Illinois’ looming financial insolvency is universally acknowledged as a runaway train that will soon take us all over the fiscal cliff — unless we make changes to the current system.
Governor Rauner’s overly ambitious proposal to fix state finances (by cutting local government receipts of state income taxes) was harshly criticized by the Landmark (“Yes, let’s all share,” The Landmark View, Feb. 25), whose 1,368 words of editorial and reporting contained not a single proposal or recommended solution.
Every printed word was a variation on “don’t cut mine.” Completely buying into an entitlement mentality regarding taxes, the Landmark says local “municipalities are absolutely entitled” to their current payments under the current system. But the current system is bankrupting us all.
Then, the Landmark quotes seven local politicians who lament the governor’s drastic plan. I assume at least one of those politicians has at least one idea for fixing Illinois’ looming insolvency, but the Landmark only printed complaints, not a single one proffered solutions. Complaining may make good print copy; but it is bad policy and does nothing to solve the state’s problem.
The governor’s proposal is probably overreaching. But Illinois’ fiscal problem cannot be solved by a “don’t cut mine” entitlement mentality. So how about some ideas, instead of just bitching?
In fairness, the Landmark weakly offers that the General Assembly seems “open” to state pension reform. But that is not a solution. That merely asks someone else — the same assembly which got us into this mess — to fix the problem.
I ask the Landmark to follow up with those same politicians and for the Landmark to offer its own constructive proposal to address Illinois fiscal dilemma — and not just complain.
Mike Maher
Riverside
