Illinois under Governor J.B. Pritzker is a model of American Democracy at its best
https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2023/06/illinois-is-model-for-democracy-under.htmlWe don't get the kind of media attention that California or New York may get, but there is a model of democracy and freedom, a diving bell of freedom in the middle of America, where people may still take for granted the freedom that we enjoy. Our state government is led by a governor who understands the broad diversity of the population in the state, and what it takes to lead with that being the case. With a state legislature that has a Democratic super-majority, Illinois, as a state government, works. And I really hope that the Democrats in this state never take this for granted!
Illinois has become aggressive against the kind of censorship that is infringing on individual liberty in places like Florida and Texas. The state is refusing to fund libraries that censor books, and is making sure that state curriculum mandates for schools include things like African American and Native American history that is accurately taught. The state already has a well-funded, well developed system of community colleges, among the least expensive and most accesible to students anywhere in the country, and an outstanding state university system that is also pro-active in providing affordable, high quality education to its students. This most recent state legislative session, and the Governor, are sending a strong message that those who value intellectual freedom should seek their higher education in Illinois.
Governor Pritzker ranks as one of the single most effective governors in state history. His work with municipal leadership all over the state had Illinois prepared for the pandemic, with literally thousands of additional hospital beds and staff ready to serve during the pandemic. But the scope of the COVID 19 pandemic, which had the potential to be as far-reaching and as deadly in a densely populated city like Chicago, never materialized because of the way the governor managed the states resources in fighting off its worst effects. Hospitals were never over-topped. Respirators were available. Not all of the measures taken were popular, especially related to the schools, but the fact stands in contrast to the criticism. Illinois weathered the COVID-19 pandemic as well as any other state, because of the efforts of Governor J.B. Pritzker.
calimary
(81,593 posts)elleng
(131,370 posts)live love laugh
(13,204 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,771 posts)And I'm a lifelong Illinois resident.
PortTack
(32,820 posts)AwakeAtLast
(14,134 posts)When I moved back six years ago!
I was fortunate to be able to escape Indiana, thanks to my Mom and Dad.
lees1975
(3,924 posts)We should not take that for granted.
And in all of those states where we've gained a greater foothold, we need to take the legislatures back!!! And in the ones where we have a supermajority, we need to use that influence and power to fight against the backwardness of other states. Whatever they censor and restrict, we need to open up and embrace. Boundaries on the ground can't stop the proliferation of ideas.
Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)in the Midwest which would be a safe haven for other people to come to, either to live permanently or just get help.
Tetrachloride
(7,899 posts)Ocelot II
(115,976 posts)but moved next door to MN as a kid, have hated watching WI slide into GOP clutches under the odious Scott Walker. Hope the change on the state Supreme Court will help. Can't believe Russ Feingold was replaced by that moron Ron Johnson.
AllyCat
(16,260 posts)Stands a good chance of ending our gerrymandering, abortion ban, act 10/RTW4Less, and voting restrictions. Please dont count us out yet: This is how Michigan did it!
bamagal62
(3,275 posts)murielm99
(30,782 posts)We have an interesting history in this state. Our politicians seem to be either statesmen or crooks. Four of our last seven governors have gone to jail. Yet we have Lincoln. We have Adlai Stevenson. We have Durbin, Duckworth and Pritzker. And we have Madigan, who is in a lot of trouble in Chicago. We have Chicago aldermen, who are always the butt of jokes.
I have found nearly all of our current lawmakers, the good ones anyway, to be accessible to us, the ordinary foot soldiers. Our good lawmakers are very, very good. The bad ones are deplorable.
I went to a Democratic brunch today that was sponsored and attended by people from five northern Illinois counties. Our state treasurer and our comptroller were speakers. Several state reps spoke. I know how hard all of these people work for us.
We should not be considered flyover country. We should be considered an example for Democratic party rule all over the country.
PortTack
(32,820 posts)States and a few others ..we here in Illinois are doing pretty damn good!
ShazzieB
(16,636 posts)I am incredibly proud of my state and very grateful to live here. Pritzker was not the first choice for Democratic nominee for governor for some of my Democratic friends, but he was mine, from the day he came to speak at an event put on by the local Indivisible group. I knew he was the genuine article when I heard gim speak that day, I could feel it so strongly. My support has never wavered since then. I'm pretty darned proud of our Senators as well.
Illinois has not been so well blessed governmentally for a very long time, and I will never take any of this for granted.
mopinko
(70,337 posts)i rly think we look more corrupt cuz we prosecute that shit, whereas in most cases, it stays hidden.
i wouldnt give alllll the credit to jb, tho. chgo weathered the pandemic well cuz cook co pretty much invented public health. we were ready here. admit it doesnt hurt that the medical industry is a huge part of the local economy.
jb did a lot for the rest of the state, tho. went around jared, et al, to make sure we had ppe.
hes a good man. a mensch and a teddy bear. his 1st ad had me.
gloria steinem, paraphrasing, said if you want to know about a man, watch him w kids. she was talking about jesse jackson, who was running for prez at the time. she had seen him w a bunch of kids who just climbed all over him. he was beaming.
jbs 1st ad had him w kids, highlighting his work on early ed. thats my heart, right there. putting the next gen 1st fixes most of the bullshit we are in.
we have a rly great lege, too. i adore my state rep, kelly cassidy.
Bluethroughu
(5,204 posts)This State is doing amazing, and it's because the man cares about Illinois. I want to say I appreciate he and his family standing up for another term.