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Voting with their feet

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[Pastor Corey Brooks of the New Beginnings Church on Chicago’s South Side] said Sunday that shortly after he endorsed Rauner, who needed help courting black voters, membership at his church began to decline.

His congregation has since dwindled from about 1,250 people to about 650, Brooks said Sunday. Donations have also fallen by about half. And Brooks used to hold two Sunday services. He now holds one.

Both men insisted there were no strings attached to endorsement.

And while Rauner appointed Brooks to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board in July, Brooks said Sunday that he has not benefited from the relationship. He’s paid $31,426 a year for the part-time job.

“I donate every penny of that [tollway board] salary to a not-for-profit called Project Hood to build a community center on the South Side,” Brooks said.

The governor was at the church handing out free turkeys this weekend.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:42 am

Comments

Rich, your comment at the end about says it all!

Comment by Collinsville Kevin Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:44 am
Elections have consequences, choices have consequences too.

If ya sleep well, I guess, the crumbling of what you built, in the name of making things allegedly better, then these dropping numbers, the consequence, really shouldn’t bother Pastor Brooks.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:47 am
== The governor was at the church handing out free turkeys this weekend. ==

As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Comment by Bill White Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:48 am
When will people stop gobbling up Rauner’s rhetorical slop?

Comment by Dome Gnome Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:48 am
Dear Corey,

You seem like a sincere guy. The roof thing was no joke. I know it was cold up there. You are in an abusive relationship. He has you working for free and is messing up your day job. What are you getting out of this?

P.S. Your friend Bruce could build that community center if he wanted to. Why not use that cell phone number you have.

Comment by LizPhairTax Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:52 am
Governor Rauners “turnaround” plan worked in Brooks’ church. He froze pew taxes and collective rejoicing is clearly permissive now, not mandatory. Now they just need “tart reform” after chruch. bahahaha.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:54 am
Maybe the turn around agenda could start by eliminating these $36,000 dollar a year part time jobs. I am sure he donates it to the charity of his choice probably one he controls. Pray tell does this part time job come with insurance benefits and some type of pension or pension boost. And I am sure his position allows him to clout some friend or relative into a tollway job.

Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:54 am
Great private equity play - buy an org, watch it go downhill, cut turkey cost cut in half, claim goodwill anyway.

Comment by Robert the Bruce Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:55 am
BR–together, corey, we can do great things: i am destroying the state to save us from unions. You are destroying your church.

(Any similar effect on meeks?)

Comment by Langhorne Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:57 am
===As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.

Bruce Rauner dropping turkeys from a helicopter seems about right.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:58 am
So glad that the people voted with their feet. Corey sold out and the people know it. He has no credibility now. Who can blame the people for not wanting to hang out with two big TURKEYS on Sunday.

Comment by Always right Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 9:59 am
IMHO Bill White wins this one.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:00 am
Appointing Brooks to the Tollway Board lacks any common sense. Brooks has no transportation or construction background. He and his remaining congregants are nowhere near any Toll road. It would have made much more sense to have appointed Brooks to an agency where he could have made more of a difference to those he says he represents.

Comment by phocion Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:03 am
I suspect that parishioners aren’t leaving due to a lack of turkeys at Brooks’ church.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:04 am
The Pastor is learning the hard way you can’t build a house on sand. It’s just too prone to shift.

Comment by cdog Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:04 am
@Bill White, that will always be the best.

Comment by The Captain Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:04 am
thanks for the WKRP reference…this both made me remember my youth and feel old at the same time.

Comment by morgan Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:05 am
What did he expect? He got what I expected. He paid the price for his gullibility.

Comment by illinoised Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:07 am
Will Dunkin pay a similar price with his flock?

Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:12 am
Bill White +1

Comment by Almost the Weekend Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:12 am
Best wishes to the pastor.

Comment by walker Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:15 am
The pastor’s political savior revealed himself to be an immoral demon. Consequently, the pastor lost half the congregation which believed that he could detect immorality, demons and help them live good lives.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:15 am
THIS:

Great private equity play - buy an org, watch it go downhill, cut turkey cost cut in half, claim goodwill anyway.

Comment by AlabamaShake Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:21 am
Coincidence or not?…
The Rev said he wanted to help 5,000 families. The Gov’s ‘deal’ with Dunkin would eliminate child care subsidy for how many? You guessed it…5,000.

Comment by Really? Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:28 am
=== “I donate every penny of that [tollway board] salary to a not-for-profit called Project Hood to build a community center on the South Side,” Brooks said. ===

Follow. The. Money.

