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Rauner says “collectivist economy” is “crushing” Illinois

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* Gov. Rauner sat down for a few interviews yesterday. The Tribune editorial board appears to have had the most detailed of any I’ve seen, but it’s so long and detailed that we’ll have to take it in chunks. Let’s start here…

Rauner, who described himself as a free-market conservative, went so far as to say that Illinois is being damaged by a “collectivist economy,” employing a term generally used to suggest communist or socialist influence.

“We’ve become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It’s crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom into the state. And I believe that very passionately,” the governor said.

“That’s going to kill us in the long run. I’ve got to change that. And the other issues, we can debate, but that one I have to stay very strong on,” he said.

“Economic freedom” is his favorite slogan, by the way. It explains most of what he is as a person and politician.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:24 am

Comments

This is exactly the kind of attitude that has led to the transfer of trillions of dollars in wealth from the middle class to folks like Rauner. Anti-collectivism means not caring about your neighbor. If anyone has shown not to care about anyone but themselves, it’s Bruce Rauner.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:27 am
Odd that such a fervent free marketeer made such vast personal wealth by exploiting government contracts and managing government pension funds.

Comment by Handle Bar Mustache Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:28 am
Rauner is crushing Illinois.

Comment by DuPage Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:31 am
Economic Freedom aka: Robber Barons

Comment by Groundhog Day Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:32 am
“We all do better when we all do better.” ~Paul Wellstone

Comment by Dome Gnome Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:32 am
So is he like a lot of businessmen who want to capitalize the profits, but socialize the losses?

Comment by train111 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:34 am
What Stark said: “Anti-collectivism means not caring about your neighbor” This is the only explanation for a refusal to pay for programs that meet the needs of the folks pushed to the margins. Some of us can not look away from the suffering of our fellow human beings.

Comment by uptown progressive Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:35 am
Never has someone said so much and so little at the same time.

Comment by pundent Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:35 am
That is political posturing of the worst kind. Not even Ayn Rand would sit idly by while poor kids can’t afford college. How much economic freedom do those kids and their families have? And what about the businesses and service providers living on IOUs? Get over yourself and pass a budget.

Comment by Curious Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:38 am
Ayn Rand is our Governor

Comment by ILPundit Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:38 am
“Economic freedom” — code for Ayn Randian, every-man-for-himself nightmare, where the strong crush the weak.

It’s also code for “privatize, privatize, privatize.”

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:42 am
Ignoring whether Illinois is or is not Socialist, isn’t a culture of just not paying contracts hurting the business economy?

Comment by illini97 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:44 am
Amen Governor!

We give out Billions and Billions in transfer payments and what do we get?

Generations of people that are so dependent on government and deficits for future generations that cannot and will not be paid.

If it were me I would have added “crony capitalism” and “insider trading” to the comments.

Comment by BIG R. Ph. Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:45 am
It takes chutzpah for a billionaire to make a claim like this as he’s destroying social services.

Comment by Carhartt Representative Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:46 am
Rauner is channeling his mentor Friedman. Just use the Google- collectivism Milton Friedman to see numerous examples.

Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:47 am
=every-man-for-himself nightmare, where the strong crush the weak.=

What have been the most successful societies in human history? Where has the politically loved “middle-class” prospered the most? And what economic models have failed time and time again?

Comment by Robert the 1st Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:49 am
“We’ve become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It’s crushing us.”

By his own estimate, Bruce Rauner’s fortune exceeds $500,000,000. We should all pray that our children might be as “crushed” by Illinois’ “collectivist economy”.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:51 am
As we look for models, Do we want to be MN or Kansas? I would like to follow the healthy model of State economies.

Comment by frayedcat Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:52 am
I am sorry. Words fail me. The inability to see the needs of others when he has so much is mind boggling.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:53 am
A lot of voters thought, “hey, he’s not a politician; he’s a businessman, a pragmatic problem-solver. And instead we got a dogmatic ideologue.

Comment by Elgin Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:55 am
And he made that alleged 500million…because we have not seen his full tax returns……mostly off of state contracts.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:59 am
The Governor speaks as if he is unaware that IL has the 5th largest economy in the nation, that worker’s comp was reformed in 2011 and gave an 8% decrease in costs to providers.
I wonder what specifics he has in mind, or is he just tossing rhetoric: “collectivized” “economic freedom” “free market”.

No one in their right mind really wants a Free-Market. They just say that without knowing what it describes.

Comment by Baruch Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:01 am
If Illinois truly were a “collectivist economy” then wouldn’t Rauner be the head of the central planning committee and have enormous power?

