Like Chicago, Illinois is a state dominated by big labor unions that have looted the state treasury. It is not surprising that Illinois and Chicago are both insolvent even after selling some state highways to private toll-road investors. The lottery winners' check bounced because, desperate for more money, Illinois has raided even the lottery piggy-bank for spare change.

Political corruption in the state capital is exceeded only by those in Chicago city council. While the impeached former Governor,"Bago," was sent to jail for selling a Illinois senate seat and other financial crimes against the state , no one from Chicago's Cook County was ever investigated let alone imprisioned for similar crimes. Undeterred, the stupid people of Illinois continue to believe the solution to government corruption is to add several more layer of watch-dogs to the already Big State Government even when the current pack of watch-dogs had joined the marauding herd of corrupt politicians.

The real solution is to have less politicians, less government bureaucrates, and less state government.

Or it was a "snafu on a computer oversight due to short-staffing during the holidays".
Some times humans screw up.

Ok I completely disagree with what unkown said, but he has every right to say what he feels and no one should go on this whole "leave the country" argument. Why do you say that to people you disagree with? That is the dumbest thing to ever come out of people's mouths, both left and right. I remember it happening when Bush was in office and now as Obama is in office.

I guess wall street got that money too.

FatCats,

It says right in the article that they bounced due to a computer error because they were understaffed for the Holidays.

Lottery spokesman, Mike Lang blamed the snafu on a computer oversight due to short-staffing during the holidays.

Holy flaming burritos, Batman !!

FatCatGets$700Bil, the reality is that the corrupt politicians in Chicago determine how the rest of the state is run.

For example, regarding the Conceal Carry Laws:

Concealed carry, or CCW (carrying a concealed weapon), refers to the practice of carrying a handgunor other weapon in public in a concealed manner, either on one's person or in proximity.

While there is no federal law specifically addressing the issuance of concealed carry permits, 49 states have passed laws allowing citizens to carry certain concealed firearms in public, either without a permit or after obtaining a permit from local and/or law enforcement.^[1] Illinois is the only state without such a provision.

Outside of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, the state is farm land. 80% of the state's land is used for farming but because of the Daley legacy, the state has some of the toughest gun laws.

Sounds like someone from the lottery commision bought themselves a political seat in Ill.

Lottery winnings just like anything else done through the State of blah is done with trust. When that trust is violated people have different ways of expressing themselves. It is up to the people of Ill. to determine whether or not to trust in that lottery again and take the State explanation as to what really went wrong with the payouts.

When people hear about things like this they begin to wonder if their SS check is the next thing to go South etc. Small chance of that but you never want anything that makes the government look like it is on shaky ground.

USwillwin-

but he has every right to say what he feels and no one should go on this whole "leave the country" argument. Why do you say that to people you disagree with?

The people who say that reveal that they have no idea what it means to be an American. I agree it's annoying, but it's also amusing. Little wannabe neo-Nazi's telling American citizens to shut up or leave the country because they dare to state their opinion in the land of the free.

It's the same impetus behind people who collapse posts. A post may have 10 votes, yet the community has collapsed it because enough people don't believe in free speech.

They should be embarrassed, but they're too stupid to realize the irony.

welcome to the new goverment of the united socialistic republic of Amerika/.

Actually, I took it as a sign that the Martians had landed in Illinois, but I suppose it could also be the Socialists, or the Presbyterians.

Modern life is so confusing sometimes.

I can not believe the ignorance and absurdity of some of the comments posted here. This was a simple snafu caused by an oversight due to short staffing during the holidays. It has nothing to do with any kind of socialist nonsense, corruption, or the federal government for that matter. It was a simple oversight by the Illinois lottery commission. I do laugh at the statement from the lottery that they "offered to cover any bank fees incurred from the incident." This was not really something that was optional for them to do. Had the lottery commission failed to cover these bank fees they would have been bombarded with legal claims filed against them for reimbursement of the fees by all those who had checks bounce.

It's very disappointing and, frankly, baffling that right-wing nuts cannot make comments based on facts and critical reasoning! They always want the conversation to deteriorate into ranting emotional statements of fiction. To these people the FACTS and SOUND LOGIC seem anathema! Is it education or IQ?

Take your post for example.

