Friday Letters: Supreme Court isn’t just for Republicans

I feel your guest columnist William Bennett is out of touch and on the wrong side of decency when writing about our Supreme Court and a Hillary Clinton presidency.

First, why is it that Republicans like him feel it is their right to determine what is correct for all Americans, when in fact they have had control of the Supreme Court since President Ronald Reagan? America is not about keeping what is good for Republicans, rather it is the good for all that is the heart of this country.

Second, his attack on LGBT, who only want what the rest of us enjoy — equal rights and being treated like American citizens. He only cares about his rights and people like him. The Second Amendment, which he defends, is the basis for many guns in America. Guns kill and injure hundreds of lives weekly, proving these individuals taken in the carnage have no rights.

Third, I understand the issues he sees with abortion. Isn’t it sad that he and others like him cannot control every individual’s body and what takes place in their bedroom? I also see the trouble he sees with the elimination of Citizens United, which made corporations people, too.

America is about people, not corporations or individuals who rule in favor of Republicans, blocking out liberal views with a majority, plus having done so for decades in our Supreme Court and recently in our Congress.

Scott R. Zuhr, Park Ridge

Back on the job?

Donald Trump has spoken to a high Chicago police official who knows how to put an end to the current crime wave in a week by getting tougher. Didn’t know Jon Burge was out of the pokey and back on the job.

Thomas W. Evans, Mundelein

Bad name

Poor Charles Comiskey must be rolling over in his grave. He would probably have been tolerant of the name change to “White Sox Park,” less so with the “U.S. Cellular Field” renaming.

But now this ± “Guaranteed Rate Field”? This is an insult and must certainly grate on him. So let’s nickname this new entity “THE GRATE.”

Steve Babyk, West Town

Support the amendment

I am writing to support the Independent Map Amendment that is being proposed for the election this fall.

It is clear that Illinois government is broken. Career politicians draw legislative maps that benefit entrenched interests and shield representatives from being held accountable to the broader electorate. The Independent Map Amendment will reform the rules and require a process of drawing maps that is transparent, impartial, and fair. Illinois elections should reflect the will of the people, not special interests.

Currently the amendment is before the Illinois Supreme Court. It is essential for the future of the state that the court allow the amendment to be put before the people for a vote this November. To do otherwise would silence the voice of the people in contravention of the most fundamental principal of democracy. The court should uphold the rights of Illinois voters granted to them by the 1970 Constitution and restore democratic power to the citizens.

Redistricting was clearly envisioned by the framers of our Constitution. A majority of convention delegates have agreed that the citizen-initiative provision of the Constitution was intended to give citizens a way to directly propose reforms to their government such as redistricting.

There is clear, widespread, bipartisan support from the people of Illinois for this amendment. Over 500,000 Illinois voters signed a petition to put the Independent Map Amendment on the November ballot. More than half (56 percent) of petitioners are Democrats. Polls show overwhelming support from Illinois voters across political, geographic and demographic categories. Furthermore, a diverse coalition of two-dozen businesses, consumer and public interest organizations submitted a “friend of the court” (amicus curiae) brief urging the Illinois Supreme Court to allow the amendment to be on the ballot.

Only 14 percent of Illinois residents think our state is on the right track. Yet in the 2014 general election, there was no challenger in 60 percent of legislative races and only one incumbent lost re-election. There is no question that gerrymandered districts are a core problem.

This Independent Map Amendment is a logical, straightforward solution that can catalyze the fundamental change that Illinois needs to reform, recover and revive.

Jonathan Bross, Chicago

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