At the monthly meeting Huntley Area Tea Party presented its 2014 Academic Award to Megan Wilson, graduating senior at Huntley High School, for her winning essay in the competition, “U.S. Constitution – Bill of Rights” program sponsored by HATP supporters through individual donations.
Megan’s essay selection was Amendment I with focus upon the significance of free speech and in the printed word to be found there. Her title, “INK,” included references to our founding documents, specific cases, past and present, dealing with issues surrounding print publications, complaints or challenges made, courts’ findings and actions by local authority in their outcomes. Her ability to capture both the statute as well as the spirit of this guaranteed American freedom was noted by the independent three-judge panel in their selection from among finalists’ essays.
The award includes a $1,000 credit for educational materials at the college of her choosing. Megan has chosen DePaul University and will begin classes this year. Congratulations to Megan and thanks to all students who participated in the 2014 Academic Award Program. Thanks also to all HATP supporters for their contributions and endorsement for this program to continue next year.
Jim Nelson
Huntley Area Tea Party
The Continued Sale of the USA
Unless you read European news sources, you have missed most reports about the TransPacific Partnership negotiations. There have been many covert negotiations. Our president is involved and the GOP supports his involvement. Who knew? They agree on something. Of course, corporate America is salivating.
The TPP is a super-sized trade agreement similar to NAFTA, the agreement that resulted in a flood of jobs from the USA to foreign shores. It will affect every American and allow overrides of some American laws and agency protections.
Because negotiations take place secretly, knowing what current versions include comes by way of leaks and covertly gathered information shared by investigative patriots. European news services have consistently reported on the negotiations, while the mute American media leaves its citizens uninformed. Some feel the U.S. media fears corporate retaliation.
The TTP agreement gives foreign corporations privileges that override domestic environmental, product and food safety laws. Informed Europeans have been protesting while Americans remain in the dark. Like NAFTA, the TTP agreement focuses on corporate benefits and diminishment of, what corporations view as, profit impairing laws and agencies that protect the health, wealth, and prosperity of common citizens.
Gail Talbot
Sun City resident
All are entitled to their own opinions, but opinions do not become facts. Contributions to political candidates, parties, and campaigns come not just from billionaires or corporate entities. Just as corporations may be said to be “people,” so too are unions; and unions give political dollars in orders of magnitude over corporations. That is fact!
Charles Koch is on record, stating his belief, “American fundamental concepts of dignity, respect, equality before the law and personal freedom are under attack by our nation’s own government. A truly free society is based on a vision of respect for people and what they value. Any business that disrespects its customers will fail and deserves to do so. The same should be true of government policy that disrespects its citizens.” Koch Bros. political contributions speak to those beliefs as their own.
The AFL/CIO is on record saying it plans to spend $300 million in 2014, trying to unseat Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and four other Republican Governors, targeting John Kasich (R-Ohio), Tom Corbett (R-Pennsylvania), Rick Snyder (R-Michigan), and Rick Scott (R-Florida). That union spending does not represent the beliefs of its membership. In 2010, records show that 42 percent of members of Pennsylvania union households voted for Tom Corbett, yet 95 percent of union political contributions went to Democrat candidate Dan Onorato. We may see a repeat in 2014 elections, where 30 to 40 percent of union household voters will cast ballots for Republican candidates across the country, where their unions are planning to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to defeat.
Why would unions spend that much money, if it were not, as Ms Lindgren would describe it, “to buy our politicians?” If she is correct in saying that “everything is for sale to the highest bidder,” then that would be the unions. Funny, we seem to be experiencing the effects of such political influence by unions in many places across America, even more so here in Illinois.
Most Americans actually believe in “free speech,” and we should make the most of it while we still have that constitutional right, before our current government would also take that from us. What do you think?
Jim Nelson
Sun City resident
Not Looking For More of the Same?
The November elections seem a long way off, but now is the time to educate yourself on the candidates’ positions on the issues important to your life. Do you want more years of the same do-nothing representation or do you want to elect a representative who will work to get positive legislation passed in Washington. The District’s current representative votes with the conservative Republicans and blocks getting anything done that will help hard working, unemployed, and retired Americans. We need to elect a representative who will work to protect Social Security, raise minimum wages, address immigration reform, work for a sensible budget as opposed to the harsh Ryan budget proposal, and who will support and improve the Affordable Care Act. For Sun City’s Congressional District, that means we must vote for Dennis Anderson, Democratic candidate for Representative for the 14th District. Dennis has pledged to actively work to get things done, not repeat another two years of doing nothing. Vote for Dennis Anderson in November and get things done.
David Williams
Anderson for Congress
