By July, Illinois will be $130,000,000,000 (that’s BILLION!) in debt. This crushing load hampers the state’s ability to fund public schools and universities, health care, and other essential public services. Most of that money is owed to the state’s pension funds and retiree health care plans. And YOUR SHARE of that debt is $25,000 per household.
How did this happen? Basically, Illinois spends $3 for every $2 it takes in. Only in Springfield is this kind of math possible. The state accomplishes this by borrowing or by simply ignoring its unpaid bills. And it has been doing so for years.
I think this is part of the $1 million campaign the Civic Fed pledged to run to highlight the sad state of Illinois finances.
so, imagine my thoughts when I saw in the paper today a nice grant for work on a county forest preserve....
(I am sure it is a "designated fund".... I don't care.)
Who cares about the debt/
It's all paper money and funny money. It's only worth what is in your mind. Keep working monkey fools! I like my Skittles in the candy aisle hot and fresh.
In real news, the UnNews-Gazette, had an epic fail with its new Internet site. Thanks for the free news! Way to destroy your economic model, dumb-dumbs. One more reason not to subscribe to your NGO foundation that actually runs your printing press.
Most of that money is owed to the state’s pension funds and retiree health care plans. And YOUR SHARE of that debt is $25,000 per household.
No it's not. People can freely leave residency of the state of Illinois.
And they will.
What exactly happens when a state government goes bankrupt? Is there a historical precedent?
States may not file bankruptcy.
Illinois has to reorganize its budget and debt on its own.
The debt can be defaulted, but then it will get very expensive for Illinois to borrow anything (read, the budget will have to be massively cut).
There is no way out for Illinois except huge budget cuts and restructuring labor contracts and pensions, ultimately just like what GM did.
Or Illinois can try and raise taxes much higher than they are now, and have a flood of individuals and businesses leaving the state. Doing this would be equivalent to GM not having declared bankruptcy, and instead raised prices on thier cars in the face of competition. In other words, continue circling the drain at a higher rate of speed.
Additionally, if the state actually reaches the functional equivalent of declaring bankruptcy, i.e, runs out of cash, and there is no plan on hand to default debt or massively cut the budget... ...if you depend on the state of Illinois for a paycheck or entitlements--you're plumb out of luck. I suggest having a backup plan for this eventuality.
Can't speak for a state, but here's what happens when a city goes broke.
While it makes for a good soundbite, mixing the ordinary debt with pension obligations is apples and oranges. Not that either is not a problem currently. Both are. But pension funding is constitutionally required and spread out over a very long time horizon, from the young guy who was just hired to drive a snowplow to the elderly matron who draws a pension check this month, but may no longer next month. These obligations are less affected by market swings, like those that have hit in the last couple of years. Borrowed and bonded debt for other state obligations, plus current invoices waiting payment, are shorter term. These are much more subject to both market conditions and the state's current poor rating with bond rating agencies, meaning costs to borrow tend to be higher than they would be if the state's finances were in better order. Those who tend to oversimplify the problem often want to stampede citizens towards an reductionist, overly simple -- and perhaps unwise -- solution. For instance, the only solution offered for pension underfunding is to cut pension obligations. A better question might be, are Illinois pension benefits out of line with other states in the context of the total benefits typically offered to state employees? I don't know the answer to that, but IllinoisIsBroke.com assumes the answer is simply to cut, cut, cut. There is also very little analysis that points out that a significant part of Illinois' problem is that we are -- despite a lot of overheated rhetoric -- a relatively low tax state, except for those in the lower income tax brackets.. Cut, cut, cut is the sort of solution those who already are enjoying these historically low tax rates might choose, but perhaps not most working Illinoisans.
When I ran for State Representative, I hounded Naomi about the not paying the pension and how that would in a very short period of time, just ruin the pension. Said it time and time again. I was right then and right now. It did.
She responded with a N-G article and also brochure on how her vote not to contribute to the pension plan made it stronger.
Then right before the election, someone in the State came up with the "Rainy Day" pension contribution plan and let Naomi be the Primary sponsor. Again I said B.S. if she was the sponsor of that Bill how come she never mentioned it in all the previous tap dancing she was doing with the N-G and her mailings. She had nothing to do with it, and it was just a political B.J. to sooth the public. Never had a chance to work. I was right then and now.