LostInThePineBarrens,

Yes you are!

scram: Do you realize that one may substitute the word "left" for "right" and your post retains its kernel of truth? That it's the ultra-partisan, reactionary Manichaean dualists on both ends of the political spectrum who are the ones who shrillily dominate the public discourse on every issue and generally make life very unpeasant for all of us in the middle.

Best thing I ever did was leave the pathetic state of Corruptinois 2½ years ago. Couldn't stand living there any longer. Once I have enough funding, I will get my parents out so I never have to go back again. Just about everything in that state oozes corruption. A lot of the people I know have left as well. Computer snafu my ass. You people can have and keep that state. I want nothing to do with it.

Its good to see that our currently flawed political system is working so well. If there wasnt a digital line between some of you I bet a fight would break out.

I can just imagine Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich sitting sipping a martini and having a toast to the gullibility of the average American.

Way to go lemmings. Do what your cable news station of choice instructs you to do.

If there wasnt a digital line between some of you I bet a fight would break out.

...or maybe people would exercise a little more restraint in their words. There is something about an anonymous, internet connection which makes all of us that much braver.

Frankly True .... u r much too serious and a poopy butt besides.

HaHa, HaHaHa, HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa, HA!

Frankly, Keith has every right to speak his mind too!

This has been a problem with Contractors getting paid also so, there is a pattern of this in IL.

I'm sure those "Morons" will take your comments to heart and "grow up".

Try to understand that if it's not the Frankly Way stay away! Hum!

Dems sure know how to run a city!

This comment has been collapsed by the communisty.

THemDems

Your name says it all

Silly Partisan Hack

You failed to notice that I made no political reference at all, it is you who see everything as political. I also did not say Keith could not express himself, I simply pointed out that with an attitude like his (You seem to have a similar one) That both Illinois and Me would be happy if he did not live anywhere near us. Luckily there are no trailer parks in my city, so I don't have to worry about that.

And that is simply sad. Hint BTW Chicago is a city, Illinois is a State,,,,Illinois the state runs the lottery, Not Chicago the city.

You really need serious counseling. Call the Communisty! <Childish crap

Well I'm certainly glad that none of the idiots on this forum is running for office.. Bitching at the bitchers who bitch just to hear themselves bitch... PATHETIC!!

Well, Frankly True, I think it is you who did not understand ThemDemsLie2much's answer. While his name maybe political, his message was direct and personal. He said you are taking this all much too seriously, and are being needless unpleasant (too poopy).

Both points are true.

BTW: If you are going throw around labels like "morons", "silly partisan hack" and "idiots", your insults will carry slightly more weight if the surrounding text is not composed of sentence fragments and run-together sentences, replete with rather fanciful use of upper case letters and missing pronouns.

Wow, so many fools who refuse to actually READ the article.... Yes, it's always so much easier to just skim over the headline and read only the first couple of sentences -- and then reach the WRONG conclusion.

Please explain to my simple, stupid mind how you believe that it was an error? I'll try that line next time. Sorry my check bounced, I was short-staffed! Think the bank or business will forgive my Insuffenct fund charge? Thought NOT! State Fraud.

dman you worry about the English lessons

THis is a blog/board posting...not an epic novel or a college dissertation.

Silly people attack spelling. grammatical errors instead of debate.

Even sillier people post bull and then smirkingly say oh it was not serious

You are off point, but I note you admit:

He said you are taking this all much too seriously, and are being needless unpleasant (too poopy).

Both points are true.

'nuff said...I will take you at your word that you are not to be taken seriously

Frankly True

I am in general agreement with dman on a couple of points.

First, I realize that there is in our society a tendency to take pride in ignorance, to consider those who are well-educated as arrogant, but correct spelling and good grammar do matter in written communication. Written English is is more formal than spoken English. That this is a blog rather than a paper for a college course is not relevant. I will have more regard for a post that is properly composed than for one that is not, one that for example, uses "who's" when it should use "whose," or one that uses an apostrophe in a simple (not possessive) plural form. Those errors suggest ignorance. Not stupidity, but ignorance, which amounts to an inadequate education. This is a written medium. I evaluate a post not only by what is written, but by how it is written. Even if I disagree with a poster's point of view, if it is properly composed, I will pay more attention to it than I will to one that looks, well, ignorant, because it is poorly composed.

