Ms. Smarty Pants Know It All

Today, Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested. People call what he does “pay for play.” In other words, you have to give him something he wants in order for you to get what you want.

In my neck of the woods, that’s business as usual.

I do want to say that I’m a strong proponent of “innocent until proven guilty.” For me, the governor should be treated as an innocent man until his possible conviction in a court of law. But, treating someone as a legally innocent man and knowing (as in: I don’t have any proof, but it’s so true.) that he is guilty can be two separate things.

In a democracy, we always get the government we deserve. I would extend that to the last two terms of George W Bush as well. Former governor Jim Edgar agrees with me.

In Chicago, everyone who pays attention to government knows that our top three executives, Governor Rod Blogojevich, Mayor Richard Daley, and Cook County President Todd Stroger, are as crooked as they can be. Chicagoans, however, are still realistic. Some of the ways they wheel and deal are accepted. Some are even praised. But the fact that they’re dirty, it’s understood.

It’s a thing that is always there in the background.

That’s why the Feds’ press conference today was so ugly to my ears. No matter how bad I thought things were, it was still a huge shock to have all his laundry laid out like that. I’m mad. I’m embarrassed. But I can’t say I didn’t see it coming.

In that way, as much as the pundits will say that the governor has let his state down, I will say that we let ourselves down. Just watch Daley and Stroger get reelected next time.

To be fair though, Chicago totally depends on the machine to operate. If we tried to clean things up, everything would stop working. Almost everything around here depends on relationships and the trails of money.

We need our city to work so why not have the best machinists in place to run it? Rich Daley has been a central cog for so long, he’s probably the Final Cylon.

Yes, I know. It sounds hollow to my ears too.

The bottom line is, we’ve seen this before, and we’ll see it again. In the Presidential election, the country decided that things have gotten too bad to let continue on the same path. I don’t think we’ve hit that point in Chicago yet. Let’s see what happens when they raise the sales tax again.

Tags: Chicago, Governance, Politics by Ms. SP
No Comments »

It is now three full days after Barack Obama’s election victory. The glow still hasn’t worn off for this city.

A couple of days before the election, everyone I knew, from all different sectors, age groups, and socio-economic backgrounds debated the same question—should I go down to Grant Park?

Talking about who we were going to vote for was pointless. It was all about wondering if the crowds would be too much. “Should I go?”

I was surprised that the national audience didn’t get to see the crowds outside of Grant Park. The rally was a ticketed event. So many others traveled down just to be able to stand blocks away.

And it was an orderly and joyous night. I think it came off better than anyone and everyone could have expected it to.

Since then, the good feelings have continued. Last night, a cold front came in to keep temperatures in the forties. But before that, it was sunny and in the seventies.

People didn’t even question it. It felt like magic and everyone was just going to go with it.

Folks are laughing and sharing where they were and what they did on election night. The cars are still decorated and the lawn signs are still up.

It continues to be the main topic of conversation. People are happy to report that they got held up by the President-Elect’s motorcade. They’re talking about which of the other strong Illinois politicians are going to get a step up now.

Sure, paradise will end soon enough, but for now, it’s still going strong.

If the economy is based on belief, confidence, and optimism, it should pull up a siphon to Chicago.

Tags: Chicago, Politics by Ms. SP
No Comments »

Regardless of the victor, it’s going to feel like a new day for America. So many people have so many expectations and wishes for the incoming administration.

My personal desires are:

1. For Congress to step forward and curtail the expanded Executive powers insisted upon by the Bush administration. Reestablish the checks and balances of the system.
2. To improve the diplomatic standing of the United States within the world.
3. For the new President to really understand the importance of the Supreme Court and for him to nominate justices who also understand this.
4. To no longer be treated as if I am stupid.
5. For the President to focus on communication, and for him to gain support through demonstrating, through argument, that his position is the better one.

So really, these wishes do apply to either candidate, but of course, I will be voting for just one.

In the past, I’ve wondered why Americans are so rah-rah about the spread of democracy around the world when we are so indifferent about the application of this governing system right here at home. When participation is under fifty percent, that’s not a democracy, that’s an oligarchy.

Perhaps today will be different. Perhaps we will go over fifty percent today.

And as a reminder, a lot of county clerks and election boards make sample ballots available ahead of time these days. For Cook County residents, you can get yours online and figure out all those mystery judges before you enter the booth.

Suburban Cook County voters should visit David Orr’s awesome election website. City of Chicago residents, go to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.

Here’s to hoping the all goes well and that fraud is kept to a non-factoring minimum.

Tags: Governance by Ms. SP
No Comments »