Comment by Dance Band on the Titanic Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:03 am
@Illinois manufacturer

=And he made that alleged 500million…because we have not seen his full tax returns……mostly off of state contracts.=

I also understand that money his firm invested had returns well above average for the system. Seems he got his money the old fashioned way….he Earrrrrned it! (with apologies to Smith Barney and John Housemann)

Comment by Illinois Bob Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:05 am
Borg for Governor
Welcome to the collective.
You will be assimilated.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:06 am
IM, if you mean “state” in the general sense, maybe, but if you mean “state” as in “State of Illinois,” that statement is absolutely and demonstrably false. Citations available if you want them.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:07 am
I do think it’s curious Rauner used this wording. By his agenda, I believe he sees himself as fighting against specific entrenched special interests (government unions, trial lawyers, politicians). Not battling some grand socialist scheme for the unwashed masses.

Comment by Robert the 1st Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:11 am
I am an ardent supporter of Economic Freedom too, Bruce!

For instance, if I was a Bed Pan Changer at your Nursing Home. I’d want to make more than minimum wage. Of course thats going to cut into your profits and you and I might have to have sirloin steak instead of Prime Rib for dinner.

So I’m guess the Benefit Package at the Nursing Home includes Food Stamps, Section 8 Voucher, ObamaCare, ObamaPhone, etc, etc…right? But you want to get rid of those.

Comment by Delbert Grady Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:11 am
You may never see this under my handle again, but….IL Bob is correct. The last time I checked, the GTCR funds in which a State pension fund had invested had performed far better than comparable funds of the same vintage year.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:11 am
Darwinian Republicanism lost favor some time ago even among Republicans, and for good cause.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:13 am
A collectivist economy in which Bruce and his pals collect most everything and leave you and I with as little as possible!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:17 am
If we have a “collectivist economy,” the vanguard of the proletariat (Rahm and George Lucas) can solve it all by selling off our parks to the highest bidder. Sheesh!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:18 am
I’m sure everyone remembers Candidate Rauner arguing that Illinois must be a compassionate state. Has he put his money where his mouth is? No budget for social services. Now calling the Illinois economy “collective” and implying that the programs associated with social welfare are crushing the state. Rauner is a case study in the old saying “actions speak louder than words.”

Comment by Saluki Matt Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:19 am
Funny how capital has collectivized itself into fewer and fewer hands. Not funny how these capital collectivists have hurt the economy.

Comment by Vole Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:26 am
He has every right to believe that, but he should be honest about what his true policy goals are to end “collectivism.”

He has said in the past we shouldn’t have a minimum wage. He told groups of legislators in breakfast meetings last year that there is no longer any need for collective bargaining. I suspect he believes we should privatize public schools and universities through use of a vouchers system.

Governor, have the courage of your convictions…make eliminating the minimum wage, no collective bargaining, and privatized education your Turnaround Agenda. That’s how to beat collectivism. Right?

Comment by That's fine Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:28 am
He did get performance but the source of his capitol was still close to the ultimate in collectivist.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:29 am
“Collectivist”? ILpundit called it–it’s the Ayn Rand lingo. It’s the Tribune letter-to-the-editor who was elected.

Comment by JPC Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:30 am
A “free market conservative” who made his living conning public pension funds into givin’ him $$$ to invest in various schemes. Hard to understand how this kind of B* jive doesn’t get challenged by the Tribbies

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:31 am
There is no social agenda in the free market.

So THAT’s why Bruce doesn’t have one!

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:31 am
Rauner is wrong about one thing, the long run is now. Illinois is in a death spiral of outrageous public employee unions holding the citizens hostage. It took a long time to get here, but we are here.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:32 am
In Winnetkastan, where the compounds are as secure as in the Third World countries, a toast will be in support of their neighbor.

“Progress,” they will cheer.

Comment by cdog Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:32 am
Isn’t he the governor of the entire state, democrats and Republicans alike? Didn’t he get votes from Democrats? Illinois is expected to go for Clinton this fall without question. Why would he deliberately thumb his nose at the population of our state. Just as democratic lawmakers aren’t going to vote to bust unions- the population isn’t really going to go for eliminating the social safety nets- once they actually notice they’ve been eliminated.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:32 am
“Good to see most of you have received your morning dose of Madigan kool aid”

Because… Commissar Madigan!!1!

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:35 am
@Ron
Tell that to your local fire fighter and police officer next time in the middle of the night while looking in the mirror.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:45 am
Another word with *ist* at the end to frighten Older, White Males.

