Here We Go Again

We are embarking on the early election season. It is easy to tell because the money is starting to flow, mostly into Chicago where the majority of the voters reside in this state.

Governor Blagojevich has released almost $200 million into the state's hungry coffers. Voters, I mean recipients, will no doubt be happy, including our local park district for the SK8 Park. $50,000 is nothing to sneeze at and it does go for a project that was partially supported by independent donors, but... I am often reminded of the story of Dr. Faustus or its American equivalent, The Devil and Daniel Webster. It feels like somebody has sold their soul when money is put into projects when it is obvious that the timing suggests, "Look at me. I gave you money. Now, can I count on you for your support at the voting booth?" Multiply our small amount by a few thousand and you get the idea that, hey!, there is money to be had, jobs to fill, and support for the incumbent Governor "Reform, What Reform?!" Blagojevich.

Somewhere soon in a prison cell near you (though obviously not in Thompson, which remains a $40 million boondoggle of unused cells), former Governor Ryan, must be laughing his backside off. All politics is about cronyism and believing that we, the citizens, haven't a clue about what the big boys do in the state capitol of Chicago. OH, wait, that has only become the seat of our state government since the last gubernatorial election. Somewhere in Springfield there sits a mansion, which we pay for through taxes, used as a showcase for the waste that many in our government figure that we have to put up with because we have no choice. How much pork will be doled out before the primaries? How big will Blago's war chest grow before it begins to burst at the seems, or Hillary chooses him to be her running mate? Or will she take a chance on the rising star of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama?

Illinois may be like a lot of other states, but we don't live in those states. Here we see that it is business as usual with our state politics. Daley and the Boys get their pork and we get the rinds, all fluff, no substance. Of course, they package the junk food in such a way that enough find it palatable, but realize after it is too late that it isn't anything one can live on for any length of time. How is the expansion of O'Hare going, Your Honor? Enough jobs for you to keep your title of "Grand Exulted Ruler for Life"? Hear about how Rockford lost another airline or do you even know where Rockford or Northwest Illinois is on the map? Or, do you even care?