The Foie Gras of Chicago journalism?

I LOVE The Chicago Reader. It's one of my favorite newspapers, not just because it is one of the last remnants of an era when journalists actually used to write about their own industry -- the only real media columnist left in Chicago is Michael Miner of Hot Type -- but because it was one of the few papers that would unwrap the fear of the raging Mayor Richard M. Daley, a political tyrant behind a crocodile filled zoo of tears.

Last week, it went through another change, purchased by an investment company and the word is the investors, whose reps on the Reader's board are former journalists themselves, are planning to force-feed the alternative newspaper, fatten it up, kind of like the Foie Gras controversy Chicago is known for starting.

Click to read Miner's Column on the topic.

There are very few journalism watchdog columnists and writers in Chicago. None come close to Mike Miner, who, for disclosure's sake, has written about my exploits many times. (I take it that I was a good story more than once, although my avocation is to focus on "goood stoooowwwwies" as my mentor the late Harry Golden Jr. would cackle in his New York accent when he had a great City Hall Press Room Scoop.) There are not many great journalists left in Chicago. The media industry is dying, as evidenced by the massive reductions taking place in circulation and in size, the latest being the Daily Southtown, which gobbled up the Star Newspapers and trimmed down from an impressive broadsheet to a tabloid.

The Chicago Sun-Times is the only paper that has made a Tabloid look good. The Tribune's tabloid doesn't look good. It may be the only thing, though, keeping the Chicago Sun-Times alive. I bet many advertisers go to the news stands and see the Tribune and think it's the Sun-Times and say wow, a great newspaper. Actually, the Sun-Times, my alma mater, is a great newspaper.

So we watch with sadness but lots of hope that the changes at the rebellious Chicago Reader will help it survive the rocky waters of a fast disappearing Fourth Estate. The mainstream media -- which I think has been extremely biased and unethical when it comes to the coverage of some topics like the American Arab community and the Middle East, is being overshadowed by the growing Citizen Journalists who, in many cases, are just as biased. But when averaging the bias among Citizen Journalists and the mainstream media, it's much easier to take in our new era of dying mainstream journalism.

People like me don't have to wait for the mainstream news media (which I was once a proud and also not so proud member) to cover the news properly. We can write about whatever we want and showcases stories the mainstream news media ignores because of racism, bigotry and bias.

The Chicago Readers is one newspaper that stands out from the crowd and tells it like it is.

I wonder what it can do when they start shoving that food down it's throat to fatten it up.

"It's a cook book! It's a cook book!" (From the Twilight Zone's fabulous episode "To Serve Man")

Police Chief Tim McCarthy turns up on University of Illinois Trustees application list

Orland Park's esteemed Police Chief Tim McCarthy is among many who have applied to become new trustees at the University of Illinois.

The University is center stage in a scandal involving the placement of unqualified student applicants above more qualified students to be admitted to the state, taxpayer-funded school. Seven of the trustees have resigned and two remained refusing to resign including James Montgomery the former corporation counsel for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.

Beleaguered Gov. Pat Quinn has been flip flopping on the scandal like crazy, appointing a "Blue Ribbon Committee" to investigate the scandal and clout. but the committee only investigated one aspect of the controversy, the one involving University officials and trustees. It tried and failed to look into the real culprits and the roles of House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, who had submitted and pressured the University to accept unqualified nominees who were relatives, friends, children of campaign contributors or political cronies.

Read my column on Pat Quinn, Don Quixote or Chauncey Gardener (Being There movie)?

McCarthy would make a great University of Illinois Trustee. He is impeccable as a public servant with one of the most qualified backgrounds. McCarthy is a 1971 graduate of the University of Illinois who, as a secret service agent, was shot and seriously wounded in 1971 saving the life of then President Ronald Reagan during an assassination attempt.

Also on the list is the son of gadfly perennial candidate Jim Oberweis.

Hanania: Is Pat Quinn Don Quixote or Chauncey Gardner?

Gov Quinn: a Don Quixote or Chauncey Gardener?

By Ray Hanania

Gov. Quinn has proven he is little more than a manipulated puppet of the powers that control the Illinois Legislature, which probably makes him their choice to remain as governor.

The boy’s club of powers in the legislature, led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Senate Puppet, err, President, John Cullerton, don’t like a governor who tries to do things on his own.

Need we mention how the legislative leadership conspired to do-in former Governor Rod Blagojevich who refused to kneel to their power and once kicked outside of the good-old-boys system, had to fend for himself.

It’s amazing that if you try to raise money outside of this system, you become the poster child for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s phony and limited “pay-to-play” investigation.

But if you are inside the leadership circle of secrecy, you can pay-to-play all you want, muscling contractors to donate to your campaigns as legislators, using the see-thru veil that only the governor is in charge of contracts in Illinois. The insiders are protected by the system.

Quinn made a critical choice this past week. To be an insider taking orders from the leadership or be an outsider as he has been all his life and stand up for what is right at the expense of his own career?

The fact is there are two pay-to-play systems in Illinois, one played by “outsiders” to the system who are tarred and feathered by the mob, and one played by the insiders who together protect themselves. You don’t do what the insiders want and you don’t get any contracts, services, jobs, perqs.

So phony. So hypocritical. So fake.

Blagojevich may have crossed the line on some issues, but to pretend the rest of the legislative pack is not involved is outrageous hypocrisy.

It is the fear of ending up like Blagojevich that has his former running mate Pat Quinn, the long time Don Quixote of Illinois Politics, running like a scarred jack rabbit.

In the face of the embarrassing disclosures by the Chicago Tribune of how legislators used their clout to bully the University of Illinois’ admissions officers and trustees to allow unqualified students to enter the school, Quinn knuckled under to his selfish career needs rather than to public principle.

In order to keep his job he needed two things: first, King Madigan’s Princess, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan – the Governor in waiting – had to withdraw from the race. Princess Lisa’s candidacy would all but certainly thrown Pat Quinn out of the Governor’s Mansion on his ass in next year’s February 2 Democratic Primary.

Well, bowing to a royal decree, Princess Lisa stepped down.

But, the fearless Don Quixote Pat Quinn had to reciprocate to the “sacrifice” of the Madigan Dynasty and he didn’t hesitate to protect the protectors of the pay-to-play.

