County board public comments, or..."I am a small business owner and I just stumbled on this meeting without any knowledge of anything"....

On 2/11, I to the DuPage county board meeting watching the republican government at work. We have 3 Democratic board members and 12 Republican so it can be a bit one sided. We are of the "upper middle class" venue if you listen to our...um....County Board. It is true that DuPage county has a much higher average income over many other areas of Illinois(our average is $78,000, Illinois average is $55,000), but there are 9 counties, that have an average income of higher than Illinois' median average, all but 2 are northern counties. My opinion? I think our "higher income" is not because of the republicon twitch, but because we're located near Chicago, as are the other 6 counties that make above the median(and that includes Cook).
Full disclosure: the reason I was at these particular meetings was due to my involvement with A Better Illinois, which is a grassroots group that is trying to get a ballot referendum on for the next general election that allows the voters of Illinois the ability to choose a graduated income tax(like 34 of the states now have) or stay with our antiquated misnomer tax system of "flat" which includes corporate loopholes galore. Illinois' tax system has not been really updated since the 1970's and is one of the biggest problems with our funding problems in the Land of Lincoln.
So...I'm sitting and listening to the workings of the board, who are basically wasting time and tax funds by holding a meeting to discuss the viability of sending a resolution to the State Assembly, which doesn't do anything at all in the actual process of putting the referendum on the ballot. Yep, just blowing smoke up their own asses...see how import'nt we are? Not much.
During the meeting there is time for public comment. Yes, I was there to speak, but I wasn't the only one.
There were representatives from different chapters of the League of Women Voters, IEA(one of the teacher's unions) and just regular old folks, shucks, who just came to speak...the same words...over and over again....blah blah blah"blank check", blah blah blah "we pay too much already", blah blah blah "businesses are going to move out!" All seemed to have the same message, sort of like the Stepford wife routine. I smelled something fishy. So, when I got home, I got on the google machine. See, the meetings are taped and you can watch everything over and over again...and everyone's name was right there so it was pretty easy to find out who these people were and what planet they're from.

So, one of the first person that struck me as a bit of a ranty lunatic was Glen Luckinbill who introduced himself as a "small business owner", in fact he said that he owned a business and his wife owned a business--the wording made it sound like there were at least 2 in the family, although there's only one that comes up on the web..which his wife is the president and he the sales executive(hmmm....wonder if they get that lucrative "minority" status since she's the prez?). He went on to say that they used to employ 30, now they employ 17 because of taxes(although the read on the company shows only 3 employees, including the Luckinbills, although I could be missing something), not, of course because of the recession that we've been in, that had nothing to do with it, just taxes. He also said that he and his wife are paying almost 50% of their profits in taxes now and if this went through, OH MY GOD! They'd have to move to another state. OK, so my first question, Who the Hell is doing your taxes?!?!!??!?! There isn't a smart business in this country that's paying that much and if that's true...DUDE, call me, I bet I can do better(but I will be charging him a "gullible" fee).

So the next brainiac I'd like to introduce you to is Jerry Schilling--talk about batshit crazy....I'm talking so far right, he don't make left turns when driving. He began his rant about how we pay too much in taxes, every year the state, county, municipal and other government institution raise taxes, fees, codes and we're being bled to death by taxes! He doesn't want to pay anything in taxes! OK. I really wanted to ask him how he thinks the roads would have been plowed by his house without paying taxes(we've had over 60" of snow), the snow plow fairies???? And the actual fact is that Illinois is a low tax state--we don't tax services, storage, entertainment, automotive service as do all of the states that surround us. We also have a lower tax rate than all of the states that surround us except Indiana(and its Indiana...where they tax services like hair cuts).
So, now what's his background? First, he's in his late 60's/early 70's so unless he's too silly not to retire, he's not paying state income taxes because Illinois doesn't tax retirement income! He runs a blog that complains about every little single thing that government does and he also writes for another rightwing blog(West Suburban Patriots) about, basically the same thing. He also seems to rant alot at the Naperville council meetings and is very upset by the whole smart meter thing, to the point of making a conspiracy out of it.

