Tuesday, April 1 is “Cheap Trick Day” in Illinois, a special day set aside to honor one of the most prolific rock groups to come from the Land of Lincoln.
Last year, the General Assembly passed a resolution making every April 1 “Cheap Trick Day” in Illinois.
* The question: Come up with another name for April Fools Day in Illinois.
“Roger the Hog Day,” to honor the resilient and cunning indigenous state swine. Found at public troughs throughout the state, it prefers to do its business in the dark, behind closed doors, and has been known to squeal when cornered.
If I recall, “April Fool’s Day,” usually on April 1 of each year, was moved to May 31 in 2007. You see, May 31 was the day that the General Assembly was scheduled to adjourn, and everyone was “fooled” because the adjournment never occured. So May 31 is the new “Fool’s Day,” which made room for April 1 to be “Cheap Trick Day.”
This is the first day of the year that every working stiff finally stops working to pay for government employee pensions and benefits for family, friends, campaign donors and campaign workers on the dole. Thousands and thousands of state pensions paying more than $100,000 per year plus generous benefits.
Not much to celebrate however, because on April 2 we start working for a few weeks to pay state taxes and then after that we still have to work another month at least to pay the federal taxes.
But sometime in June you can stop being a slave to corrupt politicians and start earning money to actually eat with (and pay the highest US sales taxes) or pay health care bills or put gas in the car or pay the highly taxed electric bill and the like.
April Fool’s Day? That’s election day in Illinois now.
Rod Blagojevich Day, proving to everyone what fools the voters of the state of Illinois are.
(Dishonorable mention: Todd Stroger Day. However, he only proved just how foolish Cook County voters are.)
- Trapped In The Metro East - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 1:28 pm:
Should Oct. 31 be declared ‘Smashing Pumpkins Day’? Or does it take 30 years after a band stops becoming relevant for the honor?
I vote for ‘Reform & Renewal Day’ or ‘We’re Tired of Politics As Usual and This Time We’re Going To Do Something About It. No, Really, We’re Serious This Time. Vote Quimby! Day’.
taxmemore - waaaah! those taxes also build the roads you drive on, police your streets, protect your property, pay for courts to redress your grievances, pay for the national defense, those taxes pay for SEC regulation of financial markets, which creates the investment opportunities that allow US companies to lead the world, it pays for public health programs to ensure that you don’t die from tuberculosis or small pox or cholera.
yeah, lets stop paying taxes. if you want to see what that’s like, move to Somalia. No government. It’s entirely governed under libertarian principles. Totally unregulated economy. No government intervention in private markets. Of course, that means everything is owned by armed gangs, but hey, whatever. Libertarianism rulez!
Jerry 101, Somalia actually resembles your Democratic Party in Illinois very well and is about as far away as a libertarian government as can be. Are you really that challenged in comprehension skills? Politics in Somalia are based on power and entitlement instead of public service for the people paying for it. The only armed gang in Chicago is the Democrat Party, similar to Somalia also. Chicago Democrats look the other way when Chicago cops beat the hell out of skinny women and torture confessions out of innocent minorities. There is no legimate system in place for the citizens to complain about police abuse and nothing would be done if people could complain. Sounds a lot like Somalia, Jerry 101, is that what Democrats give us for our money, armed police thugs without oversight or accountability?
Since when does it take HALF OF OUR INCOME to pay for the very low cost things you mention? Oh yeah, when people like Jerry 101 are hired to do nothing with our tax money but try to protect their millionaire pension and benefits without doing a damn thing to improve this state for anyone else. Payrolls (including contractors) are skyrocketing in Illinois and the poverty rate just keeps going up. Jerry 101 doesn’t actually care about poverty or people getting health care, cause when it comes to paying taxes, all he cares about is getting his piece of our money screwing the people that the tax money could be helping.
Taxes are supposed to help take care of those that are mentally or physically dependent also, but Illinois’ solution to mental health needs are to wait until someone that needs help commits a crime until the state “tries to help”. A lot of good you are doing with our tax dollars, Jerry 101, when the most vulnerable amongst us are ignored and treated like cattle.
