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Question of the day
Wednesday, Jul 25, 2007 - Posted by Rich Miller Yesterday, I asked what you thought was the most corrupt organization or entity in the state. Today, I’d like to know what you think is the least corrupt (or even most honest, if you’d go that far) entity in Illinois. Like yesterday, it doesn’t have to be a political or governmental entity.
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- grntrea07 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:18 am:
The Waterloo Park District in Monroe County is the most honest public entity I am familiar with. The parks are well maintained and the cost is minimal tax wise.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:24 am:
I’m figuring this will be a low-comments post. LOL.
- Sorry - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:26 am:
Can’t think of one.
- BlueByrd - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:28 am:
The Catholic Church
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:28 am:
Try.
- This Guy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:36 am:
Rich Miller.
Yes, seriously.
- Siyotanka - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:38 am:
Lincoln BiCentennial Commission…???
- Skeeter - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:41 am:
Federal courts in Illinois.
The judges overall are excellent and the courts are well run. Court staff and judges tend to be both courteous and efficient. Judge and staff treat people fairly and without bias.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:42 am:
Green Party in honor of Squideshi
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:45 am:
Three come to mind. My church puts its money where its mouth is. When presenting a new yearly budget to the congregation for approval, there is a line item of 10% of that PROJECTED and ANTICIPATED budget that goes to missions. If we fail to bring in that amount during the next calendar year, that line item for missions is still spent. If we bring in more than the budget, then the line item for missions is increased accordingly but it is never decreased because of less tithing.
The Menard County Historical Society has a modest budget realized through private contributions and membership dues. It’s a great source of information about Menard County and Abraham Lincoln and have wonderful quarterly dinners and guest speakers.
Fisher House, a not-for-profit organization that houses Wounded Warriors and families at military posts/bases/VA facilities. They build beautiful housing units which house multiple families and take all needs into consideration when doing so.
And last but not least, my car club, Route 97 Crusaders. We are an organization based on the love of old cars, friendship and B.S. Our dues are minimal (actually I’m not sure why they bother to call them dues), and we put on a heck of a free Christmas party for members.
Note that none of the organizations is political!
- Little Egypt - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:47 am:
I guess that was four.
- moz104 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:50 am:
Well that’d be me, of course.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:50 am:
ACLU.
Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
Better Government Association.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:51 am:
And CapitolFax.
- Capitalist Pig - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:51 am:
My local church. 100% disclosure of every penny collected, spent and donated. We don’t always know if the money is used properly when it gets to the organization on the other end, but we do our best to ascertain the highest level of accounting possible. Of course, my church has less than 300 members and it is much harder to steal from any org this small. That logic carried forward gives me a reason, again, to decry the efforts of government controlled healthcare (insurance or full socialization).
- Indpendent One - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 10:54 am:
The Catholic Church honest???? Really, they just can’t seem to get the pedophiles out of their ranks. And what Bishop or Cardinal doesn’t really know who they are? It is the big sad secret that makes them very dishonest!
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:02 am:
If you’re gonna criticize someone else’s choice, at least answer the question at hand as well. First and last warning.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:04 am:
The city of Morris is almost a textbook example of how a city should be run. They do not give away excessive inducements to developers, they have money in the bank even after their ongoing expansion projects, their mayor and city council seem very responsive to the public, and it’s overall just a great place to live and work…largely because of how the place is run.
- Ivory-billed Woodpecker - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:06 am:
- Center on Wrongful Corrections at Northwestern
- Chicago Crime Commission
- Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago
- Division of Nuclear Safety in the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (been a few years since had personal contact; but I’ll stick my neck out)
- Alpana Singh
- zatoichi - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:10 am:
Our local Kiwanis. Between Pancake/Sausage and Peanuts the group pulls in about $33,000 a year to give away. Virtually all of it spent locally. Politics and egos get checked at the door.
- Bill - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:13 am:
Ahead of Our Times Publishing, Inc.
- Truth - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:20 am:
Bill Holland’s Auditor General’s Office.
The best.
- annoyed all the time - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:21 am:
if i was to choose one department within the state of illinois i would saythe department of natural resources. these folks truly love their department and their cause ofprotecting the water, land, plants, animals etc. they are true scientists and believers in the natural resources of illinois. they work with limited staff and work hard at what they do. the geologists, to water resource managers, to state park employees, they love and care about what they do and work extra hours to show this. even paying for themselves to go to conferences where the state won’t pay.
- Jerry - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:24 am:
The United States Attorney’s office of Northern Illinois.
- one of the 35 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:31 am:
Costco. Their CEO does not demand a huge salary. They are most efficient and their word is good in the development business. Their workers stay with them for the long term.
- Not even close - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:37 am:
Office of the U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Illinois.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:40 am:
Illinois Special Olympics, The ARC of Illinois and The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living. All are wonderful organizations and require that board members include representatives of the communities they serve–people with disabilities.
- Reddbyrd - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:50 am:
Mike Madigan
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:54 am:
I must go with a tie between Patrick Fitzgerald’s office/operation and Bill Holland and his office. I’m sure both are demanding and can be burrs in their employee’s saddles, but their offices produce great results and there is almost no bad press that comes out of either establishment.
- red dog - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:54 am:
Mr Fitzgerald and his attorneys
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:56 am:
I must also throw in the ICAA Network and Joe Dunn. They do a great job of working with underprivileged citizens and people who need help with housing- and community-related issues.
- Independent - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:02 pm:
I’ll go with one of the many food pantries and soup kitchens in Illinois who serve an ever increasing number of people with extremely low overhead.
