Ziri-ously

Schoenburg's column in the SJ-R today tells about an issue raised by newly elected SMEAA member Mike Ziri.

Stratton is also Secretary of the Sangamon County Republican Party. This is pretty typical in local public bodies controlled by Republican leaders who are still complaining about losing their patronage jobs with the state.

My experience running for county board, and with this blog, is that there's a group of Republicans within local government (certainly not all) that react to any fair comment about policy with defensive, angry responses as though they are above being criticized. That doesn't apply to my county board opponent who was always civil. But there are some who have the hate-radio mentality that any discussion of policy should be responded to with personal attacks.

I expect that Mike Ziri will get the same sort of response I received and we already see that happening in Mike Coffey's speculative quote in the SJ-R claiming that Ziri would never have gotten elected without others being removed from the ballot. Besides being impossible to prove, there's no good reason to respond to a critique on policy with a personal swipe like that. You can see more of that attitude in the nasty online comments to the story.

There aren't many elected officials in either party who speak out against the corrupt buddy system of patronage and pay-to-play in Sangamon County. I hope Mike keeps it up and doesn't let people lacking in civility and maturity keep him down.

Liberty Brew & View presents: Sir No Sir!

In the years leading up to the American revolution, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty organized dissidents in the public houses of the colonies in the struggle for freedom. In the tradition of those revolutionaries I'd like to announce the formation of Liberty Brew & View!

The third Tuesday of each month Liberty Brew & View will show a film on the big movie screen at Capital City Bar & Grill in the Capital City Shopping Center on Dirksen Drive. The movies will focus on a different political or social issue each month and we'll invite a local group that works on the issue to provide information about how to take action. This is your chance to meet new friends, see a great movie and do something to make a difference.

The first movie will be "Sir No Sir!" on Tuesday, September 18 at 7pm. Its an exciting new documentary about "the suppressed story to of the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam." It will be shown as part of the "Days of Decision: We the people declare peace" events happening this month. Bob Wesley is leading a group discussion after the film. The movie starts at 7pm so show up early to socialize.

Here's a link to the movie website. You can also read my review and reaction to the film after seeing it for the first time.

On Tuesday October 16 we'll show "Who Killed the Electric Car." I'm taking nominations for the November movie.

I think this will be an exciting new series of events for Springfield. I hope you make it to the first one!