The Tao Te Ching is a classic Chinese text from at least the fourth century BCE (Before the Common Era; means same as B.C. but does not refer to Christianity). I read from the Stephen Mitchell English version recently in…
Editorial Page
Methadone Programs
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
(“Counting on Methadone,” Community Word, December 2014) I’m very frustrated at the way most people look at methadone programs. I was an IV drug user back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. I went to prison twice for writing checks…
‘Teachers must be defended’
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
I am writing to thank you for defending teachers in your recent Community Word column (Bill Knight, December 2014). It seems that more often than not, we teachers are under attack. Any time someone speaks up, and does so…
Affordable Care Act is working well
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
(Community Word, December 2014) Expanding Medicare and making it available to people younger than 65 is favored by most Americans, according to a recent New York Times/CBS poll. Expansion was favored by 59 percent of respondents. However, despite that positive…
TAXES: Caterpillar in the Spotlight
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Peoria has tied its economic future to Caterpillar Inc. for over a century. The corporation made several Top 10 lists in recent months. Here are two of them: Truth-out.org: Corporations: Sure We Don’t Pay Our Taxes, But We Want Tax…
Relentless proximity
by Dale Goodner • • 1 Comment
Despite an official letter of opposition from the Marshall County Board and widespread opposition from local residents, an Iowa firm has received tentative approval from the Illinois Department of Agriculture for Sandy Lane LLC Hog Farm, a massive, 20,000-head hog…
Affordable Care Act Is Working Well
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
By Kevin O’Brien, Ph.D. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare” has been mired in controversy since the law was first proposed in 2008. It took two years of legislative drama before the 1,000-page bill was passed by Congress and…
FOOD – To Celebrate the Holidays, Express Values and Demand Justice
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
If you were disappointed with the November election, vote again with your holiday meal. Regardless of whether meat or plant-based protein is the centerpiece of your holiday dinner, your choice can proclaim your values and fight injustice. When your holiday…
Why Unionize Home Health Care Workers? Illinois Lost Recently in the Supreme Court
by Clare Howard • • 0 Comments
If you don’t have elderly parents who rely on home health care, don’t have home care yourself or you’re not a union organizer, why should you care about unionizing home health care workers? Care because this issue is at the…
Vote as if tomorrow matters
by Dale Goodner • • 0 Comments
A couple weeks ago I was whining to friends about how I used to vote for candidates from both parties. In politics, talk is cheap, so I look for those who have a positive voting record in support of clean…