Ah, Chicago. A former glorious city being reduced to ashes. Just like Detroit, which looks like a war zone and a city in its death throes. Just like San Francisco, a very rich “sanctuary” city that is drowning in the homeless and in human feces. What do all of these cities have in common, other than the fact they are dying? They are all bastions of liberalism and have been controlled by the Democrats for decades.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating…or so the saying goes. So if anyone needs any proof at all that Democratic, (read: socialist) ideals never work, just look at the cities where they have been in control, like Chicago.
Chicago is in a financial death spiral, and no matter how you want to spin it you simply cannot deny that it is a result of Democratic leadership. The Democrats have been in control of Chicago for over 80 years. So after 80-plus years of Democratic control, shouldn’t Chicago be the “beacon on the hill” proving to the world that “progressivism” and Democratic governance are the answer? But no, it’s a cesspool, as reported by Town Hall.
“Chicago should serve as a showplace that reflects the wonderful world of ‘progressive policies,'” wrote Larry Elder. “Public schools are a mess, and the city’s finances place their bonds at near junk level. In 2013, the city averaged 36 homicides a month, with the majority of them unsolved,” Elder added.
The fact of the matter is that Chicago is in a financial death spiral with bankruptcy being seen as the inevitable result…just like Detroit.
So what does Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel want to do? He and his “progressive” legislators decided to put Chicago out of it’s misery by delivering the death blow to its bottom line. They are literally going to “give away” $500 dollars a month to 1,000 families! No questions asked. But the worst part is that this is a “test” of a universal income plan. Meaning they want to launch it across the city and then see it spread across the state. It is pure insanity.
What’s more insane is that Stockton, CA is right behind them. “The Stockton program will launch in 2019 and last 18 months before officials decide whether to roll out the program citywide,” wrote Fox News reporter Benjamin Brown.
In typical Democrat form, they use a play on words to try to reframe the conversation. For example, they don’t want to call them “illegal” immigrants. Oh no. Heaven forbid we call something by its correct name. No, instead they call them “undocumented workers.” With the implication that they came here to “work” and not suckle the proverbial free money “teat.” Same goes for the newly minted “Universal Basic Income” program.
By its very definition, income implies that someone is “working” for it: “money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.”
The city is handing out free money to freeloaders. Heaven forbid you should tell it like it is. So, in order to downplay the negative stereotypes, they give it a fancy name and call it something it isn’t. It’s infuriating and misleading.
Thus the Democrats reframe the conversation and paint a picture for the hardworking, taxpaying citizens that it is a “humanitarian” crisis that only “big government” can solve. To quote one of the bill’s sponsors, Amaya Pawar: “Nearly 70% of Americans don’t have $1,000 in the bank for an emergency. It’s time to start thinking about direct cash transfers to people so that they can start making plans about how they’re going to get by.”
Folks, this is the same ridiculous argument the Democrats made when they declared the “war on poverty” way back in the 1960s. Well, here we are, over 50-plus years later…and poverty and homelessness are at record highs, with the war costing us billions (dare I say trillions of dollars), with nothing to show for it. How do you think this program is going to be any different? Big Government never solves anything!
As reported by Charlie Kirk in a Fox News piece: “In a state that has $9.1 billion in unpaid bills; $239 billion in adjusted pension liabilities; and $37.4 billion in bonds outstanding, spending more money on just about anything is clearly indefensible.”
Chicago taxpayers are on the hook for close to $35 billion in pension debt alone; that’s nearly four times greater than a decade ago. When broken down to individual households that would tally over $60,000 for every family living in Chicago. But don’t forget, Chicago is losing its residents at a record pace. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois lost more citizens (105,000) than any other state in 2017.
How bad does it have to be that even major left-leaning publications are writing scathing reports and chastising Rahm Emanuel?
On July 11, NBC News reported that Chicago would not be a host city for the 2026 World Cup. While the United States, Canada and Mexico will co-host the World Cup, Chicago will be left out. Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s explanation of Chicago’s snub was that the World Cup organization had too many moving targets in their budget request, and “I am not going to write a company a blank check that can fleece the taxpayers.” Did I hear you correctly, Rahm? What have you been doing to the taxpayers for your entire administration? I would suggest “fleece” is a less-than-adequate word. Maybe “abuse” the taxpayers of Chicago would be a better adjective?
Writing for the Chicago Tribune, Mark Zavaginin summarized what we are discussing: “It seems Emanuel, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and House Speaker Michael Madigan live in the same fantasy taxation bubble. They don’t want to fleece the taxpayers of Chicago, Cook County and the state of Illinois, but all of them, and their underlings, continue to do just that. Before they criticize our egotistical, character-lacking, liar of a president, all three of these so-called leaders need to take a good, long look in the mirror. If they like what they see, then they are just like Mr. Trump. My hunch is that Emanuel is more like our current president than he would care to admit. And that’s a very sad state of affairs for the residents of the city of Chicago.”
So how in the world do Chicago politicians think they are going to be able to pay for this free universal income? Folks, Chicago is bankrupt, its taxpaying citizens are leaving in droves, and the city is running a negative balance sheet. Insanity in Chicago is really pissing me off. Why?
Because my mom lives in Chicago. Right there in Franklin Park, and I have had to witness firsthand what Chicago’s governance is doing and the havoc its liberal policies have created. My mom can barely afford to live in Chicago, even though her house is paid off. But here is a little secret. She is leaving. She’s done. Give her another year or two for her to gain access to her retirement, then she’ll join the exodus. Just one more taxpayer who has had enough. And this decision was made before this ridiculous announcement about which I am writing.
You see folks, these progressive politicians always forget one important lesson: you simply can not change human nature. The lazy will always be lazy and will always look for a free ride. Good, hardworking, taxpaying people are always willing to help someone less fortunate, if they have the means. But eventually the hardworking citizens will always ask why they work while others get a free ride. This sentiment only intensifies when it appears that the “poor” live a better life than the person who works. So eventually these hard workers vote with their wallet…and their feet.
Chicago, if you want to know where you are headed and what will happen to your once-great city, look no further than Detroit.
Also, here is another question for you: Does anyone else find it highly coincidental that the announcement for this program comes on the heels of the upcoming November election? Could it be that the Democrats are running scared and are trying to “buy votes”
But who the hell really cares, right? I mean, after all…it’s only money.
