The resignation of the interim Cook County, IL Board President Bobbie Steele from her County Commissioner post that she was re-elected to last month assures that she will retire at double the pension she would have received otherwise. She will also collect more in retirement than she was ever paid as an $85,000 per year commissioner. This on top of a $13,000 teachers pension upping her county paycheck for not working to $149,000.00.

While it may be law that a pension is based on the retiring member’s current salary it might behoove the board to rework their rules requiring that one serves a reasonable amount of time in the position they retire from to merit the additional pension money. Like anything north of 2 years for starters. Steele was appointed President to fill the position of John Stroger who retired in July, months after a massive stroke that he and his handlers concealed in an effort to get past the primary. Then they were able to appoint Stroger’s son Todd to stand for election without having to face the rigors of a primary, thus solidifying their Soviet-like grip on the power structure in the county.

Steele has not produced a county budget in her 4 months in office and will not do so before she steps down December 4. She hasn’t really produced any reform in her short tenure and promises to perpetuate the worm infested status quo with her cynical and larcenous actions here. Just because this is lawful does not make it ethical or right by any stretch of the imagination. Pension laws are enacted by politicians to cover their own selfish needs and the backs of those they protect. How is it we allow our politicians 80% of their pay for not working? This is a serious disconnect with anything the private sector offers and needs to be looked at closely. I am not talking about civic employees like police and firemen in this instance, but politicians. Even the county commissioners who are part time, get a handsome pension of nearly $70,000.00 which is more than many county residents make in a year. This example can be carried on to state and federal elected officials as well. The sooner the elected live the realities of the governed, the sooner we may see realistic representation and sound policy from our government. Government is not meant to be a trough to feed selected families.

To further the insult upon the people of Cook County, Steele wants the Democratic committemen of her district to select her son Robert to serve out her term as Commissioner. Robert is one of Steele’s six children that are on the county payroll. Ms. Steele stood for election on November 7th and had an opponent, all the while claiming that she intended to serve the people of of her district for four more years, a complete and obvious deception. Of course lies, deception and failed representatition are nothing new in the People’s Republic of Cook County.

One would have to agree with current Commissioner and former Republican candidate for Board President Tony Peraica in asking; When is this going to end? We can only hope that at some point the voters of Cook County will wake up and look at their rising taxes, diminishing services and bloated government and finally make a definitive statement by throwing out the heriditary political dynasties and voting in leaders who know their interests and work for them. Representative government applies to all of the people and not simply a few select families.

America is truly the land of opportunity, just not in Cook County. Unless of course you have the proper lineage.