The Time is Now

Illinois State Rep. John Fritchey blogs about an article that caught his eye. The main idea in the article is that the state of affairs in Illinois.

Illinois is drifting toward a mediocrity that could deny our kids and grandkids the economic opportunity and quality of life that have lifted generation after generation in this heartland hub. Yet, most residents do not sense the urgency, do not understand the depth and breadth of an unprecedented budgetary meltdown and do not trust their leaders any more than their leaders trust each other.

State government has borrowed billions from future wage-earners, used one-time revenues for ongoing expenses and shamelessly delayed payments to service providers for months and months — all so Gov. Rod Blagojevich could dramatically expand government-paid health care and boost school funding while demonizing tax increases to support those causes.

Now, as the backlog of unpaid bills soars toward $5 billion, the jarring, revenue-eroding recession is hastening an entirely predictable reckoning.

Because too many politicians have chosen sweet talk over straight talk, Illinoisans overwhelmingly believe we can provide adequate K-12 funding, assure higher education accessibility to the less affluent, preserve parks and historic sites, respond comprehensively to mental illness, arrest and imprison violent offenders, combat methamphetamine, heroin and crack cocaine, keep faith with retired public employees and rehabilitate the state treasury simply by curtailing raises for legislators, firing political hacks, grounding the governor’s plane and doing some surgical snipping here and there.

I know this blog is largely targeted to those who live in the 6th Ward with the idea of not only discussing issues not only in the neighborhood, but also issues of concern not only around the city but also the rest of the state. Many of you who were here on day one has seen the attention here focused on state issues. The point here is that what happens with Illinois will affect us in the 6th.

John Fritchey who represents a district on the north side of Chicago, indeed he is said to be even the state rep for our Governor Rod Blagojevich is making a call for "bold and decisive leadership". Something that Rep. Fritchey believes is sorely needed NOW!