L. Cassius ille quem populus Romanus verissimum et sapientissimum iudicem putabat identidem in causis quaerere solebat ‘cui bono’ fuisset. Pro Roscio Amerino

The famous Lucius Cassius, whom the Roman people used to regard as a very honest and wise judge, was in the habit of asking, time and again, ‘To whose benefit?’ M. Tullius Cicero

“misuse of official power over public employees . . . created a substantial, perhaps massive, political effort in favor of the ins and against the outs.” Shakman I, 435 F.2d at 270. We concluded that “these interests are entitled to constitutional protection from injury of the nature alleged as well as from injury resulting from inequality in election procedure.” Id. Following the remand, the City agreed to a consent judgment, and such a decree was entered on May 5, 1972 (“1972 Consent Decree”). See R.174, Ex.4. UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Ah, so it’s all about Ins versus OUTs! I thought that was what a free election was all about. Silly me. American Progressives use the courts and courts alone because they can not seem to win an election outside of the Progressive settlements.

For more than forty years now, folks have been singing the Shakman saga around the campfires in the BGA, The Coalition for Good Government, IVI-IPO, LSMFT, and on NPR with the New Christy Minstrels – wasn’t that a time?

In 1968, Michael Shakman, an earnest young University of Chicago firebrand lawyer from Hyde Park was lacing up his Keds to jump in and save Illinois from Boss Daley I and all of the powers of darkness that made government effective for most people.

Michael Shakman could not get elected. So he took his case, briefs, hard-boiled eggs, celery, a nice selection of pitted imported olives, a loaf a bread, a jug perhaps and then went to work on Thou! Along with Encyclopedia of Chicago biographer, Roger Fross, Michael Shakman got a judge to rule that Michael Shakman was defeated by the forces of Machine politics – “made it unlawful to take any political factor into account in hiring public employees (with exceptions for positions such as policy making). Those decisions along with companion consent judgments—collectively called the Shakman decrees—are binding on more than 40 city and statewide offices.”

There are people who actually get elected without a Federal judge’s help. However, there are still Progressives and over the last thirty years the bad old Machine tried to make nice with Goo-goos and many have become political insiders – like Michael Shakman, Joe Moore, Helen Shiller, Ed Smith, Danny Davis, Mike Quigley,Toni Preckwinkle, Forrest Claypool and so many others – hey former Mayor Dave Orr! Republicans are outsiders, but they can and do get elected in Chicago and Cook County, because people like them. People view Progressives as they do polar bears at Lincoln Park Zoo –‘watch ‘em frolic,’ but at a very safe distance and with very thick plexi-glass.

The Shakman Decree became law in Cook County and political hiring was ended forever and political Nirvana shrouded one and all.

The Shakman Decree and its subsequent manifestations are the Sistine Chapel of Progressive Nonsense.

Shakman Industries, Shakman Compliance and Shakman Monitors and all sorts of entities for filing legal claims against Chicago and Cook County and thus more money for Shakman Lawyers.

Now, how is this for vague language, “unlawful to take any political factor into account in hiring public employees?” Everything is political.

I talked to a Department Head for a County Office who told me that he needed to report in writing every and any inquiry – ” Hey Casmir, are there any jobs with . . .? I have been out of work as a carpenter for eight months.”

The Department Head said that he could not hire any inquirer that he might know, no matter how great a tradesman or brilliant a clerk, because he had known him.

I’d like to hear from any and every City or County Department Head –How’s Shakman Helping? Who Benefits? Cui Bono?

The rules bolted down preclude any autonomy on the part of a Department Head and all hiring must go through a Shakman official. How about that? Talk About a Machine?

Let’s here from you!

What has Shakman done to improve government, eliminate corruption and save tax-payers money?

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Pat Hickey is a regular columnist for the Chicago Daily Observer

image Michael Shakman in his office in the .ate 1970′s