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Send this to anybody you know in Illinois: Kass on "reform"
As Chicago's political warlords use all their devious tricks in Springfield this week to stall the Illinois Reform Commission's common-sense plan to clean up our politically corrupt state, I'd like to ask a favor.

I ask it of every taxpaying chumbolone like me, everyone who pays ever-increasing taxes, worries about keeping a job and wonders how to afford college for the kids.

And while we worry, we can't help but see the Illinois political class in all its shining arrogance -- including those with important Chicago Outfit connections -- getting rich on political deals.

So now, it's favor time. It's quite simple, actually. All I'd like is that you help correct a misconception about the relationship between the political bosses of Illinois and us taxpayers.

With the bosses stalling the agenda of Patrick Collins and the reform commission, some of us have the crazy idea that our leaders truly despise us.

But nothing could be further from the truth. They don't despise us, no more than a farmer despises a cow who gives milk. Farmers don't despise their own livestock, do they? Not as long as the milk keeps flowing.

Obviously, the bosses don't want a full up or down vote on the reform measures on campaign finance, fair election districts, term limits for legislative leaders, and full disclosure of politically sensitive subcontracts.

The Democratic machine lords who control the legislature aren't farmers, per se. They stride across steakhouse floors, not fields, and their shoes are always shiny.

Men like Mayor Richard Daley, lord of the machine, who has great influence in Springfield, who has made sure the tough guys get to wet their beaks. The other day, he was bragging that he's the leading reformer in Obamaland. But he had no opinion about the reform recommendations, because he hadn't read them.

"We're doing a tremendous job here, we lead by example," said Daley.

And Chicago said "Mooo."

Another non-farmer is House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Lisa's Daddy), who has made a fortune reducing taxes for important clients, and who runs the legislature, doling out campaign money to lawmakers so they'll obey him. Now he wants his daughter, Illinois Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (D-Mike), elected governor.

Let's not forget new state Senate President John Cullerton (D-DeLeo) or his true boss and business partner who installed him in Senate leadership, state Sen. James A. DeLeo (D-How You Doin?)

It's quite natural to think they despise taxpayers, given the absolute public arrogance of the Daleys and the Madigans, the feigned cupidity of the Cullertons, the dark silky silence of the DeLeos, and the foolishness of the Illinois Republican Party, a gang of appeasers complicit in making Illinois what it is today.

We're the peasants. They're the masters. But is not the farmer also the master of the cow? The farmer doesn't despise the cow that kicks the barn. He would never club the cow to the ground for its bovine insolence.

When the cows get aggravated, the farmer's task is to calm the herd, distract them and get those cows back to the production line.

And we taxpayers produce, too -- revenue for the bosses who run government like a family business. The bosses hand out government contracts, like road deals, and the asphalt kings give much love to the politicians in return. We get the potholes.

The bosses hope to convince us that the reforms being formally offered Friday to the Senate Executive Committee are unreasonable, and they'll give us watery reform instead. One committee member is Jimmy DeLeo. So DeLeo will decide whether the reform commission legislation is worthy. And you thought irony was dead?

But there's one big difference between livestock and taxpayers. Cows don't have fingers.

If you want the Illinois Reform Commission legislation to pass, if you really want some sunshine in the sewer that our state has become, then you pick up the phone and call Madigan at 217-782-5350. Don't be a cow and kick the stall in anger.

In a calm voice, tell the person who answers Madigan's phone that you'll never vote for his daughter. That's the only thing that'll get Mike Madigan's attention.

Leave a message for Daley at the 11th Ward Regular Democratic office, 773-254-6677, and tell him you won't vote for him or his brother Johnny. And call Cullerton at 217-782-7260 and tell him you're calling DeLeo at 217-782-1035. But don't tell Jimmy I told you.

Say you're from Melrose Park -- and I'm sure he'll listen.

Just remember, they don't despise us, not really.

All they want is to manage us at our productive best, and keep us in the barn, in the dark, getting milked by that relentless machine of theirs.
Posted by: mom 2009-05-21
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=270190