Time for some soul-searching in Illinois

Having lived through the terms of 14 Illinois governors, I have acquired an affinity for this state and have never felt a desire to relocate. The fact that we have now become one of the most notoriously corrupt and laughable members of the Union is cause for considerable soul-searching on the part of all Illinois residents.

"How did this happen?" we ask. For starters, possibly an indifferent electorate must bear part of the burden of guilt. Many people come to power under less-than-pristine circumstances with motives that are totally self-serving. Over time, the infestation grows until its sheer mass forces it into the open.

It has taken the recent outrageous antics of an Illinoisan elected to the highest office of this state to shake us loose from our fossilized mindset of "politics as usual." Hopefully, we seem now to be generating a new "public will" of intolerance for that very "will" as an ever-increasing number of us are putting forth reasonable solutions to the most egregious political practices. Granted, at the present time, the putrid essence of politics in this state overwhelms anyone who would desire to make a genuine, forthright attempt to transform its culture of corruption by running for state office.

But I don't feel our cause is totally lost. First off, we must realize the incredible impact of our one 'little' vote. Those of us charged with the placing of qualified individuals in positions of power need to wake up to the immense responsibility we have to ferret out the truly qualified. The integrity of a governing body depends solely on certain inborn traits of its members. Respect heads the list of those traits. First and foremost, respect for self and fellow-legislators, respect for conscience, respect for the equitable use of public funds, respect for the rule of law, and respect for me and all other citizens of this state.

Marianne Avery

Wheaton