I may have been too hasty
Friday, Oct 7, 2016 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I was pretty hard this week on the LOL Illinois front group created by Ty Fahner and his big business organization.
But then I spent some time looking through the group’s site and found this…
The financial state of our State is grim. Instead of a responsible and comprehensive budget, we have received a stop-gap spending plan that’s not nearly enough to make it through this year, let alone address the key needs of our State. The Land of Lincoln and its citizens are suffering.
It doesn’t matter if you’re downstate or in Chicago, a student or a social service worker; we all have something in common: Not having a budget is not a laughing matter. Springfield has stopped listening to Illinois citizens. We must make enough noise that they won’t have a choice but to hear us.
Notice anything missing from that highlighted (by me) list? Business owners. Notice anything else missing? Turnaround Agenda items.
* And check out their form letter to legislators and the governor…
Our state is facing a financial crisis like never before and we, the people of Illinois, deserve better!
Because of your inaction, 14,000 teens are without access to afterschool programs, 25,000 seniors are at risk of losing services, 15,000 fewer women will have access to breast and cervical cancer screenings, 1,000 at-risk families are in jeopardy of losing child development services, and 136,000 college students are unsure whether they can afford to stay in school, not to mention the thousands of jobs and businesses at risk of being lost or worse, leaving the state.
Illinois has been the laughingstock of the nation for a while now. But these numbers are no joke. This is not a laughing matter.
We need to put the Land of Lincoln back on sound financial footing.
OK, they do talk about the business climate a tiny bit, but it’s almost an afterthought.
* They then allow people to choose an occupation or position in a pull-down menu…
A choice of being a union member, but not of a business person? Interesting.
* Just for snicks, I chose “community leader” and this message was automatically provided….
What impacts one group in our community ends up impacting all of us. Without social services who is going to guide the at-risk teenager? Who is going to care for the veteran with PTSD? Who is going to assist with elderly parents with Alzheimer’s? When any one of these groups is ignored, there are ripples of uncertainty and instability throughout our community. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a student just starting out, or a retiree expecting to live out their life with a pension, we expect our legislators to ensure that the pieces are in place for our communities to be safe and secure. If one’s not laughing, no one is laughing.
* And check out their Twitter page. They have tweets about child homelessness increasing, cuts to higher education, MAP grants, the Elgin Latino Treatment Center cutting employees and services, and one tweet about manufacturing job losses. Heck, they even retweeted Emily Miller from Voices for Illinois Children.
Sorry, Ty.
- Emily Miller - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:52 am:
Any conversation that prioritizes finding a solution to the budget impasse is one that I want to have.
- Earnest - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:56 am:
It’s the new IllinoisGO
- Anon221 - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:56 am:
The content and intent of the site is very good. The rollout and use of LOL took away from the initial first impression of the work. Punchlined before they could even enter the ring.
- anon - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:57 am:
Nah. It’s still a terrible and ineffective public affairs campaign. Should ask for a refund.
- Curious - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 10:58 am:
Agree with Earnest. IllinoisGO regularly tweeted out news stories that blasted Rauner.
Hope they’re sincere.
- Reality Check - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:09 am:
Fahner was a public employee, attended a public university and lives in Evanston. He’s obviously a collectivist.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:17 am:
And yet is the well not long ago poisoned? I don’t trust moneyed interests especially not business ones.
In the world of “attitudes and behaviors” I have seen way to many behaviors towards the destruction of our people to trust ANY attitudes.
I don’t see business folk out working for our people or financially supporting social services, with the exception of predatory Ounce of Prevention. I don’t see anything on my level at the front.
Even when there is support it is merely for the function of assuaging guilt or dispelling any taint of nobles oblige.
Ty, you’re going to have to put your money and your effort where your mouth, or website, are for a LONG LONG time before you EVER gain trust back.
Drop your neoliberalistic practices and behaviors.
But you can’t do that can you? It’s not profitable.
I respectfully submit that your original assessment was probably right Rich Miller.
We have been dissuaded too many times by attitude.
- DuPage - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:18 am:
Rauner: “I will never give in”. (On a tax increase unless his turnaround agenda is passed.)
