I don’t think a lot of folks were all that serious about an Illinois Constitutional Convention until the established powers gathered to squelch the idea.
Here is the full list of the special interests:
AFL-CIO Illinois
American Insurance Association
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Citizen Action Illinois
Illinois Association of Convenience Stores
Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools
Illinois Association of School Administrators
Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators
Illinois Business RoundTable
Illinois Civil Justice League
Illinois Education Association
Illinois Farm Bureau
Illinois Federation of Teachers
Illinois Manufacturers Association
Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association
Illinois Retail Merchants Association
Illinois Retired Teachers Association
Illinois State Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Teachers Retirement System
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
League of Women Voters of Illinois
National Federation of Independent Businesses/Illinois
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
Service Employees International Union Illinois
State University Annuitants Association
Taxpayers? Federation of Illinois
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, Local 881
Organized labor, do-gooders, business, educators…truly an impressive line-up. I assume that more influence-seekers will be jumping on the bandwagon.
As much as they might disagree with each other on other issues, when it comes to maintaining the status quo, they’re in accord. The very creation of this alliance suggests that one reason the current state government is in such disarray is structural. If the special interests were not so interested in maintaining the status quo, big money wouldn’t be pouring in to pay for a such a big PR campaign.
In one way, the campaign, which kicked off with a big press conference yesterday, has already succeeded. A lot of people now have noticed that they have an opportunity to kick the politicians and special interests in the butt, and a lot of people will be wanting to know more. If you are among them, you can start by reading a fine column by By John Bambenek in today’s Chicago Daily Observer. There you’ll find some good reasons to think about calling a con-con.
I’m not entirely convinced that a new con-con is a good idea, but those who are marshaling the big bucks to oppose one are lighting a fire under a disgruntled Illinois electorate. Those opposed to folks gathering in a constitutional convention call themselves the Alliance to Protect the Illinois Constitution. Perhaps what the fed-up citizens of Illinois need to do is create an Alliance to Protect Illinois Citizens from the politicians who have been empowered by the current constitution.
Read More of In Opposition to the Power and Politics of Illinois off-site...John Powers says:
"Do you you really think the average taxpayer actually knows what he/she/it wants Big Government to do"
Yes, I do..Less.
JBP
Let's face facts says:
I would love to have a con con and reshape the document to reflect a more conservative approach to government.
I would like to have Michael Jordan's athletic ability too and make millions a year.
The problem I've seen from those few advocating for the con con is that they explain why the end result COULD be good, but they have no realistic way to convince me how we get there.
All I see is pie in the sky wishful thinking, but no realistic implementation plan.
This is a Dem state, with a completely ineffective GOP. Most of the delegates elected would be pro-Dem, pro-liberal and pro-teachers' union.
That's reality, and no amount of naive wishful thinking is going to change that by 2010.
Holding a con con now, in this current IL environment, means things get MUCH worse for the conservative/reform cause. Bank on it.
Good grief, the IL GOP just had a state convention last month, and even that "family" event made the GOP worse.
Good article though Dennis.
Gregory Pierce says:
You have it correct, Dennis: The very creation of this alliance suggests that one reason the current state government is in such disarray is structural. If the special interests were not so interested in maintaining the status quo, big money wouldn’t be pouring in to pay for a such a big PR campaign.
The artugments against having a constitutional convention are straight out of Alice in Wonderland: We can't have a constitutional convention because the power brokers will control it, so let's try to change things through the exisitng system that is controlled by the power brokers.
A constitutional convention offers the best chance for real democracy to break out in Illinois. If it didn't, the Coalition for the Protection of the Status Quo wouldn't be spending millions to defeat it.
Vote yes on November 4 for a new constitutional convention for Illinois. They can't stop us, unless we let them.
Mike says:
They all suckle at the teats of the taxpayer , did you expect somehing different?" Do you you really think the average taxpayer actually knows what he/she/it wants Big Government to do?