By: Mark Glennon*
Despair, as best as we can tell, is the emotion growing most rapidly in Illinois, and yesterday, February 17, was particularly dispiriting.
Three stories told those who believe Illinois is on the wrong track that the state’s political establishment cannot care less about their concerns. Disdain and even hatred about those concerns prevail.
First was Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address. It’s not just that it was more of the same refusal to undertake the major reforms needed to solve the fiscal crisis, which we are writing about separately. It was the extreme rhetoric Pritzker used to attack a political obstacle that doesn’t exist.
That political obstacle, Pritzker said, is Illinois Republicans. Their purposeful destructiveness has undermined the mission of putting Illinois on the right path, Pritzker would have us believe. “In essence, they eliminated the fire department, burnt down the house, and poured gas on the flames — and now they’re asking why we’re not doing more to prevent fires,” he said. “In a normal year, I might have more patience for their hypocrisy. But this is not a normal year,” he added.
In truth, however, Republicans have been unable to pass or block a single thing of any consequence during the Pritzker Administration because Pritzker’s party has held a supermajority in the General Assembly for years. Nor do Republicans hold even one statewide office. He has faced no political obstacle from those he excoriated.
Second, Illinois finalized the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards through a vote by a legislative committee. A firestorm of opposition preceded the vote, expressed by Illinoisans who saw what the standards were plainly designed to accomplish: political indoctrination of kindergarten through high school students, imposing radically divisive critical race theory on classrooms.
Countless parents across the state were livid, but they watched helplessly as the standards were sold to the public through distortion and outright dishonesty, which we wrote about here.
Third, a commission appointed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to identify city statues that perhaps should be removed returned its list of what it called “problematic” statues. The list includes five of Abraham Lincoln and two of George Washington.
One, of a Native American, is titled A Signal of Peace, and was dedicated by an owner who said the monument was intended as a permanent symbol of respect for native people.
Another, directed at antisemitism, bears a quote from a speech George Washington delivered to a Jewish congregation: “The government of United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” A bronze plaque placed by the donor reads: “Symbol of American tolerance and unity and of the cooperation of people of all races and creeds in the building of the United States.”
And in the height of irony, one, shown here, is simply called The Republic.
Most Illinoisans may think it preposterous that those statutes could be tagged for possible removal, but Lightfoot is taking her commission’s list seriously. “This project is a powerful opportunity for us to come together as a city to assess the many monuments and memorials across our neighborhoods and communities — to face our history and what and how we memorialize that history,” Lightfoot said in a statement.
The common element in each of those stories is the extreme contempt that Illinois’ political leadership shows for the most fundamental values held by many Illinoisans. And they make no effort to hide it. They simply don’t care.
It is therefore understandable if despair is the sentiment growing most rapidly in Illinois.
We can only hope that conviction, courage and resilience remain dominant and prevail against a government so estranged from so many of its own people.
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
A set of state lawmakers want to extend CPS’ current school closing moratorium to February 1, 2027 – the same year CPS is set to transition to a fully-elected school board. That means schools like Manley High School, with capacity for more than 1,000 students but enrollment of just 78, can’t be closed for anther three years. The school spends $45,000 per student, but just 2.4% of students read at grade level.
Hopefully, all media will get the message, in Illinois, too.
Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about Illinois’ highest-in-the-nation property taxes, why lawmakers don’t want to touch the tax’s cost drivers, just how much Illinoisans’ tax burden has grown over the decades, why Gov. Pritzker failed to meet his promise to reform property taxes, and more.
Cancel culture is immoral and ignorant.
Most likely all educated here in Illinois.
Anger and disgust would be the other contending sentiment.The question is,when do intelligent,Reasonable Illinois citizens come together and rid this state of its cabal of political puppets whether they be supposedly R or D?Glad I homeschooled my kids and emphasized critical thinking and independent thinking not politically correct commiecrap paid for by China.Chicago’s outrageous rents,flood of illegal people,Huge blackhole of a budget deficit,and infrastructure problems Should be more pressing.Citizens need to speak up and act up.
Too many of us, 80,000 last year alone, leave the state.
Ain’t no Democrats leaving.
