I can’t begin to describe Chicago politics. It’s funny, insane, mind-boggling, dirty, but never dull. It is corrupt beyond anything you could imagine. It is an enterprise owned entirely by the democrat party. The “Chicago Machine” is historic and the current CEO is Mayor Daley.

Obama’s current little scandal of offering Joe Sestak a position to keep him from running against Arlen Spector is so Chicago. Everything is about controlling the machine and the money. Obama learned well.

The rewards of being a part of the machine are wonderful. It is daily news in Chicago about family or friends of people in the machine getting jobs, contracts, bags of cash, government positions, and even scholarships at the University of Illinois. When Obama became President and vacated his Illinois senate seat, Gov. Blago stood to make a bundle on that seat. According to Illinois law it was his decision alone to name a replacement. Jesse Jackson Jr. was one of many who placed a bid.

Blago’s trial is not about one corrupt man. It is about the machine. Both Obama and Blago were groomed as young men and progressed through the ranks with the help of the machine. Everything stays in the machine family. Another example is Rahm Emanuel. When he left the Clinton White House he made over $25 million in two years. He then took over Blago’s U.S. House seat when Blago left to be governor. It goes on and on.

From the perspective of an outsider, it appears that Blago somehow lost favor with the machine. That’s what makes this trial so juicy to me. Blago is a big talker. Will he spill the beans on the machine? Oh, I hope so! My fear is that, still being a young man, the machine will promise to take care of him and make him rich for the rest of his life if he just takes the fall. Could any of us blame him.

This is happening at a time when the American people are putting more trust in government than ever before. This past month the government hired over 500,000 people and the private sector less than 50,000. Tea Party or not, big government is on us. I hope the Blago trial will remind us that government can be just as greedy and just as corrupt as any Wall Street financier. Worse, government is almost always an empty promise. This is not “change we can believe in.”

The ultimate question is what this trial will  mean for Obama. Will the media protect him? What all was said on those 300 hours of wiretaps? This will be interesting.

I confess to being an independent conservative my whole life. I am educated with graduate and post-graduate degrees. I was never a straight A student or the smartest in the class. I am a small business owner with, I think, a great deal of common sense. I enjoy the daily economic/political debate that never takes a break. Watching the financial channels can be almost as entertaining as a roller coaster. With all that said, here is my take on what is right with the tea party economics and wrong with the liberal/progressive view.

The tea party message is very simple and clear. They are for smaller government, lower taxes, and less spending. This separates them from both the republican and democrat parties. Republicans talk of lowering taxes and reducing government, but they seldom do and never cut spending. Democrats proudly expand government, increase spending, and raise taxes. I like the tea party view because the end result is more freedom. Freedom is what my soul craves, even at the risk that a greedy person gets rich.

The liberal/progressive message is harder for me to accept. Here are just a few of their tenets that I can’t agree with.

• The way out of an economic recession is to spend more money. This is an insane tactic on the micro-economic level and I can’t trust it on the macro level.
• Entitlements improve the economy. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, now healthcare, farm subsidies, and more may be helpful programs but cannot possibly sustain a national economy. With the population aging and living longer, I would like to hear an honest liberal assessment of how we are going to pay for just Social Security in the future.
• Legal and illegal immigrants raise the standard of living for Americans. The theory says immigrants take the lower paying  jobs pushing other Americans up the economic ladder. I can’t comprehend this one. I guess that makes me as unintelligent as a tea partyer.

For the sake of brevity, I will stop. I understand why you have to have a Harvard degree to be a progressive. Much of liberal economics does not make sense.

Bigger government to me means more fraud, corruption, and waste. Bigger government means paying more for less and making the system much more complicated. I think politicians want to do good and most have big hearts, but the end result seems to be an expansion of rules and systems plus higher taxes and less freedom for individuals.

The best answer for all is to limit the terms in office for elected officials. We don’t need a constitutional amendment for that, just go vote. Somewhere along the way we allowed being a congressman become a career.

I’m from the south. Can you drink ice tea at those parties?

I am a small government, main street kind of guy. Politicians use every  issue to expand the power of government and the press acts like every issue impacts the little guys, like me. I don’t think so.