As I said then, the "Rainy Day" bill meant nothing in contributions to the pension fund because Illinois was in deficit spending anyway. And again, I was right.
What chance to we have to solve this problem with Naomi's representing us? She voted to create the problem and said it was the right thing to do. Consequently, she has absolutely no idea of how to solve it (she thinks it is stronger). Especially if it means voting against something Madigan proposes and risking his campaign contributions.
The State is in a Melluva Hess, and unless some of the legislators are changed, it ain't gonna get any better.
Thank you for your courtesy, time and effort for reading my comments
Rex Bradfield
The Word for Today is MAYHEM.
I think their $130 Billion number is way over blown and if a good Governor is elected that will restrain spending rather then spend out of control like the democrats have. It will allow Business to return to the state and build jobs and revenue and will improve to the state and we can pay our bills. If we get a governor that just gives up and raises taxes and kills what’s left of business and jobs in this state then we will never pay our bills.
If a republican raises taxes their base will run from them like a scolded dog (killing the race’s down ticket) and if they happen to win and raise taxes taking the fall for Blago’s and Quinn’s embarrassing destruction of our state then that republican will lose us any opportunity to win state wide office for years.
Read My Lisp.
Thay are going to ways your takthes.
You will feed the Beast (that You have created).
****
When they said, "Repent! Repent!" I wonder what they meant.... - Leonard Cohen
You will feed the Beast (that You have created).
I didn't, so no, I don't think I will. I'll leave instead. There are other states. Looks like you'll be feeding on yourself.
We, the voters of Illinois, are to blame for this. Neither major political party has put forth canidates which could have solved the financial situation Illinois finds itself in. This just mean as voters, we have allowed the parties to play pure politics, get elected or re-elected at all costs with empty promises. The last two governors, one from each party were corrrupt (one convicted, one to be convicted). None, yes none, of the Illinois Senators or Representatives elected have done anything but spend more than the state receives for the past two decades. In addition to running the state further into debt there has been no meaningful reform to Illinois election laws to keep corruption to a minimum. We the voters, under the leadership of the major political parties, are totally responsible for the government of Illinios. Yes, we can leave the state (hard to do when you were born here) or we can demand change with our ballots. However, to do the latter takes efforts many Illinois voters seem to lack (I have no idea how to change this). I have stated many times, written my representatives in Springfield, change to an open primary so the best canidates can be put on the ballot regardless of political party. I requested but was ignored again by my representatives, about getting the job of election judges to be a non-partisan position. Its very frustrating but I urge every voter regardless of your political leanings to keep pushing for what you believe in and hold those you elect accountable for the reasons you voted for them (not a new concept just rarely used and never enforced by political parties). Then and only then, will Illinois rid it's self of this debt and corruption.
Although term limits would shift a certain amount of power and influence to unelected staff, (I agree Gordy), it has to be considered.
Quite frankly, some of of our elected officials could not pour ideas from a boot with the directions written on the heel. The last person an influencial group wants in office, is someone that cannot be influenced. Someone who cares about solving problems and serving the people. Someone with a determination to get it done, no matter the means or who's toes are bloodied.
As I have said in all my campaigns, for those who I have run against, their most important job was being most important. They had no ideas or solutions, other than just being elected.
My wife says we should just do it the same way we do a lottery. Draw a name and you are on the ballot, fund advertising for those on the ballot with state funds or local funds and have the election.
Sounds scary, but then again, where we are now sounds more scary.
Thank you for your courtesy, time and effort for reading my comments
Rex Bradfield
As a voter that has no connection to the State or UI, the solution to the down economy has to be cut, cut, cut. A plant in Rantoul now has it’s salaried employees on an 8 hour per week furlough, so the UI’s one day a month seems easy. A local publishing company cut 9 percent, a business in Champaign has it’s employees on furlough, the local media - TV, Newspaper - has made cuts, and several business’ are no longer with us - Pages, Circuit City. I examined the current budget, and the first thought was ‘stop the bleeding’. The various state programs that provide a safety net for some need serious cuts. The various health care programs - all kids, state employee health care - should be handed over to the private health insurance market. Mr. Rove has stated that there is plenty of competition, so let’s see if it is true. If correct, the private health insurers should be tripping over each other to serve these people. In not, we need to get the Federal government involved. Early state retirees should not receive retirement payments until age 66, as with social security in the private sector. State parks should charge a $10 per person per day cover. An across the board tax increase is out of the question. The relatively low income tax in Illinois is supplemented by a relatively high property tax rate. I really doubt that most of the state employees could find similar employment in the private sector as lucrative as their state jobs when the fringe benefits are considered. Fourteen holidays and carryover sick leave, with payments for unused sick leave when leaving do not exist in the private sector. Terminations in the private sector range from 2 weeks to 12 weeks pay.
