mego
NATO security reaches ridiculous extremes
Naperville Sun Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego takes a look at the security around the NATO conference in Chicago this coming weekend and pronounces some of it unnecessary to the extreme.
Lots of free events, but not enough toilets
Sun Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego writes “Although most of us realize that many things simply aren’t possible, like clear cable TV reception and a property tax bill that reflects the actual market value of your house, May is indeed the month in which people are the most optimistic, and it’s the first month that folks get outside and do stuff.”
Calls for election to dissolve ward system
Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego takes a look at the city of Naperville’s upcoming district system for municipal governance and calls for a referendum to retain the at-large system.
Debate needed on the way we hold elections
Naperville Sun Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego argues that people are concerned about the honesty and credibility of local elections and that public debate of that topic is necessary.
When the problem is a refusal to communicate
In the movie Cool Hand Luke, Strother Martin’s character famously keeps repeating “What we have here is... failure to communicate.” What makes the line memorable, even sadly humorous, is that it wasn’t a failure to communicate at all, but a refusal to communicate, a flat denial and rejection of the other point of view. In a way, it could be the slogan for our times.
Learn about quality over quantity in building
Naperville Sun Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego writes “If you would like to give your spleen a rest, and take a break from recent emotion-laden controversies, you will definitely enjoy a program that is being put together this week by Community First, our local grass roots organization that concerns itself with respectful, compatible redevelopment of established neighborhoods.”
Patronizing zealots only encourages them
Sun viewpoint columnist Bill Mego writes “When I hear critics compare in vitro fertilization to the reproductive technology in Aldous Huxley’s dystopian Brave New World, what strikes me the most is how thoroughly and distressingly uninformed they are, to phrase it politely.”
Will cameras in the courtroom hamper justice?
Nobody acts the same when they’re on camera. People don’t necessarily act better or worse, but nobody acts the same. That’s why many people believe that the recent decision to allow cameras inside Illinois courtrooms, including those in DuPage and Will counties, was an unfortunate one.
Political system is everyone’s responsibility
Sun Viewpoint columnist Bill Mego agrees with Alexander Woollcott that though democracy only works if we work it, most people don’t bother to even vote.
Naper Settlement free from April through October
Sun columnist Bill Mego lauds the fact that Naper Settlement, with the exception of some special programs, will feature free admission from April 1 through the end of October.
The city should look to future of transportation
There are some interesting alternatives regarding future transportation to and from the Naperville train station but is the city too conservative to see the possibilities?
Naperville puts hot dog vendor in bit of a pickle
Vancouver, B.C. chooses its 12 food carts solely on the basis of food quality. St. Petersburg is apparently terrified that its food carts will ruin its restaurant business, which probably tells you something about its restaurants. And Portland, Oregon, where biking, dogs and gentlemen’s clubs …
To win the war on drugs, end the war on kids
After 10 years of war in Afghanistan, Americans are weary of it and, because 80 percent realize it can’t be won, want it to finally end. After 98 years of the war against drugs, Americans are still energized and, although 80 percent realize it can’t be won, seem to want it to go on forever.
Country is being turned over to corporations
At the end of the Public Forum section of the last Naperville City Council meeting, a gentleman named Keith Klingman stepped up to the podium and made a request that nobody seemed to take seriously.
We used to set higher sights for our town
I have lived long enough to understand that the least important thing about any life is its length. Although we talk about a wonderfully long life or a tragically short one, I think we’ve all seen plenty of tragically long lives and many wonderfully-lived short ones.