Webloggin » Illinois Democrats Abolish Democracy

Monarchical bloodlines are all that is required these days in the City of Chicago and Cook County, IL. It started with the quick one pulled on the voting public in 2004 where then 3rd District Congressman Bill Lipinksi got a sudden urge to retire after the primary and installed his son to stand for election in a largely Democratic District where winning the primary is tantamount to election. It continued this year where County Board President John Stroger retired after the primary so the committeemen could replace him with his son Todd, who then stood for election in the general election, winning it by a somewhat close margin. The elder Stroger had a debilitating stroke prior to the primary but his true condition was concealed as not to upset the plan for illegitimate succession being foisted upon the people of Cook County.

After Stroger retired in July he was replaced by board member Bobbi Steele who said she would only sit in the President’s chair to fulfill the remainder of Stroger’s term and then would return to her regular seat on the board. Alas Ms. Steele caught the highly communicable post election bug to retire after the general election, in which her stated goal was to remain on the County board. Apparently the allure of a doubled pension for her non-work as President was too much to pass up.

The Democratic Committeemen of her West Side district named her replacement today and surprise! They named her son Robert Steele who now gets to serve 4 years without standing for election at all, either primary or general. To top it off, he is a Chicago Park District administrator to boot so he will collect double pensions from the people of the city and county as the Commissioner’s position pays $85,000 for what is called a part time job.

For $85,000 the people deserve a full time administrator and the ridiculously lavish pension system for elected officials should be abolished altogether and replaced with an employee contribution system like a 401K which would provide a substantial savings for the people.

The joke is on the people of the city, county and districts who are denied a choice in the representation they receive. It is an insult to any thinking person but a system that will not end until the people stop accepting this type of hereditary positioning in elected office. A lie is a lie and should be pointed out as such. Ms. Steele, is a thief of the worst kind, and has stolen the trust of the people of her district, she lied to the people of the county and has proven that her career was less about service and more about enriching herself and her family. This is her legacy, in the true Chicago and Cook County tradition, when duty called she ignored it and instead chose to take. Will it ever end or have people become so numb that they just look glassy eyed as their money is stolen from them and given to the connected?

This is the legacy of the our County board and it stinks like the rotting carcass it is.

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