Make my Day......GOV Blagojevich arrested.

[KrazyHorse]

Hell, you just spent 30000 per Iraqi trying to give them democracy...

[Imran Siddiqui]

@ eBay!

[Darius871]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Hell, you just spent 30000 per Iraqi trying to give them democracy...

Well, supposedly that was going to start a domino effect of democracy across the whole Middle East, so it's only about $2500 per liberatee. What a bargain

[KrazyHorse]

Well, technically you had to pay up front and we're still waiting for the dominoes to topple. What's the appropriate discount rate on democratized individuals? Is there a futures market we can consult?

[David Floyd]

KH, reducing everything down to x dollars per person, when it comes to the cost of government, is a pretty pointless exercise. First of all, it's disingenuous, because people like Ming and Rah pay considerably more in taxes than the average citizen of Illinois. It's not like the tax collector comes around for a special election to everyone's house and asks for $2, now is it?

Secondly, it's an accounting gimmick that distracts attention from the larger number. The average Joe Six-pack in Illinois could probably be persuaded with the "$2/person is the cost of democracy" argument, but throw the "$25 million for an election in which 10% will vote for a placeholder to serve 1/3 of a term and have no seniority or power" and the same guy will laugh at you.

Thirdly, making government spending seem as inexpensive and inoffensive as possible is a good way to wind up with more government spending. Ever heard the saying "A billion here and a billion there, and pretty soon we're talking about real money"? It's true. If Illionois has an extra $25, I'm sure there are some much more pressing projects than an irrelevant special election (that, let's face it, will probably swing to whoever the governor wants to win, anyway).

[KrazyHorse]

a) I like reducing costs to dollars per person. It puts things in perspective. And makes it a lot more personal. Is my right to vote worth 2$? Hell yes. Is the existence of GM worth 100$ to me? **** no.

b) The thought that cutting 25 mill from the Illinois state budget by skimping on elections is the best way to go is retarded. The state of Illinois collects about 40 billion dollars in revenue each year. I guarantee there are things costing 25 million dollars in there which are better to get rid of than elections

c) I can't believe I'm even having this discussion. None of your points apply overmuch to a special election compared with a general election.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Well, technically you had to pay up front and we're still waiting for the dominoes to topple. What's the appropriate discount rate on democratized individuals? Is there a futures market we can consult?

There has to at least be a line on this in Vegas if not Wall Street. I figure about 5000-to-1 odds against us seeing free and fair elections of a fully independent Riyadh parliament anytime before 2050... any takers?

[Q Classic]

Originally posted by Comrade Snuggles

Originally posted by Asher
Chicago: Corrupt third world of the USA.

Not even close. New Jersey is easily the most corrupt state, and Chicago doesn't even place in the running against any Southern state. Chicagoans are just worse at it, so they get caught more.

Worse? No. I think they're just more arrogant and think they won't be charged.

[Q Classic]

And, good riddens to Blago.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
a) I like reducing costs to dollars per person. It puts things in perspective. And makes it a lot more personal. Is my right to vote worth 2$? Hell yes. Is the existence of GM worth 100$ to me? **** no.

In all honesty, I have to say that even as a rhetorical device this seems pretty silly. It's Donald Trump that pays for these things, not you. The top 20% pay almost 80% of the taxes, even under the Bush cuts.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Darius871


There has to at least be a line on this in Vegas if not Wall Street. I figure about 5000-to-1 odds against us seeing free and fair elections of a fully independent Riyadh parliament anytime before 2050... any takers?

I meant something to figure out the yield on democratic individuals. I'm not sure if the normal futures pricing scheme works. Can I engage in arbitrage by buying democratic individuals spot and selling them long?

[David Floyd]

a) I like reducing costs to dollars per person. It puts things in perspective. And makes it a lot more personal. Is my right to vote worth 2$? Hell yes. Is the existence of GM worth 100$ to me? **** no.

Well, that demonstrates a couple of things. First, it demonstrates your ignorance of the value of a viable automobile industry in this country and what it does for the economy. Odds are strong that you would end up down far more than $100 if GM, Ford, and Chrysler go under. Secondly, you can like reduces cost to dollar per person all you want, but that doesn't make it a valid argument. Thirdly, your right to vote isn't being denied by having a replacement appointed. Hell, if Obama didn't win, you wouldn't have gotten to vote for another two years anyway. Your vote will make zero difference in the grand scheme of things, because a 1st term, special election Senator with 1/3 of a term to serve is going to exercise effectively no power and bring little, if anything, of value to Illinois. So, in order for you to feel warm inside about your "right to vote" - which is pretty irrelevant in this case - taxpayers should have to shell out $25 million?

b) The thought that cutting 25 mill from the Illinois state budget by skimping on elections is the best way to go is retarded. The state of Illinois collects about 40 billion dollars in revenue each year. I guarantee there are things costing 25 million dollars in there which are better to get rid of than elections

You're not skimping on anything. There was never a scheduled election, nor is there a provision for a special election. Let's please use correct language, otherwise you'll confuse stupid people. And confusing stupid people is another real good way to wind up with more government spending.

c) I can't believe I'm even having this discussion. None of your points apply overmuch to a special election compared with a general election.

Don't see why not. You are arguing in favor of a costly special election - unless you are willing to tell me that $25 million is not very much money, in which case, let's use it for a cause you disagree with and see if you have the same attitude - for no practical purpose, and I'm calling you out on it.

[Sharpe]

Well considering there will have to be a special election for a replacement in Rahm Emanuel's district, they could expand it into a special statewide election for Obama's replacement.

Dick Durbin is suggesting that anyhow, saying that no appointment by Blagojevich ‘could produce a credible replacement’.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28142769/?GT1=43001

[David Floyd]

Then possibly the Illinois Legislature should act on articles of impeachment in a timely manner.

[Winston]

I'd support Ming for Governor any day. He's quick, fairly uncorrupt - and he mostly exercises his powers inbetween other assignments when there's nobody watching. And he's already a golfer.

I don't think he'd be doing too much damage. And of course, he'll end up in jail by the end of it. What's not to like?