I have studied corporations and politics for the last decade and am shocked by the cowardly silence of corporations, their boards and CEOs in the face of the biggest challenge to American capitalism and democracy since the Cold War.
Democracy and the political stability it provides is good for business. Political scientists have long asserted democracy and wealth go hand in hand. Geopolitical conflict, unpredictable trade and drastic policy changes hurt businesses. Donald Trump’s chaotic reign has companies scrambling.
Business leaders understand this critical link between robust democracy and a thriving economy, having uniformly made strong statements in support of democracy a year ago, encouraging a peaceful transfer of power five years ago and condemning political violence after the assassination attempt against Trump. Those actors have largely fallen silent.
As our press and courts are threatened, Americans need other powerful actors to enable a balance of power. While an American slide to full autocracy is unlikely, it is not impossible. U.S. companies have promoted democratic practices by condemning election fraud, supporting civil discourse and encouraging civic engagement and education. If Inauguration Day is any indicator, the private sector — not politicians — literally has front row seats to the White House.
The current administration is stepping away from their basic duty to protect citizens, undermining global alliances and democracy in ways that will have lasting consequences. This isn’t “America First,” it’s Trump and his oligarchs first.
Tim Snyder, author of the book “On Tyranny,” has said, “To defeat a coup d’etat the early response of thought leaders, including of business leaders, is very important. … It is very important not to just wait around to see how others respond.”
Yale Professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld has called for a collective stand from business leaders against Trump’s economic and social policies. Consumers must encourage them to take this stand.
Call the offices of your favorite brands. Boycott those who kowtow to whatever political wind passes or engage in “anticipatory obedience” when basic democratic principles are threatened. It can work. Look at what’s happened to Tesla sales. Industry leaders need to know consumers will reward those who step up to unchecked power. Encourage your CEOs to help protect the world’s oldest democracy. America needs their leadership.
Molly M. Melin, professor and chair, Department of Political Science, Loyola University Chicago
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Admitting AI-related blunder is the right step
A tip of the hat to the Sun-Times and Chicago Public Media for taking responsibility for their role in the chain of events leading to the publication of the erroneous, partly artificial intelligence-produced summer section two weeks ago. In these times, taking responsibility for something seems in itself a newsworthy event from corporations, producing harmful consumer goods to weasels at the highest level of politics. This is, with no small amount of irony, one of the traditional American values reactionaries ignore, although it’s not limited to any particular shade of politics.
For over a century readers of Chicago newspapers consumed thousands of items produced by the now-defunct City News Bureau of Chicago. Describing the journalists working there all day and night every day of the year as hard-boiled would have been a compliment to its alumni Charles MacArthur, Kurt Vonnegut, Mike Royko and all the others. The credibility and reliability of the CNB were expressed in its legendary motto, “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.”
Ted Hild, Springfield
Make American gangsters great again?
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s ads tout how deportations of undocumented immigrants will make Americans safer. Now Donald Trump has commuted the life sentence of Larry Hoover, a convicted murderer and leader of one of Chicago’s most violent gangs, whose widespread criminal activities may have surpassed those of Al Capone. Hoover still has a state court murder sentence to serve. But Trump has ordered him to be released “immediately.” While Hoover’s fate is unclear, if Trump’s demand to put Hoover back on the streets happens, will that make us a safer society? Will someone please explain how those pieces fit together?
The only possible explanation I can perceive is that Trump’s actions are part of his plan to return all economic activity in the U.S. into the hands of real Americans. By ridding us of foreign criminals — and others — while pardoning convicted American murderers, gangsters, rioters, swindlers and other felons, he will facilitate that most of such activities in this country will henceforth be carried out by “good” Americans.
Charles Berg, Hyde Park-Kenwood
Make it make sense
Maybe if Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is wrongly imprisoned in El Salvador, would have defrauded banks for $30 million dollars or tried to kidnap a governor, he could get a pardon from our criminal president. Donald Trump makes Al Capone look like a choirboy.
Mike Levey, Deerfield
Keep up the good fight, Kwame
Thank you the recent article that centered on Kwame Raoul leading the charge against Donald Trump’s executive orders and policies. We are lucky to have Mr. Raoul as our state attorney general. The article gives him much credit for fighting for what is right in this nation. I was happy to see that the attorneys general in other states with whom he is filing lawsuits, appreciate him as much as we do. I cannot imagine being a cancer survivor, as he is, and reading about the many cuts to cancer research and other health care advances that the U.S. used to be known for.
