I’m listening on the news about the students at Northern Illinois University who were shot today. It is horrifying that this should happen at all, not the least that it happens at my alma mater. Our hearts go out to the students and their families. They should know that many alum will be thinking about them and offering whatever support they may need.
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s of Friday, January 18, over 51% of all primary ballots cast at early voting locations were Democrat. This represents a huge shift of over 15% since the last presidential election. The early voting results are showing a tidal wave of support for the Democrats since past years local primary elections have favored Republicans usually by 3 -1. Results from Lake and McHenry Counties show a heavy increase in the number of Democratic ballots being pulled. If this trend continues, McHenry County Democrats will pick up seats in local, state and Federal elections.
This trend shows a tremendous move by the voters for change in our government. This shows a desire to change the way we govern ourselves. I think the message of change is getting through to the average voter who is tired of the attack campaign tactics used by both sides. The people are tired of the politics of personal attacks, of lies and deceit just to win an election. They have had enough of the politics of destruction by people who obviously don’t have an answer to solving our problems. The people are seeking a better way. Both sides need to cut the baloney, settle down and honestly deal with the issues we face. We need to make it a level playing field for all. Otherwise we could lose what has been the greatest experiment in Democracy the world has ever seen.
I just finished reading Great lakes Water Wars by Peter Annis, a fascinating book that I would recommend to anyone wanting to educate themselves on what is fast becoming a highly volitile issue. Much of McHenry County gets it’s water from aquifers, not Lake Michigan. McHenry County, according to WRMA, cannot get it’s water from the Great Lakes because we are outside of the Great Lakes drainage basin. In other words, our water does not drain into the Great Lakes. In order to use water from Lake Michigan we would have to put back what we take out. There are a number of Lake County communities that are spending huge amounts of money to see what it would take to tap into Lake Michigan water. I would suggest they read Mr. Annis’s book. Illinois politics being what it is, they may have a shot at it. But they will have to convince 6 States and 2 Canadian Provinces to let them tap in. Personally, they’re better off developing ways to conserve water. They likely would end up spending just as money as they are trying to tap in to Lake Michigan.
I’m running as a Bill Richardson Delegate to the Democratic Nat’l Convention this year. I just heard that he will be dropping out of the race. That is too bad. While I like what Obama has to say I realized that it takes more then a good message to make change happen. We live in perilous times, due much to our own creation and some that was brought upon us without our asking. Bill Richardson is the kind of guy who could go into a country that hates us and he walks out of that country with an agreement and with hostages we didn’t know were there (that is tad bit of hyperbole but you hopefully you get my meaning). He is good and he has the experience. I believe that in order to run an enterprise like the Federal Gov’t you need to have the experience of running something similar, albeight smaller, like a State Government. It’s not all glitzy talking. You need to know the mechanics of getting it done in order to make the change you talk about. You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? There is a good reason why U.S. Senators have a tendency not to get elected to the highest office of the land. They have never actually run a Government before. Now I realize that my opinion here doesn’t work 100%. Bush & Johnson are the exceptions to the rule. But look at FDR & Clinton, both whom knew how to work the mechanics of the system so that everyone benefited. That is why I chose to back Bill Richardson. I will admit that I was not too excited about running for Delegate. The reason for this is that I’m more interested in good local governing and not in the Federal scene. Someone has to keep an eye on all the foxes trying to get into the chicken coop here at home. I figure there are enough people watching the Feds that there needs to be a few of us watching things here at home. But Governor Richardson dropping out of the race is a loss to our country. He was the best and hopefully someday he will try again.
Growth seems to me to be a double edge sword. On one side of that blade growth is good because it shows prosperity. Rooftops attract businesses which bring jobs. Jobs create income and people have a tendency to spend that income. As that income is spent it creates the need for more goods, aka; demand. In order to meet that demand businesses are created or move into the area thus the circle is completed and the cycle, hopefully, continues.
The other side of that blade is that growth causes decline in other areas. In our case we see a decline in the amount of land used to grow crops which causes a decline in the amount of food available for consumption. Houses cover over once fertile farm land. That covered up land now causes a decline in the amount of rainfall that replenishes the aquifers we depend on to supply our water. We have a tendency to worry more about water drainage than we do about water retention. As we build more houses more water is sucked out of the ground. We create systems to drain the water down gutters into sewers into the river and it ends up very far away from here. Thus we create our own water shortages. Here in McHenry County we cannot depend upon the fresh water of Lake Michigan because we’re outside of the Great Lakes drainage system.
But yet we continue to build. Slowing this growth is near impossible because the property laws are such that we cannot stop someone from building on their property. We can, however, make it so that people have to build within established guidelines created and enforced by the community.
These guidelines are commonly known as Zoning Ordinances which dictate the rules on just about anything. Through these laws a community can govern the types of materials, the size of a lot, what types of landscaping a person is allowed to have on their property.
So, since we cannot stop the growth we can at least create laws which call for using only eco-friendly materials and the recycling of construction materials. We can call for eco-friendly design of the landscaping to ensure that the majority of the property is left uncovered thus allowing for rainwater to replenish the aquifer.
Prairie Crossing in Grayslake, IL is an example of the type of development design that combines housing while protecting it’s surrounding environment, http://www.terrain.org/unsprawl/9/.
The Sierra Club provides interesting articles worthy of discussion on the causes of urban sprawl http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/whitepaper.asp.
I invite you to share your thoughts on this highly charged issue. I will continue to add to this article in the near future.
Rich Garling
Last year I met Bill Gentes, Mayor of Round Lake, IL, at the McHenry County Democrats Thomas Jefferson Dinner held at the Holiday Inn in Crystal Lake. I have found Mayor Gentes to be a very practical man who gets the job done and I believe he would be an asset to our area representing us in Springfield. Bill has done much to improve the Round Lake area by fixing roads, bringing in jobs and making sure Government is for all of us, not just a select few. These qualities are why I support Bill Gentes for State Senate. Visit Bill’s website at http://www.billgentes.com/ or his blogs at http://www.eroundlake.com/blog/ and http://www.billgentes.com/blog/ for more info. While you’re at it, contribute or volunteer to help get him elected.
Hi, this blog serves as a discussion about Government, politics, issues and other items of interest in and around McHenry/Lake Counties in Illinois.
While politics in McHenry and Lake County are most certainly not unique, they’re interesting and never dull. I have been involved with politics in one form or fashion since the mid 1970’s when I first ran for Democratic Party Precinct Committeeman in Highland Park, IL where I was born and raised. Since that inauspicious beginning I have served on the DeKalb County Board from 1980-82 and today, I serve as a Trustee on the Village of Island lake Board in Island Lake, IL.
As I stated above, this will be a discussion about local governing and local issues. We have many issues that need answers, not hype. What we need are ideas and answers to solving those problems and making things better for everyone.
I will not allow any “anonymous” statements to be placed on this blog. All users will have to set up an account that can be verified before I allow activation. There will be no name calling. If you feel that those currently serving in office are wrong, you may say so, but be sure you back it up with facts, cite your sources, and sign your statements. If you’re going to say it, sign it. If you are not willing to sign it, than find another place to say it. No post will be allowed until I review it.
This blog is a serious discussion about the issues and governing for people serious about making things better. All others…go somewhere else.
Rich Garling
