Not a Big Surprise - The Establishment backs Frerichs

When Saturday's News-Gazette detailed in this story how many Republican small town mayors have declared endorsement for Michael Frerich (State Senate 52nd District-D), it did not come as a big surprise.

Patronage politics are powerful, and it is almost understandable that the leaders of these small towns would be so shortsightedly appreciative of the State perks brought back to the district by State Senator Frerichs.

There have certainly been political goodies from Springfield to hand out. All those friendly handouts brought us into the worst budget deficit crisis of state history. For a good primer on pork out of Springfield, see this nifty little report by the Illinois Policy Institute.

But other than looming financial collapse, what did those goodies do for us?

When Danville mayor Republican Scott Eisenhauer justifies his endorsement of Frerichs by saying: “He has done extremely well for us”, he offers a clue to this mystery. Is he talking about those of “us” who are experiencing unemployment rates above national and state averages here in Danville? Or those of “us” who have had our property taxes increased year over year?
Or "us" who have witnessed firsthand here in Danville the kind of culture that redistributionist welfare policy creates. A culture where you fear walking down the street in pretty much any neighborhood.

Of course not. There is little positive that can be pointed to in the Danville and Vermilion county area.

So of course when he said “us” what he really meant was that business is good for the political class of Danville, as they benefit from the patronage politics of wealth-redistribution.

And that leaves the rest of us to merely bask in admiration of their "endorsements"