This Greece thing is the prime example. The country is going bankrupt and the European Union has bailed them out. The problem is simple, Greece has been paying too many government employees too big a pay package. Our stock markets almost crashed over the deal. This issue has nothing to do with most Americans. On top of that, I have a problem with bailing out organizations that are marked by massive waste and corruption.

The financial reform bill is another useless pile of hooey. With a thousand laws already on the books that were not enforced, the only answer for politicians is more regulation. Again, it means very little on main street. I never understood the bank bailout. If the banks “too big too fail” were allowed to go under, all small investors would have been protected by the FDIC. The market can regulate itself better than government and for a lot less money. Letting companies or countries fail because of their wasteful practices will cause temporary pain but will strengthen future prospects.

The oil spill is not a good thing. It’s really bad for the fishes. The ensuing blame game is bad for the rest of us. When did every accident become an evil conspiracy? An investigation is certainly warranted to better the process of oil drilling in deep water. In congress, however, the issue is not a big oil spill but big oil companies and their evil profit. I am confident that BP will do everything they can to fix this spill. It is laughable to see the debate in Washington. I can’t wait to see Barney Frank put on scuba gear, dive to the bottom of the Gulf, and give his engineering solution. He is just another Harvard lawyer hoping to get a lot of mileage from this issue. It won’t be long until we hear about the bonus given to the BP CEO. This does not hurt or help my small business.

As always small business is left out of any discussion. If the press would put their lens on the small companies (none on Wall Street) that can hire people, we might get out of this economic mess. It is time to highlight the guys that change our oil and grease rather than big oil companies and Greece.

Regardless of your view on the new Arizona immigration law, it has put the problem front and center for all of us. The issue is simple – if we are not going to have open borders then how do we deal fairly with the influx of millions of immigrants.

There are two factors surrounding immigration that makes finding a solution almost impossible. One is the Mexican drug trade and the other is poverty. There is a two thousand mile border between the worlds wealthiest country and one of the worlds poorest. If I were a father in Mexico and there was constant threat of violence or I could not make enough money to feed my family, I would not hesitate to walk across a border to find a better life.

6000 people were killed in Juarez (across the border from El Paso, TX) in 2008. In Mexico there is a real drug war. Since most of the drugs in the United States come from Mexico, that’s where the military could be used. They don’t need to be border patrol. If the drug cartels could be destroyed and the Mexican streets be made safer, not as many would be running to the USA.

Changing a nations economic situation will take time. If Mexico had an economy like Canada, there would be no immigration problem. NAFTA and other trade deals have helped the Mexican economy, but it is only a start. Making the challenge even greater is the corruption at all levels of Mexican government.

I do not understand the amnesty crowd. How can giving away citizenship be a solution? I thought we were a nation of laws? The better word is surrender. We don’t want to solve the problem, so just give up. It is a slap in the face to all those who worked so hard to become American citizens. It would also open the door to every Tom, Dick, and Osama.

I have an idea that no one has tried yet. Don’t come up with an immigration reform bill, build a wall, or put our troops on the border. Start with enforcing the current laws. Catch illegals and then do what the law says. I would even agree to making it easier to becoming a citizen, but enforce the laws on the books. The Arizona law is nothing more than a copy of the federal law, it simply puts enforcement responsibilities at the state level.

Once again the big, bloated, federal government fails.

Government is absolutely necessary and small does not mean powerless. In a time of war I want the military to overwhelm our enemies with it’s power. When someone commits a crime against another there should be swift punishment. National sovereignty should be maintained at all costs and any threat against it’s citizens should be met with meaningful action.

The Bible speaks to the purpose of government in Romans 13:4. It says that government is “sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.” Simply put, the government should establish laws that protect people and then go after the law breakers. The passage also says that the government should collect taxes and be respected by the citizens.

Instead of an exhaustive definition of the value of small government ( leave that to the academics), I will sum up the manifesto with three words – freedom, security, and economy. The United States, with all of it’s historical blunders, has led the world in these areas.

If humans were inherently good, there would be no need for laws or government programs. Mankind however,  leans toward evil and requires some civil action to survive chaos. The question is how much? Small government advocates believe in rules, but strives to keep them limited. It’s sad, but true,  some people will use their freedom to abuse others. This is why government exists.

