- “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.” – Mark Twain
- Applies to the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce as well
We commented a few days ago on the dream-scheme of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to use local Illinois taxpayers to finance Iowa projects and vice versa. Emphasis on vice knowing Illinois politics. Ostensibly, and bad enough, each would have a say in the other’s civic affairs, except it would really be a nice little club of Chamber denizens hoping to push through tax and or spend initiatives that benefit their predilections of what’s good for the “Quad Cities”. These people want to be the Quad City political machine.
But no one lives in the “Quad Cities” we live in a certain city and county and state and pay taxes to that chosen local for good and sufficient reason. Residents of Iowa choose this state for better schools, less taxes and more honest government, avoiding Illinois excesses and corruption. We welcome Illinois residents who prefer living in Iowa for its policies and we understand the problems of making the transition of those who cannot. We pray for their deliverance from Chicago which would greatly improve their situation.
But for now it is what it is and the encrusted ways of Rock Island County politics are not something we want to invite into our political decision making. Nor do we welcome giving their favorite Chamber sons and daughters, supposedly business people without the good sense or essential civic virtue to have improved the political lot over there, say or influence over our priorities. Nor do we appreciate schemes to create another regulatory or taxing body emanating from Iowa or Illinois members of such a syndicate.
Friend of V’PAC Tom Nelson, (a spark-plug of the TEA party demonstrations here about a decade ago) provides us with some links to local government in Iowa. It is easy to do as the various entities maintain web-sites for citizen contact. A typical online contact response form displaying a good talking point is set forth below:
Similar communications to Bettendorf, Davenport city officials needed as well. Tom also addressed report of recent virtue preening action by the Rock Island County Board:
Rock Island County Board just voted YES to accept refugee resettlement.
Form link is to Scott County Board.
I just sent them a “one-liner” to vote NO on resettlement.
https://www.scottcountyiowa.com/content/contactus
The resolution is nothing more than virtue-signaling and ultimately involves claims or dispersion of taxes from various levels of government. Such “invitations” implicate long-term spending obligations and should require more responsible budgetary authority. Refugee resettlement should be focused on “incentivising” countries with closer physical and cultural situations. That is practical for many reasons for all involved including enhancing any chance for reclaiming, rebuilding, or the political reformation of the country being abandoned.
Consider the issues of all those Illinois license plates at 53rd & Elmore.