The rich aren’t necessarily productive

I read Larry Casey's letter Wednesday with interest ["No handouts for the greedy, lazy"]. Casey is fine with giving to the poor on his own terms, but by definition those who do not pay income tax are greedy and lazy.

The poor pay the same sales tax that we all do. If they work, they pay into Social Security and Medicare, which is not true of all of our richer brethren. Casey has nothing to say to the rich — or the corporations — who pay little or no taxes. My assumption is that he thinks by definition that all rich folk are productive.

I repeat the warning that the founder of Christianity gave: It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle than it is for a rich man to get to heaven.

Dennis Newport,

Morgan Park

More Texas swagger

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, discussing Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, said at an early campaign appearance, said "If this guy prints more money between now and the election . . . we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas."

Perry also said such action by Bernanke would be "almost treasonous."

Ouch! The last time a swaggering, tough-talking Texan ran for president, he unleashed two bankrupting, criminal wars that have created over 100,000 dead and wounded Americans and millions of casualties and refugees in the Middle East; all for nothing.

Perry's fulminations may play well in Texas, but for the rest of us our view is simply: "Read my lips: No new Texans."

Walt Zlotow, Glen Ellyn

R. Kelly was good choice

My name is Beverly A. Reed-Scott, but I am known to the 140 youth and young adults in the Bud Billiken Green Team as Momma Earth. I am responsible for requesting that R. Kelly be named as special guest grand marshal of the 82d Annual Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic. I am writing in response to Stephanie Sanford's letter to the editor Tuesday and the headline.

When R. Kelly's personnel contacted me regarding his participation in the parade I gave it careful consideration. I thought of the people who might have concerns about his participation. I weighed this against the facts. The court of public opinion varies according to perception and information or misinformation generated often through hearsay and gossip.

Mr. Kelly offered much more than a trip down King Drive on parade day. He spent an hour without media or fanfare interacting with the Green Team prior to listening to them, laughing with them and encouraging them.

I watched them stand up inside themselves. I watched them set a higher bar for themselves. I saw the joy and the hope that filled their eyes after his visit and I knew I had done the right thing. Values should not be judged — right or wrong — by those who do not understand the culture they attempt to define.

R. Kelly is one of our native sons, and I hope his actions awaken others to step up and help these kids.

Beverly "Momma Earth" Scott,

Olympia Fields