The Blog

It'll really hit home when he charges $$$ to enjoy the lake.

Apparently, the simple solution to many of our 'taxation' problems, namely, voting the bastards out of office, is too complex and burdensome for our fellow 'citizens', aka 'rabbits', 'sheeple', 'mice' and 'womice', etc...... Apparently, the easy-to-remember steps to take, namely: REGISTER TO VOTE VOTE ON ELECTION DAY VOTE ONLY FOR CHALLENGERS WHEN THERE ARE 2 or more CHALLENGERS, then: If the INCUMBENT is listed 1ST, vote for whoever is listed LAST If the INCUMBENT is NOT listed 1ST, then vote for whoever IS LISTED 1ST Maximize your votes for the challengers and see how useful your votes will be in breaking up the long-term criminally negligent and self-serving organizations who are responsible for your empty wallets, purses and bank accounts.

FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BAD !, Ooops, I mean: VOTE THE RASCALS OUT

Sadly it is not so simple as voting the bastids out. By the time the bastids are up for a vote, the damage they do is all but insurmountable. And it is the fault of all the other bastids, not the one I voted for. It will take columns like this one, information that is accessible, engaging and consistent. It will take someone pointing fingers and naming names. Unfortunately, the citizens of Chicago, heck the citizens of all of america feel that they can not effect better government. I mean how else could the Shaws get elected to anything other than goatherder? Why wouldn't people be offended by Jesse Jackson Jr 's(and Sr. for that matter) Photoshopped endorsements. It is hard to get people to care for other people, but we continue to believe that is it possible and we keep trying. We keep electing hustlers and we are no longer surprised at how much we get hustled. We have no Vaclav Havel, no poets or teachers will run for office and on the odd occasion that they do, they are just a corporate donation away from being a hustler. It is so sad, but we must continue on. The pendulum does swing and at the very least we should be prepared for the opportunity. We can only be prepared by being informed. PLease continue.

Perhaps it would be better that we had some people to replace the bastids you wish to remove. It is true that our current government could use some serious replacing, but that is it, they have to be replaces, not removed. I think there is a big difference between the two mindsets. It is hard to find people to champion for the changes we need in government. Well it is hard to find them and keep them untouchable, incorruptible or at least consistently accountable to the people they represent. Perhaps we (and I am not even sure who we are anymore) can institute our own mechanisms for accountability and at the forefront is going to be the press. I do agree with the first response in that we do have to effect a change in context. We elect representatives, not leaders and the 2 party system is not one we ever elected to have (but then I am kinda terrified of the idea of 'coalition governments', entertaining though they be). As to the second response, let us look to replace, not remove. And this means we have to determine what is a weed and also accept that there will be trade-offs and that there are bills to pay. I myself am still ignorant as to what aldermen really do (other than agree with the mayor) what they are capable of doing and what is the tipping point of the ones who currently represent us. Here we are facing a severe transportation shortfall, an education system that is failing, and no one is willing to sacrifice a damned thing to move forward, including their presently elected bastid.

I remember Tillman trying to stop the lease agreement w/ Morgan Stanley based on they falsely submitted an EDS stating no ties to slavery. When is known that JP Morgan has admitted its ties and is the predecessor company of Morgan Stanley. The deal passed through because the Law Department slip in a section that void any ordinances that would stop the deal including The Slave Era Disclosure Ordinance, the Clean Air Act Ordinance and all the many others ordinances that the city has ever passed. This deal was forced down the throat of the city. And could be unconstitutional.

Now there is something I would be interested in, just how the mayor pulled it off and it would be good to know if there were something coming down the pike I could foolishly talk to my alderbutt about. It is hard to ask for representation when you have no idea what is up for a vote.

