March 10, 2010

The real Chicago politics

I have stated my annoyance at President Obama for taking Chicago Politics into the White House. The Czar of Muscovy schools me on what Chicago Politics is actually like:
Obama vs. The Chicago Machine
You�ve heard it and seen it and read it dozens of times: Obama is bringing Chicago politics to Washington! Obama, part of the Chicago machine, is doing business old school! The President is showing the world the Chicago way of working.

Except, none of it is true.

Take this from someone who has lived in the Chicago area for decades and has studied the intricacies of its political engine. Not only is Obama not part of the Chicago machine, the machine doesn�t even like him all that much.

Chicago has obviously always had a bizarre love-hate for its politicians, even back to the 19th Century. The current Chicago machine functions surprisingly well (if you don�t mind the odd death here and there, but those are almost always from negligence). Indeed, one can easily argue that the current mayor, Richard M Daley, has done an outstanding job of transforming the city from a hole of inner city blight to million dollar condos and Starbucks on every corner.

What is the machine?

First, know that the Chicago machine covers the entire state: the Chicago machine fully owns and operates Springfield The machine is run like organized crime, but is not organized crime like you think of it.

Like organized crime, it operates many interests across a wide geographical area, involving union labor as its willing stooge, with many different functions. There are multiple levels, with big fish gobbling up whatever they can, and little fish trying to become bigger fish. It exists to meet their personal needs, but also fulfills countless functions that clients desire. And it is entangled in so many legitimate businesses that it is difficult to point to anything illegal.

Unlike organized crime, its membership is pretty open. White, black, or hispanic members are welcome. No family in Sicily collects the loot: it invests and divests itself fully. It also oddly seems to want to help people: trash is collected, potholes get fixed, and events are fun and well attended. Boondoggles are rare. And again, if you cross them, you simply tend to have to pay out a lot of money in bizarre fire inspections and code violations until you leave. People rarely wake up dead.
The Czar then gives this example:
Corruption is a given. Here is a theoretical example of Chicago politics: you announce you want to have a fund-raising event for charity. Your alderman gets on board, and says it will be a major success. Suddenly, you are contacted by planners and organizers who seem to be producing all sorts of media releases and cornering celebrities. A company you never heard of insists on providing the chairs and tables; another group will provide audiovisual entertainment, and a third company will handle set up and garbage collection. The mayor shakes your hand for the press, and now the fire regulations limiting you to 2,000 people are waived, and you may have 4,500 people crammed into the room. Not a problem, because the City is providing you the room at a discounted cost. Because it�s a charity, you wonder why you are paying sales tax to these mysterious vendors showing up with stuff. The Illinois legislature bangs a gavel, and you are informed all your taxes will be paid back.

Two weeks later, your event is attended by 4,500 people, and you raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. You could not be more happy. The event winds down, the people go home, and the trash and tables and leftover food all goes away. But when you pay your bills, you suddenly find bizarre charges and taxes you did not expect. In fact, by the end of the week, you find your charity raised a grand total of $1,100.

A month later, your trash is found floating in the Chicago river. An investigation shows that the trash pickup was handled by a company owned by the alderman�s brother-in-law, and the mayor�s cousin provided the food and beverages. And the audiovisual gear was discovered to be stolen by a Chicago street gang, and the owner of the company mysteriously settled his insurance for the stuff at twice the usual rate through another alderman�s brother. The tables and chairs were provided by a state representative�s sister, and her company is being indicted for links to suspicious purchasing activity through your same alderman�s cousin�s company. And when you call about the state tax exemption, no one has heard of you, and the money is not returned. And then you�re fined for violating fire regs, and no one heard of the fire prevention clerk who told you that you were good to go, even though it turns out she�s a state senator�s sister-in-law.

That�s how it�s done in Chicago. You got what you wanted, but everybody got a bit richer than you.
The Czar then has a few observations -- he makes an interesting case. A good read! Posted by DaveH at March 10, 2010 1:56 PM
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