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Ethics poll: 63 percent say Illinois more corrupt than most states

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Illinois
Polls

* The latest Tribune poll…

Nearly two-thirds of those who called themselves Democrats said they believed stronger ethics measures would help eliminate corruption, while half of those who called themselves Republicans doubted the success of any cleanup efforts.

When voters were asked what reform measure might have the greatest impact on curbing corruption, 31 percent said greater access to government records, including those involving internal investigations, 26 percent cited term limits for elected officials and 20 percent said limits on campaign donations. […]

A total of 12 percent of the voters identified the recall of public officials as a step to curb corruption, a move Blagojevich allies in the Senate foiled last year, while only 2 percent cited taxpayer-financed political campaigns as a needed remedy.

When asked to gauge Illinois’ corruption problems against other states, a total of 63 percent said they believed Illinois was more corrupt than most states or one of the worst in the nation. A total of 70 percent of Republicans and a nearly like number of independent voters shared that view compared to 57 percent of Democrats. Another 33 percent of the voters said corruption in Illinois is no worse or even less than other states.

Again, the Tribune’s adamant refusal to post their complete poll results onine means big areas are left blank here. We’re supposed to just accept the word from the Mountain Top that the Trib’s analysis is the holy truth.

This poll was apparently conducted differently than a recent survey which allowed voters to say how they felt about individual reform ideas. In the Trib poll, voters apparently just chose their top pick. Both methods can be useful.

Public records “sunshine” was apparently at the top (I say “apparently” because there is no complete list). That result will likely be trumpeted by Speaker Madigan’s people because Madigan has made opening up inspector general reports a top priority of his new ethics committee. And notice how far down recall and public finance apparently are. Those two items would have a huge impact on politics in this state. Sunshine? Not so much. As I’ve been saying for years, sunshine only works if shame can be injected into the system. Illinois politics is mostly shameless.

The Trib editorialized today about the need for ethics reform and at the top of its list was consolidating local governments, which apparently wasn’t even in their poll.

* Related…

* After scandal, state has chance to enact real reform

* Race to reform Illinois is in full swing

* Patti’s problems : Sneed hears the feds delivered a subpoena to the Chicago Christian Industrial League Wednesday, which once employed former first lady Patti Blagojevich as its development director.

* Blagojevich gets down and dirty

* Ex-reporter’s toughest assignment

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:05 am

Comments

I have lived in other states and countries, and I have to agree that Illinois is the most corrupt place I’ve called home.

There is no political competition in Chicago, Cook County, and now, Illinois. I don’t care if it is Whigs, Republicans or Tutsi, we need another political party in a position to take power at each election. We cannot expect ethics, efficiencies and reform when only one party calls the shots.

Illinois political culture is corrupt. The Illinois Democratic Party is corrupt. The Illinois Republican Party is corrupt. These parties are corrupted because they care more about winning elections than about what a party is supposed to do: win by presenting the best individuals qualified for elected office.

Instead they focus on winning. Now, I know you have to win - but there has to be a balance here. Because winning is coming at the expense of the other purpose of political parties - leading. If our political parties presented the best, who governed the best they could, successful election results will follow.

Rod Blagojevich is the poster boy of the Illinois Democratic Party. He is the result of a party so overly confident, so corrupted in it’s mission, that it reach knowingly to the bottom of the barrel, nominated him twice, and got him elected twice. Why? Because they knew he could win. While they also knew he couldn’t govern, was incompetent, and didn’t even show up at work, he was an excellent campaigner, fund raiser, and player. The Illinois Democratic Party didn’t care that they nominated the worst man in Illinois walking the streets to lead our state.

After a generation of public office, every Republican with ears and eyes knew George Ryan did whatever it took to get a deal done. He knew where every body was buried - because he dug the graves. George even knew who coughed up the pennies laid on his victim’s eyes before the first shovel of dirt was thrown on him. But they knew he could be elected in 1998 - so they went with him. Competent, yet corrupted to the core. The GOP has paid dearly ever since.

We are sick of this. We are sick of the sky-high taxes. We are sick of the dishonesty extruding from nearly every political deal. We are sick of the partisanship and the political dues that are paid by prostituting moral compasses for legal definitions.

We are tired of the willfull blindness that passes as leadership in Illinois.

The first political party willing to demonstrate it’s commitment to self-cleaning, demonstrate higher standards of it’s candidates and office holders, and demonstrates it’s willingness to sacrifice an election win for the greater societal good - will find a welcoming reception in this state.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 11:46 am
There’s no way I could improve on VanillaMan’s post.

Bravo.

Comment by Cynic Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:11 pm
I don’t believe Illinois is more corrupt than any other state, or Ancient Rome for that matter. Human nature is what it is. If no one’s looking, or if people won’t take steps to stop it, there are those who will steal.

I think what we’re seeing right now is the application of the full power of the Justice Department by someone with his eyes wide open who doesn’t care who in the power structure he angers or throws in jail.

