SAMPLES

of things you can

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Latest page update: February 24, 2006

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Federal, State and Local governments all across these United States proclaim themselves strapped for cash, and we believe them.  But note this statement, which appeared in the February 12, 2005, issue of the authoritative and widely respected Economist magazine:

“Over the past three years American corporate profits have risen by 60%, wage income by only 10%.”  (p. 12.)

And CPS retirement pensions rose by 9.3% (3% compounded), as we all know.

Does the statement say anything to you?

Part 1: ILLINOIS LEGISLATION (IN SPRINGFIELD):

 (Material on this page IS NOT COPYRIGHTED; plagiarize to your heart’s content.)

Here’s a SUGGESTED LETTER:

Over the last ten years or so, the Chicago Public Schools have diverted about $1.1 billion from the Chicago Teachers Pension Fund.  If they had issued bonds to raise this money, it would have cost about $66 million annually.  But the 15% interest LOST by the Pension Fund on that amount, during the year ended June 30, 2004 alone, was about $165 million, resulting in a net loss to the taxpayers just during that year of nearly $100 million  (During the year ended June 30, 2005, the net loss dropped to only about $19 million.) 

Now Mayor Daley and Supt. Duncan want to take still more money from the teachers pension fund..  Do they for some reason enjoy spending nearly $100 million a year more than it would cost to borrow the money on the open market? 

Part 2: FEDERAL LEGISLATION (IN WASHINGTON):

IF YOUR CONGRESSMAN HAS SIGNED ON

AS A CO-SPONSOR OF HR 147

(calling for repeal of the GPO-WEP penalties on public servants)

PLEASE write him or her a note of thanks!  All Illinois Representatives except Dennis Hastert and Henry Hyde have signed on.  Both Senators Obama and Durkin have signed onto S 619, the Senate version of the same bill.

ON WRITING LETTERS:

We mustn't neglect the newspapers.  Lots of folks read those letters to the editors; that's a forum we can use. 

Keep in mind that newspapers are more likely to publish short, punchy letters.  (Note that the Trib and Sun-Times both require your address and telephone number in your letter. 

There is no set form for these.  Just (A) be sure to address your Senator or Representative as “The Honorable...”, (B) give the number of the bill you are supporting and what it’s about (e. g., “HB 797, which would restore some of the purchasing power lost by long-time retired Chicago Public School teachers”), (C) ask that the legislator support the bill, and (D) give your name and your address in your letter (so they know you’re in their district). 

USING THE INTERNET:  Technology simplifies things a lot.  If you want to send your U. S. Representative or Senator an email, start by clicking on Write My Rep.  This address is good from any state in the U. S.  You may find it useful to write out your message, using any word processor you’re comfy with.  Make all the corrections and adjustments you like.  When you’re through, then copy the completed message to your clipboard (with MS Windows:  Highlight the whole message and then press control-C.)  Then click on the link above, and when you finally get to the box for the message, just click inside that box and then press shift-insert.  The nice part about this method is that after you write one Senator, your message is still on your clipboard, ready to send to your other Senator and then to your Representative.

Email Letter to the Editor address:  Tribune

Email Letter to the Editor address:  SunTimes

TO COPY STUFF FROM THIS WEB PAGE:

IF YOU ARE USING WINDOWS:  To copy from this page, HOLD DOWN THE SHIFT KEY and click at the very beginning of what you want to copy.  Still holding the shift key down, scroll down or use the down-arrow to go to the end of what you want to copy, and click again at that point.  (Everything you want will now be highlighted in reverse video.)  Press the control and letter “c” keys simultaneously.  This puts the highlighted stuff on your “clipboard.”

Now open a new document in your word processor (MS Word^©, Word Perfect^© or whatever).  Click on that new document page and then press the Shift and Insert keys simultaneously.  (It may take a few seconds, but you should get a complete copy of all the stuff you highlighted in your new document.)

DON’T FORGET TO APPEAL TO MEMBERS OF NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL STAFFS AND TO TV ANCHORS!!  These folks have the power to shape opinions!!