Then there's Victoria Deppe. Again, the phrases, "worst business climate", "worst unemployment", "highest sales tax", "will raise taxes on those making $18K), "Need to reform pensions and regulations" Illinois is "3rd highest in taxes and unemployment"...so many lies, so little time.
But who is Victoria Deppe? Well she writes on the Illinois Review right wing site, she's involved with the right wing Convention of States that wants to hold a Federal Constitutional Convention cuz they're tired of the Federal Government gettin' in their bidness. This "group" is the loving baby of Mark Levin and Glen Beck and...wait for it...ALEC--so that says how far right and out of step it is with the normal population. And she's a CHRISTIAN!!!! No, not a Christian, but a CHRISTIAN!!!!!, one that embraces the bible and bigotry if the websites that she's on are any evidence...again, she wants gomminint outta her bidness, but also wants gomminint all up in our bedroom bidness. And although I didn't see her being directly invovled in WSP, the Convention of States crap is all over that site.
Hmmm...do I see a pattern, not only of words, but of political bents?
But it gets stoopider....
We have Greg G. from Downers Grove  who's unemployed...but he's also 51 and there has been so much written about how many workers have been laid off cuz of their age..no, that's not it, its cuz of taxes..and rich people are job creators(again, the rich person who doubles as the welfare agency...just create a job without profit? I don't think so). He can't pay more in income tax cuz he paid close to $6K for property tax...in Downers Grove...where I live...I had some scepticism about this cuz he was trying to play the "just middle class unemployed worker" so, since his address was mentioned in the hearings, I looked up his taxes...silly boy...don't you understand the interwebs? He paid less than $5K, yes still a lot, but why LIE about it unless you were playing dramaqueen? Again, property tax is not income tax...and, because of other laws in the Illinois tax structure, if Illinois had a fairer tax system, we in this area are assured to receive more funding which would bring down our property taxes...DUH. Oh...and he mentioned its a "spending" problem again.

So then we have Carol Davis who said she only made $40K a year working 2 jobs. She lives in Carol Stream. The only Carol Davis that comes up in Carol Stream is one that owns a business that makes over $70K.Now, those silly interwebs, they can come up with anyone that lives in an area that has a phone number/address...so, if this isn't the person that owns the $70K business, maybe she lives in a cardboard box behind McDonald's. She was all, "I've never resented a wealthy person, because I never got a job from a poor one"...OH HAHAHAH. And there's no rich person or small business person who makes up a job without having a need for it...and, again, that means that I'm the job creator(because my money is spent, not shipped to the Caymen Islands), not Mr. Moneybags. Oh, and she's on the West Suburban Patriots band wagon and a "prepper"(one that is preparing for the end of the world, as we know it). You know the ones that like to hoard food, weapons, etc. and talk about how their neighbors are the crazy ones? Cuz they're gonna have to shoot their neighbors when the collapse comes down.

So, on to the next economic superstar, Hugh Hamill. He owns a jewelry store...one that sells to other jewelers and customers that make appointments to be serviced...we ain't talking Zales, here! High end/luxury type customers. So, he says, again, we're bankrupt, too much spending, blah blah blah. Oh, and he's going to move his business to Tennessee because Tennessee has no personal income tax. Well, he's right on that to a point, but Tennessee does have an annual 6% tax on all income made by capital gains and investments..you know, stocks and stuff. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Hamill probably has a couple or 3 dollars invested and prolly will pay a capital gains tax considering his business and wealth--hmmm...maybe he didn't think this out too well?

Then there was Jan Shaw, from Wheaton, who's big splash on the google machine is that she ran for a School Board seat and made some disparaging remarks about special needs students...oh, and she is/was a board member on the teabagger site, West Suburban Patriots. This pattern isn't just developing, its a freaking snowstorm!

Then, there was Heidi Holan, again, she also is on WSP. She's also running for office in Illinois. She also has absolutely no knowledge about tax structures or math. Yep the, "spending issues", went into the definition of "fair" from Webster's Dictionary and then told this bizarre story about her 2 sons cutting wood, she pays them $10 an hour, one son works for 9 1/2 hours and she pays him 91.43(she took out the 3.75% for the old Illinois income tax) and the other worked for 10 hours and she paid him $89, cuz she took out the 11% made up income tax...huh?????? That's not how a graduated tax works anyway(both would pay 3.75% on the first bracket of $95, and only the other $5 would be taxed at a higher rate, no bracket jumps up by 8%) but there is absolutely nothing in the referendum about brackets! Is this how taxes work in Heidiland???? Because its not the way they work in the real world. So, she wants to be in the General Assembly and doesn't even understand basic taxes???? Really???? And who works their kids for that long chopping wood????

