A man named Todd Stroger has been traipsing around the halls of local governments for several years. He maneuvered through Chicago's city hall as an alderman. Now for the past two years he's known as Cook County President. Accordingly he's considered a public servant, but many citizens, fellow commissioners ("public servants") and now even media question who he is actually serving.

Following tax raises, "fee" hikes, service cuts, public relation blunders, President Stroger now wishes to borrow $700 million through issuance of bonds. Stroger, according to a growing army of critics, is undeniably insulting the public. I agree, but given the overall backdrop of a painfully punishing political miasma of government corruption in Illinois, Cook and Chicago, I am frustrated with the lack of reporting on an extremely stealth politician with a well-known name.

Mayor Daley's brother John P. Daley get's inexplicably little scrutiny from Chicago media, and he likes it that way. He is not only suspected by political class insiders of being the silent political power behind the late President John Stroger and Todd Stroger, but John P.Daley is also a county commissioner (11th dist.) and sits as Chairman of the Finance Committee of Cook County goverment. Doesn't the finance chair warrant some examination regarding a $ 3 billion budget suspected of being larded with waste and fraudulent contracts to campaign donors?!



Todd Stroger's suspected abuse of our government, including hiring multiple spokespersons is an insult to the citizenry and taxpayers. However, the public must get a clearer picture of the political relationship between the Daleys and the Strogers, and all the deals between them, using little guys (government workers) as pawns, and using big contributors as kings.



To some, it's been suspected for years. To others, it's only now becoming clear: these folks do not serve the public. They serve themselves while insulting the increasingly cash-strapped public.



P.S. Perhaps we should all start blaming ourselves for not being more politically engaged.