“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid,” an expression literally born of a nightmare–commonly referred to as “the Jonestown Massacre”– created a lasting legacy, a saying that has come to mean: ”Whatever they tell you, don’t believe it too strongly.”
Sad to say, Cook County taxpayers are being asked by members of the present local governing body to drink some exotic concoction of words–seems like–on a daily basis.
A word to the wise: ”Whatever they tell you, don’t believe it too strongly.”
On the heels of abandoning the video-taping of future committee of the whole meetings… now we learn that WTIP will no longer be interviewing commissioners the morning after commissioner board meetings; as has been their longstanding practice. Commissioner Storlie took credit for this idea; concluding this will foster better transparency! (Where’s my dictionary?)
Consider, on the other hand, a leader whose strength was in restoring public confidence in government after the scandals of his predecessor’s administration. A quiet and somber man whose sour expression, it’s been said, masked his dry wit.
Thirtieth president of the United States, Calvin Coolidge, was often referred to as “Silent Cal” as he was a man who said very little (unlike a certain former county commissioner; now newspaper columnist, I know).
“Silent Cal” earned a reputation for being honest, direct, and hardworking. He is said to have inherited his taciturn nature, his frugality, and his commitment to public service from his highly respected father who was considered a pillar of the community, holding a variety of local offices from tax collector to constable.
While historians continue to debate the efficacy of Coolidge’s presidency, they acknowledge him as a man possessing strong personal integrity.
Consider Coolidge’s concluding remarks excerpted from a speech titled, “The Things That Are Unseen,” given at Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts, June 19, 1923:
“We do not need more material development, we need more spiritual development. We do not need more intellectual power, we need more moral power. We do not need more knowledge, we need more character. We do not need more government, we need more culture. We do not need more law, we need more religion. We do not need more of the things that are seen, we need more of the things that are unseen.”
…and while you’re busy digesting Coolidge’s words, add these words from a former president– from the other side of the aisle–John F. Kennedy: “A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”
I’ll conclude with this insight from then– Congressman James Garfield (who would go on to be elected president 10 years before Coolidge took the oath of office); stated at the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1876.
“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress [read: county governing body]. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature [read: county board of commissioners]…If the next centennial does not find us a great nation [read: county] …it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation [read: county] do not aid in controlling the political forces.”
~James Garfield,
20th President of the
United States
Refer to past issues:
. March 18, 2017-
“Accountability”;
. March 25, 2017-
“Transparency”;
. January 20, 2018-
“The Principle of Public
Access to Information”;
. June 23, 2018-
“Sausages.”
Former Cook County Commissioner Garry Gamble is writing this ongoing column about the various ways government works, as well as other topics.
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