Isn't it about time Waukegan 2nd Ward Ald. John Balen turn in his spurs and resign from the City Council? His latest antic about stopping people from discussing issues of the day at City Council sessions proves one thing: One doesn't get wiser with age.
At one time, The Hound has been told, Balen was a rebel rouser. Whether on the shop floor at the old U.S. Steel wire mill or the Lake County Board, of which he was a chairman, he was for freedom of speech. Matter of fact, Balen, a World War II veteran fought for freedom speech in this country.
In the past week, though, he decided that audience time at City Council sessions have become a "soapbox for activists." Seconding his motion to seek input from his constituents was another geezer alderman, Larry Ten Pas of the 6th Ward. Wonder what his one-time fellow union brothers and sisters (Ten Pas was a teacher, Waukeganites should remember) think about that.
The Hound hears Balen was, in fact, an activist when he was a member of the United Steelworkers of America, at one time one of the strongest labor organizations in this nation. Perhaps when one drives a Mercedes-Benz, which the last time The Hound checked, wasn't made by union workers in America, one forgets one's roots in the American labor movement.
The Hound began this with calling for Balen to move on to retirement. Perhaps Ten Pas should follow suit. Waukeganites should expect more from two aldermen who fought for the right to veer from the path of the maddening crowd.
Somewhere, Joe Hill is turning over in his grave --- once again.
I couldn't agree with you more. I was stunned when I first read the article.
THE HOUND SEZ: Hey Ray. The Hound was stunned. You were stunned. Where's everybody else? Guess they're not watching "John Adams" on HBO. They should.