Unless of course, and this is the second point on which I disagree with you, such a correctly composed post contains personal attacks. A debate in which the argument degenerates from description to name-calling is no longer a debate. If I disagree with someone's opinion, if I believe someone has reached a conclusion not supported by available data, I do not conclude that such a person is a moron, nor will I dismiss him by calling him that (or some other) name. Rather than attack him--rather than "blame (or hold in contempt) the messenger"--I will reply by explaining why I disagree with the message.

In most cases, I believe people with different opinions are more likely to reach consensus--to move forward--via civil discourse, by considering different points of view, than by screaming and arm-waving when confronted with ideas at variance with their received wisdom.

Frankly, grammar and spelling does count. When comments are are full misspellings, fragments, and run on sentences, I take it as seriously as I take the comments "it's Bush's fault" or "it's Obama's fault". Useless and not worth reading. I may not have perfect punctuation sometimes, but I at least try to spell correctly. And put periods where they belong.

I hope Corruptinois is eternally grateful I left. Wasted far too many years of my life in that state. Once Chicago fails, which Mayor Emanual seems to be trying very hard to do, the rest of the state will soon follow. Feel free to keep believing that it was due to a staff shortage if that makes you feel better. I will continue to believe it's due to the fact the state is completely broke and out of control. I have a tendency not to believe very much state/gov't officials tell me though. Have a nice day.

USwillWin.

Ok I completely disagree with what unkown said, but he has every right to say what he feels and no one should go on this whole "leave the country" argument. Why do you say that to people you disagree with? That is the dumbest thing to ever come out of people's mouths, both left and right. I remember it happening when Bush was in office and now as Obama is in office.

There was a major difference, when Bush 2 was running for office the leftists were voluteering to leave if he was elected. I don't think I ever heard of one actually relocating, though. lol

Hukd onn fonix reely wurkd 4 mee! How's that for English 101?

welcome to the new goverment of the united socialistic republic of Amerika/.

What does that have to do with lottery checks bounced because of a computer error? They not have computer errors in 'super capitalist awesome we're number one America?'

jerry-1... I think the worst part of the whole argument is that everyone feels that free speech allows them to be rude, disgusting and downright vulgar. It does not. We all have the right to state and share our opinion respectfully. People can get their points across without vulgarity. I'm a proponent of free speech, but I also feel I shouldn't have to be subjected to mindless filth when their is an entire dictionary full of acceptable words to convey opinions.

I read and laughed at every comment left!!! Its good to see so many views.

The real solution is to have less politicians, less government bureaucrates, and less state government.

Wrong. If you want no government, move to Somalia. We reject your vision for the US.

Illinois Lottery run by private company Not the State. This is what Privatization will do. What are you going to do when this privet company runs the whole thing in the ground?

Apparently the lottery is a ponzi scheme like so many other American institutions.

AKRandy - That is the stupidest thing I have seen this morning..

Only in Illinois......

"Short staff over the holidays" ? That should be the quote of the YEAR. Maybe the quote will filter to the beltway.

Wait, isn't there a whole group of people who think there are way too many government employees and if they were all fired, this nation would be back on its way to greatness? This is a preview of what can be expected after we've decided that any government employee is one too many. I look forward to the crumbling interstates, failing schools and yes, lottery winners with bouncing checks. (That's sarcasm in case you missed it!)

I see the clueless gomers are out in force today. Seriously, how much ignorance can you people post with a straight face? Apparently, it is true what the say, "The ignorant are the last to know they are". Let me give you the real scoop, the checks didn't "bounce" because of a lack of money. They "bounced" because over the holidays the identification verification list was posted late so when the bank run the check number and name it came back as a unverified check. The verification list is a fraud prevention measure, maybe you guys don't understand big concepts like that?

AKRandy, got a problem with unions, do you? Wonder why that is?

Or it was a "snafu on a computer oversight due to short-staffing during the holidays".
Some times humans screw up.

more likely illinois forgot the speed with which checks cleared and wanted to get a few more $$$ of interest.

employee holiday shortage indeed!

I don't know abouit Illinios, but Federal Spending DOUBLED in just the last 10 years.

