Governor should not ignore will of voters
You end your editorial with the comment that we should be
pleased that a politician “follows his heart instead of his
wallet.” (“Gov. Ryan’s stand should be
applauded,” Jan. 13)
While we want politicians who are principled with the strength
of character to follow their beliefs in spite of opposition (as we
see in President Bush), their primary duty is to uphold the
law. You praise Ryan since “Ryan was opposed to the
application of the death penalty itself, not exclusive incidences
of wrongful conviction.”
Oh, so he is to be praised for simply ignoring the will of
voters in his state, who passed the law he is sworn to uphold,
simply since he sees problems in the law and its application. Ryan
dislikes the law, so he just commuted all of the
sentences.Â
As a result, more than a hundred hard core, unrepentant and
clearly guilty murderers will now enjoy a long life while their
victims rot in their graves. All thanks to Gov. Ryan’s
principled compassion for murderers. Following “your
heart” is no virtue when a greater wrong is committed as a
response. The people of Illinois are “pro-choice” and
have chosen to put convicted murderers to death in some
instances. Their will must be respected, whether the governor
likes their choice or not.
John Langstaff
Whittier
Ryan is a truly pathetic politician
As a Bruin alum who recently moved to Chicago and has
experienced firsthand the “pleasure” of Gov. George
Ryan’s administration, I can only marvel over your editorial
“Gov. Ryan’s stand should be applauded.” (Jan.
13).
Lauding Ryan for following his heart rather than his wallet is
incomprehensible; he is universally condemned as one of the more
corrupt and ethically challenged governors Illinois has ever had
(which is really saying a great deal). His term in office has been
marred by bribery scandals, indictments of his political allies,
and it is widely believed that he will soon face an indictment
himself as a central figure in a scheme where he permitted the
issuing of driver’s licenses in exchange for bribes.
Gov. Ryan may have followed his conscience in emptying Death
Row, but he has no conscience worthy of note. Your editorial would
have been more effective had it been limited to the usual bromides
regarding the unfairness of the death penalty rather than a
complimentary piece on a truly corrupt and pathetic politician.
Dallas O’Day
Alumnus, class of ’89