April 8 Morning Edition

ABC7
— The Chicago Index: 73% of those surveyed think Chicago is on the wrong track. The Chicago Index aims to assess the attitudes and opinions of voters on a variety of civic issues over time. – Craig Wall
https://abc7chicago.com/society/is-chicago-on-the-right-track-survey-shows-concerns-/10495510/

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— University of Notre Dame will require COVID-19 vaccines for all students next fall – ELYSSA CHERNEY
(DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs will demand proof of vaccination to do anything and everything. Of course, they will selectively exempt members of protected groups including Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, moderates, liberals, minorities, females, younger people, veterans, LGBTQers, disabled people, those who have less money than others, those who have more money than others, illegals, non-married people, non-gun owners, non-Christians, non-Protestants, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, criminals, boozers, gamblers, stoners, and those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-notre-dame-covid-vaccine-required-20210407-4xt7qewgljbdfjc3fzxihaslhi-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use Kristal Larson to promote LGBTQ.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-first-trans-person-elected-st-0408-20210407-mgxnjms3mnhszfqvz3gsvag6ty-story.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, a hate-filled Republican-hating Republican-hater promotes hatred against Republicans.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/dahleen-glanton/ct-glanton-georgia-voting-rights-new-attitude-20210408-nub7xx4gqnbs7kwrhspg3zpequ-story.html

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Removing controversial monuments is ‘akin to erasing history,’ some residents tell committee conducting review. During recent meetings, members of the public have been most vocal about the potential removal of statues of Christopher Columbus, as well as monuments to the Italian fascist leader Italo Balbo and former U.S. presidents. – Tom Schuba
(DIERSEN: The more the following demographics that the subject of a statute had, the more that Democrats want to tear that statute down: conservative, patriotic, Republican, American, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owner, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or if he had ancestors who had been in America for a long time.)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/city-hall/2021/4/7/22372689/christopher-columbus-monument-removal-italo-balbo-abraham-lincoln-statue-history

DAILY HERALD
— DuPage County committee supports downsized contract for body camera program – Lauren Rohr
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210407/dupage-county-committee-supports-downsized-contract-for-body-camera-program
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats use Kristal Larson to promote LGBTQ.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210407/avon-township-candidates-victory-hailed-as-win-for-transgender-community
— Mental health funding proposal too close to call in Milton Township – Katlyn Smith
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210407/mental-health-funding-proposal-too-close-to-call-in-milton-township
(FROM THE ARTICLE: County election authorities are still counting mail-in ballots that must be returned within two weeks of Election Day to be included in the final results. Referendum organizers this week plan to observe the process to get a sense of how many mail-in ballots are coming in from Milton Township and whether there’s enough to make up the gap. State election officials on Wednesday reported up to 5,785 outstanding mail-in ballots countywide. County election officials are not expected to post additional vote counts until Friday.)

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— United’s pledge to diversify its pilot ranks sparks social media backlash. The airline’s new goal—to have half of the new pilots it trains be women or people of color—is bringing out the critics. – JOHN PLETZ
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.chicagobusiness.com/airlines-airports/uniteds-pledge-diversify-its-pilot-ranks-sparks-social-media-backlash

WMAY
— Survey About White Teachers Sparks
Outcry (DIERSEN: One reason why I transferred from UIC to NIU in 1969 when I was 20 years old was the significant difficulty that I had understanding UIC instructors who did not have English as their first language.)
https://www.wmay.com/2021/04/06/survey-about-white-teachers-sparks-outcry/

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
— COVID-19 positivity rate reaches highest level since late January – TIM KIRSININKAS
https://capitolnewsillinois.com/NEWS/covid-19-positivity-rate-reaches-highest-level-since-late-january