Is it twice as good?

Think about it. 2001 - wasn't the Gov't big enough? Wouldn't you rather have them cost half as much as 2011 and deliver what they delivered in 2001?

Oh, wait - I forget - 1/2 of the people pay no net taxes. I'm sure they are fine with wasteful spending - it's not their money.

The lottery officials have apologized and will ensure that the money is there for the winners. They have also offered to cover any bank fees the winners might have incurred because they tried to cash checks that bounced and will throw in a free scratch off. Other than a pint of blood and their first born children, what would you ingrates suggest? This is not an infallible system and there are real live people involved, so nothing is 100% all the time. At least they, the lottery officials, are going to rectify the mistake. Some of you are so crappy about everything. Just because a mistake is made, and it really doesn't matter the reason, as long as it is recognized by those who are responsible and fixed, what the hell else can they do? And for those of you who don't play the lottery or those of you you consider the lottery a ponzi scheme, don't play, but don't tell others they cannot. The information is out there, so it is up to each individual to decide for themself whether or not to play.

The lottery is sending the affected customers a free scratch off ticket as part of the apology,

Adding insult to injury.......

... and how much federal money and assistance in some way or another have you received directly or indirectly? Do you drive on the roadways? Do you send your children to public school? Do you have your trash collected? Do you have the luxury of police, fire, and ambulance? Just some of the things you get that are covered through federal dollars. Cut the nonsense! Try making a difference rather than being an idiot!

Maureen-2162031. Very well said. Unfortunately, there are so many people out there that want "Something" for "Nothing". And of course there are those that have never made a mistake. Computers are not perfect. What is input, has the ability to be wrong. Input by a human. It's unfortunate for the winners, that this may have caused some stress. But in they long run they will get the money and any costs that the bounced checks may have caused.

I'm a state worker (not in Illinois). In my office section of 8 workers, the Friday before the last holidays, (and the Friday after Thanksgiving), I was the only worker. Everyone else wanted time to travel, family issues, etc. I'm local, so it wasn't a hardship for me to stay. (BTW, I'm the most senior in my section, too.) How many times did the phones ring in my section on any day? Not one time. How many business-related emails did we get? Only one that was just a confirmation of a resolved issue.

Is this business as usual? Does this happen often? No. It was just a timing issue.

In Illinois, I'm sure it was an oversight with the lottery officials, and they have done everything they can to repair the damage. (I'm not sure giving a free lottery ticket was the smartest thing to do, but I guess they were trying.) We are all human, and therefore, we all err.

Unless someone else has never made a mistake, I don't think they have much room to complain. Best wishes to all for 2012.

The problem with Government, is it is okay for them to make a mistake and say it is only human, but when you try something similar as a citizen you get taken to the cleaners by the same Government. I'm not sympathetic to Government, especially since it is so big and inflexible.

Spo--very true. However, the issues you have are with the lawmakers, not the workers. And that's a big difference. Lawmakers have a major failure that I can actually put my finger on and that is the LACK OF COMMON SENSE. The general workers who just do their jobs have no control over the lawmakers. We, the general workers, do everything we can to resolve issues in a timely, fair, and equitable solution. The same can't be said for the bureaucrats who don't won't put forth the time or effort to make simple resolutions to simple problems. (Many think it's beneath them. They shove off issues onto their yesmen lackeys, and expect them to do all the work. Then when something goes awry, they aren't responsible.) Unfortunately, the general workers are at the bottom of the ladder, and we catch a bunch of the flack.

You are comparing apples to oranges. It's okay to be angry with the "government," but please understand, the common worker is doing the best we can to make things right. And yes, we make mistakes, but we do our best to fix them, too.

Well, they did give the winners a free scratch off ticket. It's kind of like when you win a prize on a scratch off and the prize is only another ticket.

What did the state do with all the money it generated from non winners?

paid for increased state employee bennies. <end sarcasm>

Sunlitensmiles, excellent point!

Big deal, so their money that they got for almost nothing and that didn't require any work to obtain is temporarily unavailable. Boohoo.

Paid for dead peoples votes?

So, according to this, Illinois will reimburse the winners for the bank fees on the bounced payment checks and gave them additional scratch off tickets. What about any bad marks on these peoples' credit rating? Will there be something put into their credit reports acknowledging the state's mistake?

