Well, that ties it! After seeing photos on the evening news of the American flag flying upside down outside the home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on our nation’s capital, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry when I heard that his explanation was: “My wife did it.”
What a guy.
Imagine, for a moment, that one of our three liberal justices had committed such a breach of patriotic protocol. U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz would have been cartwheeling with “gotcha” glee down the aisles of the once-functional Republican side of the House of Representatives.
And as for Alito and his fellow traveler in accepting free vacations, Justice Clarence Thomas, I believe they must recuse themselves from any case involving Donald Trump.
Anything else would be a grave injustice.
— Carol Mueller, Vernon Hills
Justices face no accountability
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito had a symbol of insurrectionist solidarity flying in front of his house during Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He cannot be allowed to rule on Trump’s immunity claim or other cases related to the 2020 election and Jan. 6 insurrection — and he must be held accountable for this breach of ethics. It is not at all surprising that Alito is now trying to blame his wife for flying the flag upside down, another clear example of his refusing to be held accountable for his own actions.
Furthermore, the so-called “ethics code” that the Supreme Court wrote for itself has no teeth and is merely for show.
Alito should recuse himself immediately or be removed by Chief Justice John Roberts, but that will never happen. So, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, should swiftly investigate and take actions on Alito’s conflicts of interest. Unfortunately, that also seems unlikely.
That’s why I am asking all Illinois residents to contact Durbin and urge him in the strongest way possible not only to investigate this matter but also to draft a meaningful ethics code for the Supreme Court.
Currently, the justices have no real accountability for their actions. And their actions have shown them to be extremely corrupt. Is this what we want?
— Bob Chimis, Elmwood Park
Behavior from Greene, Gaetz
On May 16, two individuals from our elected U.S. House of Representatives made spectacles of themselves once again. For these two individuals, Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, this type of behavior has become synonymous with the extreme wing of their party.
First, Gaetz shows up at the Donald Trump trial in New York City to kiss the ring and be a mouthpiece for his idol, Trump, who, mind you, has been charged with 88 felonies to date and found liable by a jury of his peers of sexual abuse.
On the same day, Greene had a banner day during a House Oversight Committee hearing. Instead of focusing on President Joe Biden’s documents case and the contempt action against Attorney General Merrick Garland, she decided to hurl insults at her Democratic female counterparts on the committee.
As one who has voted for 44 years, I am disgusted and embarrassed by this type of behavior from an individual who is part of one of the three branches of our government. I’m not sure Greene knows the definition of decorum, but from this humble writer’s vantage point, I question why she is even allowed to sit on this committee.
What troubles me most is that Gaetz and Greene were actually elected by a majority of voters in their home districts. While I am reminded of the absurd actions of these two individuals almost daily, I can’t help but wonder what type of person actually votes for candidates who exemplify little to no character.
— Mark Zavagnin, La Grange Park
NFL’s comment on Butker
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was invited to speak his mind at a venue with an audience receptive to and sharing of his views. He didn’t offend the members of his audience or belittle them, and they stood and applauded. That the NFL felt obliged to comment, distancing itself from his speech, seems in keeping with the current times, but it was totally unnecessary.
With all of the interviews, speeches, talk shows and podcasts that feature NFL players and coaches, I doubt that the NFL issues a press release following each, stating that “these views are not those of the NFL.” Comments like that only throw light on the division across our country and do nothing to demonstrate tolerance, empathy and acceptance.
The NFL should either contractually obligate employees to remain quiet or just let it go.
— Howard Nodell, Bethel, Ohio
Page misinterprets Butker
In his column (“NFL’s Harrison Butker’s hard-right social views kicked up a storm of controversy,” May 22), Clarence Page states that Harrison Butker’s speech asserted that motherhood is the highest calling for a woman.
I read the transcript, and Butker actually said that it is simply “one of the most important titles of all.” Page’s interpretation, whether or not intentional, paints Butker’s opinion on women’s ideal role as much more limited than what a careful reading of the text would imply.
Like everyone, Page is entitled to his opinion but not his own facts. I expect better of him.
— William Esser, Naperville
Unfair to Griffin and his gift
A letter writer criticized billionaire philanthropist Ken Griffin as taking advantage of a skewed tax code favoring big earners like Griffin (“Tax benefits for billionaire,” May 18). Specifically, Griffin’s $125 million gift to Chicago’s famed Museum of Science and Industry. It is a real cost to Griffin and not some gimmick to lower taxes.
The highest federal income tax bracket is 37%. The tax code considers certain contributions or gifts a societal benefit. This includes to hospitals, educational institutions and cultural causes. A taxpayer receives a reduction in taxable income in the amount of a contribution to worthwhile causes. This is not a tax credit that reduces a taxpayer’s obligation dollar for dollar. Nor is it an accounting gimmick. A dollar of contribution from Griffin and other high-earning, generous and patriotic taxpayers reduces a tax obligation by the incremental tax bracket. The economic effect is the taxpayer pays the same dollar amount but allocates or directs a portion of tax payment to a charitable or public cause.
Thanks to Griffin and other great Americans.
— Sheldon I. Saitlin, Boca Raton, Florida
Activating body cameras
Regarding the May 21 article “Reports of gun points by officers falling off,” which discusses the failure of Chicago police officers to activate their body cameras when they draw their weapons (as required by the federal consent decree), would it be possible to develop a sensor system that automatically turns cameras on when a weapon is unholstered?
— Madeleine Van Hecke, River Forest
Sad to see these changes
I have taken Amtrak through Indiana and seen the casinos built on former steel mill property. On May 20, I read about the last press run of the Tribune at the Freedom Center so a casino may be constructed (“Freedom Center’s final edition”).
The steel mills for decades provided good jobs and raw materials needed for industry and modern life. The Freedom Center printed newspapers that informed generations of Chicagoland residents and that are a vital element of our democracy.
While global economics and technological changes are inevitable, watching these sites convert from providing for and serving the community to taking from the community with the government’s blessing makes me sad.
— Jerry Rusthoven, Austin, Texas
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