Parking sparking, you want to drive down and enjoy the greatest urban park in the world, you gotta pay up for parking!. Any of you bleeding heart complainers ever drive to a popular professional sporting event? Ever try to park your car near Central Park in NYC or near the Green in Boston? Ever notice that the Millenium Park underground garage is way convenient to thousands of Loop offices? Why should MP parking rates be one cent less than market? What an insult to our intelligance to demand that the rates be subsidized for the masses! Don't like it? Tough. Take one of the dozens of CTA bus lines or any of the rapid transit lines that all serve MP extremely well. Yeah, I know MP was late, corruption prone, way over budget and da mayor's scheme to pay for everything with garage revenue didn't work out, but what is the net result of "our" investment? MP is absolutely amazing for what it has done for our central city. Property values, tax revenue and overall fanatastic favorable worldwide public opinion are worth every inflated cent we "606" tax payers have invested. Just set up a Google Blog alert and read the impressions of Chicago as posted by the world's travelers. You can place a value on our great word of mouth favorable PR. Long live King Richard II. May all of his future cost overuns and under the table dealings have the net results of Millennium Park!

So, how much was your take, this year alone? How about a ballpark figure on your take for the last, say 20 years or so? And how many bodies have you buried? And for who?

I could almost go for that were it not the four year increments of mass destuction handed to a hustler (who with little practice would learn how to spin it into twenty years) using the ever-increasing voter apathy and a large enough does of self-interested persons and those who would support them. Again, I think the difference comes down to being for as opposed to being against. I like to think that one resaon the US is what it is and not the former Yugoslavia is that the founders were not merely against King George, but they were for (enought of them anyway) a more representative and accountable government establishing a government to replace they opposed before they removed it. It could just be a matter of semantics, the difference between for and against. But I do not think it so much semantics with remove and replace (you know with the nature abhoring a vacuum thing going on). On the third hand, we may neither need to remove or replace, we may need only learn to use the tools that are the representatives more effectively (or effectively at all in some cases). They are being used and manipulated by others who's interests we do not necessarily share. Should we shift the context, the representatives are neither weeds nor plants in a garden, that it is the legislation that truly bares the fruit and the legislators are just tools we need to learn how to use.

What, exactly has MP done for our central city? Seriously. I mean I know there were just train tracks there, but could it have just as easily been made into an open green space? Maybe I don't have all the fact and figures, but what how has MP actually bettered the city? Tourism? Weren't we getting tourists before? More revenue? how much can a slightly upscale restaurant and a skating rink bring in? What are the "net results" of MP? I'm serious...

"Don't like it? Tough. Take one of the dozens of CTA bus lines or any of the rapid transit lines that all serve MP extremely well." what about the REST of the City? you know, where 99% of the taxpayers footing the bill for MP live? you apparently missed the CTA doomsday stupidity...

MP debate: Bottom line, economically and quality of urban life: Are the City and all it's residents better off as a result of the money spent to produce Millennium Park? Despite the deplorable waste and cost overuns needed to create MP, was it worth it, now looking back a few years after it's openning? We all paid a lot more than was planned, but at least we also received a lot more. I personally visit and enjoy MP several times a year.(Rarely eating at the Park Grill restaurant and never ice skating, but certainly stopping at Walgreens, Macy's, Subway or one of the new places that have sprouted up.)I then get back on the usually-working Red line and go home. I helped fund MP with with my real estate and sales taxes, and my cost/benefit ratio is just fine. The other "99% of the taxpayers" receive the same benefit that I do by having the good fortune to live in such a great place. Even if they never visit MP it's producing a benefit for everyone and I hope they stop by this world class, free facility the next time they are downtown. Of course I wish the backroom deals with Richies crooked cronies and the overruns did not happen, and I don't agree with everything our mayor is doing, but I am one of the overwhelming majority of voting Chicagoans who keep putting him in office. Just why the heck do all the Daley naysayers think we vote him in? Do you think we are all stupid? Did you ever think that we do it because it is personally the best thing we can do that cold February Monday? (Mr. "Realist", that is the true reality of Mr. Daley.) Would the commonly suggested alternative of "an open green space" yield a better return on investment or a better place for all Chicago's citizens to enjoy a "free" weekend in a unique setting? Hint at the answer: Check out the hundreds of acres of mostly empty open green space in the rest of Grant and Lincoln parks. If you believe that the only tangible benefits are a "slightly upscale restaurant and a skating rink", I believe you have not personally recently spent many hours in the place watching thousands of people of all ethnic groups and income levels having a great, and "free" time under the bean, under the Geary sound system or under the nozzle of the twin water towers. Are you aware of the travel sites of USA and foreign newspapers which have increased Chicago's profile? Are you aware that Chicago was the number one destination this year on at least one popular hotel seach engine? (NOT Las Vegas, NOT Orlando, but CHICAGO) Are you aware that Millenium Park is frequently quoted as the model for many cities trying to boost their failed urban centers? Are you aware of the great "buzz" about Chicago and its MP on the travel, architectural and photography blogs of the world? I personally recomend an hour or two sitting at one of the "umbrella benches" between the bean and the pritzker pavillion. Judge for your self what we paid for and what benefit we are getting.

