For-Profit Health Care Is a Tragedy

The essay was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D. Stop and think about it.  Would “for-profit” Fire Protection Districts be workable?  Probably not.  If they were, you would see private equity firms buying up Fire Departments.  That’s not happening.  A Fire Department has to [exist and] be ready in

Bustos Statement on Trump Veto of National Defense Bill

On Wednesday, December 23, 2020, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement.  Her comments are in response to President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.)  The Bill included a pay raise for troops; protections for Gold Star

Democrats Cover Up Madigan Corruption, Kill Investigating Committee

On Monday, December 14, 2020, State Representative Tony McCombie said Illinois House Democrats are “covering up [Speaker of the House Michael] Madigan’s corruption” by killing the Special Investigating Committee into Madigan’s misconduct. “By shutting down this committee, House Democrats are prioritizing corruption and gridlock over honesty, transparency, and a much-needed

Power is a Tool President Biden Needs to Use

This editorial was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph.D. “For Christmas, let’s get Dad a new power saw.”  This may be an excellent suggestion, especially if he has some building projects.  However, if poor, old dad hasn’t any tasks for which he really needs an electric power saw, he will

Under Bustos’s Pressure, Trump Extends National Guard Virus Response

On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos issued the following statement.  It was given after President Trump announced he will extend National Guard activations, for COVID-19 response efforts, through March 31, 2021.  Current activations were set to expire at the end of the year.  Without an extension, States would

Medicare for All is Too Expensive! Or Is It?

This essay was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D.  It is fourth in a series. Political opponents of Medicare for All (M4A) will tell you that it is a nice concept, but unachievable, because it would be too expensive and explode the Nation’s debt.  South Africa is a far

How Medicare for All Can Increase Your Pay

This essay was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D.  It is third in a series. In a competitive market for goods and services, one has to be careful about increasing prices, because a slight increase may cost them customers.  Especially when money is tight, you pay attention and try

Employer Based Health Care vs Medicare for All

This essay was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D.  It is second in a series. Originally I was all for my employer picking up some, if not all, of the cost of my health care insurance.  It made sense.  If my employer gave me a $1 an hour raise,

At Least Our Legislators Don’t Throw Animal Entrails

I like news.  I start my morning reading a newspaper.  Besides “reading” thecity1.com, I subscribe to one daily newspaper and one weekly, and I receive one weekly at no cost.  I regularly watch fact-telling news commentators on one channel.  Throughout the day, my phone alerts me to Yahoo news feeds. 

Beating the Strawman: If I Only Had a Brain

The essay was submitted by Arthur C. Donart, Ph. D.  It is first in a series. “The Wizard of Oz” is a classic, and so is the strawman, Scarecrow.  Politicians also love using a “Strawman.”  Building a strawman means simply creating an imaginary foil, ie., bad action; attributing it to

McCombie Providing “Voice to Victims”

Saying she got involved with the issue of current criminal justice reform “because of how poorly the Knight Family was treated, after the tragic murder of Pam Knight.”  Knight was a DCFS case-worker beaten to death on the job, from Illinois Rep. Tony McCombie’s district.  Last week, Rep. McCombie was

Coalition Forms to Oppose Elimination of Cash Bail

A new coalition of Law Enforcement organizations formed on Monday, March 2, 2020, to oppose efforts in the General Assembly to end cash bail.  Throughout this year’s legislative session, the Coalition for Public Safety will speak with a unified and strong voice on this and other criminal justice issues.  Founding

McCombie: Growth in Illinois Cannot Be Driven by Radical Policies

Illinois State Representative Tony McCombie reacted to Governor JB Pritzker’s second State of the State Address.  She renew[ed] her call for Illinois lawmakers to focus on providing relief for out-of-control property taxes; reforming ethics laws to eliminate self-dealing; improving the way Illinois redraws its political maps, following the decennial Census.

Warren’s Plan to Cancel Student Loan Debt and Ensure Free Public College

Democratic Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has a plan to address the student loan crisis, that is holding back our economy and crushing thousands of American families. “We got into this crisis, because State governments and the Federal government decided that, instead of treating higher education like our public school system–free

Bustos Statement on Theft of Defense Funds

Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs.  On Friday, February 14, 2020,she released the following statement about the Administration’s recent decision to steal Department of Defense funds, which are crucial to military readiness, for border wall construction.  President