WIREPOINTS
— Pritzker digs Chicago financial hole deeper by increasing city firefighter pensions – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/pritzker-digs-chicago-financial-hole-deeper-by-increasing-city-firefighter-pensions-wirepoints/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: Gov. J.B. Pritzker dug Chicago’s financial hole deeper this week, signing a bill that increases the pension benefits for Chicago firefighters. That follows his expansion of the Chicago Teachers Union’s collective bargaining powers last week, sure to result in larger budget deficits and more chaos for the city’s school system. The new pension law grants all Chicago firefighter retirees a 3 percent annual compounded increase (COLA) to their pensions. Prior to the law, retired firefighters born after 1/1/1966 received only a 1.5 percent simple increase every year. Now, those 2,200 additional firefighters will get the 3 percent COLA. You have to wonder if none of Pritzker’s advisers told him that the Chicago firefighter plan is just 18 percent funded, among the worst funded plans in the country. Or that it and the rest of the city’s plans are running out of assets – the firefighter plan’s assets are less than four year’s worth of payouts. Well-funded plans across the nation have assets worth at least 20 years of future payouts.)
— Watch for outmigration to pick up and home values to drop once stimulus money runs dry
https://wirepoints.org/stimulus-money-could-increase-outmigration-inflation-and-delay-the-need-for-statewide-reforms-wirepoints-on-chicagos-morning-answer/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Former VP Mike Pence establishes ‘Advancing American Freedom’ to combat ‘radical left’  Trump alumni return to political trenches to preserve legacy of former boss, take on Biden administration – Seth McLaughlin
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/7/pence-establishes-advancing-american-freedom-advoc/
— Building on the Trump administration’s victories to advance American freedom – Mike Pence
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/7/building-on-the-trump-administrations-victories-to/
— Details elusive as cities, states embrace explosive idea of reparations for Blacks – Kery Murakami
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/apr/7/reparations-blacks-details-elusive-cities-states-e/

GOPUSA
— CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ Edits Exchange Between DeSantis, Correspondent: Here’s What They Took Out
(DIERSEN: What do you say to my hate-filled critics/opponents who are filled with hatred against me because I included links in GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters to articles that they hate, a) but who fail/refuse to email me anything that shows that I should not have included the links, b) but who demand that I give them preferential treatment, c) but who fail/refuse to take any kind action against the author of the articles that they hate, and/or d) but who threaten to punish me and/or punish me for including the links? I should write a book about my aforesaid critics/opponents. Better yet, I should sue them.)
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=108643
— Capitol Knifeman Noah Green Is Caught On Camera Buying A $300 Japanese Kitchen Knife 90 Minutes Before He Attacked And Killed A Cop
https://www.gopusa.com/?p=108617

FREEDOM’S JOURNAL
— Had Obama Not Played the Race Card, George Floyd Might Be Alive – Larry Elder
https://freedomsjournalinstitute.org/blog/2021/04/08/had-obama-not-played-the-race-card-george-floyd-might-be-alive

AMERICAN THINKER
— Things We Can Live Without – Charles Turot
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2021/04/things_we_can_live_without.html

BREITBART
— Texas, Louisiana Sue Biden Administration for ‘Sanctuary Country’ Orders Freeing Illegal Aliens into U.S. – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2021/04/07/texas-louisiana-sue-biden-administration-for-sanctuary-country-orders-freeing-illegal-aliens-into-u-s/

DAILY WIRE
— United Airlines Says It Wants 50% Of Pilots Trained In Next Decade To Be Women Or People Of Color – Ashe Schow
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.dailywire.com/news/united-airlines-says-it-wants-50-of-pilots-trained-in-next-decade-to-be-women-or-people-of-color

FEDERALIST
— Critical Race Theory Is Just Another Faddish Attempt To Hide Public School Failures. Until parents have a choice, they can expect to see more sanctimonious superintendents lecturing parents and employees about institutional racism and more teachers unions refusing to work. – Auguste Meyra
https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/08/critical-race-theory-is-just-another-faddish-attempt-to-hide-public-school-failures/
— Why The Iconoclastic Left Are On The Wrong Side Of History. Approaching history with condescending arrogance, as the woke movement does, merely highlights the smallness of the examiners. – Steven Watts
https://thefederalist.com/2021/04/08/why-the-iconoclastic-left-are-on-the-wrong-side-of-history/

