Maybe you own a new car. Maybe it's the car of the future that runs off magic. Well, if you are that person I envy you. Because if I want to go anywhere of note, I have to take the CTA.
Now you may remember I blogged on how I went to a CTA meeting a while back, and it turned out to be pretty much everything the Onion said it would be (see link). But despite all the inanity of that meeting, I never really thought that Illinois politicians would have enough balls to anger every single voter who takes the CTA, Metra, and Pace. In fact, I smiled as I thought about it...if the CTA went offline what would happen to Chicago's economy? I was able to laugh at this scenario because I was positive they would work something out to delay a fare increase and service decrease and avoid screwing over the working man. To do otherwise would be political suicide...right?
But now Governor Blagojevich, Emil Jones, Mayor Daley, the Madigans and anyone else in charge is preparing to "Deer Hunter" themselves. I just don't understand why.
The Gov says he is opposed to raising taxes on working people. Hey Numbnuts-Maybe you didn't realize this but working people--the same working people IN CHICAGO who overwhelmingly elected you two times--are still gonna lose that money when fares go up. Probably more than the .05% they'd spend on a sales tax that would remedy the problem. This proves that a skeevy politician can't save you from skeevy politicians.
Tom Cross, Some dickhead representative from Oswego says he wouldn't approve the measure unless the legislature approved more money for the roads in his district to relieve traffic congestion. Guess what duder? You better tack on another hour to your commute--because of you it is now cheaper to drive than it is to take the train. So all those people who took Metra are gonna be sitting ahead of you in traffic. E-A-D!
Also, I hope you enjoy polishing up your resume. Hopefully you'll need to after the first Tuesday in November.
It seems like Chicago has its head up its ass when it comes to public transit. Almost any other major city you go to seems to have a fast, clean, reliable, and affordable mass transit system. But Chicago? Nope. I would think that with an Olympic bid going on that things would get done and get done quickly. But it seems like even the powerful Daley juggernaut can't get Blago and Mad Madigan to kick over the midget family that is the CTA.
ReplyDeleteNow, I say this as an owner of the car of the future, and I live my comfy suburban lifestyle and thus feel no effects from this whole fiasco. But the CTA problem is just an extension of the overall transit problem in this state. From the toll roads that weren't supposed to be permanent, to the fact that it *does* take hours to get around the city and burbs. Why doesn't the L extend further west than Forrest Park? I think that's B.S. That makes my only options driving or taking Metra, whose schedules suck - unless you are lame and actually want to leave the city at Midnight. It also makes it harder for people from the city to get back. So I can relate somewhat to your issue. Chicago city dwellers are most definitely over taxed (there's basically a tax on everything these days - and most have been increased several times) and under serviced.
As much as I agree with all of your assessments ... as least you *have* public transport.
ReplyDeleteSouthern California's idea of mass transit is a mini-van or stretch Hummer.
Unfortunately, as Surge so eloquently points out, politicians are dumb. I applaud you once again for actually taking an interest in civic issues and the world would be a better place if more people were like you ... and if more people like you were running things.