Sorry, jerry, your math is a bit off. "Of course I wish the backroom deals with Richies crooked cronies and the overruns did not happen, and I don't agree with everything our mayor is doing, but I am one of the overwhelming majority of voting Chicagoans who keep putting him in office." "Overwhelming MAJORITY"? That WOULD be true, if anything close to a majority of eligible-to-vote citizens actually DID vote. Sadly, close to 50% of all citizens who could vote aren't even registered. Sadly, of the 50%, or so, who are registered, less than half bother to show up and cast their vote. Thus, your "majority" is, in reality, at most, a mere 25% of all eligible voters. Since the mayor got, what, 70% of that minority, je was re-elected by a paltry 18%, or less, of the electorate. Since his only opponents were a shill, female, black candidate and a possibly shill, male, black candidate, who split the votes of the meager 30% of those who bothered to show up, on that cold day in February, the old standby divide-and-conquer strategy worked to perfection. Pathetic, shill challengers, (seen by already apathetic voters as practically no challengers at all) + cold, winter election day + a mayor who refused to debate, discuss his history of corruption and his obvious contempt for the "Do you think we are all stupid?" citizens, (yes, the mayor does think we are all stupid), + the sad truth that the majority of that 18% of all possible voters who voted for Daley just about equals the number of citizens who have benefited, are benefiting and expect to continue to benefit from, "the backroom deals with Richies crooked cronies" and "the deplorable waste and cost overuns" found in practically every aspect of city government, courtesy of our own, beloved mayor mumbles and his cabal = DALEY WINS AGAIN BY A LANDSLIDE!!!! HOO-FUCKING-RA! Like I said, jerrygee, post an itemized listing of all the swag you've pocketed over the years,both directly from city, county and state coffers, and indirectly, from all those deals-within-deals 'arrangements', so difficult to even see, let alone pin down. How about it, jerry, ain't it about time you come clean, for the good of your fellow Chicagoans?

"...who split the votes of the meager 30% of those who bothered to show up..." should have been "...who split to the votes of the meager 30% of those who bothered to show up and did NOT vote for da mayor...."

"The other "99% of the taxpayers" receive the same benefit that I do by having the good fortune to live in such a great place. Even if they never visit MP it's producing a benefit for everyone and I hope they stop by this world class, free facility the next time they are downtown." Does not follow. So I don't visit MP, but my taxes pay for it, and thus, I benefit just because people in the vicinity and tourists enjoy it? Say what?

This is the kind of 'amen choir' that mayor mumbles inspires and sics on us.

