I read Judge Patrick Murphy’s commentary regarding dying and what he learned about it when he was the public guardian for Cook County (“What being Cook County’s public guardian taught me about death and dignity,” April 9). I agreed with many of his points, but on several issues, he was wrong, and these points must decide the question of whether the Illinois legislature should legalize physician-assisted suicide.

In March of last year, the Tribune Editorial Board got it right when it wrote, “Both sides have merit, but we would vote no.” The board’s reasoning was subtle but critical to understanding the underlying issues in this debate. For people with disabilities, it is the covert pressure that is most troublesome and not as much the overt pressure Murphy describes (though that is real too).

If physician-assisted suicide is adopted, it will change the relationship between doctor and patient. For a disabled patient like me, this means we will always wonder — will my doctor, if and when I get seriously ill, try to heal me? Or will they have in the back of their mind that physician-assisted suicide is an option? Physician-assisted suicide will help enforce a perception that already exists, even in the minds of doctors, as the editorial board pointed out, that the quality of life for people living with a disability is less than that of a person without.

The majority of the individuals I serve are low-income and lack any significant amount of resources. When you are in that situation, your physical or mental condition is declining, and the person who is supposed to be there to heal you may suggest suicide as an option, it seems reasonable to choose it.

So, if physician-assisted suicide is available, people with disabilities like me — or those I serve — may see this as an option that they never would have considered before. And if even one person, who otherwise would not use physician-assisted suicide, uses it now because it exists, that is one too many.

Options for a quiet, peaceful death already exist. People may not know about them or their relatives or doctors may override those choices, as Murphy pointed out in his essay.

So, to the legislature, I ask that it please vote no on legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

Ease burden on seniors

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas commendably suggests measures potentially aiding seniors with property tax delinquencies.

Any homeowner failing to pay property taxes after several warnings must have problems. A social worker visit? At least a phone call.

Many elderly would be better off renting out space. Could zoning be modified so the elderly could rent empty rooms and floors to tenants? Such income might permit the elderly to retain their homes.

A homeowner not paying his property taxes needs help. Fines and sales should be a last resort.

Mayor, ban fireworks

There is an opportunity for Mayor Brandon Johnson to endear himself to a large majority of Chicagoans. Fireworks season has already begun in my neighborhood, and it’s only going to get worse. This brings little joy to pets, people trying to get to sleep and vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. I suspect that the ratio of fireworks haters to fireworks users is 10 to 1. The situation can be improved by announcing that police will start ticketing users, particularly if the fines are hefty enough.

This would mark a big change for Johnson, who seems reluctant to control chaos. However, his approval ratings are at record lows, and this could be a Richard Nixon-going-to-China moment for him.

Typical day on the ‘L’

On a Sunday at noon, I step onto the Green Line train at Oak Park Avenue heading into Chicago. On one side of the train car, a man smokes pot; on the other, someone listens to music from their phone without headphones. At the next stop, with eyes burning and clothes smoky, I rush into the next car — to find a seat smeared with — ice cream? something worse? — so I move away from that and sit down.

When I step back onto the Green Line train later that day heading to Oak Park, a disheveled man on my “L” train sits surrounded by garbage. A cigarette butt rolls around the grimy floor.

I get home and toss my smoky clothes into the hamper. Then I take a shower to get the odor of smoke out of my hair and rinse it from my eyes.

Just another day on the “L.”

A must-read column

Tribune sports writer Paul Sullivan offers more than statistical information in his columns. His offerings are peppered with humor, double entendres, sports mockery, and the occasional poke at politicians and political events.

Chicago baseball fans are in two camps: White Sox fans who root for the Sox and whoever is playing the Cubs, and Cubs fans who ignore the White Sox, which really irritates Sox fans more than the losing!

Since I am a Cubs fan, you can understand why I usually skip articles about the White Sox — unless it is something “Sully” has written.

A perfect example was published in the May 2 sports section (“Better red than dread: Welcoming a new look”).

Whether you like sports or not, Sullivan writes a must-read column. Because in these fraught times, a little humor goes a long way.

Courtesy is lacking

Once again, I’ve left a drive-thru restaurant, the bag handed to me without a word. No “Thanks for coming” or “Have a nice day.” Nothing.

It isn’t just drive-thrus. It’s the post office, grocery stores and even doctor’s offices. It’s most often young people, but the rudeness is everywhere — all ages.

I guess I could blame upbringing in which appreciation isn’t taught, but mostly, I blame employers. Are employees even told they should be polite?

I don’t expect long conversations but would appreciate a polite greeting and a “thank you” that isn’t grunted. It seems the customer these days is an intrusion to employees, and taking our money is the only requirement.

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