May 20 Morning Edition

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Trump haters promote hatred of Trump.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-trump-pinata-0520-story.html

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— Many Americans have less than $5k set aside for retirement (DIERSEN: Are you on track to have “80 percent of your former earnings” when you retire? In today’s dollars, my “former earnings” was $125,325. 80% of that is $100,260, but my Civil Service Retirement System pension is only $51,864, or only 41% of my “former earnings.”)
https://chicago.suntimes.com/working/many-americans-have-less-than-5k-set-aside-for-retirement/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: We’re told of the importance of saving for retirement, especially given the way healthcare and other senior living costs continue to rise. But apparently, a large number of workers aren’t listening. In fact, one-third of Americans have less than $5,000 set aside for the future, according to new data from Northwestern Mutual. Incidentally, 21 percent of Americans have no retirement savings at all. It’s one thing to have less than $5,000 in your nest egg when you’re only in your 20s or even 30s. But if you’ve been in the workforce for quite some time, that $5,000 doesn’t paint a great picture. And if you don’t take steps to ramp up, you’ll be sorry for it later on. Social Security just won’t cut it Many workers don’t save for the future because they assume they can live on Social Security. But that’s a dangerous, misguided assumption. In a best-case scenario, Social Security will replace about 40 percent of the average earner’s pre-retirement income. Most seniors, however, need double that amount to live comfortably. Even if you’re willing to cut corners in retirement, you can only slash so many basics. You’ll still need a roof over your head, a way of getting around town, and food on the table. Therefore, a frugal lifestyle might allow you to get away with spending a bit less than 80 percent of your former earnings, but not much. That means that while your Social Security income will help cover the bills when you’re older, you still will need a nice amount of savings to avoid falling short.)

 

DAILY HERALD
— DIERSEN HEADLINE: Democrats crow about their success in getting students to act as their operatives and as their dupes.
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20180515/news/305159802/
— Facts matter in a democracy where people rule – Editorial (DIERSEN: What are your fact checking qualifications? While I worked for GAO 1980-1997, the last 11 years of which at GS-13 Step 1-10 levels, currently $96,403-$125,325, I increasingly worked as a referencer, that is, as a fact checker. That work required assuring the accuracy and support for each and every word, number, table, graph, chart, conclusion, opinion, and recommendation in GAO reports. I worked for IRS 1971-1980, the last 5 1/2 years of which at the GS-12 Step 1-5 levels, currently $81,071-$91,880. My other fact checking qualifications include my becoming a Forensic Accountant in 1997, a Certified Fraud Examiner in 1990, a licensed CPA in 1981, a Certified Internal Auditor in 1981, and a CPA in 1979.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/discuss/20180519/editorial-facts-matter-in-a-democracy-where-people-rule
— World War II caused dramatic changes to way of life, economy – Andy Kravetz (DIERSEN: What did your parents and grandparents do during WWII? My father, who was 4-F, worked in the office of chemical plant in Chicago Heights. My mother helped her parents operate a farm in Grant Park. On my father’s side, my grandfather operated a hardware store in Crete and my grandmother helped her parents operate a farm in Crete. On my mother’s side, my grandfather and my grandmother helped their parents operate farms in Grant Park. My two uncles on my mother’s side fought the Germans in WWII.)
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180519/illinois-200th-world-war-ii-caused-dramatic-changes-to-way-of-life-economy

 

WGN RADIO
— Politics with Rick Pearson Full Show 5/20/18 (DIERSEN: Sue Rezin, Bob Rita, and Lori Lightfoot.)
http://wgnradio.com/2018/05/20/the-sunday-spin-politics-with-rick-pearson-full-show-5-20-18/

 