His first act was to create a “Blue Ribbon Committee” to investigate the charges. The committee tried to investigate, but all they were allowed to do was look at one side of the scandal, the trustees and administrators at the University of Illinois.

Not investigated was the role of the Illinois legislators who bent arms, threatened, pressured and forced the University of Illinois to accept their nominees who were unqualified to enter the school, passing over more qualified students who may have lost out because of the clout admissions practices.

These nominees were friends, relatives, children of contributors and politicians. They all got in but somehow Don Quixote Pat Quinn’s fire seemed to extinguish itself when it came to holding the feet of the guilty legislators to the fire.

Madigan and Cullerton were among those who nominated the MOST unqualified students to sidestep the University of Illinois’ admissions qualifications system.

But when Madigan and Cullerton were “asked” not ordered to appear before the so-called “Blue Ribbon Committee” to explain their role in this scandalous affair, they said no. They had the “Get Out of Jail Card,” the clout that decides Don Quixote Pat Quinn’s fate.

The “Blue Ribbon Committee,” blue in the face, made a half-assed recommendation to fire the existing nine University of Illinois trustees. Seven quit. Two refused, not for reasons having to do with the corruption of the investigation, but for their own selfish political reasons. They were dynasties in and of themselves.

Don Quixote Pat Quinn then backed down and “allowed” the two to remain. Imagine how forcing the former legal adviser to the late Mayor Harold Washington, James Montgomery, to resign would play on Don Quixote Pat Quinn’s election as governor next year in the Black community.

Quinn could not afford that. He he pretends the Blue Ribbon Committee achieved the goals of ferreting out the unethical practices, but all it did was put a half-assed spotlight on one small part of the “pay-to-play” system led by the leaders of the Illinois legislature.

And now Quinn has vetoed legislation that was half-assed to begin with to put restrictions on how much cash contributors can give candidates running for re-election next year in the insider’s “pay-to-play” system.

He says he did so at the recommendation of the legislative leaders who said the legislation was “not tough enough,” as if they really want tougher legislation passed to begin with.

And who would the legislation have hurt? The legislative leaders who said they want stronger legislation and asked that this legislation be vetoed.

So Pat Quinn, playing the role of a hapless puppet on strings, says yes, this legislation is not tough enough. The public wants tougher legislation to curb the pay-to-play practices that have scarred the state of Illinois continuing to make it the laughing stock of the nation.

Who benefits from this delay?

Well, all of the candidates running for election and re-election next year. They won’t have to worry now about the restrictions the bill would have imposed on their ability to play the Illinois Pay-to-Play Game.

Chief among the benefactors now is Don Quixote Pat Quinn, who can raise all the money he wants, under Madigan’s guidance, of course, to seek re-election.

Fortunately, Quinn’s days as Illinois’ hapless version of “Chauncey Gardner,” the “dumb as a jackass” gardener in the movie “Being There,” whose career moved through the insanity of a world willing to be hoodwinked, probably will get beat anyway.

Let’s hope so.

(Ray Hanania is an award winning columnist with the Southwest News-Herald, former longtime Chicago City Hall reporter, author and host of the morning radio show "Mornings with Ray Hanania" on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, Mon-Fri 8-9:30 am. www.RadioChicagoland.com.)

Another predator cruising Orland Park streets?

First it was the White Van last Spring. Now, it's an "older, economy-style van (dark blue with a white stripe) that slowed down near 151st and Orlan Brook Drive this morning following a young female 8th grader near Jerling Jr. High school. The driver appeared to be male, between 55 and 60 years old, according to the report issued today by District 135 Supt. Dennis C. Soustek.

The student acted wisely and turned to go to a friend's home right away for help and the van followed her. When the friend and friend's parent walked out, the van sped away.

"Incidents like these are an unfortunate reminder that children must always be aware of their surroundings and cautious as they walk to school, especially if they walk alone," Soustek said.

"We have been in contact with the Orland Park Police, and they plan to be on special alert. We are grateful for their assistance, and for yours, in being vigilant and supportive of our community-wide effort to keep our students safe."

Soustek said more information would be published on the District 135 school web site at www.Orland135.org as it becomes available.

You see a dark blue van, older with a white stripe. Better to be safe than sorry and call the police.

Orland Park has the toughest and best police in the Southwest Suburbs. They know what to do.

We don't want another incident like the one in South Lake Tahoe involving the kidnapping of 11 year old Jaycee Dugard 18 years ago and held captive by a deranged sex maniac who then fathered two children. Fortunately, Jaycee was discovered. Maybe her kidnapper rapist, Phillip Garrido, will get the maximum punishment of death. Stealing a child's life deserves nothing less. People used to call Garrido "creeping Phil." He fit the profile, but no one bothered to even look.

Don't be the neighbor who sees the van and worries "what if it isn't?" when stopping it doesn't hurt anyone but only helps if it is.

Be safe, not sorry!

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Mayor Dan McLaughlin details village Greening Initiative and Open Lands strategies

Interview this morning (Friday August 28, 2009) with Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

Click here to listen to the Podcast or download it from iTunes.com or RadioChicagoland.com.

McLaughlin details the Village of Orland Park's Greening Initiative and discusses how residents can participate and help not only improve the environment but also save money by reducing costs on energy and more.

The mayor also said that he uses a Push mower to cut his lawn, like I do, most of the time. Sometimes you have to still use a lawnmower if it gets too high and can't be cut with the push lawn mower but it is an energy-saving environment saving option that he says will be included in the village Greening Initiative if it is already not on the list.

Go to the Village's Web site at

www.orland-park.il.us

or the special Greening Initiative web site at

www.SmartLivingOP.com

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Couple that abducted Jaycee Dugard should be killed mercilessly

I normally do not support violence but I am so angry at the story about a couple, who have yet not been identified, who abducted Jaycee Dugard from her mother and step-father 18 years ago when she was only 11 years old from South Lake Tahoe.

The girl has been with the couple for the past 18 years and police today announced they found the little girl and the couple that allegedly abducted her are now in custody.

I want the death penalty adopted for anyone who kidnaps a child -- with the exception of immediate family members which would turn the abduction into a family domestic issue. But when strangers grab a child, and adopt or worse, that couple should be killed.

Here's a link to the story, which is absolutely disgusting and all the ugly details haven't even surfaced yet. I am enraged by what these people have done.