Anon--You might extend your 'cut, cut, cut' to the local Board of the CU MTD at one of their meetings unless you only comment on blogs and at the state level. They get the majority of their funding from IDOT and good chunk from local property taxes with a relatively steady diet of Federal Tax $'s through grants, subsidizes etc.
Some private sector companies pay as well as the U of I however, its usually based upon how well the company is doing and the performance of the individuals not 'across-the-board' increases or time-on-the-job commonly used by government agencies. I know of no private sector companies which give fourteen holidays and only one which starts their employees with the hugh amount of annual leave, the U of I gives most positions. However, many local companies allow carry over sick and vacation leave, most pay for unused annual leave upon separation. Even the federal government does not pay for unused sick leave. Terminations do have quite a bit of range for number of days but remember in IL most companies have the burden of unemplyment costs for those employees terminated.
I agree health care coverage should be with the 'private sector' but only if like auto or home/renter insurance the individuals pick and pay for the coverage. If you keep companies in the position of picking health coverage for their employees and their dependents, I favor a state/national insurance program using private insurance companies (like Congress has) where individuals can get the insurance they need for their situation.
I am against daily usage fees at state parks for residents of the State which funds them. Overnight fees and out-of-state users should be charged a fee.
The MTD is another excessive use of tax dollars. Lots of empty busses in the fringes, no way to bring home items from a trip to Sam’s, no service on holidays, etc. I used it once last year to get to downtown and back, each ride costing me $100 plus the dollar to ride. The $200 total is the property tax I paid. Indiana has cover charges for it’s parks, but they are far more advanced. One has to carry out one’s own trash if visiting for a day. My health insurance suggestion is a jest, as I fully know that the private insurance market would reject the sicko’s the state covers. To date, no one has said that the government should make good those private employees that have seen their IRAs and 401Ks slide sideways over the last decade so they too can retire early. With this in mind, I am appalled that state employees want taxpayers to fund their early retirements in a down market.
Not so sure about the University's sick leave payout... According to Nessie, only the leave accumulated between 1 Jan 1984 and 31 Dec 1997 gets paid out (at half value), anything before is lost, anything after can be used towards service credit in the SURS, but is essentially of no use to those of us on the "self managed" retirement plan... I'd also argue that private sector IT jobs are overall better paying, and after years of salary freezes and now pay cuts combined with the loss of benefits and job security that the University's IT jobs provided... Well, might see more and more folks jumping ship if the opportunity comes up. It will be interesting to see what does get cut here at the University now that the State has essentially stopped paying...
I have visted several remaining manufacturing plants in ILLINOIS during business travel in the past few months... I would say at least 90% have a plan to leave the state, in fact some have. Someone the citizens and voters of the state keep electing politicos who insist on raising business taxes to fund all sorts of ridiculous spending plans, Until this state recognizes it is out of whack with other states in attracting business to ILLINOIS due to the poisioned business climate, it will continue to lose business and citizens. Once QUINN throws the switch on even more taxes to fund overpaid, double dipping state employees...there will be a tremendous stampede to leave ILLINOIS, leaving only our remaining citizens even more taxes to pay.
The relatively low income tax in Illinois is supplemented by a relatively high property tax rate.
That may be. But when the two forms of taxation are combined, Illinois comes in around 41st or lower in individual/family tax burden among all states. I realize it's "unfashionable" here to point out this fact, but it's still a fact.
Someone [sic] the citizens and voters of the state keep electing politicos who insist on raising business taxes to fund all sorts of ridiculous spending plans...
I don't know where Illinois ranks in terms of business taxes versus other states surrounding it. For instance, I think Indiana still has an inventory tax that Illinois does NOT have. But instead of blanket claims, it would be nice to see some actual facts cited or comparisons made, instead of the same old claims "Taxes are too high in Illinois." It's proven false that this is the case for personal tax burdens in Illinois. It may be the case for business taxes, too, for all I know.
