Friday, May 29, 2009

Neighbors and Potential Felons In Chicago


Statewide corruption in Chicago is the glue that holds our city together. For instance, another alderman was indicted for corruption on Thursday. Republicans and Democrats alike can enjoy talking about this together. As a people, Chicagoans can connect to each other by sharing our outrage and embarrassment every time another pol gets popped. It doesn’t matter what color you are, if you believe in God or not, or where anyone went to school. For as long as we have potential felons in power, everyone in Chicago is a good neighbor.




I don’t know if Illinois is number one in corruption. It probably is not because someone got paid to fix the statistics. No, really.


Chicago has some former governors who left office in disgrace. There are lines out the door full of indicted alderman. We have a senator that was appointed to the job by one of the bastardly governors – the one with helmet hair. We have everything anyone could want, if you partake of schadenfreude.



Nepotism schmepotism. Monarchy schmonarchy! We have a city council president who literally inherited the job after the predecessor, his father, died. The mayor is the son of a former mayor, and the attorney general is the daughter of the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. If you are related to anyone in government in IL and you operate on a cash-only basis, you probably work at our capital in Springfield already. Now that you know this, the state of IL would kindly ask other states in the union to stop blaming the voters. Thank you much.

My dear Chicago neighbors, I worry for us. What will become of our relationship if we can ever get the smallest whisper of a reform bill passed? Will you still talk to me from your balcony, when all we have left in common is the weather? It’s not like those people in government will acquire a moral compass in our lifetimes, but I wonder.

"Bueller, Bueller" (of the Chicago Bueller’s)




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9 comments:

Smokey said...

Is there seriously a reform bill in the works? I doubt it has a prayer; unemployment would go through the roof if all the dishonest politicians lost their jobs. Besides, is there really such a thing as an honest politician in Illinois (or anywhere else for that matter)? I think I could find Bigfoot or the tooth Fairy first.

Speedy said...

Smokey's right. There is no such a thing as an honest politician. No reform bill is going to change that. Blago is just a gift that keeps on giving....

anony tuu said...

Ahoy, Mojo! in the Slimy Sea of the Chicagos (there are two of them, ya know -- Sox and Cubbies). Edwin Edwards (jailbird), Bill Jefferson (refrigerator banker), and we've NEVER had an insurance commissioner in Louisiana who did not end his term by going to jail -- it's a tradition!

But I think you Chicagos have it better than us down here. You're corruption is of the Capone / early twentieth century style. Ours is not really corruption so much as an institution -- Feudalism. Here in South Louisiana (yes, there are two Louisianas -- Catholic and Protestant, French and English, Country/Western and Jazz) -- Here in S.L., we have lords and serfs just like in the middle ages. The lords hold office and take care of the lords, and the serfs... well, they just make do.

THIS Mojopost is the sort we in the Mojopost rating biz call "an exposition." Expositions require much research and often, as in the case of this one where Mojo must enter the sour belly of corrupt city politics, dangerous! We should all fall down and kiss Mojo's feet for taking the risk!

10!

an.tu said...

Whoohoo! Look at Chili go!!! Chili on the Mall, everybody!

Unknown said...

Chicago Blues, Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, Chicago Politics. Oh yeah, and the Cubs.

Gotta love Chicago.

Smokey said...

Minnie, you forgot Chicago-style Hot Dogs and Da Bears!

Unknown said...

That I did, Smokey! ::slaps my forehead::

anony tuu said...

Mojo, get yer yams in here and write me up somethin', woman. I've a hankerin' for a Mo-Jo-Post.

The internetz is so boring without you, dear. C'mon. Do an old guy a favor. write something. Anything. Your grocery list, I don't care!

PapaPig said...

Ham, Bacon, Pork Chops, Center Cut Loin, Ribs..