Click to read story.

Orland Mayor Dan McLaughlin to detail village's Greening initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Mayor McLaughlin Discusses Orland Park’s

Greening efforts on WJJG Radio Friday 8:20 am

Orland Park – Mayor Dan McLaughlin will outline the village’s overall environmental strategy including Open Lands and Smart Living Orland Park during an appearance Friday morning on “Mornings with Ray Hanania” on WJJG 1530 AM Radio.

Orland Park in Chicago’s Southwest Suburbs has been a leader in greening initiatives, including reducing lawn maintenance mowing and fertilizing by growing natural “prairie” plant life and brush. The first village building to go Green is the village’s award winning Police Headquarters.

Information on Orland Park’s Greening Initiative is located at

www.smartlivingop.com

For information on Orland Park’s greening program and initiatives, also visit

Orland Park Prairie newspaper

“Mornings with Ray Hanania” is broadcast Monday thru Friday on WJJG 1530 AM Radio, located in Elmhurst, Illinois and covering the Chicagoland area. The show is also broadcast live on the Internet at www.RadioChicagoland.com.

end

Bolingbrook Boss Claar called out on questionable dealings

Bolingbrook Mayor and Boss Roger Claar has a stranglehold on the community and oppresses anyone who challenges his policies. He denied the voters the right of choice in the last election and kicked off his strongest challenger Bonnie Alecia Kurowski.

But the Chicago Tribune has detailed his high flying expenses and donations ... he gets an unbelievable amount of money from contractors working with Bolingbrook. He has more than $5 million in his political election warchest and $1 million in investments.

Government service has sure worked for Roger Claar.

But it has nothing to do with city business.

The tragedy is Claar seems to care more about himself than the resident.s Voter turnout is at a low in Bolingbrook, according to his chief challenger Kurowski who was removed by Claar's challenge from the election ballot last April but who ran an honorable and respectful write-in candidacy despite Claar's repressive actions.

Hey, if the residents of Bolingbrook don't care, though, why should anyone?

How about the idea that elected officials should be raising funds for the benefit of the public and do the job of supporting free speech and democracy and registering more residents to vote and getting more residents to vote?

You'd have to be a good politician to do that, though.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Strategic Diet going smoothly so far

My Strategic Diet, specifically designed to lose 45 pounds in the next six weeks and then transition to a healthy eating plan is going well.

My actual weight is 215.5 lbs when I started (221 pounds with clothing, wallet, etc). I started Saturday August 22 (2009). Today, my weight is exactly 215 lbs.

The Strategic Diet is simple. All protein (Atkins) for six weeks, no carbohydrates. Followed by the Mediterranean Diet (using Wild garden Hummus Dip as a base) for the remainder. The key is loose the weight, and then keep it off with healthy eating and nothing is more healthier than the Mediterranean Diet.

I went to Jewel Saturday and stocked the refrigerator with basics for the all-protein diet. ABout two dozen steaks, diet Coke, 20 cans of Chunk White Tuna, sardines, Crystal Light (pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry -- no sugar at all), and several blocks of Sharp Cheddar cheese.

Today (Tuesday), I stopped at Jewel again and bought some midday foods like six Garlic Summer Sausage rolls (6 ounces), six cans of anchovies, six cans of Kipper (fish) snacks, and several packs of sliced pepperoni packs (6 ounces each).

I can also egg fried eggs, bacon (all meats), and even Tic Tacs (whoch are a non-sugar based candy -- no carbs).

The cashiers know exactly what I am doing when I arrive to checkout at the store.

"Dieting?" they ask.

"Yep."

"All protein?"

"Yep."

The foods look weird but are essential.

I can go to Burger King and order double whoppers with cheese, mayonnaise and extra pickles, but I have to use the bread as the "holder" or "gloves". The problem is the cheese melts on the bread so I can't get all the cheese when I eat.

This weight loss is going to happen and I'll keep you posted.

Check out www.WildGardeni.biz for info on Hummus Dip and the Mediterranean Diet and join the revolution.

Strategic Dieting. It can work.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Scam artists solicit donations for phony disabled veteran charities -- watch out Orland Park

A man called the house using a Private Number Monday night around 9:25 pm saying he was sorry for calling so late but wanted to talk to me about disabled veterans and their needs. When I could hear in the background the room full of telephone banks where these scam artists pretend to raise money for disabled vets but take the majority of the money for themselves.

Where is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on that issue? AWOL as usual.

When I interupted the caller and asked for their name of their company and a telephone number, and when he hesitated, I said I could not donate, he told me to "f--- off"and he hung up."

Nice.

Solicitors who call "Private Caller" are ALWAYS scam artists and you should NEVER answer the telephone. These individuals ask you to donate money using your credit card for what sounds like great causes, and then take the majority of the money. In fact, they never identify themselves nor do they tell you their contact number.

They are on the dime and they don't want to waste time with people who call their bluff. So don't be afraid to tell them to f-off because they are lying low-lifes who are exploiting tragedy for their own profit. These telephone bankers are hired to solicit money from the public but it goes into the pocket of the person hiring them.

Don't be afraid to hang up on them. You are NOT insulting disabled veterans. In fact, when they fail to identify themselves and not give you a telephone contact number that you can call back, they are con artists. By hanging up, you are doing a great service to help the disabled veterans and other worthy charities by not giving your money to scammers.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

Beware of scam artists calling to collect donations for injured veterans

A man called the house using a Private Number Monday night around 9:25 pm saying he was sorry for calling so late but wanted to talk to me about disabled veterans and their needs. When I could hear in the background the room full of telephone banks where these scam artists pretend to raise money for disabled vets but take the majority of the money for themselves.

Where is Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan on that issue? AWOL as usual.

When I interupted the caller and asked for their name of their company and a telephone number, and when he hesitated, I said I could not donate, he told me to "f--- off"and he hung up."

Nice.

Solicitors who call "Private Caller" are ALWAYS scam artists and you should NEVER answer the telephone. These individuals ask you to donate money using your credit card for what sounds like great causes, and then take the majority of the money. In fact, they never identify themselves nor do they tell you their contact number.