Or not. Maybe Illinois politicians, Democrats and Republicans, have figured out that it is easier to tax businesses.
Maybe. If you can PROVE that, then that brings up the interesting question...
Since it is a fact that personal taxes are relatively low in Illinois, are you willing to accept higher personal tax rates so that business taxes can be lowered to improve the "poisioned [sic] business climate"?
Of course, since the SCOTUS has now declared corporations "citizens" and "persons" they'll probably be suing us living, breathing folks who eventually get old and die to lower their taxes, claiming we're being unfair to them. I would say that's a load of BS, but you never know...
Of course, since the SCOTUS has now declared corporations "citizens" and "persons" they'll probably be suing us living, breathing folks who eventually get old and die to lower their taxes, claiming we're being unfair to them. I would say that's a load of BS, but you never know...
I agree with everything you posted, anon, except this blurb. The SCOTUS actually extended citizenship rights of equal protection to corporations in the Santa Clara v. S.P. Railroad case back in 1886. All the whackjobs on the Supreme Court did in 2010 was to extend those rights to freedom of speech.
The late 19th century was one of the worst times in our federal government's history. That the Supremes had to dig into that era to justify this nonsense is no surprise. Folks on the Right have been trying to drag this country back to the Gilded Age for decades now. They just came one step closer.
Sales tax, Income tax, Property tax. The fact is that Illinois has plenty of taxes. The solution to the budget problem is to cut, cut, cut. State dependents citing statistics from questionable and edited sources do not change this. The 1 day a month furloughs are a cakewalk compared to one day a week furloughs at a plant nearby. The problem of overstaffing at the UI was made clear when I saw an email complaining about a tv show not being there from a UI employee on UI email facilities. That employee should be so busy that they do not have the time to complain about tv, and the UI facilities should not be used for personal issues. Other indications of over staffing are various office politic situations where one employee is able to get another to leave by various underhanded techniques. There should be no time for this sort of situation. A lot of work done at the state level should be contracted out, eliminating over generous benefit problems. The fact is that when the so called temporary tax hike was passed in the late 80’s, the state had a surplus for a while, then found a way to spend that surplus. It is a fact that this shall happen again if taxes are increased. The fact is that the state shall cut, cut, cut to balance the budget. The fact is that taxpayers are fed up with increasing taxes to get the same level of service.
The solution to the budget problem is to cut, cut, cut.
OK, we're 41st in personal taxes, so you'd like to take us down to what? Lowest, like 50th? Or would 45th be low enough?
The fact is that taxpayers are fed up with increasing taxes to get the same level of service.
At the state level, when were taxes increased? You mentioned the temporary tax hike in the 80s. Since then, I think you're contradicting yourself in your obsession with tax cuts, even when the empircal evidence seems pretty weak for your argument.
you can't just look at the state level taxes - that is way too simplistic. How much does the state provide to local taxing bodies vs other states? Here is a pretty extensive study from the Tax Foundation, and one excerpt:
Highest sales tax in the country. Some states don't even have income taxes, but we still beat them.
Illinois looks pretty good - but only if you only look at the income tax, and if you ignore the burden put on local taxing bodies.
I think you also have to include in this all of the fees that we pay, for example, sewer use fees, cable taxes or fees, phone taxes or fees, just to name a few. I think it's becoming fashionable for cities and states to call increases user fees or something other than taxes --I guess they think taxpayers won't notice.
RSW,
Bellwood may take the cake as far as sales tax goes, but that's a snap shot.
Sorry, but you're just wrong about things in general. Let me cite from a report that you really should read:
Overall total state and local tax burden as a percentage of income in Illinois ranks 41st in the country. This tax burden figure isolates and includes every tax and fee charged by any unit of state or local government in Illinois, versus those charged by every unit of state or local government in every other state. When state taxes as a percentage of income are considered in isolation, Illinois drops to 43rd in tax burden.