CHAMPAIGN/URBANA NEWS GAZETTE
— Everything’s going Pritzker’s way – Editorial (DIERSEN: According to Illinois Democrats, Illinois RINOs, and other Illinois anti-Republicans, if Rauner loses to Pritzker, it is because of conservatives, that is, because of those who support the traditional family, right to life, immigration, Second Amendment, and the rest of the planks in the Illinois Republican Party platform.)
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2018-05-20/editorial-everythings-going-pritzkers-way.html
— Pointing fingers – Jim Dey
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2018-05-20/jim-dey-pointing-fingers.html

 

SPRINGFIELD STATE JOURNAL REGISTER
— Another disappointing lack of transparency in Illinois government – Editorial
http://www.sj-r.com/opinion/20180519/our-view-another-disappointing-lack-of-transparency-in-illinois-government

 

KANKAKEE DAILY JOURNAL
— Staying true to watchdog role – David Giuliani
http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/david-giuliani-staying-true-to-watchdog-role/article_77464e2e-3d03-11e8-ac70-174d69f1bfcc.html

 

JOURNAL TIMES
— Illinois should worry about its own problems – Editorial
http://journaltimes.com/opinion/editorial/journal-times-editorial-illinois-should-worry-about-its-own-problems/article_a3003781-8caa-534a-a8fe-9223ba588c8f.html

 

RIVER CITIES’ READER
— Rauner’s New Campaign Issue May Be a Whole Loaf, a Couple of Slices, or Just an Empty Plate – Rich Miller
https://www.rcreader.com/commentary/rauners-new-campaign-issue

 

ILLINOIS FAMILY INSTITUTE
— Stop ERA in Illinois
https://illinoisfamily.org/satire/stop-era-in-illinois/

 

NEW YORK TIMES
— The News Isn’t Fake. But It’s Flawed. – Frank Bruni (DIERSEN: According to my critics/opponents, all news is fake except for the news that they put out or bless.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/19/opinion/sunday/fake-news-trump.html
— FRONT PAGE: New Reality for High School Students: Calculating the Risk of Getting Shot – Audra D. S. Burch, Amy Harmon and Trip Gabriel
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/20/us/school-shootings-drills-risks.html
— Why the Wealth Gap Hits Families the Hardest – Christina Gibson-Davis and Christine Percheski (DIERSEN: What do you say to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that my parents were undeservedly filthy rich because they sent me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod?)
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/18/opinion/wealth-inequality-families-children-elderly.html

 

WASHINGTON POST
— Texas school had a shooting plan, armed officers and practice. And still 10 people died. – Todd C. Frankel, Brittney Martin, Tim Craig and Christian Davenport
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/santa-fe-school-had-a-shooting-plan-armed-officers-and-practice-and-still-10-people-died/2018/05/19/58b1b55e-5b8d-11e8-8b92-45fdd7aaef3c_story.html

 

LOS ANGELES TIMES
— California’s illegal immigration fight is back, and so are the political pitfalls for Republicans – John Myers
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-road-map-illegal-immigration-campaign-20180520-story.html

 

ATLANTIC
— The 9.9 Percent Is the New American Aristocracy The class divide is already toxic, and is fast becoming unbridgeable. – MATTHEW STEWART (DIERSEN: What do you say to my critics/opponents, their operatives, and their dupes who falsely hint/imply/argue/shout that my parents were undeservedly filthy rich because they sent me to Trinity Lutheran Grade School in Crete 1953-1961 and then to Hope Lutheran Grade School in Park Forest 1961-1962 to stay with the Missouri Synod?)
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/06/the-birth-of-a-new-american-aristocracy/559130/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: The meritocratic class has mastered the old trick of consolidating wealth and passing privilege along at the expense of other people’s children.)

 

BUSINESS WIRE
— Canadians Concerned About Maintaining Standard of Living in Retirement (DIERSEN: Are you on track to have 80 percent of your former earnings” when you retire? In today’s dollars, my former earnings was $125,325. 80% of that is $100,260, but my Civil Service Retirement System is only $51,864, or only 41% of my former earnings.)
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180515005234/en/Canadians-Concerned-Maintaining-Standard-Living-Retirement-Growing

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.