They are on the dime and they don't want to waste time with people who call their bluff. So don't be afraid to tell them to f-off because they are lying low-lifes who are exploiting tragedy for their own profit. These telephone bankers are hired to solicit money from the public but it goes into the pocket of the person hiring them.

Don't be afraid to hang up on them. You are NOT insulting disabled veterans. In fact, when they fail to identify themselves and not give you a telephone contact number that you can call back, they are con artists. By hanging up, you are doing a great service to help the disabled veterans and other worthy charities by not giving your money to scammers.

-- Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/

I love to grocery shop, I just hate the grocery industry

I love to grocery shop. It is relaxing. That and touring the aisles of Lowes or Home Depot -- or any hardware store for that matter -- is very exciting for me. Hey, I'm a suburban man of modest desires!

So I went to Jewel this week to purchase groceries for my new strategic diet plan which I started today. (Read about it here.) Normally, I get upset over the new automatic checkout clerks. I can never get it right.

"Put the product back on the tray sir or face immediate arrest and detention!!!!" The machine always barks at me when I try the stupid technology. It doesn't work.

But worse is when the stores lie to us. Like when I went through the aisles today looking for good deals and then realize how easily us suburban shoppers are scammed. This time at Jewel Osco, but it can be at any store.

There were two displays of pop.

On the left, were 12 packs. You know, the long ones that fit conveniently in the ice box (my wife and son hammer all the time for calling the refrigerator the "ice box" but I can't change a lifelong habit. Okay?)

On the right, a stack on 24 packs of pop.

On the left, the sign reads, buy 3 for $12. Sounded great. I Started packing the three 12-packs of Diet Coke, an essential component of my Strategic Diet Plan (Atkins for six weeks followed by the Mediterranean Diet for life -- I'm Arab so the Mediterranean diet shouldn't be so bad.)

Then, after putting the three 12-packs of diet coke into my basket, I look at the sign on the right and it says, "Buy 2 for $11.)

What? Are we shoppers idiots or something that we can be so confused. I did the math. 12 cans at $4 on the left. And 12 cans at $2.75 on the right.

You have got to be kidding, right?

So I remove the three 12-packs from the shopping cart -- it's good exercise as I steam -- and then grabbed two 24-packs od Diet Coke on the right.

Really, does a grocery store have to be so deceptive?

Then, I go back to the meat section and you know how they have those island freezers and they are usually filled with boxed hamburgers, Polish and Italian sausage, and chicken. And on the "end" section, the little section usually set aside for specials, I see a sign in big letters: Now on Sale. $1.29 a pound. Inside, chicken, and steak. So, I grab five packs of steak. I figure, this will save me 50 percent from the estimated $45 for the steaks.

Sure enough, I get to the cash register, and the clerk rings them up at $8 t0 $10 each. I ask him what about the "sale?" What sales, he says. He calls back to the meat section and there I am, the goof holding up the whole line as everyone is staring at me like I am some cheapskate -- off course, as soon as this is over, I go to Red Box and rent four DVD movies for a $1 each, which I keep for two days, usually, and it's still cheaper to go to the video store and especially to buy them. But I am waiting and no one rings back. The clerk calls again, but this time the meat section calls back on the phone to the checkout clerk in the other aisle next to us. She hands the phone to my sales clerk and the line is now blocking the line in the other checkout counter and I have two lines of shoppers all put in neutral while I try to sort through this mess.

Oh, they explain, there is no sale on steaks. Just some of the meats in that special section.

Fine. I want the meat anyway, dorks. Just ring them up. And I blathering away at the poor college kid who is working his way through school, rolling his eyes as I explain the unfairness of my shopping trip. Oh, I don't blame him, but he doesn't want to listen to me.

And of course, I go to the Red Box and grab my DVD movies. And of course, I left the bottle of Diet Coke i bought to drink on the ride home and the clerk comes up and says "Hey. you forgot this."

And everyone is looking at me.

I'm going on a diet. have some compassion, people!

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Jim Dodge candidacy for Il Comptroller picks up steam

Jim Dodge picking up steam in his bid for the Republican Party nomination for Illinois Comptroller.

Click here to read the story in the Orland Prairie, which has huge circulation.

Click here to read the Daily Southtown Story.

Click here to read Dodge's press release on his candidacy, which was picked up by newspapers across the state.

Dennis Cook of District 230 and former State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and my colleague at WJJG Radio, are also both reportedly contemplating a run. Dodge says he's in to stay regardless.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Reducing the Carbon Footprint more at the Hanania household

And I mowed the lawn again using the push mower. Great exercise, for sure. It took about 90 minutes to mow the front and back, and then trim the edges with the push mower -- no gasoline and no carbon emissions. It takes about the same amount of time and 1 1/2 gallons of gasoline to mow the lawn using the gas mower. The gas mower is neater, and cleaner -- it mulches while the push mower does not.

But hey, we have to do something to fight global warming and air pollution and wasting energy and adding poisons to the lawnscape. Not sure yet if I am going to dropt he fertilizer or maybe find something more organic. Doesn't sound appealing, but maybe Ill try.

I wonder if I can let the grass just grow like the prairie at the Orland Park Police Headquarters and never mow or do anything except live in the Tall Grass.

Sadly, though, mwoing the lawn is the only exercise I get. The push mower is a real workout. I need it.

Next week I go back on the Atkins Diet for the first four weeks, and then I'll shift to the Mediterranean Diet to keep the weight off. You can't rely on Atkins too long. It's going to be a program on the Radio Show, too.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Those pimping for the U.S. Census should be honest, its about their money not our community empowerment

The U.S. Government has done a great job hiring Arabs in our community to shill for their cause, to continue to oppress our community. The focus on the effort is the U.S. Census.

I want you to notice something. Everyone one pimping and pushing for the American Arab community to "participate" in the U.S. Census are all PAID by the U.S. Government to tell us to fill out the census form.

They lie that filling out the census form and "writing in our race" Arab in the little line at the bottom of the form is a way for us to be empowered. And when someone questions their lies, they slam and slander Arabs who argue that we have been misled by lazy, do-nothing Arab activists who have taken the short and easy route to money instead of fighting the long term challenge.

What is the long term challenge? Arabs should be listed officially on the census.

