State didn't get the election's message

Aside from Planet California and Parallel Universe Illinois, most in the country got it right in the Nov. 2 election. Repudiation of liberal, spend, tax and borrow policies was ubiquitous and decisive. The House added 63, the Senate added six and more than 500 state legislative seats went to fiscal conservatives, along with at least eight governors with conservative values and records.

Not, however in Illinois, where economic suicide and corruption reigns. Already, the returning governor, House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton have turned up in Springfield to discuss additional borrowing of $4 billion to sustain a fractured state pension program. This is like borrowing on a credit card to buy liquor for an alcoholic. If the state government is unable or unwilling to face reality, lenders should intervene and declare the state an unworthy risk for additional credit.

The newly elected sheriffs in Washington will most certainly deny this, or any state, a bailout, in spite of the president's paternal instincts to do so. Springfield is on its own from this day forward; however, it is clear they did not get the memo sent to a president, governors or legislators. Illinois will remain a fiscal train wreck until a change of regime or the imposition of a form of bankruptcy from lenders. The race to the bottom is a close one between Illinois and California, with Greece the country, not the musical as the role model.

Al Boese

Lake Bluff