A Conversation with Our Readers

A Conversation with Our Readers

Talk radio really lets it fly

Readers:

Ed Wojcicki

Signature

I remember heading back to work one day after lunch and hearing an incredible message on the car radio: "Roseanne Barr is a pig." That's exactly what I heard. It was the day after Roseanne had been quite expressive while singing the national anthem at a big league baseball game. The outraged radio commentator, I learned later, was Rush Limbaugh.

Who is this guy, I wondered then, who is taking radio into such new territory? Now I know. Now learned people nationwide try to trip him up by pointing out his occasional inaccuracies, and they decry his propensity to use sarcasm as a primary weapon to lambaste whatever the Rush-defined "liberals" are doing. But still, his popularity grows. If only people would perceive him for what he is — an entertainer — instead of a serious political commentator, we would all be much better off.

Alas, there are Rush spinoffs in every city, with talk radio enjoying increasing popularity. It seems people are allowed to say things on talk radio that would never be permitted in more traditional forms of journalism — not even in letters to the editor, where citizens have long enjoyed a wide-open forum to express their views.

We felt it was time to look at the impact of talk radio in Illinois. We visited the Vrdolyak/Wansley show on WJJD in Chicago and talked to One-Eyed Jack from WMAY in Springfield. I've heard people condemn some talk radio hosts in Illinois as unfit for a civilized society. But people listen and they respond. Hence our cover story that begins on page 10.

Government employees often get a bad rap, being described as lazy or useless. But in fact, thousands of people labor long hours every day in public service jobs at all levels.

That's why we were delighted to accept an invitation to co-sponsor the Motorola Excellence in Public Service Award. This honor is given to one appointed government official each year — to someone who has a positive vision for what government can do, and has accomplished long-term or lasting benefits in the effectiveness of government operations in the city of Chicago, Cook County or the state of Illinois. Other co-sponsors of Motorola's award include the North Business and Industrial Council (NORBIC) and Aon.

To find the winner of this award, we'd like your help. Please nominate an appointed official who has done an outstanding job in government service in some way. To make it simple for you, a nomination form with more detailed criteria can be found on page 23.

Readers say they want more action on Medicaid

Our Question of the Month in April dealt with the state budget. We asked readers to identify one or two categories in which Gov. Jim Edgar is moving in either the right direction or the wrong direction with his proposed budget for fiscal year 1996.

Human nature being what it is, readers had more ideas on where the budget is going wrong.

Most often mentioned was the subject of Medicaid, which continues to be terribly underfunded at the expense of the state's hospitals and other health care providers.

Mentioning Medicaid and school finances, one reader said, "By failing to address serious budget shortfalls for these items — and by looking to lay the blame for deficits and shortfalls anywhere but at the gov's door — Edgar proves he's a whiner, not a leader."

Indeed, education funding was another often-mentioned subject. One reader criticized the governor for "holding the line on taxes," explaining, "The state needs more revenue to pay bills, to properly fund education. A graduated income tax is needed."

And a few readers were critical of the proposals to provide new funding for more prison beds in Illinois. "Republicans talk about privatizing, de-institutionalizing and downsizing government," wrote one downstate reader. "The problem is that on both the state and federal levels they are not doing it. The prison overcrowding problem could be solved by de-criminalizing consensual/victimless activities. The Libertarian party has proposals which would be effective, but no one will give them any exposure."

A Rockford reader complained that state employees are paid too much. "State employees are vastly overpaid compared to county employees, but being state employees, you will not print this comment."

On the other side of this issue, several readers praised the Edgar administration for cutting some welfare expenses, and for the allocation of funds to higher education.

While there were more complaints than praise about education funding, a few readers did express appreciation for having more money for education without raising taxes. Wrote one anonymous Springfield reader who crossed out our "wrong direction" line and cited welfare reform and education reform as headed in the right direction, "The governor has been great to the state of Illinois! I believe he has the ideas and the support to get us on track." If asked to summarize his administration, the governor couldn't have said it better himself.

Ed Wojcicki

Junel995/Illinois Issues/3