Here is who are now listed on the U.S. Census:

The census form asks for your Race, listing Hispanic, Latino or Spanish Origin. And they ask if you are Mexican, Mexican American (I didn’t know there were two categories of Mexicans), or Chicano? What kind of race is “Chicano?” What country do “Chicanos” come from? “Chicano-stan?”

They ask the same question again on the long form: Are you White? Black, African American or Negro? Are you American Indian or Alaskan Native and they even give you a place to write in your tribe name.

That’s not all. The form asks are you Asian Indian? Japanese, Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Korean, Guamanian or Chamorro, Filipino, Vietnamese, Samoan or Other Asian where they give you a space so you can print your “race” like Laotian, Thai, Pakistani, Cambodian “and so on.”

Oh, they don’t stop there. They ask are you “Pacific Islander” and ask you to print your race like Fijian, Tongan “and so on.”

Way at the bottom, in case they missed someone, someone not so important, they have the throw away line, to check here if you are “Some Other Race – Print Race.”

That is where I have to hand-write that I am “Arab.” And proud of it too, by the way.

Read the full original column that has Rashad al-Dabbagh, who works for the census, and some members of the Arab American Institute targeting me because I don't agree with their laid-back lack of activism against this problem. Click here to read the column?

The fact is that while these activists are cashing their checks and telling American Arabs, "Don't worry. You don't have to be listed on the census form, you can write it in so the AAI can complete their list," government agencies across America are discriminating against American Arabs specifically and directly because the U.S. Census DOES NOT list Arabs as "Arab" on the Census form.

The federal government requires police officers who pull people over for traffic stops to list the race of the person being stopped. But, they are required only to list those races AND ethnicities listed on the U.S. Census form.

Why is that important? If the race is listed on statistics, communities can easily see if they are being targeted for discrimination by police officers and then use that as "EMPOWERMENT" to demand that the police department hire American Arabs.

But American Arabs are NOT listed and police are not required to list us at all.

In every instance of EMPOWERMENT, not being listed on the U.S. Census means we are denied the ability to confront and stop discrimination, discrimination that is holding our community back.

And all that the activists who are PAID by the U.S. Census can do is attack me ands my argument and tell us little American Arab Sheep to "write your race on the form."

Well, writing your name on the form does not stop the discrimination and it DOES NOT force government agencies from the top of the Federal Government to the bottom of the local suburban government to recognize the rights of Americans Arabs.

When we ask school districts how many Arabs have they hired, the answer is "We are not required to list employees based on the race 'Arabs' and we only list race and ethnicity based on those identified in the U.S. Census."

I know what the problem is. It's easier for some in our community to take the handout from the government and keep the American Arabs in a stupor than to find the courage to stand up and change a system that needs to be change.

Arabs should and MUST be listed on the U.S. Census form and until we are, we will continue to be discriminated against, denied government grants, denied government jobs and marginalized in our society.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland moves up slowly to top 5 in southwest suburban home foreclosures

Orland Park ranks number 5, but not in the nation's best communities, but rather in the Southwest suburbs' top 5 places for home foreclosers, according to Block Shopper. Therer have been 25 foreclosed homes so far in 2009, and that doesn't include those in the process.

Above Orland are, number 1, Burbank, followed by Tinley Park, Oak Forest, and Alsip.

Just below are Summit, Palos Hills, Worth, Chicago Ridge and Bridgeview. Home foreclosers represent not only the sleazy practices that were common among some realtors in the region who pushed people into homes, mortgages and re-mortgages they could not afford --many re-mortgages were based in realtors artificially inflating home equity values to permit larger loans i order to capture the process fees.

And of course, now the banks are paying through the nose and the only saving them -- a health insurance for the banking robber barons and investment low-lifes in the government bailout begun under former President George W. Bush. It's kind of like giving the banks a public health insurance option for their sickness, something denied to the public and people in need.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com

Dodge may face challengers in Comptroller's race

Jim Dodge of Orland Park became the lead candidate in the Republican Party to announce for Illinois Comptroller, the seat that will be vacated by incumbent Dan Hynes who announced he is running for Governor against the beleaguered Pat Quinn.

Capitol Fax Blog notes that two other "possible" contenders being pushed in to the race include former Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka and Dennis Cook, a Republican activist. But Topinka told me recently that she had "no plans" to run for office.

Insiders speculate that if Topinka enters the race, it may cause some curious concerns. Topinka would make a great candidate for governor and even for a return election to the treasurer's office. But moving to Comptroller might look like an move of opportunity. She's a much more potent candidate for governor on the Republican Side and a shoe-in for treasurer where her past experience almost guarantees her win. And, Topinka could point to her last campaign when she lost to banker and pro-Credit card company Alexi Giannoulias who announced he will run against Mark Kirk for the U.S. Senate seat.

It will be interesting to see what happens. Dodge is the inside favorite for comptroller. Imagine if Topinka joined the ticket for Treasurer. It could be a powerful return for the beleaguered Illinois GOP.

Cook, also from Orland Park, announced weeks ago he was considering running for Lieutenant governor and maybe Comptroller but made no formal announcement. A Topinka-Cook team for Governor. Could be potent, although out stomping and doing extensive interviews is Dan Proft whose candidacy touches the issues of more concern to the conservative branch of the GOP.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Park trustee to run for Illinois Comptroller in Republican Primary

Orland Park Trustee Jim Dodge is expected to formally announce his candidacy next week for the office of Illinois Comptroller, the seat vacated by 19th Ward Democrat Dan Hynes who is running for Governor against Pat Quinn in the February 2 Democratic Primary.

Hynes' move creates an open race. Dodge, who has strong ties in the Republican Party and years of experience in government, will be able to take advantage of several factors that give him an edge in his run. The major media will be focussed will be on the top three races of U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor and Cook County Board president. With no incumbent in the comptroller's office, it comes down to which candidate will have the best name recognition in second-tier offices.

Dodge has both a great name and strong party backing. And he's going to reach out beyond party lines, noting that the hardships caused by today's economy nationally and Illinois do not distinguish among party affiliation.

Dodge and his wife Linda have two children, Ashley and Jimmy. A technology consultant by profession, Dodge has proven leadership experience in government and community.

He was re-elected last April to his 6th term on the Village of Orland Park Board as a trustee. Orland Park remains one of the state’s leading municipalities.