Project Hood’s tax returns are pretty interesting, Rich and Mitch.

http://www.guidestar.org/organizations/45-3964886/project-hood-communities-development-corporation.aspx

You’ll never guess who the Executive Director is…

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:29 am
Lie down with dogs, wake up with half your parishioners gone.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:29 am
I think Rev. Brooks should use his connection to the Governor to really raise money for that community center. Even if things don’t look so good for Gov. Rauner, it couldn’t hurt as far as his image. But then who knows, I hate to think the people who stopped attending his church because he chose to support a Republican instead of a Democrat.

Comment by Levois Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:29 am
Was this the only church where Rauner was handing out turkeys this weekend? Or were there others on the south and west side that he forgot to post on Twitter?

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:31 am
Part of the issue with prosperity gospel churches is the emphasis on the dynamic successful pastor. If the pastor is “blessed” by God with success, the congregants naturally want to share in that blessing. Look at many megachurches of the same theological bent and you will see that. But here’s the kicker. The “blessings” must be percieved and being derived from God’s blessing. Rauner is obviously and overtly doing the blessing here. That’s the problem. Folks know that Rauners blessings are not coming from God. Rauner’s wealth is not from doing Gods work. Thus his blessing is not trusted and the church is declining. The pastors association with Rauner has unfortunately ( I hate to see any church/religious institution go down ) had the opposite desired effect. The black community is awakening to the deception that has been visited on them. Has any tangible benefit been brought by the Rauner administration to the black community? I don’t know of any. Admittedly, the Dems have taken the black community for granted for decades but who has been fighting for the social services? Only Dems and Unions. AFSCME passed a resolution in support of Black Lives Matter on October 15th. I know it’s only a resolution but the support was overwhelming and it passed with only one of 600+ delegates voting against. I was there and spoke on the floor in favor. African Americans maybe not represented well in the trades unions but make up a substantial percentage in AFSCME. Bottom line, pastor made a big gamble and it looks like it is not turning out.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:32 am
Juvenal- It didn’t list it and I don’t have access to the 990. Is it Dunkin?

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:37 am
On the week of Thanksgiving is it really within you all to only be cynical of the Governor’s charity? Guy’s giving out food to the needy.

Comment by hot chocolate Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:45 am
Levois its not that he backed a Republican, it is b/c he backed Rauner. The man who turned around and cut their child care subsidies among other things.

Comment by burbanite Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:46 am
I’m not sure the cause and effect really lines up here…then again, I’m pro-choice and Catholic, so I’ve had quite a long time to get used to my church taking political stances I hate.

Comment by Boss Tweed Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:48 am
And BTW Brooks is listed as CEO of Project Hood. So that’s probably bad.

Comment by hot chocolate Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:50 am
http://archpundit.com/blog/2015/11/23/as-god-as-my-witness-i-thought-turkeys-could-fly/

Happy Thanksgiving! I work in a town with 5, yes, 5 Turkey plants.

Comment by ArchPundit Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:53 am
Good on the governor for passing out turkeys and making the holiday a little easier for some.

A good bird knows no politics.

Along with the Fourth of July. best stress-free holiday, when done right. No gifts. just parades, food, family, football and movies followed by killer leftovers, more football (especially college rivalry Saturday) and power naps through the weekend.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:55 am
Why should Brooks’ congregation members stay with him when he supports a super-wealthy person who wants to gut union rights? Another reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his life so that public workers can collectively bargain. Pastor Brooks is saying it’s okay for the wealthiest among us to benefit economically at the expense of so many workers.

Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:56 am
“Rauner handing out turkey’s ” - ahh, too easy

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 10:58 am
===You’ll never guess who the Executive Director is===

Meh. According to those same docs, the group doesn’t have any paid staff.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:00 am
Governor has been giving the unions “the Bird” since he was elected. Glad that these folks got a different bird.

Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:05 am
Wonder how many times Quinn and Blago passed out turkey’s, or food of any kind, during the holidays that they paid for out of their pocket?

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:07 am
===…that they paid for out of their pocket?===

Ugh.

Rauner did a very nice thing. It’s important. Good on him.

If Rauner wants to, out if his own pocket, pay for child care of 5,000 families he took away, call me.

Rauner’s money doesn’t inoculate him, it trivializes him when framed as “look at the money he give”

I look at the monies he takes away from the needy… as Governor.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:11 am
Anon - and yes I am feeding turkey to a troll - I believe Blago and Quinn actually helped feed people for 365 days, not just one.

