Product: CTMAIN PubDate: 10-25-2008 Zone: ALL Edition: HD Page: AOPED-27 User: sbenzkofer Time: 10-24-2008 18:26 Color: K

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008 | SECTION 1 | CHICAGO TRIBUNE 27

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

WHAT’S ON Halloween decorations no fun for the grieving YOUR MIND?

This time of the year, the world around us is plagued with various 260 aspects of death. There are dum- mies hanging from trees, gory The number of comments on monsters jumping out to scare the online version of Clarence people and tombstones planted on Page’s Sunday column, “Joe the lawns. Plumber not the guy to fix the Some of these Halloween decora- leak.” They included: tions can upset “Strange how Page omitted people who are the central focus about Joe the surviving the Plumber. It was Barack Obama who picked Joe out, not the tragic death of a other way around. The main loved one from point was Obama’s comment suicide, commu- that he wished to ‘spread the wealth around,’ which sounds nity violence or suspiciously similar to Karl Rubey military service. Marx.” For them, there is “Wake up and realize America absolutely no lightheartedness to is about working hard to achieve these images. It can anger survi- success, not sitting back and vors to have images of death por- waiting for The One to hand it over in a welfare situation.” trayed in such a fashion. I counseled a surviving spouse “Nice try Clarence, but your years ago. She had found her hus- effort doesn’t serve to shadow band hanging in the garage. After Obama’s socialist leaning, which Joe the Plumber brought months of counseling, she was to the glorious light of daytime. I coming to grips with his death. pay enough in taxes. I’d like to Halloween came along and her live on what I have left and spread my ‘wealth’ to my family neighbors put up a dummy hang- and those charities that I ing from the gutters. This woman choose.” would sit in her favorite chair after “Excellent piece of writing. I a long day and she would have to think in addition to his age and look right at the Halloween decora- hotheadedness, what’s really tion. This upset her, and I sug- scary about John McCain is that he doesn’t do his homework, gested that she talk to her neigh- evidenced by the selection of bor. She did, and the neighbor was Sarah Palin and this invocation very embarrassed and quickly of Joe the Plumber.” removed the decoration. “America is greedy—not just I don’t think that people want to those on Wall Street but also a go around hurting grieving people. lot of the people who live here. If It just takes a little education and a JOHN OVERMYER you make more than most Americans, why not pay a little gentle reminder and most people more in taxes? The fact is that are going to respond positively. those who make more will bare- This Halloween, think about the Consumer plan Duped by Obama Worth celebrating ly see any difference in their lifestyles. If you make more than feelings of people around you who I saw a commercial recently and There really wasn’t any surprise Hallelujah! it showed a woman shopping for in your endorsement of Barack $250,000 a year, be thankful that are hurting and may see no humor toys for Christmas and putting Obama; the editorial pages have —Vincent Kamin, Chicago you can go on living your same in a lighthearted portrayal of them on layaway. been leaning toward him all sum- lifestyle for the most part.” death. That’s what retailers need to do: mer. The real kicker is your idea Bring back layaway in a big way. that he “would govern as much Tribune error There is no credit card, no inter- more of a pragmatic centrist than —Rev. Charles T. Rubey, associate After following your coverage of est charge and the consumer pays many people expect” (Editorial, the campaign for the last several director of programs, Catholic a little when he or she can; when Oct. 19). Where is the proof in this months, I was not surprised to see Charities, Chicago payment is complete, the customer statement? Clearly Obama is the the Tribune endorse Barack Oba- gets the purchase and is not in most left-leaning candidate to ever ma, but I hope you know you have debt. have a chance at the presidency. lost your soul. New fall rituals When I was growing up, I really His deep ties to radical-left figures, loved the day that the clothes I his socialist economic theory and —Richard Dreger, Batavia Now that it’s autumn, I think picked out came out of layaway his hard left take on moral issues back on the old days when we were and they were mine. like abortion and stem-cell re- not so aware of our impact on the I had the satisfaction of getting search plant him as nowhere near Editorial courage environment. what I wanted when I saw it and being center or wanting to be. When the leaves then being committed to paying You’ve been duped by his rheto- Congratulations on the Chicago began to fall, we for it in order to have it. ric like so many others. With a Tribune’s endorsement of Barack would just rake Sometimes you can make great Democratic-controlled Congress, Obama for president of the United them to the curb moves forward by looking back. four years of Obama could see States. To have done otherwise, in and burn them. some serious damage to America. our opinion, would have meant I miss the —Jane Sinclair, Batavia How sad that the Tribune has pandering to your conservative Samuel “Joe” (a.k.a. Joe the smell of burning fallen sway to his nonsense. readership base; it would have Plumber) Wurzelbacher leaves on a crisp been the equivalent of John Mc- autumn after- Job training —Lawrence Rowe, Tinley Park Cain’s cynical choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate. It took Raffel noon, but things During these troubling eco- “Tell me, liberal media. How are so much great editorial courage for the come I now know more about nomic times, some may wonder if paper to endorse a Democrat for easier now. We just get out the investment in a college education The right thing Joe the Plumber than I do about noisy gas-powered blower and the first time, knowing that it will Bill Ayers? How come I now will pay off. But avoiding post- I knew it was coming. I heard receive hundreds of e-mails and swoosh the leaves over onto the secondary education altogether the news. The Chicago Tribune know more about Joe the neighbor’s lawn. letters threatening subscription Plumber than I do about Barack won’t pay off either. In fact it would be endorsing Barack Oba- cancellations. These letters will would threaten the strength of ma for president of the United Obama?” —Louis B. Raffel, Northbrook come from angry right-wingers Illinois’ economy. States. who consider anyone to