Open Illinois.org

We’ve had quite a week here in Illinois.

The Governor’s scandal has caused a flurry of activity and made some people even question the mental health of Blagojevich. That’s pretty bad when people can’t think of anything else but mental illness to make sense of someone’s actions.

What are you going to do about this, and what are you going to do about cleaning up Illinois in general? Everyone needs to pick up broom and start sweeping.

Today David Yepsen wrote in the Des Moines Register about Blagojevich and our state’s reputation for corrupt government. Yepsen also mentioned Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal‘s remarks to him about how closely tied clean government is to economic growth. This point can’t ring any truer, and hits right at home for Illinoisans.

Yepsen had some good points (in bold) Illinoisans should consider:

Political corruption occurs when politics becomes a way of doing business. Instead of political office being seen as a way to serve citizens, it is seen as a path to personal profit. Use of governmental power becomes a way to get ahead. It is sometimes tolerated by voters because “it works” and is “just the way things are done here.”

Don’t tolerate it!

That’s why law enforcement, media people and other public servants need to be vigilant before corruption explodes like it has in this case. There must be new ethics laws, new checks and balances, more transparency, more crusading journalists and fearless prosecutors.

Let’s get to work! Implementing transparency is the first step to cleaning up Illinois.

Most of all, voters have to pay attention. Saying “They’re all alike” is a glib phrase, but it’s short of the mark. Someone’s going to be governor of Illinois. It’s up to voters to sort the honorable from the sleazeballs.

Take responsibility and become part of the process towards a better Illinois. If you would like to help clean up Illinois, contact Richard Lorenc, our Director of Outreach, at richard@illinoispolicyinstitute.org.