Last month, I wrote a tongue-in-cheek headline for my blog: “Poll conducted for IEA finds about 10% of Illinoisans are wackos.”
The Normington-Petts and Next Generation Strategies poll of 1,000 Illinoisans conducted in January found that 11% strongly favor “the fighting, yelling, or other contention at school board meetings that has been happening around the country.”
Ten percent strongly opposed “teaching Illinois high school students about slavery in the United States and its impacts.” Another 14% strongly opposed “teaching Illinois high school students about racism and its impact in the United States.” And 11% strongly favored “banning books from Illinois school libraries.”
But we didn’t need a scientific survey to know that “wackos” are proliferating.
Last year, then-Rep. Deb Conroy (D-Villa Park) came under attack after false and ridiculous claims were made that she sponsored a bill to forcibly round people up and lock them in internment camps for refusing to take a vaccine.
The attack was patently absurd on its face, but it was fanned by some Republican legislators and even so-called “moderates” like Republican DuPage County Board chair candidate Greg Hart, who lost to Conroy last November.
The result was, I wrote last year, “profanity-laden, disgusting, misogynistic messages from hateful and violent-sounding people.” It got so bad that Conroy closed her district office for a time, and a man was eventually charged with two felonies for making threats against her.
Conroy stood firm, but the bill as introduced died on the vine and more than 21,000 electronic witness slips were filed in opposition.
Then, the other day, Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) announced she had canceled a constituent meet and greet over threats about her own bill.
House Bill 1286 merely sets state guidelines for commercial property owners who want to construct multiple-occupancy, all-gender restrooms. The Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the American Institute of Architects-Illinois, the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, the Illinois Public Health Association, Equality Illinois, Illinois NOW and large numbers of other reputable groups filed electronic witness slips in support.
But the same usual suspects fanned the flames against Stuart’s bill. Some current legislators, Stuart’s former Republican opponent, former Rep. Jeanne Ives, and groups like Awake Illinois and the Illinois Family Institute ginned up yet another social media explosion, warning people that Stuart wanted to mandate all-gender public restrooms everywhere.
The result was “phone calls, emails filled with vile language,” to Stuart, according to a House Democratic spokesperson. None of the communications referenced the people and groups spewing the misinformation, the spokesperson said.
“There’s no specific connection other than they’re all saying the same things essentially, all using the same language as these groups are, and they’re all taking the same misinterpretation.”
Stuart “has shared everything she has” with the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement, the spokesperson said.
So far, the number of electronic witness slips generated against Stuart’s bill hasn’t come close to the massive numbers recorded on Conroy’s legislation. (Perhaps partially because last year was an election year, and groups had been organizing around vaccines in general for years.)
But the end result is essentially the same: A legislator was forced to temporarily back away from the public because a bunch of easily manipulated, perpetually angry “wackos” got all worked up over nothing — again.
The witness slips are an incredibly useful tool for activists because the groups can track their efforts’ real-time results online. Groups all across the political and issue spectrum try to encourage people to file witness slips on the General Assembly’s website in support of or opposition to bills to show supporters, donors, the other side and legislators they have public backing.
The slips are empowering. People feel seen. They believe they’re making a difference. But the slip wars also provide a positive feedback loop for dark conspiracy theories.
And since it’s pretty easy to post one’s position online, the witness slip web pages have become an extension of social media, for good and ill. There is no identity verification required, although users do have to fill out a “captcha” box to prove they’re not a robot.
There was a time when filling out a paper witness slip made you subject to forgery laws. Maybe it’s time now for responsible groups that are committed to public involvement to sit down with legislators and come up with a solution for this.
It won’t stop all the craziness, but at least the state doesn’t have to play a role.
- JS Mill - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:06 am:
I want to empathise with these legislators, but it is hard to. School Boards, administrators, and to a lesser extent teachers have been going through this for years now. Often because of legislation proposed or passed by legislators.
Until the legislature takes action to impose real penalties for this behavior (and makes sure that law enforcement and local SA’s enforce) it wont stop.
You are right Rich, the percentage of wacko’s in our society is growing and I would say the number is getting closer to 25%.
