By Dr. Eric Wallace -
People have been marching in the streets about social injustice and disparities. They have been calling out White privilege and racism as the main causes of the disparate racial and economic differences in outcomes for people of color. However, one thing they have overlooked in the state of Illinois is the consequences of the corruption and the “pay to play” government politics that have once again been exposed by the ComEd bribery scheme.
Marchers have failed to understand how Democrat political boss Michael Madigan has controlled who gets hired and fired. He controls who gets money to run for office and who gets a primary challenger. He controls what happens in Springfield by controlling what bills get released for a vote or not.
The recent scandal exposes the fact that the average person’s utility bill has spiked up because Madigan was profiting off the backs of Blacks, Whites, and Hispanics. You may say, "Well, that’s an equal opportunity scam." I would argue that the scam makes it harder for the poor to pay their bills. Unless they are politically connected it makes it hard for many, especially Blacks and Hispanics, to advance unless they kiss the ring of Michael Madigan.
Meanwhile, the silence of the Democrat party, including my own opponent in the 40th state senate district, is deafening.
Where are the voices for justice? Why is it that the prosperity in Illinois is only found in predominantly White neighborhoods and townships? Why are the South Suburbs, which are predominantly Black, wallowing in squalor while other communities like Orland Park and Tinley Park seem to be doing well? (The same can also be said about the prosperity seen in Bourbonnais versus Hopkins Park.)
Property values in Black neighborhoods are plummeting while the property taxes remain high. The public school systems struggle to educate and prepare our children to be competitive in the workforce; while alternative options like charter schools are solutions never championed by Madigan and others in Springfield.
When it comes to employment, the governor can’t even hire people without Madigan’s say-so. It has been reported by WBEZ and others that J. P. Pritzker hired 35 people off of Madigan’s so-called clout list. How can anyone in this state advance when Madigan holds the reins of both money and power?
Where is the Black Caucus to call out Madigan to resign? Where is the Hispanic Caucus to call for Madigan’s resignation?
And, finally where is my Democrat opponent to call on Madigan to resign? The silence is deafening. There should be protests in the streets for justice. The Democrat party—both led and controlled by the iron fist of Michael Madigan—needs to be held accountable for the state of affairs, which plague our communities.
The most loyal voters in Democrat primaries have been getting the shaft for years while Madigan and his cronies have been getting rich. It’s time for the “Pay to Play” machine to be disassembled, dismantled, and discontinued. It’s time to return the money and power back to the people of Illinois, not the politicians in our state. They work for us, we don’t work for them.
It’s time for a responsible government that works for the people and adheres to the law. It’s time for Individual liberty and fidelity, and for an increase in freedom to work without need to maintain approval from a democrat boss.
It’s time for strong family values, which advocate for better schools to educate our children and two-parent households that guard against delinquency and gang violence. And lastly, it’s time for economic empowerment for our communities where small businesses are encouraged, and public policy is structured to promote entrepreneurial success.
These are fundamental tenets of the "R.I.S.E. Principles," which articulate conservative values and ideas necessary to foster both growth and change desperately needed here in Illinois. It’s time to “R.I.S.E. for a New Beginning.”
I’m Eric M. Wallace, candidate for State Senate in the 40th district.
