As we celebrate another anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid this month, I’m reminded how quickly life can change — and how important these programs are for people facing unexpected health challenges.
For years, I traveled the world as a federal regulatory affairs professional, conducting inspections of clinical research trials and pharmaceutical facilities. I loved my work, the people I met and the sense of purpose it gave me.
Then I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
As my condition progressed, I could no longer travel and eventually had to retire on disability. Losing my career meant losing much of the independence I had worked so hard to build. Thankfully, qualifying for Medicare through Social Security Disability gave me access to the healthcare I need, including monthly infusion treatments that help me manage my disease.
Recently, Medicare protected me in another unexpected way.
While walking with my granddaughter after getting ice cream, we were struck by a car while crossing the street. We were both taken to the emergency room in separate ambulances. The accident was traumatic enough without worrying about how I would pay for emergency medical care.
Because I have Medicare, I could focus on healing instead of facing overwhelming medical bills.
Too often, we don’t appreciate programs like Medicare until we need them. For me, Medicare has meant peace of mind through chronic illness, disability and an unexpected emergency. It has allowed me to focus on my health instead of financial hardship.
As Medicare and Medicaid mark another year of serving Americans, I hope we remember that these programs aren’t just benefits — they’re lifelines. We must protect them so that everyone can receive the care they need when life takes an unexpected turn.
Lequita Michelle Mayhew, Bronzeville
Both political parties rightfully ‘hate Illinois Nazis’
Most political disagreements are healthy.
What should never be up for debate is whether hatred, racism, antisemitism, and political extremism deserve a place in our public life.
That is why I found it refreshing to see both major political parties filed objections to remove Richard “Sieg Heil” Mayers from the November ballot after he attempted to run for statewide office under the banner of the “Germanic Aryan Supremacy Smokers, Gamblers” party. Mayers has a history of promoting white supremacist and antisemitic rhetoric.
The Democratic Party condemned the hate he represents. The Republican Party did the same.
Good. They should. Everyone should.
We all understand that the disagreement between conservatives and liberals is not the same as the disagreement between democracy and extremism. One side may favor lower taxes. The other may favor increased public investment. One side may advocate for stronger regulation. The other may push for market-based solutions.
Those are legitimate political debates. Nazism is not. White supremacy is not. Antisemitism is not.
Many Illinoisans remember the embarrassment surrounding Arthur Jones, the Holocaust denier who became a Republican nominee for Congress in 2018 after running unopposed in a primary. Republicans attempted to distance themselves from him. Democrats used his candidacy as evidence of broader problems within the Republican Party. The controversy consumed attention that could have been spent discussing actual policy and actual solutions.
The result was predictable. Extremism benefited from publicity while the public’s trust in politics suffered.
This time, both parties appear determined not to repeat that mistake.
Going through the objections filed against Mayers, I could not help but think of one of the most memorable lines from The Blues Brothers: “I hate Illinois Nazis.”
The line is funny because it is absurd. Yet beneath the humor lies a truth that remains relevant decades later.
The principles of human dignity, religious freedom, equal protection under the law and respect for our fellow citizens are values worth defending.
These are not Democratic values or Republican values. They are American values, and knocking Mayers off the ballot was the right move.
James M. Vasselli, Hinsdale
More info, please, about corrections to assessments
Your property tax bill depends on more than market values — it depends on the accuracy of the property data used to calculate those values.
Cook County has a long-standing systemic property data governance problem. Audits have identified it, the assessor’s office has documented it, and the incoming assessor made improving property data a central campaign issue. Yet Illinois law does not require a transparent interagency governance and public reporting framework to measure whether verified factual property data errors identified during the appeals process are consistently shared, corrected and incorporated into the official assessment records.
Good governance requires more than correcting errors — it requires transparency, accountability and measurable results. Taxpayers and policymakers should be able to see how many verified property data errors are identified, how many are corrected and whether the system is improving over time.
Illinois should require a formal governance and reporting framework that ensures verified factual property data corrections become part of the official record and are publicly measured.
Property tax fairness begins with accurate data, but it ultimately depends on equity, transparency and governance.
Tony Bonvolanta, North Center
Global warming crises are here
Fifty years ago, scientists and visionaries warned us of the impact of global warming. The skeptics said we wouldn’t do anything until we had a crisis! Well, guess what?
Tim Ressel, Glen Ellyn