Myth of Hope in Cook

Palatine residents protest the massive $426 million Cook County tax hike, as Board President Todd Stroger finally showed up in the suburbs to discuss county "services". Sun Times:

Once again murmurs about secession from the county were circulating. "The whole philosophy is suicide in a time when gas prices are four times what they were seven years ago and people's disposable income is dropping like a stone," said one man in the crowd.

And the words "competitive disadvantage" were spoken, not of course by Stroger, as this is doubtless an alien concept, much as the suburbs are an alien nation. Tribune:

At Monday's meeting at Harper College, the crowd applauded when Nancy Golemba, 48, of Inverness, said, "I think Cook County represents the residents of Chicago."

"I feel totally disenfranchised," said Jeff Milstein, a jewelry store owner from Schaumburg. "I don't trust you guys."

Stroger, who remained unflappable, said "people don't trust politicians . . . and that's they way this job works."

Who cares, certainly not Todd Stroger and the Democrat Machine that muscled him into power, including, of course, the sainted Senator Barack Obama.

Business as usual, hope and change a myth in Chicagoland.

Stroger showed those gathered a video of county services (wonder how much that cost to make)--and trotted out one of his former administrators for a testimonial, one of the few not a relative:

Dr. Robert Simon, former interim chief of the massive county Health Services Bureau, defended the county.

"I think it's absolutely stunning to see what is done with $3 billion," he said. "It's absolutely amazing to me."

His argument was met with laughter from the crowd.

Absolutely stunning. Just say no.

UPDATE: Remember this? And in related news, the "earnest but naive" friend of Barack, Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, banker to Barack, was also banker to friend of Barack Tony Rezko. (Watch your back, Barack.) Of course, these guys are all earnest but naive. HT Bill Baar.