Spring Break
Column: Illinois politics could get a second chance
Matt Zimmerman / Columnist
Issue date: 4/28/09 Section: Opinions
Any system - economic, political or cultural - needs competition. If there is no competition, there is no need to perform and there will be no performance.
But there is more to it than two or more organizations simply competing. They are competing for a public that is ultimately in charge. When we are deciding what movie to go see or what car to buy, our collective decisions tend to be relatively inconsequential and productive to the system as a whole. However, some issues require collective consciousness of what we are doing. These issues are those sorted out in the political arena.
Take Illinois politics. There are a lot of critical issues that need to be dealt with immediately. The state has a $12 billion deficit. Pensions are underfunded to the tune of $50 billion. The state's Medicaid system is broken. Even before the national recession, Illinois' economy has been struggling for years. And yet, local governments are raising taxes across the state and an income tax increase may soon pass the General Assembly. However, Illinois politicians have a penchant for spending every dime they get. Can we have an assurance that this tax hike will not simply be the first?
Because of our apathy, voters have chosen wrongly in the past three gubernatorial elections. In 1998, Illinois voters chose an obvious crook, George Ryan, over Glen Poshard, a Democrat who actually may have governed well. Now Ryan is in a federal prison.
In 2002, Illinois chose another obvious crook, Rod Blagojevich. After getting a good start at running the state into the ground, voters failed to hold him accountable and allowed him to finish the job. We are approaching another election. Illinois has a chance to right itself. In 2010, we will be electing a governor, a United States senator and other constitutional offices, as well as scores of legislators.
For governor, we can elect Blagojevich's old running mate Pat Quinn, a self-styled reformer who was unable or unwilling to see his running mate for what he was and who is spending a lot of time trying to push back the primary to June so he can compete against someone like Attorney General Lisa Madigan, heiress to the Madigan political machine.
For senator, we can keep Roland Burris, who essentially admitted to perjury himself before the Blagojevich impeachment committee, denying Blagojevich hit him up for money.
State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias recently formed an exploratory committee for the Senate. The bank his family owns is connected to Blagojevich and Obama realtor, the imprisoned Tony Rezko. Giannoulias also approved millions in loans to various mob figures.
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is now under investigation for attempting to buy Obama's Senate seat.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley continues to have appointees convicted of corruption charges.
These officials would not act this way if they thought they might lose. It is important for all Illinoisans to inform themselves (pick up the free newspapers in the dorms) before voting if we want to have the hope of an Illinois that works.
Matt Zimmerman is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
But there is more to it than two or more organizations simply competing. They are competing for a public that is ultimately in charge. When we are deciding what movie to go see or what car to buy, our collective decisions tend to be relatively inconsequential and productive to the system as a whole. However, some issues require collective consciousness of what we are doing. These issues are those sorted out in the political arena.
Take Illinois politics. There are a lot of critical issues that need to be dealt with immediately. The state has a $12 billion deficit. Pensions are underfunded to the tune of $50 billion. The state's Medicaid system is broken. Even before the national recession, Illinois' economy has been struggling for years. And yet, local governments are raising taxes across the state and an income tax increase may soon pass the General Assembly. However, Illinois politicians have a penchant for spending every dime they get. Can we have an assurance that this tax hike will not simply be the first?
Because of our apathy, voters have chosen wrongly in the past three gubernatorial elections. In 1998, Illinois voters chose an obvious crook, George Ryan, over Glen Poshard, a Democrat who actually may have governed well. Now Ryan is in a federal prison.
In 2002, Illinois chose another obvious crook, Rod Blagojevich. After getting a good start at running the state into the ground, voters failed to hold him accountable and allowed him to finish the job. We are approaching another election. Illinois has a chance to right itself. In 2010, we will be electing a governor, a United States senator and other constitutional offices, as well as scores of legislators.
For governor, we can elect Blagojevich's old running mate Pat Quinn, a self-styled reformer who was unable or unwilling to see his running mate for what he was and who is spending a lot of time trying to push back the primary to June so he can compete against someone like Attorney General Lisa Madigan, heiress to the Madigan political machine.
For senator, we can keep Roland Burris, who essentially admitted to perjury himself before the Blagojevich impeachment committee, denying Blagojevich hit him up for money.
State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias recently formed an exploratory committee for the Senate. The bank his family owns is connected to Blagojevich and Obama realtor, the imprisoned Tony Rezko. Giannoulias also approved millions in loans to various mob figures.
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. is now under investigation for attempting to buy Obama's Senate seat.
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley continues to have appointees convicted of corruption charges.
These officials would not act this way if they thought they might lose. It is important for all Illinoisans to inform themselves (pick up the free newspapers in the dorms) before voting if we want to have the hope of an Illinois that works.
Matt Zimmerman is a senior political science major. He can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENopinions@gmail.com.
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