Something the national guy does all the time.

Comment by Delbert Grady Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:46 am
=Where has the politically loved “middle-class” prospered the most?=

I believe that happened in the post war period, roughly 1950-1970 when income tax rates were at or near historical highs.

Exactly how does it help when a few individuals, with massive wealth, increase their wealth exponentially? They do not put that wealth back into the economy.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:53 am
=== “Economic freedom” is his favorite slogan ===

1.4% has the economic freedom to do whatever and wherever he wants. He brags about his wealth, drops millions of dollars on his pet PACs, bought the governor’s office, coerced the Republican party into blindly following his agenda. The list could go on forever.

When will he be satisfied? When will he say he has enough money?

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:53 am
I am a democrat that voted for Rauner and I strongly support him still.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:55 am
“collectivist economy”

Is that what is causing the growing income inequality in Illinois?

Comment by Enviro Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:00 am
Why won’t the guilded age gentry just go away….

Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:04 am
So he is basically saying that his goal is to destroy social services.

Wow!!!! Please people vote accordingly.

Comment by Love Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:07 am
Wow he can’t decide if he wants to be like Paul Ryan, Donald Trump or Scott Walker. He really is not much of a thinker on his own is he.

Comment by Augie Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:08 am
=I am a democrat that voted for Rauner and I strongly support him still.=

Any particular reason why?

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:09 am
=I also understand that money his firm invested had returns well above average for the system. Seems he got his money the old fashioned way….he Earrrrrned it! (with apologies to Smith Barney and John Housemann)=

By donating to politicians to steer contracts his way?

Comment by Carhartt Representative Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:11 am
Tough message–Rauner is not a credible voice for that argument.

The GOP was the Democrats’ junior partner in creating this “collectivist” (really, crony capitalist; cf. John Kass, “The Combine”) economy. And Rauner and his friends at the Civic Committee were some of the biggest cronies feeding at the trough.

So, yeah, but not coming from Rauner.

Comment by Harry Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:13 am
*Economic freedom* is like *religous liberty*. Good from some, but not others if your NOT in the right group. Funny that the man promoting it got his dough from feeding at the government trough.

Comment by Delbert Grady Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:21 am
I don’t think that the governor is referring to the trade unions.

Comment by Keyser Soze Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:40 am
Because, as we all know, tinkle-down economics works so well.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:42 am
To me, “economic freedom” means being able to cut the best deal / get the highest wages I can.

If I can do that as an individual, what is wrong with banding together others and doing g it as a group? Isn’t that EXACTLY what union do?

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:52 am
=I also understand that money his firm invested had returns well above average for the system.=

Talkin’ down Illinois credit ratings
- jackin’ up Illinois yields
-buyin’ Illinois debt?

Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:56 am
“Collectivist”? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

Comment by SweetLou86 Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:59 am
All this blamin’ and spinnin’ and deflectin’ and dancin’ around must be hard work - the governor looks like he’s been rode hard and put away wet.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:06 pm
“We’ve become a collectivist economy in Illinois.–

Geez, that’s embarrassing.

Don’t use words when you don’t know what they mean, Dartmouth Dude.

In a “collectivist economy,” the state would own all the means of production and dictate the distribution of the common wealth.

News flash, governor: You, Grif and Uline, would just be regular schmucks like everyone else in a “collectivist economy.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:20 pm
If I can do that as an individual, what is wrong with banding together others and doing g it as a group? Isn’t that EXACTLY what union do?

Public employees should not have the right to disrupt taxpayers due to outrageous benefits that we pay for. Bust em.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:23 pm
I tried to tell my upper middle class friends and neighbors that Rauner was a radical, but they took a flier on him to get Quinn out of their sight. They may regret it now, but not many are feeling it.

Comment by Molly Maguire Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:31 pm
–Illinois is in a death spiral of outrageous public employee unions holding the citizens hostage.-

That’s just so sad and pathetic.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:44 pm
Wow what a thought process exercising citizen Rauner agenda is different than govenor Rauner agenda, two different people? Are you for yourself or the people?

Comment by Rabid Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:44 pm
I wish this Governor along with private equity firms and hedge funds would follow Ayn’s advise by going on strike. Hey - that wouldn’t work to their advantage. Their business model would have to produce something of value for it to work. Too bad they mostly destroy companies; declaring dividends to themselves and then selling off the remaining assets…

Comment by Triple fat Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:51 pm
Great, another supposed adult leader who bases his philosophy on dystopian fantasy novels. Did he not make it past a Jr. High reading level?