Let’s be serious, how in the world is Fitz the first guy to take a hard look at Bill Cellini? The guy’s been in the same racket since the 70s, with all the best people, a pillar of the community and the GOP.

Pat Marcy, John D’Arco and Fred Roti sat in the same booth at Counselor’s Row for decades and bribed judges, aldermen, cops, and legislators for the Outfit. Everybody knew what these prominent Dems were doing. Bob Cooley had to walk in off the street and giftwrap it — spill his guts and offer to wear a wire — before the then U.S. Attorney even considered going after them. In fact, considering who Cooley was and what he brought them, they really had no choice.

It’s like the great Jimmy Malone told Elliott Ness in The Untouchables.

“Mr. Ness, everybody knows where the booze is. The problem isn’t finding it, the problem is who wants to cross Capone. ”

The real question for Illinois citizens and officials is are we willing to clean up our own mess. Or do we have to bring in another fed from out-of-town when Fitz leaves?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:18 pm
Wordslinger — how do we clean up own house when the people who have the brooms are the same ones making the mess?

The reality is that even the feds aren’t doing enough. They’ve been trying to clean up the mess with a crumb sweeper when they really need an army of industrial strength vacuums.

Comment by Cynic Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:25 pm
Back in December, the New York Times found that although Illinois had more governors who went to jail, it was not the most corrupt. In a thirty-year span, it was Florida who sent the most elected officials to jail or prison.

Small consolation for sure.

Comment by Nearly Normal Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:36 pm
Cynic, get new people. We’re not powerless children. You generally get the government you deserve.

For those of you who give examples of better, more virtuous states and governments, how did they get that way? Were they born that way? Are they a different breed. Or was it the hard work of the people who lived there and insisted upon it?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 12:59 pm
Only 63%? I guess the other 37% ofthe responders were either lying, stealing or are completely clueless!

Comment by fedup dem Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:00 pm
In Dec., I read that North Dakota has the most corrupt politicians, since they have the highest percentage who have been convicted.

Comment by ConservativeVeteran Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:33 pm
I saw that stat about North Dakota too, but I think it was based on public corruption convictions per capita, which is misleading. A better indicator, in my opinion, is the number of FBI public corruption offices by state.

If I recall correctly, New Jersey was tied with Louisiana for many years with three of these units each. Illinois joined the club a few years ago, presumably because Fitzgerald found so much dirt he needed the extra help.

So we’re tied for first at least. Whooo-hooo!

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 1:52 pm
Remember, these same astute citizens polled believed the voice on their TV set that JBT was George Ryan’s Treasurer. We get the return on theinvestment most of you make; very little.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 2:03 pm
Has anyone noticed the odd coincidence in the Daily Herald’s story - from the AP wire, of course - regarding Kosovo’s first year of independence? Who did the AP find to interview in Mitrovica, a city of mostly ethnic Serbs that refuses to recognize Kosovar independence? None other than someone named Blagojevic! (There’s no “h” at the end, but it’s pronounced the same way.) Imagine that, a Blago ignoring reality.

Comment by cover Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 3:15 pm
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I don’t believe Illinois is more corrupt than any other state, or Ancient Rome for that matter.
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Small consolation. Rome fell.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 8:58 pm
Another solution to the Blago “gets down and dirty” prob: let’s take him to a town hall meeting and have him express his interest in becoming a weatherman. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 9:11 pm
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I don’t believe Illinois is more corrupt than any other state, or Ancient Rome for that matter.
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Small consolation. Rome fell.==

If you read my whole post, the point I’m making is that we’re no more uniquely corrupt than any other state, government, culture or era. Human nature is what it is, no matter the place or era. In fact, I suspect we’re evealing through aggressive law enforcement by the Justice Deparment the corruption that’s always existed.

If someone steals, and no one knows about it, does that mean there’s no corruption? If someone steals and is caught, does that mean corruption is rampant?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 9:17 pm
I wasn’t necessarily disagreeing with you, word. As a matter of fact, I found your comparison to Rome very thought-provoking because there are quite a few parallels between what lead to Rome’s fall and what’s happening now.

That’s not to say we’re doomed, but it’s always worth a look-see into the past to see what can be applied to today’s solutions, and I think you identified a good place to start.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 9:24 pm
I should have said “what can be applied to today’s solutions AND may even help shed light on the motivations of some in today’s world, including potential rammifications of executing per such motivations”.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 9:39 pm
Blago would make a great weatherman… especially with his spot-on prediction that there was “nothing but sunshine” hanging over him

Comment by Bookworm Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 9:54 pm
As far as historical corruption goes, well, consider the fact that Dante, in “The Inferno,” set aside an entire circle of hell for corrupt politicians to spend eternity swimming in boiling tar, symbolic of their sticky fingers. He portrayed the place as being heavily populated by “Santa Zita’s elders” — city officials of Lucca, the pay-to-play capital of medieval Tuscany, where “yes is no and no is yes for a fee.”

Comment by Bookworm Tuesday, Feb 17, 09 @ 10:55 pm