Here's the link: Facing Reality: Illinois Must Raise Revenue to Balance Its Budget
When the whole package is considered, Illinois is near the bottom oft the states in low taxes. A lot of the issue is that much of the burden that is there falls most heavily on those in the lower income brackets. Yes, the sales taxes are high, but they fall heavily on the poor. Yes, property taxes may be high, but people generally can afford them where they are highest. Income taxes? Illinois is the lowest, no matter how you cut it. It's on page 3 of the report I just linked to, right above the quote I made above.
Yes, there's a LOT of loose and inaccurate rhetoric thrown around, espcially by Republicans, about taxes being too high. Well, OK, but it's almost as if ANY taxes would be too high to those people in Illinois when you look at the facts. If you want that to happen, then just come right out and say that the plan is to basically shut down government and walk away from it, because that's what you're basically arguing for.
I will check out the report anon, but I will tell you that the source makes me skeptical...this board is packed with people who rely on tax dollars for a living.
http://www.ctbaonline.org/Board%20Members.htm
Same story...always a response from those who receive tax dollars in salary and benefits, telling the populace how business friendly and low our taxes are. Believe me, Toyota built in Indiana, Cat moved a goodly amount of production to southern states. This is not paradise for businesses.
There's a good , selfish reason for this. More tax revenue means even bigger budgets and larger salary increases. These chants of we need to raise revenue translate into higher salaries for state employees.
$13M in tax incentives to get Cat to build a Road Grader plant in Arkansas.
$75M in tax incentives to get Toyota to build a pickup truck plant in Indiana.
$158M in tax incentives to land a Honda plant in Alabama
$659M in tax incentives to get Toyota and Nissan to build in Mississippi
~3B in federal tax dollars to build a quasi-high speed passanger rail service betweeen Chicago and St. Louis, then gifting it to the railroad companies for freight use with little if any ROI.
Some state dependents have a severe case of myopia. They just don’t see that we are in a severe recession, possibly headed for a depression. No astute politician would even think of taxing Illinois out of it’s mess. The so called temporary income tax increase in the late 80’s became permanent, a surplus was generated, we managed to blow it. The fix for the budget can only come from the expenditure side. Everything must be placed on the cutting table; parks, schools, roads, health care programs, retirement programs. We have to concentrate on funding the basics while cutting the non essentials. As someone connected to the state in only the tax I pay, cut, cut, cut can fix the budget. Business has been doing this for over a year. There is absolutely no need for any sort of tax increase.
Son,
Other states that have money can afford to outbid Illinois. I have very mixed feeelings about buying business, but if people keep voting low taxes when the taxes are already low, there's certainly no money to spread around among those corporations who already have lots of money, but who can hold out for more from governments elsewhere.
OM,
You've got the story a little twisted around for the route via Bloomington/Normal and Springfield. The $3 billion is going to increase speed on an existing private right-of-way, with freight and passenger traffic continuing to share the same infrastructure as they have since it was built in the 19th century. Freight will continue to use it, but the extra cost is very much about getting it rated at 120 for passenger. I think it's rated at 80 max only in certain areas now.
The altenative route through CU and Decatur would be next to the CN(ex-IC) track as far as CU, but a separate track structure and would not intermix freight and passenger traffic. That would allow the faster true high-speed passenger rail approaching 200 mph. So we got stiffed for the low-hanging fruit.
Other states that have money can afford to outbid Illinois.
You make a good point, Anon - Alabama, Mississippi & Arkansas sure are well known as big money states (particulary when it comes to education - check out the state by state snapshots).
Son,
Sad and pathetic, that, isn't it. Politicians differ in their decrepitude, but in some places they still stink like a hog farm on a hot summer's day.
I don't think it's the individual choices made that are so disturbing in comparison to Illinois and those three. It's the fact that Illinois is now sadly enough comparable to Alabama, Mississippi & Arkansas at all.
We've gone from the top-drawer all the way to the bottom-feeders in a couple of decades. This isn't a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. It's a both of them problem. Until voters and partisans of both sides start holding the leadership, elected representatives, and propagandists of both sides accountable for the cheap dime-store rhetoric, self-aggrandizing buy essentially worthless-to-the-public policies, and the need to more equitably distribute the way the burden of funding government falls on those who should be paying their fair share, but have avoided it since 1970, things will not change.
