In search of stability

George Orwells' novel "1984" is about totalitarian society that destroys privacy and distorts truth. The book was released in 1949. So what does this have to do with stability? It shows how far we, as a society, will go to have some form of stability in our lives. That is where we are headed - total dependency on some form of government for our "stability" and livelihood.

Case in point, the person who gave up a rather good paying job to work for a school district that assured him his job wouldn't be eliminated anytime soon. Unlike those jobs that are gone because they are now outsourced to other countries. All in the name of greed.

He is not the first person to look for some type of work that offers stability and comfort for himself and his family. No one could blame him for making that move.

But at what cost? Not to him, but to the people who will be picking up the tab for his salary, benefits, and retirement. You, the taxpayer. In the state of Illinois there are more people working for the government than any other employer. Nearly 400,000 and rising. That includes county government, city government, teachers, firemen, policemen, etc. There are more than 6,000 various types of governing agencies in this state. All drawing money away from those that don't work for the state. The people who are losing almost everything because they have no assured, replaceable income. Once they pay their taxes they have very little to replace those funds.

The state is bankrupt. Thanks in part to a leaderless government. Starting at the top.

Is there an answer? Not until the people of this state wake up and demand a change in the policies that allows this state to continue to spend money it doesn't have. To give to the "I've got mine" group, which expects the state to continually pay its way.

William Swearingen

Elgin