Of course there were the handwringers from the Koch and ALEC backed Americans for Prosperity and the Illinois Policy Institute, both of which have been shown to be partisan and lapdogs for the uber greedy rich. Both of the spokespersons mention how this would raise taxes on those incomes that were under $18,000, one of them said that it would start at $5000...again, no rates have been scheduled and the only structures that have been spoken about favorably all use similar scales as the CTBA, which would end at less than 7% for the wealthiest and no income tax for those who make less than $9000.., but then when you don't understand basic tax policy and think math is hard, I guess 7 and 11 are the same and paying no income tax until you reach $9000 is the same as paying taxes at $5000.

How crazy are these people? And, just how mean-spirited, selfish and greedy? Boggles the mind of compassionate, thinking people.

Bruce Rauner--the new Jacob Marley...or a Romney wannabe

Bruce Rauner has been stomping on Illinois for the Republican Primary. He's been rallying against the "union bosses" and praising charter schools. Now? He wants to lower the minimum wage in Illinois which put a big smile on the other three Republican candidates. See, this is another chip in his "just a regular guy" armor. The whole nation, when polled, is in favor of raising the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour. Rauner wants to lessen our minimum wage which is $1 above the federal. So, then, he tried to pedal back...in the northern regions...thinking that the Southern areas wouldn't compare what was said in the Northern areas.
See, Illinois is the only state that travels through the "rust" belt, the "corn" belt and the "bible" belt of America...we are a microcosm of the USA in many ways( and yes, we have our tech belt also...and we're getting pretty good at wine also!). We have a very diverse population, but, I would venture a guess that none of us like being played for a fool and most of us have, at least, a TV and access to what candidates say in all areas of the state.
Mr. Rauner loves to do his commercials in Cabella gear and his $18 watch, but I really doubt that's how he looks at board meetings at his venture capitalist groups. In fact, let's talk about his home "roots".
To ensure that his daughter could get into one of the most prestigious charter schools in Illinois, he first bought and used the address of condo that's near Millennium Park. When it was shown that he used influence(and maybe a $250K bribe...err...donation) to the Walter Payton Charter school, he tries brushing away the reports by saying his daughter was good enough grade wise, it was because of illness that she didn't automatically qualify.This is just another political attack on him. Sorry, Mr. Rauner, but I'm sure there are many children who could qualify, grade wise, but because of absenteeism, were refused, but didn't have the ability to pull out $250K to smooth over the questions or to call their "friend", Arne Duncan(who was head of schools in Chicago at that time), to get some dispensation for their child.
Then there's the Stuart Levine thing.....
Stuart Levine is legendary in Illinois politics as a "fixer", he's testified for the prosecution against Rod Blagojevich, William Cellini and Tony Rezko and was sentenced to his own 5 year sentence for money laundering and fraud. Mr. Rauner's ties with him? Mr. Levine was paid a salary of $25,000 a month by one of Rauner's companies to acquire government contracts. Twenty Five Thousand dollars a MONTH. So, being fair minded, I looked to see how Mr. Rauner answered questions about this. He didn't. All he said is it just another political attack. I don't know about anyone else, but when I'm looking at a candidate, specially for governor, I'd like to think I'm smart enough NOT to vote for the guy who has ties with a convicted felon who took down another governor--this already smells really bad. 
Then, comes the "fund-raising". Mr. Rauner's campaign is very proud of their "fund-raising" skills, having about $4 Million dollars. They don't mention that $3 Million has been donated by the candidate himself! So, in reality, the campaign has raised less than $1 Million. Yes, that's a good amount of change, but it doesn't mean that he has so much support, it means he can self-fund his campaign because he's a multi-millionaire/billionaire.
And let us not forget that last, "Regular guy that I'd like to have a beer with"...GeeDubya...2 illegal wars, the worst recession(I'd say depression) since 1930 and how many unneeded deaths and anger toward our country? Rauner ain't that much different, knows how to go walmart and laugh all the way to the bank as he screws the working poor and middle class.