Now, most of you can return to complaining about taxes being too high and things will stay the same. Maybe, just maybe, a look at the stark facts -- which is this mess will not be solved without an increase in taxes that is fairly distributed among those who have yet to be really tapped, but who have the resources -- will incrementally chip away at the Phantasia that so much of the political class north and south of I-80 live in. Maybe, just maybe, there will be change in Illinois, if not next year, the year after, if not this decade, maybe in the 20s.
I'm sorry, are people actually advocating that Illinois try to become more like Mississippi?
Good Lord, now I've heard everything.
Hmmm, I read it more like it's sad, but guess what, we are now a lot like Alabama, Mississippi & Arkansas --
Except that unlike them, we can't afford to bribe corporations to open new plants here.
I'm sorry, are people actually advocating that Illinois try to become more like Mississippi?
I'm not. I'm simply pointing out that in order to lure big manufacturing plants many states have offered huge taxpayer funded incentive plans that have apparently had a detrimental effect on those States ability to educate their children. As broke as Illinois is, we are still heads above States that have used those types of lures.
Is so much money spent per job really worth it? I thought the $40,000 per job Illinois spent to get Diamond-Star was outrageous and wondered if it would ever really pay off.
Everything must be placed on the cutting table; parks, schools, roads, health care programs, retirement programs. We have to concentrate on funding the basics while cutting the non essentials....
So roads, schools and health care are considered non-essential? I hate to ask what is essential.
IT's a lot more than just the tax abatement incentives. Illinois has high labor costs,workers compensation insurance. amd business taxes, soon to be evern higher. Do you honestly think that potential new business is ignoring ILLINIOS? These corporations due exhaustive studies on the cost of doing business, and Illinois comes up short. All the flip charts and powerpoint presentations about how low taxes are in Illinois does not translate into more jobs.
Illinois has high labor costs,workers compensation insurance. amd business taxes, soon to be evern higher.
Not sure about labor costs or work comp but business taxes would appear not to be an issue based on this research. As far as overall business tax climate goes we're about dead even with Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia; much better than Arkansas; but worse than Indiana.
These manufacturing concerns typically play one state off against another until they get the best possible incentives. They just don't want to pay their fair share. Read this article to see how well South Carolina has done in the business battle. It is sickening.
The largest part of the drug war -- cannabis -- certainly should be on the cutting table. It looks like it will be in California, where a referendum for personal use, posession, and growth will be on the ballot in the fall. It puts a tax on it. That's a totally pointless waste of tax dollars, when it could be a revenue stream. 56% of Californian's are in favor, maybe more after it passes...;>)
As far as good things that people overlook, Ford is opening a new line for Explorers here in Illinois. 1,200 jobs based on what they like about the state and the incentives and work force it offers. So blanket condemnations are not in order on that front.
At $40k/job, maybe, just maybe we're reaching break even on the DS plant. The issue is if it will stay open and turn a net gain for the taxpayers' investment.
Do you honestly think that potential new business is ignoring ILLINIOS? These corporations due exhaustive studies on the cost of doing business, and Illinois comes up short. All the flip charts and powerpoint presentations about how low taxes are in Illinois does not translate into more jobs.
No offense, but your argument loses a lot of luster when you can't be bothered to even spell the name of the state correctly, much less display an ability to differentiate between "due" and "do."
Are we really supposed to take your business acumen seriously?
Again, as a voter with only the taxes I pay connected to this mess, and my first hand experience how the corporate world deals with these problems, I see some with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. This cannot continue, as the status quo has expanded and I get absolutely nothing new out of it. I really do not like being talked down to by a recipient of my tax dollars. There are no sacred cows in this mess, all must be cut. Articles by beneficiaries of various states attempting to persuade people to support the status quo by an extreme tax increase are dismissed by we ordinary taxpayers. The essentials include maintenance of roads, facilities, judicial systems (police, prisons, courts). Luxuries include the various health care programs (which exclude persons such as I), free state parks, early retirements for state employees when the rest of us work ‘till we drop, to name a few.
My country tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of
theeme I sing.The essentials include maintenance of... judicial systems (police, prisons, courts).
If you think that there is no fat or non-essential costs to cut here, you're sadly mistaken. Lots of early retirement, fattened paychecks, policies that are pointless or ineffective, sheer political pandering for votes, or issues could be dealt with at considerably lower cost to the taxpayer without incarceration.
