Corrupt Government: Is Perception Reality

Last April, I was in NW Louisiana as vendor at one of their trade days events and had an interesting with a fellow vendor who was from LA. He made the statement the LA had the most corrupt government in the US. I asked him if it was as bad as it's reputation. His answer was no. I asked him if LA Government was as bad as Illinois' reputation. He said yes. I then asked if he thought LA Government was more corrupt than Minnesota. He laughed.

In the wake of Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich's corruption charges, I've heard several times on local talk radio that four of the last eight Illinois Governors have been sent to prison for various crimes. I will concede that Otto Kerner and George Ryan have been convicted and served prison time. FACT: In the last sixty years and ten Illinois Governors, there have been no others who have served prison time.

These same talk show hosts also seem to believe that all of Illinois Governors are from Chicago and the Democrats are all part of the Chicago political machine. Fact: Only five of the last ten Illinois Governors were from Chicago. (We might concede that "Big" Jim Thompson was from Chicago since he was from suburban Chicago).

In the last sixty years, there have been five Democrats and five Republicans. The Republicans have served ten terms (38 years): Democrats five terms (22 years). And, two Democrats were anti-machine Governors (Dan Walker and Sam Shapiro).

So,what is the point? Some states have been aggresive in uncovering and prosecuting corruption. Hence, they have earned a reputation. Other states do not. Instead they find convenient excuses to look away and point fingers at other states!