Mercury, a letter to the bank would suffice. They are not obligated to report to a credit agency, but they will and do if you bounce checks all the time. With a letter from the state, the bank will not report the derogutory information and the credit should remain unaffected. If it shows up on your credit report, file an appeal and show proof of state error.

Sorry. Wrong post.

true story, If anyony wants to move to il or try and make any money here run like hell the other way

ENOUGH of the Obungler and Ojackass crap. His name is President Obama. If you don't respect him or his policies, fine, but show some respect for the office of President of the United States. For all our flaws, we are still the finest nation on the planet and this nation is why you have the freedom to make your denigrating statements about our CIC. I don't agree with most of his policies either. Still, I will never lower myself to your level. What is your major malfunction here? That feeling of entitlement to say whatever you choose comes with it a responsibility to the First Amendment. Use it wisely...or lose it stupidly.

Colorblind: You can't talk to these racist aholes. They only listen to Glenn Beck and Faux News.

I agree that such nicknames for the President are crude and unbecoming. I also loathe his policies, but I still have respect for the office. It pains me when people resort to this tactic.........

As it was during the Bush years when he was lamblasted and lampooned at every turn. The media and the left, pretty much gave everyone a free pass for their disrespect for that President, but it rankled me. It was always "Bush" in print and commentary. Rarely "President Bush."

Agree, I was vigorously opposed to almost everything the Bush/Cheney administration did, but I always reminded my like-minded friends that the office is the office, you cannot disrespect the office of the President. Just like the congressman from South Carolina who shouted out during the State of the Union a couple of years ago, the congressman who made fun of his wife's weight, the "birthers", you name it, I hate to think it's racist but reality is that probably a lot of it is - we as Americans are supposed to be above this kind of things, but politics just keeps getting uglier

Big deal, so their money that they got for almost nothing, that didn't require any work to obtain is temporarily unavailable. Boohoo.

I don't get what the president has to do with the IL lottery? Stick to the topic.

I also agree, kahrcarrier and dad in mizzou. Have we become so hateful as a society that we've forgotten how to be polite in public discourse? We need to take a long, hard look at ourselves and ask why we allow ourselves to be hateful on the Internet when we hopefully wouldn't be that way in real life.

As for this situation in Ohio, this was a big oops on their part and there should be failsafes in place to assure it doesn't happen again.

Ohio? What has this got to do with Illinois? The reference was to the political snafus' on Obamas' seat in Chicago...duh!!! and I don't like Obama, never will, never did, and my freedom of speech has been hindered by some ignorant liberal that keyed my car because of my congressional bumper sticker support of my congressman, Adam West. Was that racist, or political? Of course when the left do it, it is political, if the right does it, it is racial. In either case, I am a victim now.

Anybody remember where Obama was a community organizer? Isn't Chicago in Illinois, just sayig!

How many ex-governors has Illinois "locked up"? I lost count!

After reading this. All I could do is laugh!

Bull@$#!, I dont respect someone who should not even be president. And this is a free country and it is my right not to like the dude or trash the idiot however i want. I served this country just to preserve this right, so you Muslim loving,al quida worshippers shove it in your posterior.

Simpleone, the name you selected fits your perfectly. He has every right to hold the office that he was elected to just like every other President in the history of this nation. The only difference is, he is BLACK.

He is not muslim, if you would actually read information that was accurate and correct you would know that. But, it is clear you do not think for yourself you feed off of the lies that republicians and other negative individuals attempt to put out on the web in any form they can in order to put a negative view of his presidency. All the problems that he has been blamed for were already there before he took office, after 8 Bush years and a war that we should have not been in we have a deficit that is out of control. Also, during the Bush final years we went into the worse depression that had not been experieced since the "great depression". And it is going to take at least 8 - 15 years before any of that can be turned around. Go read a history book and see how long it took our country to turn around after the great depression. God gave you a mind, use it. If you don't like him fine, but be honest about why you don't like him. Be man enough to say, I don't like him because he is black and I don't believe a black man should be president of this country. You will be more respected for stating your true feelings instead of hiding behind the lies that you posted.

