The decision by the Kankakee County Board to give themselves a raise proves these public officials are self-absorbed, sad individuals who are completely ignorant about the state of the world around them.

In a time when the economy is suffering, the US dollar is taking a beating abroad and many people are finding it difficult to pay their mortgage, our elected officials find it necessary to praise themselves for the supposed hard work they are putting in.

Even as the state is burdened with $110,000,000 of debt and the county’s deficit nears $200,000, they remain obstinate to these glaring facts and increase their pay across the board by nearly five percent. Your action to increase your pay from our pockets sickens me.

Don’t legitimize your actions with foolhardy and bogus arguments, especially by using “cost of living” as the basis for this increase. This is the most absurd, distorted logic in the history of economic arguments. Illinois has a per capita income—that means what each person receives financially, for those public officials unaware of tricky governmental jargon—of about $19,000. The median income for a family is just under $50,000. So, if my math works better than the board’s logic, that means the auditor, circuit clerk, coroner and board chairman will be making $40,000 more than the average individual in this county and almost $10,000 more than the average of an entire household in this county. What’s the cost of living like for the average person? Perhaps you can buy groceries or pick up rent for some of the households you supposedly represent, you over-spending, deficit-inducing rats. Both parties are to blame for this egregious—that means offensive—action and anyone who votes along party lines should rethink their allegiances.

I know it must have been difficult, though, as board member Jim Vickery so saliently pointed out, to “drag themselves and their families through election after election.” You, sir, are a public servant. You and these other hoarding rats were elected knowing full-well that being a politician carries with it an often praise-less, underpaid (not anymore) tenure. Play your violin elsewhere, sir, because I’m all out of pity for you and how you’re spending my money.

And no one in your district had a problem with it? This is easy to say, when the constituency—that means people in your district—don’t find out about pay increases until it is printed in the paper on a Wednesday afternoon. Honest, hardworking taxpayers who pay these salaries, are working on Tuesday mornings when you’re searching for ways to get your name in paper and pass yourself off as intelligent.

By the way, Mr. Kruse, you receive a stipend of $2,500 for your work as liquor commissioner, and therefore arguing that the raise reflects your “growing responsibilities” within the county is like shoving both hands in the cookie jar simultaneously. And, please, enlighten us ignorant peons on what the liquor commissioner duties entail? I would love to read all about the back-breaking labor involved in that job.

“It’s time to get over the political posturing and get on with the business of Kankakee County,” Vickery said.

Well, I guess you’ve got the incentive now, so get after it.

Sincerely,


Travis J. Griggs