One commenter made a brilliant observation: this website will serve as a ‘black box’ which preserves actual truths being recorded in real time, before the crash. Illinois is no longer airworthy, and the Pritzker crowd is claiming ‘pilot error’ (and by the way not the error of any pilot now, but some other pilot on some prior flight). When the ‘authorities’ are picking through the rubble (pickpocketing the bodies) and assigning blame in Pritzker-esque fashion, this website will serve as a record of those pointing out ‘systemic failures of maintenance’ at a time when PRIOR pilot error is being trumpeted… Read more »
Maybe the best way show that FIBS are pissed is to have a mass caravan descend on Springfield with loads of used toilets. Plant them on the lawn of the Capitol. The Prickster got a tax break for taking out toilets, why not us? Such a legacy at the Governor level. How many ended in prison? Don’t get me started on BettleJuice.
Hilarious and good points.Maybe leave a little something in each cammode illustrating what the politicians and their policies are full of?! 🙂
Beetlejuice
😅🤣😂🤣😅🤣😂
It is indeed a sad day for the three reasons you mention, Wirepoints. And what doesn’t even get mentioned are the horrible numbers on the Illinois increase in unemployment claims, the shootings and gun fatalities in Chicago that don’t even merit a mention any more, or the disastrous snow removal, vaccine distribution and IDES fiascos. Poor Chicago and Illinois have gotten so used to the bad they don’t even think about what could be done for the good. They just accept that this is the way it is and support the same pitiful leadership and think they have to live… Read more »
In addition,Pritzger,Lightfoot and Jackson are giving CPS teachers covid vaccines. All they do is call for an appointment while those 65+ need to spend hours to get one. Median age of IL teachers is 39 and per IDPH have a 99% recovery rate and their day is spent with the age group least likely to transmit the virus. How many will die because CPS took their vaccine.Who is responsible?
So do you feel the same way about healthcare workers who are under 65 years old receiving the Covid vaccine?
Healthcare workers are exposed to coronavirus more often, with sicker patients with higher viral loads. They absolutely should have first access to the vaccine, even before the highest risk elderly. Teachers are a completely different story. Teachers are only occasionally exposed to coronavirus from children, who are mostly asymptomatic, and the teachers themselves are more likely to infect their students than students infecting the teacher. This is the result of a full year of scientific studies from around the world showing that schools are not serious vectors for transmission. Schools are open in most places in the world with no… Read more »
Do you mean Healthcare workers who are on the Frontline caring for sick people, people with Covid? Are you comparing teachers, who spend their days with children who rarely get covid and rarely transmit it to adults, to Healthcare workers whose specific job it is to care for the sick?
You are talking to someone who would vote for Prickster and Beetlejuice .Ignorant and self satisfied in her ignorance .
Why so certain the jabs are vaccines that will do no harm.
I moved here from MN 37 years ago after college. Married, teen daughter, live Far North Side. I see the City that Works become Dreck City. Incivility? That’s putting it mildly. Soaring crime, soaring taxes, zero law enforcement (unless you count being flashed for $100 while driving 5 miles over the speed limit). As of Feb 24th it’ll be ONE YEAR since I applied, certified and paid for my CCL renewal. Still ‘under review’. The truth is that Big Unions, unsustainable pensions and endemic graft co-joined with radical politics is producing the biggest cluster intercourse in the USA. I’m prepping… Read more »
Just carry anyway – even you’ve got to use it, you’ll clearly just get a slap on the wrist.
As are many others who have not been able to leave yet.Find a smaller,blantifarepellant city or town.
I’ve been in Chicago, Illinois since I graduated from college 20+ years ago. I am white, married, and have three young sons. I go to church. I pay my taxes. I work my ass off. I’ve watched as I’ve grown from young man to father, tried to remain calm, and waited for policies reflecting reason to prevail. I’ve volunteered in my community and communities in need. I’ve been willing to cut larger and larger checks to the state if accompanied by real efforts at reform. Today, I’ve concluded it is over for me and my family here. The hostility directed… Read more »
I certainly do not blame you, nor do I argue with others able to make that decision. And I like that phrase “black box recorder.” If we serve no other purpose, it will be at leas that.
