Will voters have short memories?

If you thought that the sweep of the Cubs in St. Louis was the worst thing that happened over the last weekend in May, you weren't paying attention. The performance displayed by the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield was far more dismal. In a matter of hours, our elected representatives distinguished themselves by making it easier to gamble, buy weed or get an abortion in Illinois.

If that wasn't enough to insult your core values, they punked you further by passing a 100% increase in the state gas tax and a 50% increase in the vehicle registration fee. This was all done to meet the need for more revenue to bail out the state from its precarious fiscal position which, of course, they created themselves by overseeing years of budgetary mismanagement.

In an effort to make you feel good. the legislators proudly pronounced that they passed a balanced budget. That is laughable, since had they operated under that premise in the past we wouldn't be in this predicament.

The Illinois General Assembly has no credibility when it comes to budgetary responsibility and it is likely that when the receipts are counted at the end of this fiscal year, nothing will be in balance despite an apparent infusion of revenue arising from these latest enactments.

If you're feeling a bit disgusted by these legislative moves perhaps, it is a good time to remember that people usually get what they deserve. Empowering these politicians with your vote and failing to hold them accountable is the root cause of your disgust. They're hoping you'll have a short memory and get over your disappointment by next fall when they've placed a referendum on the ballot that will give them the power to raise the state income tax.

That's when you'll have an opportunity to make a real fool out of yourself.

Ronald Bearwald

Northbrook