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:13 am
So which of the six churches in a one block radius of New Beginnings picked up the added congregation?

You know what they say about the business of politics and religion…or is it the religion of business and politics?

Comment by nixit71 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:17 am
According to the 2013 return the group got $35ff1K, had no staff and claimed it did not need to file a Schedule B — list of contributors

Meanwhile …show of hands … is a $31K gig no big deal?

Comment by Anonin' Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:17 am
Wordslinger, what dishes do you cook for your family on Thanksgiving?

Comment by crazybleedingheart Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:18 am
CBH, I do what I’m told. Mostly the grunt work no one else wants to do. But traditional meal.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:21 am
Rev. Brooks probably thought he knew what he was doing when he backed Rauner. He knew things would get bad under Rauner (Rauner said as much), but when things are bad people go to church. Alas, not necessarily his church. It would seem that about half of his flock saw the connection between his backing Rauner and Rauner being elected, and things getting bad.

I don’t feel bad for him. Faithful followers of God don’t just stop going to church, in situations like this. They just stop going to his church, and go to other churches.

What surprises me is that 600 people remain. I’m guessing it’s a transportation problem. Maybe if some of the 650 would call them up and offer them rides …

Comment by BeenThereB4 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:24 am
Sure they did 360, sure they did. Sigh.

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:28 am
=== Meh. According to those same docs, the group doesn’t have any paid staff. ===

Part IX, Line 11a, 2012 tax returns:

Every single penny, $296K, was paid in fees to a “Management Firm.”

But Part VII, Section B, the failed to report who that firm was.

IRS requires nonprofits to list every contractor receiving more than $100K.

One thing is for certain, the money didn’t all go to “build a community center” as Pastor Brooks claims.

Follow. The. Money.

P.S. IRS also requires you to list all of your board members on your tax returns. Brooks doesn’t list any.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:30 am
http://projecthood.org/index.php/whoarewe/who-are-we

Comment by Anon221 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 11:46 am
Pastor Brooks is not the first and will not be the last to be persecuted for his political beliefs in the Chicago socialist dictatorship.

Willie: Bruce Rauner did not take away money. The citizens through their elected representatives chose not to extend a temporary tax increase. Bruce Rauner changed program eligibility rules to meet the new spending levels. The people that complained were not the same ones that wanted their taxes reduced.

Comment by Muscular Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:03 pm
Is this why Dunkin is interested in the Film Tax Credits?

http://projecthood.org/index.php/about-project-hood/hood-films

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:05 pm
===Bruce Rauner changed program eligibility rules to meet the new spending levels.===

… and by doing so, chose who gets, who doesn’t, and 5,000 families have Bruce Rauner, personally, for ending something that was bipartisan.

Don’t care the monies Rauner gives. Care a lot how the Governor denies those most in need. That’s real.

If Rauner wants to personally pay for child care for the 5,000 families, call me.

Rauner is personally decimating Illinois’ Social Services.

Purposely.

… but he bought turkey.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:09 pm
Wow, just spent a good deal of my lunchbreak exploring Project Hood. All that and no paid staff? It’s being presented as a huge operation. Just look at the website and tell me this doesn’t seem REALLY fishy. I think we just found the vehicle.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:19 pm
Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy!

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:26 pm
At risk of sounding bitter during what should be a happy week, I don’t think that the Gov. deserves any credit for passing out turkeys in a year in which he held hostage treatment for autistic kids.

The Gov. spent the year doing real damage to some very poor people. I am not going to pat him on the back for giving away a meal or two.

Comment by Gooner Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:28 pm
Have any of you posting here reached out to one of these families and helped them with your time or financially?

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:31 pm
“On the week of Thanksgiving is it really within you all to only be cynical of the Governor’s charity? Guy’s giving out food to the needy.”

They’re going to be needy next week too. What’s he doing to make sure they get fed then?

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:33 pm
Muscular, where do you see that Brooks is being “politically persecuted” by a “socialist dictatorship?”

When you sober up, maybe you should educate yourself as to what those words mean and about some real examples of political persecution around the world.

But if Brooks is being politically persecuted by a dictatorship, I’m glad to see Gov. Rauner standing by his side.

I guess Brooks ain’t from Syria.

Comment by wordslinger Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:38 pm
- anon -

I’m not the governor of Illinois decimating Social Services… but having the buying of turkeys be a crutch for my supporters.