This is to Common Sense: Hey, Hey, Hey! I couldn't have said it any better. Sick people need to get a life and stop hating because of their ignorance, and small minded way of thinking.

Dumb and Stupid people are constantly stating that they hate Obama; There were a lot of very Sick,

and delusional people that hated Jesus and freed a known thief and murderer and crucified Jesus.

Obama is guilty of two things: 1. He wasn't born white, although his mother was; 2. He tries too hard to help everyone and to improve the economy. I truly admire the Man, because he's just that, a REAL MAN. A Strong, Courageous, Good Man.

More Power to Barack Hussein Obama, and May he and his family be Blessed in all-ways .

I call him Obozo because that's what he is. I have no respect for him at all. That has nothing to do with his race, just the man and his politics. You folks need to quit throwing out the race card just because others don't like him. I have nothing against a black man being president...just not THAT man. I respect the office of the President, and I think he's doing a Terrible job.

Who cares if he ever gets locked up. He is no different than any other governor and politician in this country, he just got caught. Show me a truly honest politician and I will show you an unemployed politician. People were out to get him from the inside and they decided to use this senator seat as an excuse. Then they prosecuted him to the fullest extent of the law. Our own congress members in Washington sell their votes every day. Governors make deals while in office, all the time. Some times not so openly blatant but they do. Blagojavich's problem, is he got caught and had too many enemies in Springfield.

Please respect the office of the President of the United States and his proper name. Although Mr. Obama has been a dismal failure as our President, his name, as well as those of his worthy opponents should not be fodder for internet commentators. Former President Bush, another disaster as our Chief Executive, although deserving criticism for his time in office should also not have his name become a play thing. If you can't respect the man, please, at least, respect the office. Thank you.

You people screaming for respect have no idea what our country is founded on. Go look at the political satire on early Presidents.

But all in all I suspect it is the sheeple that are being paid to post that defend the bungler.

commonsense22-4936619

"Simpleone, the name you selected fits your perfectly. He has every right to hold the office that he was elected to just like every other President in the history of this nation. The only difference is, he is BLACK."

Actually, he is not black. He is half white. Isn't it racist that you ignore that fact? I don't care about his color. Only racists do, those who keep bringing it up. I do care about his actions and they certainly haven't been good for the country.

Yes, pieces of eight for everyone! It worked 600 years ago! It will work now!

domingo, be careful of what you wish for. Look at europe where the ECB is not like our FED

There was a very good reason we stopped using the gold standard Torre. This was a humorous story about how they didn't put enough money in the account to cover the checks. They have the money, a mistake led to it not being transferred, if they had the gold standard in place, it would have happened anyways because they would have failed to mail the gold deblooms to the people it owed. Not that the gold would have ever reached its destination (there's this thing called theft), but that's besides the point. Obama had nothing to do with it, the former IL governor of ill repute had nothing to do with it, the best labor 14.69/hour can buy probably had everything to do with it.

deblooms? Did you mean dubloons??? LMAO!!!

This country needs to return to the gold standard. We should only have enough money in circulation to cover the amount of gold we can hold in Fort Knox. That is when money was worth something. Since Franklin D. Roosevelt eliminated the the use of gold standard in 1933, followed by Nixon's elimination of the "Bretton Wood System" in 1971, there is nothing to back our dollar, it has become worthless. It is dwindling, along with the rest of the worlds currency, and only by returning the gold standard will it ever be of any good again. People will get poorer, while the ability to buy will get less and less, and a handful of people will control all the wealth. Flat Money is an open door to out of control inflation and this last great recession (What I call the 2nd Great Depression) is proof.

On the other hand, the GREAT DEPRESSION occured on the gold standard. But overall, between it and the Bretton Wood System, our dollar was strong. Even a return to just the Bretton Wood System would help us tremendously.

You have that right, incompetence at its best.

Why is it always blaming the unions first? Non-union workers NEVER make mistakes? Maybe it was a non-union manager who didn't make the deposit.

Computers are not unionized.

Gambling should not have replaced taxes in the first place. Somehow gambling leads to all forms of dishonesty. If books are getting cooked at the gambling/lottery office it should come as no surprise to anyone. What would surprise me would be if they or the bank have union workers. Unions now comprise a minor percentage of the workforce. Stay on topic.

