Comments on: Democracy in America http://achicagoblog.blogivists.com/2006/11/22/democracy-in-america/ Living and breathing in the Second City Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:11:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Daniel Messick http://achicagoblog.blogivists.com/2006/11/22/democracy-in-america/#comment-3 Daniel Messick Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:55:06 +0000 http://achicagoblog.blogivists.com/2006/11/22/democracy-in-america/#comment-3 I think the public who happens to live within the environs of the county of Cook will simply shrug their shoulders to Todd Stroger’s flip-flop on his campaign promise and reply with the standard “It’s politics as usual.” (Particularly in Illinois) Call me a cynic, but I believe that politicians like Stroger are savvy enough to say all the “right things” during a campaign, and once elected, do an “about face” on the promises they campaigned on. Why do I believe this? Because the public is apathetic, or just as cynical as I am. I think that we feel completely impotent. So, Todd has decided now NOT to ask (I stress the word ask, not Fire, or Terminate, but ASK for Nichol’s resignation) for Nichol’s resignation, because he wants Nichol’s to help figure out “who’s who and what’s what?” Does that sound like a qualified candidate??? I’m reminded of the scene at the end of the Robert Redford movie “The Candidate” where Redford wins the election, only to ask his campaign manager, “Now what?” Of the registered voters in Cook County, what percentage actually made the time to vote? Further, of those voters, who voted a straight party Democratic ticket? How many voters rather then vote along party lines, voted for the BEST/MOST qualified candidate? As an independent, when voting I try to cast my vote for the candidate who represents the best qualifications for the office. In the case of Cook County Board President, it is my belief that Republican candidate Tony Peraica is/was the best candidate, who could have at least ATTEMPTED to bring fiduciary responsibility to the county. As a Republican, he seemingly didn’t stand a chance in heavily Democratic Cook County, particularly Chicago. How refreshing would it have been to see Democrats decry the manner in which Stroger was tapped as the County Board President? Or question his qualifications for the position? Instead, we had automaton-like endorsements because Todd was the Democratic candidate. Todd Stroger is the WRONG man for the job of Cook County Board President, and we ALL are going to pay for it…in either sales tax increases, or property tax increases, or “sin” tax increases on alcohol or cigarettes. I wonder how many of the voters who chose Stroger actually own property, and therefore will feel the pinch of raised property taxes next year to finance to continuing bloated, do-nothing County government? He’s all yours. He’s all ours. I think the public who happens to live within the environs of the county of Cook will simply shrug their shoulders to Todd Stroger’s flip-flop on his campaign promise and reply with the standard “It’s politics as usual.” (Particularly in Illinois)

Call me a cynic, but I believe that politicians like Stroger are savvy enough to say all the “right things” during a campaign, and once elected, do an “about face” on the promises they campaigned on. Why do I believe this? Because the public is apathetic, or just as cynical as I am. I think that we feel completely impotent. So, Todd has decided now NOT to ask (I stress the word ask, not Fire, or Terminate, but ASK for Nichol’s resignation) for Nichol’s resignation, because he wants Nichol’s to help figure out “who’s who and what’s what?” Does that sound like a qualified candidate??? I’m reminded of the scene at the end of the Robert Redford movie “The Candidate” where Redford wins the election, only to ask his campaign manager, “Now what?”

Of the registered voters in Cook County, what percentage actually made the time to vote? Further, of those voters, who voted a straight party Democratic ticket? How many voters rather then vote along party lines, voted for the BEST/MOST qualified candidate?

As an independent, when voting I try to cast my vote for the candidate who represents the best qualifications for the office. In the case of Cook County Board President, it is my belief that Republican candidate Tony Peraica is/was the best candidate, who could have at least ATTEMPTED to bring fiduciary responsibility to the county. As a Republican, he seemingly didn’t stand a chance in heavily Democratic Cook County, particularly Chicago. How refreshing would it have been to see Democrats decry the manner in which Stroger was tapped as the County Board President? Or question his qualifications for the position? Instead, we had automaton-like endorsements because Todd was the Democratic candidate.

Todd Stroger is the WRONG man for the job of Cook County Board President, and we ALL are going to pay for it…in either sales tax increases, or property tax increases, or “sin” tax increases on alcohol or cigarettes. I wonder how many of the voters who chose Stroger actually own property, and therefore will feel the pinch of raised property taxes next year to finance to continuing bloated, do-nothing County government?

He’s all yours. He’s all ours.

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