Illinois Politics, the Newest Soap Opera

In Illinois we are facing a very dark gubernatorial election; Governor Pat Quinn on the Democratic side and the four Stooges on the Republican side: third timer State Senator Pat Brady(the author of the "KILL THE PUPPIES" bill fame--he authored a bill that would allow mass euthanasia of shelter dogs by gas chamber), State Senator Kirk Dillard(who used to be a moderate republican, now has become a SKY IS FALLING teabagger shill), State Treasurer Dan Rutherford and carpetbagger....er...venture capitalist Bruce Rauner.
OK, so now you know how much respect I have for them, but I'm not supposed to, I'm the Union Thug Gramma! Oh, but there's not much love going on in the republican camps either....
Seems there's a new attack ad against Kirk Dillard, who, in many ways has been written off as a "has-been" because of how he ran so far to the right after the 2010 primary. Even tho he's had trouble raising money, mainly because of this turnabout from moderate to batshit crazy rightwing nutjob(OK, I'll take the nutjob back, he really isn't), that the right doesn't know which Kirk Dillard is going to show up for the governor's mansion. But, it seems that someone is trying to muddy the waters. See, Dillard has always said that Jim Edgar(Governor after Thompson, during the 90's--one term) and this video first uses the song, "I touch Myself" from the 90's and ends with saying this video was brought to you by Kirk Dillard and friends at MSI--which was a soft core scandal of Edgars that surfaced in 2000.
And then, there's the new group, Republican Fund for Progress and Jobs that just recently formed. The Head of this group is the former Aaron Schock Chief of Staff, Steven Shearer, Schock is another teabagger(aka batshit crazy) who is supposed to represent Peoria and Springfield(among other areas) in congress, but can't seem to ever make it out to his Peoria office, feeling much more comfortable in what could be called Illinois' beltway-Springfield. Now, this new group is saying they are just trying to educate voters about the candidates, but when Schock was thinking about running for Governor, Rauner paid for attack ads against him. Think maybe that might come back to haunt him? I hope so.
Now, Rauner has gotten the endorsement of the Cook County Republican Party(wow, all 30 of them?), but it still may become a primary Heathers trap---real bloody and lots of bad publicity. 
And that's fine with me. Let's get the red meat out now and hope that people vote for someone who actually cares about the people of Illinois, not just the bottom dollar of campaign funds.
OH. The other big high school drama is "WHO'S BEING NICE TO DEMOCRATS...EWWWWWW" There have been push issues about Dillard giving less than $1000 to the Obama Inauguration Fund, not his campaign fund, but after he was elected. A whole $ 924. Like that was gonna make a difference, what, you think that paid for a table of republicans to go to the balls? The way the batshit crazy rightwing media is spinning it, you'd think that Dillard financed Obama's presidential campaign by himself!
On the other hand we have Rauner...who has given truckloads to Rahm Immanuel and,{PERISH THE THOUGHT} maybe even MIKE MADIGAN(OK, I feel I need drama music) and all of this will be coming out.
OK, gotta admit, love the hysterical drama queen persona of the republicant party when they turn it on themselves. Seems to fit well.

