Posted on 09/29/2005 4:03:23 PM PDT by Chi-townChief
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is experimenting with a dangerous drug: power. Power intoxication makes smart people do stupid things and destroys political careers as well as individual lives. Power intoxication obliterates humility, reason, perception and any sense of proportion. Those under the influence invariably over-reach, which is their downfall. History and literature are loaded with examples.
Jackson has a measure of power. He defeated the Shaw brothers, supporting Reverend Meeks over state Sen. William Shaw. He can replace virtually any south suburban mayor. When Jesse says "jump," they say "how high?"
Is the congressman becoming intoxicated on power? Jackson apparently believes he is so powerful that he can achieve his personal obsession with building an airport near Peotone by threatening and intimidating any elected official he perceives as an obstacle. He threatens to run against Mayor Daley if the mayor does not toe the line. He threatens Governor Blagojevich and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, hinting that all Democrats running for statewide office need him to win. One of Jackson's allies will most likely try to unseat State Senator Debbie Halvorson, who has the unmitigated nerve to say that if an airport is built in Will County, it should be controlled locally rather than by Jackson's forces.
Is Jackson blinded by power? He certainly ignores reality: the airlines are broke and don't want Peotone, the state of Illinois is broke and can't afford a billion dollars for surrounding infrastructure, the FAA is not enthusiastic since O'Hare is being expanded, an airport similar to the one proposed at Peotone struggles for flights in nearby Gary, and no one wants another white elephant like the unused airport near downstate Mascoutah, which was also politically rather than market driven.
Such tactics, driven by a sense of omnipotence, lead to disaster. Power, according to poet William Blake, is the strongest poison ever known.
George Ochsenfeld, president of Shut This Airport Nightmare Down, Monee
CHICAGOLAND PING
It also seems very bizarre that the JJJ crowd insists on Peotone as the only acceptable location for a "third Chicagoland airport". Excuse me, Peotone is cow country south of I-80, it's NOT in the "Chicagoland" area. Crete, Illinois is about as far south as you can get in "Chicagoland" and Peotone is more like buffer space to Kankakee. I say build a third airport in the Orland-Monee-New Lexox region, LOTS of suburban growth there and it's a "south suburban" region that would keep Midway airport equally distanced between O'Hare and the "third airport"
I remember Lyin' George Ryan in his inaugural address, vowing that they'd begin groundbreaking on a "third airport" during his term as Governor. Yeeeeeeeah, right.
Say what you will about Jim Edgar, but one of the reasons I found him infinitely preferable to Lyin' Ryan and Blago is he didn't put up with these airport games from the RATS. Massively "expanding" O'Hare into DuPage County AND building a "third airport" in the middle of nowhere is sheer lunacy at this point in time.
I was down in Peotone on Saturday night for Oktoberfest at Die Bier Stube. Great time but a long drive back.
You'll need to go further South and West (South of Joliet/Channahon?). The Orland-Monee-New Lummox area is part of the Midway approach pattern.
Cletus of Homer Glen
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