I do not like the “black box recorder” concept. Your work deserves to be put in front of the eyes of all voters in the Cook County. Those 10% of most politically active need to be tasked with proving you wrong.
Take it from someone who exited 2 months ago, it’s a major hassle relocating but it sure did feel good raising my middle finger as I crossed the border and left Illinois behind.
We’re right behind you. Covid has made where a person lives irrelevant for many who can work from home. And working from home is a form of semi retirement which will probably keep many who would have retired maybe working a few more years for the cash, insurance, interest, whatever. I fall in that boat, which will be sailing out of here with the help of maybe some relocation realtors to research where I might want to go. The only thing holding us back is the search for another place in another state. And yes Illinois will miss our salary… Read more »
HEY Mark, tell us again how any Republican in this state has one bit of power to do anything? Not one thing. Hold me back. This really bugs me. This man is a joke. He has no idea what he is doing and it shows up all over the place. He is the epitome of hypocrite. The fact is there are only 7 Republican’s who are working to constitutionally save this state from the disastrous ruin that Madigan and the liberal progressive Democrats have brought upon this state and these 7 cannot do a single thing to hurt the power… Read more »
Epic rant. It made me smile!
It’s hard to tell if you are pissed at Prickster or at Mark.
Shouldn’t anyone who is shown contempt and hated (Illinois “Republicans” as one example) flee for safety from anyone expressing that characterization of them? One way to flee is leave the State. Another way to flee is to avoid commerce with anyone who is so overtly hostile. Under the law, there are a few ways to decide with whom it is safe to “do business”. (We can describe doing business as (seller) bartering a time unit of our labor or a possession with a known value, in return for something we value from the (buyer) such as a medium of exchange… Read more »
You are a man after my own heart. Wow! Great ideas too.
Anytime there is a billionaire so smug, so arrogant as Gov. P we can never be considered more than just “Useless Eaters” as the rich, elite, powerful DAVOS bastards like to call us.
I left Chicago for Indiana last July, but I keep p with IL current events when I need a good laugh at the suckers I left behind. As Mr T would say, “I pity the fools.”
It is always a sad day for IL the only ones now that can stay there are the idiot liberals. I for one don’t want my granddaughter hearing or learning this Liberal crap put in the schools. I got out last year and now my goal is to get my granddaughter out of that disgusting state there is no other way out too many lemmings.
Despair doesn’t even begin to describe the atmosphere in Illinois.
By Rusty a Beer. Agreed!
I don’t know if it’s a particularly sad day. In a certain sense, it’s a particularly clear day for Illinois. Dear Abby and her counterparts will always say listen to what people tell you, look at how they treat you–they are revealing both their true selves and their real regard (or lack thereof) for you. Government is revealing its priorities and its regard for its various groups of citizens. If the priorities don’t align with our priorities we have choices–we can be the lobster in the pot, we can scurry across state lines to find a more hospitable political climate,… Read more »
Also on your point about it being a clear day: These are just battles in a much larger war being waged here and nationally. Perhaps these losses will indeed bring greater clarity to what is going on. The sadness of watching Dunkirk helped focus the full attention of the British people. MacArthur’s retreat from the Philippines assured the will to return. Remember the Alamo…the list is long.
Mark,
Who was it that burned the ships? So their people would not get the idea of leaving?
I so want to leave this state I can taste it but I’ve been told I must stay and not give up like Jonah did when he refused to go at first to Nineveh.
Cortez when he invaded the Aztec empire
Fletcher Christian burned The Bounty after his band of mutineers landed on Pitcairn Island.
And point four…if we let the far-right rabble and misanthropes, such as yourself, have influence, like the world witnessed in Washington last month, then we have to say, the world would be a disastrous, chaotic and dangerous place in which to exist.
Please don’t refer to Voltaire, he was not one of you.
Voltaire?
I wasn’t aware I was referring to him or even quoting him.
Of course you weren’t aware. Google The Misanthrope.
John, I took your advice, and did a bit of Googling. There is not much, if any connection between the word misanthrope and Voltaire.
