Gangs are the root cause of city’s ongoing violence

In spite of recent efforts by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson to implement measures to make our streets safer, nothing has changed.

The violence continues and will always be with us until the focus is shifted from guns and gun violence to gangs and gang violence.

In discussions about reducing violence, gangs are rarely mentioned by the politicians, law enforcement and the media.

The question is, why is this so?

In this city and other major cities, gangs have been allowed to thrive and prosper, to shoot and kill, and to impose their will over neighborhoods without fear of retribution.

The loss of a life should only occur in a natural way such as old age or by accident. When it occurs through violence of any kind, life is cheapened and indicates a disease of the spirit and soul.

These shootings and killings will continue until politicians and law enforcement find the courage and guts to go after gangs with all their might, and have the will to withstand criticism from some quarters accusing them of targeting minorities.

Ned L. McCray, Tinley Park

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Competition vs. compassion

There’s competitive thinking and compassionate thinking.

The contrast between them can lead to political healing and a resolution of the anti-American split between the major parties. Every American must examine what liberty means to us.

Do I want the freedom to make money without government interference? Do I want personal freedom to amass more toys for me and mine before I die? Do I want more and can I get more than others?

That’s competitive thinking.

But genuine patriotism should staunch that narrow, partisan thinking. Here’s where fraternity, to limit self-centeredness, kicks in.

If you have compassionate thinking, you will ask yourself, “What do I want for my neighbors?” Brotherly love and a sense of bonding to our fellows demands the answer, “The same freedom, the same wealth, education, protections, and opportunities that I want and enjoy.”

But, that’s what “those people” want!

You’re answering for the African American, the LGBTQ neighbor, the army of immigrants, the Christians and non-Christians, the atheists — all of them are your fellow human beings. You see all of them in yourself.

Do you want them to have in equal measure what you have and enjoy? Are you willing to share?

That’s equality.

Which party and candidate will best give us all three: liberty, fraternity, and equality?

Marion J. Reis, Lombard

Not on board with Pritzker’s tax plan

Illinoisans should consider history before signing on to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tax plan.

He doesn’t like paying his own taxes and others won’t like paying more than they do now. Progressive income taxes haven’t turned out to be much of a solution for other states, like Connecticut. They still struggle to balance their budget, while taxpayers and businesses flee. United Technologies is the latest business to announce it’s saying goodbye from that state.

A state that’s hemorrhaging people can’t tax its way to prosperity.

Richard Crane, Lake View