Interview starts here.
Note to readers from Mark Glennon re: Ukraine
May 6, 2026
4 Comments
Everybody needs a side hustle these days, and mine is Ukraine, where I am now.
-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Audio and summary 
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Sorry you are way off Mark. The marbles were played for long , long ago. Illinois taxpaying, productive property owners are now being monetarily ass raped by illinois govt. Please show everyone the path to representative fiscally conservative govt.
There is no such path. Get out while you can….
illinois is a waste of life.
Continue with your thought and describe the endpoint, however bad it is. Everything “resolves” in the long run, as economists put it, even if it’s in complete destruction, maybe soon maybe not. During the interim, wouldn’t it be better for the nation — and for Illinois in the long run — to have at least somebody in power to who is fighting today’s radical left? They are nothing less than a mortal threat to America and Western civilization itself. I say fight them wherever they are. And I’ve always said it will get a whole lot worse before anything gets… Read more »
The issue that resonates with me is the existential despair of Generation Beta … high student debt, college grads with worthless degrees, contracting job prospects, etc. This magnifies the perception (true in many ways) that the older generation [with 401(k)’s and Social Security and Medicare] has accumulated most of the chips on the table. As we live on — and on and on — into our 80’s and 90’s, in our paid-off homes — how can we not expect growing resentment? Our temporary allies are our own kids when they come to live with us. The trade-off may be a… Read more »
Don’t disagree. Younger people today face 1) absurd student debt which benefits a powerful academic complex (which votes in one direction), 2) very high costs for housing by virtue of a shortage of housing stock, and 3) medical care costs impacted by spotty insurance coverage (the ACA has made the problem more severe than ever). The answer isn’t socialism but reform would significantly change the rent seeking behavior of all of the beneficiaries. My concern is that it will be increasingly difficult to have reasonable conversations with those shut out of the “system”.
“Rent seeking” seems to be on the increase. Virtually all segments of the society and economy are engaged in that behavior. It no longer matters who “started it.” The problem is how to correct it. Society is already burdened by under-employed lawyers. The courts and jails are both expensive and dis-functional. Also, I think it would be difficult to draft laws that define “rent seeking” insofar as it’s one of those things where “you know it when you see [or experience] it.” And leaving cases for juries to decide based on the players and the facts would end up being… Read more »
Agreed. I vote Republican to secure our future, as should we all.
Is a transcript available anywhere?
I wish there were, for this and other interviews and podcasts. The trend seems to be to providing them but it’s not routine yet.
Like it or not, reading is still the most time-efficient way to acquire information.
Very little hope unless they can cut pension liabilities big time. Otherwise, taxes must increase killing all hope for keeping and attracting businesses. The state has been destroyed by pension costs for generations to come. The businesses that want to be competitive find much better opportunities in other states.
From ChatGPT on pension costs of a Chicago Fireman retiring in 2025.
Chicago firefighter retiring in 2025 could reasonably collect $4–6 million in lifetime pension payments, assuming typical service length, normal lifespan, and standard COLA rules.
Survivor BenefitsIf the retiree dies, their spouse continues to receive about 75% of the pension for life — which can add another $1–2 million in total family benefits over decades.
You aren’t reading responses to your comments, apparently. I told you before, no pasting in AI because it is often wrong.
I read the postings, but AI is right almost all the time. It is getting better by leaps and bounds by the day. AI is what all the top consulting firms are using, and it is changing the future of work. Check the numbers out yourself if you think they are incorrect. I clearly stated the source as ChatGPT so anyone who doubts the quality of the work can decide for themselves.
As AI expands its reach, commenters who cite facts should provide citations that pinpoint the source. Readers will be evaluating reliability with greater care. WSJ, for example, accords great respect to Wirepoints. Influence is earned.