Chicago elections Sorry, you are correct. The fact that Richie II keeps receiving the overwhelming majority of only those white, black, brown and Asian Chicagoans who bother to register to vote, and who then bothered to actually vote means nothing. No where else in the USA do the majority of citizens fail to register and vote. And the fact that we have been accepting the results dictated by the obviously not representive minority who do vote is a major flaw in our system. We all know that this "true" majority of enlighted folks who don't vote must be anti-Daley and would certainly have voted him out of office sometime during the last 5 elections. The true majority, which is comprised of people who didn't or couldn't register to vote, or who didn't both to show up on election day are the folks I should be looking to for planning my childrens future in this city. If only they could be counted on to someday show up. Note to the gutless anonymous poster who doesn't even bother to use a fake name in submitting his/her amusing but actually correct assumptions that I have personally profited greatly from my share of the City-That-Works graft. I mean why else would I be happy with the town I live in? You're right bubba! Excuse me while I adjust the blinds of my ill gotten 94th floor condo in the Hancock. (Thanks for your small share of my booty-I enjoy it daily.) The glare of the sun rising over the lake is a real pain. What a pain it is also to have to call my driver to see if it's raining down there on boul mich. I hope you have a nice day in Evanston, and thanks for not sitting on my bench at MP. (Excuse me, you couldn't sit there anyway, it's in the roped-off reserved section for us clout heavy guys in the know.) Regards, JerryGee

No, you lose me there. people around the world literally risk life and limb to vote, or fighting just for the possibility to vote- and you want to excuse the lazy mopes in this City who can't be bothered? nuts to that. the thing with democracy is that you get the politicians you deserve - Chicagoans should quit blaming everyone but themselves.

Realist, Obviously I lost you! It's not the first time I've done so on this blog, and I look forward to your next post to continue the trend. It was Chicago sarcasym. You're supposed to read in the exact opposite of what is written or said. I just assumed that most of the posters on a Chicago political blog would recognize sarcasym when they see it. Example: "Hey Realist, we really see eye to eye and we should get together for a few Old Styles!" Re: Chicago elections I was replying to a criticsm posted of me and my fellow Chicagoan who do bother to vote. I put a lot of faith in the overwhelming majority of my fellow Chicago voters who keep returning Mr. Daley to office, warts and all, and someone objected to my logic because of all the people who didn't vote.?? The illogical point was that Richie did not receive the overwhelming majority of the support of the population because of all the people who did not vote. Of course I don't excuse the lazy mopes who don't vote! They have zero right to complain about anything, unless they are being disenfranchised-as many were in the past before Jesse the Jet started doin the registration drives. I totally accept responsibility for the politicians I and my fellow Chicago citizens keep voting in. I accept the blame when appropriate, and I do get exactly what I deserve! Chicago and Illinois politicians also make for some very interesting news reports and opportunities for the paprazzi when they take their inevitable perp walks over der by da Dirkson. (Have someone from Chicago explain.) See ya!

except that still doesn't explain why King Richie's vote totals have gone down every election, which obviously is indicative of the fact people are losing faith in him. and btw, "you lost me" is sarcasm, dolt!

...enjoy your hiked property taxes also - the credit card bill is coming due.

I see that 'JerryGee' is in one of his famous 'call-it-as-it-is' moods, frankly expressing the sentiments, attitudes and opinions held by both those who rule over us and those 'insiders' and 'players' who benefit from same. These folks have no worries, they're living off the fat of the land and, in these parts of the country, the 'land' is pretty fat. The one point that he makes, that the incredibly low percentage of eligible voters who actually register and vote are entitled to gain the benefits and rewards that flow from their efforts, (albeit at the expense of the absurdly high percentage of potential, eligible, but unregistered, non-voters who do not make such efforts), and his willingness to state it so blatantly, and with such a lack of modesty, shows exactly how confident he, and others of his ilk, are, that nothing short of the Apocalypse will breath life into the comatose body politic. We have all become what we tell ourselves 'the other guys' are, namely, gutless losers. So much for the 'American Dream'.