- SWSider - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:15 am:
Good point, Rich. Letting that bill die last year was probably a mistake. It lent credence to the idea that there was something to the opposition and gave the other side a “win.”
This is another reason I’m so concerned about Dems staying out of the Chicago mayoral race. If someone who spoke and praised groups pushing this rhetoric wins because Dems view the two candidates the same, that would be a catastrophe when it comes to stemming this tide.
- Holding Back - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:17 am:
Some of us do not have problem with ID
- TheInvisibleMan - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:22 am:
–There was a time when filling out a paper witness slip made you subject to forgery laws.–
I don’t think that has changed with the electronic version. I’m almost certain lying or falsifying *any* form submitted to the government in any fashion, is still fraud. What has changed is the lack of enforcement.
Blatant lack of enforcement by the police of other laws is also what has allowed these groups to continue to grow without consequence for their actions. If there is no downside to abusing this process for their own purposes, then why would anyone stop? They wouldn’t give up something they see as a tool to abuse for their benefit voluntarily.
Zero people have been held accountable for these actions. Zero.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:26 am:
=== Some of us===
Speak only for yourself, please. Thanks.
First, really good stuff, Rich.
Since 2013ish till now the empowering and emboldened to the “aggrieved” minority of 10-13% (measured) that are of this idea that they can save a “way of life” that is dying… racially segregating, monolithically racial to its own extent, but also religiously rabid to cultish caricature.
Now in the GA there’s this idea “make enough noise for the people” is really about making others fear for safety, and bringing concern that means outside democracy is part of the thought process.
I’d like to see the rules/laws enforced on the slips. The phony few who think martyrdom will be achieved, ask Bailey how that plays in electoral politics, and keep in mind counties don’t vote. Aggrieved is not a political position to policy when the aggrieved fail to see the damage they do by needless intimidation that gives their phony strength.
- JS Mill - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:30 am:
=Some of us do not have problem with ID=
LOL. Which side of the political spectrum do you think most these 21,000 witnesses were on?
- Norseman - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:30 am:
=== The General Assembly needs to somehow stop enabling this behavior ====
I don’t know how the GA could stop enabling without violating the 2nd Amendment. The real problem with enabling is coming primarily from one party. That party now operates by spreading lies, misinformation and hate. The only way to get them to stop is to vote their pols out of office.
- Holding Back - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:35 am:
I wanted to show the irony of both sides
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:43 am:
=== I wanted to show the irony of both sides===
“Whataboutism” is a feeble crutch when you have no real point to make.
I don’t even see how it fits or what point you are making in the context of the post or Rich’s article.
Think on that.
Also “whataboutism” is admitting the point in question is valid, so keep that in mind.
- The Truth - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:47 am:
“both sides are equally as bad” isn’t true and hasn’t been true for a long time. We’re ten years into this, easily.
- H-W - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:48 am:
Re: witness slip proliferation
Require citizens to submit hand-written slips.
Problem solved. /s
- Moe Berg - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:53 am:
At least part of the solution is two have two tiers: witness slips for registered lobbying entities and lobbyists, and one for the general public.
This preserves the opportunity for the public to petition its government, but it also brings some order to what has become a quite unwieldy situation.
In committees, chairs can read the registered entities for, against and neutral on bills, and state that for non-registered members of the public, X are for, Y against and Z have no position. Perhaps with a reminder to members to take into consideration that anyone, regardless of whether they are Illinois residents, can complete a witness slip.
LIS might work with the SOS on a verification system (linking their two databases) that ensures only truly registered lobbying entities and lobbyists are represented on that tier.
It may also be possible to geofence respondents, to better limit slips only from members of the public living in Illinois. If you buy a lottery ticket on the lottery website, it asks for your location to ensure you are physically in Illinois. Yes, some people could use VPNs, possibly, to show themselves in Illinois when they are not, but that’s more technically sophisticated than most people will bother with.
- Beaverbrook - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:54 am:
There have always been wackos in American history. It was true in Lincoln’s day as well. Read Meacham’s recent book, And There Was Light. One of the differences today is that social media amplifies their wacko arguments. And the pandemic seemed to amplify their aloneness. And the upswing in violence in cities has stirred things even more. The majority of citizens want stability, a new balance, and civil discussions to reach some compromises to lead to improvements in living. Democracy at work. Not an easy task. As Barack Obama often said, Democracy is messy.