Gas taxes are a user fee and can pay for all the roads. Courts should easily break even from filing fees, fines, tickets, and judgments like they did for decades and decades before the drug war, that is. My taxes don’t pay for the SEC, but nice try. The companies pay their own fees to cover those costs associated with monitoring their business just like a user fee.
Three Cheers for Jerry 101 Day where everyone pays 100% in taxes and Jerry tries to justify it because he knows how the government should spend our money better than us. There is also a big difference between National Defense and International Offense that includes our troops in hundreds of countries where having our troops does nothing for National Defense.
Jerry 101, you maybe justified us paying taxes of about .3-.5% (half of one percent) of our income so how do you now explain the rest of the taxes besides it’s all going to the thugs with power and where they want it to go, just like Somalia.
More than 1,000 state employees will retire this year and get pensions of more than $100,000 a year plus lucrative benefits. We’re looking more like Somalia every day with Jerry 101s in charge.
LIVE session coverage...
- OneMan - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:20 am:
Under the Bus Day
- Snidely Whiplash - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:22 am:
Election Day
- Ghost - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:27 am:
I refuse to answer this question while the Rezko trial is going on.
Or - just in time for 2009
Elected Offical Removal Day
- Team America, World Police - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:29 am:
Constituent Services Day
- Greg - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:31 am:
Governor’s Day
- Aaron - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:39 am:
Dad’s Birthday… time for a prank.
- Silent Majority - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:39 am:
Governor Appreciation Day
- Irish - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:39 am:
Illinois Works
- Packerfan - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:42 am:
Legislative Leader Day
- Leroy - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:42 am:
“Get in, get yours, and get out” Day
- blagoman - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:43 am:
Blago in Springfield Day or better yet
“Capital Improvement Budget Approval Day”
- wordslinger - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:48 am:
Let me answer that with an answer:
“Roger the Hog Day,” to honor the resilient and cunning indigenous state swine. Found at public troughs throughout the state, it prefers to do its business in the dark, behind closed doors, and has been known to squeal when cornered.
- Irish - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:48 am:
“Every Day is April 1st at 100 West Randolph Suite 16 Day”
- Marvelous Wonderful - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:50 am:
Governor Bill Brady Day. lol
- Wumpus - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:51 am:
Public Employee Appreciation Day…from everyone from the Sewer inspector/IDOT worker to the Governor
- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:51 am:
The ending day of the GA session from 2 years ago.
- ummmm - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:24 am:
Reform and Renewal Day?
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:26 am:
“Voter Appreciation Day” to honor the many fools who keeping electing these other fools.
- Anonymous45 - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:28 am:
the beginning of the end of the Cubs season day…
- Enemy of the State - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:53 am:
Home of the longest running political practical joke in the USA. Take that Louisiana!
- Anon - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:56 am:
“Session”
- Levois - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:56 am:
The I got nothing day.
- unclesam - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 12:27 pm:
If I recall, “April Fool’s Day,” usually on April 1 of each year, was moved to May 31 in 2007. You see, May 31 was the day that the General Assembly was scheduled to adjourn, and everyone was “fooled” because the adjournment never occured. So May 31 is the new “Fool’s Day,” which made room for April 1 to be “Cheap Trick Day.”
I hope this clears up any confusion.
- TaxMeMore - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 12:47 pm:
Pension Tax Freedom Day.
This is the first day of the year that every working stiff finally stops working to pay for government employee pensions and benefits for family, friends, campaign donors and campaign workers on the dole. Thousands and thousands of state pensions paying more than $100,000 per year plus generous benefits.
Not much to celebrate however, because on April 2 we start working for a few weeks to pay state taxes and then after that we still have to work another month at least to pay the federal taxes.
But sometime in June you can stop being a slave to corrupt politicians and start earning money to actually eat with (and pay the highest US sales taxes) or pay health care bills or put gas in the car or pay the highly taxed electric bill and the like.
April Fool’s Day? That’s election day in Illinois now.
- so-called "Austin Mayor" - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 12:50 pm:
Kerner, Walker, Ryan and Blagojevich Day!
– SCAM
so-called “Austin Mayor”
http://austinmayor.blogspot.com
- Crimefighter - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 12:55 pm:
Voter’s Lamenting Day
- fedup dem - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 1:06 pm:
Rod Blagojevich Day, proving to everyone what fools the voters of the state of Illinois are.
