Rauner VS Quinn...Do You Have To Ask?

As election day approaches, we are bombarded on television, radio, roadsides, newspapers, mailboxes, door handles and just about everywhere else, with he said, he said advertisements.  The people of Illinois need to look at this campaign very closely and must make the only correct decision; to vote for Bruce Rauner.

I have said before, that I am not a fan of Bruce Rauner for Governor.  Frankly, he is still too far to the left for me - his wife openly supported the Obama campaign.  As far as I am concerned, this is too close to the source of our problems, but at the end of the day...

During the campaign, the Quinn people have touted:

• They have run an ethical administration.
• Reduced unemployment to "before the great recession" levels.
• Been a friend to business.
• Cut spending.
• Increased accountability.

At the same time, they have charged Bruce Rauner with:

• Being against the working class.
• Being against women's health.
• Being against abortion.
• Harassing female employees.
• Being a billionaire, which I guess is considered a bad thing.
• Being "in favor" of a tax plan which would benefit only the rich, like himself.
• Being against an increase in the minimum wage.

The list goes on ad-nausea.  One attack after another, but nothing easily proven or disprove.  Only words and statements designed to discredit.  This is a tired practice, mastered by Clinton, whereby the Democrat makes untrue or un-substantiated statements, publicly against the opponent, knowing that the attention span of the average voter is extremely short.  Many people will cast their ballot, based on these ridiculous statements.  By the time the Democrat, Quinn in this case, retracts the statement and "sincerely" apologizes that his campaign made such a mistake, it will be too late.  It is as effective a strategy as it is unethical.  However, what more can we expect from today's democrats?

During the same campaign, Bruce Rauner has offered as his reason for running:

• Quinn and his predecessors have led Illinois to among the highest unemployment levels in the nation - a fact!  Not accidentally, just yesterday, the state announced new unemployment numbers, down to 6.9% - NOT A FACT, but a ploy to win the election.  
• Watch how the strategy used in national campaigns is the echoed at the state level.  This is also not accidental.  Similar to the national numbers, Illinois' unemployment numbers do not take into account the number of people who have stopped looking, who have accepted part-time employment, or those who have used all of their unemployment benefits.  The fact is that nationally, almost 100 million people, who are willing and able to work, cannot find work or have taken part-time work because nothing else is available.  Consider the nation has a population of about 320 million.  If we deduct from this number, the number of people below working age, retired, or unable to work because of a handicap; we will be left with about 220 million eligible to work.  If 100 million people are unable to find full-time work, for whatever the reason may be, the effective unemployment rate is closer to 45%.  If Illinois is among the highest in the nation, it is reasonable to deduce that the unemployment rate in Illinois is far north of 6.9%.  It is safe to assume the true number is closer to 20, 30 or even 40%.

• Bruce Rauner proposes a "common sense" minimum wage.  Frankly, any increase to the minimum wage for unskilled employees, such as teens, would be a serious mistake.  This, coming from a former small business owner who watched his business spiral into bankruptcy following a 20% increase in the minimum wage during the Blago years.  For Quinn to promise an increase of the minimum wage to $12, $14 or even $15/hour is either a lie or very irresponsible.  It will only serve to drive more small businesses into bankruptcy.
• Bruce Rauner is a businessman.  While Quinn is selling this as a negative attribute, who better to bring a company from imminent financial collapse, than a person who has experience at running a business?

Bruce Rauner has made a point to stick with the issues, which are simply, we are broke and we are in trouble.  There are two types of people in this state, the first are the people who produce - they add to the economy and help the state.  Then there are the people who scavenge - these are the people who take and take and take.  Just as with the nation overall, the number of takers are growing while the number of producers is falling.  This is what Quinn, Obama and most other socialists aspire to.  If they have a state (nation) filled with people who rely on government for their basic needs, they will have voters for life.  What these people do not understand is that eventually, the producers will leave for places where their efforts are rewarded, not punished.  When the producers are gone, the takers will have nobody to take from - now you have Detroit on a much larger scale.

Obama, Quinn and other's have made their living by promising the world in exchange for support.  Obama and Quinn have promised to give their loyalists great things, if they only vote to keep them in office.  What these voters are not hearing from Quinn or Obama is that when the money is gone, they will no longer be able to give.  They will no longer be able to promise away the producer's earnings if the producer's either leave or themselves, become takers.  The realists know that our nation, our state is in trouble and there is no hope for the future as long as we remain under the direction (or the thumb) of these people.

The fact is, just as our nation is failing and could likely not survive another 4 years under this President, the state will surely fail under another 4 years of Quinn.  As a person who has always called Illinois home, I can say with certainty, that I will not stay another 4 years under Quinn.  I work hard for my money and live very economically with my earnings.  I find it troubling that many who do not work, because the government will take care of them, live under more favorable conditions than I.  This is not meant for the people who have found themselves temporarily unemployed, but for the chronically unemployed.

When determining whether we are on the right track, on our way back to prosperity, as Quinn says; drive or walk around your towns and neighboring towns.  Take note of the many, many, small business which have closed.  Take note of the strip malls that are sitting vacant.  Take note of the blight in local business.  Under this administration, we have watched as Dominick's left Illinois - simply could not make it.  They are still operating out west, however.  We have watched large corporations either move, or threaten to move out of the state and nation.  Uline moved from the north suburbs, to Wisconsin.  Abbott, Caterpillar, Sara Lee, among others, have threatened to leave Illinois.  Walgreens threatened to leave the country.  Those who left or closed, blame the poor business environment in Illinois.  Those who stayed, were able to work out tax incentives with the state.  There is no American corporation threatening to leave the state simply because of taxes, but all have left or threatened to leave because of punitive rate of taxes and other fees on businesses.

Our state is on life support.  It would be wonderful if we could have gold coins fall from the sky and winning lottery tickets grow in the garden, but as with most everything Quinn has been promising, this too, is unlikely to ever happen.  The survival of our state is predicated on bringing business to the state and reducing the financial burden on taxpayers, both business and individual.  The survival of our state is predicated on the reduction of wasteful spending and irresponsible leadership.  The survival of our state is predicated on the election of a person with the skills and experience to operate a large corporation as efficiently as possible.  When all of the hype is washed away and all of the double speak is removed, we only need to look at the facts - Bruce Rauner has operated successful businesses, and do so effectively, while Quinn has failed to effectively manage the business of which he has been in charge for the past 6 years.

This election is not about gay marriage, abortion or birth control, legalization of drugs or any other self-centered issue.  This election is about saving a state from financial collapse.  It is time for us to put on our big-boy/girl pants and do what we all know is right!  Quinn must be fired in two weeks.  Since much of Springfield is controlled by democrats, this is the one time that I will suggest voting straight Republican party.

If you are an independent, Whig or any other party who is tired of the status quo, a vote for anyone but Rauner is a vote for Quinn.  Failure to vote, is a vote for Quinn, as those who rely on the democrats for the basic needs will be out to vote for the hand which feeds them. After we begin to turn the state and put it back on track, you can worry about your individual party candidates.  After the state is back on track, you can work on your selfish needs.  For this election though, remember, if there is a D after their name, DESTROY.  If there is an R after their name, RESTORE!