It seems that we are reliving the 1850s, one of the grimmest decades in American history. As was true then, we have unpopular, one-term presidents. Our political parties are fractured. Congress seems unable to address the crises of the day. In the1850s, those crises involved slavery and expansion. Today they arise in immigration, health care, climate change and global trade.
What is to be done? I suggest looking to the one American politician who spent much of the 1850s thinking about the dysfunction around him.
In 1850, Abraham Lincoln dwelled in the political wilderness. He had no official position and no audience beyond Springfield, but he was obsessed with the national political crisis. He subscribed to dozens of newspapers, read widely, wrote to colleagues and published dozens of editorials. Before long, he fashioned a response.
Lincoln rejected the idea that slavery was a regional issue. He conceded the “peculiar institution” was part of the Constitution and that slave owners had a right to their property, but he noted having reached the Pacific, the “nation” was no longer a collection of Eastern states, and the “slavery question” had become continental.
Lincoln argued expansion, slavery and democracy were linked. He noted that even though slavery was constitutionally protected, its expansion would undermine individual freedoms of all people and subvert the institutions of democracy.
This was the source of Lincoln’s key declaration: America could not survive “Half Slave and Half Free.” That position fueled his political comeback, formed the basis of the new Republican Party’s appeal and carried him to the White House.
Today we, like Lincoln, are dwelling in the wilderness, searching for a response to the dysfunction around us. And like him we must identify the links connecting the issues of the day.
There is something plaguing us that is not confined to one issue: poverty, greed, health care or immigration. Something deeper is corroding our public life and amplifying attacks on the vulnerable. Like Lincoln, we ask, “Is this who we are?” And like him, we must answer “no.”
Following his example, we should concede the significance of our adversaries’ complaints while insisting the solutions to our troubles must square with both democracy and the “inalienable” rights spelled out in the Declaration of Independence. His vision will enable us to cut through the noise and distractions of the day.
Frederick E. Hoxie, professor emeritus, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Keep going for the green
Last week, nearly 40 Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers from Illinois traveled to Washington, D.C., where we were joined by more than 800 others from across the country to lobby for clean energy policies on Capitol Hill.
We’re not paid lobbyists. We are regular folks — students, working people, parents, retirees — from Champaign, Chicago, Evanston, Normal and elsewhere who are passionate about supporting affordable, reliable electricity and a safer climate.
We were in Washington asking Congress to fund key clean energy programs, fix the implementation of clean energy tax credits and investments, and advance smart permitting reform, so we can build more clean energy projects.
Sixty-three percent of Americans polled in 2024 by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication stated that developing clean energy sources should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress. In Illinois, that number rises to 65%.
Yet earlier this month, national legislation that hinders clean energy and raises household energy costs was signed into law, as part of the partisan budget reconciliation process. Unfortunately, provisions in the bill phase out popular clean energy tax credits that have worked well for Illinois.
Despite these setbacks, we headed to Washington and held more than 400 meetings with Democrats and Republicans, asking Congress to restore clean energy incentives.
For our nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, this is a long game. Advocacy is about developing long-term relationships and moving things forward over an extended period of time through respectful conversations with all members of Congress. We aren’t discouraged by recent political developments. And we will keep showing up.
Joe Tedino, volunteer, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Lake View
Sad memories and hope for affordable housing
As a resident of Bridgeport for over 30 years, I have very vivid memories of the Robert Taylor Homes.
Living about a half-mile away and driving by the housing complex every day, I recall the severe neglect it suffered, as well as the obvious overcrowding of the property. The Robert Taylor Homes were clearly underfunded, and the development was seemingly abandoned and forgotten by the city.
As is often the case, given the conditions the residents were forced to endure, the property sadly became a high-crime area. The Chicago Housing Authority police could do little to curb the violence. From my home, I could hear gunshots in the evening. Our family felt terrible for the children who were forced to live in that environment.
We hold out hope that Mayor Brandon Johnson will take all steps necessary to make sure the new affordable housing built on the former Robert Taylor Homes site will be properly funded, maintained and policed this time around.
Terry Takash, Western Springs