Peter, do you really think you score any points by name calling and asserting that everybody right of center is aligned with with Capitol rioters? I realize that’s the CNN/MSNBC spin, but I really doubt anybody takes it seriously.
Mark, sooky sooky la la.
I’m just articulating my thoughts about you, and your garbage website.
It’s so funny, how you far-right haters get your knickers in a knot, when you get a bit of blowback.
I think it’s you who needs to safe space.
What, those animals who tried to overthrow the government, were a mix of left and right?
Where is your evidence?
I guess it will be like that evidence, you and others provided when you screamed about Trump having his election “stolen.”
Hahaha, you, accusing mainstream media of spin?
Peter, I think it’s the depth of your analysis about me and the website that gets my knickers in a knot. And you might consider reading what I have said about Trump.
Your obtuse reply speaks volumes, not to mention your failure to answer my questions.
Again, are you one of these far-righters, who have a screaming confirmation bias, suggesting that Antifa was involved in the Washington riots?
Also, do you believe the Trump stolen election nonsense?
I think the Capitol riot was far right criminals who should rot in jail, though there may have been a few Antifa types in the mix. Election fraud was a major problem but probably not sufficient to steal the election. Media lies and bias, however, clearly were sufficient to tip the election.
Again, where’s your evidence for both your claims?
And then laughingly you go on to complain about media lies and bias…
Really, these far-right websites are just a parody of serious political commentary.
There are thousands of signed affidavits from people who witnessed voter fraud…there are ballots that crossed state lines (illegal)…there are districts which had more votes than registered voters…there are governors and secretary’s of state who changed voting laws (only state legislatures can legally change voting laws)
Peter, I think the Capitol riot was far right criminals who should rot in jail, though there may have been a few Antifa types in the mix. Election fraud was a major problem but probably not sufficient to steal the election. Media lies and bias, however, clearly were sufficient to tip the election.
Hahahahaha ! What a stroke.
Oh, Peter….sigh… Get well soon.🌹
Well they arrested a BLM type leader as he is on video inside the capitol,,,what rock do you live under to deny there was left wing people, at a minimum, taking part
That’s so funny; name-calling is a great hobby here! A huge number of your respondents are thrilled to do so, railing endlessly about those who choose to believe differently about politics. What a better country we’d all have if people would politely state their case and not take such overwhelming joy in trying to expand their personal enemies list where diplomacy might be the better course.
James, this has been one of the observations I’ve witnessed in regards to the far-right haters who run websites like this… and that is the stark and gross hypocrisy.
As you pointed out, they will allow name calling, if it’s name calling directed to the left, but when they cop a little bit of blowback, they crack the sulks, as we say in Australia, or as Americans put it, come un-glued.
We’ve criticized all name calling here often, though we tolerate it from all sides. One thing we do not tolerate is those who claim we have said things we never said or attribute opinions to us that we do not hold. So, consider yourself warned if you get blocked.
True to form, you provide a response which was predictable and expected.
No name calling here, just pointing out your incredible hypocrisy and your own lies and bias.
I’ve read a few of your pages, and I can’t see anywhere where you have condemned the vicious and hateful comments towards the left.
You keep speaking hate, and yet here you still are, not blocked
This troll is not here in good faith. He’s here to slander and agitate people. The fact of the matter is that the Left is unwavering in its conviction that: 1) The Capitol Riot was an insurrection and failed coup attempt, rather than hooliganism of a few hundred boomers taking selfies; 2) Five people died as a result of the failed coup, despite the lack of evidence anyone, other than Ashley Babbit, died after being killed by a police officer; 3) Biden got 81,000,000 votes, despite common sense saying that’s ridiculously unbelievable; and even if that’s true, the tech companies… Read more »
What truth do you think you have spoken? That all here are right-wing hypocritical idiots?
I guess in some circles that does make you a real genius. Thank you for sharing your insights with us.
You liberals have a strange definition of diplomacy. Is that what the left is practicing with their calls for truth and reconciliation committees and reality czars?
It must get pretty boring at Capitalfax or whatever that left wing union site is.
John Earle Sullivan left-wing agitator, widely reported to have incited violence during Capitol events, arrested, claimed there as ‘journalist’, now reported to have been paid by CNN.
