Our current form of government no longer works

Has government at the national, state and local levels become too big? Are there too many layers, with enough overlap to embarrass the word redundant? Has our government become the six foot fourth grader, too big to get out of its own way? If you asked those questions to 5 different people on 5 different days, you would no doubt get 25 different sets of answers. But the one fact that most would agree to, is that our current form of government is not working.




One only needs to look at the mess that is the state of Illinois to drive this point home. With the state currently 12 billion dollars in debt, the legislature was wrapping their latest session in Springfield, with a proposed budget so far out of balance that selling the city of Chicago to Wisconsin wouldn’t get them back to even.



On the last day of the session the states once proud horse racing industry awaited the fate of SB3146. This bill as proposed would allow the Chicago tracks of Arlington and Hawthorne to install 1200 slot machines at each facility. The states second tier tracks, Balmoral, Fairmount, and Quad city downs would each get 900 machines. It is estimated that the machines would provide new annual revenues of $400 million for the state coffers. In addition the states racing industry would receive a much needed boost. In all likelihood Hawthorne and Fairmount will be closing without the passage of this bill. The racing industry in the state of Illinois and the businesses that support it, account for approximately 35,000 jobs. Jobs that will disappear if the states tracks are allowed to die.



This sounds like a no brainer, and early role calls indicated that the bill had overwhelming support in both the House and the Senate. After all the citizens of Illinois have never been adverse to gambling. In addition to the tracks, the state is home to several gambling boats and even recently allowed public video poker machines in many areas. But not so fast sweetheart, the existing gambling boats, which are owned by large out of state gaming companies, are opposed to expanded electronic gaming at the racetracks. They know that racing in the state is on life support and see an opportunity to increase their already sizable piece of the gambling pie, should racing fail.



Five senators from districts that are home to casino boats are vehemently opposed to the bill, which comes as no surprise nor a threat to passage when the vote is called. Therein lies the rub, WHEN the vote is called. Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), fearing the withdrawal of support by the 5 casino senators for other legislation that he favors, refused to call the bill for a vote. I do not understand what the 5 Senators are afraid of, it’s not like the boats are going to pack up and leave just because the racetracks get slot machines. I guess it is possible that the 5 may find the gaming companies and their powerful lobby may be a tad less generous with perks and donations next year, if they don’t get things their way, but that negatively affects THOSE 5 PEOPLE. It is unbelievable to me that 5 people(6 if you include Cullerton) can stop a bill that means 35,000 jobs, hundreds of millions in new state revenue and has the support of the citizens of the state as well as a large majority of the people they elect to represent THEM in such matters.



The Definition of Democracy is: government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.



This definition no longer applies to the government now being executed in this county. Scenarios like that of the “Springfield 6” are being played in every state house in the country. And those shenanigans pale when compared to what goes on in Washington DC. Is there a way to fix the problem? Term limits would certainly be a solution, but how are we going to get that passed, by the very people they would limit. Term limits by ballot box, is the answer that you will get from the elected, but they know that our election process has become so tainted by money that it just doesn’t happen. As ridiculous as it sounds, violent revolution might be the easiest way to overthrow what has become something far less than Democracy.