You raise many interesting points, and I thank you for taking the time to post them. I've pondered many of them and have come to the conclusion that we can't begin to find solutions until we face the unpleasant truth that we've been thoroughly snookered for many generations. Snookered into believing that our votes only have value when we use them to vote for the candidate of our choice. This would be just fine, if we had choices that were varied enough to be choices. The established political parties have done a thorough job of usually keeping our choices limited to two candidates, the incumbent and one challenger. And it's painfully common for the incumbent to be of one major party and the challenger to be of the other. Because the election rules, written by the politicians of one or the other of these two parties, are so effective in obstructing any other political party's candidates, or candidates independent of any political party, from getting on the ballot, what we're faced with, on election day, is basically no choice at all. You ask the question of how we can influence the actions of our elected officials. I don't believe they are ever influenced by anything other than the thought that they might not be reelected. So, they concentrate on doing those things that garner them the things they believe will keep them in office. Many times those things are primarily money, from whatever sources, and support from those citizens who live within the areas that vote for them, so, taking care of your constituents seems like it would be the best way to get reelected. Unfortunately, the well-informed politician knows that he or she doesn't need to take care of every one of their constituents, only those who they can count on to vote for them and get others to vote for them. And, since voter participation is, at best, less than 50% of those registered to vote, and, since those registered are, at best, 50% of those who are qualified to vote, politicians know that they need only to get no more than 13% of their total, eligible to vote, constituents to show up on election day and vote for them, to get reelected. That's about 1 in 11 constituents that the incumbent needs to show up and vote for them. The other 10 constituents don't matter, as they either aren't registered to vote, are registered, but don't show up on election day, or their votes are irrelevant, because they can't overcome the solid number of constituents that the incumbent can depend upon. And they, the established politicians, enjoy the benefits of this abysmally low voter participation. In case you noticed that some don't like to allow opinions that threaten the established political powers continued domination, I've re-posted some comments that were removed by the lone censor at the Reader: "re B K Ray of light June 7th - 6:03 a.m. I've been pondering the very, essential problem you speak of, namely, how have we come to be the people that we are, so very different from those elegant and humble people of the Civil Rights Movement, not so very long ago. There are many 'reasons' we, as a nation, have strayed so far from the ideals embodied in our national and state Constitutions, the most basic ones, I believe, are the following: 1) We allow those who don't believe, and never have, nor ever will believe, in these ideals, to acquire the power to not only make our laws, but to interpret them and adjudicate them. The ideal 'separation of powers' is thus invalidated and rendered impotent, primarily BECAUSE of the present '2 party system', which, if you've noticed, effectively a 1 party system, that 'party' being the party of the 'professional politicians'. 2) Having allowed this 'one-minded' group of 'professionals' to gain and keep control of our governments, (on all levels), for so very long a period of time, we find ourselves in the difficult position of having to overcome the relentless conditioning, (through propagandas fed us, from the time we enter kindergarten, on through our high school and college years and into the working world), which has led so many to confuse true representative democracy with what presently passes for same. True representative democracy requires that those who we elect to represent us know, without a doubt, that we are ALL paying close attention to how well or how badly they do so and are ALL prepared to 'un-elect' them, should they fail in their duty to satisfactorily represent us. Since we, the people, have failed in OUR duty, to pay attention, to question, monitor, and require accountability and truthful disclosures, it's not surprising that those we have 'elected' take it for granted that they can pretty much do whatever they want to, all in the name of our 'best interests'. 3) We also have failed, because of the aforementioned conditioning, to understand that, in a true democracy, our government employees, (elected, appointed, hired or contracted), are NOT, nor have they EVER BEEN, meant to be our leaders, nor were we meant to be their followers. Quite to the contrary, the very essence of a democratic social, legal and governmental system is for as close to all of the citizens to take an active part in their own governance. Some will claim that this is not so, quoting the 'representative' aspect of our original democracy. If one bothers to do the historical research, one will find that this aspect of our historical system of government was based on the vast, physical distances between our citizens, the lack of efficient means of communications over those distances and, thus, the necessity for 'representatives' to be delegated the authority to act in the people's interests, as regional groups and as a whole nation. We are no longer limited by these factors. 4) The essential weakness in the present concept we've been conditioned to accept, of how our democratic government is 'supposed' to function, is that those presently in 'power' have, for many decades, acted as if they're playing a game called 'divide-and-conquer', using the 2 party system to effectively keep most citizens from realizing just how thoroughly we are all being played, for suckers, that is. 5) Yes, I know, for things to change, we, as a people, must change. We must choose to reject the illusionary comfort of thinking that our governments are meant to be 'gravy-trains' and the sources of 'mother's milk' and the 'hog trough', both those who manipulate to gain wealth and those who render themselves crippled and dependent on the 'bones' the 'support systems' dole meagerly out to them. Government is not meant to deliberately cripple and dis-able it's citizens, all for the purpose of keeping power and, thus control, over both the populace and their pocketbooks. Government IS meant to do only as much as is truly needed for the citizens and to do no harm to same, no harm to our freedoms, no harm to our well-being, no harm to our rights and no harm to lives and liberties. This, they have failed to do, on all levels, for a very long time. 5) Along with our freedoms and rights, we have to accept and embrace our responsibilities. We have to realize that, for so long as we choose to abandon our ideals, we shall suffer the consequences resulting from same. One simple rule will suffice, namely, 'Do unto others as you would have others do unto you'. Let's do the misguided rascals a big favor, give them all, Retardicans and Dumbocrats, a