If Governor Rauner wants to pay for the 5,000 families to get child care, he should.

Don’t tell me the buying of turkeys means Rauner cares.

It’s a great gesture by Citizen Bruce Rauner, but Gov. Rauner, the Executive of Illinois Government.

Don’t mix up the buying of turkeys as to a governor caring about 5,000 families. Rauner chose, those families suffer.

Rauner owns the decimating of Social Services, and Rauner’s gesture is good on Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:38 pm
@ Anon - “Have any of you posting here reached out to one of these families and helped them with your time or financially?”

Yes. Next question, are you just trolling?

Comment by How Ironic Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:38 pm
Give a person a turkey and they can eat for a few days.

Set realistic criteria for day care assistance and they can feed themselves for a lifetime.

Comment by Tommydanger Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:47 pm
- anon -

Matthew 6:3

OW

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:51 pm
Anon: You can’t make your cashier at Jewel say “gobble gobble” unless you donate. Mine’s a gobbler, and you?

Comment by Tommydanger Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:53 pm
Willy, my guess is many on here bit#@ing don’t lift a finger to help those in need.

They should, and they don’t need to tell anyone, if you want to follow Matthew 6.3.

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:57 pm
-Have any of you posting here reached out to one of these families and helped them with your time or financially?-

That’s my job actually. East St. Louis has a lot of need and a tremendous amount of that need was exacerbated by the Governors actions. It’s a tough week at the FCRC. People are realizing that they didn’t get their redetermination in on time and might not get their foodstamps in time for Thanksgiving. We are working at a feverish pace to try and get benefits to the eligable and keep them out of the hands of those “running game”. I appreciate that the Gov. gave something. Actually I think he probably gives a lot of money for charities. But his actions have irreparably destroyed a sizable portion of the social safety net. How do I know? Several empty offices in our FCRC that used to be filled with private social service agencies. They are all empty. All gone. For good. It didn’t have to be this way. It was a choice. Rauners choice.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 12:57 pm
Honeybear, thank you for the work you do and are doing. Do you truly feel all this falls at the feet of Rauner?

This mess was many years in the making. It is reported there are nearly 45-46 million people on food stamps, 40-50% more in the past 6-7 years. This problem is much deeper than anything BR may have created along with the democrat led legislature.

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:02 pm
===Wonder how many times Quinn and Blago passed out turkey’s, or food of any kind, during the holidays that they paid for out of their pocket?===

Hmm.

===Willy, my guess is many on here bit#@ing don’t lift a finger to help those in need.===

Those 5,000 families Rauner decided to exclude may not know who may be helping them, but they are quite clear who put them in peril.

Governor Bruce Rauner.

BTW…

===Willy, my guess is many on here bit#@ing don’t lift a finger to help those in need.===

You forget all the times Rich has posted things for commenters to give to worthy causes?

I haven’t.

Matthew 6:3

See you in Church.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:03 pm
=== Actually I think he probably gives a lot of money for charities. ===

A drop in the bucket compared to what he has cut, and helping out Dartmouth doesn’t do much for Illinois families.

Now, if on the other hand they live in Glenview and are members of the Kohl Children’s Museum, they can enjoy a nice stroll in the garden thanks to Citizen Rauner.

That’s a long drive for Honeybear and her peeps though.

Comment by Juvenal Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:03 pm
Do not feed Trolls, especially… ones that think so little of this Community here…

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:04 pm
Every Sunday bro, I’ll be looking for ya Willy.

Comment by anon Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:13 pm
==- anon - Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:02 pm:==

You’re right, it’s not only Bruce Rauner. It is him in combination with the extreme upper class which has been waging war on working class people for decades leading to incredible wage gains for the 0.01% while everyone else stagnates as costs rise ever higher.

Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:25 pm
- Wonder how many times Quinn and Blago passed out turkey’s, or food of any kind, during the holidays that they paid for out of their pocket? -