It bothered me that he was criticized for wasting taxpayer money on these lawsuits from people on the other side of the aisle. What is more important than fighting against a president who breaks laws and ignores our Constitution? And if Mr. Raoul prevails in court, our nation will save money as it fights costly diseases. And that is just one area in which severe cuts are being made.
Keep on fighting, Mr. Raoul. I am one reader who really appreciates you.
Jan Goldberg, Riverside
Let the Postal Service help out
As summer approaches, many in our community are gearing up for long-awaited vacations, family reunions and international travel. At the U.S. Postal Service, we’re proud to offer convenient services that help make summer planning a little easier and more secure.
If you’re planning a trip abroad, the Chicago Post Office offers passport application services by appointment. We can assist with new passport applications and provide information on renewals. It’s one more way we aim to support your travel plans while saving you time.
For those staying closer to home — or simply managing busy schedules — we also encourage residents to take advantage of two popular services: Informed Delivery and Hold Mail. Informed Delivery allows you to digitally preview incoming mail and packages from your smartphone or computer. And if you’re heading out of town, our Hold Mail service ensures your deliveries are paused and securely held until you return.
These free services are part of our ongoing effort to improve reliability, convenience and customer service under the Postal Service’s strategic 10-year transformation plan. We remain focused on strengthening connections in our community and making sure you can count on the Postal Service to meet your evolving needs.
Holly R. Burrell, acting Chicago postmaster
Fly the flag
Monday night I was thinking about the great weather we had for Memorial Day. There was a lot going on in Chicago — parades, barbecues and remembrance ceremonies. I attended a remembrance ceremony at Union Ridge Cemetery on the Northwest Side. It is among the oldest cemeteries in the city and even has several Civil War veterans buried there.
All in all, the day was enjoyable except for one thing: the low amount of American flags I saw on display. As a child, I remember my block was loaded with our flag, and nary a home was without one. Jump to 2025. My block has 66 houses, and only 10 flags were visible. That is roughly 15%.
As a veteran who has worked for Veterans Affairs for 33 years, I know exactly what this holiday means: the sacrifice of many brave service members defending our country to keep our freedoms intact.
Come on Chicago, we can do better than 15%! If you are a true patriot and love this wonderful country, then get a flag for next year and proudly fly it — not just on Memorial Day but also the Fourth of July and Veterans Day. Heck, how about every day?
Ray Toczek commander, American Legion, Portage Park Post
States must come to ComEd customers’ rescue
As a ComEd customer in Illinois, I was alarmed to read that my electric bill is going to go up about roughly $120 a year! Donald Trump continues to say he’s lowering energy prices, but ComEd sends us the bill. It is clear that the current administration does not care about the burden this will put on us.
We all know that demand and price of energy is increasing rapidly, with data centers and artificial intelligence operations growing everywhere, as noted in the Sun-Times reporter Brett Chase’s recent article. This is why we need reform, to get more renewable and clean energy online as older dirtier sources are taken down. Did you know more than 95% of new energy projects awaiting permits are for clean energy like solar, wind and battery storage?
Because energy is not necessarily generated where it is needed, it is complex and crosses state lines, which is why it has been a federal issue. But the current administration won’t even talk about energy issues unless it’s related to gas and oil, or to get rid of rebates for clean energy, sadly.
This issue is too important to put off for another four years, so I’d like to ask Gov. JB Pritzker, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and all other governors across the country to come together and take leadership on this issue. They can reduce our energy bills and usher in a wave of new clean energy sources that can attack climate change and make a huge difference for our future. One hopeful sign, as Chase and reporter George Wiebe reported a few days back, is that Illinois legislators are pushing a plan to speed up solar and wind projects, end a moratorium on new nuclear plants and promote energy efficiency. Fingers crossed.
Jinah Yun-Mitchell, Lincolnshire
Give kidney donors financial incentives
In her recent op-ed, Nicole Leonard, who is living with end-stage renal disease, urged more live kidney donors and acknowledged that becoming one does “require a certain amount of socioeconomic privilege.” We shouldn’t passively accept that it requires economic privilege to donate a kidney. Congress could change the law so living donors can be reasonably compensated for their sacrifice. This is the fastest and fairest way to increase the availability of kidneys. Why pay surrogate mothers but not these givers of life?
Kelly Kleiman, Edgewater
Da pope’s star power
Yes, it is an immense honor to have a pope, the first ever U.S.-born pope to be from the Chicago area. This may not happen for another millennia or two. This should be celebrated in the most honored way: Add a fifth star to the Chicago flag. The star should be gold and added right in the middle of all the stars. Let all of Chicago really show it admiration for this special person, Pope Leo XIV.
Robert Cuvala, Lombard