HERITAGE FOUNDATION
— Yes, Mainstream Media Helped Fuel the Latest Capitol Attack – Steven P. Bucci
https://www.heritage.org/civil-society/commentary/yes-mainstream-media-helped-fuel-the-latest-capitol-attack

COLLEGE FIX
— Governor Ron DeSantis’ new curriculum initiative will promote teaching civics, disavow critical race theory – HANNAH LALGIE
https://www.thecollegefix.com/governor-ron-desantis-new-curriculum-initiative-will-promote-teaching-civics-disavow-critical-race-theory/

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— The Tyranny of the Majority – Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
(DIERSEN: According to Democrats, those who are in the majority discriminate against those who are in the minority. In what ways are you in the minority? Only 157 in my precinct voted for Trump while 269 voted for Biden. Only 26,080 in Milton Township voted for Trump while 39,530 voted for Biden. Only 193,611 in DuPage County voted for Trump while 281,222 voted for Biden. Only 2,446,891 in Illinois voted for Trump while 3,471,915 voted for Biden. Those who voted for Biden are anti-law enforcement, anti-Trump, anti-conservative, anti-patriotic, anti-Republican, anti-American, anti-White, anti-male, anti-older people, anti-heterosexual, anti-traditional marriage/family, anti-non-poor people, anti-gun owners, anti-Christian, anti-Protestant, anti-Italian American, anti-German American, and/or anti-those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://www.creators.com/read/judge-napolitano/04/21/the-tyranny-of-the-majority

CHRISTIAN HEADLINES
— Christians across the Country Are Leaving the Southern Baptist Convention for Other Denominations – Crystal A. Dixon
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about the Wisconsin Synod’s ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Evangelical_Lutheran_Synod ) success in defeating the Missouri Synod ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Church%E2%80%93Missouri_Synod ) in the Trinity Lutheran Church and School ( https://www.trinitycrete.org/trinitycrete/ ) in Crete in 1961 when I was in the middle of my 8th grade. That had a tremendous impact on my parents, me, and my brother. The defeated Missouri Synod Lutherans, including my parents, me, and my brother, went to Hope Lutheran Church in Park Forest ( https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-Lutheran-Church/142202365812738 ) to stay with the Missouri Synod.)
https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/crystal-dixon/christians-across-the-country-are-leaving-the-sbc-for-other-denominations.html

THE HILL
— Facebook accused of not hiring Black candidates because of ‘culture fit’ Facebook is accused of rejecting Black qualified applicants. – Christian Spencer
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://thehill.com/changing-america/respect/equality/546910-facebook-accused-of-not-hiring-black-candidates-because-of

NBC NEWS
— Here’s how to achieve better workplace equity for women of color
(DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
https://www.nbcnews.com/know-your-value/feature/here-s-how-achieve-better-workplace-equity-women-color-ncna1263342

NEW YORK TIMES
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: To call for a boycott of an individual, organization, company, government, or county is to call for that individual, organization, company, government, or county to retaliate with a boycott. I should write a book about those individuals, organizations, companies, and governments that boycott me and boycott my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/06/opinion/republicans-georgia-voting-law.html
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage children to engage in LGBTQ activity.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/opinion/antitrans-bills-children-puberty-arkansas-visibility.html
— Official Censorship Should Have No Place in the Digital Public Square. Courts are barring public officials from blocking critics from their social media accounts. – Jameel Jaffer and Katie Fallow
(DIERSEN: Needless-to-say, my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes have every right to a) publish a website, b) post their criticisms of me on that website, and c) email me links to posts of their criticisms of me.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/07/opinion/trump-twitter-first-amendment.html