For one example
Seek professional help, Please!
We are “Useless Eaters” to them. No they do not CARE about anyone but themselves. You made a great point.
Illinois needs mobs and mafia’s again. Wait, we have them, they are in public office!
Better to be considered “Useless Eaters” by the Left –
rather than among their “Useful Idiots”!
Sad also is that all three of these “accomplishments” are symbolic or wokefully passively aggressive, designed to insult with no real affect to improving the state. Not a single one of them addresses money, roads, water, electricity, prevailing wage rules, mandates, debt, food deserts, incentives for business, etc. We have a governor who never changed his own car oil, fixed a lamp or even cleaned a toilet and we expect him to know how to do real concrete things? All he knows is how to do is troll the Internet, a complete dumb ass.
Rick, great post. Im with you, as a naive taxpaying chumbalone, what I’m most confused about with all the in-your-face woke stuff is what is the end game, what is the model for Illinois- Chicago where where all the wokism has worked? A California/ Sanfrainscico-Pelosi fantasy land ?– where no middle / moderate income folks can afford to live and are fleeing in droves? Detached from reality
Madigan resigned……is there a hole in the boat?
Lisa.
Sadly, all too true…
He was the A hole in the boat. Sorry, had to seize the moment.
Well played, good sir !
Means nothing. He still has the checkbook. Gang leaders and outfit heads still run things from prison so this clown going home means squat.
As I see it, there are two options. 1) Leave Illinois. For some people, this might take years, due to jobs, elderly parents, family, businesses. It can be difficult. Great time to sell a house, though! The starter house market is absolutely insane, providing a good window for people to bail, if that’s been their plan. I don’t begrudge anyone who does this — it’s just a matter of the path of least resistance. 2) Start running for the most local, small, part-time offices you can. Start as small as possible, maybe your HOA, then the school board, then a… Read more »
I left. Amazing how cheap you can live other places with a similar quality of life
Hi Jeff…I read your blog, too, and I’m a big fan of your writing. I just wish that your message and Wirepoints’ message got to more Illinoisans. I hate feeling like these places are a secret.
Please keep doing what you do, and thank you, from readers like me, who don’t have a mobile business.
Actually a whole lot better for less….
We are doomed…
I left as well. I was able to due to my retirement and the fact that All my children live and work/school out of state. Perfect situation. I would recommend to anyone with businesses or jobs that tie them to Illinois to look up Gary Rabine and support him in his run for Governor. He has built his own company from nothing into a road paving powerhouse unlike the current Governor who probably doesn’t know how to even use a paintbrush. We need someone who knows how to build things and realizes how destructive uncontrolled government can be to the… Read more »
without disclosing too many specifics, could you tell us which state you went to? curious regarding cost of living, thank you.
Also an HOA board member. Please do this. I support it fully.
It’s time for the moderates to strike back. The vast majority of Illinoisans couldn’t care less about renaming statues or critical race theory. They just want decent schools for their kids and manageable taxes. They aren’t going to get this from the left but don’t feel they have any better options. Give them one and they’ll come running.
HOME SCHOOLING! THAT’S what we did and both children could get into any college in America they wanted. Both graduated U of I and are making huge salaries.
We need to be more effective in spreading the message. By we, I mean the crowd right here. The analytical work done by Wirepoints is not known to the voters in Cook County. I do some political writing and see over and over again that any ideas going beyond the routine of conservatives bashing liberals and vice versa are getting no traction in the mainstream media. I have an idea for a startup in social media to break this impasse. This perilous venture can fix our politics. If you consider risking your money, please contact me. If you have a… Read more »
I’ve been getting my cute little starter house ready IE. I’m an IE too but too many huge machines, big buildings and employees to leave. However,…….HE HE HE, I’m so close to the Indiana border I can smell the fresh air when it’s out of the east. Dang! I so want to move there and live. I can run my business remote. Hell, Covid taught us a few things didn’t it? It taught us the virus was a scam and that Gov. P had no freaking clue what he was doing. He just followed Pelosi’s cues on locking down the… Read more »
I really like Indiana. It’s popular for smug liberals to make fun of the state, but that just tells me that it’s probably a nice, down-to-earth place to live. The cost of living is fantastic, and they seem to respect what their citizens want and think.
