Pride, egos in way of good leadership
Faced with criminal allegations, recorded phone conversations, impending indictments and impeachment, the honorable and humble thing for Gov. Blagojevich to have done weeks ago would have been to resign.
With such a huge cloud of scandal surrounding Gov. Blagojevich, the wise and common-sensical thing for Mr. Burris to have done was refuse any appointment from Blagojevich (as Congressman Danny Davis did). However, because of ego (fueled, perhaps, by his hurt pride at being rejected by voters three times in a row in unsuccessful bids for Chicago mayor, Illinois governor and U.S. Senate) Burris continued to fight on against the odds. What Mr. Burris needed are some true friends who will pull him aside and tell him, in a kind yet firm way, to go somewhere and sit down.
As if this weren't bad enough, some Burris supporters have brought race into the mix, suggesting it as a reason Burris was being refused entry to the Senate. On the face of it, the suggestion is ridiculous. In my opinion, Blagojevich is simply using Burris (with some success, I might add) in order to help divide people along racial lines. The whole affair is disgusting.
According to the biblical writer of Proverbs, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)." How right he was. Thanks to Blagojevich-Burris, the people of Illinois have a disgraceful spectacle being played out before the eyes of the world.
We could use some humble, wise leadership right now.
Wyeth W. Duncan
Gurnee
How to motivate a politician?
When the élan of politician rhetoric at election time has faded and you're sitting next to your local politicians at church, pass them in the grocery or chat with them as neighbors, how do you motivate them to stay engaged when you've become unsure of their intentions or suspect their handshake and smile are merely patronization? At public meetings when you're no longer that neighbor or friend you thought you were, and politicians feel privileged to mock or ignore you because you ask questions, voice disappointment or demand change, what's your recourse? What's the recourse for elderly, retired voters on fixed incomes, Hispanic and other ethnicities growing exponentially though thankfully? How do you get politicians to do what they were elected in good faith to do with a modicum of humility, honesty and responsibly?
Incumbents including the mayor who continue to run our town into oblivion are the only people so far coming forward to run in this April's election! Given the condition of our town, how can we trust them to continue to lead us and spend our tax dollars? Is it really possible residents are content with their agenda of higher taxes, plunging home values, loss of sales tax revenues through rebates to developers, increased crime, poor and inept planning and development, mediocre education for our kids and crumbling infrastructure?
The deadlines for anyone interested in bringing a new vision and voice to Mundelein as a candidate is Monday, Jan. 26. Packets are available at the village hall. Mundelein needs new choices, and a new direction in village government. If you can't run, get involved! Attend village and commission meetings. Be heard! Your voice can make a difference!
Sarah Powers Mundelein