Freedom is a wonderful thing, in spite of those bringing it shame. Small government supports individual, personal freedom. Progressives see big government as the only answer to social needs. They believe that without government intervention the disadvantaged will be left in the streets to die, the environment will be wrecked, and the military will be used to loot other countries. I believe just the opposite. A freer society will create a better society. A free people will produce more profit, more technology, do better at taking care of the poor, and build a cleaner and healthier world. Bigger government will lead to slower progress.

Security is the number one job of the federal government. If the government can’t stop threats from the outside, then everything else is futile. Weapons programs, immigration, and the global economy demand strong national leadership. Progressives try to make the security debate about seeing a doctor or having a retirement account. They would also give up national sovereignty to join the biggest government ever – a world government. In my book that is called surrender.

A strong economy is important for any nation. Small government proponents believe that the economy does better when controlled by the private sector. Big government supporters are spenders wanting more of the economy in the hands of the government. This is the issue with the tea party. The government should be in charge of policy not products.

In conclusion, the 10th Amendment says the federal government should be limited and let the states handle the bulk of issues. Why does the federal government give money to Alaska for a bridge? Every earmark represents a government too big.

For background, I made a legal right turn on red, but I did not completely stop at the white line. This infraction was caught on camera. The Illinois law says you should stop and then “creep” forward. I guess you would also be guilty if you hopped or jumped forward. Here is my letter to the mayor:

Mayor Pradel –

I attended the administrative hearing for red light tickets Saturday. I don’t know the best word to describe it – pathetic, disgraceful, or shameful. The city did well by raking in over $10,000 in one sunny afternoon. Imagine the number of people who just paid the fine by mail. I watched every video and it was clear that no one jeopardized safety, no one ran a red light. All were guilty of not coming to a complete stop at the white line. Even though the Hearing Officer compared the infraction to a parking ticket, the fine is $100.

I broke the law at Ogden and Aurora. I go through this intersection 10 times a day or more. It is the closest intersection to my house. I buy gas at Speedway, I rent cars at Enterprise, I use the Post Office, I will be seeing my dentist (Dr Lakota) Tuesday, his office is next to Jewell where I buy groceries. The car I was driving was purchased new at Gerald Nissan just north of the light (you could see it in the video). In the 15 years of my residency I would estimate I have been through that intersection over 25,000 times. I have purchased State Farm Auto Insurance for 37 years and have never had an accident. You could send me to bankruptcy if you fined me for every time I failed to completely stop at that white line.

I was initially in favor of the red light cameras. Many traffic fatalities are caused by someone running a red light. The government has turned a valid safety issue into a cash register. I should have known the government would abuse their authority to get more money. Throughout this recession I have said that government is not in economic crisis. They will not be in crisis until the citizens are out of money.

This is not a safety issue. I’ve read the stats about how red light cameras have reduced accidents, injuries, etc. I don’t trust those stats. I think $4 per gallon gas had more to do with reduced traffic patterns than cameras. Hopefully, the council will honestly debate those questions.

You voted for this system. Maybe, like me, you see it was a mistake. Many towns are taking these cameras down. I ask you to do the same.

I will quietly pay my fine if you will lead the council to remove these abusive instruments. If not, I will take the following steps:

1. Stop purchasing products/services in Naperville and encourage others to do the same.
2. Inform the businesses at the Ogden/Aurora intersection of this decision and enlist their support.
3. Create a blog and further promote the issue through social media.
4. Vote against the politicians who maintain support of red light cameras.

This is a small issue but it’s reflective of a larger one. This country was founded on the principle of limited government. If you are willing to film citizens at red lights, what is next? I have always read about local politics and voted, but now I will be more active. It is clear why the tea party movement is growing.

You have been a wonderful Mayor through the years. I hope you will do the right thing. I welcome your response and thanks for listening.

I am not racist. I do not oppose Obama because of his skin or even his heart. I actually believe he is a good man and I would welcome him as a neighbor. It is his mind that bothers me. The extent of his belief in government intrusion is alarming, and I believe, a real detriment to economic growth. I don’t care about the “redistribution of wealth”. I worry about the money that I use on necessary travel, mortgage, and food being taken away to pay for bloated government.