(Dishonorable mention: Todd Stroger Day. However, he only proved just how foolish Cook County voters are.)
- Trapped In The Metro East - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 1:28 pm:
Should Oct. 31 be declared ‘Smashing Pumpkins Day’? Or does it take 30 years after a band stops becoming relevant for the honor?
I vote for ‘Reform & Renewal Day’ or ‘We’re Tired of Politics As Usual and This Time We’re Going To Do Something About It. No, Really, We’re Serious This Time. Vote Quimby! Day’.
- South Side Mike - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 3:30 pm:
Most Ethical Administration Day
- zatoichi - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 3:45 pm:
Tax Free Day
- The Mad Hatter - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 4:09 pm:
Where’s Mine? Day
- Justice - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 4:42 pm:
Take a Hack to Work day. That would create a full house.
- jerry 101 - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 5:30 pm:
IL GOP Relevance Day?
April Fools!
taxmemore - waaaah! those taxes also build the roads you drive on, police your streets, protect your property, pay for courts to redress your grievances, pay for the national defense, those taxes pay for SEC regulation of financial markets, which creates the investment opportunities that allow US companies to lead the world, it pays for public health programs to ensure that you don’t die from tuberculosis or small pox or cholera.
yeah, lets stop paying taxes. if you want to see what that’s like, move to Somalia. No government. It’s entirely governed under libertarian principles. Totally unregulated economy. No government intervention in private markets. Of course, that means everything is owned by armed gangs, but hey, whatever. Libertarianism rulez!
- Disgusted - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 6:07 pm:
Governmental Fools Day.
- Ahem - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 6:27 pm:
For Number One Day.
- 23 year old - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 10:11 pm:
Affordable Higher Ed Day.
April Fools!
- TaxMeMore - Monday, Mar 31, 08 @ 11:27 pm:
Jerry 101, Somalia actually resembles your Democratic Party in Illinois very well and is about as far away as a libertarian government as can be. Are you really that challenged in comprehension skills? Politics in Somalia are based on power and entitlement instead of public service for the people paying for it. The only armed gang in Chicago is the Democrat Party, similar to Somalia also. Chicago Democrats look the other way when Chicago cops beat the hell out of skinny women and torture confessions out of innocent minorities. There is no legimate system in place for the citizens to complain about police abuse and nothing would be done if people could complain. Sounds a lot like Somalia, Jerry 101, is that what Democrats give us for our money, armed police thugs without oversight or accountability?
Since when does it take HALF OF OUR INCOME to pay for the very low cost things you mention? Oh yeah, when people like Jerry 101 are hired to do nothing with our tax money but try to protect their millionaire pension and benefits without doing a damn thing to improve this state for anyone else. Payrolls (including contractors) are skyrocketing in Illinois and the poverty rate just keeps going up. Jerry 101 doesn’t actually care about poverty or people getting health care, cause when it comes to paying taxes, all he cares about is getting his piece of our money screwing the people that the tax money could be helping.
Taxes are supposed to help take care of those that are mentally or physically dependent also, but Illinois’ solution to mental health needs are to wait until someone that needs help commits a crime until the state “tries to help”. A lot of good you are doing with our tax dollars, Jerry 101, when the most vulnerable amongst us are ignored and treated like cattle.
Gas taxes are a user fee and can pay for all the roads. Courts should easily break even from filing fees, fines, tickets, and judgments like they did for decades and decades before the drug war, that is. My taxes don’t pay for the SEC, but nice try. The companies pay their own fees to cover those costs associated with monitoring their business just like a user fee.
Three Cheers for Jerry 101 Day where everyone pays 100% in taxes and Jerry tries to justify it because he knows how the government should spend our money better than us. There is also a big difference between National Defense and International Offense that includes our troops in hundreds of countries where having our troops does nothing for National Defense.
Jerry 101, you maybe justified us paying taxes of about .3-.5% (half of one percent) of our income so how do you now explain the rest of the taxes besides it’s all going to the thugs with power and where they want it to go, just like Somalia.
More than 1,000 state employees will retire this year and get pensions of more than $100,000 a year plus lucrative benefits. We’re looking more like Somalia every day with Jerry 101s in charge.