the left of A recent report released by the But even before I heard, I could “The wealthy in our great them to be socialists if not commu- country receive the greatest Skills2Compete-Illinois campaign feel it coming and was hopeful. nists. Try to ignore them. The right college showed that middle-skill jobs Over the past several months, benefit from society and pay a smaller percentage of their This is in response to “Is college (those that require more than high Tribune editorials leaned more —Jean and Dick Doub, Wilmette worth it? With graduates earning school but less than four years of and more toward Obama. income in taxes. Why? Voodoo less and tuition rising, it pays to college) continue be the largest However, not until I held the economics, a failed economic weigh your debt number of jobs in Illinois’ econo- Sunday print edition in my hands Dangerous words theory that Republicans cling to against likely my. This will not change. Nearly 1 did I know for sure. harder than their guns or reli- career earnings” million openings in the middle- As a lifelong Chicago-area resi- Your endorsement of Barack gion. Trickle-down economics (News, Oct. 14), skill job market are projected for dent and frequent critic of your Obama is irresponsible and puts (voodoo economics) in theory by Tribune re- the state by 2014. editorial board, I am proud to say this nation at danger. You have benefits the entire economy by porter Megan To capitalize on the value of the Chicago Tribune is my news- endorsed the least-experienced cutting the taxes of the wealthi- Twohey. post-secondary education, Illinois paper. Thank you for doing the and most-liberal candidate for est in the belief that the addi- For most stu- needs a new vision for education right thing. president in the last 100 years. At a tional money in their pockets dents, the answer and skill development. Illinois time when the world faces the will be reinvested in the econo- to your question must have diverse educational —Bill Benjamin, Evanston worst economic crisis since the my, thereby producing more jobs Davis is a resounding pathways to good-paying jobs, and Great Depression and the highest and more wealth for middle- and yes, college is worth it, not only this includes college certificates probability of intercontinental lower-income earners. The prob- due to higher lifetime earnings and degrees. The Palin factor war since the Cold War, the people lem is there is no guarantee that but also personal growth and a Despite current and future skill put their trust in you to make a the additional money will in fact I strongly agree with your edito- critical and rational endorsement be invested in the U.S. economy. greater ability to contribute to demands, close to rial endorsement of Barack Oba- society. 60 percent of based on facts and data. With the weakening of the U.S. ma for president. My early vote for To make your endorsement even dollar, and the popularity of The real question for students to workers in Illi- Obama, by absentee ballot, was ask is: nois do not have worse, there are serious unan- international investing, many directly influenced by Sarah Pal- swered questions about Obama’s critics now call this trickle-out Will the education I’m getting the education in’s lack of knowledge on major from this particular school pay off and training character based on his close asso- economics.” issues. ciations with dangerous radicals in the long run? required to fill Specifically, as a U.S. Air Force In these financially trying middle-skill jobs. and criminals. “Sadly most middle-class folks veteran with nuclear weapons Instead of recommending a true try to demonize welfare moms times, it takes planning and hard These jobs are training and experience, I was work to achieve successful higher- the backbone of American hero, John McCain, while also still gaining thou- Thomas stunned at Palin’s muddled re- with a 30-plus-year track record of sands of dollars through Medi- education outcomes. our communi- sponses during the vice presi- The Illinois Student Assistance ties; they include firefighters, honesty, independence, respon- care/Medicaid for their own dential debate, especially her lack sibility and ability to get things families. It is all a farce.” Commission—whose mission is to nurses, electricians, truck drivers of knowledge on the content or make college affordable for Illinois and medical lab technicians—jobs done, the Chicago Tribune went purpose of American nuclear with the popular buzz based on “Having started a high-tech students— offers terrific tools to we can’t afford to outsource and weapons. help families prepare financially we just plain can’t live without. irrational, emotional and un- business (now sold), one of the Voters must now weigh John founded hope based on empty more carefully managed parts of and students make better choices We need to make training and McCain’s judgment, or lack there- about career goals, academic preparing adults currently in the words, not actions from Obama. our business was managing of, in selecting Palin as his run- You have recommended a crap- revenues so that we minimized preparation and school choice. work force a key part of our educa- ning mate. Visit http://www.knowhow2goil- tion strategy. There will always be shoot in which our welfare would profits. In our case we were linois.org/ for free tips on how to jobs that require four years of depend on luck, not facts or data. growing rapidly, most of the —Major Robert Tormey, USAF employees were shareholders best save, plan and pay for college. college and more, but we must (retired), Escondido, Calif. Yes, college is worth it, but it look beyond traditional pathways —Randy Rossi, Grayslake and so the best place to put the takes careful planning to make and, at a minimum, make sure money was back into growing sure the school you choose is the that all Illinoisans have access to Thankful reader the business. The government right one for you. up to two years of education or New meaning to fall got its piece when the company was sold. I’d much rather have a training past high school. Thank you for endorsing Barack A fall I can fall in love with: Gas president who is going to invest —Andrew Davis, executive Obama, and for the thoughtful pump prices follow in the foot- in rebuilding our nation’s director, Illinois Student —Carrie Thomas, associate way in which you did. steps of leaves and keep falling strengths. I may be one of the Assistance Commission, Chicago director, Chicago Jobs Council; and falling. co-lead, Skills2Compete-Illinois —George Wiman, Normal, Ill. ones who pays more taxes, but my children will inherit a Campaign —Raymond F. Stoiber, Joliet stronger country.”