- Back to the Future - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:57 am:
Very good article and a timely topic.
Thinking “wackos” are going to “Wacko” so not sure anything can be done with them.
Perhaps the solution is to educate more Illinois residents on the witness slip process as part of a “this is how an idea becomes a law” subject.
Start teaching this process in high schools, colleges and law schools. It is a very simple process. Most students will probably only need 15 minutes of instruction to throughly understand the steps that one needs to take to participate in the current witness slip process.
Thinking education on participation in the process is a better solution than trying to address ignorant uninformed idiot nonsense.
- Anon221 - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 9:58 am:
I agree. The ILGA needs to clean up the mess they have created by not having (or removing) “guardrails” on witness slips. Legitimate submitters, who do follow the rules, can be dismissed by some committee chairs as irrelevant as easily as the bots because of the damage allowed to be done to the process over the years.
- Demoralized - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:03 am:
== both sides==
That’s called whataboutism
- Moe Berg - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:12 am:
Adding further, I suppose, for the general public it would be possible, with their permission, to link to the SoS database for state IDs. So, you would have three tiers: registered lobbyists/entities, registered members of the public, and non-registered members of the public.
Lawmakers can ascribe whatever weight and value they wish to the sentiment in each of those three tiers.
- Amalia - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:47 am:
a very good, thoughtful column. that said, I really hate throwing out a convenient method for comment because of abuse. suggestions for refinement of the process to make those commenting feel accountability for their identification are in the ballpark of where the process could be amended.
- We've never had one before - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:52 am:
>>>>Require citizens to submit hand-written slips.
In a world where there’s one hour notice on committee hearings.
- Occasionally Moderated - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:58 am:
Many years ago in a college class named “Deviant Behavior” the numbers were that 10% of any group were deviants. The only exception was “cops and clergy” who checked in at 1%. Always seemed accurate in the non-scientific tallies I kept in my head since then.
Just for fun, here is what Open AI says about that : It’s important to note that the term “deviant behavior” can be subjective and may have different definitions depending on the context and culture. However, if we assume that deviant behavior refers to behavior that violates social norms and expectations, then the claim that 10% of any group are deviants is not backed up by scientific evidence.
The idea that “cops and clergy” have a deviant behavior rate of 1% is also not supported by scientific research. It’s worth noting that people in positions of authority may be held to higher standards of behavior and may face more severe consequences for violating social norms.
In general, it’s important to be cautious of broad generalizations about groups of people and to rely on scientifically validated research when making claims about human behavior.
I stand corrected.
- Skokie Man - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 10:58 am:
The solution is not to make presentation of witness slips harder. The problem isn’t the witness slips.
It’s up to the legislators to speak up when organizations acting in bad faith misrepresent the substance of a bill to get low-information voters to submit slips.
The deterioration of reliable local media exacerbates the issue and allows pink slime groups like the Timpones and Profts of the world to act as megaphones for the nonsense.
Governor Pritzker has done a pretty good job identifying people like Proft and groups like Awake and explaining their actions and lack of credibility. That played a big role in his smooth re-election and the success of Democratic candidates overall. That needs to be done regularly by both elected officials and mainstream media.
- CrowbaitBob - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 11:38 am:
Sure, sure Rich. The people that I disagree with are all wackos, too. Isn’t it comforting to keep telling yourself that?
- Homebody - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 11:52 am:
I say this without exaggeration: The GOP both in Illinois and at a national level is functionally becoming a terrorist organization. They continue to not only permit, but actively encourage stochastic terrorism. There is no both-sides-ing this. This is 99% purely a right wing phenomenon.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 12:21 pm:
===The people that I disagree with are all wackos===
LOL
Right. Sure, Jan. Keep telling yourself that.
- Holding Back - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 1:12 pm:
To clarify, I have no problem with ID on witness slips, but… nah, better not say anything else.
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 6, 23 @ 1:21 pm:
=== nah, better not say anything else.===
Tell me you know zero about voter registration and laws pertaining to voting…
Good on you knowing you didn’t want to look foolish, merely only thought to be a fool.
A. Lincoln, sort of