The New York Times published an extensively-researched article about the "blueprint for defunding Obamacare" created "shortly after President Obama started his second term." The plan was devised by the usual right wing conspirators: Tea Party Patriots, Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Works, the Club for Growth, and Heritage Action. Where did the money come from? Charles and David Koch, through one of their front groups, spent more than $200 million on this sinister effort.

When Hillary Clinton said there was a "vast right-wing conspiracy," people said she was exaggerating. We now know she was right.

The shame is that all this money and suffering is being caused to prevent Americans from getting affordable health care.

The Palatine Township Board has refused to allow voters at the April 16th annual meeting to consider asking the Board to study the benefits of eliminating the township's Road District.  In a March 19th email, Township Clerk Lisa Moran stated that the petition by 30 voters to include the item on the annual meeting agenda was denied based on advice from the Board's attorney. "The electors at an Annual Town Meeting cannot direct the Township Board to commission a study and make findings, as it is not a power granted to electors under the Township Code," said Moran.

Matt Flamm, one of the voters who had requested the agenda item, replied to Moran. "The agenda item we requested would not 'direct' the Township Board to do anything," said Flamm in an April 3rd email to Moran. "By its plain language, it would 'request' that the Board commission a study and make the results available to the citizens of the Township. It is certainly within the power of the citizens to make a request. The Township Board is violating Section 30-10(b) of the Township Code by refusing to include this agenda item for consideration at the annual meeting."

Conventional wisdom is that the United States can never solve its problem of gun violence. But it was conventional wisdom that we'd never end slavery, allow women to vote, enact civil rights laws, reduce pollution, prohibit smoking in public, elect a Catholic or black President, or allow gay people to marry. Fundamental change often takes generations. We must do our part to advance the discussion. Just because we can't solve the problem now doesn't mean we won't eventually. President Obama often quotes Dr. King, who said that "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."