It’s not illegal, it’s Chicago!

**Posted by Phineas

Today’s Chicago Tribune column from John Kass is a must-read:

What if lawmakers passed a bill that allowed two dozen hand-picked political insiders to fan out across the state and walk up to you and demand your cash?

Not ask but demand.

Got a problem?

There is no passion in the demand, no anger, no urgency. Just a flat look, impassive, the way a hungry hyena on the savanna looks at a herd of meek chumbolones and says, “That one.”

Or the way a butcher sizes up some hanging beef before going to work on it. Except, you’re the beef.

And after you give up the money, the guy smiles to himself and slides into a nice black Escalade. He doesn’t thank you. But he sure thanks the politicians who made it happen. He helps re-elect them, so they or their families make fortunes.

But you? You don’t get thanks. He’d no more thank you than he’d thank a dog.

Now, do you have a problem with that?

Pardon me? I didn’t hear you. So let me ask you again.

No?

Then you must be in Illinois.

Go read the whole thing, and then remember that we elected a president who cut his political teeth in that swamp.

(Crossposted at Public Secrets)

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