Rednawt - unless you can show that illinios state workers are not unionized or do not work in the states lottery office what is wrong with the union comment? Now trying to link the POTUS and chicagos mayor to it is quite a stretch of credibility.

Not ALL state workers are unionized. Top managers wouldn't be. Besides, a single misplaced computer keystroke could have happened to anyone. I get so tired that anytime something goes wrong, it is ALWAYS the union worker who gets the blame. While I am not part of a state employees union, both my parents worked for the State of Michigan. Neither of them were unionized. My brother just retired from the State of Michigan, he was not a union worker either.

Rednawt -- no, non-union employees do make mistakes; union employees make the same mistakes at 3 to 4 more times the pay, that's all.

3 to 4 times the pay? Really? Please show your source on that figure. While you are at it, please show the pay rate for the private sector counterparts.

When Bush was president, libs blamed everything on him, now they're upset. What goes around comes around

Dansok - libs still are blaming bush and republicans for today's slow recovery. To think that they conveniently forget how the policies of all previous administrations were created with bipartisan support. Like obama they would rather blame someone else than admit that they are also complicit.

THe TEa Reps are out this morning!

My God wake up,

You conspiracy theorist and total freaks are why the Tea Idiots are in serious decline already

Hell Bachman was gone the day it started

Yu will never win, you are irrational, insane and illogical to the extreme.

And you probably buy most of your clothes at Kmart

Hint

KMart sucks

Hopefully everyone agreeing with your position isn't so full of hate and name calling. It is politics, and why are you leftwingers so hateful, stupidity is my guess, which only comes from closemindedness. Were you the AH that objected to my bumber sticker and keyed my car?

The problem, DanSok101, is that Bush did screw it all up. He was handed a $128-billion dollar-surplus, an unemployment rate of 4.8%, and peace and he allowed it to descend into a $458-billion-dollar deficit, the worse economy since the Great Depression with a 9.8 unemployment rate and two wars (one of which was illegally started on the basis of falsified intel). Obama hasn't done well himself, but then again it's hard to break something that was already broken when you recieved it.

Both are run by Dems! You've been Tea Bagged!

And yes, all cloudy days are Obamas fault just as they were when George was up! Remember?

So, the "Tea Reps" are "why the Tea Idiots are in SERIOUS decline, ALREADY"?

Already? Really? Serious decline? I had no idea! Thanks for the heads up pal. I owe you a tea bag for lookin out for us. You should run for the Donkeys side!

I live in Illinois and I know this state is in a mess,but all of you should have respect for the office of president of the United States. I would like any of you to try leading this country, because none of you have the foggiest idea how to lead this nation of ours.

OH, Rick, I do have an idea. And it would piss off 99% of the world and 99%of rich and all those on welfare.

Yes TheDems The 'tea party' is declining

NBC/Wall Street Journal (Remember the WSJ is owned by Murdoch of Fox News Fame)

Poll

9/10 IS A Good thing for the Political system 42%

11/11 S A Good thing for the Political system 31%

Yes a 25% DROP in one year is a DECLINE

People who say they support the 'tea party' in polls range from 14-24%

Kinda like what you whiner lefties have been doing th George Bush for years. Nothing but a bunch of blameocrats

People it's not the one person in office,it's all of them,when we have a person who can't file a tax return

but runs the tax system or "we won't mess with your taxes" but we will change the meaning of tax to fit

our way of thinking.

I live in il,(down state) look it ,there are more people living in chicago then the rest of il. all our tax money goes to the fat cats in the big city,what do we get out of it, new roads in chicago or let's spend our tax money to try and get the high speed railroad to st louis.Il. can't even pay the schools the money to keep them running or the police force to keep us safe.Chicago is not a state but we wish it was down here.Any one want to buy Chicago?

If the Buffoons in Washington - and I mean BOTH parties, Congress, AND the White House - keep up their bratty "I want everything may way!" spoiled 2-year-old toddler stance, the dollar bill will be worth nothing but toilet paper, if anything, toilet paper would become a more valuable currency.....

Anyone ever studied 1923 Germany???

What's that have to do with my comment? How long has the Congress and White House BEEN full of these "buffoons" you speak of?

