Illinois has always led in women’s issues
In 2019, we have 65 women in the Illinois General Assembly, 110 women in the U.S. Congress and 74 women in statewide elective executive posts.
This historic number of women in government didn’t happen overnight. This representation is possible through the hard work, diligence and dedication of many advocates.
Illinois has long stood for women. On June 10, 1919, Illinois became the first state in the U.S. to ratify the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which would give women the right to vote. Illinois has always stood at the forefront of women’s rights, being the first state to have a statewide suffrage organization; the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association was established in 1869. And in 1913, Illinois enacted the Presidential Suffrage Bill which gave Illinois women the right to vote in federal and municipal elections.
This month, we celebrate the work of the women and men of Illinois who have and continue to help us raise the voices and the rights of women in Illinois.
Patti Lackman, Jean Pierce and Llona Steele
League of Women Voters, Central Kane County
Proposed pot bill a scary proposition
State lawmakers are pushing the legalization of marijuana. The 500-plus page bill (SB 7) that was introduced earlier this month in Springfield should greatly alarm parents and grandparents for these reasons:
No cap on THC levels. This is the substance that gets users intoxicated. The marijuana of the 1960s and 1970s only contained 1% to 3% THC. Today, the levels are 20% or more. The Dutch government walked back their marijuana policy and now considers cannabis with 15% THC a hard drug and illegal.
High-potency marijuana use is linked to increases in addiction, psychosis, schizophrenia and violence.
SB 7 allows adults to grow up to five marijuana plants in their home(s). What good is a community opt-out when neighbors are legally permitted to grow it? Moreover, who wants to live near pot cultivation centers?
Cultivating excessive amounts of marijuana is not hypothetical. Conservatively, five plants could produce 10 pounds of marijuana per year. That is more than 10,000 joints a year. No one can use that much marijuana. Where will the surplus go?
There are many other reasons to oppose this policy. In short, legalization is just not worth the social costs to our families and communities.
Chicago Tribune Sports
David E. Smith, Executive Director
Kathy Valente, Director of Operations
Illinois Family Institute
You can control climate so let’s adjust to it
Instead of wailing about nature, something man has little control over , why don't some rational humans present ways people can begin to adapt to the changes that will occur?
Since the climate is becoming warmer and wetter, how can we make ourselves cooler and drier? What kinds of materials will help do this? How can we make buildings, systems and equipment more moisture resistant? How can we dehumidify our buildings (and store/use the condensed water resulting from the process)? How do we make our roads more porous and stable under wet conditions? How will our vehicles change?
Those would be reasonable, practical things to discuss!
Bill Voda, Warrenville