How Not to Run a State

In it's endorsement of Bill Brady for governor, the Chicago Tribune discusses what ailes Illinois:

Under current management, legislators included, Illinois is tumbling from leader to bottom-feeder. Quinn, with his adrenalized patter about the greatness of Illinois, wants us all to believe he's looking ahead, not back. If only.

For two decades, politicians of both parties have bulwarked their incumbency, their power, by living a simple coda of "Spend. Borrow. Repeat." They have obligated future spending, and sweetened pensions, as if to say, "Hey, we'll be dead when the worst of this comes due."

In the bigger picture, the Tribune also spells out perfectly how big government liberalism hurts the poor and disadvantaged it claims to stand for:

Consider: Quinn's government is insolvent, unable to pay for the already-provided care of our most helpless citizens. Yet he commits Illinoisans to spend $75 million — money that essentially doesn't exist — to continue a jobs program he likes until after the election. Meanwhile, he assures state government's biggest union of job protection until the middle of 2012.

The net effect of these selfish choices: Pat Quinn is relentlessly starving clout-poor social services so he can protect the jobs and benefits of his union supporters. Shame on Quinn, and on all of us in whose name he perpetrates this raw injustice.