WASHINGTON POST
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: A hate-filled Trump-hating Trump-hater says “The toxic elitism of declaring voters to be unworthy of the task.” Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage people to vote for Democrats to punish Republicans, and especially to punish Republicans who are law enforcement officers, Trump supporters, conservative, patriotic, White, male, older, heterosexual, married, non-poor, gun owners, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/04/07/toxic-elitism-declaring-voters-be-unworthy-task/

NEW YORK POST
— Where is Kamala? Two weeks since being named border czar, Harris still hasn’t visited. – Mark Moore
https://nypost.com/2021/04/07/two-weeks-since-being-named-border-czar-kamala-hasnt-visited/

USA TODAY
— Rutgers, Cornell mandate COVID-19 vaccines for students. Is this the new norm for college? – Chris Quintana
(DIERSEN: Soon, if not already, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, and RINOs will demand proof of vaccination to do anything and everything. Of course, they will selectively exempt members of protected groups: Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, moderates, liberals, minorities, females, younger people, veterans, LGBTQers, disabled people, those who have less money than others, those who have more money than others, illegals, non-married people, non-gun owners, non-Christians, non-Protestants, non-Italian Americans, non-German Americans, criminals, boozers, gamblers, stoners, and those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time.)
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2021/04/07/coronavirus-college-university-vaccine-mandate-fall-semester/7107778002/

WALL STREET JOURNAL
— Yes, Boycott Baseball. Liberals the past year have become addicted to political wokeness. It’s time for an intervention. – Daniel Henninger
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who boycott me and why they boycott me.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/yes-boycott-baseball-11617832178
— CEO’s Selective Virtue Signaling. If executives oppose restrictive voting laws, why are they singling out Georgia? – Karl Rove
https://www.wsj.com/articles/ceos-selective-virtue-signalling-11617832596
— When Will Liberals Reclaim Free Speech? – Jonathan Zimmerman
(DIERSEN: My critics/opponents want to abolish the First Amendment. They want to dictate all speech. They want to dictate the content of my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters, but failing that, they want to stop me from sending those newsletters out, but failing that, they want to stop everyone from reading those newsletters. I should write a book about my critics/opponents.)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/when-will-liberals-reclaim-free-speech-11617813301
— As U.S. Economy Roars Back, Life in Many Poor Countries Gets Worse. Rich world is poised for strongest growth in decades, but developing world faces rising hunger, poverty and indebtedness. Gabriele Steinhauser and Saeed Shah
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-u-s-economy-roars-back-life-in-many-poor-countries-gets-worse-11617874201
— FROM THE ARTICLE: The election leaves in limbo a project that is part of Beijing’s quest to increase its grip on the world’s rare earths—the raw materials necessary to make the batteries and magnets that power everything from cellphones and electric cars to wind turbines. Global demand for rare earths is forecast to soar, as countries push to meet their commitments under the Paris Climate Accord, which President Biden has decided to rejoin. China mines over 70% of the world’s rare earths and is responsible for 90% of the complex process to turn them into magnets, according to Adamas Intelligence, which provides research on minerals and metals. – Stacy Meichtry and Drew Hinshaw
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-rare-earths-quest-upends-greenlands-government-11617807839

BLACK ENTERPRISE
— CANDACE OWENS SAYS ‘IT’S TIME TO PULL OUR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL’ BECAUSE THEY ARE TAUGHT ‘HOW TO HATE WHITE PEOPLE’ – Andrea Blackstone
https://www.blackenterprise.com/candace-owens-says-its-time-to-pull-our-kids-out-of-school-because-they-are-taught-how-to-hate-white-people/

NEWSWEEK
— States Must Fight Racism by Banning Critical Race Theory – MAX EDEN
https://www.newsweek.com/states-must-fight-racism-banning-critical-race-theory-opinion-1581148

