LEAVE IT TO PEEVER


­­ Bumper sticker of the week: Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens.

­­ Quote of the week: ''Turn on to politics or politicians will turn on you.'' Ralph Nader

­­ You wonder why prescription drugs cost so much? I saw six different commercials the other night in a two hour time period. Everything from miracle cholesterol lowering drugs to meds that help you not pee your pants. What a deal. For the right price they've got the miracle drugs to cure anything. I heard that same story back in the 60s.

­­ I feel an obligation to catch up my right-wing Christian conservative readers on some important dates:

-- Nov. 9, 1995: New York Court of Appeals rules unwed, homosexual or heterosexual couples have right to adopt children.--

Nov. 16, 1916: Margaret Sanger arrested for operating birth control clinic.--

Nov. 20, 1969: Native Americans take over Alcatraz Island. They offer the U.S. government $24 worth of beads to purchase it.--

Nov. 22,1909: 30,000 garment workers walk off jobs led by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union.--

Dec. 1, 1955: Rosa Parks arrested in Montgomery for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give up her seat to a white man. Thought by many to be the beginning of the civil rights movement.--

Dec. 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.--

Dec. 8: Bodhi Day (Celebrates enlightenment of Buddha).--

Dec. 29, 1890: Massacre of Sioux at Wounded Knee by U.S. government troops. Over 200 killed.

­­ The mail has piled up:--

Dear Peever: What do you think about the election? Bob

Dear Bob: Not much.--

Dear Bruce: What are your ideas about economic development, since you always dump on the EDC and Galesburg 2000? Larry

Dear Larry: I do not believe economic development should involve giving away taxpayer dollars to produce private wealth. That's exactly what TIF districts and enterprise zones do. I would sooner see our money used to produce a diverse, environmentally sound, visually pleasing, civil community. There have not been enough creative thinkers. Most persons who have influenced the economic course of this community have done so for their own benefit, not for the community's as a whole.--

Dear Mr. Peever: I saw in the paper the other day that someone was arrested for being an unwanted subject. What does that mean? Patty

Dear Patty: It means one of two things: Either someone believes they are king, or it's a Republican idea. Either way, the person is screwed.--

Dear Peever: AT&T actively campaigned against the city owned telecommunications system. Any thoughts? Rob

Dear Rob: If they're against it, I'm for it. By now we know whether it passed or failed. Either way, AT&T did itself a terrible disservice.

­­ It's that time of year when my thoughts turn to warmer climates. Of course, in the summer, I cuss the heat. But when the temperature gets below 32 degrees and the snow starts to fly, I'm ready to head for the tropics. This must be some deep-seated yearning or primitive ancestral memory of migrating towards the warmth. Then again, it might just be my total disgust in giving Illinois Power all my money to stay lukewarm.

­­ Half of all the trees in town were really beautiful this fall. That's the half Illinois Power didn't haul away.



Uploaded to The Zephyr Online November 8, 2000

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