Guest Commentary |Cars, hamburgers, schools, and ice cream: Competition and the freedom to choose

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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In 1975, I bought a four-cylinder Chevrolet Monza. In my opinion in was a terrible buy and a lousy car. There was one episode after another of maintenance issues and the four-cylinder engine was just a piece of junk.

I survived that car long enough to trade it in on a Toyota Celica. I felt like I had gone from the bottom to the top in the world of driving. The ride was so smooth and the acceleration was sweet in comparison to what I had been driving. I drove that car about eight years and never had an issue.

That was way back then. Today is different in America. Overall, our cars are better, safer, more powerful, and more efficient than ever before. We have come a long way in our auto industry and we can be thankful for one thing – competition. Germany, Japan and China have put us on our toes the last 50 years and the competition has simply made us work harder to deliver a competitive product. We do have a choice and choices are good.

Don’t get upset if someone starts a private school in your county. When I was a child, we had one choice for elementary and high school.

I grew up in Appalachia. We only had one doctor in our county seat town. I can remember my mother and I sitting for two hours waiting to see Dr. Ford in Inez, Kentucky. We desperately needed a couple more doctors for the sake of the community and for the sake of Dr. Ford. A second doctor down the street would have helped. Today, the town has more access to doctors which is good for everyone.

Can you imagine if McDonalds was the only fast-food hamburger chain? In some communities, it may be. However, in many communities there is a McDonalds, a Burger King, and a Hardees often all within a block or two. Seems to me like they all do well even though there is competition.

What if you only had one gasoline station in town? Or, what if one gasoline distributor owns all the local gasoline stations? Then the price of gas would be very high. In some communities, people are struggling with this exact scenario. Gas is outrageous partly because there isn’t enough competition. Don’t knock those who are trying out electric cars as it brings another level of competition to the playing field.

Don’t get upset if someone starts a private school in your county. When I was a child, we had one choice for elementary and high school. In 1964, our county (Martin county Kentucky) was said to be the poorest county in the United States. President Lyndon Johnson even began his campaign on poverty there. We didn’t know we were poor but we were either very poor or marginally poor. My dad had a coal mining job. We always had food to eat but there was no way he could have paid tuition for a private elementary or high school. It wouldn’t have mattered because there wasn’t a choice.

I loved my schools and loved my friends from those days, but we didn’t have much. The public school made it possible for us to receive an education. I can remember having two terrible teachers in those days who slept through many of our classes. They should have been retired or fired many years prior. They were good people, and they were loved, but their days of teaching and handling a class had long passed. Obviously, this can happen in many places. Children rarely recuperate from what was supposed to be taught during that formative period.

A private school in town could take money from the public school if the tax money follows the student to the private school or even to another district. It might even be home school. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have at least one private school choice program.

This aggravates and terrifies some school boards and administrators. Why be afraid of competition? I don’t think very many people want to pay extra money to send their kids to a private elementary or high school. There is almost always extra tuition and fees to pay even if the tax money follows the student.

There will always be a few who choose the private school. Let them do it and don’t worry about it. Just be a great public school with zero tolerance for bullying. Expect respect and work from the students. Support the teachers and expect them to do their jobs. Give the students all the support and love they deserve. Thus, you won’t have to worry much about local competitors.

Most every town has the Baptist, Methodist, Catholic churches, and more. You can be one of these or nothing at all. You have a choice.

I recently went into an ice cream shop that had over 100 flavors. The decision was tough but black cherry won over all the other flavors. The competition was fierce, but I’m so glad I had a choice.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

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Diet program showed remarkable weight loss success

SNS - University of Illinois researchers found that flexible, personalized diet plans were crucial for weight loss in a regimen high in protein and fiber. Participants in a 25-month study within a self-directed dietary education program achieved the most success when they devised their own plans.

An ideal addition to your diet if you are trying to lose weight is raw pears because they are high in fiber. An average, medium-sized piece usually contains about 5.5 grams of dietary fiber.

Photo: David Trinks/Unsplash

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At the one-year mark, successful dieters — 41% of participants — had shed 12.9% of their body weight, compared with the remainder of the study sample, which lost slightly more than 2% of their starting weight, according to a paper published in Obesity Science and Practice.

The dieters were enrolled in the Individualized Diet Improvement Program (iDip), which employs data visualization tools and intensive dietary education sessions to enhance participants' understanding of essential nutrients. This approach allows them to create personalized, safe, and effective weight-loss plans, said Manabu T. Nakamura, a professor in Nutrition Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the study's leader.

The main goal of the iDip program is centered around boosting protein and fiber intake while consuming 1,500 calories or less daily.

The iDip team created a one-of-a-kind, two-dimensional quantitative data visualization tool that plots foods’ protein and fiber densities per calorie and provides a target range for each meal. Starting with foods they usually ate, the dieters created an individualized plan, increasing their protein intake to as much as 80 grams and their fiber intake to close to 20 grams daily.