The Governor's Race in Illinois

Oh goodie, another governor's race, another let down. The governor's race in Illinois is starting up...and already it doesn't bode too well for many that will be directly effected by the outcome. We have at least 2 darlings for the teabaggers, 1 1/2 for the dollarcrats, poor Kirk Dillard, who's been forced to dumb down so as to look like a teabagger...but not one for citizens who are intelligent and compassionate, at least so far.
So, the players of today:
Patrick Quinn: The Governor as of today. I always feel a bit sorry for Mr. Quinn. He was the true outsider, in his day, he was the face of CUB, Citizen's Utility Board, he's been a force in the 'outsider's' club, he was fired by Harold Washington because of his inability to get involved with day to day politics...he knew how to agitate, not negotiate...in fact, he is the true outsider, unlike Rauner who knows how to grease palms. BUT that causes a big problem when you're governor cuz he's the one that has no friends. That can work in campaign ads, but it doesn't work after the election, specially when you're dealing with Mike Madigan.
Bill Daley: All I can say is always running on the coattails....he has never won a political position, but has been given many. In fact, when he's thought about running, he jumps out before the opposition polling attacks. Also, another Dollarcrat--not Democrat; a lapdog for the Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Federation. He was involved with my nemesis, the evil Chase Bank...
Bruce Rauner: Well, he does own a German Wirehaired Pointer, one point in his favor. One point...but he's also given $$$$$ to break the Chicago Teacher's Union(he was instrumental in getting the bill passed that made it illegal for Chicago teachers to strike unless they had a 75% pro-strike vote...and the teachers outsmarted him by getting over 75% of a strike vote--he's still pissed about this), he's on the board of a charter school corporation, and brought the "Stand For Children"(read screw the teachers) group to Illinois(their policy insists that charter schools are the end all/be all and teacher's unions are evil...teachers should just feel blessed that they get to teacher our brats....err....angels and get paid a little better than minimum wage). He's listed on 21 Boards
And who did he speak to while trying to make up his mind to run? Scott Walker--who's placed WI in 50th place in the union in keeping jobs and enticing new businesses, Bobby "The Exorcist" Jindahl, who has allowed charter schools to run amok in Lousiana...and is consistently in the bottom 10 of educational ability of states(and the same for jobs), Chris Christie--another teacher abuser(notice how all of these 'men' enjoy abusing women?), and just signed a bill to allow 50 caliber weapons in NJ---after he said he wouldn't, and, last, but not least...although probably the smallest, Mitch Daniels--again, abuse of teachers, championed a right to work for less law in Indiana. And the Trib says this guy is fascinating--just like a train wreck, I imagine, for working people.
And, of course, he's running as the "outsider", although he's been on winning end of political appointments. You know, the ones in charge that aren't elected. He blames the "union bosses" for all of the issues with the state, never the corporate welfare that Illinois vomits out(Sears, Caterpillar, Google, CME, Office Max...and on and on and on...oh, and giving these big corporations tax cuts/rebates/refunds and not paying the bill). I'm always amazed when I hear how much power I have as a "union thug/boss" while still having to fight for the pension that I paid up to 9% of my income into...while the state hung out with the likes of Rauner(who, by the way made his money with...wait for it...outsourcing our jobs to other countries!). He's been outspoken on how our economy hurts Illinois' ability to create jobs while praising Walker...although since Walker took over Wisconsin, he's lost about 10,000 jobs...and Illinois has gained over 30,000 jobs. Seems like Rauner can't even understand basic math. OK, so his math issue may be to blame for his non-payment of taxes in Cook County.
Kirk Dillard(R): If Dillard had won the last governor's primary, he'd probably be governor now. He knows how to talk to both sides of the aisle, knows how to negotiate. BUT since his run in with teabagger Chris Nybo, he's been dancing with the right wing crazies...so will the real Kirk Dillard, please stand up...
Bill Brady: He made his money the old fashioned way--he married it. He plays the "pull yourself up be the bootstraps" crap without telling people how he made his money(again, so....was he on his knees?) Another CINO(christian in name only). Would love to get rid of worker protection for public employees and thinks right to work for less is just fantastic...
Dan Rutherford(R): Rutherford is a life long politician. He's been a state representative(93-2002), state senator(02-10), born in Pontiac, was a "business executive" before running for office, of course that was 20 years ago. Recently, he's come out against the new education initiative, Common Core Standards, which does have conservative support...except for the likes of teabaggers and Glenn Beck. Although he voted for civil unions in Illinois, he's against marriage equality, feeling that a 24 hour marriage in Vegas between a man and a woman holds much more love/honor than a 40 year same sex relationship. And what do you serve with hypocrisy, Mr. Rutherford? He's also a member of ALEC, which doesn't bode well for middle class/working Illinoisans.
So, there's my take on how our governor race is shaping up....sad to say, but unless Dillard decides to be Kirk Dillard and not Kirk"OH PLEASE...I'LL VOTE FOR BATSHIT CRAZY RIGHT WING LEGISLATION!!!", I may be voting for Quinn again.