Friday letters: Democratic control is real story of urban poverty

With all due respect to Rev. Jesse Jackson, his Aug. 16 column is deeply flawed. It fails to take into account overwhelming evidence that all of the major cities of the United States, with rare exceptions, have been under Democratic Party control for more than 100 years. It also ignores that the police in these cities are union employees that have historically supported Democrats in local, state and federal elections. Lastly, it ignores the fact that African Americans in these poor zip codes areas have repeatedly put into place liberal Democratic policies that have done little to assuage the plight of the poor. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things over and over and expecting a different outcome. So how about this for a solution: vote Independent and vote for candidates that are not espousing the same drivel that has led to poor areas remaining poor decade after decade after decade.

Doug Peterson, McHenry

Rauner no one to point fingers

How ironic that Gov. Bruce Rauner should accuse the Democrats of “machine politics” when he funded his own campaign with more than $10 million — plus millions more from his wealthy buddies. Here is a governor that after two years has not proposed a balance budget, has cut funds for the elderly, children, veterans and the needy. He has driven our debt ratio sky high. He has promised to fund campaigns of Republicans just to oust Dems so he can do what he planned from the beginning of his seeking office: undermine and destroy unions, lower wages, past a “right to work for low wages and no benefits bill.” He has cut funding for education, and through his bad decisions has caused more pain and suffering for the people of Illinois. Rauner needs to look at himself and his selfish motives before he can point a finger at others.

Ann Gutierrez, Tinley Park