Blagojevich’s sentencing is being discussed heatedly around town, and everyone has an opinion. Is his 14-year prison sentence too long? In his defense, two arguments continually get repeated. One: he’s no different from other politicians in what he did. The other: there wasn’t any cost to his misdeeds — it was a victimless crime.

Actually, what he did is indeed different from what other politicians do. His acts were illegal and the legal line is very clear. When an official uses his government office for his private benefit, it is illegal. Many crooked politicians and their apologists have insisted that under the Illinois system of machine politics, everybody demands paybacks for favors, jobs, and crooked contracts. The illegal deeds of deceased Congressman Dan Rostenkowski were defended in the same way. His defenders said that he grew up in the system of machine politics and simply never adjusted to the modern era. But the truth is that he stole from government. Not only stamps, but free labor from government workers, free cars, and bribes to provide tax breaks. And so did Rod Blagojevich.

Former Gov. Blagojevich was convicted, not just of trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat but of 17 other counts of corruption. He appointed his people to boards and commissions who rigged contracts in return for payoffs for them personally, and for campaign funds for Blago. It was a shakedown scheme for which Tony Rezko, Lon Monk, John Wyma, Stuart Levine, John Harris, William Cellini and Ali Ata have been sent to jail or await sentencing. Christopher Kelly committed suicide before going to jail. Others like Jesse Jackson Jr., Raghu Nayak and Rajinder Bedi are still under scrutiny. Blagojevich led a wide ranging syndicate of corruption.

It is simply untrue that all public officials engage in corruption. Sen. Paul Douglas, and Ald. Leon Despres both had clear cut rules to prevent bribery: They had a $25 limit on any gifts. So constituents might bring cookies or a cake to their staff but they couldn’t bribe them with money or gifts. Likewise, they didn’t take campaign contributions from developers who had zoning issues in the past or that were pending in their wards. Thus, they avoided conflicts of interest.

By contrast, Blagojevich not only lacked clear non-bribery rules, but his campaign aides, government staff, and appointees shook down businessmen for large campaign contributions. He raised more money this way than any previous candidates for governor.

These were not victimless crimes, as some Blagojevich apologizers maintain. We were all his victims. The first state bonds issued after he was indicted cost taxpayers an additional $20 million because the state’s bond rating was downgraded. Blagojevich’s pension board appointees took bribes to give out the pension fund management contracts in return for kickbacks and contributions to his campaign fund. This contributed to the pension deficits which are the single biggest financial problem in state government. Most of all, he undermined citizens’ trust in their government. Why should they pay their taxes if politicians and government officials are going to steal the money?

The only positive outcome of this scandal will be if it spurs reform. After Blagojevich was indicted and impeached and before his court trials, Gov. Pat Quinn appointed an Ethics Commission which provided a blueprint of change which we have only begun to implement. The state then adopted the first real campaign finance reform legislation in its history. On Dec. 15, the Public Finance Reform Task Force is holding a hearing at the State of Illinois Thompson Center to propose strengthening the legislation. We should tell them that it is time for Illinois to adopt public financing of campaigns.

It is also time to demand that civics and the cost of corruption be taught in our public schools. Ending corruption in Illinois will take decades and will have to be completed by our children. As convicted felon and former alderman Eddy Vrdolyak warned those of us fighting against machine politics, you better bring lunch.

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By sue from bucktown
Posted: 12/14/2011 10:34 PM

Rostenkowski took bribes? When Dick? Stop re-writing history.