I’m going to preface this by saying that I am a writer. I majored in history and minored in fine arts in college. I can write my way out of jail, but I cannot add up the dinner bill to save my life.

Give Cook County Board President John Stroger a break. Although his proposed real estate transfer tax is indeed 15 times higher than the current rate (from 50 cents per $1,000 to $7.50 per $1,000), ...