I am self-employed and I am struggling because my clients are small businesses. They are scared to death of mandated healthcare laws, future energy taxes, and a host of other “progressive” ideas. They are not opposed to healthcare for everyone or a cleaner environment. They just want to make a decent living. Wall Street and Washington may be crowing about recovery, but small business people are cowering in fear of the next regulation. They are afraid to hire, to build, and to take basic risks that are important in growing a business. Unions, government staffers, Wall Street executives, and even the poor don’t have a clue. It is not because they are stupid or racist, it is because small business is not the big fish making the splash.

There are red light cameras in my town now. I legally turned right on red, but I got ticketed for not coming to a complete stop for three seconds behind the white line. I don’t blame the camera intrusion on Barack, but government is responsible. That tax, I mean fine, will cost me $125. At that very intersection I buy my gas. The local government just raised the tax .02 per gallon. Totally, I will now be paying .50 tax on every gallon I buy. I rent my cars across the street from the gas station. States are moving to impose a huge car rental tax to pay for healthcare, from $2-15 per day per car. At the same time, I am making less money. And there are those with the audacity to question my anger? Or worse, accuse me of racism or ignorance?

Each month I pay more in taxes than anything else. More than the mortgage, ten times more than healthcare, and three times more than food. I don’t take vacations that cost money anymore. I love books and gadgets, but have reduced the purchase of those to almost nothing. I am trying to figure out ways to reduce the cell phone bill and cable TV. I made the mistake a couple of years ago of buying a big HDTV. I should have kept the 27″ basic TV. This is some recovery, huh!

I hear of economic crisis, but I don’t see any change in government. I read of the enormous pensions of government employees, and living in Chicago, there are headlines everyday about government abuse, fraud, waste, and nepotism. Take away government employees and the population of Chicago would be that of Peoria. I wonder if the millions of government employees have reduced travel, purchasing accounts, or any budget line item. Barack’s federal budget was the biggest in history, and so is the debt. By the way, there is no economic crisis for government until the people are out of money.

I don’t see the fall election as any solution. I am not looking for a party of no, I am looking for a nation of no. The spending, taxation, and intrusion of government appears to be unstoppable. But I say we try.

As a small business owner I feel like the enemy of the big three. None of them make it easier for me to make a profit and grow my business. They don’t know or care that I exist. It is unbelievable that while small business hires 70% of the employees in this country and is the key to economic growth, these three giants show no respect. Government bailed out GM (big union) and Wall Street (big business) and left the little guys to fend for themselves.

Big unions may have done too good of a job. They fought hard for the employees at GM and the result is outstanding pension and benefits for life. It is the same with government employees. Government employees can retire at 50, if they have worked for 25 years, receive 70% of their income for life. They keep the healthcare for life, also. There are now so many retired government employees that it is breaking the back of state governments. Some governments may be forced into bankruptcy to deal with the problem.

The toast of the town in Washington is big business. Big business pays for elections, parties around town, charity events, and a hooker or two for our public servants. Politicians won’t admit it, but they love big business. Big business is their mama and girlfriend in one package.

This may surprise you, but big business loves regulation and higher taxes. Here are some examples. Tobacco regulations were supposed to protect citizens but trial lawyers got rich and Phillip Morris got guaranteed profits. Before Enron had it’s little scandal, they led the fight for the Kyoto Treaty concerning global warming. Why would an energy company do this? The money they were going to make off every one through carbon trading. There would be no ethanol production were it not for the government handouts to Archer Daniels Midland. This is a never ending horror story. Even Wal-Mart benefits from local governments who want Wal-Mart to build there. Big businesses get so much money from the government that they often lead the charge for higher taxes in order to protect themselves . Ever heard of corporate welfare?

And the final member of the unholy trinity is big government. This is the most deceitful of the three. It is not a matter of being democrat or republican, they equally fail us. They both claim to be against deficits, a complicated tax code, higher taxes, and lobbyists. They have the power to change these things, but they don’t. Big government needs big business and big unions to keep their control over a rigged system.

There is a dog in my house that, without limits, would eat himself to death. It is true with the big three. If we the people do not limit their intake and power, they will eat everything. We can start by voting out all incumbents. Elect people with a renewed commitment to individuals over the big’s.