Commentary by Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski: A solution for Illinois’ state retirement crisis – Chicago Tribune*

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S and P 500
3 years ago

In the bio of William Fox “The Man who made the Movies” there is a paragraph that explains how local governments get so corrupt: “…after Washington’s inauguration as President, Tammany had built a robust power base among the immigrant groups that began flooding into New York City during the 1800’s. … many of them were cast-offs of the old world: Irish potato famine victims, Italian peasants, persecuted Jews. Tammany leaders got them jobs and housing and gave handouts of food and clothing to the needy. In return, Tammany asked only for Election Day loyalty. To those who had little experience… Read more »

Disenchanted South Sider
3 years ago

Unfortunately it looks like its going to get worse before it gets better. Their only hope is that Biden wins. That still is no guarantee. Sorry to hear that the state is tone deaf. No surprise. Hacks everywhere. Your work is stellar and I just hope someone is listening.

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago

Chicago has more retired police and firefighters than working.
Chicago Firemen just got a big raise which ups the already large pension amounts.
No Hope in solving this largest generational theft in history.

Juicy Smollier
3 years ago
Reply to  Poor Taxpayer

I mentioned this to my friend and apparently sane thinkers realized this as well in other cities: Fire is the biggest scam of all, in terms of what is there and what’s needed. ESPECIALLY when you consider that each township has its own department and they are miles away from one another. Fires are so rare and generally these guys aren’t on the scene in any meaningful time anyway, also the case with medical EMT issues since these are almost all opioid ODs, it’s not like they are saving the average joe schmoe worker who would be more worthwhile since… Read more »

Fed up neighbor
3 years ago
Reply to  Juicy Smollier

I would sure like to know what fire department you are talking about, have you ever seen what they go through on a daily basis, have you ever been called to a MVA with multiple injuries, have you ever seen a person with a limb or head missing, have you ever seen a child in grave condition. Sorry, I totally resent your comments and your reflection of my family

James
3 years ago

My take on this is that what you implicitly are saying is that soldiers assigned to active combat zero new should receive bonus payments compared to those assigned elsewhere and enough so as to reflect society’s appreciation. It’s wrong to denigrate police and other first responders who do less of that but still either have done it or may well do it at some point. Those who await such possibilities still SERVE in psychologically distressing ways compared to those in our general population who will likely never see life threatening duties of similarly dire consequences.

Fed up neighbor
3 years ago
Reply to  James

? ?

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Let them work a month as a customer service representative at a Wal-Mart. Everyone works hard, private sector works far harder than lazy worthless government employees.
How many time have you seen 10 guys on a government road crew and only 1 working? I can not count that high.
How many times have you gone to Jewel and seen firemen walking around for hours while on duty shopping? Can not count that high.
How many private employers pay for sleeping on the job. Easy to count, NONE.

Fed up neighbor
3 years ago

I have a son in the U.S.A.F Msgt currently in Germany, underpaid and overworked. Not one member of my family that are firefighters and police have luxury homes in Florida. I would sure like to know we’re your information comes from

James
3 years ago

I think you know where it comes from, a place called his “a..”.

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago

What I normally see is an accident with 6 firemen and 6 police cars all standing around doing nothing. Minor fender bender. What I do see is a tow truck driver sweeping the street and towing the car away. The cost of the cops and firemen far exceed the damage amount of the cars involved.

James
3 years ago
Reply to  Poor Taxpayer

Yes, I agree, on the surface of your agrument at least, but the simple fact is your specator’s viewpoint is looking at it with 20/20 hindsight. Isn’t it better to be over-prepared that under-prepared? Its hard to “right size” something without being there as the event starts to gauge what needs to be done and what doesn’t. Just one case of being under-prepared can sometimes cause truly catastrophic catasrophies unforeseen. A one-house fire can sometimes turn into many house on fire is but one example.

James
3 years ago
Reply to  Poor Taxpayer

Another way to consider what you’ve said is that the firemen and policemen generally are those already on duty. Isn’t it better to have them on the scene rather than simply “playing cards” or kibitzing at the water cooler when perhaps otherwise not meaningfully engaged in their jobs at such times? My point is that they are already being paid either way and not sending them out because the task at hand might seem unworthy at first thought makes little sense most of the time.

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago
Reply to  James

Doing nothing at an accident or doing nothing somewhere else is still doing NOTHING.

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago

Stock market was very bad to the Taxpayers today.
Cops, Teachers and firemen still had a great day on the back of the taxpayers.
Market will be about even for the year, Pensions will grow at 3% every year.
Got to love them, they have figured out how to Steal from the Unborn generations.

Juicy Smollier
3 years ago

It is funny how they’ve been talking about IL going down for a decade now (and yes it’s about to happen next year … maybe) but no one can say why or when, even though the math obviously doesn’t work. What will the haircut be, anyone wanna guess?

marko
3 years ago
Reply to  Juicy Smollier

Decade? I can remember the adults talking in the late 1980s and early 90s about how the union “giveaways” would never be able to be paid back. This is the slowest moving train wreck in history.

Hank Scorpio
3 years ago
Reply to  Juicy Smollier

There’s an old saying:
“the markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.”

Poor Taxpayer
3 years ago

Ted you told me not to say the same thing more or less.
Guess what you have been saying the same thing for years more or less.
Always saying there is a fix, but things just get worse, much worse.
Your intentions are good, but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
My solution that actually works is to move out of Illinois.
None the less keep up the good work for the honest hard working taxpayers of Illinois.

Willowglen
3 years ago
Reply to  Poor Taxpayer

Wirepoint’s work is relevant nstionally. For the life of me, I don’t know why conservatives don’t run on a platform of we will not be Illinois.

Riverbender
3 years ago
Reply to  Willowglen

I agree. Consider though that the Illinois elected Republicans have issues too.

Senator Bill Brady’s tenure as Minority Leader faces new uncertainty after Senator Jason Plummer, Brady’s former 2010 gubernatorial running mate, accused Brady of offering him an appointment to sit on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform in exchange for muting his criticism of Brady’s side gig working to promote video gaming terminals in bars.”

https://www.wcia.com/news/capitol-news/geez-bill-plummer-says-brady-offered-him-ethics-post-if-hed-agree-to-back-off-ethics-reform/

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Chicago area loses population for third year in a row, third-worst loss among big metros – Wirepoints

The latest 2023 Census population estimates show migration and population changes have largely returned to their pre-pandemic patterns across the country. Metro Chicago’s loss of 16,600 people is the 3rd-highest decline among the nation’s metropolitan areas. Only the Los Angeles area (down 71,000) and the New York City area (down 65,000) lost more people than Chicagoland.

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