Moreover, Justice Antonin Scalia, the darling of the intellectual right, then commented: “Requiring people to stand up in public for their political acts fosters civic courage, without which democracy is doomed.”
The truth is this: When you cut through all the double talk, the only freedom put at risk by requiring public disclosure of those who pay for political ads is the freedom of special interests to launder money in secret.
From:
http://bridgemi.com/2014/01/governors-signing-bill-that-shields-identities-of-issue-ads-donors-a-disgraceful-abandonment-of-principle/
23 comments:
Has anyone questioned Mayor Harl on his selection of casting a yes or no vote on the number of aldermen and having 2 @ large Tuesday? Two non productive people are a lot of weight to carry around for 3 years needlessly. The reduction of one alderman committee would enable a much better alignment of designated goals.
10:14 PM
We questioned Mayor Harl when he reduced the committees to 2 aldermen each and he said something about there not being so much work to do. There is no balance to the committees and there is a definite advantage to having more than 2 aldermen on each committee. When all the committee member does is read the ambulance and fire dept. reports, we can eliminate that committee and put the reports in their packets and they can read them on their own if interested.
The Mayor is not talking about this election, he has other things on his mind.
I heard he is going to try to run for state senator.
10:14 you must be one of the few that would align your vote with Mayor Harl. Team Harl is still going strong in this new initative of reducing the Alderman. The real work has been done in selling this to those who have become dissatisfied with his leadership. They bought into this one hook, line and stinker just like the 1st campaign.
9:49 AM
Many are hopeful that a qualified City Manager will be a part of the future of Peru and a Mayor will be in a nominal position. This is a very dedicated group of Peru residents who know enough about how our city is NOT working.
City manager yes!!! Could you imagine the outpouring by no group when that comes up! Wonder why they are clouding paper ads that are outright false.
Anything different from what they know scares the Hell out of the old guard. Those new fangled ideas are very threatening to the slow moving slow thinking crowd at the Deli. Imagine that Brain-Trust sitting in there sipping coffee and arguing over how word the newspaper and radio ads Baker has been paying for. They could all use some "schoolin up" on their
3 R's.
Anon 11:55 AM Yes, a city manager is in the future of all cities which will be considered progressive, and has already been in place for most of those which have stayed with the times. When I think of a city manager I think of a true city manager who will handle finances, business practices etc. of the town not a watered down version of a public safety and SPW position. I think of a person who has studied specifically how to manage a city.
You ask why the NO group clouds paper ads that are outright false. The answer is 60, 50, 40 , 30 years ago when these people were in power it worked. As they have grown older and not changed with the times they still believe that false advertising works. This time the facts are so easy to understand that they no longer can sell a false bill and a Yes vote is the Truth in Action.
The skill sets required to run a city are not available in Peru. Our development as a city is actually being hindered by the political process. It is no longer possible for a Mayor that is capable of running the city to be elected from the population. And the job pays so poorly, that we could not even get somebody to move here in hops of running for mayor in the future.
No, we absolutely positively must hire a manager from outside the city or even outside the state to manage Peru correctly. The manager MUST be given power in accordance with the council-manager form of government outlined in the Illinois Municipal Code. This power, in part, requires the council and mayor to keep their "hands off" the day to day operation of the city, "hands off" hiring and firing, "hands off" contract negotiations, and "hands off" the bid process. The council must be limited to legislative functions, appropriations, and strategic planning. The Mayor must be limited to leading the meetings, appointing people to boards, and general ceremonial duties.
A manager will probably cost $150K to $200K per year. But, with the change we can do away with the elected City Clerk, most of the mayors salary, and the elected treasurer.
1:23, really do like the last sentence of your blog. Yes, do away with clerk and treasure for sure. Think of the monetary savings right there. City manager is a must to be etchically progressive. vote yes tomorrow for change
Amen 1:23 pm, No secret as to why Bartley anf Hylla will be voting NO to this referendum. They are both classic examples of two insiders who are more concerned with their own selfish reasons to stay in power instead of being concerned about a well run city with the Council/Manager form of government.
A City manager is a highly paid position, but I do not think it would be necessary to offer $150,0000 for a initial start up .
The inefficient, thoughtless start up payrolls are destroying Peru. The created wages paid by the Peru City Council are ridiculous for example the hiring of a experienced Professional Engineer who has graduated the U of I to handle both the city engineer/SPW occupations for $87,000/year and than to change a $4,000/year Part time fire chief to full time and add on a Building Code enforcer and raise the pay immediately to $84,000/year yes that is correct $84,000 per year.. This position is a popularity contest elected by the chiefs own peer group and ok'd by the Mayor. The electrical foremen is retiring shortly at a rumored $85,000/year. Ottawa's Ch. of Police makes in the $70,000/year range in comparison the Peru Ch.of Police in a town 1/2 the size of Ottawa makes in the $100,000/year range. Tuesday, as Mayor Baker USED to say vote with your pocketbooks. Vote Yes for a reduction in the number of aldermen and 2 at large.
I'm not sure all of the people you are talking about are against a city manager. That's the problem with this blog, you lump everyone together outside of Rodney. All of the city council members are not against this concept.
Finally got an answer from the Mayor on his vote.
He said Maybe, giggled then ran away.
That darn mayor!
The last 2 "paid political ads" that were in the news tribune used the word we "we don't want less representation". Who exactly is the WE they are referring to? It sounds as though it means the citizens of Peru and I'm offended if they think I'm one of their "we". Since the first ad was signed by 7 of our 8 aldermen, and since then their names have not appeared, are we to assume that they are the "WE"?
One thing that has been proven in this recent campaign is that Don Baker, does not want to give up any influence that he still has. Wonder why?
423 what are you talking abou" give it up already he has been gone for what 6years which in my opinion is a darn shame
We need to do something about all these carpetbaggers comming to Peru and messing things up. Nobody should be allowed to run for office unless they where born here!!!!!!!!!!
7:06 If you haven't been reading the paper then you don't realize that Don Baker is not gone. He's back or should I say still here.
Actually there are a lot of people who don't like this initiative or the people behind it trying to get people into office who lost before. Win or lose you will find that out today. So I think when they say we, they actually mean we.
9:08 AM
Your comment makes no sense as there are people on both sides that have lost elections. In fact there are more losers on the NO side than on the YES.
Baker, Witczak and Ankiewicz that I can think of all lost elections and several them have lost more than one election. Potthoff lost a mayoral race.
Don't forget Mertel.
9:08 What makes you think this referendum is about getting people in office? I thought it was about an "idea" to make a better government for Peru. What makes you think that if this referendum passes that those behind it will run for office? What makes you think that when the referendum passes it's a sure thing that those you believe will run for office will win? And if they (whoever they are) do run and do win what makes you think that's a bad thing? Some people think we have a "bad" situation now. That's why the referendum. You assume
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