He said that a number of times. Now he is doing that. It is destroying the state. I will keep that in mind when voting.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:23 am:
- Honeybear -
Politics is a game of Addition, not Subtraction.
If someone agrees with you 80% of the time, they’re not a 20% enemy.
Don’t make Ty, who’s work here needs a serious rethink a Sin Eater.
Just think first. Your questioning is beyond understandable, but your dismissing out of hand, even after another look… it’s about Addition.
With respect, as I respect your thoughts here on this topic..,
- Bobby Catalpa - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:25 am:
What’s interesting about the dropdown list is that all of these groups are — at least today — make up what’s known as the “middle class”. (Or, as Rauner says, “whatever class”.)
And these are … ahem … exactly the people targeted by Rauner.
Madigan is absolutely right to push back against Rauner. Hard.
And this is the reason — this list.
- Chicago_Downstater - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:36 am:
@Honeybear
I think that the harsher bits of your post at 11:17 AM are a bit over the top.
From what I’ve read of your previous comments you seem like a big-hearted and open-minded individual. Don’t you think painting all business interests in such a light cuts across these traits?
Business owners can be pillars of the community and give back to their communities without it automatically being about guilt or nobles oblige. I’m going to give Ty a chance and see what comes of it.
- AlfondoGonz - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:37 am:
Rich, don’t you know that in this climate, contrition is weakness, reconsidering things in light of new evidence is either lack of conviction or, worse, flip-flopping, and the name of the game is always, no matter what, even in the face of your own videotaped contradictions, “double down.” /s
- Lucky Pierre - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:43 am:
Wow business interests don’t support social services and charities here in Illinois?
One of the most over the top statements I have ever read on this blog.
Where do you think the private money that is donated to these organizations comes from
- Responsa - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:52 am:
== previous comments—-open-minded individual.==
Nah. Individual consumed by blind rage seems more like it. Sorry. Any respect is long gone.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 11:53 am:
Oh wow, oh wow, that right there is why I come to this blog every day.
OW that is the learning of the year for me.
“Politics is a game of addition”
That wisdom is unassailable and I yield to it.
The ancient Spartans used to call it “katalepsis”. We would call it losing control, going berserk, in the heat of the battle.
As all of you know I get “kataleptic” quite a bit. How grateful am I for those on this, OW chief among them, who grab me and shake me out of it. And also do it carefully without denying the reality that I face.
Thanksgiving came early.
Not that I think Mr. Fahner would be reading this but for those like him.
Please engage in behaviors. Please be public about it. Please help the “helpers”.
Maybe that’s exactly what you were trying to do.
Forgive me if that was the case.
- Chicago_Downstater - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
@Honeybear
I’m sorry Honeybear that I posted after OW. He posted while I was typing and I think his comment was well put and didn’t need me tagging along.
@Responsa
I don’t know. I can get worked up and type things here that I later think better of. I’m sure there are things you regret typing on this blog.
I’d like to think we can respect each other here if only because we all share a common interest in bettering our state, right?
- Responsa - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
@Chicago_Downstater - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:06 pm:
It’s exactly the ongoing and repetitive cycle of over- the -top blurting out followed by fawning “apologies” when challenged that inform my earlier comment. If that comment sounds harsh I nevertheless less stand by it based on the written history collected here on this site.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
It is the private sector that provides tax money for public services. Hammer the private sector with a sweeping and crushing blow, and ‘human services” will be non-existent. The fact that some of that sector kneels at the alter of Trumpism, does not condone unequivocal condemnation of private sector, or speak highly of persons that do so
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:21 pm:
- Honeybear -
It’s all good. We all need touchstones, be they people or not.
The big picture is at play here, stepping back may give focus.
We all learn here, that’s for sure.
- 37B - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:29 pm:
Thanks Rich.
Thanks for going all the way through the site to find a subtle indication that there just might be a thaw; hope that business leaders are growing weary of supporting a political strategy which is causing carnage for social services. I hope it means that they are sending the Governor a message that this awful impasse has been going on too long.
I believe business leaders are people of conscience. They sit on boards of non-profits. They hear the Lambs. I’m hoping this site signals a willingness to start running the place again. Recognition that the Rauner strategy has inflicted pain with no gain.
Hope springs eternal.
Sigh.