He has served on the METRA board as a director since 2004. Dodge doesn't talk from two sides of his mouth. He serves on the METRA board and he rides the METRA train from his Orland Park home to his office downtown. Practicing what you preach is a unique qualification in Illinois politics that will help him.

Dodge served as the Orland Township Republican Chairman from 1994 to 1996.

He served as the Cook County Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Young Republicans.

Dodge has a BS Degree in Psychology from DePaul in the Honors Program. He has an MBA in Economics and Finance from the University of Chicago.

A veteran, Dodge served in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Sergeant 178th Infantry Battalion, 44th RAOC, from 1988-1996.

Click to read Dodge's bio?

--Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

The Scoop: Jim Dodge will announce for Illinois Comptroller

Orland Park Trustee Jim Dodge is expected to formally announce his candidacy next week for the office of Illinois Comptroller, the seat vacated by 19th Ward Democrat Dan Hynes who is running for Governor against Pat Quinn in the February 2 Democratic Primary.

Hynes' move creates an open race. Dodge, who has strong ties in the Republican Party and years of experience in government, will be able to take advantage of several factors that give him an edge in his run. The major media will be focussed will be on the top three races of U.S. Senate, Illinois Governor and Cook County Board president. With no incumbent in the comptroller's office, it comes down to which candidate will have the best name recognition in second-tier offices.

Dodge has both a great name and strong party backing. And he's going to reach out beyond party lines, noting that the hardships caused by today's economy nationally and Illinois do not distinguish among party affiliation.

Dodge and his wife Linda have two children, Ashley and Jimmy. A technology consultant by profession, Dodge has proven leadership experience in government and community.

He was re-elected last April to his 6th term on the Village of Orland Park Board as a trustee. Orland Park remains one of the state’s leading municipalities.

He has served on the METRA board as a director since 2004. Dodge doesn't talk from two sides of his mouth. He serves on the METRA board and he rides the METRA train from his Orland Park home to his office downtown. Practicing what you preach is a unique qualification in Illinois politics that will help him.

Dodge served as the Orland Township Republican Chairman from 1994 to 1996.

He served as the Cook County Vice-Chairman of the Illinois Young Republicans.

Dodge has a BS Degree in Psychology from DePaul in the Honors Program. He has an MBA in Economics and Finance from the University of Chicago.

A veteran, Dodge served in the Illinois Army National Guard as a Sergeant 178th Infantry Battalion, 44th RAOC, from 1988-1996.

Click to read Dodge's bio?

--Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Mayhem and madness at the Orland Park pool

Our first real super hot day of the summer, over 90 degrees and came close to 100. Or so they said. Regardless, it sure felt like it. And it sure felt even better to have a membership at the Orland Park Centennial Pool.

Members get in at 11 am, and it was already steaming and humid. And guests don't get in until noon. So, when we got there early Sunday, we were able to easily find some lawn chairs and stake out a nice spot in the sun, partially covered by an umbrella.

The OPCP is one of the best. It has two large pools, many slides and diving boards and a lazy river that is very cool. It has a grassy knoll that surrounds the north end of the pool complex so there is extra space to stretch out and enjoy the sun. The food -- pizza mostly -- isn't bad. And the place is always clean.

But when it's pushing 100 and it's the first real hot summer day of the summer, you know that place is going to be packed like a sardine can. And by 1 pm the place was crammed. And I mean crammed.

The biggest problem, of course, is when non-resident non-members come in after paying (I think it is $12 a person) to get in and they can't find chairs to sit, they get upset. They start roaming the pool like wolf packs, prowling for unsuspecting chairs. Literally, people would stand next to a chair that had a towel and book on it, and if no one was looking, they'd nudge the towel and book on the pool deck and then lift the chair and walk it across to the other side.

It was brutal. Cutthroat. People were eying chairs like they were naked super models. You could not leave your cluster alone without seeing a chair disappear. And I must have had 100 people come up to me while I protected the chair for the wife and one for my son, and ask, "Is that chair taken."

"No, people in Orland Park are so rich they buy towels and then throw them away when they're finished. Why wash them? Just toss them."

Of course, that's what I wanted to say, but most of the time the people asking couldn't speak very good English anyway. I didn't realize we had such a large community of foreign language speakers. So I would say, "Yes, they are taken."

They'd turn and go to the next person and it went on and on all day. if you started to get up as a family. If Alison and Aaron and I got up at the same time, we would be surrounded by tag teams ready to fight for the chairs.

Sorry folks. If it were up to me, I'd charge an entrance fee based on the temperature. The warmer it is, the most costly. For $150 a year, why not just buy a membership fee and not hassle with all the problems.

But people come from as far as Chicago, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Lawn and Joliet to enjoy the Orland Park Centennial Pool. I can't blame them.

But it's a dog-eat-dog world out there.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Saga of Oak Lawn grocer targeted for racism grows

An Oak Lawn Grocer alleges he was targeted for racism by a village inspector. The issue involves a two-year long battle between the inspector and the grocer. But it crossed the line when on July 15, the grocer, Naim Massad, and his wife Suzanne and his son Abed, were arrested during a surprise inspection brought on by a call to the village by a neighboring store owner, Pat Bartell who owns the music store just north of Massad's Grocery.

(Bartell is listed in the police report as having made the initial complaint and she is quoted on FOX TV and also now in the Southtown as complaining about Massad's store).

Here are links to my stories so far. And I mean so far because this story continues to get worse as you dig into the allegations from the inspector, Jeanne Foody Galzin, which seem exaggerated to say the least.

Click to read the news story on the arrest?

Click to read the column I wrote on the arrest?

Click to read the Daily Southtown Story on the arrest?

What's interesting is the role of the music store owner in all this. Her attorney Pat Sullivan insists she is not anti-Arab or harboring any racist feelings. But in talking to him, he says her store was "damaged" by sanitation problems in Massad's store.

The problem with that is that the Village DID NOT CLOSE Bartell's music store. She closed it on her own. And the problem, Bartell's attorney says, involves sewage, but there is no direct link to Massad's store. Rather than look at the possibility that the building is a problem, Bartell has been pointing a finger of blame directly at Massad, I think unfairly. You can read the note she posted on her door when she closed her own store in my news story above.

It's very possible that water is leaking fromt he roof or someplace into Bartell's store. Why blame him?

Sullivan said there was a "stink" coming from somewhere -- they say Massad's store.

