CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLISHER
We can still do the
right thing this primary season
by Ed Wojcicki
State government observers have
become increasingly concerned about
a decline in the quality of public
discourse. Insiders know, for instance,
that many legislators' votes are determined by the ways in which those
decisions might be spun against them in
the next election. Too often, fear drives
our legislative and electoral processes.
Over the past year, former U.S.
Sen. Paul Simon has said numerous
times in speeches across the state that
when President Harry Truman first
introduced the Marshall Plan after
World War II, it had the support of
only 14 percent of the American
population. But Truman persisted and,
with the help of a Congress led by the
opposing party, he got his plan. Today,
Simon reminds us, a bold but great idea
with so little initial support in the polls
would never be introduced, much less
implemented.
With the primary election only days
away and the possibility of a bruising
general election ahead this fall, it's
worth reminding ourselves that the high
road is still possible, that important
issues still need addressing and that we
can still do the right thing.
But I have a continuing concern
about gross distortions and falsehoods
in political advertising and direct mail.
Many of you have responded to my
previous requests for copies of ugly
-political communication, and I ask that
you keep sending them to me. My file
is growing. Indeed, with sentiment
building against the negative nature
of public discourse, perhaps Illinois
politicians should begin to refigure the
price of smear campaigns.
Meanwhile, send copies of all
untruthful public messages to me at:
Illinois Issues, Building K-10, P.O. Box
19243, University of Illinois at Springfield, Springfield, IL 62794-9243.
And don't forget to vote March 17.1
say this affectionately, because I'm
proud that a recent readership survey
revealed that 98 percent of our readers
nearly always vote. You're engaged;
you're involved. Nice going!
Our February Question of the
Month asked whether you would
support an increase in the state tax on
gasoline and/or the annual license plate
fee in order to generate more revenue
for the state's road and mass transit
systems. Your responses were evenly
divided: half in support, half opposed.
But you're consistent in two ways.
Nearly everyone who opposes a state
gas tax increase also opposes a license
plate fee increase. Those who favor the
former also support the latter. Many
who support increases expressed a
specific desire for more funding for
mass transit systems in Chicago and the
suburbs. So who will take the lead on a
real need?
Illinois Issues March 1998 / 3