- 37B - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 12:43 pm:
@Honeybear. Someone needs a hug. I don’t mean that facetiously or condescendingly. I’m generally on all fours with your posts.
Go home. Be held. Breathe. Cry. And start it all over again. If business leaders are cracking, why not us?
- Enviro - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:15 pm:
The practical reason for concern about Illinois’ epic budget impasse by a big business organization:
“Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s have warned holders of bonds used to finance the state’s public universities that the budget impasse could jeopardize payments on those debts.”
http://www.cnbc.com/2016/03/30/illinois-epic-budget-fail-sets-a-dubious-record.html
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:25 pm:
Chicago downstater-
–Business owners can be pillars of the community and give back to their communities–
Yes they can be. Yet for almost 2 years now they have not been in my opinion. I heard only silence as the private social services fell. I’m sorry, now that I think of it. I didn’t. Totally wrong. I heard business leaders cheering loudly for “reform”, for limitation of prevailing wage, for reducing collective bargaining at all levels. In short, for the goals and aims of the Turnaround Agenda.
(All of this said with calm and respect.)
I have not heard the mighty roar of commerce or industry as the very fabric of our social service support system was being starved to death.
This is what happens, (lack of trust) when powerful voices are silent when will perfidy of the Rauner administration is committed over and over again.
“Come out in the open, we’ll”
“Negotiate”
“be compassionate”
“make sure you get paid”
“value you”
“grow our economy”
when we do, and we do every time.
BLAAMMMMM! shot with
Program cuts
Financial Starvation
Neglect of agencies
nonpayment of contracts
nonpayment of health providers
changing of standards to make it harder
limitation of benefits
I could go on all day
Yes, absolutely politics is about addition
Totally 100% true
But I don’t think a lot of this, hardly any of this has been about politics.
It’s a………..
“Business decision”
Any wonder that I, on the front line of Illinois’ suffering don’t trust anything “business”?
Let’s put it another way. I’m not expecting any help from the business community or it’s leaders.
I say this as one, straddled between the worlds of privilege and of bone-crushing poverty. I mingle quite frequently with those “business” leaders. I have never heard care or compassion for those people I serve every day in East St. Louis. As a matter of fact, the opposite. That doesn’t mean some business leaders aren’t trying. The effects of their efforts are not known to those who need to feel it.
–Nah. Individual consumed by blind rage seems more like it. Sorry. Any respect is long gone.–
Yes, I admit it. Fiery Rage but open eyed, not blind. I also don’t care about your respect. Your disdain actually fuels me.
I can be a really great victim/concern troll.
I’m good with that.
But no one can ever challenge that I care and fight for the voiceless and vulnerable.
- Demoralized - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:43 pm:
==It is the private sector that provides tax money for public services.==
There’s that silly argument again. I’m sure if public employees realized that they weren’t really taxpayers that they would tell the state to stop withholding those taxes from their paychecks.
Enough with this “private taxpayer” stuff. There are taxpayers. Period.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:45 pm:
–They hear the Lambs–
With all due respect there is quite a bit of difference between “hearing” the lambs and “being” a lamb and know you are still being led to the slaughter. Regardless of whether they are heard or not.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 1:53 pm:
37b
Funny, I’m still experiencing that as condescending.
See there it is, the subtle difference in words.
It comes off as “there, there, dear. It’s okay”
Think for a sec about your tone based upon what you think my gender is.
– If business leaders are cracking, why not us?–
I experience business leaders as cheering for Rauners “reforms”. Besides this website, site any other proof that they are “cracking”. I’ll even accept personal anecdotes. Actually I won’t but, I’d still love to even hear them.
- WirePoints - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:19 pm:
Give him credit for being one of the early ones to state the obvious truth, which is that the pensions are “unfixable.”
- X-prof - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:21 pm:
I’m holding both my fire and my accolades. This site is so neutral and so short on specifics about how to resolve the impasse, it’s not clear what it’s really advocating for. Just calling for the two sides to talk and fix the problem? That isn’t new, and it won’t bring us any closer to a solution.
Considerable thought and effort went into putting this website together. I doubt that would be expended without some more concrete goal in mind.