wake-up call and put them ALL back into the 'private sector', where they'll have a chance to learn the value of the 'Golden Rule'." "re B K Ray June 7th - 6:40 a.m. "Sadly it is not so simple as voting the bastids out" Actually, while not the complete solution to the problem, it's a beginning and it IS as simple as voting out close to all incumbents. (I say 'close to all' because our problems are caused by those many, like-minded incumbents, though there may be a few, relatively honest, relatively 'independent' incumbents.) For there to be any chance of having honest people running for office, we, the voters, must prove to them that, not only do they have a chance of getting elected, but that we WANT honest people to run for office. What better way to show this than by also proving that we no longer want the failures who are our incumbents to remain in office? And what better way to do this than to commit ourselves to voting out said incumbents? Of whatever 'political' party? Just like on a sports team, when they have a losing season, they choose to keep the players who made the best and most honest efforts and they trade or let go of the rest and replace them with those who they believe will also do their honest best. Since both parties consist of 'professional' politicians, 'professional' manipulators and persuaders, (commonly known as bullshitters, con-men, hustlers, fast-talkers, bunko-artists, etc.), it's safe to conclude that most all of them would do a much better job of 'serving' the public if they were to be booted out of public office and end up getting work at the local fast food restaurant. They'd then learn the true meaning of 'serving the public'. Once the entrenched incumbents are ousted, then the real work for the voting public would begin. Then, and only then, will we all have to pay close attention to those seeking, or claiming to seek, public service office. Then, and only then, would those in the field of journalism be truly challenged to provide us all with the facts on those running for office, not merely spin their wheels, trying vainly to dig up the hidden piles of dirt on those whose profession is creating dirt and hiding it from public view. If a man has a garden full of weeds, he is well advised to, before planting, thoroughly plow his field, so he can start the season fresh and clean. Then, as time goes by, he can pull individual weeds as they appear. If, however, a man chooses to plant without clearing out the weeds, he'll soon find that he'd better develop a taste for eating weeds, as all of his vegetables will be choked out by them. We've got a shitload of weeds in our political garden and they've been choking the life out of us. It's time to plow the field under and start fresh." "re B K Ray June 7th - 10:28 a.m. What I've been thinking about is, what might we discover, about our governments, (city, township, county, state and federal), the people who make up said governments, (and they all ARE people, sort of just like you and I, albeit sort of not like you and I), the principles and practices involved in the operations, management and formation of policies, procedures, rules and regulations and the general behaviors exhibited by the people who make up our governing bodies, those elected, appointed by those elected, hired by those elected and contracted by those elected, should we explore the workings and thinking processes of all of the above? What might we discover, should we examine and ponder the ideas and ideals which we have been taught are the principles by which these individual people-of-government use to guide themselves in all of the activities which they purport to be 'in our best interests'? What could we possibly begin to understand, about the true natures of the many who present themselves as 'servants-of-the-public's-greater-good, but whose actions actually result in most everything BUT good for that public? I propose that we begin the arduous process of questioning EVERYTHING that EVERY professional politician says, does and says he/she will do. Not questioning the ideas and ideals on which we all depend upon, for our innate sense of what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad, what is helpful and what is hurtful, what is wanted and what is unwanted, what is accepted and what is rejected, what is desirable and what is undesirable, what will be beneficial and what would be detrimental, what has helped and what has harmed. We would, I hope, all believe that we have a God-given right to freedom, liberty, privacy, unnecessary burdens, fairness, justice, truth and honesty, mutual respect, honor, peace, friendship, fellowship and safety. That we must struggle to achieve these rights is not at issue, but that we must contend with those who we have elected to support us, to truly represent us in the struggles to achieve, maintain and share these rights, that these 'representatives' are quite often the source of the many obstacles we must overcome to achieve these ideals, is the issue, the tragedy and the outrage that we must consider and determine what there is to be done about it. Every journey has to have a beginning. My suggestion is that the beginning of this particular journey, the one that can lead to a greater opportunity to achieve and realize our ideals, is to determine to remove the many weeds which have infested our political garden. The work of deciding what (who) to plant (elect) will naturally follow the removal of the weeds. Whoever gets elected to replace those many incumbent 'weeds' will, at the very least, know that they were elected, not because the people wanted them in office, but because the people wanted the incumbents out of office. This knowledge will likely motivate many who win office to tread carefully during their first term, as they will be painfully conscious that it may be their ONLY term. What the voters can do once, they can do again. And again. And again. And again. As many times as it takes for those seeking to serve their fellow citizens to KNOW, without a doubt, that they will have to be true to the aforementioned ideals, if they have any desire to achieve public office and remain in public office. Quite a contrast, to the present attitudes held by our so-called public servants. Sure, they all talk a good game, but, as we all know, talk is cheap. Except when enough voters believe it, the it gets real expensive for us all. If it seems like I hold opinions that don't acknowledge the many good things that the people who make up our governments have done, do, and will continue to do, it's only because I know that many of us are prone to tolerance and forgiveness, traits which are of little use when weeds need to be pulled and pulled quick. The quality of mercy is not strained, but, when our better selves are exactly what is being used to exploit us, we must bear up and focus on doing what we must, all saintly impulses to the contrary. Those who would, and do, deceive and manipulate us have many tricks-of-the-trade at their disposal. What I propose is that we dismiss all of their scheming ways and get directly down to the business of throwing the liars, cheaters, exploiters of fear, hatred, animosities and worries out, and concern ourselves with who, specifically and long-term, will replace them when the playing field is cleared of all weeds and is leveled and made fair, honest and sane."