- ChampaignDweller - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:04 pm:
The Salvation Army–they have one of the highest rates of funds raised going to their programs, and little going for overhead.
- Herself - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:15 pm:
Comptroller’s Office - Dan Hynes should be commended. Also, Auditor General’s Office - Holland has my utmost respect.
- bored on 1 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:23 pm:
AFLAC. They are very honest and good to their customers.
I have had the same Customer Service Representative for the last 5 years and she is so good about doing anything to help me.
and they have great commercials.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:49 pm:
Office of the Illinois Auditor General under the leadership of William Holland, Auditor. I see many have stated the U.S District Courts, Northern District of Illinois. Ever had a case there? LOL
Others like the U.S Attorney, Northern District of Illinois-the crooks indicting the crooks, LOL, LOL….better yet that’s not funny. If Fitzgerald allowed Mayor Daley to change his answers given in an interview with the feds do you think he runs the most honest office in Illinois?
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 12:55 pm:
Illinois Special Olympics, The ARC of Illinois and The Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living. All are wonderful organizations and the Centers for Independent Living require that board members include representatives of the communities they serve–people with disabilities.
- cermak_rd - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:09 pm:
The Brookfield Zoo. They treat their animals with respect and dignity and provide an exceptional day out for a family that isn’t too dear.
- cleanairguy - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:17 pm:
Illinois Environmental Council. Outgunned by a long shot, but 37 years and counting standing up against the odds- and leading - for people’s health and open space issues.
- Ghost - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:27 pm:
Sojourn House
- Sarah - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:27 pm:
AFSCME Council 31.
- Squideshi - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:39 pm:
“Green Party in honor of Squideshi”
Awesome. Thank you. I will second that.
- Belle - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:43 pm:
Deceased Illinois Residents in years they aren’t busy voting in Chicago. Other than that I have to say Fitzgeralds office. Really the qualifiers ‘least corrupt’ and ‘organization’ and ‘Illinois’ rule out just about everything doesn’t it?
- Lovie's Leather - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 1:53 pm:
Honestly, I think I am going to go with the Illinois Republican Party. I mean really, how can you corrupt the government when you have no real power in it? Once people get tired of the same old democrat corruption, they will elect some corrupt republican. And after two terms of democrat corruption, I think the state needs a break….
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 2:16 pm:
Bill Holland and staff.
- Captain America - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 2:24 pm:
1 Patrick Fitzgerald and his entire staff - a great team effort Keep it up.Illinois citizens are ready for reform even if our elected leaders are not.
2.Dan Hynes and his Comptroller’s Office. Dan runs a tight ship ethically and politically: he’s focused, discplined, knowledgable and has ability to govern in a bipartisan fashion by working constructively with all parties
(I’m borrowing some of Schnorf’s criteria for a good governor.)
3 Yellow Dog’s picks are all good: ACLU,Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, and the Better Government Association. I’d probably add the Civic Federarion, the Metropolitan Planning Council, and the League of Womem Voters to his list.
4. Auditor General Bill Holland. He reminds me ot the Dutch boy with his finger in the dike trying to hold back the deluge.
5. All the anonymous,underfunded health and human service organizations that never make the headlines becaue they do a good honest job for their patients and clients.
5. The Federal Courts in the Northern District Of Illinois seem to do a scandal-free,non-partisan job, despite the concerted national efforts by the Bush adminstration efforts to subvert the Department of Justice for partisan purposes.
- Objective Dem - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 2:43 pm:
I think there are a number of non-profit social service organizations that are honest and still effective. Heartland Alliance, Bethel New Life, El Valor, Lawndale Christian, Donor’s Forum are a few examples in Chicago.
I think there are a number of religious institutions that are very honest, but it would be impossible to name them all. I would also throw in this mix some quasi-religious social justice groups like the National Conference for Community and Justice.
- Justice - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 2:50 pm:
I second the Salvation Army. Also the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield. Two great organizations. At the State level I like the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and Energy and Natural Resources. Dedicated, trustworthy, hard working.
- Gale - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 2:54 pm:
The Chicago Bears
- moz104 - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 3:45 pm:
I like the Costco pick. I heard the CEO will often show up at Costco stores around the country and work along the lowest level employees stocking shelves just to show that they’re important. Classy stuff.
- Cub Fan - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 5:03 pm:
Chicago Cubs Radio: Pat Hughes & Ron Santo
- Silent Majority - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 5:05 pm:
The offices of Holland and Fitzgerald. No question.
- getting too old for this - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 6:49 pm:
I’d add to Cub Fan’s pick and include Len Kasper and Bob Brenly. Steve Stone on The Score too.
- squeaky clean - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 7:46 pm:
Office of…Comptroller Dan Hynes, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and Treasurer Alexi Giannoulious…all these guys are good with money!
- Bigs&Littles - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 8:15 pm:
The 22 Big Brothers Big Sisters organizations that provide one-to-one mentors for at-risk children throughout the state.
- A Citizen - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 9:33 pm:
The Amish Communities throughout the country.
- Diane - Wednesday, Jul 25, 07 @ 11:41 pm:
best = Sierra Club
- Nuff Said - Thursday, Jul 26, 07 @ 12:15 am:
Office of the Comptroller
- State of Farce - Thursday, Jul 26, 07 @ 12:53 pm:
Interesting that Citizens Utility Board (CUB) didn’t merit a mention. They USED to be a good group before they became “the system.” I vote for Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, Better Government Association, Citizen Advocacy Center and Patrick Fitzgerald’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.