I received no less than 3 emails from team Rauner soliciting money for these turkeys. Sounds like many pockets were involved.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:49 pm
anon, no I do not lay all the blame at Rauners feet. It lies at all our feet. Through neglect, through the virtual criminalization of poverty, through a million evil ways we have arrived at the place we are at. That being said, I do give the Governors share to the Governor. His advisor Donna Arduin did this in every state she has advised, cut social services to the bone. It’s exactly what he did. Problem is that I don’t think he expected the impasse. He thought they would fold. It didn’t happen and so now we have the virtual distruction of our social safety net. As I have said before, the vast majority of the private social service agencies will not come back. GONE FOREVER. Only a privileged few will survive. The easy way to tell is whether the agency has a “Ball” or “Gala” event. Those will survive through wealthy patrons. But the majority of them who do the real grunt work in the trenches will never reopen. The effects of this will be profound but not felt by those living (rough estimate) 300% above the poverty line. Below 300%, which is a HUGE number of Illinoisans and you’ll feel the world is ending in short order. Poverty line folks and even 200% FPL people are going to have basically no Christmas. January will bring about social pain that I think Illinois has rarely seen. Look, I was a hospice chaplain. I have the emotional digestional capacity of a billy goat. In other words I can handle the stress and horror of death and now working with extreme poverty. I’m not trying to score political points here but what is coming down the pike at us this Illinois winter is going to be really really really bad. I’m at the front shouting back at you to brace yourself. Rauners need for “leverage” for his changes caused what is coming. The owl Sandack said it “I’m frustrated 2, but taking steps towards reforming IL, more important than short term budget stalemate”. That said it right there. I know they didn’t mean for it to go this far. But it did. It has. And honestly from the front lines of poverty, you guys have no idea of the nuclear winter that is headed our way. The papers/media (with the exception of this blog) really don’t report what is happening. Social services to use a military term rely on “force multipliers” people or institutions/agencies to address the myriad needs of poverty. If you permanantly destroy the institutions/agencies then you destroy the capacity. Social Services are not like the marketplace. New entities cannot and usually do not quickly arise to fulfil the need. Social Service agencies are grown very very slowly. It’s like we just clear cut the social service rainforest. All the life supported by it is in jeopardy.

Comment by Honeybear Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 1:53 pm
In a broader sense this reminds us that when people advocate for the reduction in the safety net and insist that faith based organizations have the ability to pick up the slack that it is simply not true. I seem to recall a Pew study about how financially fragile a large percent of denominations/ congregations are.
This congregation may simply be one of many which is at a decline. When you live by the charism of your founder it a dicey proposition at best.

Comment by Annon3 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 2:01 pm
Political me wants to say “Cory you got your thirty pieces of silver now go away”.

Comment by Annon3 Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 2:08 pm
Pastor Brooks reaped what he sowed.

Comment by Buzzie Monday, Nov 23, 15 @ 3:17 pm
Honeybear i agree - nuclear winter is coming down the pike for Illinois. It will be ugly. These politicians are so damaged now it will be nuclear winter for them next go-round. Nut ya know they didnt listen, didnt respect, didnt hear others “no”. So next go-round they will reap what they sowed, no one will listen to them, they get no respect, others will not hear their “no”. Its little solace to those fighting for lives and very existence this winter, but God is the greatest equalizer eventually. I know a family that puts up eight Christmas trees in their overbuilt monstrosity of a home and never think twice about the poor or homeless or hungry. All of us need to be more vigilant for and the voice of those so affected

Comment by internal angel Tuesday, Nov 24, 15 @ 3:09 am
I want to sit in the pew next to Willy at church. I suspect he and I could get the youth group into a lot of trouble (some good!.!)

Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Nov 24, 15 @ 3:14 am
As a taxpayer that is not on welfare on any other entitlement program, I appreciate Rauner looking out for me to keep more of my hard earned money in my pocket.

Comment by Casey Tuesday, Nov 24, 15 @ 7:21 am
Casey, thank you for the excellent example of the criminalization of poverty. This is exactly what I’m talking about. The zero sum narrative that the “entitlement” mentality poor are taking away from the “honest” poor, who pick themselves up “by their bootstraps”. You keep on believing that. Keep believing that the poor deserve their poverty. And when the economic and social safety systems destroyed by Rauner (which is what I am actually seeing with my own eyes) are not there when you need them, you can again have the hope that you will catch a break some day and pick yourself up again. That’s all you’ll have is a hope because those economic and social systems are gone. I thought the way you did once. But then the economy crashed my highly educated spouse could not find work, my dad died of pancreatic cancer, I spent the last 9 months his life helping out in OK. We got so close to losing it all. If I in all my immense privilege can get that close, ANYONE CAN! It can happen in the blink of an eye. We have to have economic and social service systems in place, healthy and maintained in order to catch people. That’s why it’s called a safety net. The narrative that the poor, elderly, and disabled are “takers” and that “taxpayers” are “makers” is just wrong and immoral.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Nov 24, 15 @ 9:01 am