t influence public opinion and are a waste of time and money. What would be useful is journalism that covers both sides of the story, rather than slamming only one side. Cordially ,— Chris Hogan
Chris: Cordially, there is nothing useless about presidential debates. Americans must see their candidates confronting each other, and stare into the vacuum of their eyes.
John, you got it all wrong, Joe likes Jell-O! — Jim Plonczyski
What’s next, a Banana Republic Jell-O mold with floating chunks of the Constitution? I think I’m going to be ill. On my column about walking Zeus the Wonder Dog and dog poop in city garbage cans.
Sorry, but you would not be popular in my neighborhood. Using someone else’s garbage can is definitely a “no-no.” Now that you are living in Chicago you have to abide by the rules both written and unwritten. You are a newbie but willing to learn, right? — Mary Jo Lynch
But a judge told me …
If the cans are in the alley, I think it’s perfectly OK to drop the poop bag in. The alleys are public property and the cans are property of the city. I think it’s kinda like reverse dibs.
— Bob Boren
Is legal the same as ethical? I’m from Chicago, so I get confused.
Now you’ve done it Mr. Kass! I have been battling dog poop left in my garbage can for the last five years. Thanks to your article this morning I will find a massive amount of little blue bags in the morning. A squirrel has chewed a small round hole in the plastic with just enough space to deposit a little blue bag.
— Pat Federico
Sorry, Pat. But you sure it’s a squirrel? On my column, “Has Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost the city? And why must she stand alone?”
I believe Mayor Lightfoot is smart, independent and doing the best that one person can (in dealing with Chicago violence). But
I’m with you. Where are the others? Cook County State’s Atty. Kim Fox, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, Chief Judge Tim Evans, Illinois Atty Gen. Kwame Raoul, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker? No one person can address all of Chicago’s issues. This takes all of us. — Ellen Hooker
Yes, Ellen. But here’s the thing. The other Democrats talk of unity. Then they step back, out of the media spotlight, and let the mayor wear the jacket for it, alone.
No doubt that other politicians are not helping out here. Foxx and Evans are actually part of the problem. But let’s be real, this is on Lightfoot. She’s the mayor. Her antipolice rhetoric is yielding impressive results: the police are standing down. You still have a blind spot for this mayor. Time to wake up.
— Mark Huddle
Love is blind, Mark.
OMG John Kass, I just agreed with you! — Karen Kalmanek
Congratulations, Karen. But now that you’ve taken the red pill, there is no going back. Welcome to a terrifying dimension. I call it “reality.”
I live near Michigan and Erie, approximately half the (condo) owners have left the city for all the reasons in your article, and the pandemic, but mostly because it has become dangerous and very unpleasant living downtown. During the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen 2 shootings and my son was near a third along Lake Shore Drive. When he graduates, my wife and I will move to a safer and more tax-friendly location. At least half of my friends also say they’re leaving. — Mark Goldstein
A wise man told me: politicians talk. Taxpayers vote with their feet.
John, as I was reading, I wondered if you’re happy living in Chicago. Are you happy there, or do you prefer the suburbs? — Melody Ann
I love the city. I love Illinois. This is my home. And we were also happy in the suburbs, where we moved to raise the boys. But this year, when we moved back to Chicago, to the three-flat, I said that I’d give Pritzker and Lightfoot a chance. The jury’s still out, but it’s not all that encouraging, is it?
Thank you for your article “What Happened to an America Where You Could
Freely Speak Your Mind?” I almost always enjoy reading what you have to say, I truly appreciate your comments and the facts you used to support them. Gratefully ,— Becky Thomsen Shaffer
Thank you, Becky, and also to all the readers who wrote to me — and to the Tribune — expressing your support. I will never, ever forget it. Thank you. I’ll keep writing, to encourage the others.
Listen to “The Chicago Way” podcast with John Kass and Jeff Carlin — at www.wgnra dio.com/category/wgn-plus/thechicagoway.