A total of 22 people finished the program, including nine men and 13 women. Most of them were between 30 and 64 years old. They said they had tried to lose weight at least twice before. Many of the participants had other health problems—54% had high cholesterol, 50% had bone or joint issues, and 36% had high blood pressure or sleep problems. Some of them also had suffered from diabetes, liver disease, cancer, or depression.

Throughout the program, participants experienced significant body transformations. They reduced their fat mass from an average of 42.6 kilograms to 35.7 kilograms after 15 months. Additionally, their waistlines shrank by about 7 centimeters after six months and a total of 9 centimeters after 15 months.

Tracking participants' protein and fiber intake, the team identified a strong link between higher consumption of these nutrients and weight loss at three and 12 months.

"Flexibility and personalization are key in creating programs that optimize dieters’ success at losing weight and keeping it off," Nakamura said. "Sustainable dietary change, which varies from person to person, must be achieved to maintain a healthy weight. The iDip approach allows participants to experiment with various dietary iterations, and the knowledge and skills they develop while losing weight serve as the foundation for sustainable maintenance."

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Illinois soccer team secures 2-1 victory over DePaul

CHAMPAIGN - The Illinois soccer team secured another victory, scoring a goal in each half to hand DePaul a 2-1 loss at Demirjian Park on Sunday afternoon. Thanks to the go-ahead score from Lia Howard with seven minutes left in regulation, the Fighting Illini marked their fifth consecutive season with a 2-0 start.

Ashley Stellon opened the scoring in the 44th minute from the penalty spot, marking her first goal of the season. Stellon stepped up and smashed the spot kick into the top-left corner of the goal, giving Illinois a 1-0 lead just before halftime.

At halftime, Illinois held a 1-0 advantage and an 8-4 lead in shots, with both goalkeepers making two saves apiece.

The teams struggled to generate momentum for the first 15 minutes of the second half.

DePaul's Mya Gardner converted a free kick, with Lea Eisenring credited for the assist at the 69-minute mark, knotting the score at 1-all.

The Illinois women’s squad responded with increased offensive pressure, forcing the Blue Demons onto the defensive. After several attempts, their elevated intensity paid off. Sydney Stephens lobbed the ball to Howard, who fought for position and fired the winning shot into the net.

Howard, who led the Orange & Blue's offensive effort, was credited with three shots in her 32-minutes. The team finished with 15 shots on goal and registered two assists.

With a 2-1 lead, the Orange and Blue maintained control for the final seven minutes, denying the Blue Demons any further scoring opportunities.

Keeper Izzy Lee went the distance for the Illini, giving up the solo second-half shot and logging three saves.

Illinois continues its five-match homestand on Thursday with a Braggin' Rights showdown against Missouri at 7 p.m.

The Fighting Illini opened their season with a 6-0 shutout over Wright State last Thursday.

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East Central Illinois plumber wins international title

SNS — In a remarkable achievement just five years into his plumbing career, Andrew Hall, a resident of East Central Illinois, has been recognized as one of the best in the industry after clinching the union’s International Apprentice Contest.

Hall, a member of United Association Local 149, triumphed over competitors from the U.S., Canada, and Australia last week, marking the first international title in Local 149's history. His victory came after a grueling week of written tests, hands-on projects, and interviews with top international leaders in the field. Previously, Hall had already secured victories in local, state, and district competitions, which were open to over 50,000 apprentices.

Andrew Hall (second from the left) poses for photo with (left to right) United Association's Assistant General President Michael Pleasant, General President Mark McManus, and General Secretary-Treasurer Derrick Kualapai. Hall, a member of Local 149, is the first-ever local apprentice to earn success at the international level.

Photo provided

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"When they called my name, it was loud and everyone was clapping, so I thought maybe I heard it wrong – then I was in disbelief,” Hall recounted. "The guys I competed against were the best of the best and we all got along so well; nobody would’ve been mad if someone else won. But it wasn’t about beating anyone out; what we went through together was really the rewarding part. I mean, it still hasn’t really hit me that I won."

Now in his fifth year with Local 149, Hall graduated from the union’s apprentice training program in June. Each apprentice dedicates 240 hours in the classroom and 1,700 hours in the field to earn the title of journeyman. A Montrose native and graduate of Dieterich High School, Hall previously worked at United Mechanical in Champaign before embarking on a journey as a traveling plumber earlier this year, taking on various construction projects across the nation.

During the intense five-day competition in Ann Arbor, MI, Hall and his fellow finalists underwent rigorous evaluations, engaging in both theoretical and practical assessments that included solving complex plumbing scenarios. All finalists were awarded silver rings for their efforts, while Hall will receive a gold ring later this year to commemorate his achievement.

Currently residing in Indiana with his wife, Shelly, and their five-month-old daughter, Ronny Louella, Hall is set to work for two more weeks before they visit family. Following that, the family plans to travel to Oregon for several months of work on a significant construction project, a prospect Hall is eagerly anticipating.

"Shelly has been at every competition and been my biggest supporter through all of this," he said. "It puts everything in perspective that if you’re scared of everything in life, you never really get to experience anything. You just need to take that leap."

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