FEDERAL TIMES
— Federal employees are happier with their jobs in the midst of a pandemic – Jessie Bur
(DIERSEN: Because the federal government gives lots of preference to its employees who are the following, they should be extremely happy: Democrat, moderate, liberal, minority, female, younger, veteran, non-married, LGBTQ, parents, non-Protestant, non-German American, those whose ancestors have not been in America for a long time, and those who have less job-related education, work experience, professional certifications, and/or professional licenses than their peers.)
https://www.federaltimes.com/management/2021/04/07/feds-are-happier-with-their-jobs-in-the-midst-of-a-pandemic/

TIME
— Ageist Attacks Against President Biden Reinforce Outdated Stereotypes—and Hurt Younger People, Too – TARA LAW
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who foist negative stereotypes on those who are the following: older, White, male, Trump-supporter, conservative, Republican, heterosexual, married, childless, draft avoider, non-poor, gun owners, federal employees, federal retirees, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County’s 4th District, DuPage County, and Illinois.)
https://time.com/5952608/biden-age/

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
— Hollywood Must Do More to Combat Asian Stereotypes – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(DIERSEN: I should write a book about those who foist negative stereotypes on Asian Americans. I would focus on those who have lots of religious, government, political, and/or financial clout in Wheaton’s West District, Wheaton, Milton Township, DuPage County’s 4th District, DuPage County, and Illinois.)
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kareem-abdul-jabbar-hollywood-must-do-more-to-combat-asian-stereotypes

UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO ARGONAUT
— Don’t hesitate to change your major – Carter Kolpitcke
(DIERSEN: In retrospect, with benefit of hindsight, I would have a) majored in accounting instead of management at UIC 1966-1968 and NIU 1969-1970, b) earned a master’s degree in accounting from DePaul in 1976 or sooner instead of an MBA from Loyola in 1976, and c) taken the CPA examination much sooner than I did. I passed the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 when I was 30 years old. But by then, IRS and other employers viewed me as being much too old to have a successful career in accounting.)
https://www.uiargonaut.com/2021/04/07/opinion-dont-hesitate-to-change-your-major/

REFINERY 29
— Is Early Retirement Actually Worth The Cost? – WHIZY KIM
(DIERSEN: If you are not retired, when you do retire, what will you do with the rest of your life? If you are retired, what are you doing with the rest of your life? My Democrat GAO superiors succeeded in forcing me to take their early retirement “offer” in 1997 when I was 49 years old. Since 2000, I have been putting GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters together and sending them out. Those newsletters a) have gone out each and every morning since 2004, b) have gone out each and evening too since 2015, c) have included links to almost 396,900 articles and information on many upcoming events, and d) have been and always will be free and contain no advertising.)
https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2021/04/10409276/early-retirement-cost-experiences

(FROM THE ARTICLE: The retirement fantasy used to look like this: It’s your 65th birthday, and you can finally kick back. You’re basking in the glow of your sunset years, thrilled at the idea of never having to work again. Head empty, no thoughts, just Mai Tais on the beach. It’s the ultimate, idyllic reward for dedicating decades of your life to work — especially when you sometimes (or often) didn’t want to do so. In reality, retirement looks totally different than it once did — even as a fantasy. At the same time as an increasing number of Americans are retiring later than 65, many others are throwing as much money as they can toward the goal of retiring early — not just by their 50s, but in their 30s or 40s. The F.I.R.E. movement, which stands for “financial independence/retire early,” has gained a lot of disciples in recent years, but it also has its detractors. Some people love the idea in theory, but don’t think it’s feasible for them in practice. Others wonder what you do with the rest of your life if you retire in your 30s. But many of those who are on the F.I.R.E. path are quick to point out that early retirement isn’t necessarily about never working again. Instead, it’s about having more control over the work you choose to do. Ultimately, the question isn’t simply whether it’s realistic for the average person — it’s also about whether the costs of pursuing early retirement are worth it.)

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.