For instance, we'd be a lot better off investing in education than in prisons, yet here we have someone who has expressed a decided preference for locking people up over education, which isn't even mentioned. That may suit this person's preference in social policy, but is exceedly wasteful and decidely ineffective as social policy.
And healthcare? Does it ever really "exclude persons such as I"? I doubt that, except for the fact that this person continues to see healthcare as a "luxury." If more people in our political system saw it as "essential" like they do in nearly every other advanced industrial nation, we'd have universal healthcare. But if we insist in seeing healthcare as a luxury, then that's what we get -- sadly enough a self-fulfilling prophecy.
A for whatever:
Sorry guess I tripped into the " language and diction" blog.
I agree with the poster warning state dependents to be prepared for the state running out of cash. Taxing the wealthy will certainly be shot down, the electorate won’t tolerate a massive tax increase, and every program the state offers believes it is essential and cannot be cut. Prepare yourselves.
My goal is to suck every dime I can out of your pocket, the State's pockets, and any other pocket I can find, and then move the hell out of this godforsaken rinky dink so called state for warmer weather, more Constitutional freedom like the 2nd Amendment, and lower taxes. You people are chumps.
The essentials include maintenance of... judicial systems (police, prisons, courts).
Good story on front page of the Sunday News-Gazette about how municipal pension costs in Illinois have sky-rocketed because they just get rubber-stamped through by legislators. I guess labeling these as "essential" is not such a good idea after all, huh?
Try not to let the door hit you on the way out of Illinois, Feb 6th, 07:53 Anonymous
Do you all even know where the website comes from? It's the Commercial Club of Chicago--the group that gives Daley his marching orders. They are basically the group responsible for anything that downstate has to suffer. From the CCoC: SAMPLE LETTER TO BUSINESS ASSOCIATES I am a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago - an organization of greater Chicago's business leaders dedicated to improving our region. Over the years, the Commercial Club has taken on initiatives of public importance – including modernization of O’Hare International Airport and reform of the Chicago Public Schools. Now this group is calling attention to the fiscal crisis of the State of Illinois. By the end of June 2010, Illinois is projected to be $130 Billion in debt. At the core of this massive debt are the unfunded obligations of the State's pension and retiree health care programs. These growing obligations are crowding out the funding of education, health care and other vital social services. Illinois is nearing a financial tipping point. Unless urgently needed reforms and budget cuts are implemented, Illinois will soon reach a point of no return -- a point beyond which it will be unable to carry out basic public functions or keep its financial obligations to retired public employees. The Commercial Club has launched a campaign to raise public awareness about this issue. At the center of this campaign is the website, www.IllinoisIsBroke.com, where you can learn more about these issues. The website includes a portal enabling you to write to candidates to tell them your views. I encourage all of you to visit the website, educate yourselves about this important issue, and make your voices heard to our elected officials. Illinois’ fiscal crisis has been many years in the making. Lawmakers need to hear from the citizens of our State that we must address these difficult issues – now! ____________________ The irony is that much of the problem was caused by the CCoC itself and its neo-liberal initiatives. Don't fall for their propaganda!
To Anonymous @ 12:01 P--could you be more specific as to the related downstate problems cause by the Commerical Club along with more details as to the relationship of the state financial situation and the Club's supposed neo-liberal initiatives. Just a reminder--this is the same club that gave the city the Burnham Plan.
Pattsi Petrie
Well, the TIF diversion of downstate funds to patronage projects in Chicago is the most egregious. They destroyed public housing in Chicago to push large impoverished populations downstate to overtax safety nets in those areas. It's the old "end poverty by getting rid of poor people" strategy, only done in this case by making them someone else's problem.
They pushed the Olympic bid which flushed tens of millions of dollars down the drain for nothing.
They've led the dismantling of public neighborhood schools in favor of charters and turnaround schools which have measurably higher violence and no improvement in learning with more resources--resources would could be spent elsewhere in the state.
There's more, but that's off my head after a 20 hour day.
To Anonymous @ 11:52 P on 8 Feb.--Thanks for the details. I am not aware that the Commercial Club is behind the 40 TIF Districts in the city. I thought Daley led this charge. I did know about the Olympic bid; nonetheless, since this did not come to fruition, I was under the impression that down state did not get hit financially. As to your third example, I have no knowledge about the charter school situation.
Pattsi Petrie