Here’s what my suspicious side suspects: After recruiting support from across the political spectrum, the site could easily tilt later to a Raunerite position (e.g., the GA needs to give Rauner what he wants). The pull-down menu lists the targets of Rauner’s wedge strategy, the groups he intends to pit against each other. That could be why business isn’t listed and the TA agenda isn’t mentioned. Divide and conquer; distract attention from the beneficiaries of the agenda.
Or it could truly be sincerely 100% neutral (really?). Let’s wait and see where this is heading before swallowing the click bait.
- Anonymous - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:27 pm:
==It is the private sector that provides tax money for public services.==
Then there are the corporations in Illinois that are allowed to keep their employees state income tax money instead of paying taxes to fund state government.
- walker - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:29 pm:
Good, stand up thing to do, Rich.
One thing Ty and staff are good at is financial forecasting. They know, as well as anyone, that the potential TA payoff numbers are sketchy, far removed, and insufficient to justify the current strategy. We might sometimes disagree on policy, but Ty and friends do not flee from the real numbers. That’s what makes them so much better than IPI.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:46 pm:
Here’s my other thought. Why does Mr. Fahner even need this nice website?
You can’t tell me that if only a handful of big “business leaders” got together and told Rauner to knock it off and restore stability that that would shut this stuff down real fast.
I believe that it would.
So why the website? The pull down was what actually tipped me off.
This site was designed to make
Human services provider
Social Service Recipient
Parent
Teacher
Union Member
Retiree
Community Leader
Concerned Citizen
Feel heard and that they are “doing something”.
Why not
Business owner
Manufacturer
Retailer
Professional
Service Provider????
OW rightly says that
Governors own
Elections have consequences
Vote accordingly
I would humbly submit that
Business decisions have purpose
Whether it’s right or wrong
I’m experiencing this LOL Illinois as a “business decision”
like Ounce of Preventions suit as a “business decision”
Now those business leaders who are reading can surely dismiss me in a varieties of ways or engage what some of them may have learned at Booth or Kellogg to realize that their targeting/effectiveness, may be off.
Is the “value added” in letters to legislators or nice websites
or
Demanding in no uncertain terms that Rauner the business environment be stabilized by the “3 musts of OW….two budgets and labor peace”.
That would greatly improve the business environment.
- pundent - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 2:54 pm:
=You can’t tell me that if only a handful of big “business leaders” got together and told Rauner to knock it off and restore stability that that would shut this stuff down real fast.=
How incredibly naïve. I suppose it helps support the narrative of demonizing business leaders but it completely ignores Rauner’s motivation and the very select group that he’s doing the bidding for.
I understand your passion around these topics but you might want to put a bit more thought into your comments before you reduce them to writing.
- striketoo - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:06 pm:
I have never understood the need for the Turnaround Agenda. It simply does not address the crisis facing the state. The governor should have simply stated from the beginning that he would spend every penny appropriated by the legislature, but not a penny more. That would have shifted the responsibility for the entire issue to where it rightly belongs: the state legislature (the body responsible for appropriations). This action would have made clear the responsibility for the mix of budget cuts and tax increases needed to resolve the problem. By his actions, he has unnecessarily muddied the waters and made the needed solution virtually impossible.
- 37B - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:15 pm:
Honeybear
Not sure if my response to your posts got bounced so I’ll just try my first sentence: “I apologize unreservedly.”
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:26 pm:
37b- HA! I think the “invisible hand” (of Rich) is cooling us both! I’m sorry I bit you. We’re both trying hard to advocate. These are tough times. I know you stand next to me.
- X-prof - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:47 pm:
$1 million is a lot of money to spend on “Can’t we all just get along?”
The site has the feel of the first question in a push poll. They start with a question with only one reasonable answer. Then they move on to the real message via twisted logic, false assumptions, etc.
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:56 pm:
X-prof 500k is a lot for my union to put out for the “can’t we just go back to the table”. Something major seems to be afoot. It seems to be a subtle battle for hearts and minds
- Honeybear - Friday, Oct 7, 16 @ 3:59 pm:
–Then there are the corporations in Illinois that are allowed to keep their employees state income tax money instead of paying taxes to fund state government.–
To the tune of 215,000,000 in 2015 alone.
EDGE tax incentive WHAT A DEAL!
And no accountability….none.
Business on a handshake and a wink