"The fact that Riche II keeps receiving the overwhelming majority of only those white, black, brown and Asian Chicagoans who bother to register to vote, and who then bothered to actually vote means nothing." Actually, jerry, it means everything. It means that, unless we assume that those who don't vote are, in reality, expressing their substantial satisfaction with everything governments do, we can conclude that there are both other reasons why citizens don't vote, and that those ruining, I mean, running, our governments do not possess a true mandate to do so, only a mandate enabled by neglect, the neglect of many citizens to act responsibly concerning their precious right-to-vote. I'm interested in exploring the reasons citizens don't vote, in all their varieties, as well as the ways and means those in power influence, manufacture and manipulate those reasons.

In a particularly distasteful slap in the face to Millenium Park neighbors, LAZ Parking, with no notice WHATSOEVER from LAZ or the Chicago Bears or the Chicago Park District or the City of Chicago, and after affording us free shuttles for YEARS, now charges $8/per person for a shuttle bus ride to Soldier Field on game day for those of us who do NOT park in one of LAZ's leased garages, but only LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND PAY TAXES FOR THE UPKEEP OF THE GARAGES AND THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE CITY STREETS CLOGGED WITH THE SHUTTLE BUSES. I repeat: it's a slap in the face, Laz, and Mayor Daley, and you have not heard the end of this!!!!