I believe the greatest threat to our country is climate change. That’s why I’m so disappointed with our elected officials in the Illinois legislature. They recently passed a budget that places a punitive license plate tax on electric cars.
There is no longer a debate. We need to reduce the amount of CO2 that is produced in our country. Electric cars help do that. Independent studies show that electric cars, including manufacturing, maintenance, and use, produce about 50% less CO2 than conventional gas powered cars.
For several years now, thanks to a more enlightened state policy, ownership of an electric car was encouraged in Illinois by offering owners a license fee discount—about one-sixth the rate paid by their gas-powered counterparts. If adopted, electric vehicle owners will pay $100 more per year than gas-powered car owners. In other words, instead of an incentive to purchase an electric vehicle, Illinoisans will be penalized for doing so.
I suspect the punitive tax on electric cars was employed to diffuse voter complaints about the budget’s increase in the state gas tax. It has doubled! Admittedly, electric cars are immune to this consumption tax increase. However, electric vehicle owners do pay a consumption tax on electricity. The more we use, the more tax we pay.
The problems we face will not be overcome by these draconian policies. It seems the state is attempting to address poor decisions of the past through drastic and unrealistic budget schemes. Meanwhile they ignore the immediate need to address the climate crisis. The solutions for combating climate change are many and varied. However, they are not free. We need more electric vehicles on our highways, not less. For the sake of our children and the future of the country, please rescind this punitive tax on electric cars and get on the correct side of climate change.
—Mark Benson, Chicago
The case against impeaching Trump
Numerous Democrat and liberal voices have repeatedly cried out, “Impeach President Trump! “ As they do this, their brother in arms, mainstream media, beats the “impeachment” drums with the same regularity. My main question—for what reason? They have none.
House Republicans conducted an exhaustive investigation on foreign interference in the 2016 election and found no evidence that Russians colluded with any members of the Trump campaign, and disputed a key finding from the intelligence community that Russia had developed a preference for Trump during the election.
Based on the investigation by now former special counsel Robert Mueller, there was no collusion, nor obstruction charges proposed against Trump. Granted, Mueller’s ambiguous follow-on remarks gave opportunity for the Democrats and liberals to try and stir the pot for dissension. However, many believe those remarks were political in order to continue their charade against Trump.
Here’s why they want to impeach Trump. He stands in the way of their globalist agenda. Trump is not a globalist. He fights for America’s sovereignty.
— Michael Imhof, Aurora
Trump’s impeachment, the right path
Originally I was not in favor of impeachment of President Trump. This was mostly for political reasons: I feared there was more to be lost than gained. In today's divided electorate few on either side trusts or respects the other. It would be a circus with nothing to be gained aside from dividing us further. .This was before I read the Mueller report.
Now it is clear to me that there is a case for obstruction. The issues at stake should transcend politics. Congress needs to do its job as outlined in the Constitution and investigate, through the impeachment process, these possible instances of the obstruction.
— Mark Pellegrino, Chicago
Eliminate all tax deductions
Is there anyone who really believes that theprogressive tax being touted by our illustrious legislators will really bring more revenue in from the wealthy?
The wealthy are the ones with all the deductions, and any other dodge that their high-paid accountants can find for them. And when that revenue from the wealthy does not appear, whose taxes do you think will be raised? Everyone else who doesn't have big deductions to rely on. The time has come to eliminate all tax deductions and yes, go to a progressive tax where everyone will pay their fair share.
—Bill Kalnes, Burr Ridge