That might be. Massad's store was closed on July 15 by the village and locked up for almost two weeks by the village without access. In fact, Galzin, the village inspector has been showing the media pictures of rotted and outdated food products that Massad says were taken AFTER he was arrested and the village bolted his store shut. he couldn't get in to his store until the village opened it last week, only after I started to ask questions.

And the ridiculous accusation that Massad stored food in an unsanitary condition is really outrageous. I looked at the facts. Here is what I found.

The vacant store is clean and was clean there never were "pots of sewage" stored in that store which is the basis of the complaint.

Nothing was being stored in EXCEPT old clothing that Palestinians have been collecting over the past few months so they can ship them to help the Palestinian refugees living in the Gaza Strip. (Is that a problem I wonder? You say "Gaza" and many uneducated Americans start thinking, Hamas, terrorism, al-Qaeda ... really dumb stereotypes and racist feelings come out with that.)

The delivery truck arrived minutes before the inspector arrived with four police squad cars, called by the music store owner.

The delivery man was unloading the pallets of food when Galzin arrived and insisted that the music store owner said he was operating his business when in fact he was not. When Massad said that was not true, he told the delivery man to put the food in the vacant store -- which was open because the night before the village busted the door down and the windows (now boarded up), Galzin got upset and charged Massad with putting the food in the vacant store and had him arrested on that charge.

The village now claims, falsely, that Massad was arrested (according to the Daily Southtown Story) for:

"repeated and flagrant violation of food safety," according to the July 15 inspection report.

That contradicts the charges in the police report:

Click to read the police report that was filed by Galzin and updated 8 days later after I began asking questions. Even in the update, the arrest report does not make that exaggerated charge.

“At Jeanne Galzin’s request,” the police report details, Massad was handcuffed and charged with the crime of “storing food in an unsanitary condition.”

Is it possible that the "smell" that Martell is talking about which prompted her to close her store before the arrest and just before my story broke August 5, 2009 came from the food being locked in the store by the village between July 15 and July 31 when the store was finally re-opened?

If that's the case, then maybe someone should give the Village of Oak Lawn a citation for violating sanitation conditions because they locked the store and Massad and his family could not enter the store.

In my opinion, a lot of the lies promoted in this story against the Massad family are driven by racism and anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiment. I can't find any other explanation for it, and the exaggerated claim of sanitation problems blamed on Massad clearly suggest something more.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Police station starting to get national recognition for Green commitment

When I first saw the "weeds" growing around Orland Park new police station at 151st Street just west of LaGrange Road, I was a little shocked. It really looked bad. Finally some signs were put explaining that this was a first step in a village-wide Green Initiatve, to co-exist with the environment in a positive way.

But over the past two years, I become accustomed to seeing the prairie weeds around the station. And they are trimming the grass along the easements along the streets giving it an "intentional look," rather than a bureaucratic goof -- someone forgot to pay to have the lawn mowed.

Then they put up signs explaining what they were doing. Fine. And ever since, the move has drawn a lot of national attention. Of course, those reporters don't have to drive past the police station everyday to take their kid to summer camp or school.

This week, the station got a nice feature write up in the Chicago Tribune, giving it some real prominence. The Tribune explained what it took several years for neighbors here to realize that the decision to let the "all natural prairie" would result in positive environmental things like conserving water, eliminating the use of lawn chemicals and pesticides, and reduce the carbon emissions from lawn mowers.

The whole idea is the brain child of Orland Park Mayor Dan Mclaughlin. I give him credit. This whole Green-thing has not been easy for any of us. But the Green Initiative has put Orland Park on the national map in a positive way. (Of course, maybe some of the au-natural prairie growth is the result of stores closing down in this terrible economy burdened by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's oppressive sales tax that County Commissioner Liz Gorman has been so far successfully fighting to change.)

Several years back, I actually got into recycling at our home. I am amazed today how the balance between recyclables and garbage has shifted so dramatically. Before, we had maybe one plastic container of recyclables and two large garbage cans of garbage. Now, I have barley one bag of garbage and I have to struggle to find garbage to toss in one can to put out every Thursday while the recycling container -- this huge blue plastic thing that has to be lifted by a recycling truck hoist -- overflows.

They pick up the recycling once every two weeks and the garbage every week. I think that should change and grab the recyclables every week and the garbage once every two weeks.

And, because I live in the Green Initiative Capital of the World, I went out and spent just under $100 and bought my self a souvenir from the past. A hand-pushed lawnmower. Yes, it has a set of four rotating curve blades that spin when I push it over the grass. I bought it at Sears. It took a few minutes to put it together. Wasn't bad and it tested great. Okay it was raining Friday afternoon when I finally got it out on a test flight and the grass cuttings were sticking to everything.

When I was a kid, we had one. But then, when I was a kid, our lawns were about two square feet in size in Chicago with bungalows packed together like sardine cans.

But I figure, hey, if Mayor McLaughlin thinks going Green is important, fine. I'll do it. Doesn't mean I won't pull out the Toro lawnmower now and then, especially when the grass grows like a jungle. But now that it's getting into the warmer weather and the grass growth is slow and weak, why burn up all that gasoline and ruin my son's future.

The Carbon Imprint at the Hanania household is going to get a little bit smaller.

Of course, the other alternative is to let every homeowner turn their lawns into an Orland Park Police Department jungle. Hey. No fertilizer. No more watering every other morning between 7 and 11 am on even and odd dates that match the even or odd ending of your street address.

It might make it easier for the Coyotes that roam Orland Park in packs at night to find more cover.

Okay. Green. It's not my favorite color. But, in today's world, we have to do something to help bring down the ozone layer, slow down glabl warming and bring back that summer sun-tan.

UPDATE: Okay. It's a lot of work. Of course, I tried it when the grass was wet and did the entire lawn. I'm not sure my wife is going to like the grass cuttings tracking everywhere. And while it cuts nice, when the grass is wet, it jams slightly ... but then, I won't always want to rush out and try the new "toy." And it doesn't do a great job with the edges or corners. Okay. Fighting Global Warming has its price. But it is a lot cheaper, for now, than buying one of those new and overpriced environmentally friendly electric-gas combo cars.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Orland Police station starting to get national recognition for Green commitment

When I first saw the "weeds" growing around Orland Park new police station at 151st Street just west of LaGrange Road, I was a little shocked. It really looked bad. Finally some signs were put explaining that this was a first step in a village-wide Green Initiatve, to co-exist with the environment in a positive way.

