By: Mark Glennon*
Watch Gov. J.B. Pritzker say what he always says. “What I would say is – and I have said this for a year and a half during this pandemic – is that local leaders need to make decisions for their local population.”
And now watch his answer when asked, regarding school districts defying his mask mandate and allowing parental choice, whether he is really going to withdraw funding, take away their sports and deny their high school diplomas or was that just an idle threat.
His answer: “Am I really going to do that? Yes, we are really going to do that.”
Got that? Sure you can make your decisions locally. Just don’t expect your kids to get a diploma or your school to get any funding.
The most recent count of local school districts facing that result because they intend to make masks optional is now up to 55, representing about 31,000 students. More than 10 of those districts have since voted to comply.
And now, as an additional penalty, athletes at scores of public and private high schools will be prohibited from participating in playoff games this fall unless their local school boards comply with Pritzker’s mask order. Details are here.
The simple fact is that local control is fine with Pritzker only as long as officials decide to obey him. That first clip above is an example. The question was about Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s decision to require vaccinations for all city employees. Pritzker’s fine with that form of local control.
Decide what you want about the merits of school masks. What’s clear, however, is that Pritzker has no shame speaking out of both sides of his mouth on local control.
Kids are being used as pawns on a matter in which there is no material risk to them. To date, 12 Illinois children, most with comorbidities, have died of COVID. By comparison, nine children died of influenza during the bad 2017-2018 flu season. And as we’ve reported previously, far more children have died of accidents, homicide and other causes.
And nobody asks Pritzker to put up his “science” supporting masks in schools. On that issue, The Centers for Disease Control squelched its own study showing that masks on school kids don’t work.
No diploma, no sports, no funding for their schools. So what are students to do in a school district that asserts local control in a manner Pritzker doesn’t like?
*Mark Glennon is founder of Wirepoints.
Most of us in IL jnkw better. Blame Chicago for the Democrat vote. We downstaters can’t compete with the Chicago vote where so many more are living off the state (our) monemy!
How does that slob get his daily dose of 25 Krispy-Kremes down if he’s masked 24/7?
The other reality is that as all things put forth by idiot Democrats and all of their estrogen (especially fatties like JB), you can count on policies that even if they mean well, can’t possibly work (just like communism, if you even grant it charity). You have to open up, eat, drink, etc. That means masks, even if they worked (which of course they don’t), can’t work as a matter of fact – showing that there is always a risk especially with a respiratory virus. The whole thing is theater, abuse, and control. And stupid tribalism. Supported by NO science.… Read more »
Amy J asked Jelly Belly Pritzker for the science yesterday and he and his press secretary had a hissy fit and start accusing her of spreading misinformation.
I hate to make generalizations, but consistently, over and over again, the Democrat position in response has been:
“Any data or policy I disagree with misinformation and/or racist”
JB stood up there, and the one person, the one person who disagreed with him, in 18 months of him doing WHATEVER he wants, he says “you’re spreading misinformation”
It’s said, and she should have shot back that he is spreading misinformation and is not following the science.
and made a comment that if he followed the science, he should lose some weight.
He’s evaded national scrutiny..which is strange considering Chicago violence. Newsom & Cuomo issues have shielded Pritzker in a big way. Somehow we have to expose Pritzker on the big stage..I just don’t know how.
He’s no different from other Democrats, he can’t keep his lies straight! You’d think they’d be savvy enough to establish talking points with severe penalties for drifting. Porky and his ilk simply can’t understand that people aren’t blind and stupid. When they don’t know, they make it up! The Democrats are loaded with wanna be stars who can’t shut their mouths. Porky and Kamala are perfect examples. Porky lies and Kamala laughs!
Yes– it is a flat out contradiction in his own statements
But are Illinoisans smart enough to see that. NO– not in the last 20 years. Blatantly comical statements like this from people with titles go unanswered by the voters.
Election fraud.
I’ve never seen a person so convinced of his own superiority, and it is matched by his determination to impose his will on people who supposedly have guaranteed freedoms. He is really starting to piss people off.
yea,but the dopes will re-elect him
can honestly say ive NEVER seen as many weak,frightened mopes as i have in the last year and a half in Illinois,god forbid something really bad happens such as an invasion from china or russia or a meteorite striking the earth!-These weak scared imbeciles wont have a clue of what to do!
It’s a form of Stockholm Syndrome when it comes to politics in Illinois.
Too many people simply believe that every state government is a bloated, diseased whale gasping for breath and have come to accept it.
That’s my fear as well…
i have guns,water and food!-most of these weaklings will be focused on buying all the toilet paper from jewel!
Since when does Pritzker have control over private schools, catholic institutions.
Since he felt like it.
Since they *gave it* to him…
I have two grandchildren going to private/catholic school in mokena 4 and 3 years old my Daughter and son-in-law are contemplating a class action lawsuit against ISBE and Pritzker he has no BUSINESS in private institutions. This man needs to be stopped in his tracks I can bet his little TEDDY BEAR goes to a private school with NO restrictions.
Good, but our courts have utterly failed so far.
Shouldn’t surprise anyone, they are filled with judges on their side politically. The whole system is a scam.
The appellate court is very Democrat. Even if a state court judge had the bravery to issue an order striking mask mandates, it would be immediately overturned.
Other states like MI and WI used their supreme courts to stop their gov’s authoritarian tendencies. Do you think ‘Chief Justice’ Ann Burke, whose husband is currently under federal indictment for corruption, is going to over rule her Democrat handlers? Hahahahahaa
Yes, you can win single cases but anything far reaching or good for the common welfare will not be granted by coward judges and even, SCOTUS “conservative” justices.
The SCOTUS will occasionally rule for us. Which is better than the ILSC which is Democrat that will never will grant relief for conservative causes. Their entire goal is to punish conservatives.
Keep fighting…!
Tell them to file for religious exemption…
Liberty counsel will help them…
Many of us support you & them…!
Is that a group who will fight for us?
If there was ever a need for an organization to step up & help us, now is that time…
An organization dedicated to defending the civil liberties of all American citizens…
Hello ACLU, are you listening…?
I won’t hold my breath…
If only that was a good thing to have happen….. https://www.npr.org/sections/back-to-school-live-updates/2021/08/24/1030632820/the-aclu-sues-south-carolina-over-its-school-mask-ban
ACLU gave up civil liberties a long time ago, and is now just another left wing progressive authoritarian organization.