Illinois Deserves Better
Book Review: Illinois Deserves Better, 2008. Bambenek, J., Behrend. B. Booksurge Publishing.
I purchased this book on the advice of the author. Well, who else would know that it’s a good book, right? Well, I bought it, not being a citizen of Illinois, to see what was in it. Did you know that the state of Illinois, the Land that brought us the one president who did the most to destroy states’ rights (Lincoln) actually requires a vote every 20 years to determine if the citizens want to hold a Constitutional Convention. This book is written in support of voters requesting a convention this year when voters go to the polls.
The book is plain and well-written. It is divided into 5 sections — Introduction, The State of the State, The Constitutional Convention Process, Arguments against a Convention, and Potential Reforms. The supports for a Constitutional Convention are clearly outlined and very well-supported. After reading this book, you will have a hard time saying that Illinois does NOT need a Constitutional Convention — unless you just live in complete denial of the facts described in the book.
A good portion of the book is spent on the hope for a better Illinois. Instead of being just a book that tries to scare people into supporting one political position, almost half of the book describes all the wonderful possibilities that can be brought about should the voters decide to hold a Convention. If you’re interested in the Constitutional Convention process, or if you are a voter in Illinois, I strongly suggest you get your hands on this book. Of course, it would be even more significant if states actually had rights today…
Popularity: 19% [?]
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I haven’t read this book, but I’m voting for the constitution convention. The state really does need it. We need to change some things and make it so that our government actually functions, not disfunctions.
Illinois, or the Republic of Chicago, is a mess.
Illinois DEFINITELY needs a Constitutional Convention. The current oppressor (Gov. Blago*^#$^*-I can’t spell his name, just know that it sounds like you are vomiting to pronounce it) is bankrupting the state horribly, refuses to actually live in the Governor’s Mansion so we are paying to fly his happy azz back and forth between the Union of Soviet Socialist Chicagoans and the State Capital of Springfield, has raided pension funds for multi-million dollar amounts to fund government dependence programs when these pension funds were already underfunded by $50 mil+. And that is just the quick short list. We need to include a clause in the new constitution that requires the Gov actually live in Springfield, or he forfeits the office.
And I have been working on a long post about redistricting our state senate to be more like the U.S. Senate where it would be based on geography not population. Currently, over half of both houses of the General Assembly are in Chicago and suburbs (without my maps in front of me, I believe it is 34 of 59 senators and 68 of 118 reps). This is because IL Senate districts are based on population, and then each Senate district is split into 2 Rep. districts. The idea is that we would leave the Rep. districts alone, but cut the number of Senators from 59 to 51, and have one Senator for 2 counties (there are 102 counties in IL).
A convention would be an opportunity to change this and to get Concealed Carry to catch IL up with the rest of the country.
CONVENTION!!!CONVENTION!!!CONVENTION!!!CONVENTION!!!
Lord knows we could use a “Convention” in North Carolina — America’s only Banana Republic.
I saw where a border town in California, Needles, CA, is wanting to succeed from California and become part of AZ or NV, which has exploding growth across the Colorado River from them. They are sick of high taxes, higher cost of living and not growth opportunities that Sacramento gives them! Stay Tuned… as this could only be the beginning of the revolution to come!!!
In northern Indiana they call all the Illinois people who come over into Indiana, FIPs. (f*ckin Illinois People)… I get the feeling it’s that way for a reason, after all, it’s a Blue State.
I’ve been called a FIB (F@cking Illinois B@st@rd) and a FISH (F@cking Illinois SH#t Head), but not a FIP. And Illinois is technically is not a blue state. Chicago is a Blue City and unfortunately it drags the rest of the state down.
It’s like the 300 pound gorilla, it does what ever it wants and we can’t stop it.
That all makes sense, especially since my Dad spent much of his childhood in Illinois and never complained about the people! The small town was about 17 miles this side of the Indiana-Illinois line. I think Obama has done much to defame the Illinois people too. Everyone thinks Illini are just like him!!! I certainly hope they are successful in lifting the ban on guns in Chicago. It is somehow unnerving to think that the only armed people there are criminals, especially a city of that size! Right now I’m looking at possibly doing a couple of contracts in Chicago and I have stated a higher rate than normal because the cost of living is ridiculous and the crime rate ridiculous and they won’t even let a person have a gun to defend themselves from the insanity!
I’d love to see a convention… if for no other reason than to show other states it can be done. Can we split IL into two states? North IL can be Chicago and it’s suburbs. South IL can be the rest of the state. I bet North IL would be bankrupt in less than 2 years…
Thanks for the kind review.
I hate to come on to a nice site and troll for cash, but the forces arrayed against a convention are a collection of every rich special interest in the state.
If we raise enough money, we will win. If we don’t, we will have engaged in an important intellectual exercise. We’d like to win.
How did you like CT?
I’ll head on over and drop some in the bucket. I like the slogan: “Voting no means status quo.”
I wonder if by hanging “Yes for Change” on the campaign if that will get some Obama supporters to vote yes…