Category: Opinion

Authoritarian notion: The government knows best

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead “Whether the mask is labeled fascism, democracy, or dictatorship of the proletariat, our great adversary remains the apparatus—the bureaucracy, the police, the military.”—Simone Weil, philosopher and political activist We labor today under the weight of countless tyrannies, large and small, carried out in

Reader’s Voice: We turn bad news to excitement

October 6, 2021Dear editor; Two recent national news headlines give us a depressing reminder of our addiction to fossil fuels, and climate change: • “Major oil spill off California coast threatens wetlands and wildlife.” • “Toxic foam dumped into southern Illinois coal mine in attempt to extinguish fire, but toxins

Police qualified immunity quickly can diminish rights

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead You think you’ve got rights? Think again. All of those freedoms we cherish, the ones enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, the ones that affirm our right to free speech and assembly, due process, privacy, bodily integrity, the right to not have police seize

U.S. government has the means and muscle for detention

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead It’s no longer a question of whether the government will lock up Americans for defying its mandates but when. The following is what we know: The government has the means, the muscle, and the motivation, to detain individuals who resist its orders and

The argument should be to make America free again

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead The Constitution of the United States represents the classic solution to one of humankind’s greatest political problems: That is, how does a small group of states combine into a strong union without the states losing their individual powers and surrendering their control over

Reader’s Commentary: Gullibility remains a human frailty

By Bela “Bill” SuhaydaSugar Grove, Ill. Notably: “97.5% of scientists agree with whoever is funding them,’’ wrote Susan Capitano-Hooker. And so it goes in the marriage between science and government these days. Politicians on the left don’t miss opportunities, blaming human generated CO2 for every weather related catastrophe. We’re supposed

Reader’s Commentary: Questions on bad hospital food

By Evelyn EsslingAurora, Ill. AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center must have the largest amount of waste food in their garbage collection bins. Unfortunately, my husband had to be a guest in that place more times than we care to remember.. Starting in June 2019 he was in for, what the

Endless war clearly not in best interest of the U.S.

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead It’s time to bring all our troops home. Bring them home from Somalia, Iraq and Syria. Bring them home from Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Bring them home from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Oman. Bring them home from Niger, Chad, and Mali. Bring

Reader’s Voice: Innovative carbon tax best solution

August 29, 2021Dear editor; Our national (and global) climate crisis is becoming more visible now. Some Republican leaders in Congress are shifting their posture amid deadly heat waves, devastating drought and ferocious wildfires that have bludgeoned their districts. Even senator Rick Scott (R) of Florida said he wants to address