Because since he became the president, groceries have climbed about 48%, not that mention is noteworthy, it only affects ALL Americans!!!

commenting - You opened the door when you said

...toilet paper, they blame the President

Robert, obama may be an incompetent in so many ways but the FED is the one who injected liquidity into the markets. Now in a year or two you can blame obamacare, wall street reform, etc for higher prices

Of course we will blame Obama if we run out of toilet paper, cause everyone drops the Obama's off at the White House!!! LOL! I voted for him. That won't happen again.

Robert I would like to see a source for your claim Food Prices have increased 48% since Obama became president.

US Dept OF AG Says it is approximately 6%

Perhaps you meant 4.8%?

The worst recent year was during an international crisis when worldwide food prices soared in 2007/8 by about 40% but I note that is not the US number (It was high but probably not that high) and of course Obama was not president at that time. (And no I am not blaming Bush either) It was mostly soaring fuel costs.

If you wrote a bounced check you would get a $35 fee. You would only be arrested if you forged a check. Calm down.

Tempest in a teapot. Teaparty pot.

calm down? why dont you just go piss up a rope ass munch.. you dont know anything about me! And you dont know the laws where I live either. Get off mommys computer and clean your room. then you can go play with the big people.

tikrd off....you know nothing about the laws where you live either. If your check bounces, you don't go to court unless you refuse to make it good. You have to pay a fee but the process would take a while before you ever went to jail. This is true even where you live. Get outside once in awhile.

I think the TeaReps like ticrkdoffand peedon should jut nominate Bigfoot, and have him make speeches from the Grassy knoll while UFOS fly over from Area 51.

Idiotic conspiracy theorist

The paranoids are out to get you!

So now you know where I live and you know me??? But anyway...whats the big deal...someone piss in your wheaties. And gang banging me is whats needed here?? It was a joke and you fools are nothing less than trolls. I like checking back here and seeing what you bleeding heart liberals have to post. I catch milknee stalking me and we will see who is in jail or not. Stupid azz troll

Belgium is a great place to live with an economical system very similar to ours except they do not have BofA, Fannie May, Freddie Mac...

I guess Belgium IS a better place to live, see ya suckers and your token black in the big house, we had to put one in EVERY commercial, fire dept, police agency and finally the big house but no matter, no one wanted that knob but we had to have our token Negro...

I'm sure Belgium citizens complain about their country too. Bye, and have fun, but don't be too disappointed when you discover there are Negroes living there too.

I don't know, SouthernGent...according to the 2008 election results Obama won the popular vote with 55%, so that is a lot of "nobodys" who wanted him. And screw you and your token black comments. I've worked every day since I was 14, paid taxes since I was 18, worked my way through college and served our country in the Marine Corps and I've EARNED everything I have, as did millions of other black americans, and NEVER got anything for free. So don't go hating on us just because you need to blame somone for your miserable life. With an attitude like yours, please leave our country and go to Belgium. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. One less racist for us to deal with.

Southern Gent your blatant racism means you need a name change. You are no gentleman.

BTW Bank of America has an office in Antwerp Belgium, as well as Amsterdam and Luxembourg IE all the BeNeLux countries.

And it is Fannie Mae not May

Scott - I take exception to that statement. As I have relatives all over the world, (and they love their home countries, rightfully so,) i have seen a large percentage of the nations of this world. With all its faults, and I agree there are many, I feel I must ask you- Why are you still here, if you feel that way?

Since our northern neighbors are in North America too, that would make them Americans as well. If a visit there has shown you that our country sucks, then they must have an effective array of smoke and mirrors in place too.

You are deranged and obsessed. Clearly mental stability is a foreign concept to you and I'm sure those around you know how wacked out you are.

What exactly would Scott Walker have to do with Illinois? Illinois has a democrat governor and is voting for tax increase after tax increase.

If anything the "Fleebagger 14" are the clowns who are from Wisconsin that ran off to Illinois and would have been more fitting to use in any attempt at humor.

You are just a worthless failure. Get a life, bud. Your envy and hatred have consumed every part of your existence!

Why are you apologizing for the state government? At that level, there should be a ZERO tolerance for financial errors. MIght as well apologize for the havoc Obama has wrought on this country, too, and why America is such a lousy international neighbor.