Soon after ex-governor/future-inmate Rod Blagojevich was elected Governor in 2002 (also known in Illinois as “The Accursed Year”) he began pushing for health care reform. There were, of course, a few Republican politicians (endangered species in Illinois) who protested, saying that there was no way our state could afford what Blago had in mind. They were, of course, ignored.
So the Prairie State got its own version of health care reform, in a variety of guises. Among the most expensive was “All Kids” which gave “free” government health care to children. Who could be against that?
Well they don’t call it “All Kids” for nothing. There is no requirement to prove that you are citizen of Illinois, or even a legal resident of the United States, in order to recieve benefits under the program. There’s not even a requirement to prove that you truly can’t afford to pay on your own. Insured – uninsured – rich – poor – illegal; come one, come all! It’s all about the kids.
Today, those annoying Republican predictions have come true. On a per capita basis, Illinois has more debt than California, if you can possibly fathom that. We are 46th out of 50 (or is it 57?) states when it comes to job-creation. For a state with such a strategic location in the transportation system, and with such a talented work force, it is appalling how quickly the wheels have come off.
But then state senator Barack Obama learned something from Blago: it really doesn’t matter whether you can afford a program or not. That’s the next guy’s problem. What matters is giving the people something that shows them that you care and, more importantly, something so valuable that they can’t live without it. Do that simple thing and you secure power for a long, long time.
“and with such a talented work force” you forgot to add, “present party excluded” when you wrote that…