But over the past two years, I have become accustomed to seeing the prairie weeds around the station. And they are trimming the grass along the easements along the streets giving it an "intentional look," rather than a bureaucratic goof -- someone forgot to pay to have the lawn mowed.

Then they put up signs explaining what they were doing. Fine. And ever since, the move has drawn a lot of national attention. Of course, those reporters don't have to drive past the police station everyday to take their kid to summer camp or school.

This week, the station got a nice feature write up in the Chicago Tribune, giving it some real prominence. The Tribune explained what it took several years for neighbors here to realize that the decision to let the "all natural prairie" would result in positive environmental things like conserving water, eliminating the use of lawn chemicals and pesticides, and reduce the carbon emissions from lawn mowers.

The whole idea is the brain child of Orland Park Mayor Dan Mclaughlin. I give him credit. This whole Green-thing has not been easy for any of us. But the Green Initiative has put Orland Park on the national map in a positive way. (Of course, maybe some of the au-natural prairie growth is the result of stores closing down in this terrible economy burdened by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger's oppressive sales tax that County Commissioner Liz Gorman has been so far successfully fighting to change.)

Several years back, I actually got into recycling at our home. I am amazed today how the balance between recyclables and garbage has shifted so dramatically. Before, we had maybe one plastic container of recyclables and two large garbage cans of garbage. Now, I have barley one bag of garbage and I have to struggle to find garbage to toss in one can to put out every Thursday while the recycling container -- this huge blue plastic thing that has to be lifted by a recycling truck hoist -- overflows.

They pick up the recycling once every two weeks and the garbage every week. I think that should change and grab the recyclables every week and the garbage once every two weeks.

And, because I live in the Green Initiative Capital of the World, I went out and spent just under $100 and bought my self a souvenir from the past. A hand-pushed lawnmower. Yes, it has a set of four rotating curve blades that spin when I push it over the grass. I bought it at Sears. It took a few minutes to put it together. Wasn't bad and it tested great. Okay it was raining Friday afternoon when I finally got it out on a test flight and the grass cuttings were sticking to everything.

When I was a kid, we had one. But then, when I was a kid, our lawns were about two square feet in size in Chicago with bungalows packed together like sardine cans.

But I figure, hey, if Mayor McLaughlin thinks going Green is important, fine. I'll do it. Doesn't mean I won't pull out the Toro lawnmower now and then, especially when the grass grows like a jungle. But now that it's getting into the warmer weather and the grass growth is slow and weak, why burn up all that gasoline and ruin my son's future.

The Carbon Imprint at the Hanania household is going to get a little bit smaller.

Of course, the other alternative is to let every homeowner turn their lawns into an Orland Park Police Department jungle. Hey. No fertilizer. No more watering every other morning between 7 and 11 am on even and odd dates that match the even or odd ending of your street address.

It might make it easier for the Coyotes that roam Orland Park in packs at night to find more cover.

Okay. Green. It's not my favorite color. But, in today's world, we have to do something to help bring down the ozone layer, slow down glabl warming and bring back that summer sun-tan.

UPDATE: Okay. It's a lot of work. Of course, I tried it when the grass was wet and did the entire lawn. I'm not sure my wife is going to like the grass cuttings tracking everywhere. And while it cuts nice, when the grass is wet, it jams slightly ... but then, I won't always want to rush out and try the new "toy." And it doesn't do a great job with the edges or corners. Okay. Fighting Global Warming has its price. But it is a lot cheaper, for now, than buying one of those new and overpriced environmentally friendly electric-gas combo cars.

-- Ray Hanania

www.RadioChicagoland.com

Former Congressman suggests alternatives to Obama's health care reform

There is a lot of opposition to President Obama's Health Care initiatives, even though 47 million Americans -- I repeat Americans -- do not have healthcare, are denied healthcare by the insurance company robber barons, or can't afford healthcare.

Many of those who have healthcare are afraid to lose what they have. They have been so abused by the bureaucratic muscling of the insurance companies like Humana and Blue Cross -- you can't argue with them and in a dispute, you are guilty first and may spend months trying to correct the record and the credit bureau black marks they help place -- the public with insurance is afraid to rock the boat. Americans with health care believe that their coverage will change and the health care industry robber barons are helping to promote that because they will try to hurt people who support the public health care option.

So what do we do? Let the lobbyists for the low-lifes in the health care industry win by pouring big bucks into the back campaign pockets of the conservative Republicans or the so-called "Blue Dog Democrats" -- I call them the Blue Cross Dog Democrats?

Or, according to former Congressman Bill Lipinski, offer a better plan that targets the problems with healthcare by focusing on the problems not creating a new system.

It might make sense to pass laws that:

1- Prohibit health insurance companies like Blue Cross and Humana and all from denying healthcare coverage to anyone because of alleged pre-conditions.
2- Prosecute health insurance companies that do deny coverage
3- create a system of price controls to prevent the health care insurance robber barons from excessively increasing prices
4- Create price controls to limit the costs of pharmaceuticals and tell the pahrmaceutical industry to shove it, too. (A prescription drug under a healthcare plan might cost $150 in paper price, but only really costs pennies to purchase, for example. If you do not have coverage, you have to pay the $150 which is excessive theft.)
5- Provide healthcare subsidies to families that cannot afford to purchase healthcare

The biggest problem with the healthcare industry is not the cost of healthcare. It is the healthcare insurance companies denying coverage or limiting coverage to individuals or families making it impossible to get healthcare for the issues they need. In many cases, the denials involve pre-existing conditions that insurance companies claim they will not cover by attaching riders and forcing applicants to sign them months after the applications have been submitted with payment and approved -- and months after the applicant can return to an old healthcare coverage.

These are real issues that need to be changed. If the public does not want a healthcare public option that President Obama is proposing, than create tougher laws to force the healthcare industry to provide the coverage they are denying.

Several of these big healthcare insurers have been recording record profits of more than $800 billion just in the past year. Clearly, these "profits" prove that the cost of healthcare is way beyond what it should be.

-- Ray Hanania
www.RadioChicagoland.com