“…The interim mayors between the Daleys were creatures of the Chicago Machine. Mayors Harold Washington and Jane Byrne were insiders. They knew how the city worked. They knew, for better or worse, what had to be done day to day to keep Chicago afloat.

“Even though both instituted changes, City Hall was business as usual. Just the names of people in charge changed. In the case of Harold Washington, the racial make up of those in charge also changed.

“We are living in a new era. New politicians with business experience are being elected from both parties at all levels of government. Governance is being managed like a business where costs, revenues, and debt are balanced against essential and non-essential services that make government operate.

“Neo-Libs and Neo-Cons are dirty words to progressive organizations and public employee unions. The new politicians, from both parties, are the enemy of progressives and arch conservatives alike.

“What all the protesters, activists, public employee labor unions, and other progressive travelers seem to forget is this salient point. At the end of the day, the real 99% of Chicagoans only care that the garbage gets picked up, the street lights are working, the police or fire department will show up quickly, the streets get plowed in the winter, public transportation is running, food service in stores and restaurants is sanitary, and traffic is controlled or at least controllable.

“The real 99% only care about coping with the challenges of day to day living in Chicago.

“Richard J. Daley, Jane Byrne, Harold Washington, Richard M. Daley, and now, Rahm Emanuel understand the real 99%. They gave and are giving them what they want. All the rest is window dressing, bread and circuses.

“If you lived in Chicago long enough, worked for the city, reported from the trenches, or really studied Chicago history and politics for a long time, you would know this.”

“…Times change. Politics changes. But, at the end of the day, Chicago’s population wants the city to work without making more sacrifices than necessary. Sacrifice being defined as taxation, fees, and fines.

“People are willing to pay some to get a lot.

“People are not willing to experience fiscal pain to satisfy others.”

http://www.chicagonow.com/interesting-chicago/2013/11/mayor-1-a-dud-book-review/