It almost sounds like a fantasy land.
Illinois residents, one day you will wake up and notice a dramatic increase in “for sale” or “going out of business” signs in your area. When that happens, please know that you waited too long to get out and the option to leave just became much more difficult. Whether you like it or not, you are in a race with your neighbors to leave Illinois.
Pritzker is a knuckle-head perfect puppet of Chicago Machine politicians. He literally paid-for his elected spot, and financially supports his masters with exceptionally generous contributions. He only cares that he has the governorship position, the role to play. Frankly, he’s neither intellectually capable, nor politically-skilled whatsoever, morally corrupted and unmotivated to act responsibly, so he just stands there, smirking to the cameras, as he “governs” by edict. And that’s great for Madigan, for the Daleys, for the Democratic Party. And Cousin Penny never was governor! See, see, see, the under-achiever cousin has become a big player too!! Lightfoot is ultimately… Read more »
I am not sure who first described Pritzker as a “petulant child,” but it sure fits.
Petulant and spoiled child.
There, fixed it for you.
JB is more like Animal House’s Flounder with his brother’s Lincoln Continental.
Orange Man Bad……….Fat Boy Still Fat & Stupid
I am truly starting to think that a vast majority of the people in this state are literally mentally comatose. I can’t understand why they keep supporting more and greater levels of abuse. As many have stated, leaving is really the only option – none of us will live long enough to see this ship turn around. Sadly, for many of us leaving is a long slow process, extended families including elderly who rely upon us for care, careers that are geographically grounded, and of course financial limitations make it tough to pick up and go quickly. Plus my wisdom… Read more »
Sometimes you need to lead by example. If you organize and explain your reasons for moving clearly to others, you will gain their respect. Best of luck in the journey.
Extended family, caring for elderly, and the other excuse I have heard is schools. They are all valid. Tough to move kids in high school. But, people do it.
You have to understand it’s not truly representative government. A few ultra radical, well funded, well connected activists ‘speak’ for everyone , like the Lightfoots and Foxxs and Judge Timothy Evans, etc. Most people just nod their head , thinking ‘Democratic’ good, everything else bad. The situation is truly dismal.
I think there is hope, and there is a fight. If all those opposed leave, then they win, they have driven us out. Some of us feel a higher calling to live in this state and we will be praying for God’s mercy. Many are fed up by our government and I pray they will vote that way. I say if you have the will, stay and fight!!!
Funny that Pritzker used the fire department – a unit of govt primarily funded by property taxes, in the state with the highest property taxes in the nation – as an example for *his* state budget woes. Because it was Pritzker who just a year ago signed the legislation increasing pension benefits for firefighters whose pensions are already severely underfunded. Dude has no friggin’ clue what he’s doing.
Escape Illinois while you can. Even farmers can vacate IL. I did it and you can too.
If we don’t like how the morons in power are behaving and we can’t impact their behavior through the vote…I am afraid that either putting up with it or leaving and moving somewhere where there are like-minded people, is really about the only thing left to do. I like reading the comments here and am encouraged that there are others here in Illinois who believe as I do, but reading daily about the stupid antics of the elected officials and those officials only listening to liberal loonatics and those who want free stuff…is just too sad to look at everyday.… Read more »
Hold the Line.
“The best is yet to come”.
We are currently under the rule of devolution.
And before folks criticize, please do your research.
Think about what is happening around us.
So do you believe we are headed away from one central government (Springfield) and headed to localized governments were as we support ourselves from within.
When Pritzker scapegoats those w/o power, he is admitting his failure. Pritzker is unfit to lead.
I have said here before. There is no excuse as to why you cannot leave. The reason you won’t leave is becuase you value your possessions more than anything else. And the left now knows they can do whatever they want and people who lean to the right will now stop it
There is no choice left but to vote with your feet. I moved last year to Colorado. These articles, however noble, are futile. The die has already been cast. Leave now while your house still has value and your children aren’t yet brainwashed by the woke cult.