Bernard Schoenburg is known for writing columns in excruciating details about local politics including the inworkings of Sangamon County politics. In many ways he’s a pretty technical writer giving everyone the details and summarizing where different people are on an issue or in some race. Good stuff generally and while not the kind of thing to grab the attention of even all political junkies that kind of stuff really allows people to figure out what is going on. Every once in a while he drops a bomb and today is one of them:
Some people think Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH is bluffing when he talks about laying off thousands more state workers, or when stories suggest he’s making plans for how government might function if the budget morass isn’t settled by the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.
But having watched this governor since he became a serious candidate for the 2002 election, and having been to many of his Springfield appearances – when he takes the time to come to the capital city – I wouldn’t be surprised at anything he does.
Go read the rest because it is probably one of the single best descriptions of how Blagojevich governs. He doesn’t know too damn much about state operations and he assumes everyone else is lazy.
The problem is, it simply isn’t true. There are problematic state workers and agencies, but when you interview or observe many of them doing their job, they are for the most part incredibly conscientious people who do the best within the budgets and legal framework the elected officials give them. Much of the whining about inefficiencies can be found to have started in law or how money is allocated. In fact, one could argue that is much the case with the problems in the State Board of Education. I can make a good argument for reform of the institution, but that doesn’t mean the people doing it are horrible. Usually they are doing the job they were hired to do.
Blagojevich doesn’t see it that way though, he thinks they are humps. Those humps are people who educate your children, protect your environment, and build your roads and they deserve respect.
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