GOLDEN APPLES OR POKER CHIPS ?

I rarely blog about educational issues. I know them well and I think public education could stand a great deal of reform. That being said, I live in the bipartisanly corrupt and cash-strapped state of Illinois where the Tollway Authority, that by law should have gone out of existence years ago, rolls in billions but any program that does not promise big contracts to the construction industry is on the chopping block. Recently the "education governor" Rod Blagojevic, a creature of Chicago's Democratic machine, decided to kill the nationally known Golden Apple Scholarship program.

The same day, a big push was announced by Mayor Daley for a casino for Chicago. One that will involve millions of public dollars going to subsidize immensely wealthy private gambling interests. Most likely, Daley will get his way or at worst the casino will be located in some Outfit connected, decaying, inner suburb like Rosemont or Cicero.

If only school children, prison guards, police and firemen rated as highly with Illinois politicians as the business associates of the Chicago mob.  ¶ 12:45 PM