-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Ted and Mark discuss some of the biggest issues facing Illinois in 2022. In Part 1 they cover Gov. Pritzker, the upcoming elections, and the new union power ballot initiative.
Wirepoints pieces discussed:
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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It’s all a money and power grab on both sides. There does not and cannot, exist a candidate who is honest and principled because you cannot succeed in local, state or national politics without selling your soul, and your principles along with it. We waved bye-bye to democracy long ago, and are now living in a corporatocracy. Industry lobbyists write legislation, not legislators. Jeff Foxworthy (or maybe it was Ron White) had it correct when he said our legislators should wear their sponsor patches (Pfizer, Goldman, Meta, etc.) like Nascar drivers. Then we would know. But would we care?
Biden just handed Covid management to the states, he knows SCOTUS won’t back employer vaccine mandates which was his biggest hammer, threatening livlihoods. Pritzker will take this as his signal to “do something” and it won’t be good. The only thing Illinois can expect in 2022 is more covid-justified authoritarianism. My wife and I just bought an RV, we’ve vowed never to set foot downtown, and to never fly again. We will live a life without fear, without masks, without jabs from mRna proteins that self-destroys an immune system in 5 years. Life without submitting, without judgement or control of… Read more »
I honestly believe that Putzker could tell all the men in Illinois to cut off their own junk because of covid and roughly %50 of the the weak men in this state would comply,”yes sir Mr Pritzker,anything you say”!-hopeless
If the media started saying humans have three arms, people would start buying shirts with three sleeves.
Perfect!
2021 proved beyond a doubt that Democrats are a cult, all ‘blue pilled’.
Regarding governors race, for republicans to have a chance defeating JB & the machine they need a moderate (like me), similar to what happen in Virginia with Youngkin. Capturing the suburban– moderate independents and women votes who look at whats happening in Chicago and see crazy town seems key. As big a flop as Rauner was that’s what he did. I’m not familiar with Irvin but it seems all the other republican candidates that have announced for gov so far are way to far right to have a chance.
Question, what happens for long term funding of jbs new Illinois energy/clean energy bill now that bbb is dead with all its fed $gravey-train$ funding for green energy to states? Didn’t ill dems jump the gun and pass energy bill assuming the fed $gravey-train$ was going to keep coming? Or am i wrong? Who’s going to fund clean energy now?
I don’t disagree with anything you said Mark, but you don’t address any of the shortcomings of the “right” as well. Neo facist faux conservatism is not good for the nation either. If we aonly get rid I’d those who want boys to use the girls washroom, everything g will be copasetic.
The bathroom issue is very important because it’s part of a broader cultural issues. The left has taken a full on assault on, what I call reality, from every angle and if you’re not fighting to conserve the definition of a woman, what are you fighting for, but reality itself?
The thing is, the government should stay out of it, shouldn’t they? The “left”, or at least the elites who run the Educational bureaucracy and the legacy media have lost their freaking minds. You have the ACLU endorsing censorship and Right wingers endorsing the 1st amendment. It’s crazy stuff. But over 50% of the public is in the middle on this stuff. Don’t care one way or another. That’s who you have to convince. Scaring them will get you s9me support, but you’ve got to come with the facts, and policies that people like. Neither party has that now. It’s… Read more »
Whichever side really supports labor and pushes for a public option with health care will prevail. Can’t say I agree with this take. The public option is really Medicaid for all and most informed voters know this. Labor is mostly ‘public sector unions’. The side that wins is the side that shows up with the most voters. In this environment, most, but not all, voters had their minds made up a decade ago and cannot be convinced either way. I saw some comment on the internet earlier today basically saying the political choices today aren’t been Coke or Pepsi, but… Read more »
Public employee unions need to have their wings clipped, especially in the big cities. I was referring to the scores of blue collar workers that voted for Trump in 2016 and put him over the top. Many previously voted for Obama, and supported Sanders before the party pulled the rug out from under him.
Trump told them the truth, “What have you got to lose”, and he was right. His programs brought jobs in the energy sector and many others. Democrats turned their backs on people who work with their hands long ago
its a really simple question,is your life better now,or three years go,tell me how democrats have made life better?-i cant think of one thing that is better now
OK I get what you mean by labor but I call them working class….you’re right about getting their votes. there was a major poll out the other day, very remarkable actually, it showed that the white working class votes overwhelming Republican, but the major surprise was that in 2 years time, working class hispanics now support Republicans too at the same rate as working class whites. This poll, a Marist IIRC, showed that working class hispanics and working class whites have the same opinions on the economy, family, biden, the democrat party, woke, etc. Which means its over for the… Read more »
President Trump was right and so are you Robert. When I voted for him I was not voting for the Pope. I wanted a businessman to run the country. I did not care about his “tweets”. Looking back and seeing where we are now, I do miss President Trump. America was on its way back, life was getting better for all. I am not R or D, just someone who wants us all to get along and be more civil as a society. That is what has been lost since the 1980’s, 90’s civility. I fear in Illinois in particular… Read more »
Consider your statement: “ I am not R or D, just someone who wants us all to get along and be more civil as a society. That is what has been lost since the 1980’s, 90’s civility.” How could such a person as Trump receive the accolades you’ve given to him?
Easy. Study the data. Particularly economics. Employment. Trade deficits. Inflation. Gas prices. Balance of payments (especially with China). Consumer Indexes. Purchasing Indexes. Tax revenues. Disposable income increases. I can go on……
“Neo fascist conservatism” is all but nonexistent. The left’s Marxism, or something like it, however, labeled, is dominant in that 1/3 that comprises the regime.
You need a candidate that is smart, truthfully, and principled. McAuliffe, Pritzker, Biden are neither of these. Trump is not either, but people are so sick of the Democrats who make big promises, but never deliver.
It’s hard to deliver on promises that are completely at odds with reality. Some people have a hard time understanding that wishing doesn’t make it so.
democrats AND republicans constantly lie,I ll do this and I ll do that,blah,blah,blah,all lies and bullshit for their own self enrichment,wake up America,these worthless politicians are doing NOTHING for the people,fattening their own bank accounts is all their interested in