Understatement of the Year

December 30, 2008 by CookReformer
Filed under: Blagojevich, Casino, Corruption, Mayor Daley, Reform, Taxes

In a post titled “The False Allure of Hope and Change,” the Media Monitors Network publishes the understatement of the year:

Illinois politics, which is run entirely out of Cook County, has always been riddled with corruption, and the allegations against the Governor likely only represent a tip of the iceberg.

No kidding.

Our international reputation for corruption and ineptitude is bad - and only getting worse.

What surprises us most about the revelations of our governor is how many voters are actually shocked and surprised by his behavior. Granted, the audacity and stupidity with which he engaged in this behavior (on the phone when just about everybody in Illinois knew he was under surveillance) was shocking.

But his actions? Shocking? Surprising? C’mon.

This is the county of Capone and the Mayor Daley 1. It’s the place where almost 30 Chicago aldermen have been sentenced to jail since 1972. We’re the state where 4 Illinois governors in the last 40 years have been gone to jail (including Blago’s recent stint in the clink.)

Our newspapers and nightly newscasts are filled with news of new arrests or investigations of local politicians. People with names like “Fast Eddie.”

One of our towns - Rosemont - was even denied a casino because of the well-known rumors of that town’s connections to the mafia, namely famed mobster Sam “Momo” Giancana (nevermind that Rosemont’s neighbor was awarded the casino - just a few blocks from the proposed Rosemont location.)

Yes, corruption is real in Cook County. And in infects both of the major political parties. In recent years, our U.S. Attorney has pulled the curtain back on the bi-partisan combine with indictments and convictions of Republican and Democrat insiders and politicians.

The only question is: what are we going to do about it? Many of these corrupt insiders were elected - and re-elected - by us. Remember, Blagojevich was easily re-elected in 2006 while he was under much-publicized investigation.

Only the voters can turn this around. First, they need to believe they can make a difference and then actually show up at the polls. Second, they need to vote against corruption instead of voting for clout and pothole-fixing.

Until this happens, our reputation for corruption will continue to grow. The “Corruption Taxes” we pay will continue to rise.

And the integrity of our state and local governments will continue to deteriorate.