All news is local
At least Scott Brown’s historic victory in Massachusetts sure is. That election result going to change national politics from here forward. Looking at the Chicago Tribune today, you’d never know it even happened…..unless you continue paging through the first section, all the way to page 14. The upset, if not the repudiation of Obamacare as some say, is at least the repudiation of politics as usual in Washington. Even Democratic pundits on the morning news shows have agreed on that.
The Trib editorial board has been on a mission to repudiate politics as usual in the state of Illinois, and some of their strongest words apply perfectly to national politics if you just insert the word ‘America’ everywhere they mention ‘Illinois’ in their series.
“If you enjoy the political culture as is — with the next corruption scandal never far off and with your public officials borrowing future generations into penury in order to prop up today’s treacherously uncontrolled spending — then you should support candidates who’ll protect the status quo. If, however, the failure of too many politicians to make urgently needed reforms infuriates you, then reach for a broom…
“Together, the Feb. 2 primary and Nov. 2 general elections can — must, if Illinois is to liberate itself from this predicament — constitute The Revolution of 2010. To make that happen, though, each of us needs to shoulder a sword.
“We need not only to educate ourselves and then vote for the best candidates on those two Election Days. We also need to create the informed buzz, and make the one-on-one personal outreaches, that will bring our family members and friends to the polls.
“That is, each of us needs to engage a few apathetic or otherwise underinvolved citizens to vote in 2010. It’s a sure thing that the political oligarchs who run Illinois will have all of their family members and friends at the polls. That’s how they grip power until the day their anointed successors — usually chosen by the other oligarchs, not by mere voters — pry it from their hands.”
The morning after Massachusetts voters did exactly that, the Trib was nearly silent. The results were in early enough Tuesday evening to make the morning paper, but it was buried.
Curious. Especially after the editors’ strong words about reforming the so-called reform.
“Half-measures will not suffice to repair our State’s troubled (governing) infrastructure or our citizens’ broken confidence. … Past reform efforts have met with forces just as destructive as self-interest or corruption: apathy, inertia and cynicism.”
Okay, this is their rallying cry to the citizens of Illinois to prepare for the February 2 election. President Obama’s former Senate seat is up for grabs in that election, and there are several pro-life Republicans running strong campaigns for that seat. National news media have been ignoring that story.
Never mind them. “Create the informed buzz” as the Trib editors call you to do. Just don’t trust them to give you all the news you need to be informed.