Comment by Daniel Plainview Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 12:55 pm
Makes me wonder if the Governor is a disciple of Ayn Rand? I wish there was a better Figure that he could follow as a Disciple. A Figure that urged a wealthy man to give away all that he had and then follow me. Maybe Someone urging others to help poor and sick. If only…

Comment by Triple fat Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:35 pm
Honeybear:

Ignore him. He’s not hear to have a conversation. He’s here to do drive by’s that are clearly antagonistic. Let the troll be.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:37 pm
not HERE. Sheesh.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:37 pm
I think this is an excellent example of the true Rauner. This makes great fodder for the media. I hope they pick up on his position and inform all of Illinois how compassionate our governor isn’t.

Comment by WETHEPEOPLE Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 1:43 pm
“That’s just so sad and pathetic.”

It is very sad and pathetic. Illinios has the 4th highest tax burden in the country. 2nd worst population loss rate in the nation. One of the highest unemployment rates and slowest job growth rates in the country.

Increasing taxes to pay outrageous public employee benefits will not correct the situation.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:03 pm
==to pay outrageous public employee benefits ==

Another victim.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:05 pm
-Ron-

Is this the part where you complain about state employee salaries and they fail to come up with the number of what you yourself think they should be making? What a substantive argument.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:07 pm
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others” and then there is Brucie.

Comment by d.p.gumby Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:12 pm
“All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others”

Yep, private sector citizens in Illinois vs. public sector. It’s completely outrageous.

Comment by Ron Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:27 pm
You do know public sector salaries are lower compared to the private sector, right? In fact, governments offer what they do just to get SOME of the talent that usually flees to higher paying private sector opportunities. You want a state that is ran by unqualified folks because we can pay them on the cheap? What a great approach to governance.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:35 pm
Also, still waiting on what you think state workers should be paid. If you say they make too much and offer no alternative, you have no argument.

Comment by Stark Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:36 pm
Collectivist Economy……Hmmmm I wonder how the Wildebeasts feel about that when the Lions are hungry!!

Comment by Outback Joe Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:37 pm
So, Bruce….. collectivism or dictatorship - which is it?
You can’t have it both ways -

they are diametrically opposed.

col·lec·tiv·ism:
noun
the practice or principle of giving a group priority over each individual in it.

dic·ta·tor·ship:
noun
government by a dictator.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKA Sue) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 2:37 pm
What a load of crapola. Rauner made hundreds of millions of dollars while living and doing business in Illinois. Ken Griffin made $1.7 billion dollars here last year.

Who believes this stuff?

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:18 pm
== Ignore him. He’s not hear to have a conversation. He’s here to do drive by’s that are clearly antagonistic. Let the troll be. ==

He’s probably being paid to be a troll here … or it’s just Bruce amusing himself.

Comment by RNUG Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 3:50 pm
He’s probably being paid to be a troll here

I’ve long suspected IPI of hiring some young pups to do just that.

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:04 pm
Ron has changed his name. You might be able to guess what his prior name was.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:11 pm
Rich, maybe when I agreed with uh, “Ron” is when he decided he had to change it.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:35 pm
Folks, you’ll wait forever for a real answer to a real question from Ron.All he has is drive by sound bites to troll with

Comment by Steve Schnorf Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:06 pm
Ron..ald McDonald?

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:08 pm
I think I recognize Ron’s tone.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:14 pm
== no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom into the state==.

It appears ‘economic freedom’ is Rauner’s new buzz word for destroying the unions.

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:19 pm
–It appears ‘economic freedom’ is Rauner’s new buzz word for destroying the unions.–

I’m thinking “economic freedom” is “not paying your bills,” in the governor’s vernacular.

Dishonoring contracts you’ve signed and getting goods and services for free is very economical, if you can get away with it and you can live with being a deadbeat.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:41 pm
I too could amass a great fortune if I forewent paying all of my bills.

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:02 pm
“Economic freedom”
“Right to work”
“Liberty Principles” PAC

Penn & Teller did a good piece on the varying degrees of BS. It describes all of these perfectly. (Madigan, and the magic acts he controls!)

Comment by PENSIONS ARE OFF LIMITS Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:08 pm
=I think I recognize Ron’s tone.=

- I think I recognize Ron’s t- Tone. - Fixed it.

Comment by Qui Tam Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:24 pm
“Collectivism”, really ? For a fascinating insight see Ayn Rand interviewed by Mike Wallace and her comments on collectivism (final comments are quite revealing about where we are now):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO3p1VHMcI0

Comment by peon Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:24 pm