In defense of Illinois

[TheDoorbellRang]

We've been accused of being the "most corrupt" state because of the number of bigwigs that have been indicted and/or imprisoned here.

So tell me, is that actually more corrupt than states that look the other way when criminal activity occurs (Katherine Harris - FL), or let them off with a tap on the wrist (Palin - AK, Delay - TX), or wrongly prosecute (Siegelman - AL)?

Yes, we have our share of crooks in higher office here, but a goodly number of them actually go to jail for their crimes. I'd like to see the corruption record if every state had a Patrick Fitzgerald on the job. Just sayin'...

[Venceremos]

1. Good points

I was so my angry over our latest governor scandal that I hadn't thought of it from your perspective. On the other hand, I seriously doubt we're catching all, or even most, of the crooks. But I believe Fitzgerald will eventually get it cleaned up.

[TheDoorbellRang]

4. Yes, I'm sure a lot of them get away with their hijinks

Thought about that yesterday when I saw Mayor Daley on TV lamenting the corruption in the governor's office.

[Clio the Leo]

2. Yeah, I think Fitz was out of line with that particular comment...

.... he made about Illinois being the most corrupt state. Of course, with Barack, Michelle, Valerie, Rahmmy and the rest leaving for DC, the number of GOOD people is going to fall dramatically, but still .... one bad apple doesn't REALLY spoil the whole bunch.

[TheDoorbellRang]

5. Too bad Fitz didn't say the same about Bushco

when he was investigating the Plame case: "This is the most corrupt administration I've ever seen." Now THAT'S a statement I could have agreed with.

[Orsino]

11. He didn't quite say that.

The sound bite I heard specifically says he doesn't know if Illinois is the most corrupt state.

It seemed strange to me, though, that he would bother tarring the whole state. Stay in your lane, Fitz.

[onenote]

12. it wasn't Fitz who said it.

It was the FBI special agent on the case and what he said, precisely, was that "If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor" -- a statement that is undeniably true.

And there have been a barrelful of bad apples that have populated Illinois politics for years.

[LynneSin]

3. Look at this way, next president from the United States - From Illinois...

Best I can say is we have the next Vice President

[glowing]

6. I personally don't thing Fitz wanted this arrest. He's been investigating

bigger crimes for 3yrs.. I think he wanted more than this little bit. I think he wanted all the people tied to the original investigation.

[JaneQPublic]

7. Illinois deserves credit for its great politicians, as well

Everett Dirkson was thought highly enough they named a building after him in Washington. And Sen. Paul Simon was the perfect example of a statesman. And although GOP, I thought Gov. Jim Thompson was a good guy. Then there's that Obama guy, who offers people like Blago "only his gratitude."

As someone who lived in Illinois for the first 30 years of her life and now living in Maryland, I know Illinois doesn't have a monopoly on crooked governors. After all, Maryland had Govs Marvin Mandel and Spiro Agnew, not to mention Bob Ehrlich, who, tho not charged, got into hot water for trying to sell state property in my county at bargain prices to a developer/campaign contributor and for his state troopers who spied on anti-war groups.

I just hope my home state of Illinois has MUCH better luck with its next governor.

[slackmaster]

8. You're right - Ohio and New Jersey are just as bad

:nuke:

[pipi_k]

9. We've had our share

in Massachusetts as well...

Some of them more well-known than others....some of them on a more local scale.


No state is immune

[madmom]

10. Hey don't forget Alaska!!

[Araxen]

13. We are the most corrupt

The facts don't lie...

Look at this list:

* 2007 – Chicago Alderman Arenda Troutman (D) was charged with bribery
* 2006 – Former Illinois Governor, George Ryan (R), was found guilty on all counts brought forward by the federal government in a case stemming from the illegal sale of government contracts and leases.
* 2006 – Chicago City Clerk Jim Laski (D) pleaded guilty to pocketing bribes for steering city business to trucking companies
* 2003 – Chicago Alderman Percy Giles (D) was found guilty on charges of racketeering and extortion.
* 1999 - Chicago Alderman Lawrence S. Bloom (D) sentenced to 6 months for filing a false tax return.
* 1999 - Chicago treasurer Edward Rosewell (D) pleaded guilty to mail fraud but was not sentenced due to an illness that he died from soon after.
* 1999 - Chicago alderman Virgil E. Jones Jr. (D) was sentenced to 2 and a half years in prison for extortion.
* 1998 - Chicago alderman Joseph A. Martínez (D) pleaded guilty to ghost payrolling and was sentenced to 5 months in prison.
* 1998 - Chicago alderman Allan J. Streeter (D) pleaded guilty to extortion and filing false income tax returns and was sentenced to prison.
* 1997 – Illinois State Senator Bruce A. Farley (D) sentenced to 18 months in prison for mail fraud
* 1997 - Chicago alderman Jesse J. Evans (D) sentenced to 41 months in prison for racketeering, extortion, conspiracy, attempted extortion, mail fraud, influence peddling, filing false tax returns, and obstruction of justice.
* 1996 - Chicago alderman Ambrosio Medrano (D) pleaded guilty to extortion and was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
* 1995 – Illinois State Senator John A. D’Arco Jr. (D) served about 3 years in prison for bribery and extortion.
* 1994 - Chicago judge Thomas J. Maloney Jr. (D) sentenced to almost 16 years in prison for taking bribes, extortion and obstruction of justice.
* 1993 - Chicago alderman Fred B. Roti (D) was sentenced to 48 months in 1993 for racketeering, conspiracy, bribery, among other things.
* 1992 – Illinois State Representative James DeLeo (D) was indicted by a federal grand jury for taking bribes.
* 1992- State Treasurer Jerry Cosentino (D) was convicted on federal check kiting charges.
* 1987 - Former Governor Daniel Walker (D) convicted of wrongdoing in connection with Savings & Loan and sentenced to federal penitentiary.
* 1974 – Former Illinois Governor, Otto Kerner, was found guilty on charges of bribery, tax evasion, and mail fraud while in office.

[Critters2]

15. Yeah. There's not getting around this. We need to face it and change it.

Crying "they do it, too!" is the first step to letting it go on. It needs to stop!

[TheDoorbellRang]

17. No, I'm not saying we need to let it continue

or say we're not so bad. I'm just trying to ditch the dubious title of "Most Corrupt State."

[TheDoorbellRang]

16. Hey, you forgot the shoebox guy.

Wasn't it back in the 70's when some IL official died suddenly and they found a shoebox full of LOTS of cash in his closet? What was his name...Powell?

No, my point is that we have a lot of corrupt officials that HAVE gone to jail. Think about all the corruption that flourishes in other states and the crooks never see the inside of a courtroom because the judicial systems in those states are complicit, too.

[democrattotheend]

14. You guys do have one big redeeming factor

You did give us Barack Obama :)

[TheDoorbellRang]

18. Yup. There is that.

:fistbump:

[FloridaGrl]

19. You have nothing to defend

I hate media labels. Corruption is everywhere. When I used to live in Miami I thought we had the most corrupt city. I know many others think the same about where they live.